“Yes.”
While he reached beneath a broken flowerpot beside the door and removed a key, she glanced over her shoulder, assessing the woods for signs of a woman. Sometimes Shanna’s mind played tricks and she heard voices that actually weren’t there. But in no way could she mistake the sounds of that laughter.
In conjunction with the chills it evoked along her spine, cool air nipped at her flesh. She shivered and her teeth chattered. And when the door creaked open, the hairs on the back of her neck stood. “I don’t get it. You maintain Tullamore well. The gardens are free of weeds, so why—”
“I don’t want to draw attention to my home. I’d rather it blend into the surroundings. Don’t worry, Shanna, I take pride in the interior. It’s nothing like the outside. Please,” he said, waving her inside.
A musty scent of dust and cedar smacked her in the face as she stepped over the threshold into a cozy, well-kept kitchen. An antique table accompanied by four matching chairs filled most of the room. From where she stood the entire house was visible—each section divided by only furniture. To the left side of the table, a braided rug lay on the wooden floor between a dark-brown couch and full-length brick fireplace. A double bed and short dresser stood against the opposite wall. Rust-colored curtains hung from all five windows, including the kitchen. A slight space in between the panels allowed minimal, natural light to cascade inside.
“I love it.” She relaxed her shoulders and stuffed her hands inside her jacket pockets. “It’s so quaint. Can we build a fire?”
He pushed the door shut. “Anything you want, love. Make yourself comfortable.”
After she unzipped and stepped out of her boots, she walked to the couch and sat down. And for the first time in nearly twenty-four hours she felt comfortable and at peace with her surroundings. “Did you grow up here?”
“I did. My da built this cabin for my mum.”
“Any sisters or brothers?”
“No. Mum was expecting but she and the babe both perished during childbirth.”
“Oh, Niall, I’m so sorry.”
His broad shoulders bunched into masses of thick muscle while he stacked wood inside the fireplace. “I don’t remember her much. I was just a wee child. Three years old.”
Could Shanna’s heart get any heavier? “You were just a baby yourself.”
“Yeah, that I was.” A forlorn smile quickly passed over his lips. “My da raised me well. He also maintained Tullamore’s gardens. When he perished, Áine hired me for the job.” He glanced over his shoulder. “And you?”
“It’ll be two years this month since I lost my dad. Mom passed just six months ago. I have a married sister, so it’s pretty much just me now.”
“Do you talk to her?” He removed a wooden matchstick from a box on the mantel, struck it to life against the brick mortar and held it beneath a log until it ignited in flames.
“Yes. We talk a lot on the phone but rarely spend any time together.” Her gaze lowered to his defined abs as he made his way to the couch and sat down. And just as a cloud of warmth brushed against her toes, she shivered and stuffed her hands beneath her thighs.
“Would you like a blanket?”
“No thanks. I’ll be fine in a minute. That first stroke of heat always gets to me.” As did he. And she had a feeling the warmth worming its way between her thighs had nothing to do with the fire burning in the pit.
Were things moving too fast? She’d just broken an engagement last night and was already prepared to jump in bed with another man. But seriously, who cared? She was in Ireland. The place of romance and mystique. She hadn’t set any rules for herself so technically she had nothing to worry about. Well, other than booking a flight home, which she needed to get a handle on really soon.
“Niall, have you changed your mind?” she asked in nearly a whisper, looking at her lap. “Or do you still want to make love to me?”
He lifted her chin with a firm but gentle hand. “My God, it’s all I’ve wanted to do.”
“It is?”
“Yes.” He nodded and padded his lips to her brow. “Shanna, you’ve had my body aching since the moment you stepped out of the taxi and looked into my eyes.”
She laughed softly but it faded as he pressed his mouth desperately to hers and slipped his tongue past her teeth. Ah, she could’ve fainted from the amount of passion spilling into her. His desire. And technique. And heat. And, wow, when one hand slid beneath her knees and another around her back where he lifted her and headed toward the bed, her belly unraveled.
