Irish Fling

by Valerie Douglas

  Aidan grinned back at her, unrepentant.

  Looking into her eyes it seemed she didn’t mind much that he played with her hair. Those incredible eyes warmed, so he kept doing it, enjoying the sensation of it between his fingers as she shifted a little to fit better against him.

  Well now. He was almost regretful when they’d reached the site.

  The breeze blew softly, watery sunlight sparkled softly from the grass both on the mound and around them.

  Given that it had been built by Neolithic peoples, it was an impressive structure, a great grass covered earthen mound surrounded by standing stones and faced with hundreds of pieces of white quartz and granite so it glowed even in the watery sunlight.

  It was incredible, visible for miles.

  Aidan had forgotten that and how beautiful it was to look out across the hills at Ireland spread before him.

  He had to duck a little as they walked past the entry stones, down the long tunnel into the earth to the chambers that awaited there and the white stone at the back that would catch the light of the Winter Solstice sunrise from the opening above the distant door now behind them.

  Within it was close, dark and cool. The carvings on the stones were intricate patterns of swirls, the symbols and patterns of an ancient people.

  Ali was fascinated. As interesting as it was, though, the press of people and the tightness of the passage were oddly disconcerting. She found herself feeling a little trapped and fought the urge to leave. It made her oddly uneasy, a little uncomfortable.

  Aidan’s hand slipped into hers and she looked up at him, smiling gratefully at him for his perception, rolling her eyes at herself in amusement.

  Unconsciously, she turned in toward him a little.

  For all her fear her remarkable eyes were curious, fascinated by what she saw around her. Aidan watched as she looked at everything, those incredible golden eyes going to the guide, listening to and absorbing everything he said. Her fingers were warm between his. He‘d seen her discomfort with so many people pressed around her, her anxious glance back at the entrance, the fleeting shadow in her eyes.

  It had seemed only natural to slide his hand into hers.

  Nor did he let go once they were outside again. She didn’t seem disposed to let go of him, either. He was finding this strangely innocent flirtation exciting.

  The sun was trying to come out but to Ali it didn’t matter. It was still beautiful, the hills stretching away before her down to the distant River Boyne. A little cool, the breeze blew through her hair, lifted it a little. She was very conscious of Aidan’s hand in hers. She glanced up at him.

  He was distracted at the moment, watching some of the other tourists. Then he looked down at her, gave her another one of those charming and wicked grins. Her heart caught a little. She smiled and shook her head at him as they walked back to the bus.

  This time, Aidan curled his arm around her shoulders as she settled on the seat beside him then pulled her closer so he could feel the warmth of her against him. His blood was high, sparkling. He brushed his cheek against her hair, the curls soft and springy curls against his cheek. With the fingers of the hand on her shoulder trapped a strand there once again to play with it. Something warm and deep moved through him and he sighed, content.

  Laying her head back against Aidan’s shoulder, Ali simply enjoyed the contact, the thrill of excitement that rushed through her at the nearness of him.

  Gently, he brushed a kiss over her temple. A rush of warmth went through her.

  “Where next, fair lady?” he said, against her ear and a shiver went through her as his lips brushed against it. “Assuming, of course, that you want to continue.”

  Turning to look at him she found his face disconcertingly close, especially his mouth. For a second, her eyes dropped to it, fascinated, wondering what it would be like to kiss him, to have that hard mouth press against hers.

  Looking down into those eyes of liquid gold, at her firm mouth as it softened, yielded, Aidan watched as her eyelids lowered, knowing where her gaze went even as her lips parted a little. Something moved through him. Cupping her chin with the hand around her shoulders he tipped her face up heedless of the others on the bus and kissed her softly.

  Her lips warmed beneath his, moved almost shyly, but they did move in response to his.

  Tracing his tongue over her lips, he took the kiss deeper. To his pleasure, she answered, her own tongue slid around his to taste. A thrill went through him, a deep spear of pleasure. It felt wonderful and tasted better.

