Chapter 31
thiRty-oNe
I WOKE TO SUNLIGHT and Quin's chest beneath my cheek.
"Good morning."
His voice rumbled through me. I wiggled and then settled with a hum. My thigh burned faintly where he'd bitten me and my back told me in no uncertain terms that I'd overdone it. "Five more minutes," I mumbled.
He chuckled. "Take all the time you need. I'm not going anywhere."
I sighed with pleasure. I knew he meant it.
I think he would turn to stone before he made me move.
It still amazed me that this creature—a monster, by any definition—was more considerate, gentler, than most of the humans I'd known.
Even with the fur, the horns, the elongated muzzle full of sharp teeth, all I saw now was Quin.
I wrapped my arms around his chest and squeezed. "I love you."
His rumble was more of a purr than a growl. "Say it again."
I laughed. "I love you."
I felt his cock threaten behind his seam. As soon as I could lie on my back, we were having all the sleepy sex he could handle. Or I could handle. It was a toss-up who would tap out first.
It was totally me. But I looked forward to testing my theory. Later. After my back stopped screaming and Quin stopped hovering like an anxious German Shepherd.
A loud knock on the bedroom door made us both freeze. "Not again," I grumbled.
"Go away," Quin growled.
Kendal's muffled voice came through the door. "Nanna's making breakfast and says if you're not at the table in ten minutes, she's coming in to get you."
Quin groaned.
I lifted onto my elbows and looked down at him. "She wouldn't..."
"Oh, she absolutely would. And she'd critique my technique like she's judging a bake-off."
"And she'd record it on her phone." Kendal sounded far too chipper for that early in the morning. "Get decent. We have things to discuss."
I tilted my head. "Things to discuss?"
Quin growled. "Justin Beringer."
Oh, right. The plan to take down Novagen. The catalyst for us meeting. The man who'd ordered me to be tortured. Who'd approved the trial that altered the DNA of twenty women without consent. Who probably ordered the deaths of twelve of those women.
I sat up and ignored the cool air on my bare skin. "I'm ready."
"You don't have to do this."
I looked over my shoulder at him. "Yes, I do. He needs to look me in the eye. To know I'm not a victim. That I'm the one who destroyed everything he cared about."
Quin smoothed the back of his hand down my cheek. "Fierce little moth."
"Your little moth."
"Mine."
The one word held such weight, such meaning; I knew he wasn't being possessive. And even if he was, I felt the same way about him.
Quin waited while I pulled on clothes. His growl rumbled through the room when I winced pulling on my shirt. Then he took my hand and we walked toward the sounds of breakfast.
Nanna turned as we entered the living room and smiled so wide I thought her face might split.
"Finally!"
She shuffled over and pulled me into a hug that made me squeak with surprise. Kendal and Jade were right behind her, surrounding me with excited questions.
"When did it happen?" Kendal bounced on the balls of her feet. "Last night? This morning?"
I felt heat creep up my face. "Is it that obvious?"
Jade gave me a sympathetic smile. "It wouldn't be to anyone else, but we can see it written on your face. You look lighter. Happier."
I nodded. "I am."
They both squealed, and Nanna dragged me into the kitchen for further interrogation.