Page 32 of Sullivan

AUTUMN

Sully kissed Bonnie’s cheek as he helped her into a taxi. She waved goodbye as it pulled from the curb, and I returned her salute as he tucked me into his side. The pub was close to my hotel and the night was clear, so we decided to walk.

“That went better than I thought,” I murmured.

“I knew she’d be fine,” he replied, squeezing my hip. “Although she was a bit shocked at first.” He recounted the start of their conversation and the lull in the pub as she spoke loudly. He chuckled as he told me about the shouted affirmations from the drunken lads.

“So you’re a local hero,” I said with a grin.

“No, I’m a lucky bastard,” he replied. “They’re eejits.”

“Might explain why they’re in a pub with other, ah, eejits.”

He laughed. “Indeed.”

We were quiet as we walked, the distance to the hotel somehow too short. We paused before reaching the door.

“Thanks for dinner,” I said, unsure how to end the evening.

“I’ll walk you up.”

“Which will lead to you walking in and having to rush home at five to get changed.”

“Worth it.”

I shook my head. “Sully, we both need some sleep.”

He traced under my eye with his thumb. “I can come in and we can sleep,” he offered gently.

“Really?”

“Well, mostly,” he said with a grin. “Maybe a fast round or two. It’s only just after nine. By eleven, you’ll be out for the count. I’ll get a solid six hours in and go.”

He pulled me close. “We only have a few weeks until you leave. I don’t want to spend nights apart if we don’t have to.”

I sighed as his scent wrapped around me. He was so solid. Strong. I felt safe and secure in his embrace.

“Maybe tomorrow, you can come to mine. Pack a bag and stay. I’ll cook for you,” he offered.

“That would be nice.”

“Let me come up. Even for a little while. I haven’t even been able to kiss you properly with Bonnie watching the whole time,” he complained.

I couldn’t resist him. I didn’t want to. I had never felt a draw to a man the way I felt to Sully. And I wanted to spend as much time with him as I could as well.

“Okay.”

He squeezed me tight. “Brilliant.”

I rested on Sully’s chest, his heartbeat a steady thump-thump-thump under my ear. I sighed as he ran his fingers along my arm and down my side, his touch gentle. Adoring.

“It’s past eleven,” I whispered.

“I’m past caring,” he replied. “Being with you is worth the lack of sleep.”

I snuggled closer as he pressed kisses to my crown.

“You need to sleep, though,” he added. “Just let me hold you.”