Paragon

⊰❉⊱ 69 ⊰❉⊱

"The heavens grant us only one life, but through books, we live a thousand." 

- Godsgrave, Jay Kristoff

I had planned to tell her of the job I would consider. Of the new line of purpose that lay–for the most part–in this country. It was all so possible to slip back into the routine we had glimpsed at, her and I. Of dirty bars over a pool table and late nights in my apartment. Of over-explaining my existence and listening to her drunken slur over the phone in a bar she should never have been in. Travelling all over the world at short notice was exciting yes, but that was not building a life. It was running. But when I pushed open the door to my apartment I stepped on a package under the door as we walked in. Quinn didn't fail to notice the crumple of paper wrapping either and stared at the floor, not meeting my eyes. 

"Take a shower with me Fletcher." She announced, not even lingering on the item,  "–that can wait." She added, not needing to clarify the package in my hands. I was in no mood to argue with her.

I tossed it onto a side table and followed her into the bathroom she was now familiar with. She shrugged off her hoodie, showing off the lines of her shoulder blades as she did. 

There was that urgency in her eyes again. The one that thought I may vanish before her at a moment's notice. She took my hand in hers and walked us straight under the marble walk-in shower before letting the hot flow drench us both. My senses heightened once more as the steam caught her perfect scent and wrapped it tauntingly around me. I flexed my fingers into a fist and leant back against the cool stone.

I chuckled at her and glanced at the sports bra, continuing down to her legs. She dragged a hand to the back of her hair and slowly let it loose. I swallowed, watching the water stream down it. Rivers pouring down the sharp lines of her jaw, following her neck and down between the curves of her chest. She ripped her bra over her head without warning and shrugged off her remaining clothing that was keeping me sane.

I was calm on the surface but my teeth spoke of a different tale. 

She tilted her face up to the water and ran both her hands through her hair. A vision of the goddess of beauty stood before me, taunting every sense I had, presenting allure itself to me in the steamed confines of stone and glass–

I was nothing but a weak-willed mortal before Quinn Adams.

But there was a small smile on her lips. This show was for me and me alone. The touch of her was a promise. The feel of her was for the future...

"Are you provoking me, Adams?" I asked, in a voice much lower than either of us expected.

She paused the strokes of her hair momentarily before resuming and turned her back to me. The breath died in my throat as I beheld the glory of her bare back and the streams of glistening water flowing down it, all the way to the curves of her hips and the fullness of her–

"Is it working?" She asked innocently.

"More than you know." I got back, watching how dark, loose strands of her hair clung to the back of her neck–right where my lips should be.

Then she moved back. Right back. Flush against my body that was only protected by a drenched tank top and pair of shorts. The water only made everything feel heated. More sensitive. As if lit on fire–even with Elder status... I had no chance.

I felt every inch of her body pressed against me and my hands moved purely out of instinct to claim her hips. I caught the small inhale that came with it. Then she turned her head to the side to speak a breath away from my lips.