Holding her Tight Read online

  It took all his strength to not take her right in his car. The kiss had been a brief touch of lips, but it was hot, intense and intimate. Daniel could even feel the wild beats of her heart as his palm rested right on her pulse. He could feel her getting hotter, burning the same way he burned. That’s why he stopped it. If he’d allowed it to continue, there would be no going back. Quinn deserved to be taken, loved, and caressed on a bed—his bed.

  The tension inside the elevator was nerve-wracking. His attention was completely on her, her rapid breathing, her movements, the way she changed position every few seconds, the way she wrapped her arms around herself as though trying to hide her breasts.

  She moved again. This time, she started to unbutton her black overcoat as the elevator was hot as hell. When the thick fabric left her body, he cleared his throat and tried desperately to look away, but it seemed impossible. Her white blouse glowed because of the silk she wore that revealed so much he could hardly breathe. Her breasts were larger than he expected. Firm and perfect. Her skirt was so tight he could see every curve of her body. Her body shape looked like a violin, making Daniel drown in desire. She was magnificent and she didn’t even realize it. Why Quinn didn’t have a boyfriend at the moment, stunned him.

  Quinn sighed. “You’re making me uncomfortable,” she stated.

  Happily for Daniel, the elevator’s doors opened. Otherwise, he would have jumped her right in the elevator. He let Quinn go a few steps first while he appreciated the view of her amazing body. Her high heeled shoes sounded throughout the corridor, making her even sexier.

  This time when he found the spot on her lower back, it was more intimate. There wasn’t any thick fabric in the way, and the silk provided a wonderful contact. Quinn must have felt it too, as a long sigh escaped her lips.

  “You’re the one making me uncomfortable, sweetheart,” Daniel said. He had never called a woman “sweetheart” before. It should have scared him, but he already knew Quinn was special.

  She glanced at his jeans and looked away when he caught her. Quinn bit her lower lip, enticing him with a new level of sexiness. This woman could be timid all right, but sometimes, she was someone else entirely.

  Daniel slid his hand into his pocket and reached for his keys. He opened the door and switched on the lights before he turned to face her. “Please, come in,” he said with a slight smile.

  He watched as Quinn stood for a few seconds in the doorway looking around the apartment. It wasn’t big, but it wasn’t small either. His taste was simple and neatly organized.

  When she finally entered, he closed and locked the door. Then, standing in his living room, he noticed two droplets of blood on Quinn’s silk blouse.

  “What’s this?” he asked, focusing his attention fully on her well-being.

  Quinn looked at him as though she didn’t know what he was talking about, but when he touched her upper arm, she said, “Oh, it’s nothing.”

  “You said you were unharmed when I asked if you were hurt. The paramedics could have looked at it.” Daniel knew he was overreacting, but he couldn’t help worrying about her.

  “I don’t even feel it.”

  “Let me look at it then,” he said, daring her to take her blouse off.

  “You’re overreacting, Daniel,” she stated while she unbuttoned it.

  “I just want to be sure.”

  Quinn nodded. When she let the thin fabric slide from her arms, he didn’t know where to look first. However, one thing Daniel knew, he had to touch her bare skin.

  First, he took the minor steps that separated them, leaving them face-to-face, only with a breath separating their lips. He gazed in her eyes as his hands found their way to her waist. Skin on skin contact, finally. Daniel watched as Quinn’s lips parted and she inhaled a long breath. Daniel ran his fingers up Quinn’s arm. She shivered beneath his touch. His palm found her jaw and the back of her neck, sliding his fingers through her soft brown hair. Quinn moaned and her irises grew darker.

  Daniel’s assault ended when his palm dropped to her chest, right on top of the beating of her heart. He felt every loud beat. His eyes followed his hand, where he encountered the black bra that hid her amazing large breasts. He couldn’t look away, couldn’t control the desire that coursed through his cock and intensified his need to be inside her.

  “Daniel,” Quinn whispered, and wrapped her hand around his wrist that rested on her chest.

