"I demand you take me home this instant!" Billie said, incensed by the audacity of Quentin driving off with her.

"I'll admit I have many sins that I fully expect to be held accountable for, but I'll be damned if I'm going to be judged for things I've never done!"

"You've never slept with a woman and left her wondering?" Billie asked sarcastically.

"The woman I've slept with knew what they were getting into. I made myself perfectly clear, so there were no misunderstandings between us."

"And that's somehow supposed to make me feel better? Knowing there is the plethora of women Quentin Harrison has slept with and I may one day count myself lucky enough to rank among them?"

"What the hell has gotten into you?" Quentin asked as he stared at her with disbelief that she was saying this to him.

"I swore to myself I wouldn't be this stupid again. I wouldn't get drawn in, only to be chewed up and spit out, but then you come along looking how you do, saying all the right things, acting like you care and I fall for it all over again."

"I DO care!" Quentin barked back at her. "I'm not pulling some sort of con here. You needed help to save your father's company and I agreed. How does that make me a bad person?"

"It's the why, damn it! How do you not get that? Why would you do this for me? Why would you care? I'm no one to you!" Billie yelled back.

Quentin pulled over in a deserted parking lot of a store that had long ago gone out of business. The only light came from a flickering parking lamp off in the distance. He unbuckled his seat belt so he could turn fully to look at her.

"You are the most infuriating, aggravating woman I know!" 

"Thank you!" Billie said crossing her arms over her chest in a huff.

"You're right, I have zero reasons to care about you." He watched as she bit her bottom lip when he said these words. "Yet here I am caring more about you than any woman I've ever met. Why is that, Ms. Billie Dupree?"

Billie shrugged in response.

"Could you please enlighten me because, from the moment you entered into my life, I've wanted to protect you, care about you, help you in any way that could? I want to make you happy but obviously, I'm failing miserably."

Billie's brows furrowed. She was so confused.

"You know what? You're right? You're a fool and so am I. So, let's not play fools together. Let's end this before someone really gets hurt. I am obviously more invested than you and I can't help but think that someone is going to be me," Quentin admitted before he turned back in his seat, buckled his seat belt, and started the engine.

He only stopped because Billie surprised him by undoing the unthinkable and getting out of his car. "Where the hell do you think you're going?" He yelled at her through the left open door.

"Away from you!" Billie said as she stormed away from his car.

Quentin got out. "Billie, get back here!" he called after her. "Of all the stupid, stubborn..." he mumbled, slamming his door shut, he went after her.

Billie had no idea where she was headed. She figured she get to somewhere where there were people and call for someone to come pick her up but she really wasn't thinking that far ahead. Right now her only wish was to put distance between herself and Quentin.

He quickly caught up to her and spun her around. "Are you crazy?! You're just going to go walking off dressed like you are through a deserted area?"

"I don't care. I can...."

"take care of yourself. I know. I get it and I'm sick of hearing it. Face facts, Billie, you may think that but you suck at it!" 

Billie wrenched her arms free from his grasp. "Excuse me?"

"You keep telling everyone how great you are at taking care of yourself but the truth is you only got this far because everyone around has been protecting you like you're this fragile creature, keeping harm as far from you as they can. Your father, your friends, even your acquaintances can all see how weak you've become, since your mother's passing."

Billie's hand flew and struck him right across his cheekbone.

Quentin felt the sting but, in a way, figured he deserved it. He knew he went too far with that last remark but by this point, he wanted to hurt her. To get a rise out of her, anything so he didn't have to feel bad about letting her go.

He took a moment or two to compose himself before he said, "Tell me I'm wrong and I'll gladly apologize."

Billie refused to look at him. He grabbed her chin and turned her face so she had to look at him. They stood for a solid minute or two him holding her chin, her staring at him defiantly.

"Fine! You're not wrong," Billie admitted though it pained her to do so.

"A huge part of me was buried along with my mother when we put her in the ground never to be seen or heard from again. I've been wandering around trying to fill this void, this hole in my chest that no matter how much love I receive from my father, Carlos, and his family, or others that reached out to me, nothing can fill that void.

