I rolled over as Quinn hung up his phone.
He looked sleep rumpled and sexy. His expression was disconcertingly wary. “We missed this morning’s ferry.”
“Oh.” I pushed up to sitting, tugging at the duvet covers to conceal my nakedness, even though I probably had beard rash in some very intimate places. “Was that the Austin Powers theme song on your ringtone?”
Quinn’s lips twitched and he nodded. “It’s my tone for Ramsay.”
I snorted. “Why?”
“Inside joke.” He searched my face. “How are you this morning?”
Something about the question or the way he asked it, perhaps, made me hedge. “I’m fine … you?”
Quinn frowned. “I just had the best night of my life, so I’m phenomenal. Glad you’re just fine, though.” He pushed to get out of the bed.
Oh. Guilt flickered through me, realizing I’d read his wariness wrong. “Quinn … you know I thought it was phenomenal too.”
He tugged up his boxer briefs and then his jeans to cover his nakedness. “But we’re not …we’re still not.”
Dread fluttered in my belly. “You promised.”
“I know.” Quinn scrubbed a hand down his beard. “I know. I’m sorry. I’m being a prick. We need to go. Check out is in an hour.”
“Right.” I slid out of the bed, feeling awkward in the light of day, even though there had been zero awkwardness between us last night.
The cool air of the hotel shivered across my skin, making my nipples pebble as I searched for my underwear. I heard Quinn’s sharp intake of breath as I found my knickers and started tugging them on. My eyes flew to his and my skin instantly flushed hot at the hunger on his face.
“You’re so fucking beautiful, Taran.”
“Thank you. You are too.”
Quinn smirked and jerked his gaze away. “Thanks.”
Hurriedly, before this ended back on the bed, I dressed.
“Meet you downstairs?”
“Aye.” I asked him teasingly, “DoIhave a ringtone?”
Amusement danced in his eyes. “Maybe.”
Chuckling, I decided to let him keep his secrets for now and left to return to my room for a quick shower.
Standing under the hot rain of water, last night played over in my mind until I was breathless and stupidly turned on. Finally, I shut off the water and pressed my body to the cold tile to cool down. Last night with Quinn had been everything I’d thought it would be and more.
The selfish part of me wanted to keep sleeping with him. To indulge with him whenever the mood struck.
Yet I’d meant what I’d said after his confession about his father’s abandonment. I did forgive Quinn. I didn’t want to punish or hurt him. And if I couldn’t promise him more than just sex … I would inevitably hurt him.
A tangle of turmoil, I quickly readied myself to leave, piling my wet hair on top of my head with a band I found in my purse.
Quinn was waiting for me at reception. We turned over our keys and paid for our rooms, and I followed him out to the car park where we’d left our cars overnight.
“Ramsay needs your phone,” Quinn said, quite abruptly reminding me of yesterday’s kidnapping attempt.
“Do you really think it’s Eoghan?” I asked, not for the first time.
“Who else could it be?”
