Page 49 of Open To Negotiation

“Is this your mom?” she asked as she picked up the framed photo.

“I don’t have many, I was young, didn’t expect to lose her so I didn’t spend much time trying to capture her or our moments together.” She looked over at me and I was happy to see sympathy rather than pity.

“No kid knows to spend time with their parents when they have it.” She looked back at the photo and smiled. “She was beautiful,” she commented as she placed the photo back down.

I expected her to continue looking around but instead she walked right up to me. I moved just in time for her to wrap her arms around my chest. Instinctively my arms wrapped around her too, pulling her in close as she settled against me.

“I take it you like my room,” I replied even though holding her in here was tugging at my chest.

Did I need to see a doctor? Was I having a medical crisis of some kind?

“Thank you for sharing this with me.” She pulled back enough to go up on her tiptoes and placed a gentle kiss on my lips.

“We really need to go to sleep before I change both our minds about the decision we agreed to earlier.”

She smiled sheepishly as she stepped back. I shook my head at her as I grabbed her a shirt from the walk-in closet before opening the other door. I motioned for her to follow as I went into the bathroom.

I might not stay here often but I did keep the place stocked with my things on the rare occasion I did spend the night.

There was a large shower with body jets, two shower heads and temperature controls. A huge free standing soaker tub took up more of the space and two sinks and a large counter took up the wall. I pulled out a new toothbrush and grabbed some of the spare towels, leaving both on the counter.

“Take as much time as you want.” I placed a kiss on the top of her head and left her to it.

When she came out ten minutes later dressed in nothing but my T-shirt, I had to avoid looking at her legs because fuck… from the quick glance I got… they looked perfectly toned and just right for wrapping around my head as I went down on her.

I cleared my throat and had to force myself to go to the bathroom, actively working to not touch her as we brushed past each other. I gave myself time to cool off, splashing water on my face. I was turned on by this woman simply breathing, everything about her was sexy.

After I was back under control, I walked back into the bedroom.

I froze in the doorway.

Quinn was curled up on her side, a pillow tucked under her head, the blankets pulled up to her chin and her eyes heavy as she yawned. I’d never wanted a woman to spend the night, at least not to just sleep beside me. Even the last woman I dated had only stayed at my apartment a handful of times and I was out of that room by four in the morning because I couldn’t sleep with her next to me.

But I was damn excited to wake up next to Quinn. I crawled under the covers and pulled her over so her face was on my chest, one arm wrapped around her as I propped the other behind my head.

“How are they feeling?” I asked as I moved my hand gently up and down her arms.

“S’not that bad,” she replied, her voice slow, she was seconds away from falling asleep.

I didn’t believe her, but I pressed a kiss to her head as she sunk into me. She brought a hand to my chest and rested it there. Her breathing evened out quickly and I knew she was out.

I was so fucking screwed.

Letting out a sigh, I used the hand that was behind my head to grab my phone off my nightstand.

I pulled up our group text and read through all the messages I’d missed. Past welcoming her they’d gone back to their normal flow of conversation. Tonight’s topic was if Noah should take a night off or bring a woman home. Quinn ended up on the side of a break, only justifying it because he said he had been up since three am working on a deal this morning. I shook my head and sent a message.

Me

You fuckers are annoying.

Oli

Your life would be incredibly dull without us.

Me

Change of plans for the morning.