Chapter 593: The Call Of Quaid
I took a moment to slip out to the back yard, to gather my thoughts and pull myself together. The instant my butt hit the bench, I thought of Mr. Yummy Leather Pants and how this was Quaid's and my usual meeting place. Or had been. Followed by a dose of guilt and worry about him. I'd left him in a precarious position. And while he wouldn't have survived turning me in if that had been his intent after all, it really wasn't his fault I broke the law.
He'd told me in autumn, if I needed him, no matter what, he was there for me. Which made my initial worry he would tell on me anyway fade to non-existence. If Quaid was going to play rat fink, he'd have done it long before now. That look he'd given me in the corridor back at the stronghold, told me he'd known it was me all along.
And rather than sending in the cavalry to round me up, he waited in the dark, alone, to corner me himself.
As much as I wished it wasn't true, I needed him now. It was likely what I was about to ask of him would put him in the line of fire with me. At least he had Varity to protect him if anyone found out about our little invasion. But if he answered my call this time, he was on his own.
I briefly considered contacting the Rhodes Enforcer instead. She'd offered, after all. And proven herself more than trustworthy. But the selfish part of me wanted Quaid, the familiar feel of his power, while I argued with myself I already knew how to work with him and didn't have time to wrangle a new Enforcer.
Yeah, that was the reason.
I think he was waiting for me, because the moment I reached for him he reached back, the warm deliciousness of him sliding over my magic.
Are you all right? There was a time he would have asked me what kind of trouble I was raising with a jab of judgment or gone right into a lecture about our last encounter. But he'd mellowed in the past year, worry and concern replacing his jerkishness.
Damn it. This would be easier if he wasn't all nice and stuff.
I'm fine, I sent. But I have news.
If you're referring to the Brotherhood, he sent with a hint of his old sarcasm, I don't think there's a witch on the continent that isn't aware of the threat now. Nice going.
Ah, there he was. My faithful jerkasaurus.
You sound like Mom, I snapped. Would you rather stick your head up your ass and wait for the Brotherhood to destroy everything?
Not in the least. His sarcasm faded. I meant it. Miriam might think she knows what's best for us, but the time comes when a little freaking out gets the job done faster than trying to be subtle.
Oh. Okay then. Weird. He never agreed with me.
I shared what Demetrius told me, about the confrontation with Mom. He winced mentally, but didn't comment until I was done.
You realize even approaching Mia at this point could be seen as interference. I felt his physical body moving, coming closer. He fell silent a moment, blocking me, the muffled feeling of another mind in his rumbling through. I waited, gnawing on my quick-chewed nails, feet swinging under the bench in the soft sunshine until the wah-wah conversation ended and he came back to me.
It's not my first time on the disobedience rodeo circuit, I sent as soon as I had his attention. But if Demetrius is right, this could be our chance to stop the Brotherhood before they attack another family.
Which could happen at any second. Frankly, I had no idea what they were waiting for.
Gave me a serious jolt of anxiety to think about it.
We don't have much time. He was moving again, mental voice intense. I was just told Enforcers are being dispatched to watch over the families. Two teams of two.
Took her freaking long enough to act. And when she finally did? Yeah, perfect timing, Mom.
Get here as fast as you can, I sent, standing and turning to the door. We need to move before they arrive.
A rush of air displacement at my back spun me around with one hand on the door. Quaid strode out of the flash of blue light, already shedding his black robe, tight jeans and crumpled t-shirt revealed underneath.
"My thought exactly," he said as he tossed his robe over one arm before stepping into my space.
We didn't have time for-
Made time. For lips like that?
Liam crossed my mind. His control freak mother.
My choice. Quaid's.
All of it, gone under the pressure of demanding lips, the crush of his magic as he pulled me tightly to him, the pulse of his heart under my hands through his thin t-shirt. The heat of his skin, the way his soft hair sifted through my fingers. And his breath.
Inside me.
My demon uncoiled, drew him closer, one leg lifting to hook around his hip. Quaid leaned in, pressing me against the door, big, hot hands under the hem of my shirt, sliding over my back, under the strap of my bra.
Quaid.
Oh dear.
He leaned away, the tip of his nose tracing over my cheekbone before his dark chocolate eyes opened and met mine. Fire burned inside them, fire my demon matched, begged to ignite into a roaring inferno. To forget in him, to be part of something bigger and sweeter and so delicious I knew I could survive anything as long as I had Quaid.
Tears prickled, my throat tightening as I pulled away. That was the problem, wasn't it? I didn't have Quaid.
Never would.
The fire died slowly, painfully, my demon turning her back on me in disgust and frustration while Quaid bowed his head, black, wavy hair tossing as he looked away.
"I take it you need me to contact Mia for you." His voice sounded husky, rough and heavy. I wanted so badly to touch him, to stroke his skin, take his hand, lead him upstairs to my room. But the bubble had broken, the lure's need retreating and the magic we shared between us fading into nothing again.
I thought he was my destiny once. Was told that was the case.
Try as I might, I couldn't seem to shake the feeling no matter how many times I committed to ending it, we'd never be over.
And that broke my heart.
I cleared my throat, stuffing my hands into the back pockets of my jeans to keep from touching him again. "Smart cookie is smart," I said, lips twitching into a smile. "When did that happen?"
Quaid's wide lips lifted, dark eyes still full of sultry promise though the smirk added a more familiar edge to his appeal. "Hilarious, Hayle," he said. "Wow, I had no idea you were so funny. You must have been working on it lately."
It was hard not to giggle. I punched his arm, sighed out the last of my emotional overflow and bobbed my head.
"We'd better get moving," I said.
***
