by Jewel E. Ann
“What makes you think he made me uncomfortable?”
“You’re a beautiful, confident woman. When you’re having a conversation with someone, you keep eye contact with them. Your eyes wandered the whole time he was talking. Then there’s your fingernails.” He grabbed my other hand too and ran his thumb over my nails. “They’re all rough and jagged because you’ve been picking the hell out of them, which you only do when you’re uneasy about something.”
“I bet your favorite childhood game was Clue. Am I right?”
“Monopoly, and you’re avoiding my question.”
“I bet you were the race car.”
“Addy!”
“Yes, I was uncomfortable,” I snapped back, feeling that way again because we were drawing attention to ourselves.
“Why?”
Glancing around uneasily at the people mingling by us, I squeezed his hands. “Not now, okay?”
“Addy—”
“It’s too personal for a public display. Just please … not now,” I pleaded.
He nodded with a straight face. The concern in his eyes was evident and the thought of his concern for me warmed my heart. He stopped a server passing by and grabbed several fancy looking hors d’oeuvres from the tray.
“Vegan?” I asked suspiciously as he offered me one.
“It’s all vegan.” He grinned popping a small crostini with a wedge of grilled pineapple, cucumber sauce, and a mint leaf into his mouth.
I followed his lead and raised my eyebrows as my taste buds exploded with excitement. The sauce was amazing and the chef geek in me would spend the rest of the night trying to figure out what was in it.
“So good.” I smiled, blotting my lips with the cocktail napkin. “I can’t believe you had your posh holiday party catered vegan.”
He winked and flashed me his signature cocky grin. “I heard plants are the new ‘animal carcass’ of gourmet cuisine. And there’s this scorching hot vegan chef at my party who I’m trying to impress. I figured if I scored a few points now it might guarantee scoring with her later.”
“Most nights I’d say your chances were pretty good, but rumor has it that hot babe you’re talking about only puts out if you literally beg her.” I circled my tongue around my lips, relishing the dark, heated look as he boldly undressed me with his eyes. “You should go schmooze with your guests. I have servers to stalk.”
*
The next few hours played out like a game of cat and mouse. Quinn navigated the crowd with a close following of women on the prowl while I became more acquainted with his friends and business colleagues. Every time I scanned the crowd to find him, his eyes were constantly on me. If I was engaging in conversation with women, his look was playful and sexy, but when I found myself surrounded by a group of men, his look was filled with warning. He’d go from smiles and smirks to scowls and squints. It was only a matter of seconds before he inevitably found his way to my side with his arm around my waist, pulling me in possessively. He was, without question, the most handsome man at the party. Why he felt the need to claim me in front of every other guy was beyond my comprehension.
As the late night hours fell into early morning, the party was still going strong. However, the atmosphere and overall demeanor of the crowd transitioned from friendly formal to loudly inebriated. I hadn’t had a drink since returning to New York to pull Quinn out of his spiraling demise. If he could live without drinking, so could I. The downside to being sober in the early morning hours was the hyperawareness of the handsy men who’d been served an excess of liquid courage. When it came to groping me, it was more like liquid stupidity. Quinn was oblivious to the women grabbing his backside or tugging seductively on his tie because he was busy keeping frisky hands off me. His patience was wearing thin, especially when I agreed to dance with Chad, the young attorney he’d hired only a few months earlier to take over his real estate transactions. He was good-looking in a Harvard-preppy boy sort of way. Without a doubt he was smart and probably graduated at the top of his class, but his choice in women, namely me, for the night was not his wisest decision. In the poor guy’s defense, my dress made it impossible to dance with me without touching my bare skin.
I didn’t need eyes in the back of my head to see Quinn coming. The look on Chad’s face was all I needed.
“Mr. Cohen is closing in on us, isn’t he?” I asked with a devious smirk.
“Uh … yes,” he nervously replied.
“Chad.” Quinn’s stern voice sounded behind me.
