Danger Zone (16 page)

Oh shit. He pulled back, gasped for breath. His heart thundered in his brain. “Elle, c’mon, you don’t really want to do this now.”

She sat back, rested on his thighs. His erection strained against his jeans, poking out in an obnoxious display of weakness. After looking at the evidence in his pants, she met his gaze. Then she very slowly and methodically set her hands where his had been moments before. She cupped herself, right before she unclasped the front hook of her bra.

Air stalled in his lungs. She let the material draw back slowly, revealing more and more skin until her erect nipples popped free from the material. All the while she grazed her fingers along her breasts, teasing him, torturing him. He wanted his hands there. He wanted to feel her. Touch her. And she knew it. She pulled the straps off her shoulders and the bra fell to the floor.

Quinn swallowed. She was by far the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on. Full breasts with dusky pink nipples stared him in the face.

“Only skin you can see,” she murmured again. Taking his hands, she placed them under her breasts then closed them over her until she rested in his palms. She squeezed his hands over her. Quinn shut his eyes, clenched his teeth. Jesus, she felt good. Her breasts filled his hands. Soft and full. Perfection. Her nipples spiked against his palms, begged for attention.

She moved closer, rode him through his jeans and her stretch pants as she kept the pressure of his hands on her chest. “It feels so good,” she whispered. “You can have more. You can have it all.” She rocked again and Quinn bit back the urge to buck up against her. “I know you want me.” She kissed him, drove her tongue into his mouth in a full on assault. “I want you, too,” she breathed. “Right now.” She kissed him again.

What was wrong with him? At any time with another woman or at any
other
time with
this
woman—he wouldn’t have hesitated. And now…now he was going to do the one thing he’d never done in his life. Say no to a sure thing.

A week ago, he’d wanted nothing more than to get inside Ellie. He’d wanted the California girl fantasy: blonde, tone, stacked and fun. She’d be incredible. She’d moan, gasp and beg. She’d say exactly what he wanted to hear. She’d touch him with her hands, her mouth. She’d do anything he asked. He had a chance right now to make it happen.

He couldn’t. Not like this. Not knowing that she’d hate him afterward. And she’d definitely hate him after the fact. She’d feel cheap. Dirty. She’d feel as if she betrayed the memory of her best friend. And she’d blame him. Even if she took the responsibility, she’d probably never want to see him again.

“No,” he rasped.

“Yes,” she whispered.

Before she kissed him again and he lost his willpower, he grabbed her wrists and held her from him. “No, Elle,” he said softly. “Not right now. Not—” while she was hurting so badly. “Not like this.”

Her lips trembled and tears welled up, but she fought it and smiled. She rubbed against him in a last ditch effort to change his mind. “You know you want me.”

He nodded. “Yeah, I’d say we have plenty of evidence to prove that theory.”

Her smile turned genuine. “So I don’t see a problem.”

Quinn did. He saw a huge problem. An enormous problem. “Let’s hold off for now.”

The softness left her eyes. The play disappeared. She lashed out with a solid fist, connecting with his chest. “What’s wrong with you?” she snapped. “You’ve been sniffing after me for days, looking for a quickie. Well, here I am. Fuck me, already!”

Her words smacked him harder than her hand. Shocked him. This wasn’t Ellie talking. This was a distraught woman who wanted to think about anything but her best friend.

Quinn kept his voice steady. “You don’t really want that.”

“Don’t tell me what I want and don’t want. I’m sitting on top of you, fucking half-naked, so I think I know what I want.” She kissed him again. Hard.

But Quinn was done being the observer as she seduced him. He took her wrists and shifted their positions so he covered her on the sofa. “Stop, Elle. Stop it. You don’t want it like this.”

“Fuck you,” she snarled and fought to get free. “Get out!”

Quinn had no plans to let her go. Just because he wouldn’t have sex with her didn’t by any means translate into him walking out the door. She needed him now, she just didn’t know it.

They wrestled on the sofa, Quinn trying to settle her down and Ellie fighting for all she was worth to get free even as tears streamed down her face as she openly sobbed. “Elle, don’t do this.” He hated fighting her. Hated the absolute devastation in her eyes as she struggled. After a minute her fight got desperate.

“Let go,” she gasped. “God, let go, I’m going to be sick.”

