Always, Page 2

  “Pleased to oblige you.” His sweater joined her shirt and she sighed happily. His upper body was beautiful. Hard but not bulked. Just the right amount of muscle. She was unwilling to stop herself from sliding her palms across his pecs, delighting in the way they jumped at her caress. Just the right amount of hair on his chest, lovely, flat nipples she remembered were very sensitive.

  “You’re still so very delicious.”

  He groaned when she scored his nipples with her short fingernails. “I don’t think I’ve been called delicious since I had a very satisfying fling with this American who worked in my dad’s pub a few years back.”

  “Hmm. Sounds like my kind of girl.”

  Laughing, he kissed each one of her hands and she pulled him toward the kitchen.

  “I’ve got some merlot, a decent cab.” She stuck her head in the fridge. “And Corona. I even have lime.” She closed the door and laughed. “Ah! And I’ve got some Jameson.”

  “You and me, naked, and Jameson. There’s a fine memory. Come on then, I’ll pour us a stiff one while you get the fire started.”

  She indicated where the whiskey and her glasses were and headed to the fireplace, flipping the switch. The gas fireplace burst into life.

  “Ah, you cheated. I thought we’d have wood smoke and everything.”

  She laughed, taking the glass he held out, downing the amber liquid in two swallows. The heat of it spread through her body. It was a good thing she didn’t have to be at work the next day.

  “Gas. Flip a switch and it’s on. No fussing with kindling, no pollutants, just instant fire.”

  “Let’s get down to business then, my fine lass.” He winked.

  One arm caught her about the waist and hauled her against his body. Both of them gasped at the sensation of naked skin meeting naked skin. Well, almost naked.

  He must have read her mind because as his lips met hers, he reached between them and popped the catch between her breasts and she shimmied out of her bra, never breaking the kiss.

  The warmth of his hands slid up her spine as his work-hard palms moved upward, kneading, holding her against him as he kissed her.

  Caitlin would have said he seduced her with that kiss. Slow at first, gentle, almost teasing. And then it deepened as his tongue danced into her mouth, sinuously caressing hers. It was as if that kiss bloomed her back into life, brought her sexuality back from a long nap into full awareness.

  Her breathing sped as her heart pounded. Blind need filled her. Her nails dug into his shoulders, making him groan. She eagerly swallowed the sound, taking it into herself.

  “Oh, Cat, you need this, don’t you, darlin’?” He broke away before kissing from one shoulder to the other, a feather-light combination of lips and breath. Gooseflesh broke out in waves as her gut tightened and heat settled between her legs.

  Desperate for relief, she squeezed her thighs together but the rub of the denim and the lace of her panties only made things worse.

  “Shhh, let me take the edge off.”

  Caitlin lay down on her bed and looked up at him as he pulled her jeans off and then her panties. His hair, dark and long enough to have a bit of curl at the collar of his shirt, called to her fingers.

  “I like the facial hair you’re working.” She tipped her chin to indicate the soul patch just below his luscious bottom lip.

  “Thank you.” He held the lacy thong he removed, dangling them from a finger. “Very pretty, these panties.”

  She bit her lip to keep from begging, trying hard to rein in the wave of desire threatening to drown her into senselessness. The casual sense of camaraderie they’d had even just moments before bled away. She needed him, needed the touch of someone who knew her and desired her.

  He must have sensed the change. “I know.” He got to his knees next to the low bed and slid his palms up the inside of her legs, pushing them apart.

  Soft, sure lips met the back of her knee, the tip of his tongue darted out to taste her there. He followed with a nip of his teeth and she felt herself grow wetter.

  Lips pressed against her inner thigh, higher and higher until, hallelujah choir, he went exactly where she needed him most.

  She wanted to close her eyes, to lose herself in the darkness. But she couldn’t tear her gaze away from him, his mouth on her, the olive tone of his hands against the pale skin of her thighs. Big hands. Sure. Strong.

  If there’d been a more erotic sight, she wasn’t sure she’d ever beheld it.

