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Chapter Fourteen

Cadence

The warm rays of the sun spread across my face. Rolling to my back, I spread my arms over my head, forcing my eyes open. Clenching the blanket, I pulled it to my chest, blinking repeatedly to clear the haze coating my vision.

As I turned to my left, the spot beside me was empty. Draping my fingers over the lonely pillow, the cool feel of fabric told me Quinn had woke up a little while ago.

After we left the center, he asked me to come home with him. It didn't take much convincing, his words still played on repeat in my head like a record player with the needle stuck on a scratch of an old seventy-eight.

'Where are you going now?' he asked, his hands stuffed into his pockets, elbows bowed out.

'Home,' I said, the words catching the back of my tongue, swallowing hard, they sliced at the roof of my mouth. I hated going home.

'You know you don't have to, go stay somewhere else.'

'Ha! Yeah, I don't exactly have many options that wouldn't involve me under cardboard, next to a smelly dumpster.' Rolling my eyes, a smirk tugged up towards my ear.

'You have another option.' Quinn raised his eyes to meet mine, the deep brown glazed over, his lips creeping up in a smile.

'Oh yeah, and where's that?' I asked playfully, tugging at the seam of his jacket.

'Do I really need to spell it out for you?'

Pausing, the realization set in. 'Oh, no. No, I couldn't.' Biting my lip, I shook my head in disagreement. 'My father would kill me.'

'Don't you realize this yet?' His fingers wrapped around my wrists, pulling me into his arms. His muscles embraced me tightly, holding me possessively.

I thought I could have melted into him right there. My hand traced the hard ridges of his abs, his musk still strong from fucking me moments before.

When I felt his finger trail my spine through my clothes, the hair on the back of my neck shot up. His lips grazed the soft curve of my ear as he whispered. 'You're not his anymore. You're mine. You belong with me.' The delicate swirl of his tongue followed the lines of my throat. 'And that's where you'll stay.'

The thought made me gleam, glowing from head to toe. I smiled to myself while my muscles stretched long, a deep growling yawn rolled out of my mouth.

Looking around the room, the door was partially cracked, and the scent of burning bacon had started to filter in. I could hear the clank of metal coming from outside, the subtle roll of music beat quietly in the background.

Sitting up on my arms, I noticed a small picture propped up on his dresser. Sliding my legs free from the tangle of blankets, I crossed the room and picked it up.

It was definitely Quinn, though much younger, maybe eighteen? He was standing next to another boy, both had their arms wrapped around each others shoulders, huge smiles anchored across their faces.

They were standing in an arena, shirtless, bruises and red marks scattered across their bodies. Both their hands were wrapped in black tape, and they were holding a large golden trophy high above their heads.

He looks so happy here. Is this Rainee?

Suddenly a loud beeping rang through the apartment. Startled, the picture fell from my hand, hitting the hardwood floor, and shattering.

Ah, shit!

Quickly leaning down, I grabbed the frame around the wood. Yanking on the door, I stepped into a small open living room.

“Good morning, Beautiful.” Quinn said, waving an oven mitt rapidly at the smoke detector on the ceiling of the kitchen. “Thought I'd cook us some breakfast, but I forgot how bad I was at this.” Letting out a guttural laugh, he fanned the alarm.

My lips rose instantly, the smile painting my cheeks as butterflies swarmed my belly. It was an incredible feeling to see this man, flailing an old torn mitt, his bare chest flexing eagerly to stop the loud buzzing.

“Well, I appreciate the thought.” Leaning into the door jam, I lifted the frame to my chest. “I, uh, accidentally broke this, sorry.” My lip peeled down to the side, wrinkles raised up on my forehead.

“Luckily, you look really sexy in my t-shirt, so I'll only make you pay me half for it.” He walked out of the kitchen carrying two plates. “Come sit.” Falling back onto the couch, he held up the plate.

Climbing up beside him, I tucked my feet under my thighs. “Is this Rainee?” I asked, holding out the picture.