The Harder He Falls: 2 (So Inked) (32 page)

“Want to give me a hand?”

She tipped her bottle back and sidestepped away from the grill.

“Fine. It’s actually done. Want to grab the plates?”

“Sure.”

He savored these moments of domestic bliss. Would it be like this to live with her on a daily basis? Would they even like it?

* * * * *

Kellie pushed her plate away and leaned back on the barstool. Quin was still sawing away at his steak with more force than he needed. She’d been so focused on her own woes that she hadn’t paid much attention to what he needed. This was the tough part about being in a relationship, you had to make time for each other’s needs and actually care.

“What did you do today after we talked?” he asked around a mouthful of food.

“It’s so hot when you talk with your mouth full of food.”

He smacked his lips a few times and she rolled her eyes.

“I went to the shop to do the bookkeeping and hang out. Sam, Mary’s kid, told her he doesn’t want to be shop manager anymore. It sucks because we have to hire and train someone, but we’ll get a full-time person instead of night and weekend help. I don’t like being at the house without Grandma. It’s weird. How about you? Did the A/Cs go in okay?”

“Yeah, we still need one more unit, but it’s not baking people alive.”

“Any leads on who did it?” She hated that someone had done this.

“Nothing, but the police are paying more attention to me and what’s been going on.” He wiped his face with a napkin and stacked his plate under hers.

“That’s good. Dinner was really great. Thank you.”

He put his hand over hers. “You’re welcome.”

She swiveled to face him and tilted her head to the side. “So steak dinner, huh? Is there a fight on tonight?”

His brow furrowed and he actually took a second to think about it. “Not that I know of.”

“Does this mean you want to have sex? Because I’m really not that hard to convince, you know?” She had to bite back a laugh. Poor Quin’s eyebrows were trying to crawl off his forehead and he’d forgotten to close his mouth.

“I, uh, maybe.”

She slid off the stool and pushed between his legs. She’d had a hard time keeping her eyes off his chest and abs. She could have saved them a paper plate and just eaten off his stomach. Not that she had to keep her hands to herself, but watching him was quickly becoming one of her favorite pastimes. He automatically grabbed her hips and stared at her. She leaned against him and planted a quick kiss on his mouth.

“This was not how I pictured this going.” He slid his hands around to cup her ass.

“Really? How did you want this to go down?” She leaned into him and rested her forehead against his.

“I was going to cook dinner for you.”

“Check.”

He stood and easily lifted her. With any other man, handling her had pissed her off, but he turned her on. She wrapped her legs around his hips and her arms around his neck. “Hang out and talk a little.”

“We’ve done that.”

“Maybe watch some TV.” Though his gaze was on her, he walked without faltering to the steps in the front hall.

“Not interested.”

“Make out a little.”

She trailed kisses along his jaw to his ear. “That’s sounding more like it. Then what?”

He started up the stairs, but he paused at each one. “Uh.”

She tightened her hold on him and rolled her hips. He stumbled and had to grasp the banister with one hand. She laughed and braced to hit the ground, but he held them both upright by some miracle.

“Fuck it,” Quin growled against her ear and set her down on a step partway up the staircase.

She laughed and tried to push to her feet but his hands on her thighs held her in place. He knelt two stairs down from her and had a determined glint in his eye. How could he make her feel sexier? She was not unaware of her charms or the way men were attracted to her, but rarely did the way one looked at her change the way she felt about herself. Quin made her want to preen, whatever the fuck that meant.

He began kissing her knee and blazed a fast trail up her thigh. He pushed her skirt up to her hips and shoved his hands under the leg band of her underwear. Her nipples tingled and her panties grew damp. She leaned back on the stairs and propped her elbows up so she could have some leverage as Quin pressed his mouth to the outside of her panties and stroked her with his tongue.

Her eyes drifted shut as warmth radiated to the rest of her body. “Did you see this in a porno too?”

His movements stilled and she cracked open one eye. His hands still cupped her hips, his body forcing her thighs open, but his face was cocked to the side and his brows drawn down in a pensive look. He held the pose for a moment then shook his head. “Nope.”

