Quinn hid out in the guest room of their apartment for the rest of the afternoon. He’d scrubbed himself raw in the shower, using an infernal spell to remove the last traces of Air’s scent from his skin.
It pained him to do that, like peeling off layers that he should be embracing, but right then? The reminder of what they’d done was too much. Maybe if he could get rid of his mate’s smell, the cold rejection wouldn’t hurt so fucking much.
Who was he fucking kidding?
The shower had taken a while. His fingers had completely pruned up by the time he shut off the scolding water.
Next came the rigorous drying with towels that, thankfully, didn’t smell like Air. Didn’t remind Quinn of him in the slightest, because his mate had painstakingly chosen them to match the room. Nope.
When he was done avoiding thinking about that? He’d sat down on the end of the guest bed, towel wrapped around his waist, because his clothes were beyond the door he’d been told he couldn’t enter.
Fucking great.
He sat preternaturally still as time blurred. Could have been an hour, maybe six. It hadn’t mattered. The craving to be near his mate would make him ache the same way regardless of the passage of time.
He’d listened intently. Trying to gauge what Air was doing. Eavesdropping on their bond to figure out if he was okay.
Cold.
Their link felt cold. Distant.
Aside from flickers of frustration and hurt, the bond was eerily silent.
It was absolute agony.
Quinn had been so preoccupied with listening out for Air that he completely missed the lair door opening and closing. The apartment door opening and closing. The soft footsteps that made their way along the hallway.
A gentle knock made him jump. He reached out with his senses; Calista.
Quinn opened the door, poked his head out. He frowned. She smiled up at him warmly.
“I thought I scented you in there. Are you okay?” she asked.
He glanced at Air’s door and then back at her.
“I’m fine.” She looked as if she didn’t believe him. He cleared his throat, trying to dislodge the lump that had formed there. Slid his eyes away and then met hers. They were full of knowing. “Could you check on him for me, though?”
She frowned, studying him.
“What’s going on with you two, Quinn?”
Quinn huffed, about to deny it, but Calista wasn’t stupid. She’d picked up on the atmosphere earlier. Could probably sense it right then, too.
“I did something...” He pursed his lips. “Something really fucking stupid.”
She narrowed her eyes and gave him the look. The one that said she could see right through his bullshit.
“Quinn! Seriously? It must have been pretty bad if you’ve been exiled to the spare room.”
He dropped his eyes to the floor, and Calista reached out, stroking a hand down the arm that hung loosely at his side.
“It was,” he murmured. He straightened up. “Anyway. He said he wants to be alone, but I think he just meant he doesn’t want me there.” His voice didn’t crack on that last word. Not at all. “Would you go to him? Just...be there? For me? Are you busy tonight?”
YOU ARE READING
Essence of Quinn Parts 3 & 4 (MxM)
FantasyMxM Follow up to Essence of Quinn Parts 1&2. Quinn must face his past to be able to move on with his future. He's overcome most of his demons since he was summoned by Secondo and he's gone up against destiny itself, but a past transgression will co...
