“You can’t stay hidden forever, Ms. Keller. And neither can Caroline.” Jace heard the barely leashed civility in his words. He was unraveling, the edge of insanity finally cutting through his facade. “Eventually you’ll both have to reenter the world. And when you do I’ll be there, waiting.”
The line cut off, the silence of dead air almost worse than his taunting words.
With a shaking hand, Quinn reached for her phone and held the button down until the whole thing went dark, powered off.
Turning to him, she said, “Can I borrow your phone?” in a voice that was steadier than he’d expected.
Without hesitation, he handed it over. Her first call was to Melanie. They discussed the possibility of moving Caroline to another location, one with more security. The next call was to the lawyer handling Quinn’s complaint and the last was to Daniel.
Jace listened, impressed with the calm, cool way she handled the situation. Not that he was really surprised. He’d always known she had a backbone of steel and an IQ to back up that strength.
He also knew her well enough to realize that when everything was handled she was likely to give in to the temper building inside her. He could see evidence of it as her skin went from pale to bright pink. Her mouth thinned and the skin around her eyes tightened.
His hands contracted around the wheel as he stared out the windshield into the darkening night. Frustration and fear bubbled up inside him. They were impotent, and that only made the restless energy buzzing through him worse.
There was nothing for him to do.
He was used to tackling problems head-on. Drawing up tactical plans and executing. He was a man of action.
Tonight he felt useless, with Quinn’s safety and Caroline’s life hanging in the balance.
* * *
TENSION RADIATED OFF of him in waves. It made Quinn’s own body tighten, as if her muscles were actually connected to his, affected by what he was feeling.
Quinn wanted to give him some relief, and she was desperate for a release to her own pressure, as well.
She was beyond pissed. An explosive mixture of emotions strung her body taut—frustration, anxiety, fury, impatience.
If something didn’t give soon she was afraid she’d just start screaming and never be able to stop.
Jace ushered her up to his place, but just inside the door he said, “Stay here while I sweep the apartment.”
She realized he was being smart and protective, but his harsh tone scraped across her already fraying nerves. Quinn watched him disappear, gun hanging loose and ready at his side.
How was she any safer next to the door than she would have been sitting on the sofa not ten feet away?
Shaking her head, Quinn dropped her arms, decided Jace was being overly dramatic, walked over and collapsed onto the soft cushions. The thing was massive, very masculine. She could easily tell where Jace preferred to sit because it dipped down into a comfortable impression.
Scooting over into that spot, she curled onto her side, pressing her cheek against the arm. For some reason it soothed her. As if Jace had his arms wrapped around her.
Quinn strained to hear any sign of him, but the apartment was silent. It shouldn’t have surprised her, how light on his feet Jace was, but it did. Not even watching him bounce and shuffle in the ring had prepared her for the smooth, deadly way he could just...disappear.
“I thought I told you to stay by the door.”
Quinn rolled her head back, letting her gaze move up his hips, fists planted firmly against them in irritation, over his chest, to his glaring eyes. At least he’d put the gun away.
It didn’t bother her exactly, not when she realized its purpose was her protection. But the ease with which he handled the thing only emphasized to her the risks in his life. It was a reminder that he’d done and seen things she’d never understand.
She didn’t like the reminder. Not even knowing he no longer spent his days knee-deep in danger could stop the sudden tightening in her chest whenever she thought of just how many times he’d brushed close to death.
Quinn had lost enough people in her life—to things most would call tragic and just plain bad luck—to realize terrible things happened all the time. She didn’t hold a monopoly on pain and grief. In fact, she’d made a career out of helping others who were suffering, partly because it helped remind her that there were people out there dealing with much worse than she’d experienced.
But even the briefest thought that something could happen to Jace sent her heart thumping wildly and a sick wave of dread rolling through her stomach.
She tried to suppress the ill-timed reaction and her sudden need to touch him, hold him.
“I’m fine, Jace. And how is it safer for me over there than right here? It’s been a long day and I just wanted to sit down.”
His mouth thinned, but his eyes went soft. Closing the space between them, he dropped a hip to the edge of the couch beside her. Running the pad of his finger along her forehead, he smoothed several strands of hair off of her face.
“When I issue an order I need to know you’re going to follow it.”
“I’m not one of your soldiers, Jace. I don’t have to blindly follow you.”
His mouth quirked into a crooked smile that lacked an edge of humor. “You don’t have to, but would it be too much to ask that you do it anyway?”
“Apparently,” she said.
He sighed, his fingers dipping lower to trail beneath her jaw, tipping her face up so she was staring straight into his eyes. “What am I going to do with you?”
Heat rolled slowly through her body, replacing the sick sludge of emotions the day had left.
It wasn’t the kind of wild spark she’d been struggling to control for the past two years. This was something more. Deeper. Easy and perfect.
Wetting her lips, she said, “I have a few ideas, but I’m open to suggestions.”
An answering flare of need lit up his gaze. He shifted, his hip rubbing against her thigh. That one simple touch and she wanted to open for him, give him everything.
