Chapter 193: Reminisce
Chapter 193: Reminisce
The scent of expensive cologne and the lingering heat of his touch clung to Quinn’s skin like a second silk robe. She sat tucked into a armchair in the corner of her room, a heavy book resting in her lap, but she hadn't turned a page in over twenty minutes. Her eyes were fixed on the same sentence, yet the words were nothing but blurred ink.
Her mind was trapped in the aftertaste of the encounter. Every time she closed her eyes, she felt the ghost of those large, calloused hands on her jaw. The way he had taken her mouth in that heated kiss, it wasn't just a physical act; it felt like he was reaching into her soul and claiming territory she didn't know was for sale. Against her command, her fingers reached up to trace her bottom lip, which felt slightly swollen and sensitized.
She tried to focus on the book, a historical account of the Australian land she had pulled from the library, but her "strong will" was currently being held hostage by her own memories. She was reminiscing about the sheer power of the man who had just left. The way he moved, the way he smelled like man and danger, and the way her brain lock had made it impossible to resist him.
"Focus, Quinn," she whispered to the empty room.
She forced her eyes back to the page. The vast landscapes of Western Australia are often deceptive...
Deceptive. That was the word of the day. But as much as her mind shouted that she should be angry, her body was singing a different tune. The craving she had felt during those days of isolation had been replaced by a heavy, pulsing satisfaction that she was ashamed to admit she enjoyed.
The make-out session had been more than just a release; it was a revelation. She had always thought of herself as someone who couldn't be broken, someone who stayed in control. But in his arms, she had felt the thrill of letting go. She had loved every part of the surrender, the way he completely dominated her space until there was no room for her to even think.
She shifted in her chair, the friction of her clothes against her skin sending a fresh jolt of electricity through her nerves. She couldn't stop wondering if it had been Jose or Justin. The man in the library had been cold and mocking, but the man who had just been in her room had been a storm of passion. Were they playing a "good cop, bad cop" routine or are they just one person? Or were they both simply predators waiting for their turn?
The book slipped from her lap, hitting the floor with a dull thud. Quinn didn't bother to pick it up. She leaned her head back against the chair and stared at the ceiling, her legs subconsciously parting while her thought got farther away. The modern, sharp lines of the architecture seemed to close in on her. She was in the heart of a mafia empire, surrounded by men who were crafted like gods and acted like devils.
She realized then that the book was useless. No history of the land could prepare her for the geography of the men who ruled it. She was no longer just a guest or a lover’s partner; she was a focal point for two of the most powerful men in the world. And the worst part? As she sat there in the quiet of her room, the only thing she truly wanted was for the door to open again.