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“What?” he asked, clearly confused.
Blinking away tears, I cleared my throat and looked over at him, smiling. “The Christmas before I went to college. I escaped the party Mom was throwing and went up to my room, got into my pajamas, and opened a book. Harry brought you over, but you had too much to drink, so he sent you upstairs to sleep it off, not knowing I was up there, and then all of a sudden, you were in my room.” I laughed quietly. “You were the first guy I let in my room, Matt Quinn.” Shaking away the memory, I straightened my shoulders. “You asked me why I wasn’t at the party. I replied honestly, and that was a big deal, because I’d never spoken to a man the way I’d spoken to you. We spoke for a little while.” I looked up into his stern hazel eyes. “I know you don’t remember any of this.”
His voice soft, he called my name. “Mia.”
Before I lost my composure, I had to tell him why. “You told me I’d bloom into a beautiful butterfly.” My eyes filling with tears, I sniffled. “And the way you looked at me, into me, I believed you, because you believed in me.” Swiping at my eyes, my voice quavered. “You were the first guy to look at me as if I was worth something. And it felt nice. I guess I just…” I dipped my chin, hiding my face. “I guess I just wanted to feel that again.”
Silence.
A sad smile crossed my face as I stood. “I never meant for you to feel like I set you up. And Harry is never going to know about what happened. This is our secret. I’ll take it to the grave, Quinn.” I added softly, “I’d never do anything to hurt you. Not purposely.”
He watched me, his eyes piercing, obviously looking for a glimpse of dishonesty. When he didn’t find it, he stood with a small sigh and walked toward me. He kept walking until we were almost foot-to-foot, then his arms came around me and he held me, resting his chin on top of my head.
Relief coursed through me. I slumped into him, my hands lightly grasping the sides of his tee, my forehead resting on his chest as I closed my eyes, breathing in his woodsy male scent. With my face mashed into his shirt, I muttered, “I’m sorry.”
His rumbling voice vibrated through his chest. “I don’t like you crying.”
“Okay,” I mumbled.
“No more crying,” he ordered.
And my lip twitched. “Okay.”
He kissed the top of my head lightly and I felt it wash over me, warming me like a light fluffy blanket on a cool night. I smiled into him then his arm was around me, holding me by his side. “Take off your shoes.” I slid them off and he led us down the hall to what I assumed was his bedroom. And it was.
The bed was made, the sheets were crisp, and suddenly, I was nervous. But this was Quinn, and somehow my concerns flew out the window at that knowledge, as if he were safe. I felt safe. He was safe, according to my spidey senses.
Quinn lay on the bed, fully clothed, holding his arms open to me. My stomach flip-flopped as I climbed over, lying by him with my head resting on his shoulder. His strong arms went around me, tucking me into his side, and I sighed. I was at peace.
“So, Harry’s sister,” he nudged me, “what do we do now?”
I pursed my lips in thought. “We could always just do what we’ve been doing.” I peeked up at him. “Friends?”
His eyes drifted down to my lips. He didn’t speak for a long while, but when he did, my heart sang. “It’s too late for me. You’re the coolest, funniest girl I’ve met in…well…forever, Mia.” He turned his gaze to the ceiling. “I’m not letting sex come between that. Not no way. Not no how.”
I snuffled a little laugh. “That’s kind of funny in a way, because I’m not friends with a lot of guys. Well, there are the two gym junkies across the hall in my apartment building, but they don’t count. Every guy I’ve ever spoken to that wasn’t related to me turned me into a female Rain Man.” A soft smile graced my lips. “Till you, that is.”
He grunted, but the way he stuck me to his side was all I needed to know the grunt was a positive.
We lay in each other’s arms for a long while. The silence between was comfortable and easy. Neither of us felt the need to talk to fill in the space. It just wasn’t necessary.
Then, his voice rumbled into the open. “You could’ve chosen any one of those men.”
My lips pursed in thought then agreed, “I could have. There was a good five…okay, six minutes, where Marcus was a very likely contender.”
“Marcus?” He sounded mildly insulted. “Marcus? You’ve got to be kidding! He likes it rough. You would’ve hated that. He would’ve eaten you alive, Mia.” He scoffed, muttering to himself, “Marcus. What a joke.”
