Quinn’s Battle (Team KOA Bravo #4)

Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

The rest of the drive to the cabin, Dahlia wondered what had made the difference. How she’d finally managed to get the words out. And if she’d lose her nerve when they arrived.

No.

She wouldn’t change her mind. Her second thoughts were gone. She’d said the words because she was ready. Adrenaline was likely part of it, but that didn’t diminish her feelings for Quinn.

At last, she was confident that sleeping with him wouldn’t simply be a foolish mistake.

Confident she could take that leap and not lose herself. Or worse, expect too much of him.

These recent days, being up close and personal with Quinn gave her more insight. She didn’t know why he was anti-relationship, but she could accept it. If he wanted to share, she’d listen. She was a great listener.

He didn’t seem too interested in chatting about anything serious after they’d checked in with both Cassie and Hawk and she hadn’t seen any sense in pushing.

“We should probably figure out dinner,” she said.

“Handled.” Quinn looked up from his phone and the glint in his eyes set butterflies swirling in her belly.

“Handled?”

“Yes.” He slipped his phone into his pocket and stalked toward her. “I’m not without resources.” His hands cradled her face before he kissed her. The tenderness of his mouth nearly buckled her knees. Her eyes closed and she swayed into his arms, certain he would hold her.

And he did.

“You’re incredible,” she murmured.

“Thanks.” His mouth tipped up at one corner. “But you haven’t heard the plan.”

Dinner. Right. “I wasn’t thinking about the plan,” she admitted, straightening. “I was thinking about you. I hate feeling weak or inadequate. Except with you.” She studied his face. “It’s weirdly okay.”

His brow furrowed. “Best compliment ever.”

That’s how she meant it. Something about Quinn eased that constant pressure to have all the answers. She hooked her arm through his. “It really is. So what’s for dinner?”

“You’ll see.”

“Do I need to dress up?” Because she didn’t have anything dressy with her. She’d have to call one of her friends to help.

He bent his head and kissed her again. “It’s casual. Besides, we should stay away from the usual spots for a bit.”

“Easy enough out here.” She turned a circle. The cattle ranch was a vast operation. She’d known it was here all her life, but the scope of the acreage was more real than it had been before. Prior to being under Quinn’s protection, this ranch was simply a chunk of the island that was off limits. “So where are we going?”

“You’ll see,” he repeated. “We both will. We’re taking the motorcycles.”

“Seriously?” Had it only been this morning when she’d dug in her heels about riding? Then it hit her. “Wait. Are we both driving?”

He patted his pocket. “Yes. I have a route approved by Hawk. Not a long ride, but?—”

“It’ll be perfect.” She bounced up on her toes and gave him a quick kiss. “Perfect.”

“Mm-hm.” His eyes were a mystery. “Can you be ready in an hour?”

To ride again without a worry or care? She could be ready right now. “Yes.” She darted into the cabin to freshen up and find something casual that was also cute. Because it felt like a date.

A real date with Quinn.

The anticipation erased the last of the tension dogging her since Steen surprised them at the warehouse. She was ready in less than an hour and found him on the porch. He looked hotter than ever, wearing his typical muscle-skimming t-shirt and jeans.

“You look great.” His gaze turned hot before he dropped sunglasses over his eyes.

Didn’t matter. That glimpse was enough to boost her confidence. It was an incredible feeling to be desired. “Right back at ya,” she said with a grin.

Between the constant sizzle under her skin from being close to him and the bike ride ahead, she was a bundle of happy nerves.

As if he’d read her thoughts, he bent his head and claimed her mouth. Suddenly she wanted to stay right here. Forget the drive, the date, the dinner. They could do all of that later. Quinn was too damned tempting. Too wonderful.

“We’d better go,” she murmured against his lips.

“Or what?”

Wasn’t it obvious? She was sure her feelings were evident. “We’ll miss all these arrangements you’ve made.”

He stroked a thumb along her sensitive lower lip. “I’ll leave planning our next date to you.”

“Deal,” she replied, breathlessly.

Several minutes later, leaning into the wind, the motorcycle humming along, Dahlia couldn’t stop smiling. She was on her way to a secret dinner. Couldn’t remember the last time a guy had done anything so elaborate for her. He seemed pretty confident that she’d enjoy it. And because it was Quinn, she was sure it would be perfect.

