QUINN AND I did make it through an entire game of pool before we left Sunny's.

What we didn't do was make it through that game without a handful of...intermissions.

It was just constant, the way I ached for her. And while I wanted to be hopeful that this feeling would change once I let myself have her the way I really wanted, the way we really wanted, I knew it was unlikely.

It was never going to be enough.

Which was a fucking problem.

Once we were back at the beach house, I led Quinn by the hand toward my room, ready to crawl under the covers with her, prop my knee up, and maybe drag her on top of me again. But I had one foot through the bedroom door when she tugged back on my hand, forcing me to spin around.

Wordlessly, Quinn pushed up on her tip-toes and brushed her lips over mine. It was a soft kiss. At first, anyway. And then she pressed me against the door frame and deepened the kiss, exploring my mouth with her tongue, letting it tangle with mine and setting my insides on fire for the millionth time tonight.

I cupped the back of her head with my free hand, fighting the urge to take control of the kiss. But almost as though Quinn could read my intent to pull her into the bedroom and pin her to the mattress so I could kiss her until we were lost in each other, she slipped her lips off of mine and took a step back.

She laughed when she looked up at me, the sweetest sound that made my stomach flip, even if it did confuse me.

"What?"

"Your face."

I lifted a brow.

"What about it?"

"Just the way you're glaring at me. It's kind of cute."

"It's not supposed to be cute, Castle," I grumbled as I settled my hands on her waist and pulled her closer to me again. "It's supposed to show you how disappointed I am that you stopped kissing me."

"I know." A soft giggle escaped Quinn's lips. "That's why it's cute. Everyone thinks you're moody and grumpy, but you just want kisses."

"That's not...entirely true." Regardless, I leaned down and dragged my lips over hers once. Twice. And then a third time before I murmured against her mouth. "I don't just want kisses from anyone. I want your kisses. I want you. And I guess since you're unaffected by my glare, I'll have to find another way to get what I want."

Quinn's lips curved; I could feel her smile against my frown. "You act like I haven't been giving you what you want all night long. Or did you already forget how you marked me with your cum?"

"I could never fucking forget that," I groaned, feeling suddenly dizzy at the rush of desire and arousal her words evoked. I could picture her so clearly, spread out on the pool table for me.

"You know...you could just try asking nicely," Quinn whispered, clearly amused with how much I was struggling. 

"Would that work?"

"You'll have to find out for yourself."

"Castle." I sighed, closing my eyes and breathing her in while she was still close. If she wanted to play little games, I'd gladly play them. Whatever made her smile. And laugh. And get her ass in my room. "Would you please come to bed with me so I can kiss you until you fall asleep?"

Quinn pressed a soft, delicate kiss to my lips that I thought might translate into the answer I wanted to hear, but then she backed away completely, moving out of reach.

"Very solid effort, Fletcher," she applauded, leaning against the wall on the opposite side of the hallway. "But I don't think that's a good idea."

I mimicked her, leaning my shoulder against the door frame. "And why not?"

"Because you need to rest." I opened my mouth to protest, but Quinn raised a hand to cut me off. "I know your knee's been hurting you all night. I know you didn't want me to notice, but I noticed. And you know what else I know?"

I released a ragged breath. "What, Castle?"

"That you're not going to give into what we're both craving until you're one hundred percent sure that you can give me your all. That you can give me everything. Because that's the kind of man you are, August. I've seen it on the field, and I've seen it off of it. You always want to give everyone your all, and I'm sure it won't be any different in the bedroom. I can tell it's killing you that you can't get down on your knees right now."

"Absolutely killing me," I admitted, my voice dropping as I thought about what I would do if my damn knee didn't feel like it was about to give out. I hadn't realized until this minute just how much it ached from today and from not resting as much as I should have. "I'd be between your legs in a heartbeat."

Quinn flushed. Even in the darkness, I watched color blossom on her cheeks, and it was so fucking pretty. She knew how to match me in every way. She was a strong-willed, sharp-tongued, intelligent woman. But there was also so much about her that was soft and sweet and fucking delectable. And I loved how it was so easy for me to see both sides of her.

She cleared her throat. "So I think the best thing for you right now is to go to bed and get some rest without any distractions or...temptations."

Her gaze bore into me from across the dark hallway, her tone hard and unyielding despite the flush on her face, telling me she'd put up a good fight before giving in. And she was right about one thing; she was one hell of a temptation.

