Luck of the Irish (6 page)

And the biggest problem for Quinn was that he was getting attached. He had never met anyone like Cian, who was so confident in himself, so sure. It was attractive, and it drew Quinn like no one he had ever encountered before.

With David, he had been so flattered, so amazed that someone as confident and good-looking could want him. But the kind of confidence David possessed turned out to be cruel. Quinn didn’t think Cian was capable of that kind of hurtfulness.

He sighed and turned off the water, grabbed a towel from the rack, and dried himself quickly. He pulled on boxers and a T-shirt, took a deep breath, and opened the door.

The room was darker, but there was enough light that he could pad to the bed and climb in. He looked over at the couch and watched as Cian sat up and stretched, his tired eyes blinking adorably.

“Feel better, Quinn?”
“Yeah, thanks. You going for a shower?”
“Think I’d better, and then I’ve got to get some sleep.”

He walked over and opened the closet door. After pulling out a couple of blankets and a pillow, he put them down on the couch, grabbed his shaving kit, and headed for the bathroom.

Quinn tried hard not to think of Cian naked on the other side of the door. He rolled onto his side and shut his eyes, trying to force himself to sleep. He was so tired after their long day, but sleep just wouldn’t come.

After a bit, he heard the shower stop, and he found himself watching the bathroom door. What he saw when it opened took his breath away.

 

Cian was damp, towel wrapped around his waist, a sheepish look on his face as he made his way to his duffel.

 

“Forgot my clothes. Sorry.” With that, he turned and went back into the bathroom and, much to Quinn’s disappointment, shut the door.

 

Quinn was almost panting. He had never seen anything more beautiful than Cian like that. Oh God, this was going to be impossible.

When Cian came out, he had on a pair of well-worn sleep pants and nothing else. He went over to the couch and made it up, then slid down underneath the blanket, his feet hanging slightly over the edge. Quinn could see that Cian wasn’t going to get a lot of sleep on that too-short couch.

“Night, Quinn.” Cian’s voice was quiet.
“Night.” Quinn took a deep breath. “Cian?”
“Yeah?”

“You could sleep here if you wanted. I mean, on the bed. It’s ridiculously huge, and I think we could share.” It was a king-size bed.

 

“It’s okay, you don’t have to—”

 

“Really, I insist. That couch is too short for you, and you’re going to be really sore in the morning. You should just sleep here.”

 

C
IAN
took a deep breath and got up off the couch. He walked over to the bed, looking at Quinn with concern and tenderness in his eyes. “Are you sure, Quinn?” “Yeah. I mean, it’s just sleeping, right? And I trust you.”

That hit Cian right in the heart. He smiled down at the beautiful man in the bed before climbing in. He settled on his side, facing Quinn, making sure to leave space between them. He had no intention of pushing Quinn somewhere he wasn’t ready to go. “Thanks. I appreciate it.” A lock of hair had fallen over Quinn’s eyes, and Cian reached out and tucked it back without thinking. Quinn blushed but didn’t object.

“It’s okay. It just seemed silly for you to be so uncomfortable when you didn’t have to be.” Cian’s hand rested on the bed between them, and Quinn moved his so that he could lay it on top of Cian’s.

“I like you, Cian. You make me smile.” Cian suspected that the beer was loosening Quinn’s tongue, but he really didn’t care.

 

“I like you too. I’m really glad you came to Ireland.” He pulled Quinn’s hand to his lips and gently kissed his fingers before moving it back.

“We should get some sleep. Tomorrow I want to go and listen to more music with you.” Cian’s eyes were getting heavy, and lying beside Quinn, watching him blink and breathe, their hands just touching, was very comforting, and it made him even sleepier.

“Night, Quinn. Sweet dreams.”
“Night, Cian, and thanks.” Quinn’s voice was soft and sweet.

Cian’s last thought before he drifted off was that he would ask Quinn why he was thanking him when they woke up.
Chapter 6

C
IAN
woke up in the morning wrapped around warmth and softness. He smiled when he realized Quinn was spooned up in front of him, pressed back against his chest, his hands holding on to Cian’s arms like he was never letting go. He could get on board with that.

Cian knew he was in trouble. Quinn had made his way into his heart without even trying. All he had done was be his own sweet, amazing, honest self, and Cian was hooked. He knew his heart was going be broken when Quinn went back to the States, but right now he couldn’t bring himself to care very much. He would take what Quinn gave him and have a lovely memory to keep forever.

