Around the World in 80 Men Series Boxed Set 1-10

by Brandi Ratliff

  They were still laughing when they got to the tavern, and they nearly tripped over one another as they walked to the bar. The place was dark, and neither of them could adjust their eyes quickly enough to walk straight.

  “Oh, you don't want to be near me when I can't see, I've been known to hurt people that way.” Sean wrapped his arm around her and helped guide her the rest of the way.

  “I'll take my chances.” He helped her into a tall wooden seat and motioned for the bartender. She put her hand on his leg, and inched his kilt up with her fingers as he ordered them a drink. Sean never missed a beat, he continued ordering as he put his hand over hers and put an end to her exploration.

  Morgan pouted again when she still didn't find her answer. Sean finished the order and pulled her hand out from underneath his kilt and brought it to his lips, “control yerself, Angel.” He kept her hand prisoner between his hands while they waited for their drinks. “Oh, what's this wee thingy?” Sean felt her bracelet under his fingers and pulled her hand in front of his face so he could get a better look. “Fish?”

  “Mhmm,” Morgan leaned forward, not missing a beat either, and placed her free hand on his knee. His warning look was nothing short of sexy. If it was supposed to deter her from finding out what was under that kilt, he'd have to do better than that. “It was a gift from a client of mine,” Morgan distracted him with her words and slid her hand further up his leg, but again, she was stopped.

  Sean pulled her arm up and around his head, forcing her to follow the lead and she ended up standing behind him with her arms around his broad shoulders. He held her hands tight to his chest, but she wasn't going to give up so soon. Once she realized his large hands were too strong to break free, she lowered her lips to his ear and gave him a little bite, “what's under there, Sean?”

  Her words vibrated softly against his skin and she felt his chest tense under her arms. “Ye wee devil, I'm not that easy.” They both laughed at his lie as their drinks arrived. Sean released Morgan's hands with the promise she didn't go exploring up his kilt again. Morgan only agreed to waiting until they weren't in public.

  Sean carried their drinks to a nearby table for two and pulled an old wooden chair out for Morgan before seating himself. As they finished the first glass of beer, they watched as more and more people filed into the bar. By ten minutes, Morgan was becoming a pro at spotting locals versus tourists. “Local. Local. Tourist, definitely. Tourist. Local.”

  “Nay, that last one is a Scot,” Sean corrected her.

  “How do you know?” Morgan thought she had gotten them all correct.

  “I've seen him before.”

  Morgan raised an eyebrow at him, “well then you're a cheater!”

  Sean nudged her with his elbow, “listen to him.” Morgan strained to hear the tall dark-haired man at the bar. It was clear he was a Scot.

  “Okay, you're right,” Morgan admitted her defeat.

  “Aye, what do I get?” Sean asked about his reward.

  “Hmm,” Morgan put her finger on her chin, pretending to be deep in thought, “another beer?” Before he could protest, she got up and made her way back to the bar. A few minutes later, she returned with his prize.

  “Thank ye.” Sean downed half his beer in a few gulps. Morgan tried to do the same, but only made it through a quarter of the glass. They both laughed at her effort. Morgan watched him for a moment and wondered how he could ever be single. He was so easy to get along with. Witty, charming, gorgeous.

  Then as he finished off his beer, he stood, with his empty glass of water. Morgan thought he was just going to get a refill, but he came up behind her, gave her a soft kiss to her lips and slid an ice cube down the back of her jeans.

  “Oh, you son-of-a....” Morgan quickly stood and did a little jig to rid her body of the cold culprit. And now I remember why he's single. Morgan laughed to herself as she watched the tall man make his way to the bar. But he does have a fantastic ass. And those legs, dear God. She couldn't wait to straddle him later and run her hands all the way up that kilt.

  As he walked back to the table, with an order of fries and drinks, Morgan gave careful thought to her next question. He sat back down at the table and Morgan asked her burning question, “so, if you don't mind me asking, why is your mom around so much? Does she always stop by like that?”

