Page 25

Violet

Both Caleb and I had nightmares for weeks after Doug’s death.

Gradually we both healed mentally and physically.

Caleb had been sleeping much better. In fact, it had been at least two weeks since I’d heard him up in the middle of the night, and he was looking much better rested.

He was also acting more and more like his old self -- the person he was before he’d found me in the middle of the floor with his father hitting me.

We still didn’t know how Doug had gotten into the compound, but I knew Riot would find out.

Once he did, God help whoever was responsible.

The door opened and Riot stepped inside, shutting the door carefully behind him. He watched me warily, like he knew he’d sprung a trap and was waiting for the jaws to close around him.

“I just want to say I had nothing to do with it. I didn’t even know what had happened until it was done.

” Riot looked as guilty as any teenager I’d ever seen.

If I didn’t know the man was actually three years older than me, I’d swear he and Caleb were the same age sometimes.

He played like a kid and seemed to have this driving need to win my approval.

I supposed I understood. He’d been robbed of his childhood and his family.

I tried my best to give him any emotional support he needed and then some.

Honest to God, the man was a once in a lifetime find.

“I see.” I wouldn’t have to pry to get him to tell me. The man couldn’t keep secrets from me for shit, much to Caleb’s dismay.

“I swear, honey.” He was actually pleading with me now. “He already had it here before I could stop it.”

“Did he?” I had no idea who or what he was talking about, but I was guessing it had something to do with Caleb.

“Vi, the bike was already here when I got back from the shop. Swear to God.” He was working for Tiny in his motorcycle garage.

He built custom bikes for high-end customers.

Which was used to launder money. Among other things.

Me and Quinn both were finding out Knuckles was way the fuck more resourceful and connected than Quinn had thought.

Which was good because it seemed Knuckles had half the police department and state police working the Nashville area on the payroll.

Also, that was two oaths to God almost back-to-back. He must feel really guilty.

“Riot,” I said, using his road name to get his attention. “Is Caleb all right?”

“What?” He looked confused, then his eyes widened. “Yes! Caleb’s fine. Nothing happened to Caleb.” When I merely raised an eyebrow, he ducked his gaze, toeing the edge of the rug with his shoe. Then he sighed and I knew I had him. “He bought a motorcycle.”

I blinked. “Come again?”

“I swear --”

“To God. Yes. You said that,” I snapped. “What the fuck is going on, Quinn?” This… was alarming. For multiple reasons.

“Caleb bought a motorcycle. He had it delivered to Tiny’s this afternoon after he got out of school.”

“A motorcycle.”

“Uh, yeah. Kind of a nice one too. A Harley Breakout.” He swallowed, trying to smile but failing.

“OK. So, my first question is how did a twelve-year-old buy a motorcycle? Without an adult present at the time of the buying.” Oh, the guilty look just got worse and worse.

“OK, it’s my fault. I’m sorry! But the kid practically double-dog dared me!” He hung his head like a naughty child. I also knew the old double-dog dare scheme from Caleb all too well. “I’m sorry I lied. And I’m sorry I swore to God and still lied.”

I tried to keep a straight face. I really tried. It was simply impossible with Quinn sometimes. “I’m going to ground you both for this.”

“It’s my fault. Don’t ground Caleb.” Riot actually stuck his lip out. Pouting !

“Oh, so you didn’t take that double-dog dare?”

“OK, so that’s not true either. He did double-dog dare me and I couldn’t help but take it, but I still don’t want you to get him in trouble.”

Yeah, the asshole was playing me, making me laugh so I’d forgive him and my son. I knew he was managing me, and I didn’t give a good Goddamn. “You’re incorrigible! Both of you!”

“Oh, yeah?” Instantly, his demeanor changed. Instead of cute and contrite, he now looked wicked and corrupt. “I’ll show you incorrigible.”

In a heartbeat, he was on me, his mouth claiming mine with a hungry intensity that stole my breath.

My back hit the wall as his powerful body pressed against mine.

He gripped my hips with a possessive heat that had me melting into his touch.

“You think I’m bad?” he growled against my lips.

“You should see what I’m about to do to you. ”

I gasped as his teeth grazed up my neck. I was already tugging at his shirt, needing nothing between us. “Caleb --”

“Is at Knight’s for the next two hours learning computer shit.” He slid his hands up my shirt, his rough palms skimming over my bare skin. “Which means I have you all to myself, Mrs. Devereaux.”

