Tobias stumbled back a step, surprise flitting across his face in slack wonder before he firmed his stance. Taking hold of her elbow and leaning close, he kept his voice a near silent growl. “Then listen to me when I tell you to do something.”
“You don’t know me, don’t know what I’m capable of, so don’t you dare pretend you know what’s best for me!”
“You’re exhausted and—”
“I’ve been exhausted and miserable for fucking weeks, and you willnottake time with them away from me anymore, do you hear me? A mother needs to be there for her children, and I’ll be damned if you take me away from them for one second more.”
“And what will you do when you push yourself too far because you—”
“Then it’s my own stupid mistake and I’ll learn.”
They stared at one another from inches away, Quinn’s teeth bared as his cold gaze held hers captive. Neither willing to give way, each firm in their decision, it was just another stalemate that simmered and boiled, waiting to explode and drown them all.
“Let Meghan get them down for their nap and you rest after their bath is done then.”
Voice so bland Quinn didn’t recognize it at first, she blinked up at him in a confused muddle before she realized what he’d said.
“You’re weak as water, Quinn. You need to sleep, and if you’re not going to allow a doctor to see you now, you’re going to give me that much.”
The bond jittered away in her chest, a live wire dancing across wet asphalt as they continued to stare at each other. Wanting to argue, to use this newfound power over him was tempting, but she knew it’d hurt her more than him. She was shaking she was so wrung out, head throbbing, every muscle rigid. Taking in a steadying breath, she gave a small nod.
Before he could take advantage of his small victory, Quinn turned on her heel and went back to the small bathroom. Smiling at her children as she nudged Meghan out of the way and went to her knees beside the tub, she ignored his lingering presence altogether.
Let him hover and watch. She was going to scrub the dirt from under her little girl’s nails and give Adam a soapy mohawk just to see them grin. As she did just that, their giggles and squeals of delight loosened something inside of her. A peace suffused her, stealing her breath and making her eyes burn with peculiar tears while she rinsed Elise’s hair with care.
She had no memory of a moment resembling this sort of serenity. No matter that her reserves were depleted still or that each scrub of the washcloth over Adam’s grimy skin made her shoulder creak and arm tremble. She was near tranquil.
It ended too soon as she wiped the last of the water from Elise’s chubby cheeks and helped Adam into a fresh shirt. Having to give way to Meghan’s fussing, Quinn stood back as she lifted the heavy kids into their cribs before Quinn could swoop in to tuck them under blankets and kisses. Her quiet purrs and murmured lullabies sent them drifting into wide yawns and sleepy mumbles.
No matter how much she didn’t want to admit that Tobias was right, she couldn’t deny that she needed to sleep. Forcing herself to stay awake while even the kids napped would just make her weaker. Quinn knew that, but still the urge to fight against the leaden weight of her eyes was a simmering heat that clawed up her spine and shimmered under her skin.
Knowing what would be best and doing it were two different things.
Forcing her back straight, each step proud and unwilling to show even the hint of weakness, she left the nursery. The vague idea of a plan drifting closer to fruition, she attempted a silent stalk past the rows of doors to the staircase. There was no need to alert anyone to move through what was, by the thinnest technicality, her own home.
Quinn screamed as an iron tight grip encircled her upper arm, pulling her back towards the shadowy recess of the door. Another hand slipped over her mouth, silencing the shrill sound before it was much more than a loud squeak.
“We had a deal, little bird,” Tobias said through a low growl at her ear. Pulling her against his body, enfolding her in a cage of muscle and intent, he dragged her backwards into the bedroom they shared.
Though his handling of her was rough, his touch was gentle in a paradoxical technique that had her disrobed with minimal fuss and not a single moment for Quinn to struggle and hurt herself in the twisted fabric.
Mouth working, she dredged up a scant morsel of indignation and readied to hurl it at him, but even that was snuffed out as Tobias lifted her. Legs wrapped around his waist, heavy hand pushing her face to his neck, he stalked through the room with a furious purpose that lit her skin on fire.
Smoky aggression coated her throat as she was forced to breathe in his scent where it was thick and strong. Tobias’ hands were hard, but not what she could call cruel as he shifted her weight to his hip as if she were a child.
It was then Quinn saw that he’d brought her to the bathroom, his heavy bulk balancing them as he reached in to crank the taps on. Water slamming against the tiles was too loud in the tense silence, making her twitch away from the sound.
In another move that was nothing but disturbing in its oddness, Tobias began to purr, drowning out the thunder of the shower. The deep sound worked its way through her as he maneuvered Quinn that much tighter against him, soothing the sudden tension away while his hand worked to massage at the tightness of her neck. Not until even the shadow of her gasp was banished from the echoing room did he let her slide down the length of his body, keeping her close until her knees stopped wanting to fold under her weight.
Withdrawing, he kept a hand at her arm, ready to grab her if she even hinted at stumbling as Quinn stepped over the low threshold into the shower. Heading straight for the near scalding spray, she was drenched in moments. Head down, letting the water pelt at her neck and shoulders, Quinn squeezed her eyes shut. Ignoring him as best she could while he hovered at the still open door.
When he didn’t come in behind her, she allowed herself a breath and then another.
Perhaps this tenuous ceasefire would go on and whatever had crackled through the air mere moments ago would fizzle out into nothingness.
Glancing through the steaming glass towards the open bathroom door, she found him standing there with her robe and fresh towels over one arm. Watching the rivulets of water tracing the contours of her body, the way it plastered her hair to her skull, he stared.
Luscious and wicked, images flooded her mind, snippets of thoughts dancing through her consciousness.
