Callie lifted an eyebrow. “You’re going to cook?”
“Baby, I have a few surprises left in me yet. You just go relax and take Zeke to watch over you. I’ll get us fed. I’m clueless in the kitchen, but not entirely helpless.”
Callie’s heart skipped at how sweet he was being. “Thank you, Quinn.” She ran her hands down the front of his body.
That simple action forced him to remember the restraint he was attempting to keep. When she went up on her toes to kiss him, all hope at self-control was quickly escaping.
“I’ll be back,” she murmured softly.
As Callie wandered away, Quinn had the overwhelming desire to follow her up and watch her frolic in a tub full of bubbles. Unfortunately, he was going to think puritanical thoughts for the rest of the night.
Opening the back door, he called Zeke, sending him upstairs. “Go guard Callie,” he ordered, and then laughed as the dog tore through the kitchen to find his new best friend.
He had officially been replaced.
Quinn shook his head in disbelief as he headed into the kitchen to heat up the food he’d bought earlier.
Maybe he could use this to keep her there with them. After all, how could she leave and break Zeke’s poor puppy heart?
Stripping naked, Callie climbed into the large tub. When she sunk down into the hot water, her body went lax. God, it felt good to just enjoy the blissful warmth. Since coming to stay with Quinn, she had felt more at home there than anywhere else. Deep in her heart, she was beginning to dread the move back to her house. Then, add in the fact she was missing her old job.
This was a conundrum.
Lately, she couldn’t think of being away from Quinn for even a minute. Callie released the breath she was holding. Okay, it was evident. She was most definitely in love, and now she needed to find the right moment to drop the bomb on the man downstairs. After that, she would worry about the FBI issue. Callie knew deep down, she’d sacrifice that dream, but her sheriff was non-negotiable. She needed to solidify where this relationship was headed.
Callie desperately needed to know.
When she glanced over at the clock, she realized that she was no longer just hungry—she was starving.
“Well, Zeke, we better go downstairs and make sure Quinn is okay with dinner,” she said, standing to dry off. When she slipped into her silk robe, she called for the big beast to follow her. “Come on, Zekey,” she said, snapping her fingers. The dog obeyed, trotting alongside her.
When Callie made her way into the kitchen, Quinn stood there drinking a beer, looking very smug.
“Hey! I don’t see you cooking, but I smell food. Care to tell me how you pulled off that miracle?”
Quinn placed his beer on the counter. “I was a Boy Scout. We’re always prepared.” Then, he noticed she looked a little more alive and less corpse-like. “Well, at least your color is back,” he admitted, touching her cheek.
“Aren’t you a sweet talker?” Callie drawled as she wrapped her arms around his waist. “So, what are you feeding me?”
“It’s all set up in the dining room. I figured we could eat in there, since I never use that table. I might as well give it a shot at least once.”
Callie laughed until she saw the glass of juice he held in his hand. “Can I have beer?”
“Nope. You aren’t allowed to have alcohol with your pain pill,” he said, leading her into the dining room. Once there, Quinn had a surprise waiting for her. While she was in the bathtub, he’d lit candles and dimmed the lights to be romantic.
“Quinn! This is amazing,” she whispered, turning to kiss him. Callie actually sighed when he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against his body.
The display of romance touched her heart.
Quinn tried to focus, but God almighty, she smelled so damn good. This was like a test.
It had to be.
There was a sexy woman, and she was all over him, but he wasn’t supposed to touch. Yeah, here was some lesson from the universe.
Callie loved how he felt pressed against her. “Mmmmm… want to skip dinner and have dessert first?”
Quinn wanted that in the worst way, but he was trying valiantly to behave himself. “On any other night, I would have you naked on that table, baby, but you need food and rest. I think that’s what’s best for you.”
Callie stepped back and grinned, “Okay, Quinton. We can do this the hard way,” she said, winking before taking a seat. “I love Italian.”
Quinn watched her suspiciously, as he went to sit beside her. “Me too. What did you mean by ‘the hard way’?” he asked.
She opted to ignore his question. “What are we having?”
“Chicken parm, pasta, and salad,” he said, as he handed her a fork. “Start eating, baby. You need some food.”
Callie stared incredulously at the copious amount of dinner he had bought. “Quinn, there’s enough food here to feed five people,” she said, taking a bite of the chicken. The second it touched her taste buds, she was a happy girl.
“Good, huh?” he asked, grinning.
“It’s wonderful, and now you can tell me where it came from.”
“The little Italian place in town,” he said, joining her as she ate.
Callie crossed her legs and the robe slid across her body, baring a healthy portion of skin. Callie could have pretended it wasn’t intentional, but she had ulterior motives.
She was going to seduce the big guy.
When Callie noticed that Quinn was stuck staring at the glide of material across her flesh, she could tell by his face what he was thinking.
This was going to be easy.
“So darlin’, what’s the first thing that we’re doing tomorrow morning?” She saw the flicker in his eyes, and the fight to contain his lust. “I was referring more to the serial killer,” she said laughing, as she drank her juice. “But I’m sure I’ll be up for that, too.”
