Upon arriving at the motel, Amanda sent Winter back to her own room before retreating to her own.
Following her usual routine, she locked the door, let out a long yawn, and reached into her shirt to unhook her bra. She was halfway through when she realized she wasn't alone. Her hands stiffened as she stared at the back of a man standing by the window.
He was on the phone, his voice low and commanding. "How's the progress?"
The room was silent enough for Amanda to catch the faint reply from the other end. "Mr. Harris, the fish is about to take the bait."
"Continue to follow him closely," Quentin said before hanging up. He turned slowly, a soft smile spreading across his face as he took in his wife's wide-eyed expression. He walked over and took her hand. "You're finally back."
After the initial shock wore off, Amanda frowned. "How did you get into my room?"
Quentin gave her a shamelessly charming smile. "Vance gave me the key."
Back at the company, Vance—who was currently buried under Amanda's future career plans—couldn't help but let out a sudden sneeze.
Amanda snorted softly, dragging her exhausted body toward the sofa. "You really have spies everywhere, don't you? Is it only a matter of time before you bribe Winter, too?"
Quentin followed her, his hands finding her shoulders for a gentle massage. He sounded thoughtful as he replied, "That girl? I'm not so sure."
Amanda pouted and rolled onto her back, grabbing his hand and giving it a sharp nip with her teeth. "Very good. You really do intend to bribe everyone in my circle."
Quentin laughed, letting her bite him as much as she pleased. Once she had vented her frustration, she asked more seriously, "Why did you rush all the way here? How is Dad?"
"Dad is much better. He's out of bed and moving around normally now."
A playful thought crossed Amanda's mind, and she giggled. "I thought you were going to say he's well enough to scold you without losing his breath."
Quentin pinched her nose affectionately. "You aren't wrong. Within two days of waking up, he was back to lecturing me without missing a single beat."
Amanda laughed so hard she felt her fatigue catching up with her. Quentin noticed the dark circles under her eyes and the way her face had grown thinner, and his brow furrowed in concern.
"What have you been eating here? Why do you look so haggard?"
Amanda blinked, reaching up to touch his face. "What's wrong with how I look? I've been eating normally; it's just that I've been so active on set that I'm burning through calories."
Quentin's frown didn't disappear. Amanda pouted, insisting, "I'm telling the truth!"
Realizing she was going to be stubborn about it, Quentin sighed. "Go take a shower. I've already ordered dinner. After we eat, you're going to rest, and tomorrow, we're going home."
Amanda obediently showered and returned to find a feast waiting. Quentin didn't let her leave the table until she had finished two full bowls of rice. Feeling comfortably full, she rolled onto the bed, leaving the mess of dishes for Quentin to handle.
A while later, the mattress sank beside her. Amanda opened her eyes to see Quentin, fresh from his own shower and wearing only his shorts. Her eyes trailed over his defined abs, and she couldn't help but swallow hard. Reaching out, she traced the lines of his stomach.
"Mandy, don't be naughty," Quentin warned, his voice a low rumble. He caught her hand gently. "Playing with fire will only get you burned."
Amanda smiled mischievously and crawled over to hug him like a koala, resting her cheek against his chest. "I haven't seen you in so long; I just want to touch you a little."
She continued her "explorations," completely ignoring his warning. Quentin chuckled, helplessly letting her have her way. It had been over half a month since they had shared a moment of peace like this.
However, Amanda's hands refused to settle. She kept moving, her touch becoming more purposeful until she successfully lit a fire he couldn't ignore. Quentin's eyes narrowed as he pinned her beneath him.
Amanda gave him a wide, triumphant grin. "There are no condoms here."
Quentin took a sharp breath, realizing she was playing a dangerous game. Without a word, he rolled out of bed, threw on his clothes, and sprinted to the front desk.
He moved with the speed of light. When he returned, Amanda was leisurely scrolling through her phone, only to be pulled back into the heat of the moment.
"Quentin! Are you a hungry wolf?" she gasped as the atmosphere grew heavy with desire.
Quentin's lips curled into a predatory smile as he tore a foil packet open with his teeth. "You started this fire, wife. You have to be the one to put it out."
Amanda gritted her teeth, her fingers digging into his shoulders. "Then hurry up!"
"In such a rush?" he whispered, his low laughter vibrating against her skin as he moved in.
Amanda bit her lip to stifle a soft moan, pulling his head down to fiercely kiss him. For a long time, the only sounds in the room were their ragged breathing and the rhythmic motion of their bodies. Later, as he held her from behind, Quentin pressed kisses against every inch of her skin.
It was only then that he saw the extent of the bruises—old and new—marking her back and shoulders. He felt a mixture of heartache and anger that she had been so far away and unable to care for herself. His movements became more intense, more unrestrained, until Amanda was left breathless and exhausted.
Eventually, he carried her to the bathroom to clean her up before tending to himself. As he went to dispose of the condom, he froze.
It was torn.
Quentin stood in the bathroom, his heart racing as he looked back at Amanda, who was sleeping soundly. He silently cursed the motel's cheap supplies a hundred times. He considered waking her—should he tell her? Should they get the morning-after pill?
He paused. His normally calm eyes filled with a sudden, sharp calculation. After a long moment, he said nothing. Instead, he quietly tossed the remaining box of condoms into the trash, climbed back into bed, and pulled Amanda into his arms, falling into a deep, satisfied sleep.