Thirty-Two

 

Some time later, when the sweat-saturated satin stuck to my skin and our Irish luck had well and truly wilted – at least for a few hours, Aidan assured me – I lay beside him. My heart still racing as I tried to catch my breath, I couldn't resist Aidan's kisses as he lightly stroked my skin.

"Thank you, my amazing, beautiful Bel," he murmured, stretching as his head hit the pillow beside me.

"Shouldn't I be thanking you?" I responded lazily, my skin feeling pleasantly raw in places from the frenzied friction of our lovemaking.

His laughter shook the bed. "I'm pretty sure you've expressed your loud appreciation already."

I blushed, feeling my already warm cheeks grow hot. "Am I too noisy?" I whispered, mortified.

Aidan turned, his face hovering above mine. "If you screamed for joy at the top of your lungs every time you came, you'd never be too loud for me, Bel. You'd only make me want to hear you scream again." He kissed my neck, lifting his leg to stroke mine beneath his.

His caresses had very little effect on him – nor did my hands help. He sat up. "A couple of hours, Bel, and I promise I'll be ready for you again. Is there anything you'd like to do while we're waiting?" He seemed on the cusp of saying more, but he didn't.

I shook my head, contenting myself with stroking the length of his red chest hair, from top to glorious bottom.

"On the Sundays I'm not working, I usually go up to the Distillery for lunch. Taste a whiskey or two and have something to eat..." He trailed off, his mouth still open. A moment passed before he continued. "I'd love to take you out to lunch, if you'll let me. I think you'd enjoy tasting the whiskeys, too, if you liked the one we shared last night." He looked worried. "But if you don't want to..."

I reflected. "I think you're right. I would like to." I summoned a smile that came easily to my lips. "But I think I'll need another shower and some clothes."

"Let me help you," Aidan offered eagerly.

I shot him a questioning glance.

His smile was broad, though I didn't trust it entirely. "Oh, this one will be very clean. Plenty of soap and this time we'll be in and out before the hot water runs out," Aidan promised.

Trustworthy or not, I shrugged. I wanted this man's hands on me. Whether his intentions were dirty or clean were of no consequence.