First and Only (Callaghan Brothers #2)

*

Spent, Ian collapsed. He was vaguely aware of her kissing his face, stroking his hair. It felt good, so good. She simply held him as his body shook and shuddered above hers, until he finally calmed.

He must have dozed off. When he woke his arms were filled with the most wonderful warm, soft flesh. The feeling of contentment was a new one for him; he had never stayed long enough to experience this before. But then again, he’d never had a woman like this before, either.

It had been stupid – no, make that beyond stupid – to engage in unprotected sex with a woman he’d met on a bus. Yet even now, he could not imagine sheathing himself with her. Yes, it was stupid, but the damage was done. No sense putting one on now, or for the next several times he planned on taking her. Like now.

He nudged her, trying not to think too much about how his heart swelled at the sleepy little smile or the satisfied little moan she gave him. Without a word, she welcomed him, denying him nothing.





Chapter Six




Ian woke up feeling more rested than he had in weeks, but with the unmistakable feeling that something was missing. He glanced around, remembering where he was as all of the memories flooded into him. His cock jerked up sharply, causing him to shake his head. He’d never had trouble with stamina before, but last night he’d surpassed even his own expectations, taking the woman repeatedly, coming harder each time.

Where was she now? He looked around the room, already knowing she wasn’t close. He didn’t have to see her to feel her; his senses seemed to jump into über-mode when she was around. He mentally added that to the list of things he didn’t want to analyze the meaning of just yet.

He listened carefully, but heard nothing within the room or the en suite. A faint hint of vanilla and citrus hung in the air, mixing with the scents of a night filled with incredible sex.

Ian frowned. Waking up alone was not on his top ten list of things he’d most like to do this morning. He would have much rather preferred some more morning sex, followed by a hot, steamy shower together where he would soap up every inch of that luscious body he’d come to know so intimately, then maybe more sex. After all, he didn’t have to be anywhere until...

Ian looked at the small digital clock on the bedside table and jolted upright. “Shit!” The glowing numbers told him it was 10:45. The viewing was already underway, going till 11:30, to be followed immediately by the Mass. His father was going to skin him alive.

He ran back to the Pub and took the stairs two at a time, grabbing a two-minute cold shower and donning his black suit. No time to shave, he thought, glad that he had chosen to do so right before heading over to the hotel the night before. At least he didn’t look too bad. The dark circles under his eyes had disappeared, leaving him with the satisfied look of a man who had spent a good portion of the last twelve hours making a goddess scream out his name in rapturous pleasure over and over.

His thoughts were consumed with the woman as he made his way to the funeral parlor. Who was she? Why was she in town? And how the hell had she managed to sneak out of the room this morning without him hearing her? One thing was for sure – as soon as his obligations here were met, he was damn sure going to find some answers.

Glad for his SEAL training, he slipped among the shadows into the back as if he’d been there for hours. The funeral home was packed with townspeople, and no one seemed to notice his late arrival. His brothers, however, had the same training he’d had and were more aware than most. He bore their accusatory glances stoically. It was their father he was most worried about.

Brian O’Connell had been a friend of the family’s for as long as he could remember. He and Jack Callaghan had served in the special forces together, and had formed a bond that only those captured and tortured together could ever truly understand. Out of respect for both his father and Brian, Ian forced himself to shove aside thoughts of last night to concentrate on the present.

“Glad you could make it,” Kane’s voice hissed in his ear. Damn, but his eldest brother was a sneaky bastard. No wonder they always called on Kane when stealth was key. “The old man’s been looking for you. I hope she was worth it, bro.”

Ian clenched his jaw but said nothing. Hell yes, she’d been worth it. If she had been there when he’d woken up this morning, there was a damn good chance he wouldn’t be here now. He’d be buried deep inside the sweetest, tightest, wettest...