Quinn
Waking up, I stretched my arms above my head and grinned as memories of last night flooded my mind. Closing my eyes, I couldn’t believe how perfect my date with Brody had been. I had no idea how things would be when I saw him today, and nervous excitement bubbled in my stomach. I’d tried to convince myself I wasn’t falling for him, that I couldn’t stay on the ranch if anything developed between us. But one night with him and I was feeling things I’d only read about in books. Sighing, I brushed my fingers across my lips, remembering when Brody had kissed me and how I’d felt when I’d been wrapped in his strong arms.
Reaching over to the nightstand, I grabbed my purse, searching inside for the phone he’d given me last night. I really hadn’t wanted to take it from him. He’d been pretty insistent though, and even though I didn’t know him that well, I could tell I wasn’t going to get away with not accepting it. Pressing the home button to illuminate the screen, I saw I’d received a message. Clicking into it, I smiled as I saw it was from Brody.
Brody: Night, gorgeous. Sweet dreams.
He must have sent it when he got back to his room. I contemplated replying but didn’t want to wake him. I’d decided while I’d lain awake last night reliving every second of the evening in my head, I would wake early and make him breakfast as a thank you for yesterday.
Seeing it was 8 a.m., I climbed out of bed and crossed the room to the bathroom. After brushing my teeth, I quietly opened my door and peeked down the hall, listening for any signs that Brody was awake. Hearing none, I padded out of my room, making my way downstairs and into the kitchen. Grabbing what I needed from the refrigerator, I set it all out on the counter before flicking the coffee pot on.
After making batter, I was standing at the stove flipping pancakes when suddenly two strong arms slipped around my waist. I gasped as I was pulled backward onto a hard chest. “Morning, baby,” Brody muttered into my ear, his teeth gently nibbling on my neck. I hadn’t even heard the kitchen door open so was taken by surprise to feel him behind me. Dropping my head back onto his bare chest, I relaxed into his hold before tilting my head and smiling up at him.
“Morning. Sleep well?” I asked him as I added the pancake to the stack I’d already made.
“Hmmm,” he moaned nuzzling my neck. “I’d have slept better if you had been with me,” he said, his voice still thick with sleep.
Laughing, I shook my head. “I doubt that.” Reluctantly pulling out of his embrace, I crossed the kitchen, standing on my tiptoes to reach inside a cupboard for the maple syrup. I put it down on the counter and turned around. Seeing his eyes roaming my body, I took the opportunity to look at him. As I did, my breath caught in my throat. He was standing there in just his sleep shorts, his chest bare. My eyes raked over him. His hair was messy from just having woken up. His broad shoulders and toned chest had me itching to touch him.
“Do you know what it does to me, seeing you wearing my shirt and nothing else?” His voice was husky, and I dragged my eyes up to his hooded ones, squirming under his gaze. I tugged the shirt down and shook my head, suddenly realizing I was standing in the kitchen in just his shirt and a pair of panties. I’d been so eager to make him breakfast I hadn’t thought to put my jeans on. My nipples pebbled against my shirt under his lustful gaze and I saw his eyes drop to my chest. Letting out what sounded like a growl, he pushed off the counter, stalking toward me. Pulling me against him, my hands crashed against his hard chest, and he picked me up setting me on the countertop. Opening my legs with his hands, he came to stand in between them, and I instinctively wrapped my arms around him.
“It drives me crazy knowing you fall asleep every night wearing my shirt. It looks so hot on you, Quinn.” Even though I was sitting on the counter, he still towered above me and I tilted my head to see his face. Brushing the back of his hand across my cheek, I leaned into his touch. As I did, he lowered his head, his mouth finding mine in a searing kiss. The hand that was on my back tugged me to the edge of the counter, my shirt riding up with the sudden movement. I felt his erection hot and hard against me as my panties hit his shorts. My tongue gained entrance into his mouth and I wrapped my legs around his back, shamelessly rocking against him, trying to ease the ache that was forming between my legs. I’d gotten myself off plenty of times, but it had never felt this good, and I didn’t want him to stop.