Stupid, stupid, stupid. But she couldn’t seem to stop the compulsion.
His index finger slipped lower, down the slope of her throat and beneath the collar of her shirt. She’d never considered her collarbones an erogenous zone, but with him trailing tingles across her skin, it was hard to concentrate on anything else.
She wanted him to go lower. Her nipples tightened and ached. But he stayed right where he was and played. And she let him. It was too good not to.
Reaching out for him, she found the hard expanse of his thigh. God, the man was made entirely of rock-solid muscle. It shouldn’t surprise her, the strength that lay hidden, but it did. It was easy to forget...until she touched him.
He watched her, those clear blue eyes going dark and just a little dangerous. Quinn squirmed beneath the sheer intensity of his scrutiny. The way he watched her made her feel like he could see straight through her. She was an open book—body, mind and soul. She couldn’t keep any secrets, from him or herself, while he was watching her like that.
“God, I can’t keep my hands off you, Quinn.” The sound of his low, gravelly voice was as much of a caress as his teasing fingers.
“Why do you have to?” she asked, so breathless she was afraid she’d start panting. She was a melting mass of need, a slave to her body and the response he was coaxing from her, while he was calm and controlled.
She wanted to affect him just as much.
“Because...my focus should be on protecting you.”
She definitely didn’t agree with him on that.
“That’s bullshit and you know it. The only thing holding you back right now is the guilt, and I thought we’d laid that to rest yesterday.”
He shook his head, staring mutely at h
er out of tortured eyes. She could see the fight, the pull against what his brain told him he should do and what his body was begging him to finish.
She knew which one she hoped won.
“What did your dad say to you?”
He blinked. “What?”
“Sam. What did he say to you when he dragged you out to the garage last night?”
She hadn’t intended to bring up her conversation with Naomi. At the time she’d been embarrassed by it. Hadn’t been ready to talk to Jace about it.
Now...maybe it was the one thing that could cut through the guilt.
And she wanted it gone.
“We weren’t fooling them. Don’t know about your dad, but Naomi saw right through us. The minute you guys left she started asking me questions.”
He made a low warning sound that sent a surge of hope through her. Quinn quickly tamped it down. It meant nothing. Not really.
“I’m sorry, Quinn. We shouldn’t have gone over there. Not yet.”
“Don’t you apologize to me. I knew what I was walking into. And I didn’t mind. Do you know what she said to me, Jace? She said I would always be her daughter, no matter what happened between you and me. That she and your father loved me, Michael loved me and he’d be happy that I was finally happy.”
The tears she’d fought at the time pricked the backs of her eyes again. She hadn’t been ready to hear the words, but they were nice to have anyway.
She didn’t know what this was or where they were going. But his mom was right—being with Jace made her happy. And for now, that was enough.
“Jace,” she breathed out. “This feels right.”
Sitting up, Quinn brought them face-to-face, inches apart. She could feel the humid warmth of his breath as it brushed across her cheek. Smell cinnamon and the barest hint of coffee. The heat of him overwhelmed her.
Slipping her hands beneath the hem of his tight black T-shirt, she ran her palms up and over his abs. She loved the way he responded to her touch, his muscles contracting in waves like ripples across water.
“It feels good, Quinn. There’s a difference.”
Suddenly, desire wasn’t the only thing heating her blood; irritation burned with it. “Damn you, Jace. Is that what you think of me? That I’d chase physical pleasure and to hell with whatever destruction I left in my wake? Do you think I don’t know how hard this is for you? That you’re struggling with guilt over wanting me? That I haven’t struggled with the same thing?”
His fingers gripped her shoulders, pulling her closer even as he tried to backtrack. “No, that’s not what I meant. I know it’s been a while for you, that’s all. You’re starting to move on and part of that is your body coming alive.”
“There have been plenty of men over the last two years who would have been happy to accept an invitation to my bed. Men I was mildly attracted to. I could have had sex anytime I wanted, taking that physical comfort.”
Quinn strained against his hold on her, not to get away but to push closer. His gaze bored into hers. She felt the impact of it straight down to her toes, but she wanted to make sure he heard her, saw the truth in what she was about to say.
“I’ve had love, Jace. I know there’s more to sex than the physical. Do you think I’d settle for something cheap and fleeting after that? Do you think I’d cheapen what I had with him by accepting less?”
Jace drew in a sharp breath, but she didn’t let his reaction slow her down.
“I’m not saying that’s what we have. We do have more. I care about you and I always have. You’re important to me, and not just because you were important to him. I see you. I want you. Not some random warm body in my bed. You.”
She watched him, waiting for some indication of his response. He simply stared at her, his eyes shuttered and unreadable.
And then he was surging against her, a low rumble rolling through his chest. Her back collided with the arm of the couch, arching her over and pushing her body high. He slid against her, chest to chest, hips to hips, until his mouth found hers and demanded she open and let him in.
As if she’d fight it. It’s what she’d been fighting for the last ten minutes.
