Chapter 2
One hour and four drinks later, Lucy managed to navigate her way back toward the bathroom, squinting in concentration and trying to appear more sober than she felt. The last thing she wanted was to completely humiliate herself by stumbling and staggering through the pub like the town drunk.
Once inside the cramped space, she plopped down on the toilet seat, forgetting her earlier disdain for the lack of toilet seat covers. At this point, the room was spinning, and she could not be bothered with hovering over the toilet. It had been so long since she had this many drinks, something she would surely regret in the morning.
The flirtation with Kenny continued as he repeatedly sent Lucy and Abbey drinks. Lucy, unable to hide her intrigue, blatantly stared at him as he switched from one instrument to another. He played to the room, but his gaze always returned to Lucy.
At some point over the last hour, Lucy bought a round for the entire band. While it had earned her cheers and another free drink, Lucy wasn’t sure how it would affect her wallet. Having only been in Dublin for two days, she hadn’t changed her dollars to euro yet.
Lucy tried to remember the last time she had drunk this much. It had to have been before her pregnancy over twelve years ago. That was back when Jeremy took her out for wild all-night raves. Or the nights she drowned her sorrows in alcohol, waiting for him to come home. Whoa, this line of thinking needed to stop. Jeremy was the last person who should be occupying her thoughts right now.
Tonight was the night for fresh beginnings, a chance to start over. And there was a very handsome musician giving her most of his attention. Feeling confident, Lucy strutted out of the bathroom, only to trip over her own foot and tumble into the hallway. Strong hands gripped her shoulders, breaking her fall.
“Easy there,” a deep voice said.
Lucy tried to stand upright, but the room tilted. Unable to regain her balance, she rested her head awkwardly against the stranger.
She could hear the chuckle deep in his chest. “You’re a bit knackered; we better cut ya off.”
Lucy laughed nervously, pressing a hand against his chest and straightening. Their eyes met, and she gasped.
Kenny.
Lucy dropped her gaze, feeling the heat course through the hand still pressed against his chest. “You’re the one who keeps sending them,” she said breathlessly.
“You kept drinking ‘em,” he replied, a playful grin stretching across his face.
“It would be rude not to,” Lucy teased, pushing the boundary of this flirtation.
Slowly, she raised her eyes and met his burning gaze. Her legs trembled, threatening to give out as she seductively ran her hand along his chest. In what felt like slow motion, he tilted his head and captured her lips with his own. Electricity shot through her entire body.
The kiss began lightly, but desire soon overcame them as the passion ignited. His arm encircled her waist, pulling her tightly against him. One hand slid behind her neck, fingers weaving through her hair.
Lucy casually slipped her arms over his shoulders. She sighed, parting her lips to allow his tongue to slide through. Lucy became lost in the moment, the alcohol numbing her brain, causing her to forget they were still in the hallway of the pub directly across from the toilets.
“Oh, sorry, I just need the toilet.” A woman interrupted in her attempt to squeeze past.
Lucy pulled out of the embrace. Laughing nervously, she ducked her head and rushed back to the table. Plopping down beside Abbey, she gingerly touched the coy smile on her swollen lips.
Abbey examined her sister’s face. “What on earth?” Glancing over her shoulder, she saw tin whistle man a few feet behind, the same sheepish grin across his face. “Did you? No––.”
Lucy peered through her lashes at Abbey, keeping her chin down, as a childish laugh escaped her lips.
Abbey’s eyes widened. “You did.”
“It was just a kiss,” Lucy told her, struggling to stop smiling.
“Okay, then, on that note, I’m going home.” Abbey began gathering her things.
Lucy grabbed her sister’s arm. “Wait, what?”
“I’m going home,” Abbey repeated, pushing up from the table. “You’re staying here.”
The smile faded. “I’m not staying here; how will I get home?”
Abbey placed a hand on her sister’s shoulder and leaned in. “I’m hoping you don’t come home.”
Lucy grasped her sister’s hand, feeling dizzy.
Abbey untangled her hand from Lucy’s grip. “Just have fun. Stay for one more song; if you want to come home, you can figure it out. You’ll have to learn the way eventually.” Abbey winked and walked away.
Lucy spun around in the chair to chase after her, but the quick movements caused an overwhelming sense of vertigo. All she could do was slump in the chair while figuring out the next course of action. She sat in a fog as the band began to play once again.