  Higher and higher he drove her until pleasure burst through her system and sent her spiraling as she whispered his name, clutching her comforter, her hips moving restlessly.

  Drugged with that climax, she watched lazily as he stripped off his jeans, boxers and socks before turning back to her. No doubt he was interested in continuing the evening in her bed. Which worked for her just fine.

  “Please tell me you have condoms,” he murmured as she pulled the comforter back to expose the sheets.

  That snapped her out of her orgasm-induced coma. “Yikes! Let me see.” Jumping up quickly, she scrambled into the bathroom and rifled through three drawers until she found a strip of them.

  She held them aloft as she returned and he laughed. “Victory. I don’t usually leave it up to the woman, you know. I’m not a cad. It’s just I didn’t expect to see you in a bar in Seattle of all places.”

  “You weren’t on the prowl for hot chicks?”

  He snorted. “I’ve got the only hot chick I need right here. Naked and holding several condoms.”

  “Works for me.” After checking the expiration date, Caitlin tossed them his way. He caught her as she moved to crawl over him to the other side of the bed.

  “No, Cat, stay right there. I like you perched on top of me. I hope three will be enough.”

  She did too. It’d been a while for her, more than three times and she might have some difficulty moving in the morning.

  “Let me do the honors then.” Balancing herself over him, she grabbed one of the foil packets and ripped it open. “This has aged quite well.” She slid her fist down and around his cock, slowly rolling the condom on, loving the way his pulse throbbed against her palm as she did.

  “Who knew watching a woman put a condom on me could be so hot?” Desire laced his voice, making his accent thicker.

  Rising on her knees, she reached around, guided him to her entrance and slowly moved her body down his.

  The hands he had resting on her hips tightened as he hissed. “Tight, good Lord, so very tight.”

  He didn’t know the half of it.

  Once she’d stretched a bit, they entwined their fingers and she began a slow rise and fall on his cock. Each time he filled her, electric arcs of pleasure shot up her spine.

  All the while, their eyes remained locked on one another. The intimacy of the moment was stunning and admittedly, it shook Caitlin. She tossed it aside, chalking it up to the length of time she’d done without sex and also her former connection to Eamon.

  It wasn’t long before the muscles in his neck corded and he’d begun to thrust up into her as she moved down. The movement brought the length of him over her clit repeatedly until ripples of climax began to echo through her. She let her head fall back on a moan.

  Eamon felt her body as she came around his. It was all he’d needed after tasting her, after watching the sway of her breasts as she’d moved on him. Caitlin, this Caitlin, was older and wiser and there was something heady about her sensuality. Barely leashed. He liked being the one to test it. And in truth, she tested him as well.

  All thought drained away as orgasm, powerful and intense, shot through him.

  She fell forward across his upper body, her sweet-scented hair draped over his lips. Kissing her shoulder, he pulled her off gently and got up, returning in just moments.

  “Will you stay or do you need to get back?” she murmured sleepily. He recalled the comment about how she’d just finished finals, she had to be knackered. But he didn’t want to leave. />
  “Do you mind if I stay?”

  She turned, putting her arm over his waist and her head on his shoulder. Half-lidded green eyes blinked into his. “I’d like that.”

  “Okay then. I will. Much more convenient when I get to wake you up in an hour or two for the next round.”

  She quirked up a smile. “It does indeed. Wouldn’t want to waste those condoms.”

  Her eyes closed and she snuggled into him with a satisfied sigh.

  He lay there in the dark and looked up at her ceiling trying to figure out just what was different about Caitlin Moore. Or even what was different about being with her now.

  He’d taken over running the family public house after a stint in the army. His father had been getting on in years and his older brother had met a very fine lady from America and had been traveling back and forth a lot. His baby sister had started a family and had little ones to raise. Eamon had been the logical choice and he hadn’t resented it.

  And then one summer morning, a redheaded, long and lithe American popped her head into the pub and said she was theirs for the next several months on a work visa through her college program. She’d had a quick wit, was handy behind the bar, the customers had adored her and he had too.

