The Divorced Military Queen Awakens (by Sadie Baxter) novel Chapter 292

“That's impossible,” Quinn said, her refusal cutting clean. “What we had is over. Trust isn't a crack you fill with words. I don't want to spend my life guessing which sentence is the truth and which is the lie. But every time I see your face, I relive the video of Rowan's pleading eyes. I keep telling myself you weren't obliged to save him, yet—”

Her voice trembled, and she fought the urge to cry. “I can't make my heart believe it.”

“Then blame me, curse me, even hate me,” Julius pleaded, “just don't leave.”

“If anger is all that binds us, what would be the point?” Quinn asked. “You're resisting the breakup now because it's fresh. With time, the feeling will fade.”

“So you've already moved on?” he pressed.

Quinn's fingers curled into her palms. In a voice that fought to stay steady, she said, “Yes. I have.”

Shadow gathered behind his eyes. “So you'll meet other men? You honestly think whatever suitor Laura digs up will be better than me? For every man she introduces, I'll destroy one—and I can make her—”

“Julius Whitethorn!” Quinn's shout cracked through the room. “Touch my friend and I will never forgive you. Laura was drunk, tossing out words. I'm not interested in meeting anyone new, but—”

Her eyes blazed as she continued, “If you harm Laura, that line will never uncross.”

He let out a short, bitter laugh. “You already don't forgive me. What difference does one more sin make?”

“Then you will hurt her?” Quinn's tone went glacial.

He ignored the question. “Eat the cake first. It's my birthday.” With an almost ceremonial firmness, he nudged the plate closer.

Quinn drew a deep breath, accepted the plate, took a single bite, then handed it back. “Satisfied?”

“Too little,” he murmured. Bowing his head, he scooped a cloud of frosting onto his tongue, then seized her chin and crashed his mouth onto hers.

Quinn shoved at his chest, but his arms locked around her like steel cable.

The sweet cream flowed from his mouth into hers; she swallowed only because there was no space left to breathe.

She landed punch after punch against his ribs, yet he clung tighter, kissing her with desperate fury.

Quinn knew her blows were far from gentle. He absorbed each one in silence, determined not to let go. Remembering the three fingers she had already broken, she finally let her fists fall.

Given enough time, he'll have to accept that we're over.

Bang!

Absurdly, even the pain she left behind felt precious to him.

He let his fingers drift over the tender mark, then lifted his wrist and pressed a kiss to the sandalwood bracelet he wore.

“Quinnie, this breakup? I don't acknowledge it.”

The next morning at work, Laura leaned over Quinn's desk and whispered, “So, how did things end with Julius after I left? He didn't do anything to you, did he?”

After all, when Julius stormed into the private room yesterday, he had radiated the unhinged energy of a man on the edge.

“Nothing serious. I went to his place and shared a slice of cake with him, that's all.”

Against her will, the memory of his sudden, bruising kiss surfaced. Julius was right about one thing. Quinn still loved him. If that feeling were truly dead, she would have kept hitting him until he let go.

Love is never something you set down just because you say so. I talked as though I were free of him, but the truth is I'm not. Yet I also know that right now, being with Julius is impossible.