Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Faelan
Iloved the paint.
Loved it.
I loved the process of it, the taping of all the wood, the careful application, the roller brushes.
We even ended up painting the ceiling, and what I had worried might end up looking dark and gloomy ended up looking charming.
The navy managed to pop the gorgeous undertones in my floors and kitchen cupboards, and I could already see how a cool rug and some funky art on the walls would make this space much more livable and interesting.
A home, really.
“I can’t believe how different it looks,” I exclaimed, hands on my hips, surveying our work.
“As you’ve said now. For the third time.” Luch laughed at me from where he hammered a paint lid back onto the can.
We’d talked. The entire time. In fact, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d talked so much with one person before.
As if in mutual agreement, we stuck to easy topics—favorite concerts, best meals, recent books we’d read.
But I was finding Dr. Carmichael to be a surprisingly interesting companion.
His interests were varied, he read widely, and he asked questions when he didn’t know the answer to something.
Which made it all that much harder to try and stop thinking about our kisses the day before.
Or how his touch had rocketed me over the edge into one of the easiest orgasms I’d ever had.
It would be embarrassing, except Luch had given me no reason to feel embarrassed, and since he hadn’t tried to touch or kiss me since I’d told him we wouldn’t be doing any of that anymore, he’d respected my boundaries.
Which, if I had to admit, I was now finding a bit annoying.
I was just so happy. I had a place to call my own, and even though it seemed silly, the coat of paint drastically changed my view on what I could do with my own space.
I was proud of what we’d achieved here today.
Proud enough that I wanted to reward Luch for all his help.
Except I’d already drawn the line in the sand about no more kissing. So would I have to be the one to cross it? Uncertain of how to proceed, or what, exactly, I wanted … I took my time packing up the supplies.
Dinner.
I could ask him to dinner. Feeding the man seemed an appropriate way to thank him for helping me today.
“Hey—”
“Can I take you to dinner? It’s been a long day. Fancy a bite at the pub?”
Damn it. He’d beaten me to it.
“Um.”
Luch’s lips quirked. “Why have I annoyed you?”
I crossed to the kitchen and put the empty tape roll in the bin under the sink. Straightening, I turned and almost bumped into Luch’s chest.
“Oh, jeez. Hey.”
“Why have I annoyed you?” Luch repeated and lifted my chin with his finger, and I pursed my lips, now annoyed both with him and myself for being annoyed.
“Because I was debating how to thank you and taking you to dinner was one of the ways.”
“Ah.” A grin spread across Luch’s handsome face, and my skin flushed. “And what was one of the other ways?”
I shrugged and looked away.
His laughter made desire curl through my body.
“Can I take a guess?” Luch prodded.
“Nope.” I was not about to say that I was dying for a kiss. I’d boxed myself in and had to live with the consequences of my choices.
“Was this one of them?”
I looked back at him in time to see him lean in, and then his lips were on mine.
He ranged himself over me, his hands on either side of me on the counter, and I felt like I was being shown the way home.
Cocooned. Sheltered. He was just so big and broad-shouldered and even though it should feel like he was looming over me, instead it just made me feel protected.
Like I was his, and his alone.
His kisses tasted of the mints I’d seen him pop periodically through the day, fresh and sweet, and heat raced through me as he licked into my mouth. I met him, taste for taste, as he feasted on my lips.
“Have I told you how much I enjoy kissing you?” Luch said, surprising me when he picked me up and placed me on the counter, moving to stand between my legs.
Bloody hell, but the man was sexy. It shouldn’t have been such a hot move, the way he effortlessly lifted me—no one has ever done that to me before—and yet I couldn’t help but respond to something so basic.
And yes, the muscles in his arms flexed when he picked me up.
How did I know?
Because I was hanging on to him like a barnacle clinging to a ship, my legs wrapped around his waist, my arms now twined over his shoulders. I threaded my hands in his hair, needing more.
“You haven’t mentioned it, no. But feel free to conduct your own study.”
Luch laughed, his teeth flashing white in his face.
“Are you still collecting your data points? For your study?”
“Absolutely. I’m certain I’ll need a much larger data set before I can make a ruling on your kisses.”
