| |
Katelynn whined, squirming against the pillow. Quint pushed up on his elbow and fisted his hand, propping his head. Even in sleep, yesterday's events tormented her.
He placed the palm of his hand against the side of her face and held still. She quieted.
His heart raced, wondering what it was about his touch that settled her. He couldn't even explain how having her by his side, day or night, brought contentment to him. The feelings had nothing to do with sex. Being inside her was his reward for having someone in his life who cared about him.
He stroked his thumb against her cheekbone. If he were fortunate to live to be eighty years old, he'd never take her being in his bed for granted.
There were a million reasons why she shouldn't be here. If learning about his past and having him kill a man in front of her, not to mention shooting the dogs, hadn't made her want to run away from him, it was up to him to force her away.
Instead, he held on to her, needing her to stay.
His hand trembled. He was a selfish asshole for wanting her to settle for a man who couldn't guarantee tomorrow.
She stirred, jolting awake. He studied her eyes, watching the moment her pupils cleared and she could see him in front of her.
"I thought..." Her brows wrinkled. "Nevermind."
She'd play what happened yesterday in her mind for a long time. He couldn't erase what she'd seen or what she'd learned about him.
"How long did I sleep?" She blinked to awareness.
"A couple of hours." He brushed her hair back from her face.
Wanting to take care of her, he was at a loss on what would help her. Nothing had helped him. No amount of drinking, smoking, punching the wall, ever took the pain away. Only time softened his emotional reaction to his crimes where he could stuff down the guilt.
"Is it almost time to go to work?" she asked, rolling onto her back.
He removed his hand from her face. "You can stay here and rest."
"No, I need to do something." She rubbed her hands over her face and sighed. "I can't lay here any longer."
Getting out of bed, she stood as if she forgot what she wanted to do. He sat up, having never taken off the clothes he put on after his shower last night. Making sure she wasn't left alone, he'd stuck by her side and had finally convinced her to climb up in bed in the middle of the night.
After that, there was no way in hell he was going to leave her side.
"I'll fix some breakfast." He carried his boots out to the kitchen and sat on the stool, shoving his feet in them.
Tying his laces, the aroma of smoke wafted up from his shoes and smacked him in the chest. He straightened. Will was gone.
The crushing blow made his heart heavy, and his body ache. He had to keep reminding himself that he couldn't call Will.
He closed his eyes. The closest thing he had to a family consisted of Anders, Mark, Will, Two-crow, and Joney. One by one, he was losing everyone.
Fisting his hands, the control he needed in his life slipped between his fingers. Fear made him want to hold on tighter.
"Quint?" said Katelynn.
He jerked, standing up. "Yeah?"
Her gaze softened, and she motioned for him to sit back down. "I'll fix you something to eat."
"I'm not hungry." He sat.
"Me, neither." She tilted her head and dropped her gaze to his stomach. "I'll make us each a piece of toast and jam. We do need to eat."
He ran his hand down his beard. They'd exchanged places. Now she took care of him.
"We go through the motions." She gazed up from the toaster. "Okay?"
"Yeah." He moved and retrieved the can of coffee.
He wanted to grab her and put her in the bedroom. Lock them both in the cabin. It was the only way he could keep her in his life. He couldn't lose anyone else or what the fuck was the purpose of his life?
She had the right idea. He'd go to headquarters, get everyone started on their tasks and keep moving forward. That's what Will would've told him to do.
They ate their toast in silence. He couldn't tell what kind of jam she used, he only tasted guilt.
"Ready?" He wiped the crumbs from his beard.
"I think so." She ran her fingers through her hair. Taking her hand, he walked her to the ATV. He dropped her off at headquarters and talked with the employees while Katelynn went inside.
The first guest pulled in as everyone went to work. He checked out the newer motorhome, the couple around his age, and deemed them safe before riding over to Loop A. It was going to be a long fucking day.
***
QUINT STOOD ON THE porch having a cigarette. Katelynn tiptoed outside and wrapped her arms around him. After spending all day trying to figure out how to comfort Quint while he mourned Will, she'd finally came up with an idea.
"Will you do me a favor?" she asked, kissing his back.
