Danger Zone

by Dee J. Adams

  “Take a sip of this,” Quinn said, handing her a glass. “It’s 7UP. It’ll settle your stomach. Just a few sips. Not too much.” Ellie sipped. The cold fizz tasted good. Took the bad taste out of her mouth. After another sip, he set the glass on the night table then settled them both back on the pillows. “Try to rest.”

  Despair crept up and emptiness filled her heart. Tears streamed down her cheeks and Ellie cried until she couldn’t cry anymore. She let the numbness take over. Maybe she could sleep the rest of her life. Maybe if she just kept the covers over her head…

  No, she couldn’t do that. She still had to meet Aurora, who strangely hadn’t called…but Aurora had to find out what hospital to go to so the phone had to ring eventually…

  The raw taste of sludge in her mouth woke Ellie with a nasty hello. The room was dark. Clock said four-fifty. She eased out of bed—her stomach muscles ached with a vengeance, her whole body hurt—and stumbled to the bathroom where she brushed her teeth. For a long time. Twice. She’d never sobbed to the point of making herself sick before. Clearly there was a first time for everything. Hazarding a look in the mirror, she wanted to cry all over again. The worst case of bedhead ever known to man wrecked her dust-covered hair. Her eyes were swollen and red. Her lips…dry and cracked. Her black stretch pants were filthy from all the dust and debris. How had she not noticed this yesterday?

  Ellie stripped off her robe and filthy clothes and jumped into the shower. It took three washes to get the dust out of her hair and she tried to keep the bandage on her arm as dry as possible. The hot water helped the body aches. But not the heartache. Out of the shower, she smoothed on lip cream and combed the knots from her hair. Some of the puffiness in her eyes had receded. She looked a little better…she just didn’t feel it. After putting on a new robe, she slipped into a clean pair of underwear.

  She went back to bed and studied a sleeping Quinn. At some point, he’d showered too. The dust was out of his hair. Even with dark stubble on his face, the man looked perfect. Faint shadows darkened circles under his eyes. His night had been as long as hers. Ellie slid between the sheets. No sooner had she settled herself then Quinn wrapped a possessive arm around her waist and pulled her snugly against him. She turned her head, waited for a smile or an eye to crack open. Something. But he was still sleeping. Ellie closed her eyes. Everything had changed.

  Everything. And she didn’t want to face it.

  How could Ashley be gone? She’d worked so damn hard to get through law school and keep up with her job at the firm. She’d planned to make enough money with her law practice to ensure not only her own security, but Aurora’s as well. Her whole life she’d helped people and what had it mattered? How would Aurora, Sheryl and Ellie survive knowing they’d never see Ashley again? Her eyes stung as sadness welled.

  With Ashley gone, her life would never be the same. Maybe that’s why she’d had gone after Quinn the way she had. Maybe it went beyond comfort. What did priorities mean anyway in a world where life was so unpredictable? Fragile. How could Ashley be gone when she was the one that risked her life on a regular basis? How naive to take someone so close to her for granted.

  All those years where Ashley had asked her to seek help and she hadn’t. Now, she’d finally decided to face her biggest challenge and Ashley was gone. Where did that leave her? A fresh wave of fear crashed in her chest and she breathed through it, pushed it aside and exhaled slowly. Concentrated on now.

  She liked her bed. She liked Quinn. Maybe they’d stay like this for the rest of time.

  She could dream, couldn’t she?

  Quinn woke her up a while later. Not that he knew he did. His erection burned against her butt cheeks. He pressed against her and it felt so good, she pressed back. The hand around her waist slipped up between the edges of her robe, warm and rough against her skin, and he cupped a breast. She arched against his hand at the same time as she pressed her ass against his erection.

  Okay, she got why he didn’t want her last night. She was a little crazy, really dirty and smelled a lot like whiskey. Obviously, not a turn-on. Even though she still looked like crap, at least she’d cleaned up. Maybe if he kept his eyes closed, he wouldn’t have to see her at all. The point was to feel good. He didn’t need eyes for that.

  She also realized he hadn’t wanted to take advantage of her, but reminding herself of that would only lead her to thinking and she wanted to feel…

  Ellie snaked her hand behind her and rubbed him through his jeans.

