Chapter 1

Quinn

I watched the cornflower blue sky roll by behind the pane of glass but I didn’t really see it. Fields of corn turned into fields of soy beans, and then golden wheat only to bloom back into corn again but I didn’t see that either. For a brief moment, my gaze clashed with its twin in the dirty window. Two green eyes staring back at me. Full of anger. Embarrassed. A failure.

I flicked my stare back to the front of the bus just in time to catch the driver’s loud announcement.

“Coral Springs!” His voice was hoarse from decades of cigarette smoke and god only knew what else, “Anyone getting off at Coral Springs, Iowa?

The vehicle screeched to a painful stop. My eyes slid closed and I imagined staying there, glued to the cracked vinyl bench seat as the bus drove towards the horizon.

And go where? I’m a college flunky with no job prospects, no home, and no money. The unwelcome reminder had the familiar flush of embarrassment burning my cheeks. There was nowhere else to go but back to the last place in the world I wanted to end up.

“Coral Springs. This is the last call for Coral Springs!”

"Damn it." Muttering the curse under my breath, I grabbed the strap of my tattered backpack and flung it over my shoulder as I rushed to the door. I could feel it closing behind me a bare second after my feet landed on the sidewalk in front of the small bench that marked the bus stop.

I cast a dirty look behind me at the bus, the effect lessened somewhat as the thick cloud of smog it belched out made me choke and splutter. I threw a middle finger up as the vehicle disappeared around a corner, watching it for as long as I could before I knew I couldn’t stall anymore.

Despite my best intentions, my eyes traced the familiar buildings of Main Street. There was Doctor Wiley’s office, who’d given me a cast when I had broken my arm falling out of a tree when I was twelve. I’d been so worried Jonah would be mad at me, but he hadn’t said a word, only waited till I was all patched up and then took me across the street to Rosie’s for ice cream.

Coral Springs wasn’t a particularly small town but it was mostly rural, with farmland and some industrial areas spread out with miles in between. It was small enough that most people knew each other. Everybody knew everybody else’s business. I hated it.

“Home, sweet home.”

The grocery store, the antique mall, everything looked exactly the same as the day I left three years ago. It hurt, to be back now. More than I ever could have imagined. Well, that’s because you never imagined crawling back to this shithole town as a failure. I forced myself not to cringe at the unwelcome reminder.

Three years ago, I had left Coral Springs without a backward glance. I had gotten accepted into the business program at the University of Iowa, and I couldn't wait to get out of this town. Away from these people. I had dreamed of graduating, starting my own business, and coming back in a few years, successful. I was going to show them all.

Yeah, your plan really worked out for you, Quinn. Except you forgot the part where you’re a perpetual fuck-up. Remember the lemonade stand? The carnival? The winter ball–.

I gave a violent shake of my head, wishing I could banish the thoughts but they were there, relentless, crouched in the back of my mind. Just waiting.

My gaze landed on the library, the red brick building still austere despite the vines crawling over the front and the spots where the cement stairs had begun to crumble. Lily was probably there right now. Lost amongst her favorite type of people. Fictional ones.

“I should go. I should walk over there and talk to Lily. At least let her know I’m back,” I muttered the words under my breath but my feet didn’t move.

Lily Ballis was my best friend. We had grown up together in Coral Springs, had been basically inseparable all through our middle school and teenage years.

But I already knew exactly how it would play out. I'd tell her what had happened. That I had drank myself through my junior year of college, had flunked out of almost all my classes and then I'd been caught with weed in my room. The University had a zero-tolerance policy. They'd barely let me pack my stuff before kicking me off the campus.

I would tell Lily all this, and she would nod sympathetically, her big blue eyes wide with understanding and kindness. And then she’d hug me and tell me that I was back where I was meant to be. That everything happened for a reason.

Fuck that, I thought angrily. I’m not supposed to be here. I glared at the town for good measure, turning resolutely in the opposite direction as I stomped down the sidewalk.