Chad’s hands quickly fell from my bare back as he stumbled to distance himself from me. “Mr. Cohen, sir, uh––we were just––”
“Leaving, Chad, you were just leaving, right?” Quinn warned as he snaked his arms under mine and pulled my back against his chest with his hands firmly pressed to my abdomen.
Chad watched Quinn lay claim to me, and he nearly wet his pants. “I––uh––didn’t realize she––Addy––uh Miss––”
Chad’s confidence went from off the charts when he first asked me to dance, not realizing who I was, to negative fifty as party pooper Quinn put him in his place.
“Goodnight, Chad,” Quinn quickly dismissed him.
Turning around in his arms, I started swaying my hips to the rhythm of the slow music. He obliged by moving his body in time with mine as his dark eyes seared into mine, melting everything south of my border.
“If you wanted to dance with anyone else but me, then you wore the wrong fucking dress.” He looked like a caged animal teetering on the edge of control with his jaw firmly set and his eyes tightly fixed to mine.
“Chad? He’s harmless. You hired him so you must trust him. I figured I could too. He came across as real … what’s the word I’m looking for?” I pursed my lips and rolled my eyes to the side. “Eager, yes that’s it! I felt his young eagerness to please.”
He released a feral growl as he pulled me so close I could distinctly feel his hard erection against my abdomen. “Are you trying to get Chad fired or just seriously injured?”
Sliding my hands up the back of his jacket, I dragged my nails down over his shirt. “Will that really get you what you want?” I leaned up and whispered into his ear, still digging my nails into his back.
“What is it you think I want?” he asked, trying to stay in control.
I reached behind me and grabbed his hand, then taking a quick glance around us first, I slid it between us through the slit in my dress until his fingers grazed over my wet sex.
“Two words, babe: no underwear,” I purred before removing his hand and walking away with a confident gait.
Torturing myself nearly as much as Quinn, I headed for the ladies room to freshen up. Two drunk women stumbled out the door just as I was getting ready to enter. The ladies’ lounge was like a fancy waiting room at a spa. Two modern charcoal grey sectionals occupied the center with multi-shaded grey decor pillows. White vanities and backlit mirrors lined the walls with grey velvet vanity chairs and complimentary makeup and hair care essentials. A single door in the corner led to the toilet stalls, and a row of sinks with modern brushed steel fixtures and rectangular steel baskets filled with neatly rolled hand towels.
Leaning into a vanity to check my hair and makeup in the mirror, I heard the echo of music fill the room as the door opened behind me.
Quinn.
Without a word he quickly surveyed the room including the stalls. Once he discovered we were alone, he locked the door. Still watching his reflection in the mirror, I continued to mess with my lip gloss.
“Unless you closed the open bar, it’s not a good idea to lock people out of the restroom.”
“There’s another one on the opposite end,” he deadpanned with a low, steady voice.
My whole body stilled as I noticed him shrugging off his jacket and loosening his tie. His gaze was alert and firmly fixed on me, and he proceeded to unbutton and remove his shirt with slow, calculated moves. My jaw fell lax as I drank in the sight of his chiseled torso. Taki
ng an exaggerated swallow but refusing to turn around, I met his eyes in the mirror.
“We’re not having sex in the bathroom. Not even if you beg me.” My soft voice lacked the confidence I tried so desperately to exude.
He didn’t respond. Instead, he continued to move toward me as he unfastened his pants; exposing his black boxer briefs stretched over his large bulge.
I could hear my own pulse as my breath quickened. “Quinn, no. I’m serious.” I finally turned to face him as he got closer.
My close proximity to his bare chest was killing me. He had me cornered with nowhere to go.
“Baby, if you were serious then you wouldn’t have worn this dress tonight.” He ran his finger down the side of my face then pushed my hair back over my shoulder before continuing to trace his finger down my neck, across my chest, and down the exposed area of skin between my breasts to just above my navel. “Besides, I think you’ve made your point. Do I like a good challenge? Yes. Have you been driving me crazy over the past few days? Yes. Do you want me to beg you? Fine. I’m begging you. Am I done watching you parade around my party in this fucking excuse for a dress? Yes.”
