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Alex was in the fetal position on the bathroom floor, hands clasped and tucked under her chin, knees drawn protectively to her chest. The side of her face rested against the tile floor, and her eyes were wide open. Unfocused. Blank. Her entire body trembled.
Seeing her like that...
His heart fucking broke. There was no other way about it.
“Sweetheart,” he whispered, crouching before her.
His blood thrummed loudly in his ears. He reached out and touched her shoulder. She flinched away from him, vibrating with terror. A lump formed in his throat. He raked his hands through his hair and blew out a breath, not knowing what to do.
Fuck logic.
Following his gut, he placed his hands firmly on Alex’s shoulders. She froze. As gently as he could, he wrapped his arms around her, cradling her against his chest.
“Alex, you’re safe,” he murmured. “Come back to me, sweetheart. Please. You’re safe. I promise... Just please come back to me.”
* * *
Through a thick fog, Alex heard a muffled voice. She strained to listen.
Quinn?
No, that couldn’t be right.
She tried to make out what the voice was saying, but it was too far away. She gave up, focusing on the warmth surrounding her instead. It felt wonderful. Cozy. Soothing.
After a few moments, her fingers and toes tingled, as if she were recovering from frostbite. The numbness protecting her mind began to ease. She still couldn’t grasp the voice’s words, but they were growing louder. The suffocating fog dwindled away, freeing her senses. She inhaled, and the faint scents of leather and forest surrounded her, enveloped her, calmed her.
Opening her eyes, she winced at the scratchy feel of her lids. A few blinks cleared her sight, bringing the face above hers into focus.
She frowned. What was going on?
“Quinn?”
His embrace tightened around her, and she felt the warm press of his lips on her forehead.
“Sweetheart, you’re safe,” he murmured, rising from the ground with her still tucked in his arms.
He carried her out of the bathroom, and her pulse picked up when she saw a young man dressed in a law enforcement uniform. Holding the white box of flowers, the man nodded to them as he passed.
“You’re safe, Alex,” Quinn repeated, entering Roxie’s office.
He sat behind the desk, positioning her on his lap. He was a cocoon of warmth, and she snuggled into him, nuzzling her forehead between his neck and shoulder. She remained still, absorbing his strength, his spicy scent, and most importantly, the feeling of security his arms provided.
Eventually, she found her voice. “What happened?”
A strained chuckle rumbled in Quinn’s chest. He leaned back so he could look her in the eyes. “I was hoping you could answer that for me. That’s twice now, sweetheart.” She must have given him a confused look because he clarified, “That’s the second time you’ve scared a few years off my life.”
Her brow furrowed. “Second time?”
“The first was when you passed out after I scared you in Joe’s shed.” He touched his forehead to hers. “Please let this be the last time. I don’t know if my heart can take anymore.”
Pulling back, she took in the care, concern, and adoration in his misty gray eyes. She held his face with unsteady hands, and her throat grew thick, tears filling her vision.
This man. This sweet, wonderful man...
A feeling she couldn’t put into words flooded through her.
“Thank you,” she managed to whisper.