The kiss was magical, unlike any kiss she’d ever had the pleasure of receiving. It was unusually dry but provoked an unexplainable sensation, as if her blood sparkled and insides glowed. Such an intense feeling from a simple kiss. One little kiss.
Carefully he laid her down on the mattress and lay on top of her, bearing weight on his arms. Not once had their lips separated. Not even a fraction of an inch.
She slid her hands into the hair above his ears and held him while he tantalized and teased her tongue. She raised her hips and rubbed her groin into his abdomen, telling without words what she wanted. Breaths rushed through her nostrils, matching the frenzy of her increasing passion. Nearly every skillful motion of his mouth encouraged a stream of wetness to flow from her body on to her panties.
When he broke the kiss and gazed into her eyes, leaving her breathless and panting, her lips felt plump and thoroughly abused. In a good way. A great way.
“You’re sure this is okay?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yes.” It was better than okay. And if he’d intended to do this as a favor to relinquish her heartache, well, he’d succeeded. The only pain toying with her emotions was the need to have him buried deep inside her.
“Take off your clothes, Shanna.” He rolled off her on to his side. “Prove to me you want it.”
Stomping the urge to jump up and rip off her clothes, she scooted off the bed and languidly removed her jacket and sweater, tossing them to the floor. The passion in his expression spurred her to lift the dress over her head in one smooth sweep. Dangling it from her fingertips, she dropped it to her feet. His eyes narrowed as he watched her unhook the bra clasp. His gaze twinkled in anticipation yet she took her time peeling the fabric away from her breasts. The instant the cool air hit her nipples they puckered and the tips hardened into suckable peaks. She envisioned how exciting it’d feel to have him nibbling each one between his teeth. Her nipples were extremely sensitive and she loved having them lavished and tormented by a hot, hungry mouth. And knowing how skillfully Niall used his lips intensified her fervor.
“Remove your panties and come here.”
She dropped her bra to the floor, and just as she stuck her thumbs into the waistband, he sat up on the edge of the bed.
“Never mind, love. I’ll do it.” He took hold of her hips and pulled her in between his thighs. As he lowered his lips to her abdomen and dipped his tongue into her navel, his hands slid past her hipbones and he gave her ass cheeks a gentle squeeze.
She gasped and tilted her head back, facing the ceiling. And when he took the panties between his teeth and tugged and air swept across her pubic bone, her knees weakened. Instinctively she clutched his shoulders to brace herself. Lord, having his face so close to her pussy—it was something Derek had never done. Well, not to her. And she never questioned why. Not that she hadn’t wanted to—she didn’t know how to approach the subject. At one point she’d considered asking Adrienne or her best friend for advice, but again she was at a loss for words. What could she say? “Um, Adrienne, Joanne, excuse me but, um, Derek won’t eat my pussy. What do you suggest I do?
Sadly her previous sexual encounters were one-nighters with self-absorbed men looking for a quickie who cared about their pleasure only. At least Derek cared enough to bring her to climax with his fingers and cock. But seriously, she had a hard time believing he didn’t perform oral sex on other women at least once.
Maybe she was being too presumptuous in thinking it w
as Niall’s intention. But when he slid her panties down her thighs, off her feet, and the tip of his tongue prodded her slit, she sucked in a loud, raspy breath and nearly collapsed.
“Lie down on the bed, love. I prefer you remain safe while I ravish you.”
Ravish? She gulped. Following the guidance of his hands, she turned and sat beside him. There she froze, reluctant to lie down for fear of appearing too anxious.
“Down,” he said, softly guiding her shoulders to the mattress.
When he slid her to the center of the bed and spread her thighs, her tummy spiraled. Yes, she’d wanted this—she’d waited forever to experience what other women raved about. Yet she felt a snippet of apprehension. She thought she’d been in touch with her sexuality but now she seemed a little disconnected. “Niall, I’m sorry if I—”
“No, Shanna,” he whispered, placing a finger over her lips. “You don’t have to explain.” He kissed the outer corner of her mouth. “Close your eyes and relax,” he continued, whisking his fingertips between her breasts to her stomach.
