by Eve Gaddy
He told her the truth. “Hands off. I’d a hell of a lot rather be hands on with you.”
She smiled. “That’s what I was hoping you’d say.”
*
She wondered what his mouth would feel like on hers. Would it be hard? Were his lips soft? Would he kiss her quickly or would he draw it out and savor it?
“Don’t look at me like that unless you want me to kiss you. Right here.”
“Come with me,” she said, taking his hand and leading him around the corner of First Street. There weren’t nearly as many people there, sandwiched between the real estate office and the bank. Or nearly as much light as on Main Street. A much better place for a first kiss than in the middle of a crowd of dancers. She put her hands on his arms and raised her eyes to his. “How am I looking at you now?”
He kissed her. His lips touched hers softly, retreated and touched again, more firmly this time. His tongue swept inside her mouth, drawing hers to meet it. He didn’t hurry. He kissed her slowly, and very much like a man who knew exactly what he was doing.
He drew back and looked at her, a hint of a smile on his lips.
“Can we try that again?” she asked. “Just to make sure we got it right?”
His slow smile spread, making her legs weak. “Absolutely,” he said, lowering his mouth to hers again.
Honey rose on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck. His arms encircled her back and he held her closer, touching, teasing, taking the kiss deeper. Oh, my God, he really knows how to kiss.
Honey liked to kiss. Kissing said a lot about a man. Did he enjoy it? Did he make sure she enjoyed it? Did he treat it with respect, as a kiss in itself and not a gateway to taking her to bed? Did he make her want more?
Sean passed. Hell, he rocked it.
Eventually they broke apart. Honey touched her lips and said, “Wow. Just wow.”
He grinned. “You took the words out of my mouth. So to speak.” He took her hand. “What would you like to do now?”
Find out if you’re as good at making love as you are at kissing, she thought. But she didn’t say it, of course. She wasn’t that reckless. Was she?
“Let’s go get some chocolate.”
By the time Honey and Sean walked home, it was late. He held her hand on the way home. She was tempted, really tempted, to ask him in, but if she did she was sure they’d wind up in bed.
And that’s a problem? You’re going to be in town for two weeks. You should have fun while you can. For all you know, when you get back he’ll have started dating someone. In fact, she was surprised he hadn’t already.
“You’re not dating anyone, are you?” she asked him.
He stopped and looked at her. Then he took her face in his hands and very slowly lowered his mouth to hers. His lips moved over hers, his tongue taunting her with more to come, lazily playing with hers in a slow dance of seduction. The man is dangerous, she thought. All he’d done was kiss her and she was ready to rip off her clothes. And his. Definitely his.
Still holding her face, he lifted his head. “I wouldn’t be kissing you if I was involved with someone else, Honey.”
“Um, good to know.”
He laughed and let go of her, taking her hand again as they walked the rest of the way home.
“Sean?” she said after unlocking her door. “Do you want to come in?”
For a moment, Sean simply looked at her. She couldn’t read him, which was odd because she was normally quite good at it. Especially with men, especially in this sort of situation. Which admittedly, she’d only been in twice and she hadn’t followed through either time. Sean was different, though. He’d kissed her, sure, but he hadn’t immediately assumed she wanted to go to bed with him. Which was a good thing. Right?
Except she did. Did she need to be more obvious? Or less obvious?
“Sure,” he said, following her inside.
“Would you like something to drink?”
“No, I’m okay.”
She opened her refrigerator and looked inside. “Good thing. All I have is water and diet soda.” She shut the door and leaned back against it. What now? It was getting late, and she had a run tomorrow. An important one. So she should either kick him out or take the bull by the horns—so to speak.
“I’ve never slept with a man on the first date.”
His mouth kicked up at the corner. “Should I point out that this isn’t a date?”
“I hadn’t thought of that.”
He crossed to her, took her in his arms and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. If the kisses in public had been sizzling, this one was electrifying.