His fingers tangled in her hair, twisting and turning, moving her exactly where he wanted so he could taste and explore every corner of her mouth. All she could do was melt, take, accept and enjoy.
The man could kiss. Soft and slow, hard and sultry, he consumed her mouth in a way that made her feel as if kissing her was the only thing keeping him from breaking apart.
He poured every ounce of frustration, restless energy, fear and need into their joining. Quinn tasted it all, absorbing the firestorm and letting it twist through her own body.
She moaned, drawing in a desperate breath before diving under with him again. Her body writhed, wanting more. Could she burn up from just his mouth?
With Jace anything was possible.
His hands ran beneath the hem of her shirt, dragging it up her body. One hand spread across her back, his fingers so wide they practically spanned her shoulder blades. Biceps bulging, he held her up so he could toss her shirt away. In the back of her head, she heard it hit something with a soft swish.
An arm wrapped tight around her ribs, Jace shifted them. One moment she was on her back, the next she was upright and straddling his lap.
His hold on her didn’t loosen as he pressed her fully against him. Needing skin on skin, Quinn quickly pulled his shirt off. She was afraid they were both going to be consumed by the heat burning between them.
But what a way to go.
His mouth trailed down her neck and across the collarbones he’d been so taken with earlier. Shivers followed in his wake.
Quinn’s fingers tightened in the hair at the back of his neck, holding them both in place. The questing tip of his tongue dipped beneath the edge of her bra, drawing a surprised gasp.
She reached behind her, fumbling for the clasp that would free her for more, but a single hand grasped her wrists and closed around them tight. Behind her back, his hold arched her body, driving her breasts higher.
It didn’t hurt, but put her already tumbling world more off kilter. Being unable to use her hands only made her want to touch him more.
Then his mouth settled across her aching nipple. He sucked, hard, drawing her deep into his mouth. Even through the barrier of satin, it was almost too much. He licked and sucked, teeth scraping against her puckered flesh, drawing a gasp from her as deep inside her core pulsed with growing need.
He paid the same attention to the other side, leaving her panting and squirming. She writhed, grinding their hips together in an effort to find some relief for the building ache. But it wasn’t enough.
Not when they were both still wearing way too many clothes.
“Jace. Please. Take them off.”
She could feel his lips curve against her skin. “Take what off?”
“All of it. Now.” From her vantage point, a little above him, she stared down, compelling him to give her what she wanted.
His gaze sharpened, going dark and predatory. His hips shifted up, even as his heavy hands held her in place, grinding against her and giving her what she needed—almost but not quite.
Releasing his hold on her wrists, he snapped the clasp of her bra and swept it off her shoulders. It fell to the cushions beside them, completely forgotten. Hands cupping her hips, he set her back onto her feet.
Quinn swayed, her head swimming. He kept hold of her, using one hand to keep her upright while the other worked her zipper. She might have been a little fuzzy, but there were two things standing between her and bliss—her pants and Jace’s jeans. And she wanted both gone. Quickly.
Hooking her thumbs into the waistbands of her jeans and panties, Quinn shoved. With a flick of each ankle, she sent her flats skittering acros
s the floor. Her jeans were barely an abandoned pile at her feet before she was leaning over and tugging at the buttons on his fly.
He hissed when her fingers scraped down the long ridge of his erection, but he didn’t stop her. His own hands fell to the couch, gripping the cushions like an anchor locking him in place. His hips rose before she’d popped the last metal disc free. It was all the invitation she needed, tugging at the tight denim until it slithered down his thighs to pool at his feet.
Kneeling, she yanked at the heavy boots he preferred. Dangerous men and their footwear. Shaking her head, Quinn tossed one over her shoulder and then the other, not caring if the steel-reinforced boots broke anything on their way down.
She’d barely gotten him free before his hands were spanning her waist again, pulling her back onto his lap.
This time, she was the one hissing when the blazing heat of him touched her clammy, needy skin.
Her thighs bracketed his. Her sex slid against him, searching for that perfect angle that would finally bring them together. But Jace held her away, keeping her from sinking onto him.
He used their friction against her, dragging her body across him, even as his thighs widened and urged her open more.
His thumb slipped between the lips of her sex, playing and teasing. God, she didn’t think she could take much more. Not tonight.
He rubbed her clit, bringing her close before backing off. Her hips thrust against him, searching, hoping, begging for more.
And then he was spreading her open, the heavy head of his sex probing at her entrance. Her body clenched tight, wanting, needing him to fill her.
He tried to give it to her slowly, torturing them both inch by inch, but Quinn wasn’t in the mood to wait.
Rolling her hips, she dropped down, taking him all in one smooth, deep stroke. His hand, caught between them, ground against her clit and nearly sent her straight into orbit. But she wasn’t ready to let go, not yet.
Quinn went still, relishing the way they fit together. Her body pulsed around him, fluttering with the orgasm she was forcibly holding back. Her eyes closed for a moment as she savored the sensation of him filling her.
Testing the Limits Page 13
