Wild Devotion

by Mari Carr

  “How long have you been married?” Padraig asked.

  “Three years. Love the gal. She’s American. Met when she was studying abroad. If ye can’t tell from this brogue, I’m originally from Kerry. Ireland.”

  “My grandfather is Irish,” Padraig said.

  Seamus’s eyes widened. “Is that right? Well, small world.”

  Padraig gave Seamus his email and the video switched hands.

  “Sorry to interrupt your moment. Blame my lack of romance. Hope the two of you have a very happy life together.” Seamus nodded in farewell and continued down the beach.

  “What a nice guy,” Mia said.

  Padraig tucked his cell phone back into his pocket. “Pop Pop is going to love that story. Suspect he’ll show everyone he knows that video in the pub. Not because of the proposal but because of the Irishman who recorded it. Can hear him now.” Padraig went into a pretty decent impersonation of his grandfather. “He was Irish, he was, the man who recorded it. Full of romance, we Irish are.”

  Mia laughed. “I’m not sure how he can say that. Seamus admitted to proposing to his girlfriend during a fight.”

  Padraig tilted his head, confused, until a light appeared to go on. “What? Oh, no. They weren’t pissed as in mad. In Ireland, pissed means drunk.”

  “Well, that clears that up. I was wondering why the woman would say yes if they were arguing.”

  “Let’s go grab our bags and change into our bathing suits. After that long drive, I’m ready for a dip in the pool and a drink from that tiki bar we walked past.”

  Mia and Padraig spent nearly two hours alternating between splashing in the pool and sunning themselves. Mia couldn’t stop sneaking peeks at the engagement ring, trying to convince herself that it was really there, that Padraig had truly proposed.

  “Hungry?” Padraig asked.

  She nodded, so they threw some clothes on over their almost dry suits and grabbed an outside table at the resort restaurant, eating a huge pile of firecracker shrimp. Their table overlooked the ocean, which was sparkling with the last rays of sun.

  A man started playing guitar and singing, and Mia decided right then and there was the most perfect moment of her life…again. She’d had countless perfect moments with Padraig.

  The singer performed a great mix of cover songs mingled with originals. She was especially moved by a slower one with lines that spoke to her.

  I will always be your ladder. Climb to safety.

  Padraig had become her ladder, offering her an escape and a safe place beyond. The song seemed to have the same effect on Padraig, who reached across the table to hold her hand. Neither of them spoke, but the electricity between them was growing. Pretty soon they’d need one of those Danger, High Voltage signs.

  “Paddy,” she said softly. “Take me to bed.”

  He didn’t need to be told twice. He paid the bill and they returned to the room.

  Once inside, they hastily walked to the bedroom, shedding clothing along the way. By the time they reached the bed, they were both naked.

  Padraig pushed her to the mattress before coming down on top of her. He kissed her long and deep, his tongue and hers touching, tasting. She tightened her fingers in his hair, tugging on the thick mass.

  He ran one hand along her side, from breast to hip and back again. Then he cupped her breast, tweaking her nipple, before leaning down to suck it into his mouth.

  She wrapped her thighs around his upper legs, trying to guide him closer, determined to have him inside her.

  Padraig would never be the type of man to be controlled in the bedroom. He always had his own agenda and he made sure it played out. Not that she minded. The man was a master at making her come, giving her mind-blowing orgasms. And usually two or three a night. With past lovers, she was lucky to achieve one lackluster climax. Padraig wasn’t selfish in the bedroom.

  Not that that was surprising. She’d never met a more generous, compassionate man. Everything about him was just…perfect.

  “Paddy,” she urged when he continued to play with her breast. “Please.”

  He lifted his head and winked. Then he drifted lower, his hot breath hitting her clit a split second before his tongue did.

  “Ohmigod,” she mumbled. Her arousal tripled when he took her clit between his teeth, teasing the turgid bit of flesh. “Please,” she repeated. “Oh, please.”

  Padraig never responded to her pleading. She’d learned that in Paris. If anything, her cries only encouraged him to drive her desires higher.

  Her hands were still in his hair, and it wasn’t until she heard him grunt once that it occurred to her she was probably hurting him. She loosened her grip, moving her hands to fist the sheets when he pushed three fingers inside her.

  Mia thrust her hips toward the glorious invasion, trying to push him deeper. Padraig placed his hand on her stomach and with a firm grip, held her against the bed.

  “You’re killing me!” she yelled at him.

  He grinned and shook his head. “No, I’m not. Now be a good girl and lay still.”

  “Yeah,” she said sardonically. “That’s gonna happen.”

  He raised one eyebrow that let her know she would obey him.

  She decided to try a different tactic, tilting her head and adopting a sweet smile. “Paddy,” she purred. “Please.”

  “You sure you want to take that route?”

  Mia batted her eyelashes. “I need you inside me.”

  “At some point, you’re going to have to learn some patience.”

  “Why?”

  “Because some things are better when you wait.”

  “I don’t wanna wait.” She fought not to wince at the definite vein of whine in that comment. Not that it impacted Padraig. She realized it didn’t matter what she said or how. He was going to do this his way.