After a moment, she pulled away and felt his lips cruising down her jawline to her neck. “Am I being too pushy?”
He chuckled against her neck. “Not only no…” He kissed the pulse at her throat and she groaned. “But hell, no.”
Still kissing her, he walked her backward and boosted her up on the kitchen counter. She wrapped her legs around him and pulled him closer, kissed him, nipped his lip, then soothed it with her tongue. She started to unbutton his shirt but he gathered her hands in his to stop her.
“Come to my place,” he said.
“Okay, but why?”
“When I went to Grey’s this afternoon, I didn’t know I’d be making love to the beautiful woman who dropped into my arms earlier today.”
“Meaning you’re not prepared.”
“Nope. Are you?”
She shook her head. “To tell you the truth, I haven’t had a man in my apartment since my brother Mick stayed here a couple of years ago.”
“I think I have condoms at my place.”
“You think? You’re not sure?”
“Well, I’m damn sure I don’t have any here.”
Honey laughed. “Then by all means, let’s go to your place.”
She wrapped herself around him as he walked to the door. She kissed his neck, his cheeks, the corners of his mouth and ran her hands through his hair. At the door, he let her slide down his body, then pressed her back against it, with his hands on either side of her head.
“What?” she asked when he didn’t move but only stood there looking at her.
His fingertips brushed over her cheek, across her lips and then his hand cupped her chin. “At the risk of being completely unoriginal, you are one gorgeous woman.”
He kissed her, and by the time he stopped, her mind had simply stopped working. But the rest of her was on fire.
Chapter Five
Somehow they made it to his apartment. Hands under her hips, he picked her up and she wrapped her legs and arms around him as he took her to the bedroom. Sean tossed her onto the bed and followed her down. Her legs opened to welcome him. He fisted his hands in her hair, finding it every bit as soft and silky as he’d imagined. She attacked the buttons on his shirt. He helped her, yanked it off and threw it aside.
They rolled, then Honey was on top. Straddling him, she put her hands on his bare chest and said, “Mmm.”
“Let’s get you out of this,” he said, beginning to unbutton her shirt. When he reached her belt, she unfastened it and tossed it on the floor. He spread the shirt open and pushed it down her arms. Generous breasts encased in a nude-colored lacy bra had him sucking in a breath. Honey pulled one arm out of her shirtsleeve, then the other and dropped the shirt on the floor.
He reached up to unfasten her bra, but she beat him to it, flinging it aside with the rest of the clothes. Bare breasts with rosy nipples, peaking now with excitement. “Perfection,” he murmured, using one hand to caress her breasts and the other to tug her head down so he could kiss her. Her laugh turned into a sigh when he rolled one of her nipples, teasing it to an even tighter peak, before guiding it to his mouth. Sucking and nuzzling first one breast, then the other.
Honey groaned and rotated her hips, causing his hard-on to get even harder and his eyes to damn near cross.
“Hold that thought,” he said, moving her off him o
nto the bed. “I’ll be right back.” He got up and stood by the bed, unwilling to leave just yet.
“Sean,” she said huskily. Lifting a long, slim leg, she propped one booted foot on his bare chest. “Will you help me take off my boots?”
“Honey, I’ll help you take off anything you want.” He pulled off one boot, then the other. Looking at her socks, he asked, “Why are there bumble bees on your socks?”
“I like bees. I also have ducks, puppies, elephants and dragons. But if you don’t like them…”
“Who says I don’t like them? I think they’re sexy as hell.”
She laughed. “Liar. You do not.”
“As soon as I get back I’ll show you how wrong you are.” Condoms. He hoped to God he had some.
Five minutes later, after finally locating the damn things in a box he’d thrown under the sink without even unpacking it, he walked back into the bedroom.
Honey lay on her side, propped up on her arm. She’d gotten rid of her jeans and all she wore were tiny, nude-colored panties to match her bra. And her bumblebee socks.
Grinning, he tossed the condoms on the bedside table. He yanked off his boots, undid his jeans, and pushed them off, along with his boxers.