Quinn released her and she made a mad dash to her bedroom. He heard her words come true as she vomited into the toilet.

“Fuck,” he groaned. Hopping off the sofa, still breathing hard, he followed her path. In her bedroom, he spotted a short, white robe at the foot of her bed and scooped it up. The silk slid against his fingers and made him think of sex, but the thought disappeared in an instant. The sight of her worshipping the porcelain god just about broke his heart. Hair covered her face like a blond curtain as she continued to spew into the toilet. He opened a couple of drawers under the bathroom counter and found a clip for her hair. After flushing the bowl, he pulled her hair out of her face and clipped it together. Then he draped the robe over her shoulders.

“Go away,” she moaned.

Nope. “Not gonna happen.” He ran cold water over a washcloth and knelt next to her, wiping her forehead and neck where sweat dampened her skin.

“Fuck you. I don’t want you here.” She batted him away.

“I’m sorry. You don’t have a choice.”

“Fuck you.” More tears streamed down her face.

“You said that already. Lift your arm,” he ordered softly. She did and he slipped the robe over one shoulder then the other. He belted it loosely and breathed a mental sigh that at least he’d covered her up. His chest tightened as she battled some dry heaves, but when she finished, he helped her up. “C’mon…” He carried her to her bed, settling her between the blankets. “Go to sleep,” he said quietly. “I’ll be here when you wake up.”

If she heard him, she ignored him. Slow tears trekked down her face and landed on her pillow. Fifteen minutes later, her tears had stopped and her breathing had evened out.

Quinn took a seat in an overstuffed chair in the corner of the room. She’d sleep a little and wake up feeling like shit. But she wouldn’t be alone. Not now at least, while he could be here. But once he left… God, once he went home, she’d be on her own, with no best friend or roommate. He ran his hands through his hair and shoved the thought out of his head. It wasn’t his problem, right? He had other things to worry about.

There was something he had to do…

Mac. Shit, he had to call Mac. Quinn headed out of the room as he hit the speed dial. Three rings later, Mac’s voice mail told him to leave a message. He couldn’t catch a break today. Actually, that wasn’t true. If not for Ellie, he’d be a dead man. He left a quick message explaining the accident and circumstances, ended the call and paced the apartment.

Shit. What if Gerhardt slid into the spot Quinn vacated today when he was with Ellie? What if they were still talking? What if Gerhardt had convinced Mac to sell to his company? “Bullshit,” Quinn muttered. Mac didn’t want to sell and Quinn was the only one able to convince him of that.

Wasn’t he? Wouldn’t Mac do what he asked instead of a low-life competitor like Aaron Gerhardt?

Quinn sure as hell hoped so.

He was done with the company. Done with racing. He didn’t like cars, other than the fact that they got him where he needed to go. He didn’t like drivers—with the exception of his sister-in-law, but even she irritated him at times—and he really didn’t like being in charge of a bunch of people who had more knowledge about cars than he’d ever acquire in a lifetime.

He didn’t want to deal with the sport in any way, shape or form. Period.

Quinn stopped in Ellie’s doorway and watched her sleep. What the hell
did
he want?

He flagged down the bartender as he finished his favorite pilsner and ordered another. He needed the consolation. A few women in business suits had already tried to catch his attention. Flash a wad of cash and the world was yours for the taking. But he wasn’t in the mood.

He’d missed.

He’d been so damn close too. Right on target as far as he could tell. The worst part had been missing the actual collapse. He’d had to make himself scarce and only hung around long enough to see that Reynolds and his bimbo had survived. How the man had dodged that bullet, he didn’t know. He’d seen them both, bloody and dusty. The minimal satisfaction from that picture hadn’t been nearly enough to appease him. What a wasted effort. But the destruction had been a sight to see. Gorgeous. And to think he’d done it all himself. That was highly empowering. Highly.

It ranked right up there with running a multibillion dollar company.

He needed another chance. In fact, he’d start covering every base first thing tomorrow. He knew the three places they frequented most. Her place, Reynolds’s hotel and the studio. He’d be ready for anything no matter where they were. He’d have transportation and firepower, the two things necessary to finish this job.

He smiled at his genius. He hadn’t reached the top for no reason.

The drink arrived and he tossed back half…but not before silently toasting himself.

