HE’D never leave.” Paddy leaned back against the door, flipping the lock. “I’m sorry about that.”
“It was totally fine. I like Ezra and so do you. He checked me out because he wanted to be sure I wasn’t going to hurt you or your family in some way.”
He paused before he grabbed her hand and began to pull her down the hall. For all the smooth, supercontrolled way she acted, there were times she was utterly unvarnished. It kept him on his toes. “Nah. He knows you’re fine.”
“I was some chick you fucked for a few weeks years ago who suddenly resurfaced in your life. For all he knew, I was a stalker out to try to con you.”
She was pretty perceptive. He hadn’t even realized that until she’d said it. Of course Ezra, being the oldest and yes, being the guy who caused no small amount of drama and harm to their family, would take it on as his responsibility to protect them all.
“Does that offend you or bother you?”
She tossed herself onto the big couch in the center of the media room. “What? That your big brother did what big brothers are supposed to do? I’m guessing I must have done okay, or he’d still be here.”
“If your family did that, I don’t know that I’d be that easygoing about it.”
“Well, that’s not going to be a worry for you, so you can put that out of your head. But let’s face it, you have a lot to lose. More than the average random woman who shows up in one of your lives. Not all of us are going to have big fat bank accounts and trust funds.”
“You’re going to tell me that story.” He moved to the projector.
“Maybe. Maybe not. But right now, I’m here for the movies and popcorn.”
“Is making out on the menu?”
“If you’re nice to me, and you’ve included some peanut M&M’s in the offerings, I might let you get to second base.”
He was very glad he’d grabbed snacks of all types when he’d gone grocery shopping earlier.
“As a matter of fact, I did. So sit back and let me get everything set up.”
She raised one brow and then shrugged, settling in and getting comfortable.
They chose a movie—the thriller—and he popped some corn and tossed her a bag of M&M’s before finally joining her on the couch.
She put her head on his shoulder as they watched, and once they’d finished the popcorn, he pulled her close, and she fit just right against his side.
The credits finally started to roll, and she shifted to her knees, getting in his lap astride his body.
“Well, now.”
She slid her hands through his hair and pulled him close, dropping her lips to his, claiming a kiss. He hummed, his hands sliding up her thighs to her hips, where he held on as she kissed the hell out of him.
Her skin where her shirt met her pants was warm and soft, and he didn’t stop himself from touching, caressing up her spine as she arched into him.
Higher and higher until he popped the catch on her bra, pausing for a moment to be sure she was on board.
She broke the kiss, leaned her upper body back, pulled her shirt up and off and tossed her bra aside, leaving him totally speechless and very pleased.
“Damn.”
He grabbed her back, pulling her close, her breasts brushing against him, making him hiss as his hands roved all over her bare skin.
She arched into him like a cat before nipping his earlobe. “You take your shirt off, too.”
“I want to spend some time on you first.”
She made a sound and, grabbing his shirt at the hem, pulled it up and off.
“Man, oh, man.” She flicked the bar through his right nipple with her thumbnail.
It was his turn to arch just then. “What brought this on?” He moaned as she kissed across his cheeks to his ear.
“I wanted you, and here you were.”
“Well, that’s very true.”
“I like sex. I know already that I like sex with you. As long as things are private, I’m totally on board with this thing going wherever and for however long.”
He wanted to frown, even though her words were good ones. As far as he could tell, there were no good reasons not to do more than just fuck. He opened his mouth to press her, but she made a sound that tore at him.
With a groan, he skimmed his hands up her belly to cup her breasts and drew his thumbs back and forth across her nipples.
“Yes,” she breathed into his ear before she licked the outer shell and gave him the edge of her teeth against that very sensitive skin.
She was lush there in his lap. The weight of her perfect against his cock. The heat of her pussy teasing him.
“You have new tattoos.”
“You have nipple rings and more ink.”
“I want to see you.”
“Earn it.”
She pulled away enough to look into his face, a smile of challenge on her lips. He snatched a kiss, accepting her challenge. Eagerly.
He shimmied to the edge of the couch and stood, setting her down on her feet. “Now, stand there while I look at you awhile. Whet my appetite because I’m starving for you.”
“Mmm, that’s a good one.”
There was some of the woman he’d been with before in that moment. He liked it. Her ink was perfectly placed so no one would have been able to see it while she was clothed.
Starting at her right hip there was a spill of pink climbing roses. Unfurled as they flowed up her side and up her back. He circled her, taking it in. “This is gorgeous.”
“Thank you. I get a little more once a year.”
“You’d never know these were here when you’re dressed.” He pressed a kiss at the highest knot of blooms at her midback.
“That’s the point.”
He kissed his way across her shoulder until he’d come to face her again. “Is it?”
“The ink is for me. No one needs to know about it unless I want them to. I don’t need everyone to see it or know about it to enjoy it.”
He unmoored the top button of her jeans and slid the zipper down. Panties the same color pink as the roses on her body.
“I wanted to look at you the other night on my boat when we skinny-dipped, but I didn’t want to scare you away.”
He shoved her jeans down, and she stepped from them. Then she turned slowly, her ass tipped slightly toward him. She slid her fingertips over the red bows that were inked at the tops of her thighs. “I believe you were asking about these.” It wasn’t until she looked at him back over her shoulder that his control slipped. He dropped to his knees to get a better look.
He caressed up her legs to that spot where each bow lived. Gooseflesh rose, beading her skin as he breathed over it, and she squeaked prettily when he licked each one.
“You taste good.”
She moaned, fisting her hands at her sides.
He hooked his fingers at the sides of her underpants and pulled them down, spinning her once she’d stepped free to face him, gloriously naked.
“I’m naked, and you have your pants on still.” Her voice was breathy again, and it made him smile.
“I know. How fucking lucky am I?” He lifted enough to lick over the ink at her hip, his body warming