What about Jonah? That damned voice was back, whispering in my head but this time I couldn’t quiet it.

Jonah. My big brother. My overprotective, misguided, and judgmental big brother. No, I wasn’t ready to face him either. He would be pissed at me for fucking up such a great opportunity. I could deal with his anger. It had been directed at me plenty of times over the years, but what I couldn’t stand was the other thing. The disappointment.

I picked up my pace, distracted as I rushed forward, trying to outpace my own thoughts. Lily would be happy to have me back but Jonah was going to kill me for sure this time. There was no way around it. I was dead–.

“Oof!” The breath left my lungs in a rush as I ran into what felt like a brick wall that had suddenly materialized in front of me. My arms wind milled as I backpedaled, trying to keep my balance and then the brick wall was moving forward, steadying me with hands that felt suspiciously skin-like. And then it was talking, low and gravelly.

“Hey, there. Are you alright, sunshine?”

A small shudder ran through me as the words registered. It really wasn’t fair that a brick wall should have a voice like that. Like honey and whiskey and forbidden things all wrapped up together.

“What the hell? Are you trying to kill somebody?! You just came out of nowhere!” I said breathlessly, more embarrassed than angry, and it wasn’t just from the collision.

“Actually, I just came out of Lucky’s.”

“Lucky’s.”

Maybe my capacity for intelligent thought had been lost along with my ability to breathe because all I could do was stand there, repeating the brick wall’s words.

“Yeah, the bar. That I just walked out of.”

“The bar.” I glanced behind him to see the grimy windows of the dive he was pointing toward.

“You sure you okay, sunshine? Maybe we should sit down for a minute, just to be on the safe side.” The brick wall paused for a moment and I could practically feel the warmth of his gaze as it drank me in, “Maybe I can make it up to you. Can I buy you a drink?”

I stood there for a moment, knowing I should keep walking. Knowing that I should go home and face the music. But damned if a drink didn’t sound good. Almost as good as the brick wall.

“What the hell.” I breathed the words as I turned and walked inside. Anything to delay the inevitable. And if I was being honest with myself, I wanted to see if the chills that had raced up and down my body were real, or if I had just imagined them.

It was only four o’clock, so the place was nearly empty. A few of the regulars sat at the far end of the long, narrow room but I took a seat towards the middle, rubbing my hands over the wooden bar top as the brick wall took the stool next to me.

“Hey Stella, can I get a beer, and what about you, sunshine? What do you fancy?”

“Whiskey, neat.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” The brick wall whispered, leaning so close his warm breath tickled my ear, sounding as if he was telling me a secret, “What passes for whiskey at this place is little more than watered-down motor oil.”

“I’ll, uh, I’ll just stick with beer then.”

“Good choice,” He chuckled roughly and it set off another wave of chills, “Two beers, Stella.”

The brick wall turned back to me as the bartender slid over the glasses and I finally got my first good look at him. It made the breath that I’d fought to get back leave all over again. He was tall, towering over my own five foot two by at least a foot, maybe even more. And he had the shoulders to go with it.

His hair was brown and too long. He kept pushing it back with one hand but it would just fall back over his forehead a moment later. His eyes were so dark they almost looked black in the dim lighting of the bar, but they gleamed with a light of mischief that I knew spelled trouble. Damn if I didn’t like trouble.

It took me a moment to realize that he was staring back at me just as intently and my cheeks flushed hot but I refused to look away.

“It’s not sunshine, you know.” I forced the words out through a throat that was suddenly tight with tension. He raised one dark eyebrow in question, taking a long pull from his beer and my eyes jumped to his lips, wicked thoughts flashing through my mind, and then away again.

“My name,” I finally said, “It’s not sunshine. It’s Quinn.”

“Leo. Leo Delaney,” He held out one big, callused hand and I stared at it, “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

I swallowed hard. It’s just a handshake. Nothing to be afraid of. The snide words echoed in my head, but I knew they weren’t true. Quinn Moore had been called a lot of things, I mean a whole lot of things, but a coward had never been one of them. And I wasn’t about to start now.

