The irish blessing, p.18
The Irish Blessing, page 18
“Damn, that feels good,” Shane said between panting breaths.
I couldn’t take it anymore, wanting to feel him inside me. I turned around, grabbing the condom Shane had placed on the bedside table. I handed it to him. “I can’t wait. I want you.”
Shane put on the condom and then reached for me. “Take the top.”
I climbed on him, guiding him inside. Thoroughly aroused, I threw my head back, savoring the sensation of his abdomen rubbing against the sweet spot between my legs. I ground my hips as I rode him, leaning forward, so the angle was perfect. Desperately wanting to release, I began pushing harder, our bodies merging in an erotic sensual rhythm.
Shane took my nipples between his fingers, rolling, pinching, and pulling.
I moaned, his action pushing me toward the brink. Then I toppled, an eruption of pleasure sending waves of contractions spreading through my body.
Shane grabbed my hips, pulling me against him as he thrust, his rhythm frantic. A groan came from deep in his throat as his body tensed and then relaxed.
I collapsed in his arms, my body spent.
Shane slowly rolled us onto our sides. “My God. The things you do to me. The way you make me feel. I don’t know if I can go three weeks without you.”
“I know. I was thinking the same thing.”
Shane got up to dispose of the condom.
I snuggled against him when he returned, my eyelids slowly closing.
*
I sat up in bed, trying to focus in the dark, jumping when a hand touched my back.
“Is it the dream again?” Shane said.
“Yes.” I lay back down, curling up against Shane as he pulled me to him. “It’s so frustrating. Now that we know you’re the groom, why am I still having the dreams? I don’t understand.”
“There must be some meaning to it. In time, we’ll hopefully figure it out. You still don’t know who the officiant is, do you?”
“No, but I have such a strong feeling that I know him. I just can’t figure out who it could be since no one I know officiates weddings.”
“Whatever the meaning, there’s nothing we can do about it right now. We need to get some sleep.” Shane looked at the clock on the bedside table. “Conor will be here in five hours, and it’s going to be a long day for you.”
I nestled my head in the crook of Shane’s neck. Yes, tomorrow would be a long day and a sad one for me once I got on the plane. There was no question about it. We had to resolve our dilemma of where we were going to live.
CHAPTER 13
A WEST COAST VISIT
It was eight o’clock in the evening, and Maggie and I were a couple of minutes away from picking Shane up at the San Diego airport. His plane had landed fifteen minutes ago, and I assumed he was retrieving his luggage by now. I couldn’t wait to see him and take him home. I was signaling to take the exit to the airport’s terminal two when a call came in.
“Hello?”
“Liz, it’s Shane.”
“Where are you?”
“I just got my luggage, and I’m walking outside. Are you parked at the curb?”
“I’m driving up the road to the front of the terminal right now. You should see me any minute. I’m in a dark gray Range Rover.” I was ecstatic at the sound of his voice. The last three weeks had been lonely without him.
“Okay. I see you. You’re pulling up behind the black Honda Civic. I’m hanging up and walking over to you right now.”
I craned my neck, looking for Shane, spotting him walking toward me. I hit the tailgate release button, and he put his luggage in the back of my car. He saw Maggie right away.
“Well, hello. You must be Maggie. Aren’t you a pretty girl?”
Maggie had watched him walk toward the car. Now she was wagging her tail at him, her behavior unusual. She didn’t typically respond to strangers that favorably.
Shane greeted me with a hug and a kiss when he got in the car. “I missed you, mo ghra. It’s been a long three weeks without you.”
“It’s been an eternity. I couldn’t wait to see you.”
“Then take me home.”
“With pleasure, Mr. Moore.”
We left the airport and got on the freeway. As we drove north, I pointed out several sites along the way. Since it was nighttime, darkness bathed the picturesque view of the coastline. I’d have to give Shane a tour in the daylight.
“What’s that facility on our left?” Shane pointed to a large grandstand next to the freeway.
“That’s the Del Mar racetrack. It’s for horse racing.”
