Intractable Souls : Book 1 of the Bound for Ireland Series (5 page)

He’s at the door in minutes, flashing his
million-dollar smile as he holds up the first-aid kit he has
brought along with him. Geez, she was so caught up in his dreamy
good looks she had almost forgotten about that. Standing aside, she
lets him in and leans in for a hello kiss as he passes. Shrugging
out of his leather jacket, he throws it over the back of the chair.
“Come on then… let’s get you fixed up.” He opens the first-aid kit
and takes out a few things, while she tries to lift the bottom of
her shorts. Crouching down, he lets out a long, drawn out whistle
when he sees it. “Now that’s nasty. Do you want the good news or
the bad news first?”

“The bad news I guess.” She’s starting to
feel very nervous.

“Well, it’s not really a cut. More of a
gouge. Something took a chunk of skin right out of your thigh.“

“Ew… stop it, I think I’m going to barf
now.” She holds her stomach and tries not to fall over. “What’s the
good news?”

“The good news is that I can’t get to it, so
you’re going to have to take off your pants.” He looks up at her
and smiles.

“That’s good news?” She scowls at him.

“Well its good news for me.” He shrugs
playfully.

She doesn’t think twice about it as she
unzips her shorts and drops them to the floor. Her and Noah have
known each other a long time and have an incredible friendship. He
has seen her in a bikini for heaven’s sake, so there isn’t much
difference standing there in her underwear.

Noah squirts a large amount of antibiotic
first-aid cream on his finger and roughly applies it over the torn
flesh. “Ouch!” She jumps as he pokes at her.

“Sorry.” He wipes the excess cream off his
finger onto the gauze pad and sticks it to her leg, pushing on it
to make sure it sticks.

“AH! Holy crap, Noah! Do you have to be so
rough?” Picking up the tape, he tears off inch long strips and
presses them cross ways on the corners as if he’s wrapping a
Christmas present. She squirms in discomfort.

“Stay still and don’t look down.” Leaning
forward, he wipes the dried blood off her leg with an alcohol wipe,
and discards it quickly out of sight. Reaching down, she runs her
hand through his inky black hair as he forcefully applies one last
piece of tape. “Ok, all done.” He stands and her eyes follow him.
At 6’ 2”, he’s a giant standing beside her. “How does it feel?”

“Truthfully? It feels worse than before you
started. You aren’t exactly gentle.”

He chuckles. “Sorry, I’m a veterinarian. As
far as humans are concerned I guess I’m more of a spiritual
healer.” Leaving behind the supplies she’s going to need, he closes
the first-aid kit and places it by his jacket. “You sounded pretty
upset when you called. What’s going on?”

“It’s been kind of a rough day.” She
admits.

Looking down, he sees the photo album opened
to the picture of her and Sam. Picking it up, he turns to face
her.

“Why is this out?” He walks towards her
waiting for an answer but she only shrugs.

Closing the album, he puts it down on the
table, knowing now, why she seemed upset when she called. “Come
here, you.” He sighs, wrapping his arms around her in a nurturing
embrace. His lips press gently on the top of her head. “How about I
hang around and watch TV for awhile?”

She nods her head. “Yes, please.” Releasing
her from his hug, he takes her hand and leads her into the living
room. Plopping down with a thud on the couch, he pulls her down
beside him as he picks up the remote and turns on the TV. She tucks
in under his arm for a cuddle, leaning her head against his chest.
Nuzzling her cheek against him as she has done a thousand times
before, she relaxes when he tilts his head down and returns her
affection. Her hand is trapped between their bodies and she wiggles
trying to get free without success. Sitting up, she frees it and in
a very brave move puts it on his thigh as she leans back against
him. She waits to see if he protests but he says nothing. Slowly
she starts to move her hand, gently caressing his thigh with her
thumb and fingertips, keeping her gaze focused on the TV.

It’s a very intimate gesture and after a few
moments Noah’s chest tightens and she can feel his heartbeat
quicken against her cheek. He twists and shifts trying to get more
comfortable and when he arches his back, moving his hips forward to
adjust the way he’s sitting, she feels him take in a quick breath
as she moves her hand out of the way and accidently brushes it
across the bulge starting to form in his pants.

