The moment she saw him, she danced toward him with a beaming smile on her face. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close.
“I missed you today.”
He held her tight. “I missed you as well.”
“What’s the matter? You look worried.”
Kaley was also the first woman to sense his mood change.
“Nothing. Can we go for a walk before we head back to the apartment?” There were a few things he wanted to talk to Kaley about before he asked her to marry him.
“Okay. You’re kind of scaring me, Quinn. You’re not having second thoughts about being with me, are you?”
He took her hand, tugging her close. Sinking his fingers into her hair, he covered her mouth with his, taking the kiss he’d been thinking about all day.
“No. I’ve got no doubts when it comes to you.”
“I’ll see you two lovebirds soon,” Martha said.
Quinn waved toward the other woman, taking Kaley toward the park. She loved walking through the park no matter the season. Fall would soon be upon them, and it would be too dark to enjoy the view of the lake.
“How was work?”
“Fine. I couldn’t stop thinking about you or what you did to me this morning.”
He chuckled. That very morning he showed her how hot sex in the shower could be. He’d trapped her between the corner of the wall and his body, driving into her hard, again without the use of a condom. It had been a couple of weeks since he last used a condom. She wasn’t on the pill. The risk of pregnancy increased each time he fucked her.
“There’s something I’ve got to tell you.”
“Tell me, Quinn. You’re scaring me a little.”
He stopped beside one of the oak trees in the park. “I lied to you.”
“Huh?”
“The week I came to live with you and Dorothy, I intended to get you used to my company. You weren’t helping me, so I broke into your computer.” He could have gone the rest of his life without her knowing. Quinn didn’t want to start the next stage of their life on lies.
****
“You read my stories?” she asked.
Quinn nodded. Not only had he read her stories, he’d have known she used his name and birthday as a security code in her laptop. Her heart raced, and she was hurt. Was the last few weeks a lie?
“Why are you telling me this?”
“I don’t know.”
“The man you’ve been. Is that real?” Had he changed for her? What was she to think or feel? The man in front of her still looked like the man she loved, yet he was telling her he lied. None of it made any sense to her. What should she do with this information?
“I’m real. I was trying to be a different man for you before I read those stories. You were always so skittish around me. I wanted to stop that, and I went looking for something that would let me know what you wanted in a man.”
“You invaded my life to be part of my life?”
“Yes. Fuck, Kaley. I’ve wanted you for long, and I no longer wanted to want. I needed to have you. I’ve been in love with you for so long.” He took hold of her hand. She didn’t let him go. This couldn’t be happening.
Quinn wouldn’t hurt her. He’d not hurt her now.
He read my stories.
Frowning, she stared at him. Quinn had read her stories, and yet he’d not run from her. Why? Her stories were not for the faint of heart. The men were dominant, not necessarily into whips and chains, but they took what they wanted. The women always wanted them yet found some way to fight them.
“You’re not repulsed by what I write?”
“No. I thought you were very talented. You need to learn to share that talent with the world.” He got down on one knee before her, producing a velvet box.
“What are you doing?”
No, he couldn’t be proposing, could he?
“Baby, I know I fucked up. I shouldn’t have read those stories, but it told me so much about you. The moment I read them I knew I was perfect for you. I’ve got no doubt in my mind that we’re supposed to be together. Will you forgive me and marry me?”
Kaley stared at their joined hands. She wanted to stay mad at him. Those stories were hers alone, yet could she really hate it?