“Drink this.”
Kenny placed a glass in front of her before taking his place with the band. He picked up the tin whistle and jumped back into the song without missing a beat.
Lucy sniffed the liquid in the glass.
Water.
Grateful, she downed the entire thing, hoping it would sober her up. She was convinced Abbey was playing a joke on her, but on further inspection, it became clear her sister had definitely left.
“Is your friend coming back?”
Lucy jumped, too engrossed in her thoughts to notice Kenny’s approach. The band was packing up, and the crowd was dispersing. Was it closing time already?
“Umm––.” She was at a loss for words.
“I can give ya a lift,” he said.
She gave him a confused look, trying to register what he was offering.
Kenny held out a hand. “Come on, nothin’ a cuppa wouldn’t cure.”
“Okay?” She wasn’t quite sure what he was saying but wasn’t ready to walk away from him yet.
Taking his hand, Lucy grabbed her coat and purse as he led them out the door. The air felt cool against her skin. She hadn’t realized how warm the pub had been with all those bodies heating the room.
Kenny led her down the cobblestone street until they reached his car. He opened the driver’s door and motioned her to enter.
“I can’t drive. I been drinking,” she said, slurring the words a little.
Confusion crossed his face, but then he cracked a smile. “Aye, American. Ya drive on the wrong side. Take a peek in; no steering wheel on this side.”
“Oh yeah.” Lucy grinned sheepishly, collapsing into the passenger seat. “This car’s backwards.”
Chuckling, he closed the door, rounded the car, and slid into the driver’s seat.
“Wait,” Lucy said. “Should you be driving?”
He waved her comment off. “I only hada couple pints. I”ve been drinkin’ water fer the last hour. I’m grand.”
Satisfied with that answer, she settled back against the seat. As they drove, it dawned on her that she was in a car with a complete stranger. She had no idea where they were, where he was taking her, or even how to get back to Abbey’s place. The alcohol made her careless. But, then again, Abbey wouldn’t have left her if she was in potential danger, would she?
Kenny pulled into an underground parking garage. Once parked, she blindly followed him toward an elevator. Inside, her heart raced as they stood inches apart, electricity filling the space between them.
Once the doors reopened, she blindly followed him down a long hallway and into a cozy apartment.
“This is me gaff,” he said, dropping his coat over the back of the couch. “Make yourself comfortable. Can I git ya some water? Tea?”
Lucy stood awkwardly near the couch. For some reason, she had lost the ability to speak altogether, the opposite of her usual outgoing demeanor. It wasn’t the first time she had gone home with a man she just met, and it certainly wasn’t the first time she had drunk her weight in liquor. Her mind was whirling, and she forced herself to focus.
“This is a nice place,” she said slowly, trying not to slur her words. She crossed the room and looked out the large sliding glass door into the darkness. “Not much of a view, huh?”
He laughed. “Not at this hour. During the day, it’s sound.”
Sound? Did he mean loud? She couldn’t be bothered to decipher words right now.
“Water? Tea?” he asked again.
Turning from the window, Lucy absently sat on the arm of the couch and looked toward the kitchen. “Tea, I guess?”
He pulled open the refrigerator door. “Do ya take milk in your tea?”
“No, ew.” Lucy made a face. “Wait, that was rude, sorry. Umm, no milk, just a pinch of sugar, please.”
With his back to her, he filled the kettle in the sink. She could see his shoulders shaking, probably laughing at her expense.
Well, he could laugh all he wanted; milk in tea did not sound appealing. That being said, she didn’t intend to insult anyone’s choices.
He switched the kettle on and pulled two cups from the cupboard. “Most Americans have the same reaction. The perfect cuppa has to ‘ave just the right amount of milk.”
“Cuppa?”
“Cuppa tea.” He tapped on one mug.
“How do you know I’m American, by the way?” Lucy asked.
“Accent.” He placed tea bags in each cup.
“Accent? I don’t have an accent.” Lucy brought a hand to her chest dramatically. “You’re the one with the accent.”
He nodded at her, a sly smile playing across his lips.
“Bathroom?” Lucy asked.
He pointed down the hallway. “First door on the left.”
Lucy entered the bathroom. Now, this was more like the bathrooms she was used to. It wasn’t huge, but at least there was space to move around. The toilet’s tank was attached to its back rather than the wall, and the sink looked standard.
