Chapter 18
Lo
As I follow the hearse back to Castle Teachan, a blur of white fills the road ahead, like a cumulus cloud floated down to earth.
As we head downhill, the flock of sheep comes into view. Woolly bodies pack into the narrow space between the stone walls lining the street, and Aidan slows the hearse to a stop as the animals are seemingly in no rush to vacate the only path. He taps the horn a few times, but they are unfazed.
Immediately, my light mood darkens with anxiety.
I glance at my phone. Lark is gonna freak out if both the maid of honor and best man are missing.
Not to mention my mom will notice if I’m not there for breakfast with the rest of the ladies in the bridal party.
On instinct, I reach into my purse and pull out the crumpled bag of purple-free Skittles Aidan gave me.
Aidan steps out of the hearse and waves his arms at the sheep, but they remain unmoved.
My car door swings open with a squeak, and I hop out. “Want me to help chase them off?”
Ewes make up most of the herd, but a few rams carry their twisted horns high.
I jog toward them, expecting them to scatter, but they just look annoyed and chew their cud right in the roadway.
One bleats in defiance. “Come on! We have a wedding to get to,” I shout—not that they care about our plans, but maybe the noise will scare them off.
But as soon as a few of them slowly disperse, the rest of the herd quickly refill the gap. This is going nowhere.
“Shoo! Shoo! Go on, now.” I throw up my arms as Aidan tries and fails to hold back a smile. Lord, that smile of his. “This is useless.”
“We’re still making good time. It’s only eight.”
“What if my mom needs me? Or Lark? What if we’re stuck here and late—”
“Hey, they’ll be okay for now. And the sheep will move. Eventually.”
A low stone wall lines one side of the narrow road, the other side is a steep, wildflower-studded hill. Where did the sheep even come from? I don’t see anyone here. “Usually there’s a farmer or something around, right?”
Aidan tilts his chin. “A shepherd?”
“Whatever, Mr. Sheep Whisperer. I’m just saying, don’t they have dogs for this?”
“Maybe they’ll listen if we say ‘woof.’?”
This is getting ridiculous. Enough is enough. Throwing my arms up, I run at the herd one last time. “Get outta here, you woolly little shits!”
It’s working. The sheep begin to part—but only because an angry ram is making his way through the herd. His low bellow sends my heart rate spiking. Out of instinct, I step back. “Uh, nice sheep…”
With a snort, he charges toward me. Aidan dashes in front of me with his arms held out protectively.
“Aidan!”
“Go,” he shouts, running toward the cars.
I hop into my car and he follows on the passenger’s side, slamming the door shut.
The ram circles the vehicle, feinting a couple times before he waits next to the door.
“Why do all the animals hate you?” I demand.
“That ram was clearly after you!”
Aidan had protected me without a second thought. Again. Outside the window, the ram continues to huff with indignation.
“Aren’t they supposed to be docile?” I ask.
“To be fair, you called them ‘woolly little shits’ first.” Aidan lifts himself off the seat and recovers the bag of Skittles he sat on. “Sorry. Surprised you didn’t finish those off last night.”
I grab the bag and lift a red one to my mouth, but don’t place it on my tongue.
“Nah. I took care of stress another way.”
Right now, we’re both panting a little from exertion and I can’t deny that it gives me…thoughts.
“Is that right?” he asks, far too nonchalantly.
The chilly press of his lips against mine in the creek echoes in my mind. The way he stared into my eyes as I rode him. The sweet release of my climax.
“Mmm-hmmm.” I toss the candy into my mouth and the shell gives under my molars with a satisfying crunch. “I have plenty of self-discipline.”
Propping his arm on the dash, he stares at me. “Meanwhile, I’m already on my last shred of it.”
I dip my fingers back into the bag, extract a couple colorful pieces, and hold them close to Aidan’s lips. Without breaking eye contact, he opens slowly. I carefully place the candies on his tongue, feeling the heat of his breath fan across my knuckles.
Maybe it would be smart to keep last night a one-off event, but he’s too tempting.
Aidan follows my finger as I pull it away, nipping playfully.
I laugh and jerk my hand back, but he’s already captured my wrist. He sucks at my pulse, his mouth warm against the sensitive skin.
Channeling his internal Gomez Addams, he kisses a trail up my inner forearm as I squeal and pretend to fight it.
It feels so good to laugh and lean into Aidan’s natural silliness, especially when I’m stressed.
“Still taste good,” he murmurs against my forearm. “Still ticklish.”
“Don’t you dare. I’ll flail around until I accidentally break your nose!” I warn through a grin. “And I’d hate to give the best man a shiner hours before the ceremony. Lark really would kill me.”