  Daniel followed the sound she made, which he encountered her sweet parted lips ready to be kissed. She had just been a victim. Someone had tried to kill her only a few hours ago. Sighing, he found the spot where the blood came from. The bruising was from a few tiny rocks on the ground that penetrated her skin. He would clean it up later.

  He took her blouse from her hand and draped it over her shoulders. “You should take a shower. The bathroom is that way.” He pointed to the right. “I’ll bring you some comfortable clothes.”

  Without another look, another word, Daniel turned his back to her and went to his bedroom to get what she needed. She had just been attacked. Spending the night with him was the last thing she needed.

  ****

  Quinn couldn’t believe Daniel left her alone in the middle of the living room half naked without even kissing her. The way he’d had touched her, the look in his eyes while doing so, erased every single doubt in her mind that he didn’t want her. It was happening and it was true. No one could have faked the delicate way Daniel touched her. She felt safe, aroused and cherished. Quinn wanted him so badly that she would have to take a cold shower.

  With slow steps, she walked in the direction Daniel had pointed. She passed the kitchen that was connected to the living room and there, in the end of the hallway, she found the bathroom. Quinn was so tired that she had to sit on the toilet for a second. She scrubbed her tired eyes and closed them for a bit.

  It didn’t take much for Daniel to find her. “Are you okay?”

  She opened her eyes and saw him in the doorway, holding a change of clothes. “Yeah, fine. I’m just tired,” she said and smiled.

  Daniel came closer and handed her the change of clothes. “If you don’t like these, you can choose something else.” Their fingers touched, sparks flew everywhere and their gazes met.

  “The–these are fine, thanks,” Quinn said. She didn’t even looked at the clothes but whatever he had chosen for her it was good enough, even though she wanted to peek in his closet. When he turned to leave, she stood. “Daniel,” she called and he glanced back. Quinn never thought she would be in a bra in front of him, but once again there she was. “Thank you, for everything. You didn’t have to do anything you did and are doing to keep me safe. I—”

  “Don’t mention it,” he interrupted her before she could finish. With a last smile, he closed the door and left her alone again.

  While Quinn undressed, she began to feel sore muscles on her right side. She had bruises there too, revealing that everything that happened was real and it was not over yet. She couldn’t be more tired, and the water that began to drench her body felt so good, she could sleep right there standing up. When she finished, Quinn was dying to see the clothes Daniel brought for her.

  She picked up the shirt, held the fabric to her nose, and sniffed it. It smelled so male, so Daniel. She closed her eyes to remember the smell for later. Quinn unfolded the shirt and let out a breath of relief. She was afraid his clothes would be too tight for her, but even a little overweight as she was, his shirt would still be huge on her. He had a very large build, how had she forgotten that?

  Quinn slid the red material to her skin and smiled. She loved the idea that he’d worn the shirt, and now his scent began to envelop her. She didn’t enjoy the shorts as much, because they were too tight around her hips, but the huge shirt hid that. After brushing her wet hair and brushing her teeth with her finger, she left the bathroom.

  Quinn didn’t know where to go to find Daniel, but when she heard noises in the kitchen she walked there barefooted.
She found Daniel making sandwiches. He’d also taken a shower and changed clothes. He smelled delicious, even more than the scent that now marked her skin.

  When he glanced up and noticed her standing there, his eyes ran over her entire body. Electric sparks danced on every inch of her skin, dampening her panties, burning her blood. “It looks good on you. Better, even,” he said as he put two plates down on the dining room table then sat in one chair. He motioned for her to sit beside him.

  They ate in silence. “What time is it?” she asked. She had to go to work in the morning.

  “Past two.”

  Quinn sighed. “I have to get some sleep before work,” she murmured, too tired to even think about what she needed to do that day. Surely everyone she worked with would have heard what happened to her.

  “Tomorrow is Saturday,” Daniel said, as if she’d just said something wrong.

