Chapter Eighteen
Fallon
I didn’t know what I enjoyed more, the sea wind blowing my hair as I stared at the beautiful waves, walking through a real castle on a hill, or experiencing all of it with Connor.
For the first time, there was nothing complicated between us, where we could just walk together and look at the landscape.
We ate fish and chips at a little café and sat outside, people watching.
“Is the other Murphy’s Pub around here?” I asked, taking a sip of my drink.
Connor smiled. “No, that’s in Galway. It’s a little bit of a hike, but it’ll be worth it. We can drop our things off at the hotel and get some more sightseeing in, or a round of golf. At least one of those was on your Post-it notes.”
“What am I supposed to do while you play golf?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“You have an MBA. Didn’t you learn how to golf? That’s the American pastime. My father use to say when he went to America, all the men wanted to arrange their deals after a round of golf and a few pints.”
“My family wasn’t the golfing type,” I muttered, taking a big gulp of my drink.
“I’ll have to get you some clubs and teach you.”
“As much fun as hitting balls with a big stick for a few hours sounds, I’m not the athletic type. I tried out for soccer in middle school and bruised my tailbone when I tried to kick the ball but missed and fell.”
I didn’t even tell Ray that story and lied to Nana and my parents, saying I went for a slide tackle and got taken out by another player. It wasn’t the most flattering story and was just the beginning of my teasing in middle school. Spending time on my academics became my top priority, since I knew I wasn’t getting a sports scholarship. Even as a kid, I’d always been looking for a way out.
His lips quirked into a half smile. “We’ll just have to see how you do with a good trainer. I’m setting us up for a tee time,” he said, pulling out his phone.
“You don’t need to do that,” I said, waving my hands.
He looked up, his eyes meeting mine. “But I want to, Fallon.”
Just hearing my name come from his lips and staring at those big blue eyes made my breath catch in my throat. So, I just nodded in agreement. I could still taste him after one small kiss. Bees buzzed in my stomach with the idea of wanting so much more.
After lunch, Connor paid and grabbed a few mints from the hostess stand. “Want one?” he asked, holding a wrapped green candy out to me.
“Are you saying my breath smells?” I asked, wrinkling my nose.
“We did just eat fish and malt vinegar, so possibly,” he said, popping the candy in his mouth.
“Touché,” I muttered, putting the mint in my mouth before taking the hand he held out to me.
“Feel better?” he asked.
“Maybe a little,” I confessed.
A light breeze picked up, sending my hair flying all around my face. I quickly tied it back.
Once we were in the car, he turned to me. “I like when your hair is down,” he murmured, his fingers running through my hair as if it was a fine piece of silk instead of what I imagined a limp and frizzy mess.
I licked my lips, dazed and drunk on his touch.
“That’s better,” he murmured, his words a whisper on my lips.
I opened my mouth to him. His teeth lightly grazed my bottom lip before he ran his tongue across where he nibbled.
My heart fluttered in my chest; I feared I’d melt right there.
He dragged his mouth from mine, and I held in a breath, still reeling from his kiss.
“Shall we head to the hotel?” he asked, adjusting a growing bulge in his pants.
“Yeah,” I muttered, wishing I had as much courage as I did when I was drunk, courage to take what I wanted and not think about what it meant for us. For now, I just sat back and enjoyed the ride.
…
A long stretch of brick fence and emerald green trees came into view. Connor pulled the car through a wrought-iron gate then crested over a small hill. I gaped at the massive stone castle.
There was a view of the water beyond the rocky structure, and the green landscape was dotted with hundreds of trees. I even spotted an extensive golf course and what looked like a train car just beyond the castle.
“Is this our next stop before the hotel?” I asked, trying to close my jaw but it was in a permanent state of awe.
“This is where we’re staying,” Connor said matter-of-factly, his dimpled smile prominently displayed on his face.
“What? We’re staying in a castle?” I asked, looking between the castle and him.
He laughed. “It’s more of an abbey, but yes. Do you like it? I did sign us up for a round of golf later, and dinner in the remodeled carriage. Both things I put on Post-it notes, if I remember correctly.”
“We’re going to have dinner in a carriage?” I asked, spellbound. My heart beat wildly in my chest, not just from the beautiful sights, but from the fact he remembered what he wrote on all of those notes.
“Carriage, train, same thing.”
“I’ve never done any of that…” I said softly. He had to think I was some unworldly peasant. I didn’t want him to feel sorry for me, and sometimes my mouth went off quicker than my brain could get to it.
He took my hand and squeezed it gently. “I know. That’s why I want to do all of this and more for you. You’ve put up with me, and I made promises, not just to take care of you, but to help you experience Ireland. I’ve done a shite job of that so far, and it’s time I own up to my promises.”
My body flooded with warmth, spreading up my neck and face. “You didn’t have to. You don’t have to do any of this. I feel like I’m taking advantage of the whole situation.”