  It hadn’t taken long for their attraction to lead them to bed. But it had stayed very casual for both of them and their parting had been as friends. No weeping, no second thoughts. He missed her because they’d been friends as well as lovers but he’d not pined for her.

  But lying there, her body tucked into his side, he felt something more than he had those years ago and he didn’t know why. What he did know was that he couldn’t afford to feel more. He had a business to build up and he wasn’t going to lose sight of his goals. He’d walked away from what he’d known, from the pub and from Dublin. He was in Los Angeles to build something entirely new and as selfish as it might seem, he didn’t want his focus stolen by anything, even the lovely Caitlin.

  Still, he was only in town for a week. He lived twelve hundred miles south and she would be finishing law school. He wasn’t looking for a wife but it appeared she wasn’t looking to be one. It worked out for both of them at least for the week he’d be in the area. There was no reason he couldn’t simply lie back and enjoy this reunion for what it was and stop worrying about anything else.

  Chapter Three

  Caitlin woke up to a slight headache and sore thigh and groin muscles. Stretching experimentally, she bumped into the hard wall of warm, naked man and smiled.

  Eamon.

  It was then she realized what had roused her from slumber after a night where he’d woken her up twice more to make love.

  She nudged him gently. “Eamon, wake up.”

  “We’re out of condoms, darlin’. I can run out and grab us some if you let me sleep just a wee bit longer,” he mumbled, making her laugh.

  “I’m not sure my muscles are up to another romp with you just now. Your pants are ringing.”

  He opened his eyes and groaned. “Shite.” Rolling out of bed, he scrambled to his pants and fished out his phone, answering it quickly.

  Not wanting to intrude on his call, she eased out of the warmth of the blankets and headed to the kitchen. Once she’d turned on the coffeepot, she headed to the bathroom and turned the hot water on for a desperately needed shower.

  It wasn’t but about ten minutes later before he tapped on the door and stuck his head in as she was drying off.

  “You have no idea how much seeing you that way makes this even harder.” He groaned. “I have to go. The PR guy from the record label needs to reschedule one of the bands to today. I need to get back to my hotel and change and grab some supplies before heading over to Bellevue where they’re all waiting.”

  She frowned, disappointed. Still, she understood the demands of a career. “Oh, okay. I understand, believe me. Work comes first. It was lovely to see you.” She grabbed her robe. “Let me give you my cell phone number. Give me a call if you have the time while you’re still in town.”

  Rustling through her utility drawer in the kitchen, she found some paper and a pen and wrote the number down along with her home number and handed them to him. “You want some coffee to take with you? I’ve got a million travel mugs you can take.”

  He looked damned good as he cocked his head and gave her a sexy smile. “That would be fantastic. Thank you. Aren’t you going home for the holidays then?”

  She avoided his eyes as she grabbed a mug and poured the hot coffee into it. Hell no, she wasn’t going back to Boston to be harassed about her choices by her family. “Sugar and milk there if you like.” She indicated their spot on the counter. “And no. I’ll be here. My mentor and her family will have me over for Christmas. Anh is a cross between a mom and a big sister. Her kids will run me ragged all day and I’ll eat too much. Her husband is a sous chef so there’ll be plenty on their table.”

  “Well, good then. I’m sure your family will miss you though.” He looked at his watch before securing the lid on the mug and sighed. “I really have to get moving. I’ll call you soon. We didn’t do much talking last night. Not that I’m complaining. Still, I want to know what you’ve been up to.”

  “Call me and I’ll tell you. I’ll even make you dinner if you like.” She cocked her head and smiled. How could he resist such an invitation?

  “Sounds like a very fine offer.” He kissed her quickly before rushing out and she sighed, tossing herself onto her bed, loving the way the pillows still carried his scent.

  After hanging out with a bunch of cranky, hung-over twenty-year-olds for a good part of his day, Eamon had had it with people. Fecking boys thought they were rock stars. They weren’t even men! They were boys with too much eyeliner, their hair in their eyes and more money and opportunities than they knew what to do with. All the talent in the world couldn’t make up for bad manners. His mother would have boxed their ears for all the ugly talking they did.