It's like a black hole I struggle against every single day. Trying to desperately keep from falling into. Yet, I know it's in vain. The pull is too strong and as you said I'm weak but I'm also tired. So, tired of fighting. I want to give up, but I can't because if I did, I would hurt all those people who love me."

Quentin's heart broke for her as she laid her soul bare for him. "What the hell do I know?" Quentin told her pulling her into his embrace as she cried and let him hold her. "Don't listen to me. I'm so f'd up, I don't even know where to start to fix the problems that I have," he admitted as he held her close resting his head on hers. "I'm sorry, Billie. I should have kept my mouth shut."

"No," Billie told him. "You're right. I'm scared. I've never been this scared in my entire life. The truth is, I don't want to lose this company. I'm afraid of what it will mean for me. I've wrapped my whole life up into it. I don't know who I'd be without it. If it disappeared, I'm scared I'll be left with a stranger, and won't know how to move on."

"I won't let that happen to you."

"I doubt very seriously there will be anything you can do to stop it."

"I can. And I will," Quentin said taking Billie's face in his hands, tilting her head up so she had to see his face, the sincerity of what he was saying was clearly written across it.

"I want to go home. Can we go home?" Billie pleaded.

Quentin so desperately wanted her to believe him. How did he get her to believe in him? But maybe, considering her state of mind, he was asking too much.

"Yeah, sure, Billie." Quentin walked her back to the car. Billie slid into the seat as the door was already open, and Quentin shut it after her.

They drove to her apartment. Billie paused before getting out of the car.

"Do you want to come in?" she asked.

The question took Quentin by surprise. "I uh..."

"Let me rephrase that," Billie said. "Please come in. I don't want to be alone tonight."

Quentin nodded, got out with her, and handed the keys to the valet. He took her hand and walked inside with her. Thankfully it wasn't Mitch's shift. Billie knew he wouldn't be happy to see her upset coming in with Quentin.

They rode the elevator in silence and reached her apartment. Billie's hand shook. Quentin took the key from her and opened the door. The moment she was inside she kicked off her heels and hung her wrap over the chair. Her purse, she dropped on the table.

Quentin watch as she aimlessly wandered around her apartment, she paused at her bedroom door. "Are you coming?" she asked.

"I really don't think..."

"Don't think. Just do," Billie told him and Quentin followed her into her bedroom.

She took the flower out of her hair and added to the two she had by the bed as she tried to reach for the zipper, she found Quentin already behind her. He slowly slid the zipper down to the small of her back and slipped it off her shoulders. Billie dropped her arms to her sides allowing her dress to fall to the floor. 

Quentin kissed her shoulder and she tilted her head away from him exposing her neck. Quentin trailed kisses up her neck and Billie closed her eyes and relished the sensations his kisses caused her body to feel.

Billie turned in Quentin's arms and when he stared at her she saw the fear in his eyes. He was here because she asked him to be but he was afraid he was going to hurt her.

Billie reached up and began to unbutton Quentin's shirt sliding her fingers inside to push the affronting material off of his body. Quentin undid the cufflinks and let the shirt join her dress on the floor. He kicked off his shoes and then picked her up and laid her on the bed.

Before he could move away, Billie wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him toward her, capturing his lips, he sighed against hers. "Billie? I don't want to..."

"You won't," she told him and pulled him closer. He joined her on the bed but did not remove the rest of his clothes.

Billie didn't care she straddled herself over him, and ran her hands across his bare chest and stomach. Then she reached up and unhooked her bra, sliding it off her shoulders. Billie watched Quentin exhale a slow breath as she revealed herself to him.

He was totally letting her take control. To set the pace of whatever this was that was about to take place between them. Billie knew she'd have plenty of time to examine her actions later right now she only wanted one thing...

Quentin.

Billie wanted to feel his skin, to experience his touch. She wanted to bring him pleasure, and she wanted it so badly her body ached with need. Billie ran her hands over him and Quentin's hands reached up palming her breasts.