  “Aye, I don' mind it much though,” Sean shoved a fry into his mouth. “She's lonely, my best guess. My sis moved to Greece a few years back and I've all my ma's got now. Leslie visits aroond the holidays but that's aboot it.”

  “I see,” Morgan nodded solemnly. “Does she always chase your girlfriends away? I mean, if you ever want a relationship,” she thought of how to finish the sentence, “then, well, she can't be doing that. You know, showing up all the time.” Sean nodded and popped two more fries between his lips.

  “That's the thing, lass. I doona care aboot all that. I'm not looking fer a relationship. I love my life just the way it is, ye know? I've got my job and my hoose and if I want to have fun, I do. I wouldn't change a thing about it,” Sean answered when he was finished chewing. “What is it that ye want?” he turned the question back on her.

  “Me? Well...for now, I just want to do my job, see the world and fill my scrapbook,” she answered. She hadn't really given it much thought before.

  “Aye, see? Then ye do it, Morgan. Ye do yer job, and you fill yer wee booklet and ye do all of the things ye want to do. Live yer life, love your life. The way I do things makes me happy. You find what you like to do, things that make ye happy.”

  Sean gave her a wink and finished the last half of his beer. Morgan thought about all of the lesson's she had leaned so far in her journey.

  Finlay, the handsome Scot, built like a brick house, taught her that it's okay to be young. It's alright to feel. Whether it's happiness, pain, excitement...whatever it is, it's okay. He taught her that she is young and she is immature, and it's okay. Growing pains.

  Tanner. Oh, the carefree, gorgeous, Tanner Collins. He taught her to live like you mean it. Whatever it is in life that you do, do it with all you've got. Life like there is no tomorrow.

  Dante. The sweet and shy Italian Stallion. She regretted not getting to spend much time with him, and she hoped that she would meet up with him again one day to thank him for his lesson. Even though he took his compulsive scheduling to an extreme, his lesson was very valuable. Through living life like you mean it, and going through growing pains, there still has to be structure. She took her first step in that by setting her boundaries with Finlay.

  And then there's Sean. Know what you want, and do it. You have to know what you want before you can do it like you mean it, and because she's never given herself much structure, she's hardly given thought to what she actually wants. She'd spent her life being a people pleaser, and with all of the lessons of her clients, she planned to start giving herself a few of life’s pleasures.

  And at that moment, she knew what she wanted, and she was going to do it like she meant it.

  “Karaoke?” She raised an eyebrow at Sean, and he nodded in agreement.

  Chapter Eight

  After several shots of whiskey, Morgan had finally decided she'd do it. The first time she walked up to the stage, she had just as quickly retreated back to their little round table. Sean suggested she get a few more drinks in her first and she took his advice. Of course, even though he hadn't planned on singing, he took one for the team and drank shot for shot with her. He was supportive like that.

  She climbed up the few stairs to the wooden stage and approached the microphone in a few wobbly steps. Any other time, the hundreds of eyes staring at her would have made her run, not only off the stage, but out of the bar, but her liquid courage helped her along the way.

  The DJ had given her a slight scowl at her song choice, but Morgan was thrilled when she heard American Pie begin its opening tune. The crowd, at least a quarter of them being tourists, all applauded when they re
cognized the tune and even the locals laughed.

  Sean approached the front of the stage and pulled a chair up for front row seating. Morgan kept her eyes on him throughout the whole song, his smile encouraging her through every verse. He laughed at each word that she sang too soon and each note that was hit too high. Her singing was one of the most awful things he ever heard, but at the same time, it was the cutest thing he'd ever seen.

  She swayed with the microphone and sang her heart out, and by the end of the song, the whole pub applauded and cheered for her. Sean's whistling rang out louder than any other sound. “Wooooooo!” He got up and stood at the edge of the stage with his arms extended above his head for Morgan to jump into.

  He caught the tipsy girl, dipped her and kissed her hard before setting her down on the ground, “that was brilliant, doll!”