Ellie blinked open gritty eyes. She grimaced at the rank taste in her mouth before her stomach rumbled in an ominous groan and nausea hit lightning fast. She pushed herself out of bed and raced to the bathroom. Every abdominal muscle clenched as she bent over the toilet.

Only nothing came out.

Why was she sick? Her mouth was like… God, she didn’t even want to think about what her mouth tasted like. How come—

Ashley.

The memories flooded back and with them came another wave of nausea. It couldn’t be possible. Ashley wasn’t dead. Ashley couldn’t be dead. Her stomach clenched. She ached all over.

She heard someone moving around. “Ash,” she mumbled. That was it. It was a dream. Relief rushed through her. She was sick and she’d dreamed that terrible accident, but they were both at home and that rancid taste in her mouth was because…because…she’d drunk…Jack Daniels? That couldn’t be right. She didn’t drink. Nothing made sense.

“Ash.” She didn’t expect Ashley to hear her name. Ellie hardly got any sound behind it. But she must have heard her because she was at the door.

Except when Ellie lifted her head, it wasn’t Ashley. It was Quinn.

Quinn watching her, Quinn soaking a washcloth with cold water and Quinn crouching next to her as he pressed the cloth to her forehead.

“Oh, my God.” It was true. Ashley was gone. Every muscle ached from digging through the debris to get to her. “Oh my God.” Fresh tears blossomed and Ellie collapsed. Somehow she landed in Quinn’s lap and he just rocked her. Held onto her and kept her safe.

But she wasn’t safe. She wouldn’t be safe. Only Ashley knew her secret. Ashley made it so she kept her head above water. Ashley was her lifeline. Tears came harder and with them, came more nausea. Ellie gagged into the bowl with nothing left inside her to come out. She forgot about Quinn, forgot everything but the misery of the last few hours.

Quinn carried her back to the bed and tucked her under the covers. The bed dipped and she didn’t say anything when he crawled next to her fully clothed and wrapped himself around her. More tears leaked down her cheeks and Quinn kissed the top of her head.

She’d tried to seduce him. She’d done everything she could think of so he’d take her mind off…

And he’d said no.

She’d said horrible, vile things. Said things to him she’d never said to anyone in her life. And he was still here taking care of her. His arms felt solid and warm, wrapped around her tight, and she nestled into his heat.

“Get some sleep,” he murmured in her hair. His low rumble sent a ripple of goose bumps across her nape. She closed her eyes and let sleep take her away.

What seemed like a minute later her stomach churned and an inhuman moan rumbled from her throat. Her muscles ached, her eyes felt gritty and swollen. She didn’t have to see herself to know she looked like crap.

“Take a sip of this,” Quinn said, handing her a glass. “It’s 7UP. It’ll settle your stomach. Just a few sips. Not too much.” Ellie sipped. The cold fizz tasted good. Took the bad taste out of her mouth. After another sip, he set the glass on the night table then settled them both back on the pillows. “Try to rest.”

Despair crept up and emptiness filled her heart. Tears streamed down her cheeks and Ellie cried until she couldn’t cry anymore. She let the numbness take over. Maybe she could sleep the rest of her life. Maybe if she just kept the covers over her head…

No, she couldn’t do that. She still had to meet Aurora, who strangely hadn’t called…but Aurora had to find out what hospital to go to so the phone had to ring eventually…

The raw taste of sludge in her mouth woke Ellie with a nasty hello. The room was dark. Clock said four-fifty. She eased out of bed—her stomach muscles ached with a vengeance, her whole body hurt—and stumbled to the bathroom where she brushed her teeth. For a long time. Twice. She’d never sobbed to the point of making herself sick before. Clearly there was a first time for everything. Hazarding a look in the mirror, she wanted to cry all over again. The worst case of bedhead ever known to man wrecked her dust-covered hair. Her eyes were swollen and red. Her lips…dry and cracked. Her black stretch pants were filthy from all the dust and debris. How had she not noticed this yesterday?

Ellie stripped off her robe and filthy clothes and jumped into the shower. It took three washes to get the dust out of her hair and she tried to keep the bandage on her arm as dry as possible. The hot water helped the body aches. But not the heartache. Out of the shower, she smoothed on lip cream and combed the knots from her hair. Some of the puffiness in her eyes had receded. She looked a little better…she just didn’t feel it. After putting on a new robe, she slipped into a clean pair of underwear.