She took a moment to gather her thoughts, scanning the room in the process. One electric toothbrush stood on the back of the sink next to a tube of toothpaste lying on its side. In the mirror, she saw a single gray towel hanging on the back of the door.
“Definitely single and picks up his own towel,” Lucy mumbled. “I’m dealing with an adult here.”
Proud of herself, she splashed cold water on her face and studied her reflection in the mirror. Why had she drank so much? Hadn’t drinking been the reason she got pregnant with Kaylee in the first place? Well, it was a mix of binge drinking, late-night parties, and forgetting to take her birth control.
Birth control.
When was the last time she took the pill? How did one go about getting the pill here, anyway? Why was she hyper-focused on the pill right now? Hopefully, this guy had condoms.
Wait, maybe she was jumping the gun. Was she even getting sex tonight? She laughed at her reflection. Of course, she was; why else would he bring her home? Lucy knew how this all worked. Surely, Kenny hadn’t brought her home simply for a cup of tea and a friendly chat.
She gasped at her reflection. Her hair was ruffled, her lipstick smeared; she looked a little worse for wear. Perhaps sex was not on the table after all. Then again, when it comes to sex, isn’t it more about opportunity than looks?
A mix of anxiety and excitement filled her with a giddy sense of euphoria. Although this wasn’t how she planned the night to end, she enjoyed feeling somewhat unrestrained tonight. She was ready to throw caution to the wind and, as Abbey said, live a little. After all, when in Ireland––do the Irish, or however the saying went. It wasn’t as if she would ever see this guy again. Maybe a one-night stand was just what she needed to kickstart her fresh beginning.
Turning the faucet back on, she did her best to smooth the stray baby hairs sticking up every which way along her forehead. She noticed a small streak of lipstick smeared on her chin and quickly rubbed that off. Her appearance was far from stellar, but it would have to do.
Lucy returned to the kitchen feeling a bit more steady on her feet, her buzz wearing down. Quietly, she sat at the kitchen table and took a moment to admire the backside of the Irish stranger moving about the kitchen.
“All good?” he asked, carrying the steaming mugs to the table.
“Yes, thank you,” Lucy replied as he handed her a mug.
He turned back to the kitchen, opening and shutting several drawers until he finally returned with a small saucer and two spoons. Passing her a spoon, he sat down and gently stirred the brown liquid in the mug. Next, he removed the tea bag, allowing its contents to drip back into the cup, before guiding it with the spoon onto the waiting saucer.
Through lowered lashes, Lucy observed his movements, mirroring each step to give the impression that she was a tea connoisseur. In reality, she rarely drank tea and was a bit of a slob about the whole process. At home, she would have squeezed the tea bag dry and left it on the spoon to dribble onto the table.
Kenny took a careful sip of his tea and nodded in satisfaction. Lucy was fascinated by the entire production, feeling this was a posh guy full of culture. She had never seen a man enjoying tea quite this way. Jeremy certainly would never be caught dead drinking tea, preferring beer over what he called an old lady drink.
She let the name Kenny roll around in her head for a minute. It didn’t suit the man seated across from her for some reason. The name felt too American for this somewhat exotic man. After all, he could play several instruments, had a great accent, and enjoyed a leisurely cup of tea. Indeed, he should have a more Irish-sounding name.
He glanced across at her, abruptly interrupting her thoughts. She was instantly mesmerized by his eyes; their color reminded her of the deep waters in the raging ocean. Their shade invoked in her a sense of calm serenity mixed with the alluring mystique of uncharted waters. Lucy realized she was staring and quickly dropped her gaze, pretending to focus on her tea, silently praying her cheeks were not flaming pink with embarrassment.
She felt his gaze burning into her. Tightness grew in her belly as she raised her eyes to meet the storm of desire swirling in his eyes. Lucy swallowed hard, her tea forgotten, as he pushed off the chair and moved towards her, his eyes locked to hers. Without a thought, she rose to meet him. He stood only a few inches taller than her, slightly inclining his head to capture her lips with his own. Her hands tangled into the dark waves swirling around his head as she pressed her body against his. She enjoyed the feel of him. Although he wasn’t hard and chiseled, he was fit, an average weight, which helped her feel comfortable about her own body.