  “Oh, no, it wasn't!” she doubled over in laughter as her giggles took over. “I'm an awful singer, but that was so much fun! You go! I want to hear you sing!”

  Sean argued, but her pouty lip won, yet again. After another American sang his song, Sean put in his request and got on the stage. It was a song Morgan didn't recognize, but it was as if he was only singing it to her. His voice was beautiful, and Morgan reminded herself to tell him that he was foolish for saying he had a terrible voice.

  After he was finished, she did just that. “You are amazing, Sean! That was beautiful! How could you say that you don't have a good singing voice?”

  “Nay, that wasn't any good. Yers was much better,” he grabbed her around the waist and led her to the dance floor. That's where they spent the rest of the evening, dancing until their legs hurt and they were covered in sweat.

  “After you.” Sean motioned for Morgan to get into the cab ahead of him, and as Sean always did, he ran his hand along her ass as she stepped inside. Once he sat down beside her, she told him what she thought of that little move. Normally, she would have told him that she expected more, but not then.

  “I would threaten to attack your big dick when we get to the house, but since you've deprived me of my fun all night, then I believe I'm just going to go straight to bed.” A challenge had been set, and Sean was more than up for it.

  “Is that so? Well, how can I make it right?” He put his hand over hers and slowly moved it up his leg.

  “That's certainly a start.” She giggled quietly and let him lead her hand all the way to the promised land. “I knew it!”

  That night, Morgan had insisted that Sean leave his kilt on. Only his kilt. He eagerly agreed.

  *****

  Morgan stretched her legs as far as she could, willing her tired body to gain enough strength to walk itself to the bathroom. It was her last day with Sean, and she smiled at the recent memories of everything that they had done together.

  The sex, that was beyond amazing, but more importantly, she got to actually live and do things that she wanted to do. She didn't feel as if she were just along for the ride, she felt like Sean had handed her the wheel at least half the time.

  She yawned loudly, then sat up in bed. “ouch!” Her lower stomach cramped and she doubled over. At that exact time, Sean walked into the bedroom.

  “What is it?” He ran to the bed and fell to his knees in front of her.

  “Oh, just cramps...I'm..uh...going to...you know.” She was never comfortable talking about her womanly time of the month. Sean smiled and nodded.

  “Aye, let me see what I have for ye.” He got up and left the room. Morgan stayed where she was for several moments until the cramps lessened, then she walked slowly to the bathroom. A hot bath would help, but not as much as a few over the counter pain killers.

  She had already ran her bath and was stepping in when Sean found her. “A man could get used to seein' that.” Then he smiled as he watched her settle down into the overflowing white bubbles.

  She leaned her head back and laughed, “but not you, you're the most carefree man I've ever met.” They both laughed, then Sean told her that he had searched everywhere in the house and couldn't find anything for her pain.

  “I'll run out and get ye something, and I'll get yer coffee while I'm at it.” He didn't wait for a response, he was down the hall and out the door in seconds.

  Her monthly visit had been the last thing on her mind over the last few weeks, but it was screaming for her attention right then. She'd check her calendar, but her body already made it clear that she would start in the next day or two. “I have to call Julianne.” She moaned at the empty room, and then sat up and washed herself quickly. When she was done, she grabbed a dark red towel with one large sheep on the front. His big blue eyes fit perfectly across her butt cheeks and looked as if they bouncing as she walked back to the bedroom.

  She found her phone in the back pocket of her black jeans that were still on the floor. She called her boss, but only got her voice mail. “Hi, I have a little issue. Uh, I'm going to start soon...you know...start.. and I'm going to need a few days off until I'm done. I know that you're going to send me a client list today, but I just wanted to see what you want me to do. Talk to you soon.” She hung up, and laid back on the bed.

  She must have fallen asleep, because the next thing she heard was Sean in the kitchen. The towel was still wrapped around her body when she got up.

  Her suitcase was at the end of the bed on the floor, and she leaned over and picked out a tee and a pair of shorts. Five minutes later, she made her way into the kitchen.

