He'll come through

Chapter 10 - how can I get it so wrong?

Chapter 10

Lilah was wrapped spoon-like against Quinn her eyes closed but her mind reliving the last couple of hours. She couldn’t believe the things they’d done...she’d done. Her body felt bruised, but also well attended, he’d not left an inch unexplored, untasted, untouched...but then she could say the same about him. Blushing at the memory she closed her eyes again, her body craved sleep but she was curled up with this man and lust was still taking over her thoughts. Sighing she turned his wrist to look at the time, still only late evening. They were on a different time zone after being up all night.  Dropping his hand she tried to sleep, but knew it would evade her.

Sliding out of his arms and the bed, she slipped on his t-shirt; it made her almost decent, then made for the bathroom. Once she’d emptied her bladder, washed her face and cleaned her teeth she felt better. Back in the room, she spotted the half drunk champagne and retrieved a glass. Glugging a mouthful, she picked at the fruit so elegantly arranged in the bowl, she was suddenly ravenous. Grapes and apples were flanked with dates, sticky and sweet, as well as figs and dried apricots...her favourite.

As she scoffed a few it was only then she spotted Quinn’s phone, tossed on the side table near the bed. She hadn’t contacted her mother, her father, they’d be worried sick. So without a further thought she picked up the phone and dialled the international number.

                “Hello?” the soft, gentle voice of her mother was like a zoom straight to the past and brought tears to her eyes. She was too absorbed in the familiarity of the sound to notice the lack of concern, fear or worry.

                “Mum? It’s me!” She offered.

                “Oh Dee-Lilah!” It was the way she always pronounced her name, and rather than hating it as she usually did, the term was endearing. Lilah closed her eyes as her mother continued. “How are you? How is it out in the sun? You’re a few days early calling us; this is such a pleasant surprise.”

They didn’t know!  The words hit her straight between the eyes, she’d been off the radar for two and a half days, had ransoms set for her release, and no one had told her parents. No scratch that, GAVIN hadn’t told her parents! The bastard.

Opening her eyes she saw Quinn flat on the bed but now turned to face her, his eyes watching her intently.

                “Yeah I’m fine Mum, just at a loose end, so thought I’d give you a quick call. It’s hot, the sun is always shining. How’s Dad? The dogs?” She met Quinn’s eyes as she listened to small talk for a few moments, then bade her goodbyes, promising to call on the weekend. Hanging up the call she hung her head.

                “Why didn’t you tell her?” He hopped out of bed, completely unbothered at the fact he was naked and strode towards her, catching her just as she crumpled in to a heap.

                “They didn’t know...” she breathed, “you were right! He hadn’t....”

Quinn shook his head placing a finger over his lips, “the man’s a bastard Blondie, I don’t know what his game is...But why didn’t you tell your parents, your mother...”

She smiled a wobbly smile at him emotions ravaging her face, “because I know I’ll be home, that you’ll get me there, and I don’t see the point of scaring them. Do you?”

Quinn felt a surge of emotion for this woman, she was so unselfish, so trusting, so beautiful, “you’re right on both counts, I promised, didn’t I?”  

                “How did I become such a bad judge of character?” Suddenly she was so self critical.

He kissed her nose then broke into a smile, “you got me right eventually! So you’re not that bad!”