Chapter 7a
Quinn rests his forehead against Carrie's and tries to catch his breath. As their heart rates slow, they look into each other's eyes. Carrie is the first to smile. Quinn smiles back at her with joy, relief, and love radiating from his eyes, and bends to kiss her bare shoulder.
Quinn slowly lowers her down on the table, still inside her, trying not to crush her with this weight. He smooths her hair away from her face and his eyes scan her for a sign of discomfort or fear, and sees her eyes are filling with tears. She reaches up with both her hands and combs Quinn's hair with her fingers, her thumb grazes his lips and cheek bone.
"What's wrong?" Quinn asks with concern. The idea he may have hurt her or caused her any pain makes him feel sick.
"I'm sorry…" she says with some pain in her voice.
"Why?" he asks tenderly. "What on earth are you sorry for? This was wonderful!"
"It was. I just…I don't know how you've managed to put up with me, Peter. You've been so good to me, asked nothing of me, and I've been nothing but a total bitch to you. "
He rolls to the side of her and props himself up on one arm, and uses his other hand to gently wipe the tear starting to roll down her cheek.
"No," he says in a soothing tone, "you've had rough year."
Carrie bites her lower lip to try to keep herself from crying more, her chin quivering.
"And besides, you weren't a total bitch." Quinn smiles at her and she gives his shoulder a hard shove.
"Hold on…" Peter slides from the table and reaches for her hand to help her off. Now both standing, they look around for something to help clean them off a bit and Carrie reaches for the box of tissues on her desk. Quinn pulls on his boxers and pants and begins to buckle his belt. Carrie, now feeling more modest, turns her back to Quinn and steps into her panties and slips on her bra. He steps up behind her and with one hand on her hip, he uses his other hand to sweep her hair from her shoulder and gently plants a kiss on it. He then moves up her neck, landing finally at her ear. She pauses and enjoys his touch, then turns to face him.
"This is complicated, isn't it?" she asks, though it's more a statement than a question.
Quinn pulls Carrie to him by her waist. "Maybe…" He kisses her mouth tenderly. "Maybe not."
"I need you to be patient with me, Peter. More than you've already been."
Quinn knows he cannot expect Carrie to suddenly turn her world around and commit to him, but he still wishes it were possible.
"I know. And I can be. I will wait for you, Carrie."