  When Sean saw her holding her side, he pulled out a chair and told her to sit. “Take these..,” then he handed her a glass of water along with two white pills, “and here's your coffee.”

  “You're the best, thank you.” She did as she was told, then leaned back in the kitchen chair. “Well, what are we going to do today?” The knowledge that it was her last day with him didn't need to be spoken.

  He pulled his chair in front of hers, “we're going to stay right here and I'll take care of ye.” He moved the hair from the front of her eye, and then kissed her forehead. It was the sweetest thing that anyone had ever said to her.

  “Sean, it's just cramps, and they'll go away soon thanks to you.” She smiled, and wanted nothing more than to please the man. Before either of them could say anything else, they were interrupted by the familiar jazz tune of her phone. Sean announced that he would get it for her, and ran to the bedroom.

  It was nearing its last ring by the time he handed it to her. “Thanks.” She took it and flipped it open. It was Julianne. As usual, her boss didn't give her much of a chance for a formal greeting.

  “Dear, in this situation I'll just fly you to your client's location early, then you can meet with him when you're ready. He won't know you're there until you tell me to contact him.” Her words were loud, loud enough for even Sean to hear them. He listened openly, not caring a bit that it may be considered rude.

  Morgan playfully squinted her eyes at him as she continued the conversation, “okay, so I'll just hang out for a few days then I'll meet him when my peri....week is over?” Her face began to warm as she spoke in front of Sean. He stood up and walked behind her, mostly to keep listening, but also to make her feel less uncomfortable. “Alright, I'll pick one and send it right back. Okay, thanks, Julianne.” She hung up the phone, and turned around to look up at Sean.

  “So, ye just pick a guy from your wee phone then?” Morgan smiled and nodded. “Well, let me help ye with that.” He sat back down in his chair, and scooted it even closer to where her knees were between his.

  She hesitated, then finally flipped her phone back open and clicked Julianne's message. “Here, see? These are the men that are currently asking for companionship, and then I just pick one.” They were both looking at the screen as she scrolled through the photos.

  “Nay, he's too short. Not that one, he has a squinty look to him.”

  “A squinty look? What exactly does that mean?” She laughed at the man as he continued to stare at her small phone.
>
  “I doona ken, but he has it.” He moved her finger out of the way, and started looking on his own. “There, that's the one for ye.” He handed her the phone and she took a look.

  “Well, he's cute. But why do you think he's the one?” He explained that he wasn't posing, or puffing his chest out, he was just being himself and that he would probably be that way with her. She nodded slowly, and added that information to her mental book of learning.

  “Kole Vaki. That's a great name. Hmm he's big, tan, and has a great smile. Yeah, I think I'll take your advice!” She clicked his name, and sent it to her boss. “Well, that's that, now let's get back to our day.” She leaned in and caught her stomach again as the cramps took over.

  Sean stood halfway and picked her up, cradling her in his arms, “our day will start when ye feel better.” He carried her to the bedroom and laid her down.

  “Alright, but will you lay with me?” He smiled and nodded.

  “There's nowhere else I'd rather be just now.” He pulled the thick blanket over the both of them, and he wrapped his arms around her. They were both asleep within minutes.

  When Morgan woke up, she felt behind her for the warm man's arm, and what she got in return was a handful of fur. “Olcan?” The terrier licked her hand, then jumped over her body to greet her face. “Okay, okay cutie butt, just stop licking my face.” She giggled as she tried to control the over affectionate dog. “Let me get up and find your dad. Where is he?” Olcan jumped from the bed and ran to the kitchen, Morgan followed him.

  “You big fibber, he's not in here.” She bent down and scratched his head, then grabbed her leftover coffee from morning and moved several sheep out of the way to get to the microwave. Once reheated, she sat at the table and enjoyed her second morning drink. She checked the sheep clock on the wall and saw that it was nearly four in the afternoon. “No!” She couldn't believe that she had slept for so long. It was then that Sean came through the front door. “Sean! Why did you let me sleep so long? This is our last day!”