Page 14 of Sullivan

I smiled. “Mo fhiadh beag loosely translated means my little deer. With your dark eyes and tawny hair, you remind me of a little fawn.” I cupped her cheek. “And the rest of my words mean I think highly of you. I like you. I want to know more about you.”

“To what end?”

I shrugged. “Who knows. Maybe a sexy weekend we think about when we’re old and gray. Maybe something else. I’m not questioning it. I simply want to enjoy what we have right now. If you want that as well.”

She smiled. “I do.”

I pulled her close so she straddled my lap. I kissed her, holding her face and stroking her cheeks with my thumbs.

“I’ve been here before,” she murmured, indicating my lap.

“Yes, you have. It worked out well, if I recall,” I replied, grinding into her.

“I need you to refresh my memory.”

“Not a problem.”

I plugged in the heater, pleased when it started up—a bit noisy, but it began warming up right away. I stood, brushing my hand down my sweats. Autumn was in the bathroom, combing her hair. After another round on the sofa, I’d taken her to the shower, shutting the door and letting the heat of the steam warm the room. If I’d thought she was sexy this morning, the image of her on her knees in the shower with my cock in her mouth blew my mind. She was artlessly erotic, with her doe-like eyes and her full lips wrapped around me.

I returned the favor, pressing her into the tiles with one leg draped over my shoulder as I used my tongue and fingers to bring her to orgasm. Then I lifted her effortlessly and drove into her, wild and frenzied. I had never known such intense desire for a woman.

But she brought that and a protective instinct out in me full force. I suddenly understood the mind-set of my cousins Finn and Niall and the way they watched over their wives with an intensity I had never comprehended until now.

And considering I had only known this woman for less than a day, I was shocked at my feelings.

Autumn came out of the bathroom, already dressed, her hair still damp from the shower earlier. I smiled at her, feeling my heart lift when she returned my grin with one of her own.

“This will help. We can probably sleep in here tonight. More comfortable.”

She lifted her eyebrows. “We? Pretty sure of yourself.”

I grinned. “You can’t resist me anymore.”

She tilted her head. “I didn’t try very hard.”

I wrapped her in my arms and held her. I liked how she felt there. The perfect height for me.

“I’m glad you didn’t.”

We were back on the sofa, and I turned to her. “Can I ask you more questions?”

“About, ah, him?” she asked, looking pained.

“No.”

“Okay, then.”

“You said your mom died. How old were you?”

“I was young. Eighteen. She was in a car accident and never recovered.”

“And your dad?”

“Left us when I was young. I never knew him. After Mom died, her friend, whom I call Auntie Lynn, sort of became my second mom. She’d always been in my life, you know? My mom’s older best friend, the cool aunt. I lived with her for a while until I went to school and lived in the dorm. She’s been there for me through everything. She had a stroke a few years ago, and we had to sell her house and move her into a care facility. She likes it there and is well cared for. But I see her as much as I can.” A smile pulled on her lips. “She’s always lecturing me about getting out and living. Pushing me out of my comfort zone. Encouraging me to travel and see the world the ways she did when she was young. She backpacked through Europe and the UK for almost two years, working her way through the countries. She loved Scotland and Ireland the most and was so excited about my chance to come here.”

“She sounds like a great old lady.”

She laughed, a fond look on her face. “She is that. And she is my only family. I love her.”