  “Oh, yeah,” he mumbled. “That’s good.”

  She turned in his arms and kept his hand on her breast as she feathered kisses along his neck, across his jaw, until she reached his lips. She licked her way into his mouth and continued to move her hand over his erection. He tasted like coffee. Like he’d been up most of the night watching her. Worrying about her. Knowing that sent a wash of wet heat pooling between her legs.

  One strong hand cupped the back of her head and brought her closer as he took control of the kiss. Yes! God, yes, it felt so good. He wanted her. He rolled her and moved against her. His weight drove her deeper into the mattress. She fumbled with the button of his jeans and took the zipper down.

  “Wanna be inside you,” he mumbled.

  “Yes, yes,” she breathed. Her heart thumped wildly as he kissed her again, harder and longer, his tongue igniting bolts of sensation that ripped through her with every stroke.

  Thrusting against her, he slanted his mouth across hers and kissed her more deeply. “So hot,” he breathed. “Soft.”

  Compared to him. He was as hard as rock. That dream she’d had wasn’t far off… The man was huge. What would he look like out of his clothes? Naked, ripped and gorgeous…and too delicious for words. She tried to get his jeans over his hips.

  Quinn stilled. His eyes blinked open and widened before he jumped off her as quickly as a cat dodges water. “Jesus,” he muttered, breathing hard. “I’m sorry.” He looked around the room. A little dazed. A lot confused.

  She swallowed. “Where’re you going? It was just getting good.” Maybe if she kept it light, he’d come back to her. She couldn’t take another rejection from him. She really couldn’t. The knot on her robe had loosened and she sat up against the pillows, all but offering herself in total surrender. A parted robe and a pair of black thong underwear was all he had to get by. She didn’t see a problem there. She patted the spot next to her. “No reason to run away.”

  He shook his head, ran a hand through the longer locks of his dark hair. “I didn’t realize… I didn’t know…”

  Boy, did she not want to hear this. “Everything’s fine. Just come back and sit down.” She patted the bed. Wanted him to feel comfortable. None of this had to be awkward.

  Lifting his jeans back into place, he zipped up. Crap. But he didn’t button up so maybe she still had a shot at this. She wanted to laugh because all of sudden he was the skittish one, but it couldn’t last long, could it?

  He sat on the edge of the bed, his back to her. The second she touched his shoulder he jumped up faster than a scared rabbit.

  “I don’t bite,” she said, echoing his words from the bar. Then she smiled. “Unless you want me to.”

  He stared at her, a streak of lust flared in his eyes, but a split second later he laughed, wiped his hands down his face. “Jesus, Elle. You’re killing me.”

  “I don’t want to do that.” She patted the bed again. “But if you come back here I might send you to…” Heaven. She’d been about to say heaven. Where Ashley was right now.

  Ashley was dead and she was trying to fuck a man she barely knew. Her actions, her reaction to Ashley’s death blindsided her. Tears came from nowhere and her swollen eyes ached with the sting. Her chest got heavy and a knot lodged in her throat.

  No sooner had she dropped her head in her hands and started sobbing than Quinn was by her side, an arm over her shaking shoulders. “Shhh,” he said, holding her tight. “I’m here. I’m right here. I’m not goin’ a
nywhere.”

  She didn’t care either way. Whether he was here or gone didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was that Ashley was gone. For good. Forever. For the rest of time. Her tears came harder and they hurt. Her whole body hurt. Every muscle. And she didn’t want to hurt anymore. Even for just a little while, she didn’t want to hurt.

  She concentrated on Quinn’s hands. One rubbing her arm, the other cupping her head against his shoulder. The heat and strength he radiated seeped into her body and she clung to him, wanted more. He adjusted, pulled her closer and it felt so good, so wonderfully good.

  Ellie shifted and wrapped her arms around his neck, nuzzled her lips under his ear.

  “Elle…” He took a deep breath.

  Before he got another word out, she held his jaw and kissed him. Coaxed his lips apart and tasted him. The thrill that shot through her body shocked her. Rocked her. She moaned into his mouth. Instead of pulling away he cupped her head firmly and kissed her back. Hard. Maybe a little too hard…as if she’d pushed him over the edge. But she didn’t mind. It felt too good to mind. He could have complete control of her body if he’d only take it.

