Page 62 of Winter's End

I buried my nose in the soft cotton of his t-shirt, and his calming scent of pine trees and new leather enveloped me.

“Just had a talk with my parents.” I spoke into his chest, the muffled sounds sounding more tragic than intended. “I’m just a little overwhelmed with life right now.”

He grunted an acknowledgment and held me tighter to him. His body heat and heartbeat quelled all feelings of distress for the time being.

Quick had the most beautiful gift of being able to bring me peace under any set of circumstances. I wouldn’t need panic attack lessons from Logan if Quick could be permanently attached to my side like a Siamese twin.

The imagery of that thought made me giggle through my tears; Shane thumbed my chin and tilted my face up.

With an inquisitive look, he asked, “What made you go from 0 to 30 on the giggle scale?” His gaze continued searching my eyes—for signs of insanity, no doubt.

“I pictured you as my Siamese twin,” I answered honestly, my giggles nearing hysteria. His responding look assured me he did indeed think I was going crazy.

My giggles dissipated into full-body wracking sobs. My brain finally cracking under the weight of our world; even the super-glue that was Shane’s comfort couldn’t put me back together.

“Hey, hey, hey.”

His soothing tenor covered me like a well-worn blanket. He pulled me onto the couch and arranged me in his lap to drape over him like his own cover. My deluge of waterworks drenched his shirt while he clutched me against his chest, his arms banded across me like a soothing straight jacket.

When my blubbering finally ebbed into staggered sniffles, Quick took my face between his hands and kissed the trail of dried drops on my cheeks before peering into the depths of the distressed soul.

“Snow, what do you need right now? How can I take away your pain?”

The silver in his irises called to me, pulling me in to their crystallized warmth. My Quick; my savior, my calm in every storm. I licked the salty remnants of teardrops from my lips as my eyes landed on his; their pouty pink outlines beckoned against his deeply tanned skin.

I hesitantly flicked my tongue against those lips; tentatively testing the proverbial waters. He stiffened, every muscle of his torso locking in place like iron bars. Keeping me held to him, he drew in a sharp breath when I explored further, called by a force I was helpless to fight against.

I pressed my lips to his with a gentle pressure, feeling the heat of his skin sweeping through me. His mouth parted in surprise; I swept my tongue against his, tasting the combination of flavors that could only be my best friend; my Quick.

Before it could register, I was hoisted in the air. My arms and legs latched around Quick’s like a spider monkey clinging to its mother. He laid me down against the worn cracking leather of his couch, pressed his weight on top of me, and kissed me fiercely.

I don’t know where his body ended, and mine began. The ferocity of his kiss was feral; he consumed every part of me, delved into my mouth with such an animalistic hunger I didn’t dare to breathe for fear he would stop. The heavy weight of his erection pressed against my belly as he ate me alive, so thoroughly did he fuck my mouth with his tongue. Need for more engulfed me all the way down to the tips of my toes.

I dug my fingers into the firm muscles of his shoulders and he shoved his hands under the hem of my t-shirt. His warm, calloused palms caressed the soft flesh of my belly.

Groaning at the contact, my head spun from the potency of my hormones and the comfort his touch stirred in my soul.

This kiss. This man. This—fuck. This was my best friend, and this was a bad idea.

I froze in place; Quick got the message immediately and shifted his weight, sitting up on his knees. His face filled with concern as he offered a hand to pull me up.

“Too fast?” He asked as he pulled me back into his lap—sideways this time, not in the dangerous position of straddling him again.

I swallowed hard and nodded; I couldn’t confirm in my heart if it was simply too fast or treacherous territory we should never explore again. Of everything I was willing to lose in my life, Quick was number one on my ‘Must Keep at All Costs’ list.

I would never,ever, risk losing him. It was too high a price to pay.

A deep sigh emanated from his chest, but he said nothing else. He kissed the top of my head, tucked me under his chin, and reached for the remote hidden underneath the pile of garbage on the coffee table.

We settled into a sitcom on Netflix, not breathing another word about our intimate moment for the remainder of the night, even when he tucked me into his bed and snuggled in beside me.

I fell asleep in my best friend’s arms. With the ghosts of his kisses still on my lips, I knew I was in trouble.

CHAPTER 17

TRAVIS

“What the fuck, man?”

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