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I shrugged. "Words to that effect, then. What do you want, Quinn?"
"I think we need to talk."
"I spent a whole lot of time after Genoveve trying to talk to you. I'm done with talking."
"Then there are things I need to say. Things you need to hear."
"Unless it's an 'I'm sorry for my horrible behavior, please forgive me,' I'm not sure you could say anything I actually want to hear."
The door opened at that moment and Rhoan walked in. "Quinn, Jack wants to see you for a moment."
Quinn looked at me, his dark gaze promising the conversation was far from over. Then he turned and walked out.
I took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. Damn the man. Just as I was starting to get over the fact that he'd walked away from all the delicious possibilities that lay unexplored between us, he walks back into my life and raises the hope that maybe, just maybe, he'd changed his mind. I had to wonder just what I'd done to piss fate off so severely, because she sure seemed intent on throwing curveballs my way lately.
I rubbed a hand across still tired eyes, then grabbed the weapons I'd scattered earlier, strapping them on quickly before walking over to the window. Dusk was settling in, thick and stormy looking.
"Riley?" Concern edged Rhoan's voice.
"What?"
"You okay?"
"Just dandy, bro."
He walked across the room and wrapped his arms under my breasts, pulling me back against him. "Quinn?"
Like that was hard to guess. I rested the back of my head against his shoulder. "I still want him, Rhoan. Even though he hates what I am, even though I know a relationship between us could never be anything permanent, I want him. I thought I was over him, but I'm not."
"Because he ended it, not you."
Probably. I mean, being the finisher was always the easier option. "Thing is, I think that's why he's back. I think he may have changed his mind."
He was silent for a moment, then said, "Want a brotherly bit of advice?"
I smiled slightly. "I'm going to get it whether I want it or not."
"Ain't that a fact." Amusement touched his warm tones. "Horse boy has got one hell of a hard-on for you Enjoy that; enjoy him. Don't chase Quinn any more than you already have."
"Kade suggested much the same thing."
"He's a stallion They're randy old bastards who will use any excuse to get into a woman's pants."
Amusement ran through me. In many respects, horse-shifters were no different to men the world over. No matter what the race, they all wanted to get their end in. Even standoffish vampires. "If I just sit back and enjoy myself, Quinn will not come running."
"And that could be a good thing."
"Why? What's wrong with a little bit of fooling around?"
"Because it may start off as a little fooling around, but it probably won't end there. And what happens later? What about kids? You want them, and while you may or may not be able to physically carry them, there are other options you can explore. The one clear certainty is that he can never impregnate you. Never. What lies between you may be strong, but in the end, is it right?"
"What do you mean by 'right'?"
Yet even as I asked the question, I knew. Wolves were born with the need to reproduce, and only the desire to find the right mate stopped the world from being overrun. Something governments obviously didn't understand, because they forced the fertility controls on us all.
I wanted children. I'd dreamed of having a family of my own most of my life. Whatever else there might be between Quinn and I, there could never be life.
"Getting into any sort of relationship with Quinn is dangerous because we both know it won't stop at just a bit of fun, and that might just destroy the two of you."
