by Alexx Andria
“I’d like you to be my Irish lover right now,” she said, her voice dropping a silky octave as she slipped her tongue into my mouth. “Can you do that?”
“Aye,” I answered fervently. “That’s all I want to do, to be truthful.”
“Honesty is the best policy,” she murmured and we tumbled to the bed.
She rolled to her hands and knees, presenting that sweet arse and I nearly died as I spread her cheeks. I sheathed my cock and slathered it with lube before sliding ever so carefully into her tight hole. I groaned, seeing stars with the sheer pleasure of being clenched so hard as I pushed into her. Her moan of pleasure sky rocketed my own and I held her hips as I worked her mercilessly toward another climax.
“Say my name,” I urged, loving when she gasped at the moment of orgasm, losing herself with my name on her lips.
“Collum!” she cried out and I shuddered as my own climax burst from my balls and came in great shuddering jets, spurting into her hole, squeezing her hips as I thrust like a wild man until I thought I might die from the ecstasy.
I withdrew carefully and discarded the condom, then rose to find a washcloth to clean my girl. I kissed the abraded skin where my fingers had left reddened marks. “I’m sorry, macushla,” I said, frowning.
“What does that mean,” she asked, smiling as I ran the washcloth over her tender parts.
“It’s a term of endearment. Loosely translated, it means sweetheart. I’m sorry, it just came out. It’s something I used to call my wife. Does that bother you?”
Hollis’ expression softened and she shook her head. “No, it’s very sweet.” She reached out to cradle my face. “You’re very sweet.”
“Not always,” I said, wish that were true. “If I were that sweet, I wouldn’t be here trying to think of ways to convince you to stay here in Ireland with me. As you said, you have a life, it’s not fair or even sane to think of asking you to walk away from your life in the states for a man you’ve only just met.”
“Yeah, on the surface, that’s pretty crazy,” she admitted. “Though, not anything anyone who knows me would be surprised to hear. I’m known for doing things that are a little crazy.”
“I’m not. This would definitely be out of character for me.”
“What would your brother think?” she asked.
“I don’t know. Probably think I’d lost my mind but in a good way. He’s been saying I need to date more but I’m not much for serial dating. I’m a one-woman kind of guy. I know that’s probably not very sexy — “
“Who the fuck says that’s not sexy?” Hollis cut in, incredulous. “Loyalty is sexy as fuck. Man-whores are not sexy. American pop culture has it all wrong. Let me tell you something, my ex broke up with me by texting that he’d found someone else but here’s what I didn’t tell anyone else…I think he might’ve been cheating on me for years. I never had hard proof but I had this gut feeling that I couldn’t shake. Ricky leaving was a blessing — he did what I couldn’t bring myself to do.”
Hollis sat back on her haunches, stunned. As if saying the words aloud were the first time she actually heard what her soul needed to hear.
I hated this tosser Ricky for hurting her but I was glad he was out of the picture because that meant she was here.
And I was here for her.
“I’ve never had reason to believe in fate but you’ve given me a reason to believe that maybe things do happen for a reason,” I said, reaching for her. “I can’t begin to understand the why and how of what’s happening between us but I know it’s powerful and real. I want to explore where it can go. How about you?”
Hollis nodded, tears welling in her eyes. “This is pretty scary, though. Pretty big step.”
“Very big step.”
She cocked her head with a warning, “Don’t ask me to marry you though. I’m not marrying a man I’ve only known less than 24 hours. That’s nuts. My mom would kill me.”
“I will not ask you to marry me.”
Yet.
“I don’t even know if you’re Catholic.”
“I’m not,” she answered, shaking her head, her expression wary. “Nor do I want to be.”
“We can fix that,” I said with confidence, then laughed to show I was joking. None of that mattered to me. Everything was moving fast. Probably too fast. I didn’t want to scare her away. I would slow the train but I already knew where the last stop would end.
The minute she stepped into Mackey’s, my heart knew. Maybe it was Mary’s intervention. A gentle nudge from the kindest woman who’d ever walked this earth and now flitted about in heaven, making the world a better place through her divine influence.
I would marry Hollis Decker.
Someday.
We would make red-haired babies and go on epic adventures, hand-in-hand.
But in the meantime…
I would be her Irish tour guide.
“So, the Blarney stone, eh?”
“Yeah…sounds cool,” she said, nodding, her eyes drooping as she snuggled against my side, a yawn cracking her jaw. “Remember, you said you’d make me breakfast tomorrow and I’m holding you to it.”
“Breakfast, macushla,” I promised, pressing a kiss to her crown as my own eyes started to flutter shut. For the first time in a long time, I was looking forward to the future.
Hollis
A year later…
I must’ve done something right in a past life because I pretty much hit the jackpot in this one.
Today I married the love of my life — a man who fate placed in my bubble by chance and now is the center of my universe.
To be fair, I was the center of his, so it was an equal exchange.
We were blissfully happy.
As it turned out, Collum was a really good tour guide — so good, he managed to sell me on staying behind when the rest of my group returned home to the states. I fell in love with Ireland just as much as I fell in love with Collum.
The culture, the people, the beer.