His hands ran down the length of her back, resting for a moment on her hips before he dared to cup her buttocks in his hands. Flames ignited through her body as he passionately squeezed her cheeks. In one quick movement, he grabbed behind her thighs and lifted her; her legs reactively wrapped around his waist. The kiss deepened, desire and longing radiating through each stroke of his tongue.
He carried her down the hall, stumbling along the way, but his lips refused to part with hers. Lucy felt the room rotate when he dropped her on the bed, unsure if it was the alcohol or the kissing, leaving her light-headed. Closing her eyes, she waited for the feeling to pass. When she eventually opened them, Kenny stared down at her, concern etched across his face.
“All good?” he asked.
That accent made her toes curl. Damn, if she wasn’t a sucker for an Irish accent.
“Yeah,” she whispered, sitting on the edge of the bed.
He continued to study her face. Lucy bit her lower lip and caressed his cheek. Feeling the confidence would fade any minute, she pushed off the bed. Standing before him, she unzipped the dress, pulling gently at the sleeves as she shimmied her way free, kicking it off her foot and awkwardly, sending a shoe flying across the room.
Lucy laughed nervously, sliding her other shoe off with less bravado. A boyish grin crossed Kenny’s face, amused at her carefree attitude. His eyes eagerly scanned the length of her body.
“Your turn,” she teased, playing with the hem of his sweater.
Submitting, he lifted his arms, allowing Lucy to pull the sweater over his head. She frowned at the t-shirt still shielding his chest.
A genuine laugh escaped his lips as he quickly removed the barrier.
Lucy hungrily caressed his skin, leaving a trail of goosebumps behind. Her fingers danced through the light patch of dark chest hair. While he didn’t have six-pack abs, his stomach was still flat and smooth.
Stepping closer, she planted kisses along his collarbone, lingering at the base of his neck. There was something about a neck she couldn’t resist, and this man had a beautiful neck. Greedily, she brushed kisses up one side and down the other until his entire body quivered in response. Her hands slid over his shoulders and down to explore the muscles along his back.
Kenny cupped her face, greed, and lust brewing in his eyes. Taking her mouth with his own, he parted her lips, his tongue eager to explore. As the heat overcame her, Lucy bit back a moan.
Fire coursed through her veins; her need for him nearly consumed her. Suddenly, Lucy pushed against his chest, breaking the contact. His lips were swollen and slick. A coy smile played on her lips as she gently shoved him back onto the bed.
Kenny landed on his back, eyes widening when Lucy straddled his thighs. She gasped as his length poked into her bare leg.
The desire in his eyes gave Lucy more confidence. Reaching behind her back, she unhooked her bra and tossed it over her shoulder. His gaze dropped to her bare breasts, the blue hue darkening like a stormy sky.
“Oh. My. Days,” he whispered.
She smiled down at him coyly. He tightened his grip on her thighs.
“Touch me,” she murmured.
Bit by bit, his hands traveled along her thighs, over her hips, and across the soft skin of her belly. She trembled as a shiver coursed through her, goosebumps dancing across delicate skin. Her head fell back when he finally covered both breasts, squeezing and caressing them lightly. Shifting into a sitting position, he feathered kisses along her neck while toying with her puffy nipples as they hardened between his fingers. Releasing her breasts, he grabbed her waist and pulled her tightly against him. Lucy gasped as she felt his stiff cock tease the crotch of her panties.
Leaning her back, he took one nipple between his teeth. Lucy gritted her teeth, unable to hold back a moan. Her panties dampened as her hips took on a life of their own, writhing and grinding in his lap.
He growled as he took her entire breast into his mouth. Lucy struggled to hold on, already feeling close to an orgasm, and they weren’t naked yet.
He must have had the same thought. Releasing her breast, he flipped her onto the bed. His eyes smoldered as he pulled her panties down her legs and traced his gaze over her naked body.
Her desire grew as he studied her, seemingly unfazed by the scars, stretch marks, and flabby bits she hated.
“I can’t wait anymore,” he growled, pushing up from the bed.
Butterflies pounded inside her stomach. She was wet, aching, and throbbing; it had been so long since she felt a need this strong. He yanked off his boxers, standing gloriously naked in front of her. His cock thick, hard— and different. Where was the bright pink head? And why was there so much skin?