As his hand slipped between her thighs and a finger toyed with her clit, she gasped and snapped her eyes shut.
Warm lips pressed into her neck then lowered to her breasts, kissing one then the other before tugging a nipple into his mouth. A stream of tingles burst in her chest, branching to her fingertips and toes. She arched her chest and fisted a handful of his hair, pulling him closer while shoving her breast forward. His tongue swirled over the tip. He bit it then gently suckled it to ease the throb. “Niall, do you have a condom?” she asked breathlessly.
He lifted his face and gazed into her eyes. “No, love, I don’t sleep around so I don’t carry any.”
Arrgghh. That wasn’t the answer she’d wanted to hear. Well, she was on the Pill. And if he didn’t sleep around, she wouldn’t have to worry about disease. Hopefully he wasn’t lying. “It’s okay, I’m protected.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded. “Yes,” she said, guiding his lips back to her breast. And it took every ounce of strength not to rip off his pants and stuff herself full of his cock when he slipped a finger inside her.
After he removed his mouth and worked his way down her body, cool air wrapped around her nipple, replacing his heat. Tingles raced through her blood and her pulse doubled in beats the instant he lowered his face between her thighs and his tongue lapped her clitoris.
An electrical, whimsical current swept through her body.
She sucked air into her lungs, releasing it with a moan. Her hips darted upward. The subtle strokes he delivered evolved into swift circles, enticing her bottom to rotate. Then they stopped, replaced by slight suction. Her ass lifted off the bed. She crammed her pussy against his face.
Mercy. It was better than anything she’d ever experienced. It reminded her of the sensation she’d felt yesterday—as if life were being sucked out of her through that sensitive nub.
Impossible.
The feelings were nearly exact, and… And she couldn’t go there right now. Not if she wanted to continue enjoying Niall’s delicious mouth.
She fisted the blanket. Her bracelet jingled. Maybe it was the Leo charm signaling her to set the inner lioness free.
Shanna continued pressing her crotch against his face, satiating her body’s need for more. Twinkles of light flickered inside her brain as pleasure built to an explosive level. And just as she reached the breaking point, the suction dwindled to a complete stop.
After withdrawing his fingers from her pussy, he inched his way up her body, kissing a path to her lips. She tasted herself on his mouth and the erotic notion deepened her arousal.
She couldn’t wait anymore. She had to have him now. Rammed inside her pussy.
Sliding her hands between their bodies, she unhooked his pants, slid them over his firm ass and gripped his cock. A huge cock. A bigger-than-huge cock. In circumference as well as in length. No way could she come out of this without some type of damage.
Her eyes flew open. His opened as well. And despite him halting the kiss, she felt his lips form into a smile.
“It’ll be okay, Shanna.” He lifted his face and rubbed her cheekbones with his thumbs. “I won’t hurt you.”
She imagined he received the same reaction often. What woman wouldn’t feel a smidgen of fear from trying to conquer something that size? Oh she wanted to. But, wow, her vagina was clenching in either fright or joy. She couldn’t pinpoint which, but it was still tender and trying to come to grips with whatever happened in her room last night.
“I promise, love. Trust me.”
That, she did. It was the cock she doubted.
Despite her reservations, she nodded. “I’m still sore, so please be gentle.”
A calculated smile transposed his features as if to say, I know, but he remained silent while he grabbed his penis and positioned the head at her entrance. Then he slightly shoved his hips forward, sliding the tip inside. Very gently—gentler than she expected. Her vagina instantly contracted, tugging him a fraction deeper.
“That’s it, love,” he crooned. “Let your body do the work.”
“I’m going to rip.” She knew she wouldn’t but logic dictated something that big should cause the membranes to tear. The width reminded her of a, hell, she wasn’t sure—at the very least, a mammoth dildo. It was comparable to what’d been inserted inside her yesterday. But again, she chose to avoid that subject.
He grinned as if that’d given him an ego boost. “You won’t.”