“Niall would love that. I’ll have to tell him you live by a racetrack.”
“See? That’s another benefit to living here. I’m sure there’s no racetrack within minutes of your home.”
“Maybe not, but I have a lot of other venues close by.”
“We do too, and I’m betting I have you in love with Southern California by the time you leave.”
“You think so, huh? We’ll have to wait and see, won’t we?”
I peeked over my shoulder at Shane and smiled. He’d issued a challenge when we were in Ireland, and I was ready to take it. I turned my attention back to the road. My off-ramp was next. After exiting the freeway, we headed east. Turning left at a side street, I drove several blocks uphill through a residential area. When we reached the top, I turned into a court. My house was on the corner, with its backyard facing the ocean. I drove down a long driveway, parking in the garage at the back corner of the house.
“That’s a nice truck.” Shane eyed the Chevrolet Silverado parked against the wall of the three-car garage.
“It was Alex’s. I kept it.”
“It looks heavy-duty. I like the color.”
“I do too. It’s called Northsky Blue.” I smiled, remembering the day Alex and I had bought the truck. Alex had had his heart set on a red one. It took a lot of effort, but I’d talked him into getting this blue one instead. The truck, like the motorcycle, had been a loved possession of Alex’s that I couldn’t bear selling.
We got out of the car, and I started to walk around to his side to get Maggie.
“It’s okay. I’ll get Maggie.” Shane stepped to the car door and opened it.
“I better do it. Maggie might not let you unhook her from the seat belt.”
“Too late. Maggie let me unclip her, and she’s licking my hand. Come on, girl. Let’s get you out of the car.”
Maggie immediately obeyed, jumping down from the seat and sitting next to him.
“Well, that’s interesting. Maggie must like you. Are you a dog whisperer or something? She doesn’t normally like strangers to touch her.”
“No. I love dogs. I had a border collie when I was a kid named Quinn. He worked our farm, herding the sheep, and I used to get in trouble for sneaking him into my bedroom at night. I always wanted another dog but never seemed to have the time for one.”
Shane grabbed his luggage, and we walked through the garage door into the kitchen. Maggie came trotting in with us as I turned on the light. The family room extended beyond the breakfast bar with built-in cabinetry, a large television, and a fireplace facing us from the far wall. Windows and a sliding door to the backyard were off to the right. Maggie ran toward the sliding door and dashed through the doggie door cut into the wall.
“Now I can greet you properly,” Shane said, placing his luggage next to the pantry and pulling me toward him. His lips were on mine, his touch intoxicating as his hands slid down my back to my rear. He lifted me, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. “Which way to your bedroom?”
“Make a right off the main hallway and go down the short corridor. You’ll run into it.”
Shane carried me into my room. Moonlight streamed through the row of small square-shaped windows on the wall above my king-size bed. He laid me down and then joined me, kissing me as his hands deftly unbuttoned my blouse. After unclipping the front of my bra, he took my nipple in his mouth.
I moaned, my body instantly becoming aroused. “Now that you started, you better not stop.”
“I don’t intend to. I missed you.” Shane got up and removed his clothes, tossing them on the chaise lounge next to the nightstand.
I sat up and removed my garments, throwing them onto the bench at the end of the bed. Then I lay back down as Shane rejoined me.
“Do I need a condom?” he whispered, kissing my neck.
“No. I went to my doctor, and she put me on birth control pills.”
Shane rolled on top of me, easing himself between my legs. A groan escaped him when he slid inside. “You feel so good, mo ghra. God, how I’ve missed you.” His moves were slow and deliberate as he gently pushed himself deeper.
I grabbed his hips and pulled him toward me, needing him to fill me. The sound of his moans in my ear made me even more aroused. I brought my knees toward my chest and tilted my pelvis, my breathing becoming labored as my muscles tightened.
Shane grabbed my legs, his rhythm growing intense. “Oh, Jesus. You’re going to make me come already.”
“Not yet. I’m not ready.” I put my legs down. “I want the top. Flip us over.”
Shane rolled us over, repositioning himself inside me as I sat on him.
