Kate Hoffmann - Danny

He did as she asked, capturing her lips with his and slowly tracing them with his tongue. He lingered for a bit, then kissed her deeply and Jordan sank against him, her knees going weak.

The sound of the music and the crowd faded around them and Jordan lost herself in the rush of desire that overwhelmed her body. It had become so easy to need him, and yet it frightened her at the same time.

She hadn’t been prepared to feel this way, to completely surrender to emotion and physical need. But she couldn’t help herself. His touch, his taste, it had become an addiction too overwhelming to resist. When he touched her she felt beautiful and powerful, as if everything in the world were hers to enjoy.

“What else?” he murmured, his lips damp on her cheek.

“I want you to run your hands over my body like you did this morning before we got out of bed. I want to feel your lips on my skin. And I want you to take all my clothes off and I want to take all of your clothes off and-”

“Stop,” he growled.

“Why?”

“Because if you keep talking like that, I’m going to have to leave the pub with a bar tray over my lap.”

Jordan arched against him, her hips meeting his and he groaned again. “Just from talking?”

“You have that effect on me,” Danny said.

“Maybe we should take a walk and get some air,” Jordan said. “We’ll cool off a little bit.”

“And that’s a fine idea. Lead the way.”

He grabbed her waist and gently pushed her along through the crowd, walking behind her. When they reached the front door, Danny held it open and they both stepped outside onto the street. “Come with me,” he murmured.

“Where are we going now?”

“Some place where we can be alone.” He pulled her into the doorway of a shop and kissed her again, his body blocking her view of the street. His fingers skimmed along her waist, then worked at the buttons of her dress. When he finally cupped her breast in his palm, he moaned softly. “Jaysus, I need you. I’ve never needed a woman like I need you right now.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the doorway. “We can’t stay here.”

When they passed an alleyway, he pulled her into the shadows and pressed her back against a brick wall, parting the front of her dress until he found her nipple with his mouth. He teased at the peak through the lacy fabric of her bra. Jordan’s breath caught in her throat and she sighed, waves of delicious sensation coursing through her body.

His hand slid beneath her skirt and before she could catch her breath, he touched the damp spot between her legs. Jordan arched against him and he gently stroked her through her panties. She was already on the edge and it didn’t take much more to make her shudder with pleasure.

Jordan tried to occupy her mind with something else, work, plans, schedules. But it was no use. He was determined to prove his power over her. She tipped her head back, her fingers clutching at his shoulders. And then, her body throbbed and wave after wave of sensation coursed through her. A moan slipped from her lips and though she knew they might be discovered at any moment, Jordan didn’t care.

When the last spasm died in her body, Jordan looked up at Danny and found him smiling. He touched his lips to hers in a gentle kiss. “Sorry about that,” he murmured. “I didn’t realize you were so close.”

“Neither did I,” Jordan whispered.

“Can you walk?”

She nodded. He took her hand again and led her out of the shadows. Her legs felt boneless and it was all she could do to put one foot in front of the other. They walked past the bakery and then found the path that led to the smithy.

Finny and Mogue were sleeping on the stoop and they raised their heads as Danny opened the front door. The moment the door latched shut behind them, Jordan knew what she wanted. With frantic fingers, she stripped off her clothes and then started on Danny’s.

They stumbled to the bedroom and by the time they reached the bed, they were both naked. Jordan pulled him down on top of her. How had she gone her whole adult life and never felt this desperation, this overpowering need?

He moved to find a condom in the bedside table, but Jordan stopped him. It was her turn this time. She wanted to watch him, to bring him to his climax, to memorize his every reaction without losing herself in her own pleasure.

“Don’t,” she whispered. “We won’t need them. Not yet.” Jordan trailed a line of kisses down his chest, stopping at his belly.

Danny’s fingers tangled in her hair. “What are you about?”

“You’ll see,” she murmured, wrapping her fingers around his stiff shaft. “Just relax. I’ll take care of everything…”

“DANNY BOY!”

The shouts echoed through the empty interior of the Speckled Hound as Danny stepped inside the pub. His father was serving breakfast to the Unholy Trinity-Markus Finn, Dealy Carmichael and Johnnie O’Malley-three pensioners who were regular customers at the Hound. Kellan and Riley were sitting on the opposite end of the bar, reading the newspaper.

“There’s our boy,” Riley shouted. “What’s brought you back here so soon?”

“Never left,” Danny said. “We spent the night at my place rather than drive back.”

“Too much of the black stuff?” Kellan asked.

“Something like that,” Danny said. He sat down at the bar. “Can I get a couple of cups of coffee to take away and some soda bread? Warmed up. And toss some butter in the bag.”

“Where’s the girl?”

“Still asleep,” he said.

Kellan looked up from the paper. “You’ve got yourself a girl?”

“Sure and he has,” Riley said. “Brought her to the pub last night, though they only stayed for three dances. Then they started snogging on the dance floor and a few minutes later they were gone.”

Nan came out of the kitchen, a coffee mug in her hand. Her expression brightened when she saw Danny. “Good morning, you! Is Jordan with you? I forgot to tell her last night that she should come to our engagement party. You’ll tell her, won’t you?”

“Wait a bloody minute,” Kellan said, glancing between Nan and Riley and Danny. “This girl, the one you were snogging. It’s Jordan?”

Danny winced. “Well, yes. That would be correct. Jordan and I are…involved.”

“You’ve been working for her for five feckin’ days,” Kellan shouted. “How the hell is that possible?”

“Don’t ask me,” Danny said. “I’m as surprised as you. But there’s no problem.”

“You’re sleeping with your boss,” Kellan said.

“Not actually. She’s not my boss. She’s my muse.” Eamon Quinn walked out of the kitchen, a coffeepot in his hand. Danny turned to him, anxious for a change of subject. “Hello, Da. How was your holiday?”

“Oh, it was grand. Got back late last night. You know how your ma loves Scotland. We expected to be back a few days ago, but there was another festival that Maggie just had to see. Bought a kilt, she did. What does a good Irish girl need with a bleedin’ kilt? It’s sacrilege, it is.”

“I like the girl,” Nan said, sitting down next to Riley.

“What girl?” Eamon asked.

“Danny’s new girlfriend,” Nan replied. “Or his boss. Or his muse.” She giggled. “Take your pick. She’s very pretty. But then, all American girls are pretty, don’t you think?”

Danny grinned. “Yes, they are. You should visit Castle Cnoc and see the work she’s done on the manor house. I’m sure she’d give you a tour.”

“That would be lovely,” Nan said. “It will give me another chance to convince her of your fine qualities and noble ambitions.”

“I do believe our brother is in love,” Riley teased. “Look at him. He looks besotted. He’s got that well satisfied look. And he can’t keep himself from smiling.”