Cian nuzzled into Quinn’s neck, breathing in the sleepy warm smell there. He would have been content to lay that way for hours had Quinn not tried to push himself closer to Cian in his sleep. He ended up innocently pressing his boxerscovered ass against Cian’s morning erection, and Cian couldn’t help the gasp that broke free.

He could feel the moment Quinn woke—he went stiff in his arms for a few seconds before realizing where he was and who was behind him. Cian was gratified when Quinn just relaxed again and didn’t try to pull away.

“Morning.” Quinn’s voice was sleep-rough and adorable.

“Morning. Sleep well?” Cian couldn’t help rubbing small circles on Quinn’s chest with his thumb while trying to ease back his hips a little so Quinn didn’t feel pressured by him.

“H
MM
,
yeah, I did.” Quinn knew he should be moving away, giving Cian space,
but he was comfortable and content where he was, and he had never woken up in someone’s arms like this before.

It pained him every time he realized how stupid he had been about David. They had never spent the night together, and David never seemed to want to cuddle after sex. There was always somewhere he had to be, someone he had to meet.

Quinn had always put it down to his boyfriend being busy, and when he had complained a couple of times, David had gotten annoyed and told him to quit acting like a girl.

Quinn had just assumed that in gay relationships, that kind of closeness wasn’t there. Now he was starting to figure out that he was wrong. Cian seemed to have no problem lying there beside him, holding him, not pushing him. David had always pushed.

This was better. Much better.

Quinn didn’t know what was going to happen, where this could go. As much as he loved it here, he knew he had to go home eventually, and Cian had a life here. There was long distance, and then there was North Carolina and Ireland. They were two different worlds, and he and Cian each belonged in their own. But Quinn needed this, the warmth and comfort and honesty that Cian offered, and he was just so damn tired of feeling alone all the time.

He leaned his head back a little, finding it tucked on to Cian’s shoulder, and when he turned a bit, his nose pressed against the other man’s jaw. His senses were overwhelmed by the spicy scents of cologne, shampoo, and a smell he knew just as
Cian.
It made his half-hard dick sit up and take notice. Quinn should have been embarrassed when he’d felt Cian’s hardness against him a few minutes ago, but he decided to let it go.

Quinn angled his face a little more and pressed his lips against the pulse in Cian’s throat, not failing to notice the little gasp the man gave before stretching his head back, offering more of his throat to Quinn. It was an offer Quinn couldn’t refuse.

He turned in Cian’s arms so he was facing him, then swung a leg over the other man’s hips so they could press together from chest to knees. Cian’s chest was hot under Quinn’s fingers, and he couldn’t help but explore the muscles there, trailing his fingers down gently as he leaned in to lick up Cian’s neck and then place gentle kisses across his jaw.

Cian gave a pained groan before pulling away slightly. “Darlin’, you don’t have to do this.”

 

Quinn curled a hand around the back of Cian’s neck and pulled him in for a kiss that was a little more forceful. When they parted for air, Quinn whimpered.

“I want do this, Cian. I want to feel you against me, to touch you. I want to let you make me fall apart, and I’ll know I’m safe with you.” He looked away for a second. When he turned back to that captivating blue gaze, there was determination on his face.

“I’ve never been with anyone but David, and at the time, I didn’t think it could get any better, with anyone.” He reached up a hand to touch Cian’s face, the other on Cian’s chest over his heart, feeling his pulse speed up at Quinn’s words. “I think I was wrong.”
C
IAN
looked down into that earnest face, and the want and need shining out of those dark eyes really drew him in with their honesty.

Quinn was scared and unsure, but he was offering himself and asking for something in return. Cian once heard someone say courage wasn’t the absence of fear, it was continuing on in spite of it.

Quinn trusted Cian not to hurt him, and that was more than he could resist. He would make it good for Quinn, take care of him and his heart, and they would both make the most of these days they had together.

Cian had both arms wrapped around Quinn’s torso, one at the small of his back and the other around his shoulders, holding him as close as he could. He slid one hand up and brushed the hair off Quinn’s forehead before leaning in to kiss him tenderly there, then pulled back and smiled at him.

“Aye, love, you might ’ave been.” Cian’s accent was thick with emotion and want, and he felt the shiver it sent up Quinn’s spine. “Let’s find out, yeah?”

