I hitch up higher on his chest so I can hold his face. His embarrassment is coming off him in waves. “I have a confession.”
He swallows. “What’s that?”
“I’ve had a crush on you for three years.” God, it feels good to admit that. Scary but good. “The storm might have thrown us together in this room, but it’s not why I’m in this bed with you.”
Conor flips me over until he’s caging me in, his weight propped on his elbows. His eyes search mine. “You’re being serious?”
“I am.”
“Back up a bit. I specifically remember you getting yourself up from a table at the Fado’s in Chicago when I joined you and some others and you walking to the other side of the bar. And staying there.”
“You remember that? That was last year.”
“Yeah. I remember. I thought you were a dead feek when first we met—”
“Dead feek?”
“Hot as fuck, I believe is the American expression. But you were making it clear you weren’t interested. At least I thought you were.” He looks at me a moment longer. “Well, you’re a hard nut to crack, aren’t ya? I had no idea. And believe me, I was looking for signs ever since I first clapped eyes on ya.”
An unfamiliar wave of giddiness washes through me. “You were attracted to me even then?”
“Yeah.”
I look to the side. “I suck at flirting. I think I assumed you weren’t interested in a tough, non-girly-girl and…” I shrug.
“Protecting yourself by thinking you’d seen better on top of a wedding cake?”
I laugh. “Actually, maybe so.”
“But you’re so direct and open. I figured you’d have no trouble asking for what you want.”
“With most things, yes. And when it comes to sex. But if I have it bad for someone, the stakes are higher.”
He winks at me. “So you’re saying you have it bad for me, yeah?”
“Yes,” I whisper.
He shifts to his side and brushes a hand across my bare stomach. “That’s brilliant, yeah.”
“Conor?”
“Hmm?”
“Why did you ask about the storm being glue?”
He flops onto his back with a sigh. “I shouldn’t have asked that.”
I snuggle up to him, and he drapes his arm around me, holding me to his chest. “Why not? It’s what was on your mind. You can be honest with me.”
He’s quiet for a moment, and I wait him out. Finally, he says, “I was with a girl back in Ireland. Brianna. Knew her since I was in nappies, and she was my first girlfriend. We were both each other’s firsts.”
“Sex?”
“Yeah. And we stayed together through college, and I was of a fair mind to marrying her. Was wanting to get myself set up with a steady job first, prove myself. But she broke it off with me shortly after graduating. Knocked me back.”
Oh man. “Did she say why?” I have a strange urge to either hunt the woman down and bop her head or kiss her.
“Yeah. Said I didn’t have any substance.”
I sit up and stare down at him. “I’d like to knock some substance into her.” God, that’s awful. And so this was the embarrassing breakup he blurted while playing poker. “So it made you worry no one would have a reason to want to be with you.”
He pulls me back down against him. “Let’s not be talking about Brianna anymore, yeah.”
“Okay.” But it kills me that someone as solid as Conor would ever doubt himself. The mind games we play with ourselves can be harmful. Boy, am I all too aware. I stroke his chest and play with one of his nipples. We’re quiet for a time as I absently stroke his skin, content to just be.
“Why’d you leave Ireland?”
He’s quiet. His chest rises, and he blows out a breath. “Many reasons. And before you ask, yeah, Brianna was a major one. Wanted to start my life over.”
I could certainly understand wanting to wipe your slate clean.
I go to blow out the candles but notice something.
“Oh, wow.” I sit back up again and stare at his crotch. I’ve never seen an uncircumcised penis before. I mean, I’d seen his, but it looked like any other one in the main aspects. But now it’s not hard. Well, it’s starting to stir, which was what caught my eye at first. “Can I touch it?”
“I won’t be saying no to that, but you’re acting like you’ve never seen a man’s wire before.”
“Wire?” I chuckle. “That’s a new one. I’ve just never seen one uncut before.”
I take him in hand and poke the tip, which is almost hidden inside his foreskin, like it’s playing peek-a-boo. I pull down, and the head comes fully out to greet me. “Oh cool.” I smooth it back up, completely hiding it. And then back down. Which definitely has an effect as he grows hard in my hand.
“We’ll have to be getting creative in finishing if you keep with the stroking.”
I cock my head.
His handsome features are twisted into a frown. “No more condoms.”
“They might sell some in the little shop next to the check-in desk.”
He levers up and swipes his jeans off the floor. “Say no more.”
Chapter 15
Claire
I awake with a start, bolting upright, groggy and unsure what awakened me. I sit there a moment as my brain catches up with my surroundings and what day it is. I glance around.
Hotel room.
Clothes on the floor.
Heat rushes over me. Oh, yeah. I look to the other side of the bed, and my heart does a weird squeeze. It’s empty.
I smooth my hand over it. Still warm. Surely he didn’t leave?
“Would you be looking for me, yeah?” a sexy Irish voice says from the doorway.
I yank my hand away and tuck it under my thigh. Now I know I’m blushing. God, how embarrassing.
Conor strolls in carrying a tray, his stride confident and powerful. He has his jeans on, but no shirt. “Could you eat now?”
“Yes, I am actually hungry.”
When he lowers the tray over my lap, I catch my breath. He’s set a mini table for me—plate, napkin, and silverware. On the plate are two muffins, and he’s cut up one of the apples.
Another part of me melts. “Oh wow. This is awesome, thank you!”
He grins. “You’re welcome. I’ll be but a moment.”
He trots out and returns with another tray, settling in beside me on the bed with his own tray over his lap.
“Where did you get the trays?” I didn’t see any in our kitchenette. I’m also looking for an excuse to talk—anything to keep the situation flowing as if this is all normal. And by all, I mean the sex, waking up with him bringing me breakfast in bed.
“I went down to the foyer for some news and grabbed them from the buffet.” He turns his big grin on me and bites into his apple, which he didn’t cut.
“Thank you. So what did you find out?” I bite into my banana nut muffin, still light and the right amount of moist. Hmm, I think they put some cinnamon in this one. Delicious.
“Not much of use. Trees down everywhere, and power’s still out. There’s a fuckton of debris in the car park.”
“Still raining?”
“Not a bit of it. Sky’s all blue, acting as innocent as a nun.”