“You’re not taking advantage of me. You may just have to buy me more Cheetos in exchange for golf lessons,” he said, pulling into a parking lot.
“I think I’d need more than a million bags of Cheetos to pay you back for everything. It means the world that you’re willing to help my nana and me.”
He put his car in park and leaned over, placing his hand on my cheek. “No need to thank me, ever. You and I, we’re in this together.”
I forced a smile, but dread sank where there were once butterflies. This was an agreement, and I had to keep remembering that, no matter how much my heart and my body were telling me this was so much more.
Connor got out of the car, grabbing our bags before we walked into the grand foyer. He breezed through check-in like he’d been here a million times. Which he probably had. He was heir to a billion-dollar company, and I was a very broke girl who couldn’t get too used to this. But today I’d enjoy the time I had with Connor.
We went up a grand staircase and then down a small hallway to a private corner that only had one door. He slid in the key card, and we went in. My eyes widened, staring at the view of the lush green landscape from the picture window. A sitting area with two plush beige couches and a dining table sat right in front of the window. Just this area was bigger than my flat. In the bedroom, which had an equally spectacular view, a four-post bed stood grandly in the middle of the room.
“Like it?” Connor whispered in my ear before pressing his lips to my cheek. I stilled, trying to figure out my next move. If I turned to embrace him, then what would happen next? One small peck, then he’d make up an excuse to step away?
“Something wrong?” he asked, running his hands down my arms, leaving goose bumps in their wake.
I sucked in a breath, mustering up all the courage I could before I turned in his arms, keeping my gaze on his arms, where his shirt bulged against his muscles, instead of on his face.
With the past rejections, I couldn’t take another one. But if I was going to test out this fairy tale and live in the moment, then I had to go with my rapidly beating heart. “Why?”
His hands stilled. “Why what?”
“Why all of this? If it’s just a thing to get your company, why not just hand me a contract and be done with it?”
When he pressed his body flush with mine, every will I had to pull away started to melt as he slowly cupped my face.
“Fallon,” he growled. “I told you I was going to take care of you. I meant every word I said. You should know how I feel by now about all of this.”
“And you should know that I feel the same, okay? I don’t want us to muck this up, either, but I can’t stop thinking…” My words trailed off. I’d already said too much, and now it was probably time to just shut up and play the role of the good fake girlfriend.
His thumb brushed against my lip, every nerve in my body coming alive in response as I let out a ragged breath.
“If we do this, there’s no going back. I want you so badly it’s all I can think about. If we start this, I’m not stopping until you come at least seven times.” His raspy words spilled onto my lips so I could taste him.
“Seven…?” I managed to squeak out.
He smiled, his hands trailing to my waist, leaving goose bumps in their wake. “Luck of the Irish, mo grá.”
He crushed his lips to mine, and all reason to say no left my body. All I could do was get lost in his mouth. “Tell me you want this. If you want me to call my solicitor, we can write up a contract, so everything stays in place,” he whispered, breaking our kiss as his mouth traveled to my neck.
“I don’t want to talk about contracts right now. I just want to feel.” I grabbed his shoulders, his muscular back flexing against my touch.
He groaned, lifting me at the hips and wrapping my legs around his waist. His erection pressed against me, the mere friction pooling desire in my core. “Yes,” he agreed.
I was lost in the narcotic power of his voice and strong arms, carrying me to the plush bed before he set me down, only to free me of my jeans and underwear as if he couldn’t get to my body fast enough.
My need for him defied reason, every little touch fueling a fire within me that had been stirring for far too long.
He loomed over me then slowly kneeled at the edge of the bed, breathing against my core before running his thumb along my center. I hauled in a breath, willing my body not to shake from this man’s touch.
“Do you know how beautiful you are, mo chroí?” he whispered into me. I sucked in my bottom lip, desire pooling deep within me.
I’d never been called beautiful by anyone other than him, and with his possessive gaze, I felt every bit wanted in his presence.
He hooked a finger inside of me, my body humming from the aching tension as I bucked my hips forward to his touch.
“You’re so wet already,” he growled, moving his brazen hand against me.
I gripped the sheets. I was weightless, focused on nothing but Connor’s beautiful smile and the building crescendo between my thighs.
“Don’t hold back,” he whispered, his fingers working magic. My vision blurred and I cried out, riding out the beautiful earthquake coursing through me.
“One,” he whispered, leaning over and running his tongue down my center.
My voice quavered, and I wasn’t even sure I could speak. I’d wanted this for so long, and now that I had Connor, I closed my eyes, ingraining his scent and the wild skill of his tongue into my memory.
Ripples of pleasure poured through me, leaving me trembling as I gripped his hair, not wanting this moment to end, wanting to stay forever in the euphoria of him.
A second climax rolled through me, and I saw stars, feeling them shoot through me.
