Page 30 of After Indigo Irish Nights
He laid his hand on her shoulder, rubbing the line of tension there, igniting a trail of fire. “If I had, it would have made it a thing. Sorcha tried to trap me with my own logic. If we’re not meant for each other, then what would be the harm of enjoying some time together? She was canny in life, and she’s just as canny as a ghost.”
“I noticed that.”
His touch reached the back of her bare neck, the sensation making her thoughts scatter. Whyweren’tthey going for each other? She couldn’t remember right now.
“You need to put petroleum jelly on your face so it won’t crack.”
He made a rude sound as her fingers traced the cut by his eye. “Eoghan thinks word of how hard I’m training will travel through the county. It’ll be good for my rep. I’ve been out of the game a while, you know.”
“I have seven high-octane brothers. You tough guys drive me crazy.”
He met her gaze head-on, his blue eyes filled with desire and something more. “You tough girls drivemecrazy. So crazy, I can’t seem to remember why I’m not supposed to kiss you.”
Her pulse quickened as his fingers caressed her nape. God, she wanted his hands all over her.
She moved her head so their contact deepened. He shifted closer, putting his other hand on her waist. She let her hand spread over his pectoral muscle, the flesh hot as fire, and felt the answering response of his fast beating heart. Arousal pooled in her belly, low and liquid.
“Kissing isn’t getting with someone, right?”
His hand tightened on the swell of her hip. “No… Kissing is nothing. A bare brushing of lips. Chaste as a saint. Nothing to worry about.”
When his gaze lowered to her mouth, she found herself wetting her lips. The pull between them was magnetic, and she didn’t want to fight it right now. His other hand cupped the back of her head, and he held her gaze.
“You’re right,” she whispered, nearly out of breath with desire. “Nothing to worry about.”
When he lowered his head, she met him, mouth to mouth. She moaned at the contact—at the perfect pairing of their lips—and heard his answering groan. Her eyes closed as he brought her flush against him, banding his hand around her waist while keeping the other at the back of her head.
God, how she’d dreamed about kissing him again, and this time there was a new tenderness along with a heat so powerful it destroyed her every sense. She wrapped her arms around him and caressed the line of his naked back as they tilted their heads for a better angle.
She let her lips move over his, tracing them with her tongue, discovering the faint taste of spearmint there. Their mouths opened unbidden, and the kiss turned carnal, his tongue tangling with hers, the pressure and agony of want calling up more dark moans and groans from deep within them.
“Declan,” she breathed out as he broke the contact.
“You called me Declan.”
“Yeah,” she said before sucking on his bottom lip.
“Do it again,” he ordered.
“Declan.”
His mouth crushed hers in a wild kiss. Somewhere low, she started to pulse. She pressed into his body, the hard evidence of his desire resting against her belly. She uttered another agonized whimper as he gently bit down on her lower lip. A throaty rumble rose up between them when she gave him the same treatment.
“This is madness.” His hands tightened on her hips, and then he pressed his forehead to hers, breaking the kiss.
His breath fanned on her mouth, and she knew she was panting too. Her body pulsed with the primal need to mate with him, and she knew he was experiencing the same sensation.
He finally moved her away from him and ran a shaking hand through his hair. “We agreed on a kiss. If we do more, we need to be agreeing to that as well, I think. God, that was— I can’t tell you what it took to step back.”
She pressed her hand to her throat, flushed with desire, trying not to look at the masculine beauty in front of her. “I know. Declan— I’m not often so conflicted, but you’re right. We had reasons for not doing this. I just can’t seem to hold on to them right now.”
“You’d better go.” He blew out a harsh breath. “So we can both breathe.”
“And get our heads on straight.”
“Kathleen… I can’t say I’ve ever wanted anyone more than I want you.”
Delight and desire rushed through her. He deserved the same honesty. “Me either.” She wouldn’t let herself wonder if it had anything to do with Sorcha being right. “I’ll be going.”