  She blew out an exasperated breath. “Fine. Do whatever. You’re going to anyway.” She threw her hands up against the mattress in the universal sign for surrender and didn’t bother to hide her annoyance.

  Padraig shook his head just once. “Wow. You did it that time.”

  Before she could ask what, he’d tugged her to a sitting position on the bed. A brief one while he shifted to the edge. Within ten beats of her heart, he had her facedown over his lap.

  “What the hell—”

  Padraig spanked her ass. Not hard. It certainly didn’t hurt.

  So it wasn’t the pain that had her struggling to get up. It was the idea of what he was doing.

  Padraig slapped her again, only this one had a slight bit of sting to it.

  “What do you think—”

  Another slap. And still Mia tried to get up.

  After the fourth spank, Padraig ran his finger along her slit. Mia’s legs parted slightly—almost of their own volition—so he could get to the good parts.

  He didn’t take her up on her offer. At least, not right away.

  He gave her a fifth and sixth slap, and this time he didn’t hold back.

  “Ouch!” she cried out, the impact reminding her to fight back. Briefly.

  Her desire to get away vanished the second he pushed two fingers inside her. She was somewhat shocked to realize how wet she was. How hot. How freaking close to coming.

  Padraig thrust in and out half a dozen times and Mia went light-headed, her vision blurry as her climax erupted.

  Her orgasm seemed to surprise Padraig as much as her. He kept his fingers moving, drawing out the pleasure. He didn’t slip them out until the storm had passed.

  Then with a gentle hand, he lifted her until she was cradled on his lap.

  Mia rested her head in the crook of his shoulder, feeling boneless, replete. It took her several minutes to find her voice.

  “You spanked me.” There was no accusation in her tone. It was actually on the tip of her tongue to ask if he’d do it again.

  “I did. Did you like it?”

  She lifted her head and shot him an incredulous look. “What do you think?”


  Padraig chuckled. “You don’t hold anything back.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I never have to wonder if you’re with me. Really with me, in bed. Some women are easily distracted, too busy thinking about how they look or what the sex means emotionally to really be in the moment, to enjoy what’s happening. You’re always with me. Telling me what you want. Showing me how it feels with your hands and your cute little cries. It’s hot, Mia. You’re hot.”

  His cock was rock-hard and pressed against her hip. While she’d found her release, he hadn’t found his. And yet he was content to hold her like this.

  Mia turned to face him fully, reaching down to grip his cock. He sucked in a deep breath when she placed the head of it at her opening.

  Padraig gripped her hips, and she thought he might take control again. She was pleased when he simply kept his hands there, letting her guide this moment.

  Mia sank down slowly, kissing him. She wasn’t the only one making sexy noises as she continued taking him in deeper and deeper.

  She held still once he was lodged to the hilt, but only for a second or two as she tried to catch her breath.

  Then she lifted again, pounding down harder and faster the second time. And the third and the fourth.

  Mia rode Padraig for all of a dozen strokes before his dominant nature came roaring to the forefront. He lifted her even as he continued to move inside her, twisting her to her back on the mattress. Kneeling over her, he added even more force to the coupling, taking her with a passion that was overwhelming. Amazing.

  They came together in a rush of words and movement. Padraig jerking roughly as he swore he’d love her forever. Mia gasping and scratching his back as she promised she would always be his.

  After several minutes, Padraig moved and helped her shift so that they could both climb beneath the sheets. He tugged her close, her head resting on his chest.

  Then he sighed and shook his head. “Damn.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I was going to bring you up here and make love to you. We just got engaged at the ocean. I was hoping to expand on my romantic gesture.”

  She giggled. “You don’t think what just happened was romantic?”

  “I tossed you facedown over my lap and spanked that sexy ass of yours, then let you ride me before taking you like a man possessed. Jesus, woman. You push all my hot buttons. I swear to God I lose all control with you.”

  She lifted her head, her eyes narrowed. “I’ve yet to see you out of control, Paddy.”

  He chuckled. “That’s not what I mean. I wanted to turn on soft music, lick every inch of that silky skin of yours and take you gently.”

  She didn’t say that sounded a bit tame and maybe even boring after everything he’d just given her.

  “I don’t need roses and romance, Padraig. I just need you. However you want me.”

  Her words didn’t seem to calm him. Instead, they appeared to inflame him anew as she felt his cock begin to thicken against her stomach.

  “However I want?”

  She laughed, not even pretending to regret that offer. “Yep.”

  “So, say I wanted to take you out on that balcony, bend you over at the waist and fuck you from behind while the waves crashed on the shore in front of us. That would be something you’d be up for?”

  She sat up, climbing out of the bed. It was dark outside and they were on the far end of the resort. If they left the lights off inside the suite, she doubted anyone would know they were even outside.

  “Where are you going?” he asked when she reached the doorway of the bedroom.

  “To bend over.”

  She didn’t need to say another word. Padraig reached the balcony half a step behind her. And when her third orgasm of the night struck, she felt very much like the crashing waves of the ocean.

  Wild, untamed. Free.

  13

  July 24

  * * *

  “Mind if I join you?”

  Mia looked up and forced a smile at Padraig’s aunt Lauren. “Not at all.”