She let her head drop back and laughed. It was no hardship to enjoy his touch, the way he could be rough and gentle. One of his hands, trapped as it was by her panties, slid across her hip to her mound while he nuzzled her breasts through the strained fabric.

“Then where does this come from?” she asked, a little disgusted with how breathless she sounded. He did this to her.

“Too many stairs.”

She chuckled and dug her fingers into his thick hair. Quin bit the top of her dress and tugged it down, but the elastic snapped back into place. She tried to stifle her giggles but he was so earnestly frustrated she snickered anyway.

“Not what I meant to do,” he grumbled.

“Here. This what you want?” She pushed the strapless dress and bra down, freeing her breasts.

He grunted and pressed an open-mouthed kiss to one breast then the other. She arched her back, wanting more. He obliged, sucking on the tips and teasing the peaks with his teeth. She moaned and pressed him harder against her chest, ignoring the way the wooden stairs bit into her back and shoulders. He slid his fingers through her folds and her thighs tightened around him. He thrust two fingers into her slick channel and slowly pumped them in time with his mouth. She put her heels on the edge of a stair and thrust her hips at the pace she wanted.

“Unh-unh.” Quin let her abused breast pop from his lips and removed his hand from her panties.

“Oh come on,” she whined.

He grinned at her and crawled down her body, lowering his knees to another stair. He bit her leg just above her knee and winked. “You’re going to.”

A shiver stole up her spine. She didn’t doubt Quin, in fact she looked forward to it. Each time they had sex it got better.

He pulled the crotch of her panties aside and blew across her damp skin. His fingers stroked her labia, gently parting her. “I’m going to touch you here. And then I’m going to put my mouth here while I put my fingers inside of you. That work for you?” His thumb massaged her clit in slow circles, but not hard enough to stimulate her desire.

Her internal muscles fluttered and she could feel her cheeks flushing with want. “Mm, yes. Do that.”

“Put your legs over my shoulders. There you go.”

She’d do whatever he asked, so long as he went down on her. With her legs over his shoulders, she couldn’t move her lower body without offsetting his balance. Which meant he was in complete control of what she did, and the smug sucker probably knew it.

All coherent thought fled when his roughened fingertips spread her folds. He licked her and her back bowed up off the stairs. He pushed a thick finger into her pussy and added another. She wanted to move, roll her hips or fuck his fingers herself, but she couldn’t without some leverage. Fortunately Quin seemed as ready to get her off as she was.

He pumped his fingers in and out, curling them so he hit the spot that made her gasp and bursts of light go off behind her eyelids. His thumb pressed against her ass and she clenched down on his fingers.

“Is that a no?” he chuckled.

“That’s a not right now.”

“Hm.”

She gripped his forearm as a tremor racked her body. He must have been waiting on some signal, because he chose that moment to wrap his lips around her clit and suck. Release slammed into her so suddenly she screamed and dug a hand into his hair. Her muscles hugged his fingers and her thighs squeezed him. As the wave of pleasure receded, she lay back against the stairs, panting for breath.

“One,” Quin said with a smile as he crawled up the stairs, pausing to kiss her breasts.

Her eyes widened. She hadn’t been able to walk straight after the treehouse. “What exactly are you counting?”

“How many times I can make you come.”

Her traitorous nipples tightened even more. “No. Not playing that game again.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him up for a real kiss, loving the way he gave her just enough of his weight to hold her in place and keep her immobile.

“Don’t you want to come again?” he asked, genuinely perplexed.

She pushed a hand past the waistband of his shorts and grasped his stiff flesh. “Again with you in me? Yes. A marathon of orgasms? No.”

He groaned and rocked his hips into her grasp. “I don’t understand.”

“Silly man.” She rolled her eyes. How had a quick fuck on the stairs turned into an emotional conversation? “I’d prefer one good orgasm on your cock over ten any other way.”

“Seriously?”

She banged her head on the stair. If he didn’t grasp the concept of sex with someone you loved being better than with some random, she really did not want to explain it to him now. “God, you’re being dense. I like you. I want to come with you. It’s girly emotional bullshit. Now, condom?”