  “Yeah, I work on Saturdays, Daniel.” His name on her lips felt good, he certainly had noticed also as his gaze dropped to her mouth.

  “No wonder you don’t have any friends; you work too much.”

  She stood up and took her plate from the table. “What else is new?” Quinn mumbled as she placed her dirty plate in the sink.

  Then, there was a bang, which startled her so badly, she dropped to the floor. Her breathing became erratic while her blood pulsed with fear and anxiety.

  “Quinn?” she heard Daniel say her name in a worried voice. He ran to her and dropped to his knees. “Hey, sweetheart. You’re safe.” He embraced her; held her tightly into his chest. “You’re safe,” he whispered in her ear over and over again while she trembled.

  “What was that?” she asked, in fear.

  “I dropped a stupid vase when I stood. It was nothing, Quinn. You’re safe here.”

  When she lifted her head and sat on the floor, Daniel’s hand went to her neck. Quinn fell apart and tears began to fall. She felt so embarrassed at the way she’d reacted. “I’m sorry, I just—“She threw her arms around him and buried her face in the hollow of his neck.

  “You don’t need to apologize, baby,” Daniel said while she sobbed. He hugged her tightly, as though trying to take her pain away.

  *****

  Daniel reached behind her legs, picked her up and carried her to his bed while her tears fell on his shirt. Daniel liked the hold she kept on his body, as though to part from him wasn’t an option. Even when he gently laid her on his bed, she didn’t lose her hold on his neck.

  “Stay with me,” she whispered as a few tears still escaped.

  Her words broke him. She needed him and that was what she’d get. Daniel turned the lights off before going to her. Just as he lay down beside her, her head fell to his chest, her arm wrapped around his waist and one of her legs filled the void between his legs. He heard her sigh, as though she finally realized she was safe. Daniel hoped so.

  He closed his eyes and kissed the top of her head while his arms wrapped around her waist. Quinn’s breathing returned to normal, she stopped crying and she fell fast asleep in his arms. Daniel drifted off for a while too, but soon he was awake again. He was used to sleeping for only a few hours.

  He hated to leave Quinn, especially since she slept peacefully on his chest and her body touched his from head to toe. He also hated to wake up with a full hard on. His cock burned so much that he had to take a cold shower to diminish his lust for Quinn.

  When he returned to his bedroom and saw Quinn sleeping on his bed, it made him stop in his tracks. God, she was breathtakingly beautiful. And his clothes on her body only increased his attraction to her. He could see the exact shape of her breasts because she wasn’t wearing a bra, and the tip of her nipples pointed at him as if begging to be seen, touched, and sucked. It made his cock hard all over again. He sighed because he couldn’t have another cold shower.

  Before he left the bedroom, Daniel took a small case from the closet. He took it to the living room table and opened it. To keep Quinn safe, he needed to be prepared. He took three guns from the case, disassembled them piece by piece and cleaned them.

  He still wasn’t finished when he heard noises from the bathroom next to his bedroom. Then Quinn appeared in the living room wearing only her panties and his shirt. Her long legs looked sensational.

  When her eyes dropped to what he was doing, they grew wide. “It’s just a precaution,” he warned her.

  Quinn stood there for a while, watching him work and he heard her stomach growl. “Gosh, I’m so sorry,” she said, a smile returning to her face. He would be happy to wake up every day for the rest of his life with such rare beauty.

  “I’m the one who’s sorry. I should have prepared something for you before you woke up,” Daniel murmured. He dropped what he was doing and went for the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

  “Don’t be silly, Daniel. It’s not your fault. You didn’t know when I would wake up,” she said and smiled once again. God, how he loved that dimple on her cheek.

  Quinn looked refreshed, but there were still dark patches under her eyes. She should have slept more.

  “Thank you,” she said when he put a plate of scrambled eggs on the table in front of her. When she took the first bite, she moaned. “This is amazing, thank you.” Daniel then realized he loved to watch her eat. “It’s almost eight. I have to go to work soon.”