  Ali forgot about the other passengers, too, and lost herself in the kiss, barely aware of her hand on his thigh, to balance, while the other hand lifted to the hand cupped around her chin to hold it there.

  Her hand was warm through his slacks and Aidan was fully conscious of its presence.

  Feeling the bus shift and slow, they reluctantly broke off the kiss, for a moment looking into each other’s eyes before the bus pulled to a stop.

  One glance at one of her fellow passengers, though, and Ali fought off bursts of giggles.

  Aidan glanced at her, saw the light of mischief dancing in her eyes and realized that both of them were grinning like small children who’d been misbehaving.

  Like all such places, all roads led through the gift shop.

  To his surprise, she avoided all the usual fripperies, the touristy things and instead bought a small, simple necklace, a silver triskele against a shell as memento of her visit.

  He lifted her abundant hair and fastened the little necklace on her. It suited her in some strange way. With her nape exposed, Aidan dropped a light kiss there and was pleased when she shivered a little in response.

  “You never answered my question,” he pointed out as they walked toward the parking lot, reaching out to wrap an arm around her waist and pull her closer.

  A faint touch of color washed over her cheeks and those incredible eyes brightened.

  “I was… distracted,” she said, almost primly, until he saw the impish smile.

  “Distracted, was it?” he asked as they reached the car.

  Aidan had dated supermodels―one particularly―and an actress or two, and she had been…distracted.

  She nodded, entertained by the look in his eyes. “Hmm.”

  Backing her up against the door, Aidan said, “Only…distracted…”

  Her lips twitched as she fought back laughter. “Yes.”

  Slowly, he slid a hand up into her hair as those golden eyes darkened, the green in them brightened, before he lowered his mouth to hers and tasted her, deeply.

  Dear God it was good, she was so sweet. Her mouth moved softly beneath his.

  It wasn’t that Ali was shy, she’d stood on stages in front of hundreds of people at seminars, but it was her nature to hold back a little. That kiss was intoxicating, though, and Ali found herself lost in it, in the clean taste of him, as clear as water. Warmth filled her as she came up on her toes to draw his mouth down to hers. His thick, dark hair was between her fingers and the hard length of his body was against hers.

  Aidan lost all track of time, engrossed in the kiss. He felt her arms slide up around his neck, her fingers tighten in his hair, as, with his hands on her hips, he drew her against him.

  Her tongue moved around his, slipped across his lips, then she caught the lower one between hers to nibble on it lightly. A bolt of heat shot through him.

  When he opened his eyes, he saw hers sparkled mischievously…and he went back in for more, suddenly hungry for her. She responded as fervently, her lips parting for him as he went deeper, their tongues tangling, her body tight against his.

  What would her skin feel like? He slid a hand beneath that soft sweater and found her skin like warmed silk. He curled his hand around the curve of her waist as his body tightened in response.

  Ali wanted to drown in him. Kissing him was glorious.

  The sensation of his hand on her bare skin was electric. It branded her, sent a jolt of need through her.
She’d never felt anything like this, not even with Dan. It was exhilarating. Whatever she’d expected of this trip, it hadn’t been this. Magic. Wonderful. Her heart beat a thousand times a minute.

  He pulled away a little, not wanting to stop but aware he was ravaging her in the car park. And she didn’t seem to mind.

  It was with no little satisfaction that he saw her golden eyes looked as dazed as he felt.

  “Incredible,” he said.

  Ali’s eyes focused and she smiled. “It was that.”

  Her heart hammered.

  While part of him just wanted to find a place to ravage her some more, another part was enjoying this slow flirtation, this gentle seduction, too much to want to stop yet.

  Clearing his throat, he said, “So, pretty Ali, are you still…distracted?”

  For a moment Ali simply had to haul her mind back from the desire to pull him back down for more and concentrate on the question.

  “Very,” she said, laughing. “Very distracted.”

