Page 36 of Hollow Trace

“Then, stop worrying and make love to me.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Quinn shifted over, slipping his arms beneath her body, his hands gripping her shoulders as he settled between her thighs, all that power and strength pinning her down without crushing her. She wrapped herself around him, heels notched in his lower back, arms holding him tight, needing that pressure to keep her grounded — proof he wasn’t a dream, either.

She grinned when he narrowed his eyes, his gaze locked on hers. “I know. Eyes on you.”

That got her a smile. “I just need it to be us. No team. No war. No waiting for that other shoe to drop. I’ll eventually get over it, but tonight…”

Scout lifted her head, kissing him until the tension eased as he inched forward, gradually sinking fully inside her, filling the part of her she’d thought she’d lost forever. All the voices and distractions finally quieting, she let her head tip back as he mouthed her neck, sucking on her pulse point.

“God, Quinn.”

Quinn settled more fully as he started an easy rhythm — in, pause, out. He didn’t rush, just claimed her with long, languid strokes, then retreated just as slowly. Reigniting all the heat she’d thought had cooled into red-hot embers sizzling beneath her skin. She couldn’t believe there weren’t tendrils of smoke curling off her flesh.

Scout clung to him, arching into every thrust, dragging him closer, needing more skin, more pressure. He kissed her mouth, smoothing one hand down her ribs to her ass, tilting her hips ever so slightly, hitting that sweet spot that exploded stars across her vision.

Her breath caught, her release already building in the pit of her stomach. Either he sensed the change, or he’d reached his own limits, because he upped his pace— hips pumping, the bed shaking and shimmying. Pleasure whipped through her veins, his breath rasping in her ear as he nipped at her shoulder, put more force into every punch of his hips.

The room swam, nothing but the blur of his skin, the flash of his hazel eyes registering beyond the need quickly pulling her under. She clawed at his back, all her nerves firing at once. Grunting, he pushed onto his hands, stopped for one, agonizing second before lowering his head and pounding her into the bed.

Time stopped, everything inside her spiraling into a singular pinpoint of heat before he slammed home, sent her careening off the edge.

Lights streaked across her eyes, all that need exploding at once, shattering her like he’d done earlier, only this stole her breath. Bound her to him in a way she’d never imagined.

Quinn kept moving, sending her over again when he finally froze, eyes rolling back, every muscle strung tight before he shook through his release. His arms trembled, his chest heaved in sync with hers, until he collapsed, barely bracing any of his weight as he crushed her into the mattress.

Scout held him tight, breath panting, more tears prickling her eyes from the sheer magnitude of her release. As if he’d reached into her chest and grabbed her heart — dared her to keep any of it from him. Quinn buried his head in her hair, his chin resting on her shoulder, his strong arms still shaking.

She closed her eyes, drinking in the combined scent of musk and citrus on his skin. This was what she needed. The one man who knew her better than she knew herself. Who always made her feel seen.

Who she’d die to protect.

Quinn released a rough breath, finally lifting his head enough to stare down at her, his tousled hair still flopping across his eyes. “God, baby. That…” He tilted his head, shifted enough to brush his thumb across her cheek. “You okay?”

It took a few tries, but she managed to release her death grip on him, palm his face. “Perfect.”

He kept staring, looking as if he was judging the validity of her response before dropping a soul-searing kiss on her lips. The kind that had her ready for another round a breath later.

Quinn chuckled. “I recognize that look. And I’m completely on board, after you get some rest. You’ve been up forever, and you need a few hours of actual sleep.”

“You’ve been up the same amount of time.”

“Which means, I need sleep, too.” He took a breath, eased out, grunting as if leaving her clawed at his heart. “I’ll make you a deal. Once we sleep a bit, we’ll have a quick shower and cleanup so I can get you dirty again.”

Scout pushed onto her knees, leaning against him as he sat on the bed, looking far too sexy for her own good. “Are you tapping out already, Corporal?”

Quinn stared for a moment before wrapping one arm around her waist then lifting her into his arms, cradling her against his chest as he headed for the ensuite. “Those are fighting words, so, take a breath, baby. I’m about to steal it from you.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

Quinn stopped in the middle of the bathroom, Scout pressed against his chest, her smile like a damn beacon from heaven. One he’d follow anywhere because he’d meant what he’d said. He couldn’t survive without her.

The thought sobered him, the past few months replaying in his head. The reckless chances he’d taken. The times he’d charged in without backup because part of him wanted to join her. If Scout hadn’t found him on that old logging spur…

She frowned as he set her on her feet, her palm landing on his chest. “Hey, are you okay?”

He worked up a smile. “Fine. Why?”