I answered the call. “Yeah,” I said, voice rough, breathless.
Roman’s voice blasted through the speaker, loud and sharp enough that Quinn flinched.
“Graham, I need you.”
31
Quinn
Grahampulledaway,speakinglow to Roman. He was tense and stiff, the fear stark on his face. My own heart clenched.
But then he let out a breath.
“A flat tire?” He shook his head. “Yeah, I can get that to you.”
He hung up and looked at me. “Roman brought Mom and Dad out for dinner and they got a flat on the way home and his jack broke. He needs me to bring him another one.”
I also breathed a sigh of relief. “Okay.”
My head was still spinning. Not just from the nerves, but from the kiss. And Graham’s confession. How was I supposed to process that? Graham grabbed my hand.
“Come on, it shouldn’t take us long.”
I paused, resisting him.
He gave me a confused look.
“If it’s not going to take you long, how about I stay here? You can come get me on your way back.”
He blinked at me. “You want to stay at the library?”
I nodded, cautiously. I hadn’t wanted to be separated from him earlier, but a breather from him would be nice. To get my head back on straight after…after what had happened right here. My back was slightly sore from being pressed up against the shelves. My lips were tingling and swollen. And his confession—you’re everything I didn’t know I needed—reverberated through my mind.
I wanted a minute to make sense of it without the distraction of him. I had to sort through all the emotions roaring through me to figure out how I felt.
His hand tightened around mine. “Are you sure?” He obviously didn’t want to leave me.
“Yes, I’m sure.” I nodded again. “You won’t be long, and Mara is here.”
He stared at me, searching my face. Eventually, he must have decided that it would be safe enough.
He jerked his chin down in something resembling a reluctant nod. “Fine. Stay here. Don’t leave. I’ll let Mara know you’re back here, and I’ll return shortly. I’ll have her lock the doors.”
He leaned in, and my heart leapt as he pressed his lips to my forehead. My body was still heated from our kiss. A kiss I would never forget.
“I’ll be right back,” he whispered, and then let go of my hand.
Then he was gone.
I almost collapsed into one of the chairs at the table. I was suddenly unable to breathe again as I thought about Graham and his lips, his hands, the feel of his body against mine and the way he wanted me.
Did I want him the same way?
I shook my head, chiding myself as I dropped my face into my hands. Of course I did. I could not lie to myself anymore. I wanted Graham. I didn’t want to give up how it felt when he touched me—the way he made me feel like something more than I was.
I jumped as something soft brushed against my hands. Straightening, I met a pair of wide, amber eyes. Her midnight-black fur gleamed as Calliope rubbed her face on my arm.
I stiffened. I’d barely seen the cat since my first day here when she had assaulted me with a book. Maybe she’d known to stay away from me after that. I wasn’t much for forgiveness.
