Stroke of Luck - Opal Carew Page 0,71

loved him, he might be able to convince her that he would change. That he’d be faithful to her. Because sometimes love is blind.

April shifted again, then rolled toward him. Her hands glided over his naked chest, sending tremors of need through him, then she snuggled in close and sighed. He closed his arms around her, unable to resist.

But when her lips trailed across his skin in soft kisses, he stiffened.

“Is something wrong?” she murmured.

“Do you even know whose arms you’re in right now?” He rolled away from her. “Do you even care?”

Fuck, she’d just told another man that she loved him. Sure, it was in her dream, but that didn’t make Quinn feel any less rejected. In real life, she had chosen Maurice over him once, and it looked like she was going to do it all over again. She was going to break his heart all over again.

She stared at him, confusion in her eyes. “I don’t understand.”

He just shook his head and pushed himself from the bed, needing to get away from her.

20

April watched Quinn go, wondering if she should go after him. She glanced at Austin uncertainly. The moonlight washed across his face, and strands of his sandy-brown hair curled over his forehead. But his eyes were closed.

Hesitantly, she shifted on the bed, but his hand grasped hers.

“I don’t know what started all of that,” he said, his voice raspy from sleep, “but I suggest you let him stew for a bit. He probably had a bad dream that put him in a mood. Better to see how he is in the morning.”

She lay down facing him. “I’m worried that maybe he’s jealous. He seems to like the three of us being together, but … I don’t know. Maybe he doesn’t like that I like it so much.” She bit her lip. “Maybe his suggestion that you two share me was supposed to be a punishment of sorts.”

“Do you think it’s a punishment being with me?” His tone was serious, but there was a teasing glitter in his teal eyes.

“No, of course not. I’m really enjoying what we’re all sharing together. But I was nervous at first.”

He slid his arm around her waist and leaned forward to kiss her lightly. “I think the two of us sharing you is a huge turn-on for him, so I wouldn’t fret about it. If it’ll make you feel better, though, I’ll talk to him.”

“I don’t want to do anything to hurt your friendship.”

He pulled her close to his hard body and stroked her hair. “Don’t worry. Everything’s going to work out fine.”

She relaxed against him, listening to his steady heartbeat. Letting it relax her. But she couldn’t help gazing back at the door, hoping Quinn would return soon.

* * *

“Hey, sleepyhead. Time to get up.”

April opened her eyes and stared bleary-eyed at Quinn’s cheerful face as he stared down at her. Sunlight filled the room, and she blinked a few times.

“It’s a beautiful day, and I think we should go for a swim,” he said.

He wore his swim trunks, leaving his sculpted chest and arms naked to her appreciative view.

He pulled the covers off her. Sometime during the night, she’d pulled on one of the guys’ T-shirts. Quinn scooped her up and carried her into the living room, then outside to the pool.

“There she is.” Austin sat on the side of the pool, his legs dangling in the water.

Was Quinn going to throw her in? She couldn’t help smiling, happy that he’d gotten past whatever was bothering him last night, at least for now. Maybe Austin had talked with him.

Instead of tossing her into the water, Quinn walked down the steps with her still in his arms. She clung tighter to his neck.

Quinn laughed. “Don’t worry. The water’s warm.”

She rested her head on his shoulder. “I’m not worried. Not when I’m with you.”

His gaze washed over her face, his eyes looking troubled for an instant, then he smiled again.

She felt the water on her backside, then climbing up her body until she was immersed. Quinn lowered her legs in the water and took her hand, guiding her to follow him as he swam to the deep end, toward Austin. Once there, Quinn rested his elbow on the side of the pool. She tread water beside him.

Quinn wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her tightly to his body, then captured her lips. His tongue glided into her mouth and stroked. Her heart stammered at the delightfully possessive kiss,