“That’s a wicked smile,” he said as he came down beside her.
“I’m feeling a little wicked.” She traced her hand down his chest, over his abs, and kept going. Wrapping her hand around his cock, she added, “Make that very wicked.”
He pulled off her panties and slid his hand between her legs to cup her. She groaned when he slid a finger inside her, moaned when he continued to play with her. She was incredibly responsive. So responsive, he wondered if she was going to come from his fingers alone.
She gasped and wiggled her hips. He returned to her breasts, kissing and sucking, one hand still between her legs, teasing her until she gasped, grabbed his arms, and dug her fingernails into them.
He grabbed one of the condom packets and opened it. Honey took it from him and rolled it on, stroked him, torturing him with her hand sliding up and down. He flipped her from her side to her back and settled himself between her legs. Pausing, he waited until her gaze met his and then began to enter her. Excruciatingly slowly, but she was so tight. Wet. Hot and swollen.
He slid all the way inside her. He thrust and she met him. He pulled out and sank in as her back arched and her hips rose to meet his again. Pumping inside her, faster and faster until, her muscles clenching around him, she spasmed and cried out. He drove into her one last time and emptied himself inside her.
Long moments later, he realized he was squashing her, so he rolled to the side, put his arm around her, and she put her head on his chest. He kissed the top of her head, rubbed his hand gently up and down her arm. “You okay?”
“No.” She stretched and looked up at him with smiling eyes. “I’m good. Really good.”
“Yes, you are.” He kissed her and said softly, “Very, very good.” After a bit, Sean went to the bathroom and cleaned up. When he returned, she got up and padded to the bathroom. Naked. With her hair streaming down her back. Good didn’t even touch it.
When she came back, she started looking around, gathering up clothes. “What are you doing?” he asked, though it was obvious.
“Finding my clothes.” She looked at him and sighed. “I wish I didn’t have to leave.”
“Don’t leave. Stay.”
“Halo and I are up for our run tomorrow. I need to get some sleep.” She sat on the side of the bed.
“You can sleep here.” He wasn’t sure why he didn’t just agree and let her go.
She gave him a knowing smile. “Sure I can.”
He sat up. “I won’t wake you up.”
“Pinkie swear?”
Grinning, he hooked his little finger with hers. “Pinkie swear. Scout’s honor, too.”
“Were you a boy scout?”
“Honey, I’ve never been a boy scout.”
She gave a gurgle of laughter. “Somehow I’m not surprised.” She looped her arms around his neck, leaned in and kissed him. “Definitely not a boy scout,” she murmured. Then she crawled into bed, turned on her side and it was lights out in less than five minutes. He watched her for a little while and fell asleep almost as quickly as she had.
Dreaming. My God, what a dream. Amazing. Honey was kissing her way down his body, her hair streaming over them. He groaned and put his hands in her hair when she took him in her mouth. Opening his eyes, he said, “Not… dreaming. What—” He groaned again, losing track of what he was saying. “What about sleep?” he managed to get out.
Honey raised her head and looked at him. “Sleep is overrated,” she said and got back to business.
*
“Are you sure I can’t get you anything before you go?” Sean asked the next morning.
Dressed now, Honey smiled and walked over to him. “Do you have anything?”
“I might have some coffee,” he said doubtfully. Generally, he either picked some up at the Java Cafe or, if he was in a hurry, he waited until he got to the hospital.
“That’s okay. I’ll grab some on my way out of town.”
Sean pulled her to him and kissed her. “Good luck today.”
“Thanks. Are you coming to the rodeo?”
“Wouldn’t miss it. Do you want to go to the dinner and dance tonight?”
“Like a date?”
“Exactly like a date.”
“Well…” She stood on her toes and placed little kisses along his jaw. “You know I don’t sleep with men on the first date.”
“Hmm.” He looped his arms around her waist. “That is a problem. Why don’t I real casual like come get you around six and we’ll walk down there together.”
