Page 48 of Avoiding Temptation
We both sit in silence, the words we just said hanging heavy in the small space between us. The last few minutes might have been intense, but I feel better than I have in a long time.
I don’t need to see his head turning to know he’s looking at me, his intense stare burns into the side of my face.
Closing my eyes for a beat, I turn to look at him. His face is expressionless aside from his dark, haunted eyes.
“Thank you, for telling me. For trusting me.”
“I do trust you, Joe. I just…it’s hard for me to go back there.”
“I get it. Take all the time you need.”
“I hope you realise your parents missed out with the choice they made. They should be so proud of you.”
He shrugs. “I’m not so sure about that, I’ve done some pretty fucked up shit over the years. I probably shouldn’t even be allowed in a church.” He glances around, and I can’t help but laugh at the expression on his face.
“Everyone makes mistakes. It helps shape who we are.”
“Do you think that when you think ofhim?” The disdain in his voice is clear, and it almost makes me regret telling him.
“I’m not sure he shaped me all that much aside from showing me exactly what I didn’t want.”
“You’ve only told me part of the story, Quinn, but I already know that you’re one of the strongest women I know.”
I shrug and look away. I don’t see myself that way. As far as I’m concerned, I’m weak. Weak for living someone else’s life for so long, weak for not following my own dreams, and weak for not exposing those around me for who they really were. But I don’t voice any of that for fear of what he might say.
“Shall we move before this gets any heavier?” I ask, hoping for a reprieve from the seriousness of our lives.
“Sounds good.”
Joe slides from the wooden pew and holds out his hand for me. I don’t hesitate in placing mine in his.
Once I’m standing, he leans down and whispers in my ear. “Thank you for not freaking out.”
I glance up at him, wondering if the truth about his life has been haunting him as much as my own has been.
“You can tell me anything. I won’t judge. Our pasts are our pasts. I’d much rather spend my time looking forward than back.”
Chapter Fifteen
I swearI blink and our weekend together is over. Nothing more is said about our confessions in the church, and I couldn’t be more grateful. I’m glad I did it. I wanted to show to Joe that I was trying to let him in, just like he was me, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to spill any more yet. The time is coming. I can only avoid it and the media for so long. With every minute that ticks around, I know I’m a minute closer to another phone call from Detective Barker and reliving my old life in front of a judge. As much as I want justice for the people they've hurt, I also can’t imagine explaining what monsters they are to their faces. They’re men I should love, men I should try to protect. Not testify against.
A shudder runs down my spine, and I pause my packing.
Joe’s hands land on my hips, and he pulls me back into him. His lips trail up my neck until he nibbles around my ear. “I’m not ready to leave this room.” He doesn't need to say the words, the feeling of his erection digging into my arse tells me everything I need to know.
“Me neither.” My head rolls to the side as his kisses continue. He parts his lips and his tongue sweeps across my skin. My heart pounds and my temperature soars, despite only having a Joe-induced orgasm less than thirty minutes ago in the shower.
The atmosphere is heavy as Joe drags both our bags from the bed and we walk out of our little sanctuary.
I let out a giant sigh as the hotel room door clicks shut behind us. Joe squeezes my hand a little tighter in support.
We check out, find his van, and almost before I’ve had time to think we’re on our way back towards the city.
“So your boss doesn’t mind you taking your work van away for the weekend?” I ask again, seeing as I didn’t get an answer when I asked yesterday.
“I sure hope not, because I didn’t exactly ask,” he says with a laugh. “I’m sure it’ll be fine, my boss is banging my best friend. She can help me make him see things from my perspective.” He visibly cringes as the words pass his lips.
“Tell me about her?”