Brody's lips left mine, peppering wet kisses around my jaw and down my neck. His fingers dropped from my cheek and he ran them up my thigh, causing my skin to erupt in goose bumps where he’d touched me. Then his hand pushed under my shirt, making me gasp as he stroked lightly up my side until his fingers brushed the underside of my breast and I whimpered.
“Is this okay?” he whispered before pulling back to look me in the eye.
I nodded. “Please,” I begged, and he chuckled as his mouth went back to kissing and biting my neck. His hand cupped my breast, his thumb circling my nipple. “Don’t stop,” I moaned as I continued to rock against him. The ache between my legs was almost unbearable and my breath was coming out in pants. I could feel how hard he was underneath his shorts and knowing how turned on he was made me want him even more. I’d never been like this with anyone else. Knowing how Brody was making me feel, I wondered if I’d even given myself a real orgasm before. It had never felt like it did now, like my whole body was going to explode.
Suddenly, he pinched my nipple, and I came hard, crying out his name. My body trembled from the most powerful orgasm I’d ever had, and I dropped my head into his neck, my breathing erratic. His hand came from under my shirt and he wrapped his arms around me, holding me as I came back down to earth.
After a few minutes I lifted my head, embarrassed I’d gotten so carried away in his parents' kitchen. His eyes met mine, and I smiled awkwardly. “I can’t believe I just did that, I’ve never…” I trailed off unable to voice that he was the only man to ever see me like that.
“Was it your first?” A huge grin appeared on his face as I nodded my head.
“Well… my first that wasn’t self-given,” I replied, mortified to admit that to him.
“Now that I’d like to see.” He winked at me and I gently slapped his hard chest before laughing and shaking my head.
“I was going to surprise you with breakfast in bed.” I gestured to the pile of pancakes on the counter. “I figured as Claire was away you wouldn’t actually eat breakfast unless I made it for you,” I teased.
“Hey,” he scolded, his tone playful. “I can manage cereal just fine. These however,” he reached around me and picked up the plate full of pancakes, “these look delicious. Let’s take them and eat them in bed. I like your idea of breakfast in bed.” I nodded, and he stepped back as I hopped down off the counter.
“I’ll make us some coffee to take up with us.” He watched me as I filled two mugs with steaming black coffee. “Can you pass me the milk?” Putting the pancakes down he reached in the fridge. Walking toward me he held the container out of my reach, swooping in for a kiss before offering me the carton.
After filling the tray with breakfast goodies, Brody picked it up and headed out of the kitchen. I grabbed the maple syrup off the side and followed him up the stairs, nerves swirling in my stomach. Was he going to be expecting more after what had happened in the kitchen? As much as I was falling for him I wasn’t ready to sleep with him yet. I hoped I hadn’t given him the wrong impression.
Brody
Waking up after a fitful night's sleep, I’d gone to knock on Quinn’s door only to find it open, her messy bed empty. Hearing noises coming from the kitchen, I found her standing in front of the stove in nothing but my Dallas Cowboys shirt. My cock had woken up at the sight of her and I adjusted myself, not wanting to scare her off first thing in the morning.
Seeing her standing at the stove, I knew she hadn’t heard me come into the kitchen. I took my time to admire the view. Her hair, still curly from last night, fell in waves down her back, and my shirt fell mid-thigh, exposing her toned and tanned legs. Not being able to wait any longer to touch her, I’d crossed the kitchen, slipping my arms around her. Nuzzling against her neck, I inhaled her scent. She smelled amazing and I couldn’t keep my hands off her.
Watching her fall apart in my arms had been unexpected. I hadn’t imagined things happening that quickly. She’d never said, but I was guessing she wasn’t sexually experienced, and I didn’t want to push her into something she wasn’t ready for. Her silence as we climbed the stairs had me wondering if she thought I’d expect breakfast in bed to lead to something more. I expected nothing. I was more than happy just to be with her, which by my own admission was unusual for me. Turning my head as we reached the top of the stairs, I smiled.
“Your room or mine?” I gave her the option, thinking she might feel more comfortable in her own room.
“Erm… your room is fine.” Nodding, I led her down the corridor, pushing the door open. My comforter was tangled up on my bed, evidence that I’d tossed and turned all night. “This is a great room,” she said as I put the tray down on the side. She walked past me and peeked through the closed drapes. My room was on the opposite side of the house and my window overlooked the burned-out stables.
