Page 49 of Firecracker

Chapter Fourteen

Waking up in Quick’s arms was the best feeling ever. For once I didn’t wake up feeling down, depressed, stressed, or sad. I just felt at peace and sore. He took me so many ways last night I probably won't be able to walk today, much less dance tonight at the club. Izzy is DJing at Club Spin. I’m so excited for tonight. I’ll get to chat with Luc tonight about the job they want me to interview for, which I’m still in shock about.

Quick moans next to me as I snuggle in closer, running my hands over his bare chest. He was saying some crazy things last night, so I’m nervous to see what he says today when we’re both sober. I leave tomorrow afternoon back to my fuckedup life to sort through my bullshit. I know there’s something between us, but I can’t even think about the what ifs. He’s not going to wait around for me, and I would never ask him to. It could be a year or more before I can actually move here if I move here at all.

God, please let it all work out okay.

Dread starts to wash over me, and I tense up. Quick rubs me, caressing my back up over my shoulder.

“Good morning, I’m glad you didn’t run off.” His voice’s a low rumble waking up.

“Good morning. How can I run when I can barely move,” I teased?

“Hmm. And you will be even more sore once I take you again tonight.” He shifts us, pushing me to my back and he moves between my legs. I open them willingly and wait, but he doesn’t move to take me. Instead, he stares down at me with questioning eyes.

“What?” I ask.

“I feel like we should talk,” he replies hesitantly.

No. No. Please. No. Let’s not ruin my last day.

My eyes must relay what I’m thinking because he leans down, kissing me.

Quick breaks the kiss. “I want you.”

“Take me,” I pant.

“No, I mean I want to see you again. I know you have a shit ton of bullshit to deal with back home, but I want to keep talking to you. Hopefully, keep seeing you.”

For the love of God, yes.I close my eyes. I can’t think that way. This is nice, but it’s not real.

“I can’t do this right now. I’m still married.” I try to get out from under him, but he pins me under him.

“I know that. Believe me, I know, and it kills me you have to go back and deal with that son of a bitch alone.”

“My daughter is there, I have to go back.” Just mentioning her, I get tears in my eyes. I miss her so much.

Quick drops his head. “I know.”

I snap, “Do you? Quick, you have no idea how much I needed this weekend away, but have you thought this through? I have a three-year-old daughter. If I move here, I’ll have her full time. No let’s go party every night and get drunk.’” I try to explain nicely, but it comes out harsh.

“Look, Ruby, all I’m saying is after tomorrow I want to keep pursuing this” —he waves his hands between us— “whatever this is. I just don’t want it to end. Is all I’m trying to say.”

“Why?” I hold my breath waiting for the answer.

“Seriously? I was done when I first saw you at the airport. Then when you mouthed off in the truck, I wanted to know everything about you.” His eyes sparkle with so much emotion that I had to close mine.

“I don’t even know your name. Hell, you don’t even know mine,” I rant out, frustrated. Fighting how I feel because, in reality, this can’t work.

Quick shoots back, “Your name is Ruby Malone. You’re one of the Malone duos. You got married six years ago. Your daughter’s name is Isabella Malone after Izzy,” he replied without hesitation.

Holy shit!

I gasp. “How do you know all of that?”

He closes his eyes, taking a deep breath. “We do a background check on everyone that is close to our members.”

I push him, catching him off guard and sit up. “Is that how Dallas knew about my dancing? What else do you know?”

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