"What if I promised not to touch you," I tried. Because as much as I understood what she was saying and why she shouldn't follow me to bed, I didn't want to sleep without her. Not after getting to experience how amazing it was to wake up with her in my arms.

"I don't think you can keep that promise, Fletcher," she argued with a smirk.

"If you told me you didn't want me to touch you, I wouldn't," I said seriously. "I'd never do anything without your consent."

Quinn sighed, tipping her head back against the wall and looking at me beneath her lashes. "But that's the problem."

"The problem is I'm respectful?" I chuckled, and Quinn's lips quirked in a slight smile.

"No, the problem is I never said I didn't want you to touch me. And I don't think I ever could." Her head rocked from one side to the other in a slight shake. "I have no idea how to resist you, August. Which is why we're both going to bed alone tonight."

"Fine." I blew a breath out between my lips. "But in the future, Castle, don't tease me with a kiss like that and then expect me to let you walk away so easily."

Another blush spread across her skin. "It was a goodnight kiss."

"You were kissing me like you wanted me to take you to bed, not like you wanted to go to sleep."

"Sorry." Quinn flashed me a shy, bashful smile that told me she really meant it. "It's hard not to get carried away with you."

"Oh, hell." I dragged a hand through my hair. "You should probably go, baby. Before I change my mind and just say fuck it all."

Quinn hesitated, if only for a few seconds. I could tell she couldn't decide if walking away was what she wanted, but after a torturous moment, she pushed off the wall and strode down the hallway toward the guest bedroom.

Maybe it was all in my head, but every movement she made seemed seductive and sensual like she was beckoning me to follow her, and it took all of my self-control not to. Especially when she stopped at her bedroom door and peeked over her shoulder. Her lashes fluttered, and her gaze was bright, shining in the night. Her plush lips curved knowingly, taunting me with how full and freshly kissed they looked.

"Night, August," she whispered before disappearing into the room and shutting the door behind her.

|||

As much as I hated to admit it, Quinn was probably right. I needed to get my priorities straight and unfuck my knee, and that meant restricting physical activities and movements that might put too much stress on it. And also getting some rest. I wouldn't be good to anyone—her included—if I let this injury drag out.

So, even though I hated any kind of separation when it came to Quinn, we slept separately for the next couple of nights. And during the day, I spent a lot of my time in my gym, stretching and putting all my physical therapy experience to good use. Between that and a regiment of ice and Ibuprofen, I quickly noticed an improvement.

But while I felt like I was on the mend, Quinn's mood seemed to be declining. She'd spent the last few days deep into her work—at least, that was what it looked like every time I passed her, sitting at my kitchen table or on the deck outside with her laptop.

The same laptop that she kept glaring at like she wanted to chuck it across the room.

I stood in the kitchen with my fresh bag of ice, watching Quinn tap her pen repeatedly on the table as she glared at her computer screen. I wasn't sure she even knew I was behind her; she was so zoned into doing....well, nothing.

I would have thought that writing involved more...writing. But every time I saw Quinn this week, she was just...staring.

She must have...what did they call it again?

"Writer's block?" I asked when it came to me.

Quinn half-jumped out of her chair before spinning to turn her glare from the computer to me.

"Didn't mean to startle you," I said, keeping my tone gentle because she looked scared half to death.

She sucked in before quickly shutting her computer. "It's okay."

I raised a brow, walking around the kitchen island toward her. "You know, I'm right here if you need a little inspiration. Considering you are writing about me."

Quinn smiled, but the warmth didn't quite reach her eyes. "Trust me, you've provided more than enough inspiration."

"Yeah?" I leaned against the back of the sofa, struggling not to ask for more details.

"Yeah," she laughed. "But right now, I feel more suited to write a smutty book than a sports report."

I shrugged, barely restraining a smirk. "I'd read that book."

Castle rolled her eyes at me, but her voice grew quieter. "I'd never write about you like that. I'm learning there are things about you I'd really rather keep to myself." She started to absent-mindedly tap her pencil again. "I think that might be part of the problem, actually."

My chest tightened. Fuck, what was she doing to me?

All the dirty talk and fucking around was one thing. That destroyed me plenty, but this? Hearing Quinn imply what she just did? That was going to fuck me over in a way far greater than sleeping together ever would.

"I'll figure it out, though." Quinn gave me a forced smile. "Don't worry about it."

I nodded.

Even though I'd never been more worried about anything.

☀️

a/n:

as always, thanks for reading!
xoxo amelie