Quinn forced himself to stare into her eyes and not at the robe gaping at her chest. “We’re in the process of getting the warrants for the DNA sample from the reverend and procuring your patient files too. I have a few deputies going through the receipts for the baseball bat.”
“That’s great. What about the information on the potential sites the killer may leave the next victim?”
He sipped his beer, hoping it would cool down his libido. “I have extra patrols on those locations. We should be good from here on out.”
Callie leaned forward to touch his thigh. “Dinner is really good, Quinn. Thank you.” She was well aware that he was getting a really good cleavage shot. Now, she wondered exactly how much it would take for him to lose control. Tonight was the perfect time to experiment.
Quinn tried not to notice the lush skin calling to him, but it was incredibly difficult. “Luke called and there was a strand of hair stuck to the tape on Jonnie Sharp’s mouth. They’re running it to see if it’s viable.”
“When will that be in?” she asked innocently, all the while rubbing her foot against his leg.
Quinn swallowed the food he had just placed in his mouth, before he choked. “Sometime tomorrow, I would imagine. We should also be getting back the fingerprint comparison that we requested on Ed James.”
“How did he explain the missing tool?” Again, she rested her free hand on his thigh, really high up on his leg, sitting precariously close to his groin.
He was having a really difficult time breathing. Quinn could feel his body starting to roar to life under her fingertips, despite his attempt to stay calm. His body was practically begging for her to slide further up into his lap, but Quinn knew he needed to let her heal.
“Ed swears it went missing two days ago.”
“Do you believe him?” Callie asked, brushing against his body ‘accidentally’.
He shook at the slight contact. Finally, he admitted what he was thinking. “You know, this isn’t all that fair. I’m trying to have some restraint, and you’re making this almost impossible.
” Again, he chugged his beer, trying to cool down.
Callie grinned devilishly. “I’m sorry. Is it hard?”
Quinn choked and Callie thumped him on his back.
“Yeah, trust me. It’s very hard.”
It was Callie’s turn to laugh at the double meaning. Cutting Quinn a break, she slid her hand back down his leg and into her lap. “Do you want me to go with you to the reverend’s tomorrow?” she asked casually, taking a bite of salad.
“I don’t know. I think it’s going to be a tough situation, and I’d prefer you to be away from the center of it.”
“Okay, what else do you have to do?” she asked, running her hand up his arm to his shoulder. Callie was well aware that the little touches were driving him wild. How could they not be? They were making her crazy as well. There was something so enticing about a romantic guy who was trying to be a gentleman.
“We have to start with the angle you came up with. We’ll be checking out who each woman was sleeping with because there didn’t seem to be a whole lot of fidelity going on,” he stated, as Callie’s fingers continued to explore his body. She was currently stroking the spot on his collarbone where he’d been shot. It was sending little currents of electricity through his body.
Callie couldn’t miss the seriousness plastered on his face. “Infidelity is the downfall of many relationships,” she stated, and then continued, “You know what, Quinn? I’m having a little problem right now,” she drawled.
“Yeah, well, I imagine my issue is a little more dire than yours, but feel free to share,” Quinn stated, barely able to concentrate. Picking up his beer, he forced himself to try and focus on her words.
“I think I’m having a hot flash,” she said. When she stood and dropped her robe to the floor, it was hard not to break out in a fit of giggles.
Quinn’s expression was priceless.
“I’m still feeling a little warm, Sheriff. Damn this July heat.”
“Callie,” he groaned, closing his eyes, trying to regain control.
Since she was close to breaking him, she went for it. Moving to stand in front of him, she straddled his lap, placing the table at her back. There was just enough room as she was effectively pressed against his body.
“Oh God! I’m afraid to open my eyes,” Quinn muttered. “I can imagine what this looks like and that’s maddening, but the actual sight might kill me.”
He peeked, and it nearly did him in.
Callie took the beer bottle from his fingers and slowly, ran it across her breasts. His eyes tracked it the entire way. “Oh, that feels so much better.”
Quinn couldn’t look away from the sweating beer bottle, as it left a trail across her flesh. What he wanted to do was lap at the little beads of moisture until he was satiated.
But he knew that he shouldn’t.
“Damn it, Callie! You’re hurt, and I’m trying to restrain myself from making your concussion worse.” He brought his hands up to her hips and the silky skin beneath his palms made his body even harder.
He wanted this woman in the worst way.
“I’m fine, Quinn. We can sit here and debate it, and then have sex, or we can go right upstairs and discuss it afterward. Take your pick, but either way, it’s still happening. I want and need you.”
Quinn was a conflicted man.
Finally, the weaker half won. Standing, his chair tumbled backward as he decided that he’d suffered enough and deserved the prize.
Callie took this as her signal and jumped, wrapping her legs around his waist. There was that secret satisfaction that the man, who she was pressed against, wanted her. It still amazed her how lucky she was.
It was beyond time. Quinn couldn’t wait any longer. With his large hands, he supported her as he quickly climbed the stairs. Need pounded through him, as his own body demanded he enjoy dessert.