I rode him at a frantic pace, my body on fire, the pressure building as I rubbed myself against his abdomen. I climbed toward the peak, little by little. Then I toppled over the edge. A long guttural moan escaped me as a series of contractions overtook me in quick succession.
Shane flipped us over again. With his body raised on one arm and his other hand under my buttocks, he plunged with frenzied strokes until a groan burst from deep in his throat. Finished, he lay on top of me, his breathing ragged in my ear.
We stayed that way for a long time. I didn’t want to move, relishing his warmth, touch, and smell. My world was complete when Shane was with me. Maggie broke our moment of intimacy when she trotted into the bedroom and sat next to the bed.
“I guess we have company.” Shane raised his head. “What’s she doing?”
“Maggie’s probably trying to figure out why you’re in my bed since she’s never seen anyone in here except me.”
“She’s likely being protective too.” Shane rolled off me and sat on the edge of the bed. He turned on the light on the bedside table. “I suppose we should get up.”
“I’m going to jump in the shower.” I sat up in bed and looked for Maggie, spotting her lying at Shane’s feet. “Just inside the bathroom doorway is a walk-in closet. You can put your luggage in there. There are plenty of hangers and a cabinet full of empty drawers, so you can unpack if you want. The bathroom counter to the right of the doorway is also empty. I have water, juice, beer, and wine in the refrigerator if you’re thirsty.” I got up and went into the bathroom, stepping into the shower a minute later. When I returned to the bedroom, Shane was watching a movie on the television above the fireplace. A bottle of water was on the nightstand, and Maggie had curled up next to his shoes.
“This is a big house. I hope you don’t mind, but I took a peek around. I can tell you like house plants and neutral colors.”
“I do. Earth tones and plants make the house look warm and comfortable. I’ve never really liked bright or flashy colors or decorating in a way that makes a home look sterile. One of my favorite places is the side patio off the main hallway that connects to the driveway. It’s quiet and relaxing and filled with plants. I like to sit out there and read.”
“I’ll have to check out the patio tomorrow.” Shane turned, suddenly looking amused as he gazed toward the fireplace. “I like that cute little teddy bear you have on the mantel. Is there any significance to it? You have a necklace wrapped around its neck.”
I focused on the ten-inch-tall caramel-colored stuffed teddy bear sitting on the mantel, its legs dangling over the edge. “His name is Henry, and he’s special. My mom gave him to me when I was five or six and sick with chickenpox. The necklace was hers. It’s a crescent moon with a star attached to it. The center of the star is a diamond. She gave it to me when she was dying. It was right after my twelfth birthday. She said the moon and the star represented the heavens, and she wanted me to remember that she was up there and always looking down on me. I think of her as my diamond in the sky.”
“That’s an extraordinary memory. Your mother’s death must have been hard on you.” Shane got up from the bed and came to my side. There was a softness in his face as he studied mine. “She loved you very much, I’m sure.” He kissed me, his arms comforting as they wrapped around me.
I laid my head on his chest, absorbing his warmth. “I miss her. Those were some excruciatingly painful years in my life. Mel and her parents were my initial wall of support. But it was Alex, more than anybody, that helped fill the void in my heart and help me deal with her loss. I met him two years after she died, when my life was going in the wrong direction. He got me back on track.” I sniffled, brushing my cheek with my hand. “Okay. Enough of that.” I walked over to the bed and fluffed up the pillows. Then I slid under the covers. “I grew up in this house. Alex and I did a little remodeling in some of the rooms and had a swimming pool built in the backyard.”
“It certainly looks comfortable.” Shane glanced over his shoulder toward the bathroom doorway. “Well, I suppose it’s my turn to shower.”
“I left you a towel. I hung it on the hook next to the shower. Let me know if you need anything.”
Shane nodded and disappeared through the doorway.
*
“Good morning.” Shane walked into the kitchen wearing hunter-green pajama pants and slippers. He slid onto one of the barstools at the breakfast bar. “I slept like a rock. I didn’t even hear you get up.”