I could even handle the whiskey now and then.
But the best part was falling asleep in Collum’s arms each night.
I finally realized what I’d been missing all that time with Ricky — a sense of belonging to someone who truly loved me.
I never wondered or worried with a pit of anxiousness in my gut over what Collum may be doing if I wasn’t around. Trust, as it turned out, was something I’d never had but hadn’t realized was missing in my relationship.
Collum showed me in a million different ways how a man was supposed to love, cherish and honor the woman by his side. I was never an after-thought or a burden but rather, Collum treated me as if I were a gift to his life.
What a change.
Now that I knew what real love was supposed to feel like, I’d never accept a substitution again.
Not that I’d ever have to.
Collum slipped his hand through mine.
“The renovations on your mum’s cottage are nearly complete,” he murmured against the shell of my ear. I smiled. It was going to be our surprise for my mom. The hardest part about leaving the states had been saying goodbye to my best friend. Collum had made it possible for my mom to come and visit — or even relocate if she chose — whenever she wanted. We planned to show her the cottage after the reception.
“Have I told you lately how much I love you?” I said, turning to brush a sweet kiss across his lips.
“I never tire of hearing it,” he said, his hand coming to rest across my belly. Another surprise we hadn’t shared just yet. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine,” I promised, sharing a secret smile. “You have to stop touching my stomach or people are going to start noticing.”
“I don’t care. I want to shout from the rooftops that you’re carrying my baby.”
“Shhhh,” I said, sealing my mouth to his with a laugh. “I’m serious. I don’t want to say anything until I’m further along. I’m barely pregnant anyway.”
“You’re nearly i
n your second trimester,” he disagreed with a wink. “Sorry love, you’re well and truly pregnant. It’s a miracle you can fit in your dress with how nicely plump you’re becoming. Och, macushla, I could suck on your breasts all day.”
“You’re the only man I know who could find me more attractive the fatter I get,” I said, giggling.
“More to love,” he said, his gaze heating. I knew that look all too well. It’s the look that knocked me up. I felt myself getting wet. Damn these pregnancy hormones.
“Stop that,” I admonished but I was already wondering if it were possible to find a quiet place to lift up my voluminous white dress so Collum could fuck me from behind. No, it was probably rude to leave your own wedding reception to have sex in a darkened corner. Instead, I kissed Collum harder and promised, “Later,” and left him with a raging erection to go find my mom.
I found her admiring the cake — it had dancing fairies on it! — and linked my arm through hers with a happy sigh.
She leaned against me. “Well, you did it, kid,” she said, teasing, “You made me look like a better mom than I actually was.”
“Stop it, you were a good mom.”
She chuckled. “I’m kidding. I’m actually so proud of you. You’ve accomplished so much. I know I probably wasn’t always the best but you didn’t let that stop you from becoming the very best kid.”
My eyes watered up. “Mommmmm, you’re going to make me cry.”
“Good,” she laughed, wiping at her eyes. “That’s a drop in the bucket for the hundreds of times you made me cry, you little brat.”
“Touché,” I said, carefully wiping at my own eyes to prevent my makeup from running.
A moment passed before my mom said with an approving smile, “Collum is a good man and my opinion has nothing to do with the fact that he owns a castle. It has everything to do with how he treats you. I see how much you’ve changed since meeting him. Ireland has changed you in so many good ways. With Ricky, I watched you curl inward. With Collum, you’re blossoming. As a mom…that’s all I could ever ask for.”
Awww crap…and there was no stopping the waterworks now.
“Why’d you have to say that?” I asked, half-laughing, half-crying as my mom tried to help wipe my tears. “Now I have to tell you something…”
“Tell me what?”
“Well, Collum and I wanted to wait until after the reception but now I’m a weepy mess and I don’t have any control over my emotions right now and you have to say yes.”
Understanding suddenly dawned as my mom gasped, “Oh my God…”
I nodded. My mom knew me so well I didn’t even need to finish my sentence.
My mom covered her mouth, smothering her excited squeal. “Are you saying? Are you kidding me? Don’t tease me if it’s not true!”
I nodded like a marionette. “You’re going to be a grandma.”
We hugged and danced as she cried, “That’s amazing!” but then she pulled away with a confused smile to ask, “Wait…what am I saying yes to?”
I laughed through my tears, “Moving to Ireland because I can’t do this without you.”
Tears flooded my mom’s eyes. “I thought you’d never ask!”
Annnnnd, now we are both crying.
And that’s basically how Collum found us.
Wrapped in each other’s arms, blubbering, babbling happy nonsense.
Oh, she said yes.
Now, I needed to find my mom an Irish boyfriend (because I think it’s been a while since my poor mama got some good lovin’) and it’s high time my mom found some happiness for herself.
Anyone know any hot older gentlemen who would dig a sexy, younger grandma?
She’s officially on the market.
Also by Alexx Andria
Are you looking for more by USA Today bestselling author Alexx Andria? Check out the following titles (the titles are clickable for your convenience!)