Before I had a chance to formulate an answer, he fisted the material of my dress on both sides just below my breasts. Then he effortlessly ripped the sixteen or so inches of material holding my dress together in the front completely apart, exposing my naked body.
“Quinn! What the fuck!” I shrieked.
As his greedy eyes consumed my naked body, a bemused smile played across his face for an instant before his mouth attacked mine. My intentions of throwing a tantrum over my dress and his dominating aggression vanished when his bare chest pressed against mine. The stimulation of his skin bruising my nipples sent jolts of sensation to my hypersensitive sex.
I moaned into his mouth as his tongue reached past mine consuming me. Every time with Quinn felt like the first night we were together. My body craved his, as if he hadn’t touched me in every way so many times before.
Bracing my elbows on his shoulders, I weaved my fingers through his hair and pulled it hard until he released a raw animalistic growl. He wedged his leg between my legs parting them just enough to slip two fingers through my slit and up into my drenched channel. Tearing my mouth from his, I let my head fall back as I sucked in a breath and released another deep moan.
“Quinn …” I whimpered as he eased his fingers in and out of me slowly at first. As tiny whimpers escaped my parted lips, he increased the pace.
“Look at me,” he demanded.
Pulling my head back up, I forced my eyes to his. The harder and faster he pushed his fingers into me, the more intense with hunger his face became. My pulse continued to race as my orgasm approached. With his fingers fully plunged into me, he stopped moving them as he circled my clitoris with the pad of his thumb.
“Oh God!” I moaned as I closed my eyes, no longer able to keep them focused on him as my trembling body shattered from his expert touch. He was so damn confident with manipulating my body to bring me unfathomable pleasure. As my breath came back, I opened my eyes to his cocky smirk.
“I fucking love watching you fall apart.”
If I hadn’t been so sated, his comment would have made me blush, but at that point I didn’t give a damn. Any guy who could do that to a woman earned the right to say whatever he pleased.
He removed his fingers, pausing just long enough to spread my wetness around.
“I’m not done with you yet,” he whispered in my ear as he hitched my legs up to his waist and carried me to the longer part of the sectional. After he set me down, I started to lean back as he removed his pants and briefs.
“Uh-uh …” he smiled deviously as he circled his finger for me to turn over.
I willingly turned over and leaned forward on my knees. There was never a need to spice up our sex life. Anytime, anywhere, anyway was our unspoken motto. We made passionate slow love in bed. We had sensual intercourse in the tub and shower. We had playful sex on the couch or floor. Then there was the raw, primal fucking against a door or wall, in the kitchen, elevator, on the stairs, atop his desk, and of course … in public restrooms. As much as I loved the beautiful way he made love to me, worshipping every inch of my body, sometimes I desired the carnal pleasure of sex that was desperate, possessive, and sometimes even a little rough. Quinn had a bad-boy side to him that he hid under a three-piece suit all day. There was something erotic about him letting go of that control with me. I loved when he pushed me to my own limits of pleasure. Being sexually uninhibited with him was easy.
He kneeled behind me and tightly gripped my hip with his left hand as he guided his erection into me with his right. I moaned at the fullness that always felt more intense from that angle. Without hesitation, he found a fast, hard rhythm, relentlessly surging into me until he reached his climax. Breathless, he leaned over my back, supporting his weight on one arm as he slid his other hand to my sex. Quinn never kept score when it came to orgasms; he usually gave me the first and let me have the last.