I’d barely come down from the high of orgasm number two before he twirled his fingers and tongue at a frenzied pace, my body moving with his like we’d done this a million times.
Crying out my climax, I lay against the silky pillows, my body still humming and reeling in the perfection that was now.
Slowly he dragged his hand to my side and moved his mouth to the apex of my thighs. I trembled, already missing his touch.
“Don’t worry; I’ve got more where that came from,” he whispered huskily before sitting up and pulling my satiated body to his.
“Lift your arms,” he beckoned with breathless urgency.
I did so, even though my body was like jelly. But just hearing his bossy tone had me sitting straight, willing to do anything he asked. Whipping off my shirt and unhooking my bra, he tossed both of them to the side before he savored my hardened buds. I’d dreamt about having Connor this close to me and now having his mouth explore my every curve pushed all my doubts to the back of my mind. I focused only on the urgent need for him flowing through me.
I ran my fingers down his back, trying to memorize every dip and curve of him. His hand went between us, finding my center as I relished in the feel of his featherlight kisses trailing up my neck.
“Connor,” I breathed. I rocked my hips to meet his palm, desire already pooling deep within me before I erupted, shaking around his expert hand.
“I love the way you moan my name when you come,” he growled.
I couldn’t concentrate on his words, my heart beating in my ears as I came down from another orgasm. I never wanted this connection to end, because it was the closest I’d been to this man, and I didn’t have to think about anything but being lost in this ecstasy.
The narcotic power of him had me aching for more, even though I had only got done with orgasm number four.
“Why are you still dressed? I asked breathlessly.
“I wanted to make sure you were taken care of first,” he murmured before unbuttoning his shirt then tossing it to the ground.
I ran my hands down the dips and curves of his abs to his delicious four-leaf clover tattoos.
“You can touch all you want, mo chroí.”
His words tugged at my heart. I pulled him closer by his belt loops, crushing my lips to his and tasting my own saltiness.
I made quick work of his jeans and boxers, sliding them down. Then he leaned back, helping me shuck them to the floor.
I moved to straddle his lap, his erection swelling against me. The tiny graze of his length on my belly button made my pulse race straight to my core.
“I can feel how wet you are for me. Do you feel what you’re doing to me, mo grá?” he murmured, gripping my waist. He wasn’t even inside of me, and I was already clenching, the pressure building within me.
He smiled, pressing his lips to my ear. “You’re so damn responsive. It’s so feckin’ hot.”
“Please tell me you have a condom,” I whimpered, urgent need flowing through me. I didn’t want this to end. I needed to feel all of this man I’d wanted for so long and know I was the one garnering that lustful stare.
He smiled and kissed me quickly. He gently moved my still humming body to the side before grabbing his jeans and pulling out his wallet. “I didn’t know if we’d be using this or not, but I wanted to be prepared.”
I grabbed the foil from his hands and unwrapped the latex. My hands couldn’t move quick enough to suit me as I slid it over his impressive length. His abs tightened, and a low growl escaped his throat.
His hooded eyes met mine as he finally held on to me and guided his massive length inside of me.
Slowly I slid forward, relishing in his fullness, then pressed my lips to his, breathing him in. He grabbed my waist, guiding me to a faster rhythm. My breasts bounced between us, brushing against the wisps of hair on his chest, and my body hummed at the new sensation.
I panted, building up an even speed that cracked the air from my lungs. With one hand still on my hip, he took his other and moved it between us. With delicate fingers, he rolled in a motion counter to his thrusts. I slammed my eyes shut, pure pleasure taking over the forefront of my mind.
“Oh. My. God,” I wailed, shuddering as I leaned my head against his shoulder, little aftershocks prickling inside of me while he continued thrusting.
“Think you can handle one more, pinky?” he murmured against my flesh.
I nodded against him before he flipped me onto my back, my legs over his shoulders. Every sensation running through me twisted in a ball of pleasure. I swallowed hard, looking up from his toned abs to his hooded eyes. He raised my hips and moved slowly at first, pulling almost entirely out before filling me to the hilt with long, slow strokes.
Every touch unfurled any resistance I had. At that moment, it was just us, connected.
“Come on, mo grá,” he said, tracing my clit while he moved his hips to meet mine.
Just hearing him use the beautiful Irish names for me was enough to make me forget about everything looming over us. Nothing mattered but us being entwined.
Ripples of pleasure skated through me, and I cried out, going over the edge so I saw stars and felt the explosion all through my body.
He breathed my name before collapsing at my side.
We lay there, both of us saying nothing as he wrapped his arm around my waist and intertwined our fingers.
If I weren’t already falling for Connor Murphy, there was no denying that I was now. I didn’t want to think about temporary dates or contracts. All I wanted to do was stay in this moment where nothing mattered but my hand in his and the matching beats of our hearts.