“Better,” she said. “Kiss for luck?”
He pulled her closer, laid his lips on hers and kissed her like they had all day. What a woman.
Half an hour later, Sean pulled into the gravel drive beside the Gallagher family ranch house. He went in through the back door since no one ever used the front, and besides, he wanted some of Glory’s coffee before he went down to the barn.
“Get over here and give me a hug,” Glory said when she saw him. Glory Trainor had been with the Gallaghers for as long as he could remember, since before Jack, the eldest, had been born. Long married and childless, Glory and her husband, Bill, still lived in the tiny house near the railroad tracks they’d moved into as newlyweds. No one knew Glory’s age, though Sean figured she had to be early to mid-sixties at the youngest. But she still looked much as she had when he was growing up. Brown hair without a speck of gray and big brown eyes set in a round face. At odds with her face, Glory was slim and petite, her head not even reaching his shoulder.
Sean gave her a hearty hug. “How about a mug of your coffee?” he asked.
She gestured to the ever-present coffee pot. “Help yourself. I made breakfast bars too, so take a couple for yourself and Dylan. You know how he is.”
Glory thought they were all in danger of wasting away, but she especially worried about Dylan. “If you haven’t managed to fatten him up by now, Glory, I don’t think you ever will.” He picked up a breakfast bar and took a bite. “I don’t know what you put in these things, but they’re always good and each batch always tastes a little different from the last one.”
“Oh, this and that.” She pointed at him with the spoon she’d been using to stir. “No need to ask how you are, you sly dog.”
Sean raised an eyebrow. “Sly dog?”
“Don’t forget I changed your diapers, son. I know you.” She looked at him, arched an eyebrow and added, “And I for damn sure know the look of a satisfied man.”
He was surprised he didn’t blush. Damn, that woman had eyes like a hawk. Since he wasn’t about to comment on her statement, he thanked her for the coffee and breakfast bar and beat a hasty retreat.
Dylan was down at the stables, mucking out stalls from the sound of it. Though his brother still raised cattle, hor
ses were his real love. The Gallaghers had always raised quarter horses, but a few years ago Dylan had run across a breed called Norwegian Fjords and had fallen in love with them. Now he raised both breeds.
“I’m not mucking out stalls. If that’s what you got me here for, forget it.”
“Well, look who’s here. Dr. Sean I’m-not-a-horse-whisperer Gallagher in the flesh.”
Sean gave him a dirty look. “Kiss my ass. What did you want me to do?” But that was obvious from Dylan’s greeting. Sean wasn’t a horse whisperer. He had a way with horses, sure. Especially horses that were scared or hurt or had some other problem making them act up. But a horse whisperer? Bullshit.
“Since you’re too sissified to muck out stalls—”
“Careful, sonny. You’re the one who wanted a favor,” Sean reminded him. “What do you need?”
Dylan propped the shovel against the wall and went to the sink to wash his hands. “I’ve got a problem child.”
“Of course you do.” Sean tossed him one of the breakfast bars. “Glory thinks you’re going to fade away.”
Taking a huge bite, Dylan chewed while staring at Sean and regarding him with a gleam in his eyes.
Sean endured it for a minute or so. “What the hell are you looking at?”
His brother finished off the last bite, chewed, swallowed, and grinned. “You got laid.”
“Jesus!” First Glory and now Dylan. “Do I have it tattooed on my forehead?”
“Might as well have.” He waited a minute and added, “So, you and Honey. I guess stranger things have happened.”
Dylan could have been referring to anything from his age to his profession, and Sean didn’t particularly want to know what. “Yeah, me and Honey. You got a problem with that?”
“Depends. I’m real fond of Honey. I don’t want to see her hurt.”
“I’m not planning on hurting her. And this is absolutely none of your goddamn business.”
Dylan ignored that. “Could be the other way around.”
“What does that mean?”
“Better watch out, bro. She’ll break your heart.”
“Because she broke yours?”