The way he said my name sent a shiver down my spine. Three months of marriage and I still wasn’t used to it being so wonderful. Quinn had shown me what it felt like to belong to someone who treasured rather than possessed.

“Quinn,” I moaned as he lifted me, and I automatically wrapped my legs around his waist.

He carried me to our bedroom, kicking the door shut and locking it behind us even though we were alone.

Better safe than sorry. He laid me on the bed with the same gentleness I’d come to crave like a drug before standing back to strip off his shirt, revealing the tattooed expanse of his chest and abs.

“You’re still the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he said, his eyes dark with desire as he watched me pull my own shirt over my head.

I smiled up at him, no longer shy about my body. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

Quinn undressed me, tossing my clothing aside before lowering his mouth to my breast. He circled my nipple, sending an electric zing straight to my clit. I arched beneath him, tangling my fingers in his hair.

“I love the sounds you make when we fuck,” he said, his voice gruff with lust. “Drives me fuckin’ mad!” He shoved at his pants, getting them over his hips before leaning in to swipe his tongue through my pussy.

I cried out at the first touch of his tongue, my body already conditioned to respond to him. Every swipe, every delicious lick sent pleasure coursing through me. He gripped my thighs, holding me open for his hungry mouth.

“Quinn, please,” I gasped, my hips lifting off the bed. “I need you inside me.”

He looked up at me with those storm-gray eyes, his mouth glistening with my arousal. “Not yet,” he growled. “Want to taste you first. Want to feel you come on my tongue.”

He returned to his task with renewed vigor, his tongue circling my clit before dipping lower. When he slid two fingers into me, curling them to hit that perfect spot, I nearly came off the bed.

“That’s it, baby,” he murmured against my sensitive flesh. “Let go for me.”

My orgasm crashed through me with stunning intensity, my body shaking as pleasure enveloped me. Before I could recover, Quinn was moving up my body, positioning himself between my thighs.

“Never get tired of watching you come,” he said, his voice rough with need as he guided himself to my entrance. He pushed inside with one smooth thrust, filling me completely.

I moaned at the delicious stretch, wrapping my legs around his waist to take him deeper. “You feel so good,” I whispered, running my hands over the hard planes of his back.

Quinn started to move with slow, deep strokes that had me gasping against his shoulder. His powerful body covered mine completely, making me feel sheltered and cherished even as he claimed me with increasing urgency.

“Fuck, I love you,” he groaned, his forehead pressed against mine. The words fell from his lips so naturally, so honestly that my heart stuttered in my chest.

“I love you too,” I whispered back, and I meant it with every fiber of my being.

His rhythm faltered for just a moment, his eyes searching mine with wonder and disbelief. It was the first time either of us had said those words. We’d shown our love in countless ways over the past months, but neither had dared speak it aloud until now.

“Say it again,” he demanded, his hips driving harder now, pushing me toward another peak.

“I love you, Quinn Devereaux,” I gasped, cupping his face between my hands. “I love everything about you.”

He captured my mouth in a searing kiss, swallowing my cries as he thrust deeper. His hand slipped between us, finding my clit with unerring precision. The dual sensations of his cock inside me and his fingers against my most sensitive spot had me spiraling toward release again.

“Come for me, Vi,” he urged, his voice strained with the effort of holding back his own climax. “Wanna feel you come around my cock.”

My second orgasm hit even harder than the first. I shattered around him, crying out his name as I thrashed helplessly underneath him. Quinn soon followed me, burying himself deep as he found his own release with a hoarse groan against my neck.

For several minutes, we lay tangled together, our breathing gradually slowing. Quinn’s weight pressed me into the mattress, but I welcomed it, the solid reality of him anchoring me to this moment, this life we’d built together.

“Did you mean it?” he finally asked, lifting his head to look at me.

“Every word,” I whispered, tracing the line of his jaw. “I love you, Quinn.”

His smile was breathtaking in its intensity. “I’ve loved you since the moment I saw you, I think. Just took me a while to understand what I was feeling.” He rolled to his side, taking me with him, so we remained connected. His fingers traced lazy patterns on my back as we basked in the afterglow.

“So,” I said after a comfortable silence. “About that motorcycle…”