His smile faded and his gaze remained locked on hers as if wanting to watch her reaction during the penetration. But unfortunately when he plunged a little deeper, she bit her lower lip and her eyes spontaneously closed. It heightened her concentration and enhanced the ability to focus on all the exciting tingles monopolizing her nerves. She couldn’t explain the sensations. But they were good. Something could be said for being stretched so far and wide. Her body produced a mass of juice, offering him an extremely slippery passage. Mercy, she wanted him completely embedded. “Push it farther,” she said with a gasp. “All the way.”
Though she preferred he slam home, he continued to be gentle while slowly inching toward her cervix. And just when she thought she couldn’t take any more, he pushed her knees to the outside of her waist and sank deep.
She winced in pleasure and moaned as she palmed his face and brought his lips to hers. With each dart of his tongue he pumped his hips. Short little jabs at first then long languid strokes. And each one pushed her closer to the brink of climax. How could it not with every nerve exposed from the width of his cock? Every thrust caused friction and sparks ignited in her blood. “Faster, Niall.” She was right there—dangling. Overdosing on pleasure. And as he sped up, ramming his penis fast and deep, she fisted his hair and hung on as waves of pleasure and bliss erupted in her chest. Her pussy contracted and tummy jerked. “Oh God,” she whimpered, and just as the orgasm swept through her body and began to fade, another started full force. “Please, I can’t take any more.”
Over and over he pumped into her until finally a deep groan filled her ears and he collapsed on top of her, bearing weight on his elbows and knees.
“I could get used to this, love. Waking beside you every morning and holding you every night.”
Ah, as could she. There was something so addicting and unexpected about him, it frazzled her mind. Spending time together felt right. Unfortunately she’d be flying back to the States soon, and he’d become just a memory to accompany her to sleep every night. But one thing was clear—she’d never forget the afternoon spent in Niall’s bed.
An unexplainable calm lingered in the aftermath of their lovemaking, unlike the tense atmosphere after having sex with Derek. He’d always seemed anxious to hop off the bed and into the shower the moment they’d finished. The lack of affection afterward aided in building an invisible wall between them.
He was everything she didn’t want but she’d fooled herself into believing one day he’d
change. Thankfully it’d ended before that day came. The way Niall stayed lying beside her, gazing into her eyes and stroking her cheekbones with his thumbs, was exactly what she’d needed. Especially after aching to be cuddled, having given herself sexually to a stranger so soon after ending the engagement. Well, it just wasn’t something that sat lightly on her shoulders. “I wish I could stay,” she said, laying her hand over top of his and holding it to her cheek. “But I can’t.”
“Then stay with me tonight. Postpone your departure at least one more day.”
That wasn’t asking a lot, and as she glanced at the gold flecks twinkling in his eyes she knew she’d give him at least that much. It wasn’t as if she absolutely had to go home yet. She was doing it as a favor to herself to set her life back on track, because the sooner she returned to work to regain some type of normalcy, the better. “Just tonight, Niall. It’s all I can give.”
“I’ll take it, but you won’t leave without carrying memories of me you’ll never forget.”
He needn’t worry about that. There’d already been a pretty large one set in place. How could she ever forget a man like him? “That won’t happen.”
Chapter Five
“Niall?” Shanna sat up in bed, holding the covers over her breasts, and tried focusing her eyes through the semi-darkness. It was quiet. Way too quiet for comfort. Not even the fire crackled. She glanced toward the fireplace but the flames had died and only red embers glowed inside the pit. If not for streaks of moonlight trickling through the curtain slits, she wouldn’t be able to see her way through the cottage. That could’ve proven disastrous. “Niall, are you here?”
Maybe he’d gone into the bathroom or perhaps outside to retrieve more firewood. She scooted off the mattress, wrapping a blanket around her shoulders, and gazed at the bathroom, but the door was open and it was dark inside.
Wow, she didn’t like this at all. The only thing worse than waking alone in a strange place was waking alone in a dark, strange place. It gave her the heebie-jeebies. Tightening the blanket, she sauntered to the fire to stoke the flames back to life. But the strangest thing happened after she removed the poker and hunched down—the embers sparked as if they’d been stirred and a flame ignited.
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