She gave me a horrified look and scooted her chair away from me, making me grin from ear to ear.
She might believe in love, but she was still my Jaime—fire and ice all at once.
I wouldn’t trade that for anything.
Later in the night, after dinner was over and the cake had been cut and Alex and Nolan had danced for the first time as a married couple, I was wondering how much longer Jaime wanted to stay when I heard the opening bars to a familiar tune.
She was sitting on my lap—her idea, not mine—and she grinned at me over one shoulder. “Is this your song?”
Chills swept down my arms as I heard the vocalist start to sing. “Who knows how long I’ve loved you? You know I love you still…”
“You remembered.”
“Of course I did. I remember everything about you.”
A rush of affection for her made my heart beat quicker. “Did you ask the band to play it?”
She nodded. “I’m not much of a singer, unfortunately, but if you’d like to dance, I’m game.”
I stood, carefully setting her on her feet and taking her hand. On the dance floor, she melted into my arms, and I held her close, breathing in the sweet scent of her perfume. I listened to the words my mother used to sing and wished she were here, hoped she would be proud of me, missed her presence in my life. “She’d have loved this, you know. You and I together.”
“Your mom?”
“Yes.”
“That makes me happy.”
“Me too.”
She laid her head on my shoulder. “This is the longest I’ve ever stayed at a wedding. I usually bail by now.”
“Does that mean you’re having fun?”
“Yes. But being this close to you makes me want to go have fun somewhere else.”
“How about my place? Would you like to see it?”
“Yes,” she said emphatically. “I’ve been dying to see it.”
The song ended and we applauded before heading over to Alex and Nolan to say goodbye. They scolded us for leaving so early but looked happy to see us leaving together.
“Thanks again for the toast, sweet pea.” Alex grabbed her in a quick hug. “It meant a lot to us.”
“You’re welcome,” she said. “I know it was a little icky sweet, but I did mean what I said.”
“Of course you did.” I put my arm around her. “I think this is the start of a whole new icky sweet you.”
I got the dagger eyes in return. “Don’t start.”
Thirty-One
JAIME
“Quinn, it’s beautiful.” I turned around inside his cavernous living room, taking in the high ceilings, shiny wood floors, brick walls, and huge windows. His furniture was modern and masculine with a touch of traditional—brown leather couches, an Eames chair, an antique bookcase. “And look at that view.” I walked over to the window and looked out.
“Incredible, right?” He switched off the lights. “It’s even better in the dark.”
I laughed. “What isn’t?”
He came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, burying his face in my neck. It was the kind of embrace I’d have squirmed out of with anyone else, or maybe even just a few months ago with him.
Now I liked the closeness I felt when he held me. I liked feeling his body against mine even with our clothes on, not even knowing whether it would lead to sex.
But it had damn well better.
It had been too long, and we’d been looking at each other too hungrily all night, and a separation—however brief—loomed ahead.
Quinn kissed my throat, swept his tongue over my skin. “I love you so much. I’m so glad you’re here.”
I never thought those words would make me happy, but now I wanted to wrap myself up in them, roll around in them, drown in them.
“Me too.” I tilted my head to the side, feeling the tingle begin between my legs. When I felt the nudge of his swelling cock against my ass, I reached behind me and rubbed my hand over it. “I missed you so much.”
Worried he’d get the wrong idea, I twisted to face him, looped my arms around his lower back. “I mean, I missed everything, Quinn. Not just the sex—I missed everything about you. I missed laughing with you, talking with you. I missed falling asleep next to you at night and waking up with you in the morning.”
“You did?” He sounded surprised. “You won’t even let me touch you when you’re falling asleep.”
“I know, but it’s more…” I thought for a second. “It’s just knowing you’re there. That you’ll be there the next day. I like that feeling, and I never thought I would.”
“Good. Because I plan on sticking around.” He went back to kissing my neck. “I might never get enough of you, but I’m sure as hell going to try. Does that scare you?”
“Nope.” I slid my hands down over his ass, pulling him into me. “Believe it or not, deep down I’ve always wanted you to try. I just wouldn’t admit it. It was always you, Quinn.”
He picked his head up and looked me in the eye. “It always will be.”
We kissed, kicking off shoes, unzipping, unbuttoning, unhooking. We let our beautiful clothes fall to the floor where we stood, anxious to feel one another skin to skin. He pulled out my hairpins and slid his fingers into my hair. When we were naked and frantic and unsatisfied with lips and hands and tongues, craving a deeper connection, Quinn took my hand. “I want you in my bed.”