Page 40 of Wicked S.O.B.

“I doubt my ability to be enough for her, okay? Is that what you want to hear?”

“And when she says that love is unconditional, do you believe her?”

Piercing silver eyes meet mine. He inhales. Exhales. “Yes.”

“Then you get that there’s only one stumbling block here?”

“Is this your way of telling me I need to get out of my own way?”

Dr. Freeman just smiles without responding and scribbles some more. I don’t know whether to punch him or hug him. I look at Quinn. He just looks shell-shocked. Silence reigns for a minute, and then Dr. Freeman looks up.

“Your turn, Quinn. What do you want from Elyse?”

Quinn blinks slowly, as if he’s waking up from a dream. Or a nightmare. Turbulent silver-blue eyes spear mine. He stares. And stares some more.

His lips part, but no words emerge. He shuts his mouth and glances down at our joined hands. Slowly, he raises them and presses his other hand against the back of mine so it’s enfolded between both of his. Palm-to-palm I can almost feel his heart racing through our touch. Still in what looks like a daze, he glances over at Dr. Freeman.

“My question isn’t for public consumption, Doctor. Sorry. Are we done here?”

Dr. Freeman closes his pad. “I’ll see you the same time next week.”

Quinn stands and pulls me up. My anxiety ramps high as I try to read his face. He still looks a little shell-shocked. But that titanium-strong, bulldozer will is resurfacing. He hardly gives me time to throw a hasty goodbye to Dr. Freeman before he’s hustling me to the door.

He doesn’t speak on the short elevator ride to the ground floor. Nor does he say anything when we get in the back of the limo except, “Take us home, Lionel.”

After five minutes, I can’t take it anymore. “Quinn, what’s going on?”

He pulls me across the seat and into his lap. He buries his face in my neck and inhales deeply before sliding his hand up and down my back. “Do you mind if we order in tonight? I don’t think I can stand to be around anyone.”

I shake my bewildered head. “Of course not,” I reply, but food is the last thing on my mind. “Quinn…,” I try again.

A deep shudder runs through him. His arm tightens around my waist, and he pulls me closer against his chest. “Shh. I just want to feel you like this, next to me. Do you mind?” he murmurs.

“Of course not,” I repeat, but I can’t help but be a little freaked out. My warning system is blaring wildly. Coupled with what I still need to tell him, I’m one thin thread from unraveling like a fucking lunatic.

Thankfully, the journey back is achieved in record time. Whether it’s by mere chance or Lionel utilizing all his skills to avoid traffic, I don’t know. The only thing that occupies my mind is the look on Quinn’s face as we ride the elevator to the penthouse.

There are a couple of lamps throwing ambient light into the living room, but he doesn’t bother to turn any more lights on when we enter the apartment. Nor does he answer the phone that’s been buzzing in his pocket since we got out of the car.

He drags me in front of my favorite window. Below us, New York City is laid out in a captivating carpet of vibrant lights. He stands behind me and slides his arms around my waist. I’m suffused with his power and his smell and an overwhelming sensation of love and protection.

When he leans down and plants a kiss on my temple, my heart lurches with happiness.

“In case I didn’t make it clear in Dr. Freeman’s office, you’re my life, too, Elyse.”

I turn in his arms. “I love you, Quinn.”

He frames my face with shaking hands. In fact, his whole body is shaking. “God, I hope so. Because I’m scared fucking shitless right now.”

About to ask why on earth he would be scared, I watch, utterly stunned as, up in our castle in the sky, Quinn Blackwood gets down on one knee and takes my hands in both of his.

“I love you, more than I’ll ever find adequate words to describe. Every breath I take starts and ends with you. For as long as I live, I won’t deserve you. But I’m still a selfish bastard who wants you and wants nothing more in the world than for you to say you’ll be mine for the rest of our lives.”

“Oh my God, Quinn!”

His eyes blaze with silver fire. “Is that a yes? You’ll marry me? Make me yours forever?”

I lean down and kiss his gorgeous, trembling lips. “I love you—”

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