Quinn swallowed and nodded, his voice lost in anticipation. His eyes were huge as they looked up at Cian, who couldn’t resist leaning down and nuzzling his nose alongside Quinn’s, causing him to chuckle a little.

“You’re a snuggle bug, aren’t you, O’Reilly?”

 

Cian arched an eyebrow at Quinn. “Snuggle bug?” He slid his hands down Quinn’s back, searching for the hem of his T-shirt.

 

Quinn pressed back into the touch as he answered. “Hmmm, yeah, that’s what my little sister calls me when I snuggle with her on the couch.”

Cian pressed a line of kisses back to a sensitive spot under Quinn’s ear. “Why are you thinking about your sister at a time like this?” He bit down a little and then soothed the sting with a lick, and this time the shudder was accompanied by a moan.

“I… oh God… have a sister?”

Now it was Cian’s turn to chuckle. He found the bottom of Quinn’s shirt and slipped his hands under, teasing the skin on his belly before sliding around, relishing the soft, slightly ticklish skin on Quinn’s sides. He held on and pulled Quinn on top of him so he was straddling Cian’s hips; they moaned as their erections pressed together.

Cian pushed Quinn up a little and then grabbed the hem of the shirt. “Can I?” Quinn bit his lip and nodded. Cian pulled it up and off, threw it on the floor, and finally got his first good look at Quinn’s naked chest.

Quinn looked a little vulnerable, sitting there on top of Cian in the morning sunlight, but to Cian he was the most amazing thing he had ever seen. It was a little overwhelming and very hot.

Cian smiled up at him and reached up to run his fingers through the light sprinkling of hair on Quinn’s chest. “God, you’re so beautiful.”

“M’not.” Quinn’s blush spread adorably down his face and neck, right down his chest and abs. Cian followed it with his fingers, wondering idly if it went all the way down.

“Yeah, love, you are.”

Quinn ducked his head, but Cian sat up and lifted Quinn’s face with his fingers so he could look him in the eyes. “There’s nothing wrong with being beautiful, Quinn. It doesn’t make you less of a man, and part of what makes it true is what’s on the inside.” He held Quinn’s head still by cupping his cheek while he slid his other hand down to rest on Quinn’s hip.

“I don’t know how I ever looked at you in the pub that day and missed it. You wear your heart on your sleeve, and your honesty and goodness just shine out of you.” He leaned in and kissed Quinn, trying to convey his feelings that way because he was worried his words were failing.

“Of course, the outside is nice too.”

 

Quinn smiled shyly at the words and snaked his arms around Cian’s neck, pressing himself against the other man.

 

Cian nuzzled into Quinn’s neck. “Damn, you smell good.”

His hands never stopped moving, and when they tentatively slipped down over Quinn’s boxers to caress the perfect globes of his ass, Quinn ground down instinctively against Cian, causing him to groan again.

“God, Cian, love you touching me! Feels so good. Please.” He pushed back against Cian’s hands, and Cian couldn’t help himself. Unable to resist the tender skin, he slid his hands back up only to move them down again, this time under the thin cotton of Quinn’s boxers.

He gripped Quinn’s ass and heard Quinn’s breath hitch when he slid his fingers through his crease.

Quinn pulled back, and Cian thought maybe he had gone too far, but Quinn just caught his eye and reluctantly slid off Cian’s lap to remove his boxers completely. He stood there, smiling shyly before crawling back up, and whined when his cock rubbed against Cian’s stomach.

He threaded both hands in Cian’s hair and kissed him like his life depended on it, and at that exact second, it might have. Quinn kissed him like he needed Cian to touch him or he’d die.

Cian felt very much the same way. He grabbed Quinn’s hips and flipped them both again so Quinn was below him, spread out on the dark-blue sheets. Cian couldn’t help but stare. “Beautiful.” He couldn’t stop the word falling from his lips again, but this time Quinn smiled like maybe he believed him.

Quinn reached for Cian’s sleep pants, pushed them down as far as he could, and used his feet to get them off the rest of the way. It was Quinn’s turn to look.

Cian was holding himself over Quinn, making the muscles in his arms and chest stand out, and Quinn had to touch everywhere he could reach. He ran his hands up Cian’s arms and then down his chest, then mapped his abs with gentle fingers before slipping down to curl his hand around Cian’s cock and stroke softly, watching his face the whole time.