Or at least perfect for them.

She’d almost forgotten that she’d bailed on her shift tonight. As if she’d had much choice. It was strange to be so excited and nervous to spend time with him. They’d been joined at the hip for days, but this was different.

It was—finally—just the two of them without any risks lurking in the shadows.

Out here under a clear blue sky, she felt as if they were the only two people on the island. Heady stuff really. Had she ever felt so special?

Of course she knew there were vast wild places on the island. Part of life out here. But to be cruising across the unpopulated areas of the ranch with Quinn was a whole new way of being awed by nature.

And also finding contentment in the moment.

It was a weird combination. And all because of Quinn. She’d never been with someone like him. Never felt more like herself than when he was close. And she didn’t understand how that worked when she’d prized her independence. It was like finding a new side of herself. Such a strange admission and one she wasn’t all too comfortable with. After all, she had her life. One she was proud of. She prized her independence. Tending bar might not be a career goal for many people, but she loved her work. Embraced her responsibilities. It sure beat sweating out the days on construction sites with her brothers. Though it was fun to occasionally pitch in with them on a job, now she had the option rather than the requirement of doing so.

She leaned into the curves of the road winding through the ranch, Quinn riding just ahead of her, leading the way. They were clearly taking a route that wouldn’t disturb the cattle. He hadn’t packed anything at the cabin and her curiosity about how he’d managed this grew by the second.

The man was full of surprises, starting with that first mind-blowing kiss in the parking lot. It couldn’t have been only days ago. They felt too deeply entwined already. She wasn’t always happy with his protective limits, but that was short-term.

Her contentment hit a speedbump.

Technically, everything about this was short-term. There was no guarantee Quinn would stay on the island. No guarantee that if he did stay, the two of them would become a real couple.

Before she could slide down that prickly spiral, she pulled herself back mentally. She had made a conscious decision to live in the present. To absorb everything this current moment had to offer. A rough day was becoming a gorgeous evening and she was about to spend some quality private time with a gorgeous man who looked at her as if he wanted to devour her in one big bite.

As he slowed down and pulled to the side of the road, she did the same, coming to a stop behind him. On a grassy rise, she saw a blanket stretched out, anchored by a couple of baskets, a cooler, and flowers.

He’d definitely gone all out.

“Quinn.” Emotions tangled in her chest, too many to choose only one. She was delighted. Honored. Surprised. He really had handled it. “This is… Impressive.” How had he pulled this off at the last minute?

He pushed his sunglasses up into his hair and then pulled her close, admiring the spread. “I can only take credit for the idea and making a call. Carter and Mia did the heavy lifting.”

“Well, you all get a gold star,” she said. “Truly. This is just…” Words failed her. She hugged him instead, hoping he understood how much she appreciated his effort. His thoughtfulness.

He smoothed his hand up and down her back, resting his cheek on the top of her head. “I’m glad it was a good idea.” She felt his breath hitch under her cheek. “I wanted to do something special.” Tipping her face up to his, he kissed her. “You’re special, Dahlia. You’re not just an assignment to me.” Another soft kiss. “Not just a woman I know through friends.”

There went her heart, leaping into his hands, to hell with her determination to cling to common sense and practicality.

Better to love, even for a little while, than never love at all.

But she knew right then, when this ended, any other man in her life would be hard-pressed to measure up to Quinn.

“Hungry?”

For so many things. She eased out of his embrace. “Yes. Did you ask for anything specific?”

“Not exactly. Just the favor.”

They opened the baskets and coolers, pulling out a cold spread of sandwiches, fruit salad, and crisp veggies. “Beer, sangria, or water?” Quinn asked.

“Beer please.” One beer with the meal wouldn’t impair her driving, though she was more concerned with keeping her head on straight about Quinn. “They made sure we had options.” She opened another insulated bag, surprised when she found everything inside was packaged to stay hot. When a familiar scent tickled her nose, she laughed. “Mom’s meatloaf. In sandwich form.”

Quinn practically leapt on her. “Tell me there’s more than one.”

She handed over the prize. “Looks like I should tell you the recipe.”