He blinked once. “Upstairs.”

“What happened to always being ready?”

“I thought I was ready.” He chuckled and pushed to his knees, his erection straining toward her.

Though her legs were still a little shaky, she rose and pushed her dress, bra and panties off. It was worth scraping the underwire over her hip to see the look of gape-mouthed lust on his face. She smirked and started up the stairs.

She could tell when he picked his jaw up off the ground because she could hear the heavy thud of his feet on the stairs. She glanced over her shoulder and a little thrill raced through her. He was back to looking like a hungry predator. She took the remaining stairs two at a time. She was halfway down the hall when he caught her around the waist and slung her up into his arms laughing.

Maple Leaves—This winter element symbolizes the passing of time and often represents wind or movement. It can also be the symbol of people in love. As an individual leaf it can symbolize resurrection and regeneration, taken from the leaves changing colors each season.

She was so damn beautiful when she smiled. The worry had fallen away, at least for now, and she was his. Part of him wanted to tie her to his bed so she’d never leave, but that was unrealistic. She’d kick his ass if he tried.

He laid her on the bed and shoved his shorts off. Kellie was already pulling a condom from his nightstand out and ripping it open. She knelt on the edge of the mattress and reached for his cock, bypassing at the last moment to roll his balls in her hand and lift her chin for a kiss. He plundered her mouth, greedy for all she would give him. He’d deal with his guilt later, for now he had her.

She rolled the condom on and scooted back.

“Take your hair down.” He crawled toward her, painfully hard.

She quirked a brow at him but did as he asked, shaking out the long, dark locks that spread around her like a cape. “Like this?” She sat with her legs curled to one side, bits and pieces of the intricate dragon tattoo visible through the cascade of hair.

He wound a length around his hand and put his face in the crook of her neck. She always smelled of something almost sweet. It clung to his skin and clothing long after she had left. He wanted to imprint it on his memory.

“I want in you,” he said and shifted so her back was against his front.

“Hm, how?” She reached back and squeezed his thigh.

“Like this.” He released her hair and flattened his hand against her abdomen, bringing her back against his chest.

They sank to the mattress, laying on their sides, and he pulled her to him, guiding her leg over his. He grasped his cock and notched it against her entrance. He propped up on an elbow and glanced at her, but her gaze was on where their bodies touched, almost joined. He pushed into her and she dropped her head onto the pillow. He loved the way her lips parted and her eyes drifted shut. He pushed deeper and her little breathy sighs turned him on even more.

She groped for his hand, grabbed his wrist instead and brought his palm to her breast. The bountiful globe overflowed his hand. He squeezed and she moaned.

“Harder, Quin.”

He thrust and the bed squeaked beneath them. She angled her hips and gripped his thigh. The harder he thrust, the more her breasts jiggled and her breath hitched, but he couldn’t see her face. She’d turned it into the pillow and away from him. Frustrated, he pulled out.

“What?” Kellie looked at him over her shoulder as he rose to his knees.

“On your back.”

She didn’t question his request but stretched slowly, like a cat, as she rolled. He settled between her legs, face-to-face, exactly where he wanted to be. Kellie didn’t try to hide from him. She stared back at him, holding his gaze and making the simple act of sex more intimate.

He slipped back inside her and she hugged him perfectly. As if they’d been made for each other. Her legs wrapped around him, one foot rubbing the back of his thigh while her hands dug into his shoulders.

“Is this what you wanted?” she asked, kissing his jaw.

“I always want you, doll.”

He held her in place and began to thrust slowly, relishing the sensation of her gripping every inch of his cock. Her breasts rubbed against his chest and her nails scraped tracks down his back, but his gaze always went back to hers. He ground his pelvis against hers and she cried out. He thrust hard, watching the way her face froze the instant before orgasm shattered her world. He pistoned, racing to catch up with her as she crested the wave into bliss and her inner muscles clamped down on his cock, triggering his own orgasm.

As he shuddered and spent himself, he buried his face against her neck and gathered her close. Who knew how many times he’d get to do this again? Each time was special.

