Beyond Me (Quinn and James 1)

The words sang in my ears and my balls tightened and I came, my body shaking with the force of my release. I pumped until I shot the last drops, turned her around and took her in my arms. She was still shuddering, and I rubbed her back.

"What are we going to do?" she asked, her eyes filling with tears.

I kissed her slow and gentle as I wiped a tear from her cheek with my thumb. "I love you, baby. We'll work it out. I just found you, and I'll be damned if I'm ever letting you go."

She relaxed in my arms as if we had settled the looming question clouding our happiness. "Okay," she whispered. We snuggled for a while, until we straightened our clothes and I checked on our direction. "I need my underwear," she stated, holding out her hand.

I gave her a wolfish grin. "Hell no. I'm keeping them."

"You can't do that! People will know!"

I laughed. Erotic siren to blushing schoolgirl. Perfect. "Nope. I'll keep it hidden and no one will know." I demonstrated, pushing the lacy fabric deep into my pocket. "When we're at the bar, you'll be thinking of all the bad things I could be doing to you."

She chewed her lip. "Oh my God, I can't."

"You don't have a choice, baby. Now let's get docked and head over to Captain Crow's. The earlier we get there, the earlier I can get you back home where you belong."

I loved the contradictory emotions that skittered across her features. She was completely turned on, but enough of a good girl to be shocked by such behavior. Finally, she seemed to accept she had no choice, but her gaze strayed to my pocket, as if she was nervous. Perfect. She'd be thinking of me all night, even in the bar, and that' s exactly what I wanted. My possessive streak ran long and deep when it came to Quinn. The idea of her flirting with anyone other than me made me want to rip off a guy's face. Not very civilized. I'd never experienced such intensity with a woman. She seemed to bring out a bunch of raw emotions I never knew I had, and I was still trying to maneuver through the new shit I was feeling.

As I began to dock the boat and get ready to hit Captain Crow's, I wish I had known the future. If I had, I would've kept sailing and avoided the damn bar at all costs.

Instead, I took her hand, led her off the boat, and hit Duval Street.

Biggest mistake of my life.

THE BAR was packed. Skimpily-clad bodies grouped together, Jimmy Buffett blasted from the speakers, and groups claimed the large tables with pitchers of alcohol covering every inch of the battered wood. A loud whooping hit my ears, and my crew began chanting my name from the back. Funny, it always seemed flattering before, but now I realized how shallow the shit really was.

"Do you see your friends?" I shouted over the noise.

She shook her head. "Not yet."

"We'll keep a lookout. For now, let me introduce you." She squeezed my hand and I returned the pressure. I figured we'd stay for a drink, Quinn would connect with her friends, and we'd get our asses the hell out of here and back to bed. Where we belonged.

We weaved our way toward the back of the bar, and I quickly introduced her to Rich and Adam. They gave her a quick once-over, as if they couldn't understand why I was so into her, but finally grinned and made light conversation. The waitress was by my side in a few seconds and Rich ordered a pitcher of tequila, clapping me on the shoulder. "You got this round, right, dude?"

Whatever. I shrugged. "Sure."

"You're the best. Hey, hope you had a better time this week than we did. Things got pretty fucked up since you backed out of our plans."

Adam jumped right in. "Dude, I mean, I respect your decision to cancel--it's your house--but we took a lot of shit. I had a bunch of guys flying in just to crash at your place and party hard. I looked like an asshole."

I shrugged. I was so done with this shit. "Sorry. But I told you, I'm done. Those guys could've flown in and stayed with you."

Quinn interrupted. "Sorry, guys, it was my fault. I wanted to sightsee, so I dragged him around all day."

My heart did a wimpy flip-flop at her attempt to defend me. "Sightseeing, huh?" Rich slurred. "Is that what they're calling it?"

"Shut up, Rich," I warned.

"Sorry." He shook his head. "I'm kinda drunk."

Quinn forced a smile. "No problem. Hey, I see Cassie over there. I'm gonna say hello, be right back." She pressed a kiss to my lips.

"I'll get you a Sex on the Beach," I said.

"Perfect. Thanks."

I watched her walk away and when I turned back, it was like the shit hit the literal fan. Suddenly, I was confronted by a bunch of drunk, revved-up guys who got in my face and began giving me crap.

"Dude, please tell me this thing between you guys is over. Did you do her? Tomorrow's the deadline, you know. Is that why you canceled the party? So you can look good to her?"

I clenched my fists as the anger hit. Adam's lewd comments were getting to me, bad, and it was time to put an end to insulting Quinn. "The bet is off. Take my bike. I couldn't care less. I'm involved with her now."

Rich frowned. "So you did fuck her."

"No." The idea of them tainting our connection by talking about sex made me nuts. Better to get them off the scent. "We never slept together. But I'm into her and hoping for something more permanent."

The guys looked like I had announced I was gay. "You're kidding, right?"

"Fuck off. I'm done with you guys." I made a motion to leave, but they jumped in fast.

"Okay, okay! Fine, we'll back off. We just never heard that from you before, bro. Had no idea you wanted more than a night here and there. You gonna follow her back to her home? Try and be her boyfriend? Get a job and all that shit?"

The words hit my reality barrier and got me nervous. What was I going to do? Jump on a plane and cheerlead her on in her final year of college? Get work in Chicago? Meet her dad? It all swirled together in a burst of images I hadn't really thought out. Or at least, I hadn't wanted to. She had studies and two jobs. A father. Close friends.

I had

nothing.

I gritted my teeth and tried to be cool. "We'll work it out."

"Sure, man, sure." Adam and Rich stared at me, their expressions saying I was fooling myself. They knew me well. Knew my background as the mayor of Loserville and playboy extraordinaire. No wonder they were skeptical.

"I'm gonna get Quinn her drink." I reached into my pocket for my wallet and some dude behind me--Jack was it?--bumped into me, laughing hysterically and clutching at my jeans to steady himself.

"James! Sorry, sorry, you buying us another round? You're the man! Here, let me help."

"I got it." I tried to push him away, but he grabbed for my wallet and a flimsy piece of white lace got torn out with the black leather. I tried to shove it quickly back in my pocket, but Adam spotted it and with a low whistle, tore it out of my hands.

"What's this?" He held up the thong and hooted with laughter. "Holy shit! Nice work, Hunt! Why you denying you scored when you got the proof in hand?"

In slow motion, I watched the events unfold and slide out of my control. "Hey, give them back now."

He threw them to Rich, who cheered and stretched them out. "Nice! I guess you'll be having an appointment with Whit Bennigan after all!"

"I swear to God, if you don't give them back, I'm going to kick your ass," I said coldly. Rage shook through my body. How could I have chosen friends like this? They had no character or motivation for anything better in life.

"Calm down, dude. It's not like your girlfriend is being faithful anyway. She's completely into the bartender."

"What?" His answer distracted me, so I whipped around and found her stretched over the bar. Laughing. The bartender whispered something in her ear that made her blush a bit, and then he slid her a drink. They spoke in an intimate manner, heads close, and she nodded.