Free Quinn I (Undaunted Men #1) by J.C. Cliff Page A

body heat comforts me the second I've sidled up to him. He reaches over me to zip up the side of our combined sleeping bags, encasing us both into one sleeping bag. He then settles back down, pulling me in against his muscled warmth. He firmly depresses my head, urging me to rest my head against his broad chest. I comply, resting my cheek against his steady heartbeat as he tries to comfort me. Kimber settles down at the bottom of our feet, and curls up in a ball. I relish the feel of both her and Quinn touching me; it's comforting.
    I’m still a long way off from being calm, but Quinn works hard to soothe my nerves, speaking soft words while he rubs the tense muscles on the back of my neck. So many things are racing through my mind all at once. I can’t believe I just dreamed about part of my fucked-up morning from yesterday, having to relive the horror in my sleep. I’ve never dreamt about real life events from the past before.
    “Come on, sweetheart,” Quinn soothes. “You’re still breathing erratically. As long as I’m here, no one is going to haunt you. I will keep them out of your dreams.” I nod my head into his chest, acknowledging him. He's working hard to calm me down.  
    I'm full of overwrought tension, and my fingers curl into a fist against his chest. “Please, don’t let me go,” I whimper, wishing he had a shirt on so I could twist it in my hands. I don’t know what to do with all this nervous, displaced energy.
    “Shh, baby, I’m not going anywhere,” he softly assures me. He takes my fidgety hand in his and holds it tightly against the center of his chest, stilling my movements. “I’m right here. Everything is going to be all right now.” The assurance and warmth of his voice washes over me, and the way his strength surrounds me, I begin to settle down. Being wrapped in his arms this way, he feels like a familiar lover, I don't perceive him to be the stranger he actually is.  
    My tense muscles begin to loosen, and as I steal a deep, calming breath, he murmurs over my head. I close my eyes and soak in the sound of his deep, rich, and self-assured voice. As I take solace in his arms, I foolishly tell myself Quinn is willing and very capable of keeping all my demons at bay. If only this were true. The steady rhythm of his beating heart becomes my focal point, and eventually I’m able to drift back to sleep.

Slowly rousing from a deep sleep, I wake to find myself in a heated tangle. I suck in a quick breath, realizing I’m in Quinn's sleeping bag. What the hell? My heart rate increases exponentially. I’m trapped, my back to his front, and all of his extremities are wrapped around me like an octopus. Even Kimber has taken up residence at the bottom of my feet, making it impossible for me to move.
    My limbs stay frozen as I lie here taking shallow breaths, thinking back to the moment during the night when this happened. Oh yeah, I remember now. Vince, Griffen, and the whole mess comes flooding back to me. A shiver rolls through me, the horrific memory of my nightmare having become my new reality.
    Quinn, for being a stranger, went above and beyond the call of duty last night. He came to my rescue in a heartbeat, shaking me awake, and was so sweet and attentive. I was a hyperventilating mass of nerves, and he worked extra hard at trying to calm me down.  
    Of course, it didn’t hurt that he was this ruggedly handsome, sexy man who was able to distract me from my woes. I distinctly remember his gentle caresses and soft words. His warm embrace throughout the night made me feel safe and secure. The odd thing is, he held me as if he genuinely cared, and God if I didn’t soak that up. It seems like forever since I had lain in a man's arms.  
    Slowly, I carefully slip my arm outside of the confines of the bag, trying not to disturb him. I fumble, searching for the zipper so I can quietly ease myself out. The second I feel the crisp morning air, which is cold and dewy on my arm, my body