Bayside Queens

25.

25.

CJ

It was late, almost 12 AM. I was only awake because I've been having trouble sleeping recently. If I hadn't been, I wouldn't have heard his quiet knock on my apartment door. I immediately got up from bed, rushing for the front door.

I pulled it open, only wearing a thin pair of boxers and wide, hopeful eyes. Quinn was standing on the other side of the doorway, bag slung across his back, oversized sweatshirt hanging from his torso. His skin was tinted pink from the cold.

"Quinn," I breathed out, goose bumps arriving on my skin at the sound of his name on my lips.

He grinned up at me. His voice was a small, gentle whisper. "Merry Christmas, Carter."

Today—or what was left of today—was Christmas. I smiled back. "Merry Christmas, love. Come in," I stepped aside and allowed him to follow my instructions, taking his bag and placing it on the ground next to us. He pulled off his sweatshirt and I hung it on a coat rack that I had next to the door.

"How was your day?" he asked me, smiling a genuine smile. I automatically smiled back. His presence had this strange habit of elating my mood instantly. I had missed the smell of his skin when I buried my face in his neck; I missed the way he stole shy glances at me when he thought I wasn't looking. I just missed him. I hadn't seen him for a few days, the last time we spoke being that day we went to the zoo.

"It was fine. I worked. How was Christmas at Viola's?"

Christmas at Viola's was always drab. She made us unwrap her gifts—hand knitted sweaters, scarves, and hats—and then take a group photo on the staircase in which we all had to look like we enjoyed one another's presence. Needless to say, the task was not always easy.

Quinn shrugged. "Sad."

Despite the fact he made it clear we weren't together, I instinctively ruffled his hair, allowing my hand to grip his neck in a comforting gesture. "I'm sorry, Quinny."

It was his first Christmas without Val. Tobias was being taken to the adoption agency tomorrow evening, so I was glad Quinn at least had his godson for the holiday.

Quinn sighed deeply. "I miss her so much."

His voice broke as he spoke, making me sick to my stomach. I pulled him into my chest and enveloped him in an embrace I hoped would comfort him. "I know," I told him softly, running my hands through his hair. "I know, baby."

He pulled away from me slowly, then took a deep breath and looked me dead in the eyes. His hands traveled from my torso and landed around my neck as he stared at me with this fierce determination I had never seen from him. It made my skin tingle and my body weep with nerves.

One of his hands fell down to my naked chest. He ran his fingers along my skin until he stopped, his fingers dusting right over my heart. I watched him as he watched his hands travel. A pit of desire formed deep in my stomach. The voice in the back of my head was wondering what happened to Quinn saying he would never forgive me.

His eyes slowly fell back on mine.

"I know it's only been two days since the zoo..." he trailed off, his eyes wandering, his cheeks pinkening. "But I missed you so much," he whispered the last part, causing my heart to jump in my chest. I wondered if he felt it. The pit in my stomach was back. What the hell had gotten into him? Asking me to stay the night after Val was one thing, but the direction this was headed had me whole-heartedly--but extremely pleasantly-- confused.

"I missed you too, Quinny." My voice was deep and husky and I really wished it wasn't, because the evidence of my longing only encouraged him further. He took a step, pressing his jeans against my bare legs, my crotch hitting his stomach as I was a bit taller than him. It still made me want to pick him up and throw him down on my bed.