Page 99 of After Indigo Irish Nights
She stepped into him and laid her head on his chest, swaying softly, and his arms came around her and cradled her close. She could feel the steady beat of his heart. She wrapped her arms around him and fell into the moment.
When he pressed a kiss to her neck, she gave him more room. He nuzzled her softly, his breath hot against her flesh. Desire pooled in her belly and rushed through her. She pressed her forehead into his chest. He caressed her back, running his hands from the top of her spine to the base, igniting fires everywhere he touched.
“I love you,” he whispered.
“I love you too,” she said, her voice raw with longing. “Declan, I’m so glad you were here to celebrate with us tonight.”
It felt like a new anchor in their foundation. Soon his fight would be over and they could simply go about being together. She couldn’t wait for that moment.
She caressed the back of his neck. He took her hand, and they left without saying good night to anyone. Which she imagined was okay. Their friends would understand.
In his room, he undressed her quickly. “I can’t wait. I’m on fire for you.”
“Ditto.” She tugged his shirt off and gasped at the tapestry of bruises covering his chest and torso. “Declan.”
“The bruises always color worse days after a fight.”
He didn’t need to remind her of how bad that fight had been. But still, she hated to see evidence that he was hurting…
He lifted her chin. “Hey! It looks worse than it is.”
She wanted to call bullshit, but she knew he was only trying to assure her.
“Eyes on me, Kathleen. Now let me love you.”
She nodded. All she wanted to do was fill herself with his beautiful face. With him. “Yes, make love with me.”
She had him sit on the edge of the bed—the best position not to hurt his bruised body—and lowered herself over him. The feel of him inside her had them both groaning.
“I love you,” she whispered again as she touched his tense face.
His blue eyes flashed with emotion, and then he was kissing her as she rode him—gently at first, and then her urgency took over. Bowing back, she moved swiftly against him, his hands holding her at the hips as they crested into each other. Her orgasm slammed over her, making her cry out. He stilled, coming inside her, pumping into her as he groaned deep in his throat.
Somehow they managed to crawl to the top of the bed. When he pulled her to lie against his side, she went slowly. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“The only thing that could hurt me tonight is if I didn’t hold you.”
Her heart burst in her chest, and she kissed him softly, slowly. “I can’t wait until this damn fight is over.”
He wouldn’t be bruised anymore. And they would be together for everyone to see.
“I wish I had my money now to help you buy the butcher shop. That would save your body, which I happen to love.”
He froze next to her. “No,mo chroí.”
His reaction made her settle onto her side so she could see his face. His jaw was as tense as his voice. “You’re upset. Are you saying you wouldn’t take my help if I could give it to you?”
“This is a moot point, since you don’t have it.”
Something still niggled at her. “But what if I did?”
He gave a crisp shake of his head. “I couldn’t take it. That’s your money.”
“And yet you offered to give me some for a ticket home—”
“Which I couldn’t do since I lost my first fight, which is all the more reason I need to win the one coming up.”
Suddenly the room was filled with tension. She hated it. “This is why I would give you the money. I don’t like seeing you like this, so driven and bruised from head to toe.”