Slowly, I reached out my own hand, sliding my palm against his and gasped at the feel of electricity that arced from my fingers, all the way up my arm and then down again to pool low and heavy inside me. The reaction was instant and powerful, sweeping through me and there was no denying the tension that wrapped around us.

The next hour drowned in the dark, fathomless depths of Leo’s eyes, the beer left unfinished as we spoke about everything, and nothing at all. His hand never let go of mine, sweeping his thumb back and forth, driving me slowly insane and I didn’t know if I was sad or relieved when he finally let it go as he rose to his feet.

But the next instant, he was back, his voice somehow even deeper and raspier as he whispered against my ear.

“I live in the apartment above the bar. Maybe we could find somewhere a little more…private?”

It was easy to read the invitation in his words, the need in his dark gaze. That same need echoed inside me, pulsing, drawing me to my feet next to him. Over the past hour, I’d forgotten all about school, all about my failures, all about Jonah and the dreaded conversation. I’d forgotten it all and I wanted to stay lost in Leo for as long as I could.

The heavy desire sweeping through me pushed my feet forward. I grabbed my backpack, following him up the steep, rickety stairs but as we reached the top I stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. It made my fingers tingle as Leo cast me a look over his shoulder as he worked on getting the door unlocked.

“I don’t usually do this sort of thing.” I don’t know what made me say the words but in the next instant, the door was open but Leo still hadn’t moved. His dark gaze was lowered on mine and I couldn’t look away. He had me trapped.

“Sunshine, I don’t want you to do anything that you don’t want.” He leaned forward, reaching out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind my ears. That small touch had me trembling right there in front of his apartment.

I looked up at him, and the knowledge filled me like a light suddenly flickering on in the darkness. I did want. I wanted him. And I was tired of not taking what I wanted. Of always having to live by someone else’s rules. Do what other people told me. It was time to start a new life. It was time to make my own decisions. Starting with this one.

I didn’t let myself stop and think any more as I pressed forward. I had to stand up on the tips of my toes and even then, Leo had to bend down so my mouth could reach his, but when it did it was like heaven. That electricity was back, making the hair on the back of my arms stand on end as we danced inside the small apartment. Leo kicked the door closed behind us and then he was back. He crowded closer to my body, pressing me up against door.

His mouth was wicked as it angled over mine, drawing out every gasp and moan and drinking in the raspy noises like sweet liquor. His hands were just as sinful, sweeping down my thighs and under my shirt, his touch soft and almost lazy as his fingers tripped slowly across my skin. It was driving me insane.

“Leo, I need…” I managed to get the words out in between kisses but I inhaled sharply as his mouth dipped lower, trailing sensual bites down the sensitive curve of my neck.

“What do you need, sunshine? Tell me.”

“I need…” I trailed off again, unsure how to put the maelstrom that was storming inside me into words. My hands raked across his back, dragging off his shirt as they went. I threw it behind us. My bag soon followed, along with my high tops and t-shirt. They landed somewhere on the floor, but it still wasn’t enough.

“I need more.”

“I can give you more. I can give you whatever you want, sunshine,” Leo hissed the words as we both tore at the zipper of his jeans, jerking them down. “Just say the word and it’s yours.”

“Less talk,” I whispered back with a wicked grin, “More action.”

He matched me, grin for grin, and then we were both moving, frantic with need and desire that was like a wildfire raging between us. And there was only one thing that would satisfy it. One thing in the whole world that could quench the flames.

The next moment, he had my jeans sliding down my hips and I arched my back towards him, desperate for his touch. His fingers toyed with me. Teasing. Drawing me close to the edge as he thrust with his fingers but it still wasn’t enough.

His thumb brushed against my clit and for a moment I was sure my legs would collapse and send me sprawling to the floor. But his strong arms were there, holding me tight between the door at my back and the even harder body pressed against my front.

