“Christ, Avery…”
Hearing my name groaned out in Quinn’s husky way has me wet and aching. I use a hand to brace his backside, sucking him in deeper, suddenly unable to get enough.
The tense muscles in his ass, the way he pulls against the restraint of the necktie…has me seeking his face. My gaze travels up to capture his stare. My breathing intensifies as I watch his expression shift from yearning to ravenous. The hard gleam in his eyes conveys just how badly he wants this—wants me.
It’s more than empowering; it’s liberating.
I don’t feel vile or dirty. I don’t try to disappear into some sheltered space of my mind, waiting for the moment when I feel normal again. That realization beckons me on, giving Quinn every last bit of me, taking him with me past the point of ecstasy.
And soon he’s there, the rumble of his growl-like groan thrumming through me as he thrusts his cock toward the back of my throat. He releases into my mouth, and I don’t pull away. I clasp his balls and bear the gagging reflex as he comes.
His hand goes to my hair. His fingers grip a handful, and as he pulses against my tongue, I moan, letting the vibration of my voice take him over the edge.
He reaches down and hauls me to my feet, his mouth finding mine before any words are exchanged between us. With a blistering kiss that scorches my lips, Quinn grasps my face, holding me to him, his hard length still throbbing against my stomach.
“God, your mouth… I fucking want you so bad,” he says, his gruff voice a satisfying friction against my skin. His eyes flit over my face, tracing my features as if he’s trying to put together a clue. “How—?”
“Don’t detective this to death,” I say, stopping him before we both spiral down a wormhole of guilt. I don’t want to go there…not yet. “Let’s just…shower
? Which is more than you should get for breaking out of your tie.” I wink at him.
His lips twist into a smile, but the blaring ring of his phone steals it away.
He releases me, and I cross my arms over my chest, the chilly air now noticeable without his comforting body heat. I then scoop my shirt off the floor, realizing that a shower isn’t happening as I listen to Quinn’s angry barks into the phone.
Reality had to come crashing back at some point. And when he hangs up, his arms flexing with the tight grip he has on the phone, that reality is frighteningly real.
“Get dressed, and grab some extra clothes and things,” he says, not facing me.
“Why? What’s going on?”
Quinn yanks his shirt together and starts buttoning it, then turns around, his face devoid of any of the passion we just shared. “There’s been an upset at the precinct. I can’t leave you here. You’re going with me. We’ll figure out a security measure—”
“I’m not—”
“You are,” he cuts me off. “You’re in danger, Avery. For now, the only thing I can do to make sure you’re safe is keep you close.”
As he looks me over, his shoulders deflate. He moves before me and wraps his strong arms around my waist. Resting his lips against my forehead, he says, “I’m not good at this. But I am good at my job, Aves. Let me protect you.”
I nod against him. “I know. Okay.” Which means that our little bubble has popped.
“Give me time…and once we catch whoever is responsible for hurting you—”
“Quinn,” I say, putting my hand against his chest and inching away. “It’s fine. Let’s go get the bad guys.”
14
Deliver Us
Quinn
Finding the leak in the department should’ve been my top priority after closing out the last case. Although the bastard went silent after having nothing more than misdemeanors and traffic tickets to hand to the press, still, with the turmoil the serial killer case caused, it was only a matter of time before something like this happened.
The bullpen echoes with an annoying, scratchy feedback, the many flatscreens all tuned to the same news channel blaring a reporter’s voice. Desks are abandoned, phones ring nonstop, and as Avery and I round the corner we come to a quick stop. A large group has congregated around one of the wall-mounted TVs.
“Come on,” I say, taking Avery’s hand. I lead her away from the crowd, circling back around toward my office.
I need her here to ensure her safety, but by the way her face just paled with panic, she’s not ready to handle a flood of questions or give a statement. Besides, other than making sure she’s protected, that’s why she’s with me—Avery’s not giving her statement to anyone else so it can be leaked to the damn media.