“Your room is way better. Savannah got the bigger room as we were growing up.” I laughed. “She needed it with all her shit.”
“She does have a lot of clothes and shoes, that’s for sure.” She turned from the window and flopped down on top of the crumpled comforter. Seeing her sitting on my bed, wearing my shirt made me want to beat my chest and claim her as my own. Instead I grabbed the two cups of coffee from the tray, placing them on the nightstand. Reaching for the tray I set it on the bed next to her. She looked nervous, and I didn’t want to make her anymore uncomfortable by jumping on her, so I sat on the edge of the bed.
“Pancake?” I offered, passing her an empty plate and gesturing to the stack she’d made. Smiling, she took one, squirting maple syrup over the top. “These are delicious, Quinn.” I devoured a pancake before reaching for another one. Moving to lean against the top of the bed, I patted the space next to me. “Come here, baby,” I said softly. She hesitated for a fraction of a second before scooting over to sit in the space next to me. I noticed she’d left a larger-than-necessary gap between us, almost slipping off the edge of the bed.
“Is everything okay?” I frowned at the space between us. She nodded and moved a little closer. “Quinn.” I paused waiting for her to look at me. “You know I’d never make you do anything you weren’t comfortable with, don’t you? If what happened in the kitchen was too fast for you, I’m sorry, sweetheart…” I trailed off, feeling like a jerk that I couldn’t keep my hands off her.
“No, Brody. I’m the one who’s sorry. I got carried away in the kitchen, that was all me.” She moved next to me and placed her hand on my arm. “I do know you’d never make me do anything I didn’t want to. It’s just…” She paused, dropping her eyes from mine. I placed my hand over hers and squeezed encouragingly, urging her to go on. “Well, I’ve not done this before. I have no clue what happens next.”
“What happens next is up to us. We can go as slow or as fast as you want, Quinn. There’s no right or wrong answer.” She smiled and reached up, kissing me on the cheek.
“Thank you.”
Taking the now empty plate from her hand, I placed it on top of mine and put them both on the nightstand next to me. As I lay down, I pulled her onto my chest, wrapping my arm around her shoulder. Tracing my fingers up and down her arm, I felt her body finally relax.
“How are your ribs feeling?” I asked her cautiously, using the question as a way to kickstart a conversation about Evan.
“They’re okay, I guess. Still sore when I cough or sneeze but loads better than they were.”
“Are you ready to tell me about Evan?” Sighing, she pushed off my chest and lay next to me, her blonde hair splayed out on my pillow. I turned on my side and waited for her to talk. Her eyes were focused on the ceiling and I tried to stay calm, knowing what she was about to tell me would push me over the edge.
“Mom married Evan when I was sixteen. Her parents had kicked her out when she got pregnant with me. I never knew my dad, and it had just been the two of us until she met him.” She turned her head and gave me a sad smile. “She was so in love with him. No one deserved to be happy more than she did, and Evan seemed like a great guy. I didn’t really know him all that well, but he made Mom happy. If she was happy, so was I.” She moved to lie beside me, resting her head on my bare chest again.
“Go on, baby,” I encouraged, wrapping my arm around her.
“They’d been married for just over a year when she got sick. Her kidneys began to fail. She’d had diabetes all her life, and it had taken its toll on her kidneys. She went on dialysis, but it only worked for about a year. I wanted to give her one of my kidneys, but she was stubborn and wouldn’t let me. In the end though, she was so sick and there was no match on the transplant list. She had no choice but to let me help her.”
“You gave your mom one of your kidneys?” I asked in surprise, my hand stroking her hair. She nodded.
“Yeah, about six months ago. It didn’t save her though. She was too weak to make it through the operation. She never woke up.” Her voice was choked with emotion and I could feel tears hitting my chest.
“Don’t cry.” I held her close to me, her body wracking with sobs. “You did an amazing thing, sweetheart.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered a few minutes later when she’d stopped crying.