  Agitated and feeling old, he headed back to his hotel, took a shower and then a nap, not waking up until nearly seven. He wondered if she should call Cat. He wouldn’t have hesitated before, wanting to grab as much time with her to have sex and visit as he could. But there was something different between them and it threw him off balance.

  And it was already seven, she was probably out for the evening anyway. He had a free day the next day, perhaps she’d like to show him the sights. That would be a casual thing, wouldn’t it?

  Frowning, he began to pace. He felt like a teenage boy all the sudden. With a growl of annoyance, he grabbed his phone and called her before he changed his mind.

  She answered on the third ring. He heard noise in the background, apparently she was out already. “Cat?”

  “Hey, Eamon, how was your shoot?”

  He smiled at the sound of her voice. “Annoying. Made me feel a hundred years old. I wanted to tell them all to pull up their damned pants.”

  “Well, did you tell them to stop playing ball in your yard? Because if so, you are a hundred years old.”

  A glimmer of the Cat he’d been with four years ago surfaced and he laughed, relaxing. “Funny. Easy for you to say, you’re still young.”

  “I am, aren’t I? You can live through me, Pops.”

  “Oh you’ll pay for that!”

  Her voice lowered, the tone intimate, sexy, and it shot straight to his cock. “Promise?”

  “Indeed. Are you free tomorrow? I haven’t had much of a chance to see the city. You want to be my tour guide? I’ll even let you make me dinner afterward or we can eat out, your choice. Oh and I’ll bring the condoms. A lot more than three.” He’d need to grab a big box.

  “My. With an offer like that, how can I refuse?”

  They made arrangements for him to meet her at her apartment at ten and he rang off. Admittedly, he’d wanted her to ask him over that evening but he stifled any disappointment over it.

  So he’d order in some food, catch a movie and get a good night’s sleep. Then he’d be re
ady for her in the morning.

  “Who was that?” Anh Mancuso, Caitlin’s boss, mentor and good friend asked.

  “That was Eamon Blake.”

  The table full of lawyers, interns and significant others continued to chatter loudly as Caitlin took a sip of her wine.

  “Tell me. There’s clearly a very salacious story here.” Anh winked.

  “Right after I graduated Harvard, I went to Ireland on a work abroad visa. You know, a summer of fun working in some shit job for no pay but you get your living expenses and learn the culture yadda yadda.

  “Anyway, I was assigned to a pub in Dublin. Having Irish roots and all, I thought it would be fun to go. I walked through those double doors and this ridiculously sexy, very braw Irishman stood behind the bar. He sent me a very wicked grin and that pretty much started everything. Eamon was my boss and then my friend, and then my lover. It was a really fun summer. We had lots of sex. He drove me all over Ireland taking me on sightseeing trips. I learned more about my heritage from a near stranger than I ever had from my parents. But, I also learned how to pull a perfect pint from Eamon’s dad, heard a lot of great stories and live music and I came home. I haven’t seen him since then until I bumped into him last night at Club Twenty-One where I was with Amy to celebrate finals.”

  “And I assume he’s still hot?” Anh waggled her brows.

  “Like the sun.”

  “Oh and the accent? Like Gerard Butler?”

  Caitlin laughed. Anh had great taste. Her husband, Vittorio, was one of the most gorgeous men Caitlin had ever met in person.

  “Yes he has an accent. It’s spectacularly hot. It gets nearly unintelligible when he’s um, worked up. But Gerry is Scottish so their accents aren’t quite the same. Still, I have to say, Eamon is just an all around fantasy on legs. He’s got this very wicked smile, big white teeth, just absolutely sexy.”

  “Worked up? Was there any working up last night?”

  Caitlin nodded enthusiastically. “He spent the night. Used all the condoms I had in my apartment even. Which given the dry spell I’ve been having for the last few years, I was surprised they didn’t have cobwebs! I had to use Epsom salts, we worked so hard.”