She loved the way his hands felt as he caressed her. Billie leaned forward and she kissed him. She felt desperate as her lips brushed over his. What response she wished to elicit from him she had no idea but as her kiss continued it became nearly frantic with need.

Quentin stayed her hips. She hadn't realized she was rubbing against him but suddenly could feel him beneath his clothes. She must have him close to the breaking point. Just the knowledge that she could turn him on that easily drove her to take the next step.

Billie sat up and her hands reached to unbutton his pants but he seized her hands.

She didn't want to stop. She wanted him. Billie wanted him so badly. Why would he stop her? Was she wrong? Did he not want this too? She felt so confused.

"I'm not prepared for this. I have no way to protect you," Quentin said.

"Have you been tested?" Billie asked. Quentin nodded that he had. "I'm already on birth control, so we're covered," Billie said and he let her hands go.

Billie felt the thrill of expectation wash over her as she pulled him free of his clothing. He was so ready for her and she did not hesitate, she did not pause. Billie positioned herself over him and Quentin entered her. Billie arched her back savoring the feel of him inside of her before she began moving her hips slow and deliberate. As she kept up the pace, she undid her hair letting it fall about her shoulders and running her fingers through it. 

"You're so beautiful," Quentin told her and Billie shyly smiled at him.

She leaned forward and kissed Quentin. His hands slid down her back. He held her in place by her hips,  pressing in deep, causing her to gasp against his lips. She felt him smile against hers.

Quentin decided to turn the tables on her, taking over, moving in such expert ways as to build tension. Her body responded, her need building. He rolled them onto their sides. He had her wrapped up in his arms.

Quentin held her. He kissed her. He told her over and over again how beautiful she was, how much he wanted her, needed her. Quentin's words were even more intoxicating than his movements as he slid in and out of her, bringing them both to a fevered pitch.

"Quentin!" Billie cried out his name and he captured her lips, holding her close as they climaxed together, and still he did not let her go.

Quentin moved her hair from her face with the palms of his hands, "You're amazing, you know that?"

Other than his name Billie hadn't said anything this entire time. She snuggled in and held onto him like he was a lifeline and she feared letting go.

Quentin kissed her forehead, withdrew, and sat up. His legs swung over the side of the bed. He could feel her staring at his back.

"Will you please, say something?" Quentin said, fearful he just made the biggest mistake of his life. That he gave in and by doing so he's put a permanent wedge between them.

"Stay," came the almost inaudible answer to his question.

Quentin turned back to look at Billie not certain he heard what he thought he heard or if it was just a trick of the ears because it was what he wanted to hear.

"Please, stay," Billie said to him.

And now he knew he heard her correctly. Quentin stood up and pulled back the covers so Billie could climb beneath them. Quentin turned off the lights and then joined her there, pulling her back into his arms.

Billie let out a long sigh. "Thank you," she whispered against his chest and it almost made him want to laugh, of all the things to say after making love... thank you, as if he had done her some service.

"Thank you?"

"For breaking your promise," Billie supplied.

Breaking his...

"I know you said you wouldn't have sex with me until we were making love... I appreciate you..."

"What would you call what we just did?" Quentin asked, dumbfounded by her words.

He felt Billie stiffen in his arms.

"I thought..."

"What? That, that's how I am with every woman I'm with," Quentin filled in trying not to let the hurt he felt show but he never was good at hiding his feelings.

"I don't know... I've only been with one other person and he took more than he gave. I don't know what making love looks like, or feels like," Billie babbled on, now feeling awkward in Quentin's arms but he did not relinquish his hold on her.

"It feels like this," Quentin said, kissing her forehead, her eyes, the tip of her nose, her lips. "I don't take what happened between us lightly, Billie. So please don't ask me to in the light of day. You mean too much to me for me to pretend that what happened between us was just sex."

Billie didn't know what to say in response so she just nodded her head against his chest.

"Okay, then. Let's get some sleep," Quentin said, knowing he wasn't going to get any declaration from her tonight, if ever, but he couldn't have her trying to say what happened between them meant nothing or to try and explain their actions away.

"Good night, Quentin."

Quentin didn't expect this to be so painful. "Sweet Dreams, Billie."