  “Good,” he said, with satisfaction. “Now, keep your mind on the task at hand. Where are we going now?”

  “I’d be able to concentrate if you’d stop kissing the sense out of me,” she protested, still laughing.

  “Am I kissing the sense out of you, Ali Dearborn?” he asked, liking the idea quite well.

  “You are,” she said, grinning.

  It was a good sign.

  Of course, she was kissing the sense out of him as well.

  And he didn’t mind a bit either.

  “So, where now?”

  “Take a guess?”

  It took only a moment’s thought since the site was so close and they’d mentioned it inside.

  “The Battle of the Boyne.”

  “Got it in one,” she said, delighted.

  Smiling, he held open the car door for her, gestured her in with a flourish.

  Ali grinned and slid inside.

  Chapter Three

  Here in this field had been fought the last true battle between the English and the Irish, establishing William of Orange on the throne. It had lead to the long years of the Troubles between the Catholics and the Protestants, between the Irish natives and the English invaders. It had given birth in the end to blood and struggle, to death and destruction, to the IRA and the Orangemen. Centuries had passed and so many lives had been lost. This piece of ground itself had now become a symbol of that seemingly endless struggle. It had been baptized in Irish blood.

  Lives, of course, had been lost here, most of them raw conscripts, farmers defending their homes and trying to keep their way of life. It had been a terrible and bloody struggle.

  Now it was just an open field on the shores of the Boyne, as beautiful as the rest of what she’d seen, and serene. Still, she imagined she could almost see the battle, in her ears she could almost hear the sounds of battle, the clash of arms, the shouts, the cries of the wounded and dying, both the British and the Irish.

  Aidan watched that mobile, expressive face go still, the gilded eyes shadow as he slid an arm around her waist as they walked back to the car.

  “You know the history here?” he asked.

  She sighed and nodded. “Yes, so I needed to see it.”

  “Let’s leave it, then, as it’s making you sad.” And he found that he didn’t like to see sadness in those fairy eyes.

  With a sigh, she leaned into him, clearly grieving for what had been.

  It touched him, oddly. “Are you hungry?”

  With a grin, Ali said, “Starving.”

  “So, what are you looking for?” he asked, pulling her close again.

  Laughing up at him, she said, “Be more specific. There are so many answers to that question…world peace…wings…” Him.

  He was so far out of her league. But he’d kissed her. Twice.

  “Wings?” he said.

  Lifting her face to the sky to let her hair blow, she smiled. “To fly…”

  It was too easy to see it, his faerie Queen with gossamer wings.

  He laughed. “Ah. Well, how about what you’d like to eat?”

  “Oh, that. It’s not so much what I want as what I don’t want.” Ticking them off on her fingers she said, “No chains, no tourist traps, no big name hotels, the food there I can get anywhere. By preference a local restaurant or pub, something like that.”

  She just enchanted him.

  This time no one was in the car park to object as he swung her into his arms, this time with his back to the car door. She came up on her toes, her dancer’s body with its high full breasts sliding up the length of him to meet him as his mouth came down on hers.

  He went hot at the sensation of her body pressed against him and the kiss had a great deal more fire in it than he’d intended at first. His hand in her hair crushed her mouth against his, his other arm was banded around her tightly. Her hands were buried in his hair to pull his mouth harder against hers. Her firm breasts pressed against him. Sliding his hand down to her lower back, he pressed her against him, all of him. The blood pulsed hard in his veins.

  Slipping his hands beneath the thin, soft sweater, he ran them up her back, along the long, firm muscles beneath warm satiny skin. Her body was supple, it seemed to almost melt against his.

  Aidan’s hands on Ali’s skin set her on fire. Heat speared down into her center, gathered there, pooling. Her heart pounded , the blood rushed through her veins. She felt amazingly alive. His mouth was marvelous, shifting on hers as his hands stroked down to her hips again, pulled her hard against him, released, pulled her tight once more.

