AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Heat simmers in my core, and I lean into him more, but he breaks apart from me. He glances toward the door and back at me, brows furrowing.
“I know you’re probably feeling really vulnerable right now after what happened with your mom,” he says, hesitation clear in his tone. He reaches up and wraps a hand around the back of his neck as his eyes dip to the floor. “But there’s no rush for any of this. I’m not going anywhere, Quinn.”
“I don’t have to be in a rush to want to kiss you.” I frown, stomach tightening as he steps further away from me, turning away slightly.
Rude, my wolf huffs.
“Do you not want to kiss me?”
He jerks his chin up, hand falling to rest lightly on his hip. I glance down long enough to see his fingers digging into his side as he rocks, like there’s some part of him that wants to reach back out to me. Confusion rockets through me when he answers, “Of course I do.”
“Then why are you rushing to get away from me?” I pace closer to him, fighting the urge to reach for his shoulder and pull him all the way back around to face me. “Is it because of Mason and Ian? Because if that’s the problem—”
“It’s not,” he cuts me off intensely.
“Then what is it?”
He slaps his hand over his eyes and blows out a long-suffering breath. He slowly faces me and gestures to his pants. “Because I’ve barely kissed you, and I’m hard as a rock!” His voice cracks.
I can’t help it, my gaze drops. The bulge in his pants strains the inside seam of his jeans. He shoves his hand in front of himself, hiding it from my view.
“Quinn, have a little mercy.” Willem groans.
“Sorry.” My cheeks burn as I avert my eyes toward the ceiling. I’ve never had such a noticeable effect on a man. Mason and Ian were pretty careful last night to get me off without getting anything in return.
“I’m going to look around,” I tell Willem, giving him some space while I wander the guest house.
He mutters something unintelligible in response.
I’m in love with the homey cabin-style of the house. It’s exactly what I would have expected from a cabin nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, but modernized in unexpected ways. The walls are exposed wood—a style I remember reading about called shiplap—and painted white. Galvanized metal light fixtures hang over a center island in the kitchen, and stainless steel appliances sit ready for use. As I wander into the hallway, I let my fingers skim the wall, flipping on a light switch that fills the hall with a warm orange light. I peek into the bathroom to find a clawfoot tub that pulls a longing groan from my throat, but I push on. A linen closet sits opposite the bathroom, next to a small guest room.
The last room I step into at the end of the hall is the biggest bedroom. It’s on the same side of the house as the huge living room window, and it has one to match. The bed faces the amazing view.
I kick off my shoes and crawl onto the huge bed, mesmerized by the beauty of this place all over again. Already, I’m imagining waking up to the view as I fall back against the pillows.
I’m so caught up in the moonlight view that I don’t notice Willem’s footsteps moving through the cabin until he steps into the bedroom with a low whistle. I share at him unabashedly as he speaks, “That’s quite the view.”
He barely seems to appreciate the mountains before he turns his gaze on me, staring at me sprawled out on the bed. He opens his mouth and closes it again.
“What?” I wiggle my hips a little to get more comfortable on the bed. I kind of like the way he stares down at me in speechless awe.
His eyes follow the movement of my hips as he works his jaw from side to side. “You’re temptation personified, Quinn Cassidy,” he says quietly. “This isn’t what I expected all the times I imagined meeting you.”
“What did you imagine?” I sound a little breathy.
“That I’d be starstruck by you—that part feels accurate—but that you’d pair me off with someone nice and boring and send me on my way without a second thought.” His shoulders bunch at the admission.
“I’m having plenty of second thoughts,” I correct, eyeing his lean form and tan skin. He’s beautiful, inside and out, and my belly flutters as he takes a step in the direction of the bed. And then another. I offer him my best imitation of a flirty smile as I say, “And third and fourth thoughts too, actually.”
Willem leans over the bed, planting his palms a safe, and unacceptable if you ask me, distance from me. His eyes sparkle with amusement as his mouth quirks into a half-smile. “Are you teasing me?”
“Maybe.” I reach my hand out to him, silently daring him to take it and join me on the bed.
“You’re playing with fire,” he warns, his voice turning serious again. “If you keep reaching for me like that, I’m going to get ideas.”
“I want you to have ideas,” I tell him stubbornly, and his lips tip upward into a full smile. Something about the sign of happiness on his face sets my insides on fire.
He still doesn’t come to me, though.