Eventually her grip on his shoulders loosened and her legs slipped from around his waist. He kissed her.

“Be right back.” He disposed of the condom in the bathroom and crawled back in bed.

Kellie stared up at the ceiling, chewing on her lip.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked as he scooted close enough he could lay his arm across her waist.

“We just had sex.”

“Yeah.”

“I should be worried about Grandma and doing something for her, not having sex.”

He propped himself up on his side. “Are you not worried about her anymore?”

“I am, but—”

“What can you do, doll? You can’t be at the hospital until they clear you. What else can you do?”

“I don’t know, but I feel guilty. Sorry, that’s not what a guy wants to hear after getting his rocks off.”

“You’re right. I’d rather you told me how hot and awesome I am, but I get what you’re saying. I was in the Marines for a long time, and after I’d finish a tour I’d feel guilty about doing something like getting a beer when there were guys who couldn’t anymore.”

“You don’t act like a jarhead.”

He shrugged. It had been a long time since someone had used the slang term to refer to him. “It wasn’t really me. In my blood? Sure, but I didn’t belong.”

“But your little brother is still in, right?”

“Yup. He’s currently in Florida though, so no worries.”

A creaking sound stopped them both from speaking.

“Hello? Quin?” Penny called.

“Shit.” He pushed out of the bed and grabbed his shorts.

“Who is that?” Kellie asked.

“Daaaddddyyyyy!”

“You have got to be kidding me,” Kellie muttered, grabbing the sheets. “My clothes are on the stairs.”

He snagged a shirt from the dresser and jogged to the stairs. Penny was kneeling in front of Josie with her body between her and the stairs and talking in a hushed voice.

“Heeeeyy, there’s my girl.” Halfway down the stairs he snatched the wad of clothing and pitched it up and into the hallway. “Hi, Pen.”

Penny glanced over her shoulder, her cheeks bright red. “Sorry, we were driving by and she wanted to see you. I didn’t think.”

Josie squirmed out of her mother’s arms and launched herself at his legs. He intercepted her little body and hoisted her up in his arms. She threw her arms around his neck and squeezed. “I’m glad to see you, Lady Bug.”

“Daddy, guess what? We went to Chick-fil-A, and I went down the slide.”

“I should have called, I’m so sorry.” Penny kept glancing at the top of the stairs.

“It would have been nice, but it’s okay. I did say I wanted to hang out more.”

“There was a girl there who had pompoms on her shoes, and I want pompoms for my shoes.”

He laughed, still unaccustomed to her ceaseless chatter. “I don’t even know where you buy pompoms, Lady Bug.”

“We can leave,” Penny said, wringing the strap on her purse.

“No, you haven’t even seen this house. I’ll give you guys the tour. You’ve already seen the entry, and these are the stairs. In here is the formal dining room.” He strode away from the stairs, hoping Kellie got her clothes out of the hallway at least.

“There’s nothing in here,” Josie said, twisting this way and that to look.

“Nope. Not yet.”

The stairs creaked behind them. He paused in the doorway to the kitchen, holding his breath. He had no idea how this scene would play out.

Kellie stepped into view, one hand on the doorway. “Hi, hope I’m not interrupting.”

“Not at all, doll.” He breathed a sigh of relief. “Penny, this is Kellie. Kellie, this is Penny. And this little troublemaker,” he poked his daughter’s sides and she squirmed in his grasp, “is my daughter, Josie.”

“You look like Mulan. I like Mulan, she’s my favorite,” Josie announced.

Penny looked from Josie to Kellie, wide-eyed horror on her face. “Josie, you can’t say things like that.”

Kellie chuckled and winked at Josie. “It’s okay. Mulan was my favorite too.”

“Do you have pompoms on your shoes?” Josie asked Kellie.

Kellie glanced at him, her brows rising. “No, I don’t have pompoms. I hear they’re really neat though.”

“I want pompoms on my shoes.”

“We’re doing a tour,” he interjected. “Formal dining room, and in here is the kitchen and when I finish the flooring, the living room as well.”

