His knees were pudding, and he collapsed against her. She went down on her stomach with him draped on her back, both of them sucking in air. When he’d caught his breath, he looked up to see her gazing at him in one of the reflections. She smiled, and he nuzzled her neck.
When his limbs worked again, he got up and disposed of the condom. Back in the house of mirrors, he glimpsed her curled up on one of the white fuzzy rugs, and he stretched out beside her, his front to her back, gathering her to him—where she belonged. Eyes closed, she wiggled closer and hummed contentedly. He blinked at their reflections, loving what he saw. She fit him perfectly, in so many ways. As he drifted off, the words, “I love you, I love you, I love you,” wound through his head.
Sarah stirred to Quinn wrapped around her, the sight reflected unendingly in the shimmering silver mirrors. Physically, her heart rate and breathing had returned to normal, but mentally she was still trying to catch her breath.
A chorus of Wowwowwow’s buzzed in her head, leaving her at a loss for words to describe their soul-penetrating lovemaking. Lovemaking, however,was too gentle a term for the passionate connection that had ignited them both. Whatever else it was, it went light-years beyond a physical joining. Something deep, visceral, and powerful had passed between them. This most definitely was not just sex.
When had she ever been so aroused, so moved? Never. The delicious burn in the muscles of her thighs and stomach, her sensitized skin, told her she should have been sated, but instead she craved more.
She studied his reflection. A broad, tanned forearm draped her middle, a dark contrast to her peach-tinged skin. His large hand splayed across her chest, covering one breast fully while his fingers grazed the other. His other arm was pillowed under his head, thick chestnut locks resting on his elbow. A calf dusted in dark hair nestled between her legs. Rhythmic breaths fell soft and warm on her neck. The way he cradled her, infusing her with his heat, comforted her every nook and cranny. How ironic that the man whose mere presence once had her spitting insults now evoked equally powerful feelings of an opposite nature. When, and how, had that happened? It had been a gradual shift, an erosion of walls she’d built from anger and bitterness after her humiliation at Wolf’s hands.
But what about the blond babes Quinn drew into his orbit? The same worn questions circled inside her brain. Once COVID restrictions were lifted, would he revert to his old ways as a free-wheeling, high-scoring hockey hunk who trolled bars and clubs for hookups? A little voice piped up in her head. No, it insisted. She wanted to believe it, but only time would tell. Eyes wide-open.
Behind her, the hockey hunk stirred, mumbling under this breath. His leg bent hers back, and cool air soothed her tender parts. Still half-asleep, he kissed her neck while his arm and hand tightened their hold.
“Mmm, Sarah, smile.” He hummed a few bars of a familiar tune.
His eyes opened, and he stared at her staring back at him. “I really like this room,” he said in a dusky voice. “We might have to lock ourselves in and never leave.”
She twisted in his arms and faced him. His hand slid down her back to cup a cheek.
“Not sure how practical that is. We’ll need food, showers … And speaking of showers, I’d like to clean up.”
He planted a kiss on her forehead. “How about a swim first?”
“A swim where?”
His eyebrow quirked. “In the big, heated pool outside the gym?”
“I stuck my toe in there. I’m not sure how heated it is.”
“That was late in the winter, when it was still cold. It’s much warmer now.” When she eyed him dubiously, he added, “Where’s your sense of adventure? Let’s go find out just how warm it is. Besides, I can always heat you up.” Now his eyebrows bounced.
“You do have a talent for doing that.”
His lips tipped up in a happy, dimpled smile.
“All right,” she sighed. “I’ll get my suit.”
“No suits,” he scoffed. “We’re skinny dipping.”
“We are? But—”
“No one can see us.”
Before she could think of another argument, he was on his feet, hauling her up with him, a very determined look on his face.
A few giggles escaped her. “Can I at least wear a robe out there?”
He looked her up and down, and she nearly broke out in a blush. With a shrug, he began opening mirrored closet doors. “There are robes in here somewhere.” He went from one door to another.
“Aha!” he cried triumphantly, holding up two plush terry robes like the ones luxury hotels offered their guests. Blue for him, pink for her.
They covered up and made their way to the gym, where they grabbed oversized towels.
Quinn opened a glass slider, and they were out in the brisk night air. At the edge of the pool, he shucked his robe and tossed it on a lounge chair. She was clinging to the warmth of hers, but he stripped it off her, and it joined his. Then he pushed her in, making her gasp, and dove in after.
After the initial shock of the plunge, she began adjusting to the water temperature. Sort of. Quinn was underwater, and he broke the surface, sucking in air and doing the man wet-hair-fling move. The end result had him looking like he sported a cockeyed fin on his head. He swam toward her, his body cutting a big shadow in the ghostly blue glow of the pool lights. Beyond the pool, the backyard melted into a solid curtain of black.
Quinn gathered her up in his arms and flung her through the air. She landed with a Slap!With fake outrage, she lunged, wrapping herself around