We left Quinn’s holiday party in true style. He at least had on his shirt and pants; I wore heels and his suit coat that covered all necessary parts. We received a few interesting looks as we navigated our way from the ladies’ lounge to the elevator. I kept my head down so my hair curtained my face while he warned off anyone who tried to approach us on our way out. Note to self: remember to carry an extra set of clothes if Quinn feels sex-deprived.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
As promised, Quinn escorted me to see all the best shows during December. He shared his favorite musicals and concerts from when he was a child growing up in New York. I had seen some of the same ones in Chicago as a young girl. We also went ice skating at Rockefeller Center, snowboarding, Christmas shopping, and volunteered at various churches and shelters, who opened their doors to the homeless. The Quinn I originally knew would have preferred to write a check instead of giving his time, but that Quinn was gone. He was a more giving person in a personal way that mattered, and he showed a genuine compassion for others. It was simply a bonus that with our time we also donated an insane amount of money. We arranged to have fresh produce delivered to the various locations all month long. Hunger wasn’t the only issue. A lot of the homeless people had health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease. So many of the non-perishable food items filled a caloric need but often exacerbated other health issues.
We decided to stay in New York for Christmas. After all the planned events, I was excited to throw on some comfy clothes and stay locked in our condo for several days. Quinn snuck in a quick workout the morning of Christmas Eve. I did my yoga, showered, and went to work filling the place with the aroma of cookies and other baked goods. Holiday music filled every room, which was why I didn’t hear Quinn come in as I rolled out cookie dough.
“How’s Santa’s naughty little helper?” he whispered in my ear.
With a startled jump, I turned around. “Shit! You scared me.”
He pulled me into him. “Sorry, baby,” he said with a sexy smile.
Dressed in black sweat pants, a grey fitted Icebreaker thermal long-sleeved shirt, and a black beanie, I had to control my instincts to attack him. He looked young, playful, sexy, and hot as Hell.
Pushing up on my tiptoes, I pressed my mouth to his and slipped my tongue between his lips. Grabbing my ass he pulled me in even closer as he released a deep sexy hum from his throat. “Come shower with me.”
“Can’t. I have cookies in the oven.”
He ducked his head down to brush his lips down my neck as he gently tugged my pigtails. “Shut off the oven,” he murmured against my skin.
“It’s not like a casserole. I can’t just shut off the oven––they’ll be ruined. When I’m done baking, you can do whatever you want with ‘Santa’s naughty little helper.’”
He stood up straight with raised eyebrows. “Whatever I want?”
Hiding my excitement, I bit the corner of my lower lip to control my smil
e as I nodded. From the look on his face, it seemed as if Santa came early that year.
“Finish up then, and don’t wipe off any of that flour that’s all over your face … I’ll take care of that.” He smirked.
As soon as he turned to leave the kitchen, I stopped him.
“Quinn?”
He turned back around just in time to catch me as I jumped up and wrapped my arms and legs around him. Kissing him with a fierce intensity, I pulled off his beanie and fisted at his hair. Just as quickly, I pulled back and looked into his sparkling eyes. “God, you’re sexy,” I breathed out with a huge smile.
I’d taken him by surprise. He stared at me without saying anything for a moment. Then the oven timer buzzed. “You’d better get your cookies before I decide to lay you across the counter and make you sing my favorite song.”
I hopped down and grabbed the hot pads. “Your favorite song?” I questioned as he headed up the stairs.
“Yeah, it’s a gospel piece called ‘Oh God, Quinn!’” He chuckled the rest of the way upstairs.
Smart-ass.
*
By the time all the cookies were out of the oven and neatly placed in rows on the cooling racks, the view outside the large windows had transformed into a winter wonderland. Large snowflakes danced everywhere, the kind that almost looked fake because they were so big and airy. I couldn’t help the smile that captured my lips. At thirty-three I still felt like a kid at Christmas time. Thank you, I thought, feeling certain everyone I’d loved and lost before Quinn was calling in a special favor with Mother Nature.
“Amazing, isn’t it?”
Turning toward the voice that warmed my heart and healed my soul, I grinned. “It’s a gift, that’s for sure.”
Quinn was showered with his messy hair still wet. Dressed casually in jeans and a white fitted long-sleeved T-shirt, his sexy bare feet padded toward me.
“May I have this dance?” he asked as he offered his hand.
“Really?” I replied with a huge smile and wide eyes.