Lucy failed to hide her look of confusion. Something wasn’t right. Maybe he wasn’t erect after all.
Kenny’s face fell.
“What? Is somethin’ wrong? Should we stop?”
“No!” Lucy shouted. “It’s––I––.”
She was staring at his penis as if it were some foreign object.
“Sorry, it’s just—.”
Kenny cracked a smile. “Wait, have ya never seen an uncut penis before?”
“A what?”
“You Americans and your circumcised dicks,” Kenny laughed. “This is what a real one looks like.” He pointed down at the stiff shaft proudly.
Lucy’s face turned bright red; she tried to bury her embarrassment in the pillows.
He continued laughing while reaching into the nightstand for a condom.
“Ya can look now,” he teased. “All covered up.”
Lucy opened her mouth to protest, but he was gliding a finger up and down the slippery opening between her thighs. Instead of words, moans escaped her lips.
“You okay?” he whispered.
“Yes,” she murmured.
“Good.”
Positioning his body between her open thighs, he took her lips once again. Automatically, her legs wrapped around his waist, ankles locking into place.
The length of his erection rubbed against her swollen lips. Lucy sucked in a breath as sensations tore through her. His tip teased against her opening as he nibbled on her ear.
“Let me show ya how a real cock works,” he whispered, sliding inside her.
Pleasure shot through her veins as his length filled her.
“Oh, my days,” he breathed in her ear.
Her back arched in response. “Great gravy and all that is holy,” she muttered.
She moved her hips until they fell into a perfectly matched rhythm.
“Ya feel amazing,” he moaned.
She felt beads of sweat form along his back as she grazed over the ridges and curves. His breathing became faster as he moved. Lucy closed her eyes, thoroughly enjoying the feel of him on top of her and inside her. She wanted him closer, deeper. Grasping his butt, she pulled him further into her depths. A low roar escaped his lips.
“Whatta ya doin’ to me?” he panted.
Lucy couldn’t answer as waves of pure ecstasy enveloped her. Her mind went blank. The orgasm began deep within her, coursing through every nerve before exploding in her brain. Sounds she couldn’t control spewed from her mouth. Moans, groans, and a few incoherent words. The feeling intensified, her body releasing warm liquid as she came.
Kenny moaned and continued moving faster and harder, kissing her deeply; his tongue danced with hers as his body tensed. Ripping his mouth away, he threw his head back; his body tightened and stilled, a groan tearing from deep in his chest as an orgasm burst through his body.
Panting, he looked down at her with hooded eyes. “Oh. My. Days.”
With a quick kiss, he untangled himself and fell back onto the bed. They lay in silence for a moment, staring at the ceiling and breathing hard.
“I’ve never rode an American,” he said, reaching toward the nightstand for a tissue.
“What?” Lucy asked.
“American,” he said, placing the used tissue back on the nightstand. “You’re my first.”
Lucy popped up on her elbows, mouth agape. “You’re a virgin?”
Kenny laughed. “Feck no. I’m just saying I’ve never had sex with an American before.”
“Oh.” Lucy felt her cheeks flush. “How did I do? Would my country be proud?”
“So-so.” He teased, a sly smile crossed his lips.
Lucy’s jaw dropped. “Well, so-so isn’t good enough.” She sat up, noticing the silly grin across his face. “We’ll have to do much better than that. So-so is the Bronze, and Americans like to be the best. It’s go big or go home, baby. If it’s not the Gold, I can never show my face in America again.”
Lucy straddled his waist, lightly rubbing her still-swollen lips along his shaft. She could feel his erection growing.
A dark look crossed his face as their eyes met. His hands skimmed along her sides until they cupped her breasts. Locking his gaze on hers, he sat up to tease her nipple with his tongue.
Lucy moaned. “Where are those condoms?”
“Top drawer,” he said, his mouth full.
Grabbing a condom, Lucy glanced down at his cock, intrigued. Lightly, she rubbed the foreskin, exploring its texture. She wanted to take her time and investigate all aspects of this strange penis, but right now, she needed it back inside her.
Ripping the wrapper off, she took the condom and rolled it down his shaft. Playfully, Lucy pushed against his chest until he fell back, gazing up at her in amusement.
“Time to make my country proud,” Lucy purred, positioning herself over him and sliding down his length. “Let’s go for the Gold.”