Every Chapter

Chapter Twenty-Three

Ian made them sandwiches and they sat at the dining table eating, replenishing themselves after the morning happenings.

"Can we talk about last night?" Quinn asked a bit nervously. Ian himself looked to be taken back by the question.

"We never talk about our fights."

She shrugged her shoulders. "I just think maybe its best."

Ian wiped his mouth on a napkin and leaned back in his chair with an aggravated sigh. He would rather appear annoyed than show the bit of fear he was currently dealing with. He didn't want to have this conversation, but he also did not want to run from it and show his hesitation.

"Okay, let's talk."

She released a sigh, "I just wanted to thank you I guess."

He raised a brow; he had expected there to be a fight, at least a bicker.

"I just mean for stopping."

"You seemed pretty set what changed your mind?"

"I was upset."

"So, you're saying I was right?" he teased her, thankful for the route the conversation had gone.

She shot him a look. "Thanks for making this easy."

He held up his hands as if it would deflect the attitude she was developing.

"Go on."

"I was trying to replace my feelings with sex. I don't think I would have regretted it if it happened. But it was better that I felt that than cover it."

He nodded his head. "Quinn, you don't have to thank me for that, I'm just glad you understand why I felt it best to wait."

"Oh no, I never said that." She leaned back in her chair now.

"I cannot understand why having sex is such a big deal to you. You don't strike me as a man without a lot of experience."

He laughed through his sudden change in heartrate.

"I don't sleep with a new woman every night if that's what you're insinuating, but you are right. I am not without experience."

"So why are you so hesitant with me Ian?" She lifted her eyebrow to him and put him on the spot. Ian could turn this into a fight to likely be revisited, or he could lie. Telling the truth was entirely out of the picture, especially when he wasn't quite sure what that was yet.

"Because Quinn, when I fuck you. I want to be the only man on your mind."

"You say that, but I don't get it."

He rolled her eyes. "Imagine you fuck me, and my mind is on another woman."

Quinn's mind automatically scattered to Jenna, to the way he entertained her flirtation. She'd likely be next for him if he ran into her again.

"I mean, as long as you didn't call me a different name, I don't think it'd be bad."

Her words struck him, they reached across the table and smacked him in the face. Making him further realize he was alone in this delusion.

He shrugged. "Maybe it's different for guys then."

"So how long am I going to be waiting?"

"You assume I'll be fucking you at all." His voice was wildly playful, but she still felt embarrassed.

"You're the one who-"

Ian's phone began to vibrate across the room. "Hold that thought."

She cut him a look as he sat down on the couch and fished his phone out of the cushions. He looked at the screen confused but answered the call anyway.