She went back to bed and studied a sleeping Quinn. At some point, he’d showered too. The dust was out of his hair. Even with dark stubble on his face, the man looked perfect. Faint shadows darkened circles under his eyes. His night had been as long as hers. Ellie slid between the sheets. No sooner had she settled herself then Quinn wrapped a possessive arm around her waist and pulled her snugly against him. She turned her head, waited for a smile or an eye to crack open. Something. But he was still sleeping. Ellie closed her eyes. Everything had changed.

Everything. And she didn’t want to face it.

How could Ashley be gone? She’d worked so damn hard to get through law school and keep up with her job at the firm. She’d planned to make enough money with her law practice to ensure not only her own security, but Aurora’s as well. Her whole life she’d helped people and what had it mattered? How would Aurora, Sheryl and Ellie survive knowing they’d never see Ashley again? Her eyes stung as sadness welled.

With Ashley gone, her life would never be the same. Maybe that’s why she’d had gone after Quinn the way she had. Maybe it went beyond comfort. What did priorities mean anyway in a world where life was so unpredictable? Fragile. How could Ashley be gone when
she
was the one that risked her life on a regular basis? How naive to take someone so close to her for granted.

All those years where Ashley had asked her to seek help and she hadn’t. Now, she’d finally decided to face her biggest challenge and Ashley was gone. Where did that leave her? A fresh wave of fear crashed in her chest and she breathed through it, pushed it aside and exhaled slowly. Concentrated on now.

She liked her bed. She liked Quinn. Maybe they’d stay like this for the rest of time.

She could dream, couldn’t she?

Quinn woke her up a while later. Not that he knew he did. His erection burned against her butt cheeks. He pressed against her and it felt so good, she pressed back. The hand around her waist slipped up between the edges of her robe, warm and rough against her skin, and he cupped a breast. She arched against his hand at the same time as she pressed her ass against his erection.

Okay, she got why he didn’t want her last night. She was a little crazy, really dirty and smelled a lot like whiskey. Obviously, not a turn-on. Even though she still looked like crap, at least she’d cleaned up. Maybe if he kept his eyes closed, he wouldn’t have to see her at all. The point was to feel good. He didn’t need eyes for that.

She also realized he hadn’t wanted to take advantage of her, but reminding herself of that would only lead her to thinking and she wanted to feel…

Ellie snaked her hand behind her and rubbed him through his jeans.

“Oh, yeah,” he mumbled. “That’s good.”

She turned in his arms and kept his hand on her breast as she feathered kisses along his neck, across his jaw, until she reached his lips. She licked her way into his mouth and continued to move her hand over his erection. He tasted like coffee. Like he’d been up most of the night watching her. Worrying about her. Knowing that sent a wash of wet heat pooling between her legs.

One strong hand cupped the back of her head and brought her closer as he took control of the kiss. Yes! God, yes, it felt so good. He wanted her. He rolled her and moved against her. His weight drove her deeper into the mattress. She fumbled with the button of his jeans and took the zipper down.

“Wanna be inside you,” he mumbled.

“Yes, yes,” she breathed. Her heart thumped wildly as he kissed her again, harder and longer, his tongue igniting bolts of sensation that ripped through her with every stroke.

Thrusting against her, he slanted his mouth across hers and kissed her more deeply. “So hot,” he breathed. “Soft.”

Compared to him. He was as hard as rock. That dream she’d had wasn’t far off… The man was huge. What would he look like out of his clothes? Naked, ripped and gorgeous…and too delicious for words. She tried to get his jeans over his hips.

Quinn stilled. His eyes blinked open and widened before he jumped off her as quickly as a cat dodges water. “Jesus,” he muttered, breathing hard. “I’m sorry.” He looked around the room. A little dazed. A lot confused.

She swallowed. “Where’re you going? It was just getting good.” Maybe if she kept it light, he’d come back to her. She couldn’t take another rejection from him. She really couldn’t. The knot on her robe had loosened and she sat up against the pillows, all but offering herself in total surrender. A parted robe and a pair of black thong underwear was all he had to get by. She didn’t see a problem there. She patted the spot next to her. “No reason to run away.”

He shook his head, ran a hand through the longer locks of his dark hair. “I didn’t realize… I didn’t know…”

Boy, did she not want to hear this. “Everything’s fine. Just come back and sit down.” She patted the bed. Wanted him to feel comfortable. None of this had to be awkward.