She has fantasized about Noah so many times
over the years when she pleasures herself. Finally, here he is,
sitting beside her, live and in person with a semi hard-on forming
in his pants. So why on God’s green earth is she suddenly thinking
about Ethan O’Connell’s rather impressive package? It was difficult
not to notice with the way his shorts clung tightly around it, but
absolutely impossible to ignore when he pressed it up against her.
STOP IT! Why is she thinking about that guy?

Noah adjusts his position so he can
reciprocate her touch, tracing his fingertips lightly up and down
her side. Wiggling closer to him, she gives him a little more space
and his thumb brushes across her sensitive breast. Her excitement
is so underwhelming that her nipples don’t even harden in response
to his touch. Until she thinks about Ethan’s green eyes and sensual
lips, then they harden into taut pebbles as she imagines his soft
mouth muttering dirty words in that sexy Irish accent while his
warm, wet tongue teases her. Heat rushes through her body. These
thoughts just need to stop!

She obviously needs to look after this
aching need and soon. She lifts her chin to look at the handsome
man sitting beside her right now. Noah is the solution… focus on
Noah! But Noah is focused on the TV. Why won’t he look at her? She
wants him to lower his lips to hers and claim her in a passionate
kiss but it looks like she will have to make the first move. She’s
going to go for it. Pressing a tender kiss on his neck and then
another, she nibbles a little trail up towards his chin. She feels
his excitement start to grow, but before she can continue any
further he picks up the remote and turns off the TV. Pressing his
lips to the top of her head, he whispers. “I need to go now.”

NOOO! Quick, think of something! Before she
can protest, he’s on his feet and across the room, sliding into his
jacket and reaching for the door. Confused, she follows him. Is he
running because of what she was doing?

“Thank you for coming over, Noah.” She
desperately thinks of a way to stop him.

“You don’t think I’d miss the opportunity to
get into the pants of the prettiest girl on the block do you?” Then
why are you leaving? He looks at her with sheer affection and
touches his finger to the end of her nose. “YOU... need to be more
careful.”

She panics. “Noah, can I ask you a
question?”

He answers reluctantly. “Yes.”

Here goes nothing. “Why do you think you and
I have never…” She pauses, thinking for the right words. “What I’m
trying to say is that… WE are friends.”

Curious where this is going he stops and
listens to her. “Yes.”

“Well, I’m wondering if… I mean why, we have
never been… MORE?”

“More?” He quirks an eyebrow at her. If she
only knew of all the times he thought about having more with her.
She’s a beautiful girl, one that any man would jump at the
opportunity to have. He thought that she put him in the friend zone
a long time ago, so he worked hard to squash his desires when they
arose over the years.

“Please don’t make me say it… you know what
I’m talking about.” She blushes and looks down, pretending to study
some mysterious spot on the black ceramic tiles.

Grinning, he puts his finger under her chin
and lifts her gaze to his. Is she really asking for this after all
this time? “Because you have never asked for MORE.”

She wonders if it’s just that simple. Was
that all she had to do was ask? Turning the knob, he pulls the door
open.

“I’m asking now.” Her intentions spill out
of her mouth leaving no room for misinterpretation. He stops and
turns to look at her, a faint smile on his lips.

“I want more.” She suddenly feels nervous.
“If... if you want that too.” She can’t process the expression on
his face. He almost looks amused. Is he going to laugh at her?

“Okay.” He is quick to agree, wanting to get
her into his bed before she changes her mind.

“Can we do it on Friday?” She asks
anxiously.

He laughs. “In a hurry are you?”

She starts to feel a little shy. “I’m
extremely… umm… err... restless. Should we have dinner first?”
Fidgeting uncomfortably, she shifts her weight from side to
side.

“Good idea, we’ll need our strength.” Now
he’s definitely making fun of her.

Wrinkling her nose at him, she moves in for
a goodbye kiss just like every other time he leaves. This time her
lips brush gently against his and then hover closely, waiting.
Leaning in, he claims a second kiss with more passion than he has
ever given her before. She can feel him start to swell against her
hip as he pulls his lips away. She’s confused as to why she isn’t
feeling the same arousal and tries to convince herself that it’s
because she’s nervous. There is no way she’ll admit to herself that
it’s because she’s had a particular annoying Irishman on her mind
all night.