  “Are you sure that’s what you want? You can stay here as long as you like, Quinn.” Daniel wasn’t comfortable with letting her go to work.

  “It’s just for a few hours, but we have to pass by my house for me to get a few changes of clothes, my toothbrush and stuff,” she said, as though she was moving in with him. Again, he liked how that sounded, especially that she included him in her activities.

  More and more he thought about Quinn as though they were a couple.

  “Even though I’m not comfortable with that idea, I’ll do as you wish.”

  The huge smile she gave him made it all worthwhile.

  Chapter Four

  Quinn knew how uncomfortable Daniel must feel about the arrangements of the day, but she needed to go to work. Her clients depended on her. However, before she could even think about showing up, she must change her clothes. She couldn’t just wear her blouse stained with blood, or her skirt ripped a little on the side. She just noticed the rip that morning.

  Quinn let Daniel into her apartment, but unlike his, she wasn’t exactly neat. She didn’t have the time to tidy everything up every time she left for work, and even less when she came home so tired she couldn’t move a muscle.

  “I’m sorry about the mess.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Just be quick,” Daniel said, making it pretty clear he didn’t want to stay long.

  Before she went to her room, she glanced back at him and noticed his posture, as though he was her bodyguard. She’d even seen him hide a gun under his coat. Simply for protection, of course—his words. Quinn didn’t mind his overprotectiveness, though. She actually enjoyed it. She had never been guarded before, and especially by someone she’d hardly met.

  In her room, Quinn grabbed a large bag from her closet, and then the fun began. It took about ten minutes for her to gather what she needed, from clothes to items for personal hygiene. Then, she changed her clothes to a purple blouse and a tight skirt, though not as tight as the previous one.

  When she went back to her living room, Daniel was in the exactly same pose with his hands behind his back. He was ready for anything. Her blood rushed through her veins so fast at the sight of him she nearly lost her bearings.

  Sighing deeply, she dropped her bag on the floor and sat on her couch for a little while, trying to get her body back to normal.

  Daniel moved the moment she put her hands on her forehead, “Quinn?”

  She looked up and raised her hand to stop him from taking another step. “I’m fine, Daniel. I just need a minute.”

  Quinn’s problem was Daniel. She certainly didn’t need him touching her when she tried to put down the fire t
hat was burning inside her body. It was weird for her, this kind of feeling. She never thought it was possible, actually. She needed release so badly that it literally made her dizzy, and it was as though she wouldn’t survive if Daniel didn’t kiss her, touch her soon.

  Before long, she stood up and went to get her bag but Daniel already had it. Without a word, he opened the door. She walked past him, his scent reaching her so strongly that she almost wasn’t able to hold back the need to touch him. This time, as if Daniel could sense her distress, his hand didn’t rest on the small of her back. He stood a few steps back, ever vigilant while they walked to his car.

  Daniel parked the car just outside her building, almost at the same place they were attacked the night before. She noticed that her wrecked car wasn’t there, was probably toted by the police.

  The moment Quinn opened her door Daniel did the same. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m coming with you,” he said while getting out of the car.

  Quinn just sat there, watching him pass the car, walking toward her. “That’s not necessary, Daniel,” she murmured, as she got out of the car.

  As if she hadn’t said a single word, he accompanied her to the building entrance. This time his hand rested on her waist, pulled her to his body while his other hand wrapped around her upper arm, protective, hot, and gentle. Daniel would certainly be the one to kill her if he kept touching her that way.

  They arrived at the elevator, which was empty. The moment Quinn saw her colleague, Ryan, walking to their elevator she heard Daniel’s voice. “Take the next one.”

  Ryan stopped dead while his stare rested on Quinn and the way Daniel was still holding her. “Are you okay, Quinn?”

  “Fine. See you in a few,” she was able to say while the doors began to close.

  Silence rained down on them. Quinn risked a glance at Daniel’s face and found him gazing at her. Quinn watched Daniel close his eyes and lean in, their foreheads touched and he began to play with her nose with his own.