Page 38 of Wicked Titan

“Fuck, Quinn.” He entwines his fingers in my hair, urging me up to standing. He presses me against the wall, his lips feathering kisses over mine. Strong hands explore my body, unable to get enough—just like me. I wrap my arms around his neck, clinging on to what’s left of the moment because I know it won’t be long before reality crashes down. Again.

29

Thoughts of last night are fresh on my mind as I squirm in my bed. I hope we can just move on now that we’ve gotten each other off. Indecent, I know, but he will never be more than a release—a damn good one at that, but still just a release.

I’m still trying to decipher the confidence that overcame me. It definitely took me by surprise being that Asher was the first guy I’d ever given a blowjob. It wasn’t from lack of requests; Mason campaigned for them on several occasions since I kept telling him I wasn’t ready to have sex. It’s not like I’m a virgin, but I never wanted to do that with Mason. Asher, on the other hand, I freely volunteered to go down on and wouldn’t mind doing it again, and perhaps, explore some other methods of release.

I jump at the sound of a text, pulled from my dirty thoughts about someone I shouldn’t even speak to much less suck off in the garage. Shaking my head, I glance over to my phone.

Haley: Can we hang out tonight, please?

I don’t respond, and another text comes through.

Haley: Are you ever going to forgive me?

Me: No, so don’t use me as an excuse to dump Mason.

Haley: How did you know we broke up?

My phone rings, it’s a call from Haley. Mason didn’t tell her about his adventure at Golden Olympus.

“What?” I say, holding the phone to my ear.

“How did you know?”

“Lucky guess.”

“Quinn, what happened? His face is bruised up. He said he fell, then got aggravated when I kept questioning him.”

I can’t remember what had been appealing about him or why exactly I’d been so giddy with him. But she just let me know that they are still seeing each other; whether it’s as friends or more is not my concern.

“We aren’t friends, Haley. We won’t ever be friends again, so don’t tell him I’m the reason you don’t want to be with him.”

She says my name as I end the call.

An ache swells in my chest. She was supposed to be my best friend. We should be living together right now, but nothing is how it should be. I toss my phone on the bed as I fall back, the soft comforter hugging around me. I just want to stay here for a little longer.

Closing my eyes, I see Asher looking down at me as a surge of desire stirs in my core.

Damn it.

30

Sitting in my car, I glance at the time—again—waiting until the last possible second to leave the security of the Audi before heading into school. I watch as Grant steps out of his car, two coffees in his hand as he heads my way. Here we go.

Snatching my bag, I step out of my car without looking his way as I head toward the building. Jogging, he catches up to me, holding one of the coffees out.

“Here. I figured I’d bring it to you since you didn’t show.”

“I don’t want it. Give it to someone else.” As we approach the door, just before I reach for the handle, my name is called. I pause while people push past me, knowing this isn’t a voice I can ignore or pretend not to hear. I recognize the detective standing there. The one who’d questioned me the morning after my dad’s accident. Not the nice one.

“What’s going on?” Did they find him? My hand clutches my stomach. I don’t want to hear it if it’s bad news. Not here. Not now. Not ever.

Detective Davis glances at Grant who’s still standing next to me. “I have a few questions if you’re up for it.”

There’s a reason he came here and not Candace’s house, knowing I’m eighteen now so I don’t need a guardian present. Curiosity captures my interest enough to walk away from the building. Grant watches us for a moment before walking through the door as I follow Davis away from the crowd rushing inside the school.

“Where’s Detective Taylor?”