Both physically and emotionally.
Sharing what happened between Nicola and me was draining.
It also lifted a weight off me that I hadn’t expected.
Almost like talking about it healed some of the hurt.
I lock the car and pull her toward my elevator, but she pulls back, stopping me in my tracks as she yanks her hand free and puts both of them on her hips.
“Daddy!” Defiance and stubbornness linger in her eyes, and once again, I have to adjust my dick.
“Yes, baby girl?” This is the first time she’s called me Daddy so casually. I’m already amused by this adorable little tantrum I see brewing.
“I want to know what you mean by bodyguard and why I need one. Also, I can’t afford one unless I can pay in cheap dinners.”
Narrowing my gaze, I move to her until I’m so close she has to tip her head back to look up at me. “You won’t cook any other man dinners. Do you understand me?”
Her plush lips part, and she stares up at me, studying. “Yes, Daddy,” she answers softly.
My temper is immediately soothed, and I reach for her hand again. “Your bodyguard will be paid forby mebecause I want to make sure no one ever fucking touches you again. I don’t care whether you think you need one or not, you’re getting one, so deal with it, sunshine.”
This time, I make it to the elevator and punch in my code. Quinn stands beside me, shifting from foot to foot. I look over at her to find she’s fighting a smile, her brown eyes glittering under the shitty lighting of the parking garage.
“You’re quite controlling,” she finally says, though there’s nothing harsh in her tone. No, she actually sounds happy about it. She likes it.
“You have no idea, baby. Go.” I nod toward the waiting elevator.
“We’re going to your apartment?”
“Yeah, baby. I need to get some clothes, and then we’ll go nap at your place.”
Honestly, I hate the idea of Quinn being in the same room Nicola has been in, but I loathe the thought of leaving her to change out of last night’s clothes even more.
“You don’t want me to sleep in your bed?” Her voice is shaky. When I look down at her, I hate the uncertainty in her eyes.
I gently tug her into the elevator and wrap her into my chest, pressing a kiss to her head. “I hate myentireapartment, sunshine. It has too many bad fucking memories. No, baby. I don’t want you to sleep in my bed. Because my bed doesn’t feel like home. Yours does. So that’s where we sleep.Together.”
Honestly, I’d sleep anywhere with Quinn. Except my apartment. Not where a poisonous snake was living and destroying people’s lives. Quinn is too good for that. She’s too precious.
“Why don’t you move, then?” She stares up at me with wide, innocent eyes. “Maybe that would help you move on from that bitch. I would say we could set it on fire, but I live in the building, so that might not be a good idea.” She scrunches her nose and sticks out her tongue, then giggles and shrugs like she didn’t just mention doing something that’s absolutely a felony. It’s actually a great fucking idea, though, honestly. Once I move her away from here.
The fierceness on her face as she talks about Nicola is almost shocking. I’ve only ever seen Quinn being sweet and bubbly. She’s strong, I don’t doubt that for a second. The first time we met, and she told me she’d punched her ex-boss, I was both shocked and impressed. My girl has been through hell, which has made her so strong, yet she’s still so soft and playful. She hasn’t let the shit that’s happened destroy her. She hasn’t let it harden her to the world.
Not like I have.
Just move.
Is it that easy?
Would I magically feel better living somewhere else? Somewhere Quinn would like.
A house.
With a shower like the one we used this morning. My girl seemed to be a huge fan of it.
Before I respond, the elevator doors open and we step into the cold, dark foyer. The gleaming black-and-white checkered floors make me want to be sick as I lead Quinn through the space.
“Holy shit, it’s huge in here.”
