Guns and Roses

Fifty Eight ~ Rya

Quinn winces as I rub aloe vera after sun on his burnt shoulders. He's groaning into the pillow he's mashed his face into while I sit on his lower back. As he squeezes the pillow, the newly defined muscles in his arms flex and I find myself staring.

My training sessions have not only given him muscle definition but I drag my finger over the bruises healing up his side. Sometimes I think I go too hard on him but he doesnt complain so I dont hold back.

After our latest session, when I kicked him repeatedly until his reflexes finally kicked in and he stopped me by grabbing my foot or pushing it away, these bruises had appeared and I still feel guilty about it.

I've decided to leave Switch to most of the training recently, he can be more gentle than I can while still getting the same results.

I would stop the sessions completely but I'm not always going to be around and now that Quinn's going to be running Eden hes going to be spending a lot of time by himself and if he was attacked, I want him to be able to defend himself.

Two years as Koroleva. Two years since I fully embraced my role in this business and he's still here. He's setting up his life here to be close to me and I couldn't be happier.

He fidgets beneath me so I climb off of him and let him sit up. Ever since we arrived at the villa in Portugal last week, it's been amazing. I've not taken a single phone call or had any meetings with anyone. I've not had to worry about drug shipments or profits or people in debt to us.

The only thing I've had to worry about is Quinn and his poor delicate skin that is being viciously attacked by the sun's rays.

"You're thinking," he says suddenly.

I smile, "I'm always thinking."

He shakes his head, "No, you're properly thinking. Something's on your mind."

I've spent years learning to perfect the art of building up my emotional defences but my walls are made of glass when it comes to Quinn.

"I just dont want to go home tomorrow," I say. The thought of returning to the madness is torturing me. To come away I just had to put everything on hold which means I now have to do it all when I go back.

I have a meeting with Santiago and Caruso which is always a fun time. Then in a week I have to head to Russia for a month to speak with Nikita Petrov about the business over there. Shes the only Petrov left and I think she prefers it that way. I most certainly do.

Quinn also cant come with me because he's starting his ownership of Eden at the same time so I'm going to have to deal with it all alone.

"Hey," a hand takes mine and Quinn presses his lips against the back of it, "We're not home yet. We've still got most of today and all night," he grins up at me, "How about we pull an all-nighter, order in a pizza and watch movies?"

I smile down at him. He's not perfect but I've never met anyone who is. He's pretty much my opposite but I think that's what makes us work so well. Opposites attract, I guess.

I stroke his red hair back off of his burnt face. Where the skin isn't red raw, freckles have appeared on his skin and I love them. I should bring him here more often. "Why did you stay? After all the craziness, why didn't you run?"

He shrugs and sits up against the headboard beside me, "Where would I have went? My life had already fallen apart and strangely, the craziness seemed to help me put it all back together. And, I like you."

I raise an eyebrow at him, "You stayed in a mafia house because you liked me?"

He laughs, "Over the past few years I've learned something about myself."

"And that is?" I ask.

"I'm attracted to trouble."

"So that's what I am?"

He laughs and looks straight into my eyes. When he does this I always feel like he's staying right into my soul and at first I didn't like it but now I find some sort of comfort in it.

"You remember our deal?" I ask him, my voice unexpectedly shaky.

His brows furrow and he takes my face in his hands, "Rya, I promise that I'll tell you if it gets too much. How many times do I have to tell you that it wont?"

I try to put a smile on my face, "Just once more, please."

He sighs and presses his forehead into mine, his skin is roasting hot against mine and I cant help but think about how much this must be hurting him with his burnt head. "I'm staying right here," He tells me.

We've had plenty of fights, usually about stupid things. Stress has made me a horrible person to be around lately and I've been extremely irritable.

I dont think he's ever shouted at me but Quinn doesnt get angry like that. His anger is quiet and I never know how to work with it. I explode when I'm angry but he just sits there with a blank expression.

I can feel myself getting frustrated sitting here like this. I can feel the rage building up inside of me and threatening to bubble over. I still cant understand why my brain wont cooperate with me and accept his answer when he says he's not leaving.

Quinn says it's not my fault. That Mr Timms might have been right and that there is something that's not quite right in my head. With my background it's not exactly surprising either.

"Hey," he says and squeezes my hands, "Its okay."

I shake my head, "No its not, I'm ruining our last day."

He rubs my arms and lifts my chin to look into his eyes, "You're allowed to feel things, Rya. I know it feels shit but that's life."

We sit like that for about an hour. We just talk, not about anything important but its something to fill the silence. The conversation leads to the shop and I watch his eyes light up and he tells me his plans.

I may be putting some money into refurbishing the place and making it his dream. His grandfather created something beautiful but the funds weren't there to make it everything he wanted, especially after the break in. Now they can do whatever they like with it.

I may not be able to have the life with the perfect family and a white picket fence but I've got what I've got.

I can work with that.

Theres only one chapter left!