“Not if I eat you alive first.” He tugs me closer. When I look into his eyes, I can tell it’s more than a saucy little threat. It’s a promise.
Outside the car, the sheep gently bleat and shuffle around. No shepherd in sight.
I give in to my impulse to softly drag my nails along the edge of his jaw, enjoying the new texture.
The caress earns me a sexy moan. I’m instantly ablaze with the sound of his pleasure.
There is way too much space between us right now.
I let my hand drop from his jaw, down his chest, until my wrist hits the gear shifter. “Sorry. Tight space.”
Aidan’s eyes dance with amusement.
“Do not say a word.”
He grins and raises his hands. “Let the record show I didn’t say anything.”
“I know how your dirty brain works.”
“No. Your brain went there.” Aidan tilts his head and I follow his line of sight. “My brain went there.”
The hearse. The three-alarm fire in my shorts immediately downgrades to the flicker of a single matchstick.
“You can’t be serious.”
His warm hand skims my leg, and I don’t want him to break contact. “I’m serious. Dead serious.” Outside the window, I notice the ram is done posturing and back to grazing.
“In a hearse, Aidan? You’re a very sick man.”
“I’m the best man,” he corrects.
We stare at each other for a beat. It’s such a cheesy joke that I can’t help but smile.
“We won’t get another chance till after the reception.
” He’s right. Once we’re back at Castle Teachan, I’ll be busy making sure the ceremony is on time, the wedding party is in their places, and the reception events are on schedule.
And he’ll be…other than holding on to the rings and giving an embarrassing speech at the reception, I’m not sure what else he’s responsible for.
His hand slips higher. He drags a thumb up the seam of my shorts, just enough pressure that he must feel the heat there.
Now it’s hard to think at all. “Already thinking about my mouth on you, aren’t you? ”
Weakly, I nod.
Aidan leans closer, dropping his voice. “I’m hungry now.”
That silky voice makes me shudder with want. It’s just the confirmation he needs.
Aidan opens the car door and walks to the back of the hearse. I follow. With a quirked brow, he opens the hatch and sweeps his arm in a welcoming gesture.
“Look, if it’s rank in there, we’ll bail. But there are curtains on the windows for privacy and plenty of room. We’re stuck here either way.”
The sheep around us are at a standstill.
I crawl in behind him, keeping my head low. Rose scent lingers in the enclosed, upholstered space. No suspect stains or odor. The door swings shut behind us and I laugh at how ridiculous this is.
“Aren’t you claustrophobic?” I ask.
He crawls closer on his hands and knees. “Guess you’ll just have to distract me, so.” Nimble fingers wrap around my bare ankles, slowly moving up my calves, my thighs. Then he pushes them apart and tilts his head. Enjoying the view.
Breathless, I ask, “Weren’t you just saying something about eating me alive?”
“I don’t want to waste any more time, babe.”
“Not your babe,” I shoot back. “And you’re pretty bold to push my buttons, when I’m about to unfasten yours.”
“Force of habit.” A devilish grin spreads across Aidan’s face.
Carpet covers the floor, but something cold presses against my hip. Metal bars studded with wheels are embedded along the floor. Casters to smoothly roll coffins in.
This is messed up, but I don’t care. We’re alone. When he’s touching me, everything else fades away.
“Let me fuck you with my tongue till you’re delirious.”
I swear, I could get off on his filthy Irish lilt alone. I get to work unbuttoning my shorts. Aidan’s breaths come rapidly as he watches me sit up and toss them aside, then pull my panties down.
“Bra, too,” Aidan says. “I need to touch all of you.”
“You don’t get to make demands. Ask nicely,” I remind him.
“Please, Lo.” His voice is softer now. “Let me play with your gorgeous tits while I lick you. Please…”
“Mmm. Much better.” I take my bra off and toss it aside, leaving my top on.
Aidan draws in a shaky breath when I seize his zipper and pull it down one millimeter at a time. The anticipation of first touch is delicious; I think I might be trembling from the adrenaline alone. He’s flushed, eyes hooded and chest heaving.
I turn, swinging my leg over his chest before I settle down to sit on his jaw.
My hands reach down and wrap around him.
Aidan is ready—no, more than that, he’s eager.
His arms hook around my thighs, the reverse position giving him even better access to my clit.
He hums, a vibration felt in the very core of my body.
Ravenously, he laps and sucks at the most sensitive part of me while his hands reach up blindly to pinch and roll my nipples. Pleasure mingles with pain. I smooth my palms over the backs of his hands, reminding him to be gentle. He takes direction well.