Lifting his jeans back into place, he zipped up. Crap. But he didn’t button up so maybe she still had a shot at this. She wanted to laugh because all of sudden he was the skittish one, but it couldn’t last long, could it?

He sat on the edge of the bed, his back to her. The second she touched his shoulder he jumped up faster than a scared rabbit.

“I don’t bite,” she said, echoing his words from the bar. Then she smiled. “Unless you want me to.”

He stared at her, a streak of lust flared in his eyes, but a split second later he laughed, wiped his hands down his face. “Jesus, Elle. You’re killing me.”

“I don’t want to do that.” She patted the bed again. “But if you come back here I might send you to…” Heaven. She’d been about to say heaven. Where Ashley was right now.

Ashley was dead and she was trying to fuck a man she barely knew. Her actions, her reaction to Ashley’s death blindsided her. Tears came from nowhere and her swollen eyes ached with the sting. Her chest got heavy and a knot lodged in her throat.

No sooner had she dropped her head in her hands and started sobbing than Quinn was by her side, an arm over her shaking shoulders. “Shhh,” he said, holding her tight. “I’m here. I’m right here. I’m not goin’ anywhere.”

She didn’t care either way. Whether he was here or gone didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was that Ashley was gone. For good. Forever. For the rest of time. Her tears came harder and they hurt. Her whole body hurt. Every muscle. And she didn’t want to hurt anymore. Even for just a little while, she didn’t want to hurt.

She concentrated on Quinn’s hands. One rubbing her arm, the other cupping her head against his shoulder. The heat and strength he radiated seeped into her body and she clung to him, wanted more. He adjusted, pulled her closer and it felt so good, so wonderfully good.

Ellie shifted and wrapped her arms around his neck, nuzzled her lips under his ear.

“Elle…” He took a deep breath.

Before he got another word out, she held his jaw and kissed him. Coaxed his lips apart and tasted him. The thrill that shot through her body shocked her. Rocked her. She moaned into his mouth. Instead of pulling away he cupped her head firmly and kissed her back. Hard. Maybe a little too hard…as if she’d pushed him over the edge. But she didn’t mind. It felt too good to mind. He could have complete control of her body if he’d only take it.

Then just as quickly he pulled away. “Elle. Seriously. Think about this for a minute. Are you sure it’s what you want?”

She stroked his cheek with her thumb. “Yes. Yes.” She wanted him. His body, his heat, his comfort. She wanted everything he had to offer. Ellie opened her robe all the way and gave herself to him. Completely unwrapped, waiting to be taken. What man could resist that? “I just want to feel good. You can make me feel good.” She nibbled his ear, tongued the shell and he inhaled on a hiss. “Don’t you want to?”

“You know damn well I do.” He took her shoulders and held her back. His eyes glittered with heat and burned with desire. “But I don’t want you to regret it, that’s all.”

Meeting his gaze, she shook her head. “I won’t. I promise. No regrets.” Not now…when she needed him so desperately. Needed someone to take away the pain.

He ran his hand through her hair, against her scalp. That one caress had her vision glazing over. Then he kissed her. So soft, and sweet. So utterly Quinn. He kissed her as though she were made of fine glass. His lips smoothed over hers, gentle in the taking, while he cupped her head and held her close. His warm hand slid inside her robe and brushed the underside of her breast, before palming her completely. Heat seared where he touched, sparks skittered along every nerve ending.

Perfection.

She pressed into his hand as she opened her mouth for more of his kiss. He accepted the invitation, pushed his tongue past her teeth. Ellie hummed with satisfaction, at the pure joy of having Quinn at her fingertips. His body was still bed warm, his mouth blazing hot as he trailed his lips along her jaw and down her neck.

He adjusted them on the bed. Laid her out beneath him and continued to kiss her, stroke her. “I’m gonna make you feel so good,” he murmured. He wedged a knee between her thighs and she spread her legs, rubbed against him. “That’s it,” he whispered. “Show me what you want.” Hot kisses trailed down her neck to her breast and she arched into him. He licked her, tongued her mercilessly until her nipple was a taut bud begging for his mouth.

“Quinn, please.” She wanted so much more. She wanted mindless sex. Raw sex.