“You’ve been mean to me from the very beginning, you pigheaded jackass!”
“Oh, now wait, I actually like that name. Feels like home, since that’s what my brothers call me.”
She sucked in a breath. “Are you comparing me to your brothers? I might be tall and awkward, but I’m not a man!”
A what?
It was out of left field. Not her reaction, but his. He could have settled it right then and there by explaining what he’d meant. That his brothers called him a jackass all the time, thus the fond familiarity. But that wasn’t what he did. No, that would have been too easy.
And safe.
He could handle her voluptuous body in a bikini, or pressed against his after she’d fallen into him. But once the beautiful girl started chewing him out like a sassy spitfire, his control snapped.
Fucking A, Ireland’s internal fire matched the color of her hair. Bran grabbed her from around the waist and pulled her to his body. His mouth landed on hers the same moment their bodies melded together.
Instant hard-on. Instant insanity.
He’d lost his mind. And his fucking control that hadn’t failed him since…
Since he’d fucked up so many years ago.
Bran pulled back a fraction. Lips barely touching hers, he said, “Is this what you want?” He should have stopped and swum away, but he had her body pressed to his, and he couldn’t muster the strength. Unless she told him no. Then he’d stop. It would pain him, but he’d do it. Only she wasn’t pushing him away.
Her green eyes were half-lidded. Goddamn, she was beautiful. The most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
He kissed her again. Only the punishment was on him this time, because she was soft and she tasted good, and he couldn’t seem to stop kissing her. And she still hadn’t said no.
Ireland ran a hand through his hair, and he pulled her closer.
He cupped the back of her head and caressed his tongue with hers, his other hand moving down and squeezing her bottom.
She groaned.
The pleasure noise she made should have snapped him out of his insanity. Shit, the absolute loss of control should have brought him back. But she tasted incredible. Her body felt even better. And he’d already established he’d lost his mind.
Bran must have gotten too eager kneading her bottom. Dragged her a little too close. Because his erection pressed against her belly, and that was when she stiffened.
Ireland shoved him away. “What is wrong with you?”
“I’m sorry…”For rubbing my boner against your soft skin? For my erection eager to enter into the holy land of woman?
Fuck.
“Youkissedme.” She turned her back and swam toward the boat.
That was what had bothered her? Their kiss was the most innocent thing he’d done in the last sixty seconds. His tongue inside her mouth was certainly the most innocent thing on his mind.
She adjusted her bikini top and grabbed a hold of the boat ladder. “You are a complete asshole to me,” she grumbled as she climbed. “You are rude. You cut me down in front of your brothers and my friends…and then you kiss me when no one is around. Oh, but only after you’ve insulted me first.”
Okay, she had a point.
He swam to the ladder and didn’t look up as she emerged from the water and onto the boat.
Fine. He looked. A lot.
Bran squeezed his eyes closed then climbed up and grabbed his shirt. “I’ll take you back.”
She grabbed her towel and wrapped herself in it, not looking at him.
