Catalyst (Chain Reaction, #1)

by Aurora Crane

Quinn didn’t know if his sudden urge to touch those marks as well was a projection of his feelings for the other two, or whether he’d instantly gone certifiably insane the moment Peyton had opened his door. He was leaning towards insanity.

“Speak for yourself,” Parker grumbled. “I don’t have combat experience! I’m a primary school teacher!”

Seb, why can’t you just go home like a normal person and not find yourself embroiled in a murder?” “It was on my bucket list,” Sebastian deadpanned.

Peyton made people’s brains fall out—it was a curse.

“That mouth,” Quinn murmured. “I’ve dreamed about your mouth,” he admitted. “It’s yours,” Peyton whispered.

“I always want you here with me. Quinn is...” Will grinned. “Your ultimate fantasy?” “One of,” Peyton said. “You're part of my fantasy too.” Will brushed some of Peyton's hair behind his ear. “I'd give you anything you wanted, Peyton.”

“Dating your best friend doesn't sound like a terrible idea.” “Did you just ask me out, Will?”

“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.”

Will was a fan of feelings.

“It wasn't the same.” Quinn froze, his heart leaping into his throat. “It's never the same. I can't replicate what you made me feel.”

“Will and Peyton... being with them was the first time in eight fucking years that you didn't haunt me. Where I could close my eyes, and I didn't see you. Where I could feel them touching me and not think about how it didn't feel right because it wasn't you.”

“Do you want me to?” “You're fucking stupid if you think the answer to that question has ever been no.”

Quinn coaxed Sebastian’s mouth open, and the taste of him felt like coming home. It was the same as he remembered it: coffee and sweetness, a mixture of chocolate and sugar. The thought that Sebastian still ate those chocolate-covered red-liquorice twirls made Quinn's knees weak.

“I didn’t pick anyone, and he didn’t touch my dick.” Sebastian had never been a choice; he was a necessity.

“Nothing about this situation is normal. We absolutely want details,” Peyton said. Maybe it was weird that the idea of Quinn with Sebastian, or with Will, didn't bother him and just made him want to take his clothes off. But so what? Were there rules they were supposed to follow? Peyton had spent more than enough time following orders he didn't agree with. He wouldn't do it in his personal life as well.

Kissing him won't ever be a regret for me.” “Well, it's making Peyton horny,” Will said. Persephone waddled out behind him, her round butt wiggling happily as she bounced down the front steps and almost took him with her. “Like it's not doing anything for you,” Peyton muttered,

“This is a bad idea.” “Your concern is noted.” “And dismissed, as usual.” Sebastian grinned. “Not dismissed. Just put in that tiny box in the back of my mind… that gets ignored.” “It’s where you put common sense and self-preservation as well. I hate to break it to you, but I think you’re going to need a bigger box soon.” Sebastian waved his hand dismissively. “It needed an upgrade years ago.” “Isn’t that the truth.”

“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.

They were all connected here. Every stroke, every kiss, every gasp and whimper; it was all of them and for all of them.

“The things we do for what we believe in... they leave a scar.”

“Is this what you want?” “It's what I've dreamed about,” Sebastian breathed out. “I ached for you. I need it.”

“I wouldn't mind being stuck to you.” “God, fuck off, Quinn,” Sebastian said, but his smile belied his words. “I forgot, you know.” “What?” “How sweet you are. How much you make me blush from that, even more than from the filth you spout when you fuck me.”

“I always knew you were a Cabbage Patch Kid,” Sebastian said. He picked up his mug, frowned at it, then put it back down. Quinn silently pushed his own over to him. “What's a Cabbage Patch Kid?” Peyton asked. “It's when parents find their babies in vegetable gardens. It was more common to have kids that way in the eighties,” Will said, nodding sagely.

“Honey, whoever, or however many people you choose to love is irrelevant. The heart is a big organ; it can love a lot of people at once. There isn’t a limit.” Her eyes hardened. “But I won’t hear of you being a cheat, a liar, or a home-wrecker. Do you understand me?”

“Shame.” “Are you offering to be my first?” “I think Peyton would be a better test subject. His body would make a nun turn from her duties. But I do have a great ass.” “You do,”

Peyton decided that they were going to have a serious talk about how Sebastian should conduct himself during hostage situations. Spoiler alert: this wasn't it.

“You're going to give me grey hairs.” “They're distinguished. Grey beards are sexy,” Sebastian murmured.