“I’ll text or call you and let you know what
time I can get off work.” He moves away from her but still holds
her hand as he backs away.

“Ok. Where will we go for dinner?”

“You decide and let me know when I call.”
When he has backed far enough away so that only their finger tips
still touch, he takes one further step back, releasing her and
letting her hand drop heavily to her side. He smiles. “Good night,
Olivia.”

“Good night. I’ll see you on Friday.” She
grins, feeling a small sense of victory as she watches him swagger
up the street and out of the luminous glow of the streetlights and
into the darkness. Closing the door, she secures the lock, then
turns and leans against it feeling lightheaded. She’s unsure if
it’s the excitement or the fact that it’s now 11pm and she hasn’t
had anything to eat.

More than likely, it’s because she just
thought about Ethan O’Connell but she pushes that thought out of
her head quickly. Climbing into bed her mind is racing. Still
fighting to deny her attraction to the sexy Irishman, warmth rushes
over her skin as she recalls her body’s reaction to his touch.
Appalled at its betrayal she tries to focus on Friday, planning her
outfit and where they will go for dinner. Instead, she finds
herself drifting into sleep with the thought of Ethan’s strong,
well-developed muscles pressed against her.

Friday morning arrives quickly as her cell
phone comes to life, blasting out an alarm. Its brassy melodic ring
tone repeats itself in an unrelenting manner. Without opening her
eyes Olivia searches blindly, trying to find it amongst the pillows
and blankets. Finally getting her hands on it she peeks at the time
through one eye and turns it off.

She rolls out of bed still tired, having
woken a few times in the night with the thoughts of a particular
smoking hot Irishman on her mind, and feeling more than just a
little restless. Pushing unwanted thoughts of him out of her head,
she stands in front of the bedroom closet trying to focus on her
rendezvous with Noah and fusses over what to wear. Finally, she
chooses a black chiffon dress in a simple A-line design and a very
revealing neckline that makes her feel feminine, despite her tomboy
tendencies. It’s also just the right length to hide the hideous
wound on her leg. After showering and tending to some personal
landscaping she decides to use the flat iron to straighten the
curls out of her hair. She thinks it gives her a much more alluring
appearance and today she’s feeling very seductive. Sliding on her
black patent high heels, she admires her appearance in the mirrored
closet door. Perfect.

On the way through the backyard the sounds
of the mourning doves welcome her to the garden. She wishes she
could stay and enjoy their hospitality but she’s in a rush to stop
at the local coffee shop to buy her breakfast. A small, green finch
sits on the fence and watches her make her way to the car. Studying
it as she passes, she wonders if it could possibly be the same one
that sat outside her office window yesterday. She’s certain it must
be… she has never seen a green finch before and it seems unusual
that she would see two different ones a few days apart. It seems
even more unlikely that he would travel from her work several
blocks away to be casually sitting on her fence. Yesterday she
didn’t notice the white patch of feathers on its chest and the two
black scrolled marks in the center that almost touch at the top and
bottom to form the outline of a heart shape. He’s a beautiful
little bird she acknowledges, and she finds its presence almost
comforting. Weird.

Her old, worn out vintage Mustang coughs and
sputters as she makes her way up the street to the coffee shop. The
drive-thru line up is backed up around the parking lot and out on
to the road. She mutters her frustration, hating the thought of
going inside and standing in line, but it doesn’t look like she has
much choice this morning. She’s too hungry to wait until lunch time
to eat but she’ll be late if she stays where she is. When a spot
opens up by the door, she ditches out of the drive-thru lane and
parks. Getting out of the car and heading for the door, she forgets
briefly that she’s wearing heels and has to adjust her steps to a
smaller, more ladylike gait. She’s definitely much more comfortable
in her Converse high-tops, but these heels are perfectly suited for
this dress.

Approaching the building, she’s aware that
there is a man walking behind her and she’s surprised when he
suddenly rushes past to open the door for her. She smiles at him.
“Thank you.” Gee, that’s never happened before. She has seen him
here every morning for the past two years and most of the time he
lets the door close behind him pretending he doesn’t see her. He
nods at her and smiles back. “You’re welcome.”