Page 37 of Hollow Trace

“The color just drained from your face.”

“Just thinking.”

She smoothed her hand along his torso, skirting the worst of the marks. “Are you going to tell me or do I have to beat it out of you?”

He chuckled. “And here I thought a tumble between the sheets would take the edge off those violent tendencies.”

“I recognize the look. I’ve been seeing the same one in the mirror for months.” She inched closer. “Talk to me.”

“I’m fine. Really. I’m just really glad you found me. That I’ve got you back.”

She frowned. “That doesn’t sound ominous at all.” She studied him for another thirty seconds, eyes narrowed, mouth pursed tight. “Did something happen recently?”

“Yeah. I lost the woman I love. Went on a bit of a spiral.”

Her mouth twitched, and he knew he’d already said too much. “How much of a spiral?”

“Are we gonna shower or just say fuck it, and sleep?”

“Quinn.” She moved with him when he stepped toward the shower. “Is that why you were visiting Brea? Because that’s been nagging in the back of my mind since the other night. Before Bralorne, you’d just taken a few weeks off with me, and you’re too dedicated to take more that quickly.”

He clenched his jaw, debating how much to tell her when the damn truth just slipped out. “Let’s just say, it wasn’t really a choice.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was told to reconsider my new policing style or get a new job.”

Scout coughed, staring at him, eyes wide, a bit more white than usual showing. “Noah put you on leave?” She looked away, and he could see all the pieces sliding together. “That’s why you haven’t asked to contact your detachment. They aren’t expecting you back any time soon.”

“Not for another week. Minimum.”

“Shit. What the hell were you doing?”

Quinn released a weary breath. “What do you think? I was hurt. Angry. And I let it color how I did my job.”

Her eyes softened, a few more tears pooling in the blue depths. “You took risks. That kind that could have gotten you killed.”

“Scout…”

“But not with others because I know you, Quinn, and you never would have risked someone else’s life. But yours…” She scrubbed her hand down her face. “God, I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault. I should have broken ranks. I should have told you. I⁠—”

He kissed her. Slid his hands into her hair, stepped into her body and slanted his mouth over hers, drinking in whatever else she was going to say because she was spiraling. Going down into an abyss that would steal part of her soul, just like it had taken his.

Except she’d stolen it back. Rescued him. Made him whole when he thought he’d be nothing but broken pieces for the rest of his life.

Scout’s hands landed on his wrists, holding him tight when he eased back, rested his forehead on hers. “I know why you did that.”

“Because you’re beautiful, and I’m so fucking in love with you I can’t see straight?”

Her eyes widened as her chin quivered. “We’ll go with your answer.” She swallowed, coughed, then nodded toward the shower. “Are we cleaning off so I can bring you to your knees or are you really tapping out on me?”

“Never.” He held her in place when she tried to shift. “We’re okay, right? And I’m not talking about the sex. I mean us. What I just said. Knowing I went off the rails. We’re good?”

“Other than making me love you even more…” She smiled. “We’re good. Better than good because you’re mine, Mountie. Best make peace with that.” She licked her lips. “Now, get that ass in the shower so I can do filthy things to you before I say fuck it, and just do them right here.”

“Were you always this bossy?”

He laughed when she shoved him, moving over to the shower while she grabbed a couple of towels. Steam billowed from the steady stream of water a minute later, the heat easing some of the tension in his shoulders as he stepped beneath the spray and gathered her against his chest