  Lauren slid into the opposite booth seat. “Padraig told me you’ve been having seizures this week.”

  Mia nodded tiredly. It was one of the reasons she was now sitting at a table instead of on a high stool at the bar. Padraig was terrified she’d start to have a seizure and fall before he could get to her.

  Dr. Richards had warned her since the very first appointment that she may have seizures. However, several months had passed and she’d forgotten.

  So had Padraig. Mia was fairly certain the first seizure had taken at least five years off the poor man’s life. They were curled up on the couch, watching television when it struck. They’d originally planned to go to the movies, but she’d been suffering from a rather bad headache, so they’d opted for an On Demand movie and popcorn at home.

  She didn’t remember anything about the actual seizure, just what Padraig told her afterwards. Apparently, he had asked her if she wanted more soda and she hadn’t responded. He said she had a sort of confused, faraway look in her eye, and then she’d slumped back just before the shaking started.

  Padraig had rolled her to her side, making sure she didn’t fall off the couch. Then he’d called 9-1-1. Everything she knew about the seizure she’d learned at the hospital, listening to Padraig describe it.

  Dr. Richards had met them at the ER and explained that these would probably become more common. He told Padraig he’d done the right thing, and then gently reassured them she didn’t have to come to the hospital after every seizure. Padraig left the emergency room armed with a list of instructions, while she’d walked out with a worse headache and a sinking feeling in her stomach that wouldn’t go away.

  Of course, insult was added to injury when Dr. Richards said she shouldn’t drive anymore. As if she wasn’t a big enough burden, she was now responsible for Padraig having to get up early after long nights, working at the pub to drive her to the office.

  “Yeah, I have. Three of them. But none have been as bad as the first one was. It lasted nearly a minute. The others have been much shorter, not as violent, I guess you could say. Problem is they make me wicked tired afterwards and I can’t drive anymore.”

  Lauren nodded as she listened. Mia knew Padraig’s aunt was a psychologist. She glanced over at her sweet fiancé and found him sneaking a peek at them. When he caught her looking, he turned away quickly.

  “Did Padraig send you over to talk to me?”

  Lauren smiled. “Actually, no. I wanted to speak with you. I mean, Padraig’s worried about you, but I don’t think he’s seen how much these seizures are bothering you. I get a sense that you’re not telling him everything about your feelings.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He said you’d gone through a bit of a depression a couple of months ago, but since then, you’ve been just fine, happy even.”

  Mia was about a hundred miles away from fine at the moment, and happy was residing on another planet light-years from her present location. After their trip to the beach and his romantic proposal, she’d been on a super high, ridiculously happy. The seizures stole that from her. Made her feel vulnerable, weak. Terrified.

  But she’d dumped enough of her baggage on Padraig, so she’d put on a happy face and pretended. It was getting harder to keep up the pretense.

  “Yeah,” Mia said, adopting that fake voice that seemed to fool Padraig. “I’m fine.”

  Lauren tilted her head, studying her face too closely for Mia’s comfort. “I’m sure the seizures are taking a toll.”

  Mia nodded, but didn’t say anything.

  “It’s not uncommon to feel sad or anxious after one as well.”

  Mia lifted one of her shoulders in a defeated shrug. “I don’t think it’s the seizures that are causing those moods.”

  Lauren had brought a glass of wine to the table with her. She lifted it and took a sip. “No. I don’t think it is. You know, depression isn’t all that unus
ual.”

  “I’m sure it’s not. Most people with a death sentence hanging over their heads are bound to get depressed about it.”

  “I wasn’t just talking about people who are dying. Everyone suffers from depression. What causes the feelings may differ, but the results are the same.”

  “I know.” Mia appreciated Lauren’s reassurances, but she’d gotten the you’re-not-alone speech too many times lately. It didn’t change the fact that she felt very, very lonely.

  “You’ve met Oliver, right?”

  Mia nodded, grateful, if somewhat confused, by Lauren’s abrupt change of subject. “Yeah. A few times.” She’d gotten a kick out of Padraig’s youngest cousin. He was only twenty, which meant he was living for his next birthday so he could start drinking at the pub with his older cousins. He was energetic, with a great sense of humor and that larger-than-life personality that seemed to be part of the Collins family’s genetic makeup.

  “He’s a piece of work, isn’t he?” Lauren asked with a grin that showed just how much she adored her son.

  “He’s great.”

  “I call him my miracle.”

  “Miracle?”

  Lauren looked down at her wineglass, toying with the stem. “I had four miscarriages before he came along.”

  Mia sucked in a breath. Four. “I didn’t know that.”

  Lauren shrugged. “It was years ago, and I don’t talk about it much. I always kind of dreamed that I’d have a big family. And I knew Chad and Sean would be wonderful fathers.”

  Mia knew Padraig would be a great dad too. The thought sent daggers through her heart, as she realized his future children wouldn’t be hers.

  “It’s hard when you want something so badly, your whole body aches with it. And when you just can’t get there, when you can’t get what you want, it’s devastating.”

  Mia nodded. She wanted to live. Wanted it with an intensity that was more painful than the headaches. “Yeah. Devastating.”