Page 80 of The One for Forever

“I got new furniture and a new mattress in here years ago,” I say. “I’ve, um…had other women here. Not many. But a few.”

I want her to know, without me spelling it out, that I don’t view this as the same room I shared with my wife. While I have no problem discussing Lydia, that’s part of my past.

Quinn is my present. My future.

She makes an annoyed face, but she comes into the room. “Just lie to me and say they were awful in bed and you kicked them out immediately.”

I laugh. “I didn’t do that. I was a gentleman. But they didn’t mean anything to me, and the experiences were lackluster.” I draw her against me, mouthing at the side of her neck. “Nothing like the fireworks I have with you. I amwildfor you, Quinn Ainsley.”

I keep the lights off. Outside, the sun is going down. We undress each other, down to my boxer briefs and her panties, and I lead her to my bed.

We touch and kiss each other all over in the shadowed room. Rolling back and forth over my king-size bed. I moan when she tugs down my boxer briefs and kisses the tip of my cock before smoothing her tongue over my sensitive slit.

“After my prom night, I used to fantasize about being here with you,” she murmurs. “I imagined sneaking into this room and into your bed. I would kiss you to wake you up, and you’d be mad at me at first. You’d tell me we couldn’t. But you’d finally give in because you wanted me too much. I didn’tactuallywantall that to happen, but I wore tracks in my brain with how many times I imagined it.”

There’s a stark difference between fantasy and reality. Even so, I never had such thoughts about Quinn. There were lines my mind wouldn’t have crossed. Butnow? Hearing her say these words in that breathy, needy voice?

“I wanted you to take my virginity,” she says.

“Fuck, Quinn. You’re killing me.” I gently nudge her onto her back. My boxers come off, and I tug her panties down her legs. I need to be inside her. Claiming the woman she is, here and now.

Kneeling, I grab a condom from my nightstand, give my cock a few strokes with my fist in anticipation, and roll the rubber down my length. Soon I’ll want to go bare with her. Take her completely and mark her as mine, inside and out. But this works for now. We’ll get there.

I slide into her tight warmth. Coming home.

She puts her arms around my neck, clinging to me as we make love. We don’t say anything because our bodies are saying it all. Neither of us thought this was possible. I certainly never imagined I could be this happy again after losing so much. Much less with her.

But it’s happened.

When I fell in love for the first time at sixteen years old, I was naive. I had no idea what challenges lay ahead of me. For the longest time after I lost Lydia, I would’ve given anything to go back and change her fate. But it’s impossible to change the past. That kind of decision is out of my hands. It’s not up to me, and I’ve never been grateful for that fact before.

I’m a different man now. Older, more experienced. Hopefully wiser. What Quinn and I have is unique and special in its own way. It’s incredible to think I’m getting a second chance at love.

That’s where I’m headed. I’m falling hard and fast.

We both had dreams of each other, different ones at different times, but they’re coming true. No more secrets. No more fears about what others will think, because I know we’ll make it through.

Now that we’re together, I’ll do everything in my power to ensure we’ll never be apart.

23

Two weeks until the trial.

The morning after my meeting with Pete Diamond, I call Lana and tell her everything. We get on the phone with Diamond, and he confirms what he said the night before. Upon his request, we arrange for protection with the local US Marshals’ office.

We also have to make a supplemental report to the defense, letting them know about Pete’s new testimony. I expect Derek to explode, and yet he’s quiet. That surprises me. But I have plenty of other things to focus on than his trial strategy.

Another week goes by while I work remotely from Rex’s home in West Oaks. Every day, the last of my concussion symptoms are fading. And spending all this time with Rex is bliss. He’s still protecting me, but given how the lines have blurred, he’s decided to take a short leave from Bennett Security until the Printz trial is over. Rex says he doesn’t want to be paid for guarding me when he’s really acting as my boyfriend, which makes me all warm and gooey inside.

But he still coordinates with the other bodyguards who keep an eye on his house. Thankfully, we don’t have any other randomcreeps coming near. I stay off social media and never, ever google my name online.

Lark pesters me for info on my relationship with Rex, and I can finally gush about how wonderful he is and how happy I am. I’m less effusive with Cliff, who still hasn’t had a real conversation with his dad. But Cliff and I are good, and I know that he and Rex have at least exchanged a few texts.

As the trial approaches, I’m nervous but confident. We’ve got a powerful case against Amber. I’m ready.

The night before jury selection begins, Rex makes salmon and roasted potatoes for dinner. We sit on the couch later, cuddling and listening to jazz. I hold up my phone and take a selfie of us with our heads together.

Rex smiles when I show it to him. “Send it to me. I’ll get it framed. First new addition to the photo wall.”

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