24
994 Words
And not only from the women.
By the time we reach the Escalade, I’m sweating and out of breath.
Quinn opens the front passenger door for Lili and helps her in. He closes her door and reaches for the back passenger door handle just as I do.
Our hands touch.
A crackle of electricity snaps white hot over my fingertips.
Gasping, I snatch my hand away from his.
He’s staring at me with hard eyes, a hard jaw, and an expression of pure fury.
Instead of angering or scaring me, that look sets every nerve ending in my body on fire.
My insides go liquid. My n*****s harden as if he pinched them. My heart starts to pound, and I break out in a cold sweat. I’m so turned on, I’m breathless.
Clearly, I can never go near a carousel again.
He opens the door. Through gritted teeth, he commands, “Get in.”
It takes a great deal of effort to keep my voice steady when I speak. “I don’t know why you’re acting so strange today, but I’ve already told you
I don’t take orders.”
Leaning close to me, his jaw still clenched, he stares into my eyes.
“Get your arse in this car. No questions. No sass. You don’t speak again unless I give you permission to. Which I won’t. Understood?”
His voice is low and gruff. His body heat burns me. I can smell him, the warm, masculine scent of his skin, and count every fleck of gold in his gorgeous hazel eyes.
My mouth goes dry. I can’t manage an answer, so I simply climb up into the car and sit.
He gazes at me for a beat, then his gaze drops to my mouth. He exhales, nostrils flaring.
Then he withdraws and slams the door so hard, the whole car is rocked by it.
“Zia?” whispers Lili from the front seat, terrified.
“I don’t know what’s wrong, but if he does anything dangerous, I’ll handle it.”
Quinn leaps into the car, slams his door, and guns the engine. He sits there in blistering silence, breathing hard and staring straight out the windshield. He closes his eyes for a moment.
When he opens them again, he seems more in control of himself. He drives out of the carnival’s parking lot and back onto the highway at a reasonable speed. But his hands are gripped so hard around the steering wheel, his knuckles are white.
By the time we arrive back at the house, I’m wrung out from all the tension in the car.
Quinn pulls to a stop in the driveway, kills the engine, and hops out. Ignoring me, he helps Lili out, holding her hand. Then he leads her into the courtyard without glancing back.
I slouch down in the seat, cover my face with my hands, and exhale.
I’m still in the same position when Quinn returns ten minutes later.
He opens the door and stands there silently until I drop my hands and look at him.
“What?”
“What are you doing?”
“Maybe I’m meditating.”
“Are you?”
“No. Go away.”
He shifts his weight from foot to foot. He still seems agitated, but not
as furious as before. “I have something to say.”
This should be interesting. I lift my brows, waiting.
He clears his throat and glances at the boxwood hedge around the driveway. He tugs on the knot in his tie, then drags a hand roughly through his hair. A muscle flexes in his jaw. “I owe you an apology.”
“Are you talking to that shrub or to me?”
His gaze slices back to meet mine. “I’m talking to you, smartarse.”
“And I’m allowed to speak to you now? Because I distinctly remember something about getting permission. I wouldn’t want to get in trouble or anything.”
His lids drift lower. His eyes grow hot. He says gruffly, “Aye, viper, you have my permission.”
That sounded so s****l, I have to swallow before speaking again. “What exactly are you apologizing for?”
“The same thing I just apologized to Lili for. Losing my temper.” I say tartly, “Yes, I remember asking you about that the day we met.
Do you remember what you told me?”
“That I wasn’t your dead husband.”
We stare at each other. I could fall into those gorgeous hazel eyes and drown.
This is a f*****g disaster.
My voice low, I say, “No one could be as bad as him. And I can handle your little tantrums, but I won’t allow you to frighten Lili.” “It wasn’t a tantrum,” he snaps, insulted.
Ignoring that, I continue. “And if you keep frightening her by acting rude, inconsistent, and aggressive, there will be consequences for you.” He laughs abruptly. “Are you threatening me, viper?”
“Yes.”
His laughter dies. He huffs in disbelief. Then he runs a hand over his beard, studying me intently.
The way he’s looking at me makes my entire pelvic floor clench like I’m doing Kegels.
I should call my gynecologist first thing in the morning and schedule a hysterectomy. My reproductive organs have gone insane.
“Now it’s my turn to apologize to you.”
He c***s a brow. “Changed your mind on that threat so soon, have you?”
“No. The threat stands. What I need to apologize for is not giving you a chance. I was a b***h to you from the minute you first walked in the door.” I pause, a smile hovering at the corners of my lips. “I should’ve waited until I knew what a culo you are first.”
“Culo means handsome warrior, right?”
My smile grows wider. “Riiight.”
- Writer
