Free Shadow of Hope: Book 4 - Shadow Series by Barbara Goss

about an hour ago.”
    “Quinn,” Rose gently scolded him.  “It was a smile.”
    Rose and Quinn sat down. Violet hadn’t prepared to confide in them both, but then considering the nature of the problem, maybe Quinn’s input would be helpful.
    “I have a problem and I need to talk to someone,” Violet said.
    Quinn started to get up, but Violet stopped him. “Stay, Quinn.  You might be more help with this problem than Rose.”
    Violet started her story.  “I’ve been seeing Gavin, as you know, but there has never been any physical contact between us at all.  He’s never even held my hand.  He’s a very disciplined man.  He never tells me about his feelings or thoughts. Mainly he just talks facts.  In all the time I’ve known him, I still don’t know him.
    “I was attracted to him when I first saw him.” She turned to Rose, “He reminds me of our father, so much.  Anyway, we shared dinners when he was in town, but he never stayed after dropping me off, or ever initiated any romantic contact, at all. 
    “Then one night, I kissed his cheek to show my appreciation for the dinners and for allowing me to be on the camp team, and he acted very strange.  He told me never to kiss him again, in a very controlled but tense voice.”
    Violet looked at Quinn. “Gavin said that some men may not be able to handle kissing without going further, especially a man who’s been married, and been without a woman for some time.” 
    “Is that true, Quinn?”
    Quinn shook his head.  “No, it definitely isn’t true.  Most men have more control than that.  A kiss on the cheek?  Good grief!”
      “That’s not the whole story.  We were at the campsite, and he asked me if I wanted to see the caves along the beach.  I really did want to see them, so I let him lead me there.  For the first time, he held my hand.  I felt we’d finally gotten somewhere, romantically.  Then, I had to go and trip. He caught me, and in doing so, accidently touched my…my breast.”  She blushed at having to say that word in front of Quinn.
    Quinn simply nodded.
    ““I decided to ignore it, since it was accidental, but I could see it bothered him, and he looked like he was fighting a battle within himself.  I thought it was embarrassment at having touched me, so I simply changed the subject, and asked where the caves were.
    “He pulled me into an opening in the rocks, and before my eyes could even adjust to the darkness, he had me in his arms and he was kissing me—I mean, really kissing me.
    “I’ve had some passionate kisses from Miles, many a time, but this was so intense and frenzied, it was scary.  Then he groped me, pulled me down to the ground, and lay on top of me, still kissing me frantically, and still groping me everywhere, ignoring my shouts and cries.
    “I tried to push him off me, but he was too heavy.  I pushed again and he flew into the air and before I knew it, Miles had him pressed against the cave wall and was punching him.  I felt so humiliated, I ran back to the campsite, and later Miles brought me home.”
    “Oh!” Rose gasped. “Thank God for Miles!”
    “I’m sure Gavin would have ruined me if Miles hadn’t followed us and interceded.” Violet wiped the tears away that had rolled down her cheeks.  Just retelling the story had brought the terror back for her.
    Violet waited for input from Quinn, but he sat for a few moments without speaking. Finally, he said, “This man has a serious problem, Violet.  Stay away from him.”
    “What kind of problem, Quinn?” she asked.
    “I don’t know, some kind of control issue.  I’ve heard about men like him,” he said. “Sometimes women have it too, and as far as I know, there isn’t a name for it in men, but in women, it’s called nymphomania.”
    “Rapist!” Rose exclaimed.  “In men it’s called rapist, because that’s what would have happened to our Violet if Miles hadn’t rescued her.” Rose put her arm around Violet and hugged