Accident Prone

Bri looked at him and defiance flashed in her eyes. "Look who is talking. You are changing from stalking me to seducing me to ignoring me. I don"t know what to think."

Quentin shook his head. "My tactics are changing because no matter what I do, you are running away. But my intention never changed. I told you on the first night we met that I don"t want just to hook up with you. The moment I laid my eyes on you, my core shifted and I knew that you are different from any other girl who entered my life. I am fascinated with you and I want us to give our best attempt at a relationship. A real one where we will go on dates and not see other people; a relationship where we will share our hopes and dreams and open up to possibilities of something long term. And sure, we might crash and burn but we don"t know unless we try. Since we met, I didn"t look at any woman other than you. I showed you that I can give you what you need without suffocating you and… I don"t know what else to do."

Quentin looked at Brianna"s blank face for a few seconds, while trying to control the raging emotions within him. His expression shifted slightly before he stood up.

"I said what I had. You can stay here until Sunday or as long as you wish, and if you are uncomfortable around me, I will leave."

Brianna watched Quentin walk into his bedroom and she jolted from her seat when the door closed behind him.

Her gaze fell on the mug with half-finished cold coffee while Quentin"s words rang in her mind: "A real relationship… dates… long term… crash and burn… possibilities..."

The idea of tying herself to a man like Quentin terrified Brianna and she wanted to run away but for some reason, she couldn"t because she knew that if she leaves now, Quentin will not look for her anymore.

The thought of not seeing him again terrified her more than the prospect of a relationship. And the possibility of meeting him again while he ignores her and acts as nothing happened between them was suffocating.

Brianna took a deep breath and asked herself, "what am I doing?"

She does not know if she wants a relationship with Quentin. She never wanted a relationship with anyone. The only thing she ever wanted was her freedom, from everything. And the fact that she can"t stay away from Quentin is tormenting.

In the bedroom…

Quentin stood by the window, leaning on the frame, and staring blankly at the marina and the Lake Union which is glistening in the morning sun.

He wondered, what is next? The intense attraction between them is undeniable and he fought against every cell in his body through the night in order not to go into the room where Brianna is and to calm down these internal screams of suffering which are craving for her proximity.

Quentin wanted to show her that the next move is on her. After all, he is out of moves. Well, maybe he has few more left, but they are useless if Brianna keeps on running away from her feelings.

Part of him regretted his little speech in the dining room. He was harsh. What if she leaves? He sighed at the thought that the probability of her leaving his high. She has a lot of pride and a full head of stubbornness, which are enabling her to stay away... and probably leave again.

Quentin rubbed his chin nervously while contemplating going back and telling her that hookups are enough. But he decided against that because he knows that just hookups are NOT enough, not with Brianna. How would that end? When she finds another guy? No matter how openminded Quentin is, he is not willing to share Brianna with anyone. She is his fiery G.o.ddess and this is all or nothing game because bits and pieces are not enough.

Quentin was startled when he felt Brianna"s arms around him and her face pressing on his back.

He wondered if she knocked and he didn"t hear because he was lost in his thoughts. And he wondered, why is she here? Is it possible that her walls collapsed under the pressure of him turning his back on her? He didn"t dare harbor such hopes.

Quentin decided not to say or do anything. After all, she came to him, so she should explain herself. It will save him from jumping into conclusions and making a mistake.

"I am scared of relationships and things like long-term…", Brianna said after some time. "They are not my thing."

Quentin was confused by her words. Didn"t she hear what he said in the dining room? He reminded himself not to give in. He needs to stay firm, and if it backfires... he will cry about it later, on his own. "Why are you here then?"

"I am attracted to you to the point of seeing you wherever I look. You are an addiction and staying away from you makes my body ache."

Quentin felt that Brianna is rubbing her face on his back and he closed his eyes while a smile crept on his face. Finally, she is opening up. He reminded himself to stay composed.

"So, what do you suggest?", he asked coolly while supressing glee in his voice.

Brianna hesitated for some time before answering: "How about we take it slow? Instead of saying "long-term", can we say, "this week" and see how it goes? Small increments are not so scary."

Quentin had a mix of emotions about this. As much as he is eager to take whatever Brianna is willing to give him, he felt that there is a crucial loophole that will allow her to run away again and this time with an excuse.

"Bri, relationships don"t come with an expiration date."

Her fingers tightened against his chest before she responded: "Not an expiration. More like a renewal date."

Quentin didn"t see a difference. "And if we don"t renew it?"

"Relationships should be mutual. If both of us want to continue, then we will renew it."

Quentin was not sure what to think about this logic. Isn"t this how any relationship goes? If a couple reaches the point where it"s not working for either of them, they will break up. But he didn"t want to be picky about the wording. Brianna approached him and she said that she is willing to give them a chance (in small increments) and he will take it. Of course, he will take it because his resolve crumbled from the moment he realized that she entered his bedroom.

Quentin placed his hands over hers which rested on his chest and pulled them up. He kissed each of her palms before turning to face her.

Brianna"s heart was thumping violently, and she was confident that she is about to have a heart attack or at least pa.s.s out because this can"t be healthy.

She saw Quentin smiling and leaning closer, touching her chin lightly before giving her the lightest kiss she ever had, and yet it lingered on to the point of her opening her eyes to confirm that it"s really over.

Her disappointment mixed with confusion was rising with each second he didn"t come down for another kiss. Shouldn"t the situation heat up to the point of melting as the two of them indulge in carnal pleasures? She is heated up and ready for a wild ride only Quentin can provide her with. But it seems that Quentin has some other ideas.

Brianna wondered, why is he only looking at her with his endlessly deep dark eyes and a seductive smile plastered on his handsome face?

"Now what?", Brianna asked.

Quentin shrugged. "Do you want to continue breakfast? You didn"t eat much. Or you want to go out? Since we are dating, we should go on a date."

Brianna"s mind jolted at the words "dating" and "a date". How can he use them so casually? But she accepted "the relationship", so she should expect some label, and "dating" is probably the most appropriate one.

Brianna frowned. Isn"t this the l.u.s.tful Quentin who can"t wait to get his hands on her? Or maybe her l.u.s.t is larger than his, but that does not matter, because this is not a compet.i.tion. Both of them are enjoying each other and there is no reason to delay. Doesn"t he know that she didn"t sleep with a man (other than him) since he visited her in her apartment in New York? Her body is screaming for a dose (more than one) of Quentin and there is a perfect bed right there! What breakfast? What date? "You are kidding, right?"

Quentin was not sure why she looks displeased. Is she trying to squirm about this dating-relationship thing? He was exasperated at this thought but he had to clarify: "Do you think I am kidding about us dating? I thought we agreed…"

"No!", Brianna interrupted him impatiently. There he goes, using that "dating" word again, and she will use it as well in order to tell him what is wrong. "About us going out on a date NOW."

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