Catalyst (Chain Reaction, #1)

by Aurora Crane

Will nudged him a bit harder this time. It wasn’t that he couldn’t grow a beard; it just took a while, and the in-between stage was a little horrifying.

More than one? Was this a Sinclair trait? He had some questions he wanted to ask Riley.

“Us?” Peyton asked in amusement. “You're almost thirty.” “Don't say such filth,” Will said. “That's two whole years away. Don't age me, Peyton, it's rude.” “Sorry.”

He grinned at Quinn. “Minty fresh. Want to taste?” “Nice try.” Right. Because Quinn didn't really want to kiss Will. He just wanted Peyton. And Sebastian. And Will was like the hanger-on-er. The plus-one he had to deal with.

Ouch my heart 🥺

He’d been so in love, he’d drowned in it when Quinn had broken his heart.

Oof 🥺🥺🥺

Quinn was a warmth all on his own, a shining beacon among the darkness in the world. And Sebastian hadn't been good enough for him.

Quinn could not believe they had gone to a dead guy’s apartment to look around, and he’d come out with a dog. Between that and the three men that were occupying his thoughts, this week was turning into one of the weirdest he’d ever experienced.

“So the pants did come off!” “Do you need an orgasm, Peyton? Do we need to take you into the bedroom?” Quinn asked. Will cackled. “Fuck off, both of you.” “I think you're the one that needs a fuck.”

He was glad Grady wasn’t around to hear that—though he wasn’t sure how he and Peyton had beaten him here; he must have gotten stuck in traffic.

Suspicious 🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨

Jay took a step back and gave Sebastian a severe look. “I don’t like it.” “I know.” “He's going to hurt you again.” “Maybe.”

“I hated him. I hated you. How dare he have something that was mine? How dare you give it to him?” Sebastian tipped his head back with a dark chuckle. “How dare you move on when I never could? I spent years trying to get you out of my head and you just... got on with your life like I'd never mattered.”

🥺

“What are you two doing?” Quinn asked once he was in earshot. “We were trying to tick off a box in sex bingo, but your dog cockblocked us,”

We’re just waiting for you. Quinn wasn’t sure he’d ever heard a more perfect sentence. Five words that summed them up in a way he could have never hoped to describe. They’d all been waiting for each other. Waiting for this.

Seeing the three of them together made something in Quinn click into place. There was something magnetic about them, something special and once in a lifetime. Something that felt awfully like coming home. Quinn wanted to do everything in his power to hold onto this.

“Quinn likes to take his time,” Sebastian said. His eyes met Quinn's. “Guess some things don't change.” Quinn's heart skipped a beat. “Some things are worth taking the time for,” he said hoarsely. Some things are worth waiting for.

“Are you going to fuck me?” “No,” Quinn said. “I'm going to make love to you.”

Will stopped at the entrance to the bullpen and stared. Quinn was at his desk, with Grady leaning over him and pointing at something on his monitor. The moment that Quinn spotted him, the small smile on his face morphed into something bigger, something warmer. It made Will's heart rate pick up speed.

If he died here, it would be all Sebastian's fault, and Peyton would haunt him.