Page 64 of Dust to Dust

“Okay. Just this once.”

I jerked my thumb at Mabry. “All right. You can get out of here now.”

“Quinn,” Isla admonished.

“What?”

“You’re being a beast.”

Mabry’s wide eyes stared between the two of us. I’m sure she was wondering if Isla had a death wish for talking to me like she was, or that I had lost my edge for letting Isla chide me for my behavior.

With a grunt, I said, “My apologies. There’s a waiting SUV. Can you please go and get in, Mabry?”

“Um, sure. I mean, yes, sir.” She gave Isla a quick smile. “I’ll be waiting.”

“Thank you.”

Once we were alone, I stared down at Isla. “I’m so fucking selfish.”

Her brows creased. “Don’t say that. You’re one of the kindest men I know.”

“I’m selfish at the moment because I’m stalling taking you out to the car.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want you out of my sight.”

A shy smile curved on her lips. “I don’t want out of your sight either.”

At that moment, the realization hit me. Tonight had changed everything between us. There was no going back and no more denying the depth of my feelings for her.

I wanted this woman with every fiber of my being. I wanted to own her mind, body, and soul. I wanted to fill her with my cum and see my child growing within her. I wanted to wake up in the mornings with her wrapped in my arms.

I wanted a future with her that I’d never allowed myself to entertain since the bombing.

I wasn’t going to let Isla go.

Chapter Sixteen: Isla

Reaching over, Quinn eased his hands underneath me to gently lift me into his arms. Although I wanted to protest that my legs worked fine, I kept my mouth shut and snuggled against his broad chest.

Although the pain in my throat and neck was agony, a warmth filled me from Quinn’s protection and care. He’d told me he hadn’t wanted to let me go. More than that, he told me there was no one else he wanted to touch him but me.

When he carried me out the doorway, a hush came over the crowd outside.

“Show’s over. Get the fuck out of here!” Quinn commanded.

Dancers, clients, and Quinn’s men all scattered. After Quinn nodded at one of his bodyguards, the emergency exit door was opened. At the alarm ringing in my ears, I turned my face into Quinn’s neck to escape the noise.

When my lips accidentally brushed against his puckered skin, Quinn froze mid-step. A shudder ran through him. It took a moment before he shook himself out of his stupor.

To my surprise, heat ignited between my thighs at the contact. The intrusive thoughts in my mind wondered what it would be like to lick my way up his scars, planting kisses and tender love bites along the way.

Or to take it even farther by licking down to where they escaped into his shirt’s collar. To worship each and every inch of them. To show him they were a part of his beauty and could never disgust me.

At Quinn’s clenched jaw, I whispered, “Sorry.”

“Don’t ever apologize to me,” he grunted as he started walking again.

---