“You have nothing to apologize for.” I lowered my head and pressed my lips into her hair. I hated seeing her cry and wished I could take her pain away. Taking a deep breath, she continued.
“After she’d died, I was left living with Evan. I didn’t know any of my mom’s family, and not knowing my father, I had no one, and nowhere to go. Things were okay for a while, but then Evan started to show his true colors. He was drinking heavily and that’s when he would get violent.”
I felt my body tense and I knew she felt it as she placed her hand on my abdomen, her fingers making circles on my skin. “The first time he hit me, he’d been out drinking all day and could barely walk. I’d left my dish from dinner on the counter instead of washing it up. He slapped me around the face. I managed to get away from him and upstairs before he passed out on the couch.” Her voice had dropped, and she was almost whispering. “He seemed to have no recollection in the morning of what he’d done. I didn’t mention it and neither did he. I prayed it was a one-off, but I wasn’t that lucky. He hit me again a few weeks later for something just as insignificant, only this time it was a punch to the face.”
“Fuck! I’m so sorry, baby.” She hugged me tighter, and we lay in silence for a few minutes. I could feel anger bubbling in my stomach as my mind replayed what she’d just told me. I wanted to find the bastard and cut his balls off. “What made you leave, sweetheart?” I asked after she’d been quiet for a while.
“His friends started turning up at all times of the day and night. Well, that’s what Evan told me they were, they didn’t seem like friends to me. Sometimes they’d beat him up, other times they’d share a drink with him. I managed to stay out of their way the majority of the time they were there. I wasn’t so lucky a few weeks ago. Two guys knocked on the door when Evan was out and forced their way in. When he came home, they demanded money off him. Money I knew he didn’t have.” Pausing, she dragged in a shaky breath. “We were barely managing to pay the bills, let alone give money to these guys. I guess he’d fallen behind on the payments to them. They told him they’d be back in seven days. If he couldn’t pay…” She trailed off and buried her head in my chest.
“What were they going to do if he couldn’t pay, sweetheart?” I asked gently, dreading hearing her answer.
“They were going to… to take me as payment instead,” she muttered.
I looked at her in disbelief. “And Evan was going to let them?”
She nodded. “He said it was my fault he owed them money. The insurance wouldn’t pay out for all the dialysis Mom had. When both of us had surgery, it wasn’t covered by the policy. He’d had to borrow the money to pay the medical bills. He chose the wrong people to borrow off.” Her voice was breaking again, and I knew tears were rolling down her cheeks. “He hit me and dragged me upstairs, throwing me into my bedroom and locking the door. My ribs were already sore from a few weeks prior when he’d thrown me against a cabinet. I think that fall added to the bruising that was already there.” She was sobbing by now and I could barely tell what she was saying.
“Okay, baby. Shhhhh. It’s okay,” I soothed. “You don’t have to tell me anymore.” I knew she hadn’t told me everything, but I couldn’t stand to see her so upset. I needed to know Evan’s full name so I could get Ethan to run it through the police database, but I wanted her to calm down first.
Rolling her onto her back, I wiped her tears away with my thumbs. “I am so sorry you had to go through all of that, Quinn. Thank you for telling me. I can see how hard it is for you to talk about.” Bringing my body over hers, I lowered my head and kissed her softly. “I think you’re amazing,” I murmured against her lips.
“Amazing? Why?” she asked, her forehead frowning in question.
“You were selfless enough to give your mom one of your kidneys. That’s an amazing thing to do, baby.”
“Anyone would do the same to save a loved one.” She gently shrugged her shoulders, and I shook my head.
“No, Quinn. They wouldn’t. Not everyone. It was an incredible thing to do,” I insisted, kissing her again.
“I only wish it had worked.”
“You did everything you could. She just wasn’t strong enough.”
“It’s not fair,” she whispered.
“I know, sweetheart. I know.” I lay back down and pulled her into my chest. Reaching down, I threw the comforter over us and stroked her hair. After a few minutes, her breathing had levelled out, and I realized she had fallen asleep. After listening to what she had told me I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep, but I was more than happy to hold her while she did. I was still reeling from what she’d said. I only hoped Ethan could find some information out about this asshole Evan.
Whatever it took, I would keep her safe.