He raised his arm and twisted, hooking her around the neck, bringing her to the front of him. "What?"
She swallowed. "Come in the cabin with me."
He nodded, stepping away and putting out his cigarette in the sand pot. She slid her fingers into his hand and led him through the cabin to the master bathroom.
Before he could guess what she'd planned, and refuse, she undid his belt. "You have a gorgeous large tub."
"I never use it," he muttered.
She worked on the buttons of his shirt. "I kind of figured that out."
He leaned forward, looking over her head. She kissed his chest, trying to distract him. He was always busy, running around the campground, taking care of business, and protecting her.
She kneeled at his feet, undoing his boots.
"I'll just jump in the shower," he said.
"I have a better idea." Standing, she pushed his jeans past his hips. "Take a bath."
"I don't—"
"Please." She leaned into him, knowing it'd take some convincing for him to see things her way. "It'll be relaxing. I promise."
His gaze came down to her. "This is the favor you wanted?"
She nodded. "Please?"
He toed his boots off and kicked his legs, sending his jeans over to the corner of the bathroom. She led him over to the tub and stuck her hand in the water. The temperature inviting and warm.
Quint looked at her. "Are you getting in, too?"
"No." She gave him a soft push and exhaled in relief when he stepped into the water and lowered his body.
"Shit. It's hot," he mumbled, leaning back.
She sat on the edge of the tub. "You'll get used to it."
Picking up the washcloth, she dipped it in the water and using his bar of soap, worked up a lather. Out of her peripheral vision, she watched him. He looked miserable with his knees stuck out of the water because his legs were too long for the tub. She'd guessed wrong, figuring he would fit since he designed the bathroom when he'd built the cabin.
Shifting, she took the washcloth and submerged it in the water again, then rubbed his chest, getting him soapy. He lowered his chin, watching her hand on his body.
"I've never given a man a bath before." She concentrated on following the pattern of his chest hair. "I know the warm water always relaxes me. Makes me sleepy."
She dunked the cloth and brought it up to his shoulders, running the material down his upper arms. His muscles bunched as she touched him. She pursed her lips and forced herself to exhale slowly. Tonight, was about Quint, not her.
Her lower stomach fluttered. She picked up the soap, needing the distraction, and made more suds. Thinking his legs would be less erotic, she scrubbed his upturned knees and down around his calves. As soon as her hand went below the surface of the water, she realized her mistake. There was a big part of his body under the water.
It'd be a shame not to wash all of him.
Traveling the cloth up his thigh, she stared at his upper stomach. His chest expanded the closer she got to his cock. Chickening out, she went back up to his knee. Her body flushed. She peeked at him below her lashes and found him watching her intently.
"You missed a spot." His low, rough voice caused her to shiver.
"Hm." She rubbed a spot on his thigh. "I don't think so."
Her pulse thrummed, and her skin warmed, knowing he was enjoying her discomfort. She gulped. Her pleasure.
She'd come up with the idea of a bath believing it would comfort him. Used to him naked, she hadn't realized how hot it was to take her time and caress him as soap covered his hard body.
The back of her hand skimmed his hardness. Her gaze met his, and she stilled. With everything happening, the thought of sex should never enter her mind.
"Katelynn?"
"Yes?" She stared into his eyes.
"Thanks for the bath." He took the washcloth out of her hand. "You know what I'd really like right now?"
"What?" She swallowed, hiding the squeak in her tight throat.
"You." He stood.
She gazed up. Water dripped down his naked body. She stood, stepping back. He stalked toward her. Panting, she backed up, holding her hand behind her, reaching for the door and made it into the bedroom.
A few feet from the bed, he caught her by hooking his finger in the neck of her T-shirt. She gasped, and her ovaries sighed in pleasure.
"We have a problem," he said.
"What?" Her heart raced. "What did I do?"
"You're still dressed." He stepped away and walked to the bedside table and removed a condom from the drawer. "Either I can fix that for you or you can..."
She pulled her shirt over her head. His low chuckle made her smile. The bath might not have been a hit with him, but she'd put him in a better mood. Tonight was a step in the right direction. For both of them.