“It’s certainly best to be thorough in your research.” Luch laughed into my mouth when I moaned and rocked against him. I swear I didn’t even know who I was with this man. I’d gone so long without dating and now I was ready to come undone over the first sexy man I’d touched in ages.
Granted, he was pretty damn hot.
“Maybe we should expand your data.” Luch toyed with the top of my waistband, tugging a little downward to indicate what he meant. “Just to make sure you can report on all of my kisses.”
“Oh. Ohh.” I blinked up at him as he tugged at my leggings again. Bugger it. Even if I was a fool, I didn’t care. Inching forward I lifted my hips and let him slide my clothes down my legs and rip them off.
I didn’t even have time to think before his mouth was on me.
It was such a shock that I almost crushed the poor man’s head when I brought my legs together, leaning back on the counter as I thrust forward, and when he laughed against me, the vibration of it almost sent me over the edge.
“Easy there,” Luch said. Reaching up, he pressed my thighs wider and looked up at me with a relaxed smile on his face.
Bloody hell, I would never forget the image of handsome Dr. Carmichael kneeling between my legs with a devilish smile on his face.
I almost came right then. Turning, he pressed a gentle kiss to the soft skin of my inner thigh and then trailed a hand up until he slipped one finger inside me.
I jerked at the intrusion and then moaned as he added another finger, curling to find the perfect spot inside me.
“Oh, right there. Yes, that’s it.” I was beginning to shake with need, fine trembles rocketing up my body, and when his mouth found my most sensitive spot again, his fingers circling gently inside me, I dropped my head back and moaned.
I didn’t even care that I hit the back of my head against the upper cabinet.
All I cared about was this man’s touch. His mouth was that of a god, his fingers that of a warrior. And no matter what, he owned me.
Luch suckled, and then licked leisurely, as though he had all the time in the world, gently twirling his fingers inside me.
Over and over he played with me, lingering when I began to shake harder, going even slower when I jerked against his mouth, finally, when I couldn’t take it anymore, I cried out.
“Please, Luch. Please.”
“Please, what, darling?” Luch pulled back, and I was so furious I almost jumped off the counter and kicked him out of my flat.
“I need you. I need you to make me …” I couldn’t say it. I knew I was a doctor and all that, but I was already far past my comfort zone. Seeming to understand that was the extent of what he was getting from me, Luch flashed me a cheeky smile before bending his head.
He devoured me.
I arched against him as I came, crying out to my freshly painted ceiling as he worked his magic, unable to believe how good his touch felt.
He was everything, all wet heat and perfect strokes, and my pleasure rolled through me until my body went limp with it.
Holy hell. Have I ever come that hard? Have I ever been with someone so intent on my pleasure?
I’ve never felt this … blissful. I sighed.
When I was finished, Luch stood and wrapped his arms around my waist, giving me a lingering kiss.
“Ready for dinner?”
“Dinner?” I blinked up at him, my thoughts hazy and confused.
“You know … food. At a table. Usually out in public?”
“But … but …” I waved a hand weakly. “What about you? This?”
“I’m just fine, darling. Better than fine. I’ll be thinking about this all week.”
“But don’t you need, um, release?” I blushed, even though the man had just licked me like he was devouring an ice cream cone on a hot summer’s day.
“This may come as a surprise, but there is no biological rule that says a man must have release after pleasuring a woman. I promise you, I’ll be just fine.”
“So you just want to … give me pleasure and then go to dinner?” I raised an eyebrow at him.
“For tonight, yes, that’s what I want. Is it what you want?”
“I think you’re well aware of what I want.” As if on cue, my stomach growled and we both laughed. “And I guess I can’t lie about being hungry.”
“Dinner it is then.”
“But I’m paying,” I insisted as I slid from the counter. “I want to thank you for your gift today.” Well, gifts plural, as that last gift was divine.
“Och, darling. You already have.” Luch dropped another quick kiss on my lips, and I blushed, totally out of my element and uncertain how to proceed.
“I’ll just go change.” Needing a moment, I hurried into my bedroom only to find Oban with his head buried under the pillows on my bed. I couldn’t blame the wee lad for escaping to another room. I would have done the same.
“Sorry, buddy, forgot you were there.”
“Next time I’ll start barking so you can let me out.”
I grinned and grabbed some clothes to change into in the bathroom. By the time I came out, Oban was at the door, and Luch had his coat on.