A sly smile crossed my face. I thought very carefully about what I was about to say next. “Well, now that I’m broken in, maybe I’ll book with him. It would be nice to see the other side of—” I squeaked when Quinn pulled himself over me, my arms pinned over my head, restrained by strong hands on my wrists.
His glare was cutting and his voice was low, dangerous. “You’re not booking with anyone. You’re officially cut off.”
A teasing smile settled on my face. My voice was breathy at the feel of his body on mine. Memories of the night before washed over me. My stomach coiled delightfully and I whispered half-honest, “I was only joking, Quinn.”
He didn’t respond for a long while, but when he did, it caused my nipples to bead. He uttered crudely, “If you haven’t got your fill, Mia, all you need to do is say the word.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
Damn it, sassy retort! Where are you?
His lips curved into a smirk and I was done for. “You need more of this?” He ground him hips into mine. The friction was earth-shattering.
Spreading my legs, with my skirt hitched up at my hips, Quinn settled between my thighs, grinding the hard ridge hidden behind his jeans right where I needed it. I moaned. Loudly.
But then he was gone. My eyes followed him as he stood, reaching down to adjust himself, cursing, “Fuck, Mia. You’re my best friend’s sister.”
And there I was, thighs spread like a wanton hussy, my panties on display. I quickly covered myself, not yet trusting myself to speak.
He turned to me, hands on his hips, looking down at his feet. “I can’t do this.” He lifted his face, his eyes on me. “I’m not going to lie. You’re gorgeous, Mia. Whenever I’m around you, I can’t seem to keep my hands off you.” He paused then added quietly, “I want you, but I can’t do this.”
I almost did a double-take. Oh Lord. Did I hear what I thought I just heard? Matt Quinn just told me I was gorgeous! Not only that, but he said he couldn’t keep his hands off me. Off me! Insert squeak here.
By thunder, I was not letting this opportunity slip away!
I would do whatever I had to where Matt Quinn was concerned.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Quinn
As I looked over at Mia, her doe eyes held me. With her tousled auburn hair draped over her shoulder, her full lips parted, wearing that pink blush I liked so much, saying no to her was harder than I thought.
She stayed silent a while, but then she moved. Slipping off the bed, her green polka dot dress bunching around her thighs, she stood, walking barefoot to meet me. When she stood in front of me, she spoke softly, “We’re not hurting anyone, Quinn.”
Fuck, she was killing me. “I can’t do it. It feels wrong.”
She reached behind her, and I heard the distinct sound of a zipper being undone. My eyes narrowed. “What are you doing?”
Swallowing hard, her voice trembled. “We’re adults. We both consent to this. I don’t see the problem.” She shrugged, and the top of her dress fell forward, revealing her perfect porcelain skin down to her soft stomach, her silky white lace bra on display.
Not fair.
I fought the urge to groan. Instead, I stared at her breasts and stated, “I’m not boyfriend material.” I lifted my head and my eyes searched hers. “If that’s what you’re after, that’s not me.”
; She tried to smile, but it was weak. “I know, Quinn. You’re an escort. I don’t want you to quit your job.” She grinned, but I could tell it was forced. She tried to laugh it off. “You’re kind of good at it.”
I was so confused. “Then what? We fuck till we work each other out of our systems? I don’t…I mean, what do you want from me? Because I don’t have a lot to offer.”
Hooking her thumbs into the waist of her dress, she gently pushed it down her legs, letting it fall to the ground, leaving her only in her white lace bra and matching tiny silken panties. She looked up at me through lowered lashes. “I just want to play.”
My arms shot out at their own accord, sliding my hands around her bare back, and I pulled her into me. “So nothing serious? Just sex?” She blushed, nodding. “And it stays between us. Harry won’t find out.” She shook her head. I felt like a jerk. This was Harry’s sister. But, fuck, she was amazing. I was damn near sold. But I had one more thing to clarify. My hand slid down her back, over her ass, squeezing and kneading carefully, purposefully. “And if you start seeing someone, playtime ends.”