  Desperately, she clutched at his shoulders, hanging on as her senses went mad with the taste and the feel of him.

  She trembled and Aidan crushed his mouth against hers, her body against his.

  With an effort, he pulled back. “If we don’t go soon, I’m liable to ravage you in the car park,” he said.

  Her breath short, Ali said, with a shaky laugh, “We can’t have that…”

  Aidan laughed in return as those molten gold eyes sparkled at him.

  “You’re quite a woman, Ali Dearborn,” he said.

  “It does take two, Aidan O’Connell,” she remarked, her smile brilliant.

  With a sigh, he said, “It does at that. So we need to find a place for a good meal. Will you trust my judgment on this as well?”

  “Absolutely,” she said.

  “Good,” he said, “get in the car. We’ll see what we can find. Are we headed in any particular direction after that?”

  The day was fading, the sun already westering.

  She shook her head. “No, unless you have something in mind, we’re done sightseeing for the day.”

  “Dinner it is then,” he said.

  What he found was a nice local eating place not far that looked to offer good food. It was clean and there were plenty of cars in the car park, which was always a good sign.

  The food was good and there was plenty of it, not that they noticed much. Aidan kept his head about him enough to remember he was driving, so he stuck to Guinness. To his astonishment, Ali joined him in that, an anticipatory smile on her face. No white wine for her. What was more, though, she had the sense to allow it to build properly, waiting with her hands in her lap and her eyes on the glass.

  “You like Guinness?” he asked, astonished.

  Few American women drank beer in his experience and those that did didn’t like the strong taste of good beer, preferring that weak cold stuff they served on the other side of the pond.

  “Wait,” Ali said and took a long slow mouthful.

  Ali savored the taste. It was wonderful, dark beneath the cream, rich as sin, oh, that was so much better than beer at home.

  Her eyelids fluttered. She sighed with contentment, a look of nearly feline satisfaction on her face as she slowly licked the creamy foam from her top lip.

  The gesture was so unconsciously seductive Aidan went hot in an instant.

  Opening those amazing eyes, the molten
gold of them shifting liquidly, she said, “Yes. Oh, yes. Until now, I’ve only had what they serve in the States, cold, which almost ruins it. So I needed to try the real thing here, where they serve it as it’s meant to be served, to be sure.”

  She was an astonishing woman, with just a look or gesture she could make him go hot in seconds. Amazing.

  And she knew how to appreciate good beer.

  “So, do you have reservations somewhere tonight?” he asked.

  That smile flashed across her face again, her eyes impish.

  “No,” she said, “I’ve no reservations anywhere.”

  He was astonished, although he shouldn’t have been, it was like her, he was finding.

  “I didn’t want anything tying me down to a schedule,” Ali continued. “I thought to find Bed and Breakfasts, or stay in pubs. I’ve stayed in plenty of hotels in my life, I wanted something a little warmer, a little cozier.”

  For the last few years she’d traveled so much, jumping in and out of hotels… she didn’t need to do that anymore.

  He reached for her hand and without question, she placed hers in it, gave him a curious look.

  “As your tour guide, I have to ask if my services have been satisfactory,” he asked, with a smile.

  Ali’s heart picked up a beat and she smiled. She hadn’t dared ask. “Most satisfactory. I haven’t gotten lost once. I trust my company hasn’t been intolerable?”

  He closed his fingers around hers, remembering kisses in car parks. “No, it hasn’t. So, will you be hiring me on?”

  “If you’d like, I would very much like to retain your services for as long as you like,” she said, smiling, her heart lifting and her eyes sparkling.

  “Then I’d be pleased to join you,” he said, raising her hand to his lips and pressed his mouth to her knuckles.

  A burst of heat went through her.

  “Where tomorrow, then?” he asked.

  Her eyes twinkling, she said, “I don’t know. I haven’t thought about that yet. I was going to take a look at the maps, at the distances, tonight.”