Callie couldn’t wait. She crushed her lips against Quinn’s, diving headlong into the desire. Their mating of mouths pulled a moan from his chest, driving her wild.
“Hurry, Quinn! I want you,” she whispered against his mouth and tongue. Reaching down between their bodies, Callie flicked the top button open on his jeans, and then slipped her hand into his pants.
He hissed in need.
“Callie, we won’t make it to our room if you keep it up,” he muttered hoarsely, as she licked his throat and started sucking on his earlobe. When she nipped him, he almost dropped her.
“Quinn, I want you in me,” she replied into his ear, along with a few other creative suggestions on what else he could do with her body.
“Holy shit! Woman, you’re going to kill me yet,” he said, kicking open his bedroom door, only to push it closed with his back.
Callie’s hands went to the front of his shirt, and for a second she paused. Staring into his eyes, she opted to let her desires lead the way. With one rough yank, she pulled roughly at the material.
Buttons went flying.
Control frayed even further.
When Callie began her oral exploration of his neck, he had to get her to their bed, and fast. If he didn't have her, he was going to go insane. “Callie, I don’t want to hurt you,” he said, kissing her face gently.
“I thought we agreed sex now, discussion later.”
It was all the invitation that he needed.
Quinn grabbed her wrists, holding them above her head. Moving right to her breasts, he began tasting every inch of her. Callie’s response was making him crazy. He continued teasing her as he slid his free hand to where her body met his. Since she had yet to unwind her legs from his waist, he decided to use that to his advantage.
Callie gasped at his exploration. She arched and impaled herself more deeply on his probing fingers. “Quinn, please, now,” she begged.
Quinn glanced up from her breasts, his eyes burning with pure unadulterated want. “Beg, Callie,” he hissed, as he slid his hand down to free himself from his jeans.
“God, please, Quinn! Fill me!”
Her words caused the fire to explode in him. There was no way that he couldn’t take her then and there. “Now, Callista?” he asked, growling in her ear.
“Yes, Quinn, now!” she begged more.
Quinn freed himself and slid the tip of his erection into her, preparing to take what he wanted and needed. As he stared into her eyes, he thrust into her in one long stroke. When he buried himself fully, Callie shattered apart.
Holding completely still, he waited until she had finished riding the waves of pleasure. When she finally resurfaced, her breathing was still heavy with need.
“I want more, Callie,” he whispered, knowing that he wasn’t talking about the sex. Quinn wanted all of the woman beneath him, most importantly, her heart. As he proceeded to withdraw, and then bury himself deep in to her body, over and over again, the frenzy took control, and he was lost. All he could focus on was the continual glide of him finding his way into the delicious warmth. Quinn was convinced that the more he drove himself into her, the closer he was to making this woman his.
Time stopped, and all that existed was his need and her breathy gasps of pleasure.
He was lost in her.
Callie could feel the heat building again and just before she knew her body was going to break apart, Quinn’s rhythm faltered. It was time to fall with him. When she called his name, he replied, and together they exploded.
Time stood still as they floated in the bliss.
No one spoke.
Finally, awareness settled in. Rolling to his back, Quinton pulled Callie to his side. What just happened was like getting caught in some wild storm. Both had held on through the power of it. “God, baby! That was beyond words.”
Callie agreed. “It must have been, since you’re still in your jeans and boots, big guy,” she said, leaving a kiss symbolically over his heart, before she laid her head back onto his shoulder. The pain pill that she had taken earlier was pulling her toward the darkness.
Quinn lay there, listening to her breathing.
There was a sense of peace washing over him. It had never been like this with any women before. This feeling was new to him.
He was pretty sure that it was safe to say that he would die without her.
She was his everything.
During sex, he told her that he wanted more. Well, now he was going to get it. There was no turning back.
Callista Carter owned his heart.
Now, he was going to find a way to get hers.
* * *
They crept through the darkness until they reached the doctor’s house.
Since she still wasn’t getting the message, maybe this little warning would push her over the edge.
If not, then they would have to play rough.
Standing in the darkness, they watched the two FBI agents in the doctor’s kitchen.
They lost track of her today, and when they snuck by the sheriff’s house, they didn't see any movement.
She had to be here.
As the two men shut off the kitchen light and headed out of the room, they waited a few minutes before continuing.
Dumping out the bag, they artfully arranged the gift they had for her.
This would speak volumes.
If this didn't work, they knew what else they could do to get her to stop helping the Feds and sheriff.
“Why don’t we just take her now?” whispered one shadowy figure.
“She’s saved for last. This isn’t the time.”
“I think you just like to mess with her.”
The cloaked leader simply laughed.
“Yes, I do.”
* * *
Sunday Morning
Quinn rolled over to find the sun shining on his face. When he reached for her, Callie wasn’t there. Again, panic washed over him in a suffocating wave. Quickly, Quinn threw on his jeans and hurried downstairs. When he saw her, he slid to a stop in the doorway. From where he stood, Quinn watched her working in his kitchen.
There stood his other half. She had pulled her hair up and was in a tiny pair of shorts and tank top. Suddenly, he found it hard to breathe. All that mattered was that Callie was fine, and still with him.
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