  Then just as quickly he pulled away. “Elle. Seriously. Think about this for a minute. Are you sure it’s what you want?”

  She stroked his cheek with her thumb. “Yes. Yes.” She wanted him. His body, his heat, his comfort. She wanted everything he had to offer. Ellie opened her robe all the way and gave herself to him. Completely unwrapped, waiting to be taken. What man could resist that? “I just want to feel good. You can make me feel good.” She nibbled his ear, tongued the shell and he inhaled on a hiss. “Don’t you want to?”

  “You know damn well I do.” He took her shoulders and held her back. His eyes glittered with heat and burned with desire. “But I don’t want you to regret it, that’s all.”

  Meeting his gaze, she shook her head. “I won’t. I promise. No regrets.” Not now…when she needed him so desperately. Needed someone to take away the pain.

  He ran his hand through her hair, against her scalp. That one caress had her vision glazing over. Then he kissed her. So soft, and sweet. So utterly Quinn. He kissed her as though she were made of fine glass. His lips smoothed over hers, gentle in the taking, while he cupped her head and held her close. His warm hand slid inside her robe and brushed the underside of her breast, before palming her completely. Heat seared where he touched, sparks skittered along every nerve ending.

  Perfection.

  She pressed into his hand as she opened her mouth for more of his kiss. He accepted the invitation, pushed his tongue past her teeth. Ellie hummed with satisfaction, at the pure joy of having Quinn at her fingertips. His body was still bed warm, his mouth blazing hot as he trailed his lips along her jaw and down her neck.

  He adjusted them on the bed. Laid her out beneath him and continued to kiss her, stroke her. “I’m gonna make you feel so good,” he murmured. He wedged a knee between her thighs and she spread her legs, rubbed against him. “That’s it,” he whispered. “Show me what you want.” Hot kisses trailed down her neck to her breast and she arched into him. He licked her, tongued her mercilessly until her nipple was a taut bud begging for his mouth.

  “Quinn, please.” She wanted so much more. She wanted mindless sex. Raw sex.

  Finally, he took her fully into his mouth and gently sucked her hard nipple while his tongue continued to circle and stroke. It was so sweet. So slow and delicious. Sensations crashed inside, building higher, the feelings so powerful she struggled to find air.

  And he’d just barely gotten started.

  Ellie lifted her head and pulled him up, took his mouth in a kiss hot enough to set the sheets on fire. She smoothed her hands along his sides and tunneled between their bodies, reaching for his zipper, hoping to free Quinn and really get the party started.

  But Quinn had other things in mind. He captured her hands and pinned them above her head. “Not yet,” he whispered against her mouth.

  She moved against him in a delicious rub that sent her whole body searching for release. “I want to see you. Touch you.”

  “You will.” He watched her for a second, a promise lurking in his eyes, before he kissed her again. With one hand he kept her arms pinned and with the other, he started an exploration. His warm palm traced her body, slid along her skin, driving her crazy for more. Desire pulsed low in her belly and moisture drenched her thong.

  Rough fingers grazed her hip and moved over her skin. Ellie arched into him again and vibrated when he rubbed his thigh against her mound. He shifted, but before she had a chance to protest, his fingers delved between her legs and she gasped. He took the sound into his mouth as his magic fingers stroked her sensitive flesh.

  “You’re so wet for me,” he breathed. “I love that.” He released her hands and started another descent. His lips and tongue left very little untouched as he moved down her body, past her belly button. He hooked his fingers into her thong and—

  The phone rang in Ashley’s room.

  Quinn wanted to ignore the phone and plunge his tongue into Ellie’s hot center, but he lifted his head when she went completely still. Obviously the ringing phone had some significance, but she wasn’t jumping up to answer it.

  “Forget it,” he said. The answering machine picked up and time froze as they waited for the voice on the other end. For ten long seconds they stared at each other until a woman’s faint southern accent broke the silence. “Ellie, baby, it’s Aurora, I—”

  “Holy shit!” Ellie scrambled out from underneath him and zipped through her bedroom door, her robe flying behind her. She intercepted the call in midsentence.