Decadent
It will be a cold day in hell before wine heiress Alessandra Baroni lets go of her family’s Tuscan vineyard. No one could tempt Alessandra to sell…not even a devil as handsome, rich and irresistible as arrogant American Dante Donato. But the moment their bodies touch, there are sparks. Hot, dangerous sparks. And when it comes to Dante, this is one inferno Alessandra won’t be able to control.
#harlequindare #billionaire #oppositesattract
Dear Phoney Fiance (The Matchmaker Series)
Cara Harris is smart, funny, insanely beautiful — and not looking for anything remotely serious.
Once I explain my messed-up situation — that I need a fake girlfriend to get back at my soul-sucking ex — she’s more than willing to help me out.
The plan is going great, except my feelings are getting real. And hers? I have no effing clue.
What happens when it’s time to go our separate ways? Because one thing is for sure — I’m not ready to say good-bye.
#fakefiance #matchmaker #romcom
Naughty St. Nicholas (Santa’s Coming Short Story)
Brielle Harris is my dream girl. Except somehow I ended up in the dreaded Friend Zone and I’ve been stuck there ever since. But that’s all going to change. I know exactly what she needs and it isn’t a shoulder to cry on.
What she doesn’t know is that she might know me as a nice guy who surprises her with lattes at work but behind closed doors I’m a different kind of bad — the kind of bad she secretly craves.
And tonight, I’m going to get the girl who was born to be mine…and I plan to play dirty to win.
*His Sexy Cheerleader (The Halloween Honeys)
Football quarterback Ozzie Nash been chasing head cheerleader Layla Laughton for years but she's always turned him down -- until now. When the headstrong cutie finds herself in need of a little help, she finds it in the unlikely form of the man she's been trying to avoid.
Sparks fly and trouble brews on this All Hallows Eve as these two find themselves in all sorts of fun positions after-hours at a fundraising event but after the fun is over, what happens next? Can the quarterback catch the sexy cheerleader? Or will she leave him on the field?
#sportsromance #novella #oppositesattract #redemption #holidayread
*BUCHANAN ROMANCE
*Bought By The Billionaire Brothers
Three ridiculously wealthy men, one curvy woman and the fight to own her. Which one will win her heart? #billionaireromance
*The Buchanan’s Baby
Nolan Buchanan is used to getting what he wants, until the mother of his baby girl wants nothing to do with him. Can this billionaire convince his baby mama to take a chance on love? #billionaireromance
*The Buchanan’s Redemption
Vince Buchanan is all about the win — in business and in the bedroom — so when he’s forced to shelter a woman to protect his business interests, he never suspects he might fall for the difficult woman. Will he earn redemption or will he cling to old habits? #billionaireromance
*A Christmas Promise
Laird Teichert isn’t a gentle man but when he’s called upon to protect a broken woman, he finds himself wanting to be the man she needs. Can he change before it’s too late? Or will he lose the woman of his dreams forever…#billionaireromance
*The Billionaire’s Sweet Surprise
Vince Buchanan thought he had everything he needed in life…until his feisty little wife surprised him with the ultimate gift.
Old demons from his past threaten his future happiness unless he can put them to rest but can he make the change in time? #billionaireromance
*Coerced
Nobody says no to Sutton Buchanan, except one curvy artist who doesn’t know any better.
Can he trust his heart or will he cling to his old ways and ruin the woman of his dreams? #billionaireromance
*Pushed
Reece Buchanan is a player and he’s good at what he does. Now he’s supposed to use that charm to bring down a woman holding up an essential investment.
So what’s he supposed to do
when he accidentally falls in love?
It’s the woman or his family…what choice will he make? #billionaireromance
*Damaged
Some dreams refuse to die.
Whitney Buchanan has it all – money, beauty, a hot guy she adores – until one night everything changes and she flees the country without a word to anyone.
Charlie Pearson believes in the good things in life: good food, good friendship, and great sex. He takes pride in his blue-collar job and loves his woman. All that shatters when Whitney breaks his heart and bails. As far as he’s concerned, if he never sees her again — it’ll be too soon.
Now Whitney’s home again.
Charlie figures one chance per customer, and Whitney has had hers. No way he’ll allow his dignity and self-esteem to get trampled in the dirt a second time. He’s not willing to pay that price. He once dreamed that she might be The One; now he sees her as damaged goods. But, damaged or not, he still feels the pull every time she’s around.
And, dammit, dreams die hard.
#billionaireromance
Leverage
Boston Kincaid is ruthless, hard and filthy rich. He takes what he wants and gives zero f*cks.
Until he meets Julianna. In an instant, everything changes.
Except Julianna hates him and she’s bound and determined to keep him away from her…and their baby. #billionaireromance
Still Into You (Miles and Dani’s story) (Formerly Falling from Grace
Dr. Miles Lassiter doesn’t want anything to do with a certain Hollywood starlet but when he’s the only who can save her…he finds himself torn.
Will Miles lose his heart again or will he walk away forever from the woman he needs the most? #beachread
Club Chrome series:
Kings of Asphalt (MC romance)
Two hard-bodied motorcycle club leaders and one curvy journalist looking for a story adds up to trouble of the most interesting kind! #MCromance #menage #badboy
All Dogs Bite (MC romance)
Some bad boys can’t be tamed…or can they?