I did not need Owen Redd, I wanted him, and it occurred to me that was the harder habit to break. As if testing my theory, I singed his lips with a kiss full of explosive passion. He was the last thing I needed, but the one thing I wanted most. As my body sang out on every chord, he picked me up and carried me to the couch.
We were past need or want or the ability to hold back. We undressed each other in a fury to be closer. His warm skin against mine caused a throb of pleasure that almost pushed me over the edge. Desire took over and our bodies clasped together in perfect accordance. Owen pressed into me, his lips catching my cries of pleasure until I could no longer think, only give. He surged forward to claim me, calling my name, and I let go with a blinding starburst of release.
PART 4
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Owen
I woke up in my bed and wondered why I was surprised. It felt new and more comfortable than ever before. After the police had tossed the place again, I would have thought it would feel alien. Fresh, clean sheets had not covered the violation the first time. That morning, though, I felt more at home in my room than I had in a very long time. It was strange, but I wanted to hold the sensation as long as possible.
Then, I rolled over and saw Quinn. Her long chestnut hair poured over her pillow. I lifted my arm and felt the silken waves slip over my skin. Her petal-soft lips smiled in sleep and she snuggled deeper into bed. Her serene expression, the comfortable curl of her body, and the honey-hued expanse of her bare shoulder warmed me.
I was torn. The morning sun crept towards Quinn's face. Part of me wanted to see her wake with the warm kiss. Part of me wanted to pull the curtains and keep the quiet spell intact. Instead, her chocolate brown eyes fluttered open and focused on me.
Quinn gave a sleepy smile. "Good morning."
"It is. Maybe that's why it feels so strange," I said.
Her long, sinuous stretch tugged at me deep inside. I could not help but pull her in my arms and hold her tight. Her chestnut hair fanned across my chest. Quinn chuckled against my shoulder, and I wondered how loud my heart pounded in her ear.
"So you slept alright?" I asked.
"No dreams, no wake ups, it was so peaceful," Quinn said. She ran her hand up my side. "How about you?"
"Like a miracle. I even forgot about the whole police search thing for a while."
Quinn groaned. "Oh, now you've brought it up. The least you could have done was wait until we had coffee."
I let her crawl out of bed and check her phone. Her lips did not form the nervous pucker they normally did. Her calm expression seemed immune to her parents' messages.
I pulled on a pair of jeans and headed to the kitchen to make coffee. Quinn dressed and joined me, an easy smile playing around her lips.
"I'm glad to see you're not letting your parents get to you," I told her.
"I don't think they've noticed I'm gone yet," she said. "I've got running clothes in the car. I'll change before I go home."
I shook my head. "I don't want you to have to sneak around. That doesn't feel right."
"I won't. Just this morning. I've got a new plan, but like my mother pointed out, it needs to be fully formed before I present it."
"Is that why you're so relaxed?" I asked. "And here I thought it was me. So, what's the new plan? Want to bounce some ideas off me?"
Her smile was radiant. I spilled coffee grounds on the counter. As I swept them to the floor with my hand, she settled onto a stool at the kitchen island.
"I've found something I'm good at, something I can do all on my own. I'm done letting my parents hold my college classes over my head," Quinn said. "This is something I can do just for myself and it will make me independent."
"No clues?" I asked. "It’s no fair to make that kind of declaration and leave it a mystery. At least tell me where the idea came from?"
"No," Quinn said. "You'll get jealous, and it’s just not a good look on you."
I narrowed my eyes. "Alright, I'm already jealous, so now you have to tell me."
Quinn tossed her hair and laughed. "Maybe. Let me just enjoy this for a little bit."
I faked a scowl at her and reached for my ringing phone. "Sorry, I have to grab this. It’s my manager. Don't worry, I fully intend to interrogate you after this call."
"I'm glad you're awake, Owen. We need to talk," my manager said.
"So, talk, Tanner. What's up?" I turned on the coffee maker and walked over to the windows.
"It’s all over the chatrooms – there were cops at your place. People are saying you got busted for drugs and this was not the first time," Tanner said. "What do you need to tell me?"
"Someone is after me, or messing with me. The cops showed up with a search warrant, but they left empty-handed. I'm clean, so I don't know what is going on."
"You're clean? You're telling the truth?" Tanner asked.
"Yes. You know me. Now, what I need to know is who started the rumor," I said.
"I don't have time for you to go all hacker all over the chatrooms," he objected. "You've got to go in for a voluntary drug test. And I mean today. Like now. We've got to do damage control."
"Really?" I pinched the bridge of my nose.
"Yes, really. Your sponsors don't want any drug use tied to them or their products. And you risk losing your spot in the big Dark Flag tournament," Tanner said. "The whole industry fights hard to get distance from the pot-smoking player images."
"Me too. I'm the one being harassed by the police for that very reason," I said. "Listen, what if I start speaking out about it? Like interviews and blog articles?"
"Not bad, not bad. But it’s time to take a drug test and get a lawyer. No more cops at your place. Find out where it’s coming from," Tanner said.
He hung up and I went back to the kitchen. Quinn handed me a full mug of coffee.
"Is everything alright?" she asked.
"Oh, sure, yeah. I might lose my sponsors and my spot in the Dark Flag tournament. And I have to go and take a drug test today."
Quinn put a hand on my cheek. "What can I do?"
"Let me see you in those little running shorts?" I asked.
She patted my cheek and went to change.
After Quinn had gone home, I checked the chatrooms. Tanner had banned me from posting anything even in my own defense. It was hard to see all the speculation, lies, and judgments. I had to leave my computer after only five minutes. It was hard to catch my breath I was so angry.
"Whoa, somebody lose an elf duel or something?" Jasper asked. He strolled through the front door and tossed his keys on the coffee table.
"More like fighting off trolls," I said.
"Comment trolls or game trolls?"
"Chatroom," I said.
He nodded sympathetically. "They're the worst. What are they saying? You know you can't take any of that to heart, right?"
"How about a second police search? Can I take that to heart?" I asked. "Can I be angry that my entire home was picked apart again? Or how about that someone is casually ruining my career? Can I be upset about that?"