  “Ma…I’m here.” Her frantic voice cracked. “Where are you? I—” There was a pause. “What?” He barely heard the word, but her surprise was unmistakable. “Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod.” Ellie’s chant from the other room had him off the bed and standing up straight. What now? Then he heard her tears. “How did that happen?”

  He dropped his head in his hands. God, she killed him when she cried. Ripped his heart to shreds. A second ago, he’d been primed and ready to sink inside her and now crushing despair made his chest hurt. She was quiet for so long that Quinn took a step for the door.

  “Oh my God. I’ll be right there,” she said and he stopped. “I’m on my way. Oh, shit. I don’t have a car! I’ll-call-a-cab-don’t-worry-I’m-on-my-way.” She ran it all together in one long word.

  Quinn looked up as she came into the bedroom, telephone still close to her ear. She’d wrapped the robe more tightly around her. Her eyes spoke volumes, but aside from the obvious fact that playtime was over, he didn’t have a clue what was happening. She rifled in her bag, pulled out her cell phone and flipped it open.

  “Goddammit!” she swore. “Sorry, Ma. My phone went dead, that’s why you couldn’t get me.” She wiped her eyes as she turned away from him and plugged her phone into a charger on her dresser. Nodding, she said, “Okay. I’ll call as soon as I can.” She disconnected the call and faced him.

  He gestured to the phone. “Uh…how is she?” Stupid question knowing the woman’s daughter was dead, but what else was he supposed to say? Looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day didn’t really fit the situation. As fresh tears filled her eyes, Quinn took a step forward. He wanted to hold her, comfort her, do some—

  “It wasn’t Ashley,” she said, looking up at him. Two tears streaked down her face.

  A tingle ran through Quinn, from his head down to his toes, and hope mushroomed in his belly. “What do you mean? Who wasn’t Ashley?”

  “The body we saw. The purse. The blond hair. It wasn’t Ashley.” She wiped at her cheeks. “Ashley’s purse went with Rose, the other woman under the scaffolding. Ashley was in the E.R. The one who survived. But her face is…” She took a deep breath and steadied her voice. “She’s all bandaged up. Aurora never got there, but Rose’s mother realized that it wasn’t her daughter under the bandages. Rose died. Not Ashley.” Her voice fal
tered as she told the story. “And Mickey’s truck never started and the rental company didn’t have any cars because of some stupid convention in Vegas. The police called Aurora last night and told her Ashley was dead and they showed up at her door early this morning to tell her about the mistake. They wouldn’t tell me Ashley’s condition because they thought she was dead and they had to notify family first. But it wasn’t her.” She hiccupped a sob and Quinn couldn’t hold himself back. Before he made it to her she was crossing toward him, against his chest in a heartbeat, her arms wrapping around him with fierce strength, her shoulders shaking as she cried.

  He kissed the top of her head and pulled her more tightly against him. Relief hit so hard it nearly took him out. Relief for Ashley, yes, but mostly for Ellie.

  Holding her so close felt right. Which made him truly fucked. One, no woman had ever felt this good in his arms, and two, he wasn’t going to be around long enough to enjoy it.

  “She’s alive, she’s alive,” she whispered.

  “That’s great, sweetheart. I’m so glad.” He wanted to say more, but nothing seemed appropriate because he still didn’t know Ashley’s condition. He cleared his suddenly husky voice. “We should get down there so you can see her, right? I’ll call Fido. We’ll go together.” He’d have held onto her all day, but he couldn’t. “You gonna be okay?”

  Ellie stepped back and wiped her eyes. After a shaky breath she said, “Yeah. Yeah. I showered earlier so I’ll be ready in ten.” She bolted to her bathroom, the robe billowing behind her.

  Quinn moved into the den and called Fido, only to discover that his driver had been parked out front for a half hour already. The man was bucking for a serious bonus and he’d earned it.

  Quinn listened as Ellie moved around the bathroom. He didn’t want to think about her soft and naked. All that smooth skin under his fingertips, arching into his touch. He’d bend her over the counter, slide into her from behind and hold her against him so tight that she’d scream his name when she came.

  Shit. He’d been so close this morning. So close to heaven when the phone rang. He was such a loser. A loser with a hard-on. Because how selfish was he to be thinking about sex when Ashley was in the hospital and Ellie was barely hanging on?