“You were sleeping so soundly, I didn’t want to wake you. I made some hot tea. I’ll get you a cup.” I pulled a coffee cup from the cupboard, placing it in front of Shane, along with the teapot, a small carton of milk, and some sugar. “How about some breakfast? I can make you eggs, bacon, and toast.”
“I’m starving. That sounds wonderful.” Shane fixed himself a cup of tea and then scanned the kitchen and family room. “Where’s Maggie?”
“She’s in the backyard.”
Shane took a few sips of his tea and then walked to the sliding door. “I can’t believe your view. You can see the ocean from here.” He slid open the door and went outside, greeting Maggie as she bounded up to him.
My cell phone started ringing inside my purse, the sound coming from the counter by the pantry. I pulled it from the front pocket and answered it. “Hello?”
“Hey, Liz. It’s Nicole.”
“Hi. Give me a second. I’m cooking breakfast and need to put you on speaker.” I hit the speaker button and set my phone down next to the cooktop. “Okay. You’re on speaker. What’s up.”
“I was calling for two reasons. First, I was curious how your trip to Ireland went. I haven’t talked to you since you’ve been back.”
“It was great. Mel and I had so much fun. We went to a bunch of places and met some wonderful people. We’ll have to get together so I can give you the details.” I put several slices of bacon in a skillet and some pieces of bread in the toaster oven while I talked.
“That’s the other reason I’m calling. I was hoping to see you. We’re out here in Borrego. I told you about our trip a while back, remember? Anyway, I wanted to know if you’re coming out here? Jesse is asking about you.”
I couldn’t believe Nicole was still trying to push Jesse on me. What part of I wasn’t interested did she fail to understand? Her refusal to listen irritated me. “No. I’m not coming out there. I told you I wouldn’t go when you mentioned the trip. Besides, I’m busy this weekend.” I cracked open several eggs, depositing them in another skillet.
“I still can’t get over your view. It’s incredible,” Shane said as he came back into the house and joined me in the kitchen.
“Who is that? Liz, I can hear some guy talking to you.”
Shane sat on the barstool and peered at me, arching his brow.
“That’s my fiancé, Shane.” I grinned when I answered, knowing my response would shock her.
“You can’t be serious. Just like that, you’re getting married. You weren’t even seeing anyone. Wait a minute. You didn’t bring the guy back from Ireland, did you?”
Shane almost spat out his tea at Nicole’s comment. He grabbed a napkin and held it against his mouth as he coughed.
“Hang on a minute. I need to grab my breakfast from the stove.” I took the bacon and eggs from the skillets and put them on two plates I had pulled from the cupboard. Then I buttered the toast, setting the slices on the plates next to the eggs. I set Shane’s plate on the counter in front of him. After joining him at the breakfast bar, I laid my phone down on the counter between us.
“Hello? Liz? Are you going to say something? You can’t leave me in the dark like this.”
“Nicole, say hello to Shane.” I looked at Shane. “This is Nicole. She’s Alex’s sister.”
“Hi, Shane. Sorry about that. I forgot you could hear me.”
“No problem. I’m sure Liz’s revelation was a bit of a surprise.”
“Jesus, Liz. He has an accent. You did bring him back with you.”
Shane busted out laughing. Finally controlling himself, he cleared his throat. “I can assure you, Liz didn’t bring me back with her. We met in Turks and Caicos, and I proposed to her while we were in Ireland together.”
There was silence on the phone for a moment. Then Nicole spoke, her words measured. “Is this the guy that saved you from that fish?”
“Yes, Shane’s the guy. Why don’t we get together next weekend and talk rather than go back and forth on the phone?” I took a bite of my breakfast while I waited for Nicole to answer.
“I suppose that will work. I’ll call you Saturday morning, and we can decide where to meet. Before I let you go, Kurt wanted me to ask about the bike again.”
“I’ve already given you and Kurt my answer, and it isn’t going to change. I’m not getting rid of the motorcycle. Shane and I are taking it out for a ride tomorrow.”
