“It’s a gift, really. Now, let’s get you dressed so that we can head back to the hotel. Maybe we can finish you off in the hot tub, pissy britches.”
“All right, now. No need for jokes.” She plucks up her panties and holds the shredded fabric up to the light. “Did you have to rip them?”
“Aye, I did. They were separating me from?—”
My throat closes up when I catch movement behind Quinn. Looking through the clear plexiglass panel, I spot Desmond standing there and watching us. Quinn follows my hardened gaze and sucks in a breath when she spots him.
“How long has he been there?” Quinn whispers as she hurries to get her shorts over her bare ass. “Was he watching us?”
“I don’t know, but he’ll never watch anything again when I’m through with him.” I go to take a step forward, but Quinn wraps her hand around my arm.
“Hey, remember what King and Jim said. We can’t take the kill.”
I shake off her hold. “Fuck what they said. We don’t play by their rules, remember?”
“Aven, I don’t think?—”
“It’s fine, lass. You head back to the hotel and keep your nose clean.” I bend and kiss her lips for what I hope won’t be the final time. Then I hurry to find my way out of this damned maze as Desmond smirks and makes his exit.
This ends today.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Quinn
The elevator spits me out on the ground floor, and I check my reflection in the mirror across the way. A smile eases onto my face. I’ll never look at a mirror again without thinking about the way Aven used me. The bruise on my hip is a delicious reminder. I close my eyes and brush my fingers over the ache, reveling in the way it hurts just right. It’s tucked under my pool wrap—a hidden reminder of my man.
It’s been over an hour since he took off after Desmond. On my way back to the hotel, the girls spotted me and asked me to join them for an impromptu pool party, complete with activities. I figured it would be a good way to keep my anxiety at bay while Aven is chasing down my stalker and potentially breaking Jim’s rules. If he pops up and says we need to run away to Scotland, my bag is already packed.
It might not make any sense to the average woman, but when you know, you know. Aven is it for me. Maybe I’m delusional. Maybe I’ve read one too many dark romance books. But I nolonger care. As long as I have Aven, I’m going to be happy. I feel it in my soul. He won’t abandon me.
Your mother didn’t abandon you, Quinn. . .
Didn’t she, though?
The smile drops from my face. She was there one moment, holding my hand and remarking on the fireworks. The next, she was gone. Per my therapist, my mother likely felt she was doing what was best for me by leaving me at the theme park. She made a difficult choice, and by all accounts, it paid off. I was well cared for, and the Parkers loved me as one of their own.
I press the bruise on my hip. At least some painful memories are pleasant.
“There you are!” a voice says to my left, and I turn to find Eve coming toward me. “We were about to send out the search party. You ready to slaughter some Cattle?” She pulls me closer and spins me so that she can get a better look at the bruise on my hip. “Tell me it was consensual, and I’ll give you applause. Tell me it wasn’t, and he can join the fucking Cattle.”
I nibble my lip to hold back a wide smile. “Completely consensual and welcome.”
I’m practically bursting at the seams to tell the girls how everything worked out, so I go ahead and fill in Eve.
“My kinky little friend,” she says with a beaming smile. “Welcome to the club.”
“You like it rough too?”
“I want my lady to toss me around like a rag doll and sit on my fucking face. I feel bad for all of you women who will never know what it’s like to be suffocated by pussy.”
I laugh at that and hook my arm through hers as we start toward the pool. “I’ll just live vicariously through you. Are you currently in a relationship?”
Her smile softens. “Not anymore. I want commitment and marriage, but I seem to only attract women who like to cheat.I’m taking a break from the dating scene while I lick my wounds.”
“I’m sorry, Eve.”
She pats my hand and offers that musical laugh that has a way of setting everyone at ease. “Don’t you worry about me. I go home and cry into my Louis Vuitton pillowcases, so I think I’ll be okay. I just need to make better choices.”
