Felicity flopped onto her bed at Pier House with a happy sigh as she thought about Niall. Tell me you’re mine. The memory of his words made her tingle from the inside out and think of his wicked mouth pressed against hers. She absolutely loved the way he kissed her. The warmth had spread from where their mouths met all the way down to her toes. Every fiber of her being prickled when he touched her. He didn’t just kiss her...he completely devoured her, and the world fell away when she was in his arms.
She checked her mobile. There was a missed call from Nathan. Undoubtedly he wanted to know how her meeting at the construction site had gone, and to check up on Cyn. Right then the only thing she wanted to do was take a hot bath. She would ring him after a soak in the enormous tub and when she didn’t smell like sex. Her muscles were like jelly from her afternoon with Niall, and her stomach rumbled in protest. She was starving since she’d skipped lunch, but she was quite pleased to substitute it with mind-blowing sex. As she mustered the energy to get off the bed and head for the bathroom, there was a knock on the door followed by Cyn entering, her eyes filled with irritation.
Felicity had been sceptical about her current infatuation with Tomas. From the look on her friend’s face, she knew she was right...she’d won the bet. But she wasn’t about to rub it in when Cyn seemed so miserable. She flopped onto the bed next to Felicity.
“Okay, spill,” Felicity said.
“He’s gay. That’s all there is to it. He has to be gay. There’s no other explanation.”
Felicity coughed to cover a laugh. “Okay, what happened?”
“We went to the beach. Things were going swimmingly. He hung on every word and had more questions about my family, what I do for work, and even asked about boyfriends. Granted that was a little weird because men never want to hear about other men.”
“So what’s the problem? It sounds like you had a grand time.”
“When I leaned in to kiss him, he stuck his hand out for me to shake it like this was some bloody business arrangement! For fuck’s sake, shag me already.”
This time, Felicity couldn’t hold back her laughter.
Cyn glared at her.
She put up her hands. “I’m sorry, all right. I couldn’t help it.”
But it was the funniest thing Felicity had ever heard. After all, Cyn was a drop-dead gorgeous plus size model. Most men fell at her feet.
“I don’t understand. One minute he’s attentive and it seems like he wants me, but when I try to get close he pulls away. The man is maddening!”
“I’m sorry, Cyn. It does seem strange that he won’t kiss you, and he’s a damn fool for it. Maybe you should forget about him.”
Cyn grinned. “Oh, there’s no way in hell I’m letting you off that easily. A bet is a bet, and I’m banging him before we go home. I’m going to see him again tonight.”
Crap. She’d dragged Cyn along on this crazy adventure and promised she’d have a good time. She didn’t want to ruin it for her. But if this bloke was giving her the cold shoulder, then maybe she should come clean and tell her about Niall. She was dying to share that with her best friend anyway.
Felicity bit back a smile. “You’re right. A bet is a bet. And...”
“And what?”
“I won the bet with Niall this afternoon.”
Cyn arched an eyebrow. “Shut up. You bloody little liar.”
Felicity laughed. “I’m not lying.”
“Well then, come on, don’t hold back the details. What’s he like?”
“Exactly what I needed. You were right...”
“Go on,” Cyn said, encouragingly.
“I didn’t realize how much I’d been holding back, and Niall was what I needed to get over my ex.” Felicity paused. “But I need it to be a one-night stand. I really don’t want it to mean anything. He was gentle, kind...” Heat rose to her face. “...and he really knew what he was doing. I’m a bloody mess.”
“It can be anything you want it to be. Don’t label it. Just enjoy it while you can.” Cyn always knew what to say. “But remember one thing...what you think you need isn’t always what you really want.”
Felicity nodded, since she wasn’t ready to go there.
Cyn seemed to sense that and changed the subject. “So how did it go with tall, dark, and devastating?”
Felicity’s face reddened as she thought about his head between her legs, his tongue lapping at her sex. “He was very...considerate. The perfect gentleman.”
“Not too much of a gentleman I hope. Come on, I want to hear about the sexy parts.”
“He’s a very good kisser.”
“Is there anything else he was good at?”
“Uhmm, we walked to his family’s cottage.”
Cyn grinned wickedly. “I thought you’d be too much of a chicken-shit to win our little bet. I’m much more interested in what happened in the cottage.”
“Well, when he kissed me I could feel it in my toes.”
“Did you feel it anywhere else? That’s what I want to know,” Cyn said with a wink.
“You’re terrible.”
“Are you sure you really banged him? Just as I suspected. You’d never do it. Chicken.”
“Go ahead and bait me all you want, but it was nice. He talked about his family—he has two sisters—and when we didn’t talk, it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence. And the sex was...” Amazing. “...more than I expected.”
“More? You mean he was well-hung.”
“Cyn!”
“So are you going to see him again?”
Felicity smiled. “Actually, yes. I’m meeting him tonight at Tí Joe Watty’s for dinner.”
“Good,” she said firmly. “Then clearly he wants you. Dinner could mean he’s interested in more than a one-night stand.”
“Perhaps...”
“What do you want?” Cyn asked, suddenly serious. “Not what you need, but what you want.”
It might sound a little crazy if she told Cyn she had this strange notion she was connected to Niall. That maybe fate or destiny had pulled them together. It sounded ridiculous, and she didn’t believe in soul mates, but nonetheless, she had this feeling like she knew him on a soul-deep level, regardless of the fact they’d only just met.
“I haven’t really thought about it.”
“You’re the biggest bloody liar. I’ve never heard you talk about feeling anyone’s kiss in your toes. EVER. Not even when you were with William. You really like this guy. Admit it!”
Felicity laughed. “Since I met him...” She searched for the right word. “I feel vital. I feel beautiful. I’m not like you, and I can’t wither men with knee-weakening good looks. I’m all right with that...” William had always brought her down. “Niall lifts me up, and I feel truly alive when I’m with him. Does that make any sense? Or do I sound like a nutter?”
“You know me and relationships. Not my thing. But if it works for you, then I’m happy. You deserve it...especially after what that maggot put you through.”
“You certainly don’t mince words. This is why I bloody well love you.”
“I know.”
Felicity wrapped Cyn in a gigantic hug.
“Okay, let’s not get carried away here,” Cyn said as she pulled away. “Just know that if he treats you like a dog with two dicks, I’ll kick his ass.”
Felicity laughed. “I’d expect nothing less.”
“And take a bath. You reek of sex.”
“So does this mean you’re going to give up on Tomas?” Felicity asked as she hopped off the bed and bounded toward the bathroom to take a piss.
Cyn scowled. “It’s still my birthday. Forget the bloody bet—I refuse to be snubbed. I’m going to bang him. He just doesn’t know it yet.”
Oh, boy. Things were about to get interesting for Tomas.