Page 22

The room was filled with the sounds of their breathing, Raelyn's moans, Quinn's growls.

Chests heaving, breaths coming in harsh and heavy, Raelyn couldn't believe she was getting so worked up over a kiss.

She could feel the moisture between her legs as she pulled him closer, fingers grasping his shirt so tightly, as if she'd simply float away if she let go.

It was like nothing Raelyn had ever felt, every sensation taking her to the edge: His scent, the feel of his lips, his stubble scratching her skin as they kissed deeper, the taste of his tongue, the way his hands felt against her cheek, her neck, and then holding her hips, pulling her in close.

Raelyn had no idea how long they'd spent making out like horny teenagers before finally parting.

Their lips were swollen from prolonged contact and her heart squeezed as Quinn let out a shuddering breath.

He rested his forehead back on hers with his eyes closed.

Raelyn brushed her fingers lightly down the side of his face, concentrating on those magnificently talented lips.

"Remember," Quinn began, his voice low and husky, "when we made blanket forts at your house in the basement?"

"Mhmm…"

"Why didn't we ever think to do this then?" Quinn asked, the hint of a smile in his words.

Raelyn pondered for a moment, remembering the many different forts that were built and all the activities that had taken place. "Probably because…we were ten and thought we might catch cooties."

Quinn’s laugh was silent but she’d felt his breath on her lips, "I don't think I ever thought you had cooties...I thought you were a princess, remember? Princesses don't have cooties."

"I guess I didn't think you were all that interested in kissing me," Raelyn shrugged. "I almost suggested it once. For science, of course. Just so that when we finally did have a boyfriend or girlfriend we knew what we were doing. "

Quinn took a breath, paused, then let it out shaking his head.

"What?" Raelyn pressed, knowing he'd wanted to say something.

"When did that thought cross your mind?" he asked. "To kiss for practice?"

"Oh, I don't know, when we were twelve? Thirteen, maybe?" Raelyn replied, "Camille was fifteen or sixteen and was always talking about boys and kissing different boys so I thought maybe I should get a leg up on it."

There was another silent pause before Quinn spoke again. "I definitely would've kissed you for science ."

Raelyn giggled, "If I ever get a time machine I'll go back and let twelve-year-old me know that you would happily be a test guinea pig for kissing."

"If it had felt this good, I doubt we would've ever wanted to kiss anyone else though," Quinn said, finally looking up. His look was searching; Raelyn could feel him reading her face.

So it wasn't just her imagination. Or her lack of any sort of action in the fourteen months. It really had been that good and he'd felt it, too.

She smiled, almost shyly, letting him know that she'd experienced the same surprising flood of emotions and sensations during their countertop make-out session.

Looking back at Quinn, she got the feeling he was holding back. She kept getting the impression he wanted to say something, but he would drop his gaze to her lap instead or bite his lip. Biting back whatever was on the tip of his tongue, as if it would jump out if not caged in.

"What are you thinking?" Raelyn pressed again, bringing her hand up to cup the side of his face.

Quinn shook his head and cleared his throat, "Just all the things I'd do differently if I had the chance."

Raelyn raised a curious eyebrow, "Really?

You're Quinn Casey, Major League All-Star.

You're being considered for People's 'Sexiset Man Alive' which I'm pretty sure is a title that usually just goes to singers or actors.

You date Victoria's Secret models and probably have like a crazy huge LA mansion from your multi-million dollar Major League contract, and you're telling me you would've lived your life differently? "

"I've never dated a Victoria's Secret model, I was photographed with a couple of them and people just assumed we were hooking up," Quinn corrected.

"And yes, I've made a lot of great achievements, especially considering where I started from, but," he shrugged, and gave that look like he was going to say something, then changed course, "yeah, there are some things I would change. "

"You're holding back, Quinn," said Raelyn, giving him a quizzical look. "I can tell there’s something you want to say...I'm your oldest friend, you don't have to hold back with me."

His intense gaze held so much behind it. She searched his face and he looked as though he were finally going to let it out, but again shook his head, "It doesn't matter. We're here now."

Raelyn decided to accept that he wasn't going to say whatever was troubling him. At least not yet. It was just under the surface and they had another six weeks of physical therapy to get through. She didn’t know how long he was planning to stay, but knew he'd have to go back to L.A.

eventually to train once his elbow was healed enough to throw a ball and swing a bat.

The thought of him leaving again already tugged uncomfortably inside her chest. It had been years since they'd last seen each other.

Less than a week in and he was becoming a constant figure in her life again.

She'd been aware of missing him, but she hadn't realized just how much had been taken away by his absence.

"Do you remember me saying I wanted to take you out on a date?" Quinn asked, breaking the silence that had settled over them.

"A proper date, I believe were the words," said Raelyn, nodding.

"Yes, well," Quinn sighed. "I don't have a lot of experience with those. So you might have to excuse me for a while so I can Google what to do on a real date."

"Oooh, Dates by Google," Raelyn teased. "While you do that, I am going to finish this wonderful anti-hangover breakfast smoothie and give Amira a call.

She's probably dying to hear all the fine details that I'm struggling to remember about what happened between us last night.

I might have to make some of it up so it's juicy enough for her liking. "

"Seriously? You're going to tell her all the details?" Quinn looked mildly concerned.

"I mean, mostly we just talk length and girth, width of the head, that sort of thing. You know, girl talk," Raelyn said nonchalantly, only cracking when she saw the look of horror on Quinn's face. "Kidding. Of course you really have nothing to be nervous about in that department."

"Girls really are worse than guys about that stuff, aren't they? Guys just want to know like…'did you fuck?' 'Yeah', 'Would you tap it again?', 'Meh, probably'," Quinn said, going back and forth as though two different people were speaking.

"'Meh, probably'?" Raelyn glared.

"That wasn't in reference to you," Quinn said quickly, "Or anyone else in particular...just a general example. We haven’t had sex, so obviously it wasn’t...but I’m sure when we do- if we do, I mean- I’d definitely say yes, I’d do it again.”

"I'm truly charmed," Raelyn said breathlessly, putting her hand over her chest as she mocked swooning.

"Well, there's more where that came from, babydoll," Quinn said with a wink.

Raelyn giggled and hopped off the kitchen counter.

"Go plan our date, Rico Suave." She reached up on tip toes and gave him a light peck on the lips.

They walked to the front door together and Quinn gave her one last long, deep kiss on the porch before sauntering to his car and driving away, leaving her feeling blissfully lightheaded.

She stood on the porch and watched him disappear from view with a million different thoughts and memories flashing through her mind.

She thought of the night before, and the kisses in the kitchen.

She wondered about the secrets that he was just barely keeping in.

She thought about graduation night and how he'd been so sweet and perfect until the truth came out.

She thought about the girls swarming him at the bar in college when they'd planned to meet up for the first time in years and how he'd completely blown her off.

Letting out a long sigh, Raelyn looked down to where Harry sat at her feet. She scratched and massaged his ears with another sigh, "Oh, Harry, what am I getting myself into?"