“I can see dirt.” Josie pointed at the bare bones of the house, visible where the flooring hadn’t yet been laid.

Behind him he could hear Penny quietly murmur to Kellie. “So sorry about this. We were on our way to Home Depot and he said—”

“It’s okay. It’s awkward, but most of us are adults here. Hopefully. Sometimes I wonder about him, but for the most part he’s grown-up.”

“I can hear you two,” he said over his shoulder.

Kellie snorted. “And?”

“I’m going to show Josie the rest of the house. You two have fun.”

Kellie glanced from Quin’s retreating backside to Penny.

“Want something to drink?” she asked, moving into the kitchen.

“Water, please. Again, sorry about this.” Penny slid onto one of the barstools. “It’s nice to meet you though.”

“Yeah, I saw you at the gym, but it wasn’t one of my better days.”

“Oh that.” Penny chuckled. “I almost laughed in his face when he told me what happened.”

She pushed a bottle of chilled water across to Penny. “I’m not usually so volatile.”

“No, please, Quin needs someone like you.” Penny slapped a hand over her mouth. “I shouldn’t say stuff like that.”

Kellie paused, the moment uncomfortable only because she relished those words, spoken by someone else. She couldn’t handle Quin right now, but she wanted him and she was selfish enough she didn’t want anyone else to have him. “Thank you. I think.”

“He’s changed in a good way since he met you. I should probably thank you. He’s never shown more interest in Josie. I’m babbling, sorry.”

Kellie braced her hands on the counter. “He just needed to understand what was expected of him. Being a parent is hard work and your situation is unique.”

“Yeah. Unique is one word for it, but we make it work. I really wanted to keep Quin in Josie’s life. He’s a great provider. It’s the rest that needs a little work. But you don’t want to talk about that. Girlfriends shouldn’t have to be involved with baby mama drama.”

“I wouldn’t say drama. You seem to have a good relationship.” And the green-eyed monster glared out from her eyes. Yes, Kellie was jealous of this woman who had given Quin something permanent. He loved his kid, even if he didn’t know how to connect with her yet.

“We’re just friends. I’m married.” Penny twirled the rock weighing her left hand down.

“Holy cow, that’s huge.” Admittedly, Kellie knew nothing about diamonds, but even she could see this one was large.

“Please don’t think that there’s anything between Quin and me.”

She studied Penny’s face, the delicate turn of her nose and slight point of her chin. Penny was a beautiful woman in a traditional, almost magazine kind of way. If Kellie were honest with herself, Penny didn’t look as if she belonged with Quin.

“I believe you,” she replied after a moment.

Penny released a breath, her shoulders slumping. “I just want him to be happy. He works so hard.”

Kellie didn’t know what qualified as making Quin happy to Penny, but the Quin she knew liked to have lots of fun. Sometimes too much fun, and that worked for her.

* * * * *

Kellie gripped the headrest and flexed her fingers. She’d succumbed to boredom and gone into the shop first thing in the morning after waking up and had done three small walk-in tattoos on top of some ordering that needed to get done so they had items like gloves and ink.

She didn’t want to go home, but Quin had to teach a class tonight and she was running out of clean clothes at his place. She needed to stand on her own feet a bit more and figure out what to do next. So she was going to her house.

The street was the same one she’d driven down a thousand times, but it didn’t feel the same. She slowed as she reached her house and did a double take at the white SUV with rental tags in her drive. She stopped at the curb and sat staring at the foreign vehicle for a moment. Had someone parked in her drive by mistake?

Popping the seat belt, she got out of the car and hefted her duffle over her shoulder. As she approached the front door, she realized that the curtains had been drawn aside. She always left them shut. She pulled out her phone and tapped 9-1-1 just in case and opened the unlocked front door.

The smell of fish and steamed rice wrapped around her and pulled her into the house. Welcome to
The Twilight Zone
. Was Grandma going to be at the stove? Her heart leapt to her throat and her pulse beat in double time.

“Hello?” she called.

“You finally decide to show up?” A man who came no higher than her nose stepped into her path from the kitchen.