Page 127 of Dust to Dust

“No, you can’t.”

She swept her hands to her hips. “Do you know how infuriating you are right now?”

I jerked my hands desperately through my hair. “You can’t love me,” I murmured.

Isla placed both her hands on my cheeks. “Listen to me. I do love you.”

“But I’m a monster, Isla.”

“I know exactly what you are, and I still love you.”

“You deserve better.”

She shook her head. “I don’t deserve a perfect man, and you’re certainly not getting a perfect woman in me.”

“I sure as hell am.”

Isla rolled her eyes. “I love you, Quinn. Get it through your stubborn head that nothing you can say or do is going to change that. Am I going to make you pay for believing something so ludicrous as I was having an affair with Kellan and stealing money? Oh yes. You’re going to do a lot of groveling before I let you lay one finger on me again.”

“I welcome the punishment.”

“Seriously?”

“I do. Even if it kills me, I’ll make it up to you.”

“Good. I’m glad to hear it.” Cocking her head at me, she asked, “Are you all right now?”

“I haven’t been alright since the day the first cry of pleasure tore from your lips as you rode my cock.”

When heat flared in Isla’s eyes at my admission, I continued on. “I’m not alright because a wee faerie goddess stormed into my life and turned everything upside down. I want things–I desire things–I didn’t before. The only time I’m alright is when you’re in my arms or my cock is buried inside you.”

I jerked her to me. “I love you, Isla. I’ve loved you since the first day I met you.”

“You didn’t even know me,” she protested.

“I still knew that day.”

As I started to bring my lips to hers, a throat cleared behind us. When I turned around, Caterina stood behind us. “If you wouldn’t mind coming back to the office, my husband would like to apologize for his behavior.”

“Let me guess. Callum’s in the doghouse as well?” I asked.

Caterina jerked her chin up. “He’ll be sleeping on the couch for the foreseeable future.”

Isla giggled. “He can always sleep with Quinn because I won’t be warming his bed any time soon.”

I groaned at their united front. “Come on. Let’s get this over with.”

“Oh, it’s not over by a long shot,” Isla replied with a wink.

Chapter Thirty-One: Isla

Two Weeks Later

I made it five days before I let Quinn touch me again. I found his punishment was torture for not just him, but me as well. In those five days, I received daily flowers and letters professing his undying devotion and his utter repentance.

He’d resorted to letters when I refused to reply to any texts or calls. I wanted to prove my point that while I might’ve forgiven him, I sure as hell had not forgotten. I wanted to instill the fear of God in him to never cross the line again.

As for Caterina, she allowed Callum back in their bedroom after three sleepless nights on the couch. She’d also made him and Quinn babysit Henry while she took me and Brooke for a spa day on Callum’s dime. We had an amazing day of relaxation, and Callum and Quinn seemed to enjoy spending the day with Henry. Callum claimed it was good practice for his impending fatherhood.

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