His fingers were magic as they moved inside me, ratcheting up the tension until I couldn’t breathe. My nails raked across his bare shoulders before looping around his neck, holding on for dear life. But still, he wouldn’t let me come.

Every time he brought me to the edge he would ease off just enough to have me panting with a need that had taken over my entire body. I’d never felt anything like this. All-consuming. I wanted him so much it hurt.

“More, Leo,” I gasped the words, my vision red as my entire body clenched, hanging on the edge. The words were barely out of my mouth before he was moving fast again, knowing exactly what I was asking for. His hard erection slid against my wetness. It coated my thighs, my body ready and willing and wanting worse than it ever had before.

And then he was giving in, thrusting all the way inside me in one long slide that had my head rolling back against the door in ecstasy. His strong hands were holding me up, one wrapped around each thigh and I couldn’t move. I couldn’t think. All I could do was take everything that he gave me.

“Ah, hell, sunshine. You feel so good,” Leo muttered the words against her cheek as their bodies moved together, faster and faster. The words sounded torn from his throat, “Fuck, too good.”

I squeezed my eyes closed, rocking my hips in a rhythm that had moans falling from my lips without even realizing it. I tried to hold it off. I could feel it, climax speeding towards me like a freight train and when it hit it knocked the air from my lungs and made every muscle in my body tighten in excruciating pleasure.

Everything went white and gold, flashing behind my eyelids and in the corner of my mind, I could feel Leo thrust once more, a groan escaping him as he stiffened before letting me slide slowly back to my feet.

It was a good thing he was still there though, standing so close in front of me because my legs would never have supported me. They felt like bowls of Jell-O.

“Fuck.” Leo bit out the curse, and I pried my eyes open to see his dark gaze wide on mine, “Protection. I–.”

“Don’t worry, big guy,” I slurred the words, patting him on the shoulder before letting my arm drop again, “I’m on birth control. And I’m clean.” I grinned up at him, feeling drunk on the orgasm that still pulsed through me in waves of sharp pleasure, “I told you. I don’t normally do this sort of thing.”

“Me too. Clean, I mean, but…” Leo stared at me for a minute before shaking his head, some incomprehensible emotion sweeping over his handsome features before he leaned forward and placed the softest kiss against my lips.

After a long moment, he pulled away. He looked like he was about to say something but a loud, shrill ring cut him off. I jumped, glancing down at my cell phone. It had fallen on the floor next to us, along with my bag, and the rest of our clothes. It looked like a war zone. It rang again.

“Damn it,” I muttered, still shaking from the pleasure that swept through my body like a warm breeze.

“Just ignore it,” Leo whispered the words against my neck, causing another shudder to wrack my body.

I tried. Damn it, I really tried. But the incessant ring had already sent my post-sex glow packing. It fled altogether as I finally gave in, grabbing at the foul thing and glanced at the caller id. Shit. It was Jonah. For the fifth time. I hadn’t even noticed it ringing.

“I gotta take this,” I said softly, my voice full of regret as I slid away far enough to put my clothes back on. The phone was still ringing, sharp and un-ignorable. With a deep breath, I answered.

“Hello.” I tried to make my voice sound as normal as possible but it didn’t matter. Jonah was already talking before I’d even gotten the word out.

“You need to come home, Quinn. Now.” My brother’s voice was just as sharp and un-ignorable as the ringtone had been. I knew it would be bad when Jonah found out. Now, I knew it would be really bad.

I shot Leo a smile, half wistful, half regret, before giving him a soft kiss on the cheek.

“I have to go.” I turned to leave, just about through the door when his voice stopped me.

“Wait a minute, sunshine.” He turned, scribbling on a napkin from the bar downstairs before holding it out to me. I grabbed it, giving him one more small smile before leaving for good. It wasn’t until I was outside that I realized what he’d written. Below the horseshoe symbol for the bar was his number. For a moment, I considered just throwing it away but at the last minute changed my mind, tucking it into my backpack.