“Maybe. I’m not that great with cooking and I’d hate to wreck this and disappoint myself.” He took a big bite of the sandwich, practically moaning over it.

“It’s meatloaf.”

“I’ve had meatloaf. I told you the other day, this is a masterpiece.” He held it up as if he might see something that explained the phenomenon.

“I thought you were being polite.” And she’d been so overwhelmed after what happened to her house that day.

He stared at her. “You seriously can’t tell the difference between me being polite and sincere? Enthusiastic even?” He set the food aside and moved closer, until he was nose to nose with her. The heat radiating from his body underscored the intense heat in his gaze. “You haven’t answered me, Dahlia.”

She was thunderstruck. Her heart jerked unevenly, her breathing short. He was a force of nature. “I might be able to tell.” She’d tried to tease, but failed. “You’re always polite, though.”

He scoffed, nipping lightly at her ear. “Wanna bet?”

She shivered, anticipating his next move. Hers. Everything his body was promising. She wanted him more with every heartbeat. “Don’t be polite on my account.”

He whispered his dark, sexy intentions along the column of her throat. Who knew she was into a man who talked dirty? When she arched into him, he laughed, a rough and dark sound that rolled over her skin, enticing. Tantalizing.

When she eagerly begged for his touch, dragging off his shirt to get her hands on his skin, he responded. Eager. Not polite, but definitely sincere.

They forgot the food, lost in each other. His hands were steady and sure as he dispensed with her shirt, flicked open her bra. Hers trembled over the hot skin of his torso. His mouth on her breasts was heaven and she gripped his broad shoulders, urging him on.

Quinn ratcheted up her desire until she was vibrating with need on a level she’d never known. A need only he could satisfy. He was the problem and the solution and she couldn’t get enough of him.

She felt like a goddess, lying naked under a vast evening sky, being worshiped by a man with amazing sensual skills. She gasped time and again as his mouth and hands mapped her body, bringing pleasure and leaving a sizzling trail in his wake. He settled between her thighs and she was sure she’d never recover. Body and soul she was lost to him, cresting on wave after wave of desire.

She was still quaking, inside and out as he stripped away the rest of his clothing. She’d done her fair share of ogling him during the times he surfed with their friends, but having all of that masculine strength and beauty within reach was different.

He was a work of art—and all hers. For now. She made the most of the opportunity, exploring him thoroughly. Those sexy planes and ridges of hard, capable muscles were addictive. Made her feel powerful even as she melted against him. She’d never been so attuned to anyone. Her own desire went soaring again as she learned what made his breath catch, what set him on fire, made him swear with pleasure.

“Dahlia,” he spoke through gritted teeth.

He didn’t need to explain. “Yes, yes,” she panted against his shoulder. Those were the only words she could get out right now. His body was speaking clearly enough to hers.

He reached for his pants and found a condom, rolling it over his hard length. She thought she was ready, but she wasn’t. As he thrust deep, joined with her, it was more.

More immediate. More perfect. More intimate.

Her heart lurched again as she stared up into his rugged face, his eyes dark and warm, as open and vulnerable as she felt.

Then he began moving and she matched his rhythm, gripping his shoulders as her legs hugged his lean hips. They were united, focused only on the passion, the joy of discovery and time spun away as the pleasure grew layer by layer until she couldn’t outrun the next orgasm. Didn’t want to. Her body quivered around him as his hips pistoned until he drove deep one last time with a ragged shout.

Braced on his elbows, he nuzzled her neck, shifted just enough so he wasn’t crushing her. Her mouth found his and she kissed him with all the emotions she wasn’t ready to share. Strange that she could give him her body, every single inch, but now her heart was shy. It was just too much, too soon.

He rolled to his back. “Damn.”

She giggled. “Damn, right.”

He chuckled, then shifted away to dispose of the condom. He pulled on his pants and she dragged herself upright, taking in the mess they’d made of their picnic. Her beer was warm, but she took a drink anyway. It was oddly more intimate to pull on her clothes than it had been to let him undress her.

But when his stomach rumbled and they both laughed, everything inside her settled back into place. They were friends, and lovers now, but friends first.

This was Hawaii. She understood the impact of seismic shifts of the global and personal variety.

She could be okay with this. She would be okay with this.