A Broken Soul
A Broken Soul (the Pembrooke #3)
Author: Jessica Prince
Quinn
"SO, WHAT? YOU'RE not talking to me now?"
At the sound of Addison's soft, sad voice I felt my white-knuckle grip on the steering wheel begin to loosen. Tonight was supposed to be special, memorable. But instead of a romantic dinner with my wife, we ended up arguing. I went silent, turning into the brooding, moody asshole I knew I could be when I was upset, and in return, she got upset, never liking it when I lost myself in my own head.
"How long are you going to give me the silent treatment this time, Quinn?"
I sighed and took my eyes off the dark, rain-slick road for just a moment. Addison's gorgeous blue eyes glimmered in the lights coming off the dashboard, and just like every goddamn time I looked at her, a rush of undeniable love enveloped me. "I'm not giving you the silent treatment, baby. I just don't understand why you won't even think about it."
"Because I'm not ready," she stated, turning her beautiful face away and staring out the windshield. "I love you, Quinn, you know that. You're the love of my life-"
"And you're mine," I interrupted. "That's why I want to try for another baby. Sophia's getting older now. Don't you think she'd want a little brother or sister?" Taking one hand off the wheel, I reached over and laid my palm on top of Addy's clenched fist. As always, the tension melted away and her grip loosened, allowing me to thread my fingers through hers and hold her hand tightly. That was just one of the many great things about our marriage. Even when we were arguing, we couldn't help but show each other unconditional love. "We've always talked about having a big family. I thought that's what you wanted."
"I do! I want a big family like we talked about. Just … maybe not right at this minute," she stated hesitantly. "We're still young, Quinn. We have years ahead of us. Can't we just enjoy what we've got right now?"
My shoulders tensed and my back went straight as I stared out the windshield, the headlights casting a glow along the dark, tree-lined road. Anxiety began to claw at my insides at the thought that Addison could possibly have any regrets in our life together. "What are you saying?" My voice was hard when I spoke. "Do you wish we'd waited?"
"No!" From the corner of my eye I saw Addy turn in her seat, fully facing me as she held on to my hand with both of hers. "No, not at all! Quinn, I love our life. I love you and Sophia more than anything. But we're still young. I want to enjoy our time together, just the three of us, for a little while longer before we start filling our house full of kids. That's all. But I do want to fill our house full of kids, I swear."
Even though her words helped to ease my worries, I still needed to be positive. "You sure?"
Her voice went low as she leaned across the console and pressed her lips against my ear. "Absolutely." Christ, I loved when her voice got husky like that. I felt myself getting hard behind the zipper of my slacks as thoughts of what I'd do to her when we got home began to run through my mind. "And in the meantime, I think we should practice … " Her teeth grazed my neck, sending sparks of pleasure through my body. "A lot. Starting tonight. Sophia's with my parents and we have the whole house to ourselves. I think we should practice in as many rooms as possible. Starting with the kitchen."
I groaned, struggling to stop my eyes from rolling back in my head as her hand slid down my chest and between my thighs. "Christ, I love you," I grunted.
She giggled into my ear. "I love you too, Quinn. More than anything. Drive faster."
I didn't have to be told twice. My foot began to press on the accelerator, and I warned, "As much as I love what you're doing baby, you want to make it home in one piece to live out that kitchen fantasy, I suggest you stop."
Addy's laughter when she sat back in her seat warmed my chest. I loved when she laughed, it was one of the best sounds in the world. Second only to the sound of our daughter calling me Daddy. For the millionth time since Addison came into my life, I thought to myself that I was the luckiest bastard in the world.
Glad that we'd moved past the tense conversation from earlier and we were back to normal, I turned and smiled at my wife. "Love you, sweetheart." Grabbing her hand again, I lifted it and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. She smiled brightly back at me.
"Love you too." Her gaze turned back to the windshield and her eyes got big just seconds before she shouted, "Quinn, watch out!"
Author: Jessica Prince
Quinn
"SO, WHAT? YOU'RE not talking to me now?"
At the sound of Addison's soft, sad voice I felt my white-knuckle grip on the steering wheel begin to loosen. Tonight was supposed to be special, memorable. But instead of a romantic dinner with my wife, we ended up arguing. I went silent, turning into the brooding, moody asshole I knew I could be when I was upset, and in return, she got upset, never liking it when I lost myself in my own head.
"How long are you going to give me the silent treatment this time, Quinn?"
I sighed and took my eyes off the dark, rain-slick road for just a moment. Addison's gorgeous blue eyes glimmered in the lights coming off the dashboard, and just like every goddamn time I looked at her, a rush of undeniable love enveloped me. "I'm not giving you the silent treatment, baby. I just don't understand why you won't even think about it."
"Because I'm not ready," she stated, turning her beautiful face away and staring out the windshield. "I love you, Quinn, you know that. You're the love of my life-"
"And you're mine," I interrupted. "That's why I want to try for another baby. Sophia's getting older now. Don't you think she'd want a little brother or sister?" Taking one hand off the wheel, I reached over and laid my palm on top of Addy's clenched fist. As always, the tension melted away and her grip loosened, allowing me to thread my fingers through hers and hold her hand tightly. That was just one of the many great things about our marriage. Even when we were arguing, we couldn't help but show each other unconditional love. "We've always talked about having a big family. I thought that's what you wanted."
"I do! I want a big family like we talked about. Just … maybe not right at this minute," she stated hesitantly. "We're still young, Quinn. We have years ahead of us. Can't we just enjoy what we've got right now?"
My shoulders tensed and my back went straight as I stared out the windshield, the headlights casting a glow along the dark, tree-lined road. Anxiety began to claw at my insides at the thought that Addison could possibly have any regrets in our life together. "What are you saying?" My voice was hard when I spoke. "Do you wish we'd waited?"
"No!" From the corner of my eye I saw Addy turn in her seat, fully facing me as she held on to my hand with both of hers. "No, not at all! Quinn, I love our life. I love you and Sophia more than anything. But we're still young. I want to enjoy our time together, just the three of us, for a little while longer before we start filling our house full of kids. That's all. But I do want to fill our house full of kids, I swear."
Even though her words helped to ease my worries, I still needed to be positive. "You sure?"
Her voice went low as she leaned across the console and pressed her lips against my ear. "Absolutely." Christ, I loved when her voice got husky like that. I felt myself getting hard behind the zipper of my slacks as thoughts of what I'd do to her when we got home began to run through my mind. "And in the meantime, I think we should practice … " Her teeth grazed my neck, sending sparks of pleasure through my body. "A lot. Starting tonight. Sophia's with my parents and we have the whole house to ourselves. I think we should practice in as many rooms as possible. Starting with the kitchen."
I groaned, struggling to stop my eyes from rolling back in my head as her hand slid down my chest and between my thighs. "Christ, I love you," I grunted.
She giggled into my ear. "I love you too, Quinn. More than anything. Drive faster."
I didn't have to be told twice. My foot began to press on the accelerator, and I warned, "As much as I love what you're doing baby, you want to make it home in one piece to live out that kitchen fantasy, I suggest you stop."
Addy's laughter when she sat back in her seat warmed my chest. I loved when she laughed, it was one of the best sounds in the world. Second only to the sound of our daughter calling me Daddy. For the millionth time since Addison came into my life, I thought to myself that I was the luckiest bastard in the world.
Glad that we'd moved past the tense conversation from earlier and we were back to normal, I turned and smiled at my wife. "Love you, sweetheart." Grabbing her hand again, I lifted it and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. She smiled brightly back at me.
"Love you too." Her gaze turned back to the windshield and her eyes got big just seconds before she shouted, "Quinn, watch out!"