“Long story short, he had the hots for Oksana but didn’t think he was good enough for her. He came to his senses, though. I think his family had a lot to do with that, although that’s just an educated guess. They don’t talk about it.”
“Do you think the circumstances of his birth bothered him?”
“Again, I don’t know for sure, but it’s logical. Anyway, Oksana took him back and they’re madly in love.”
“I’ve struggled with not feeling good enough. My father’s a plonker and my mum ran off and left me. But Granny and Grandpa treated me like I was pure gold. Granny still does. That’s helped.”
“You are pure gold.”
That brought him to a dead stop. “What?”
“A poet named Maya Angelou saidWhen someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”
“I think I’ve heard that, but?—”
“You’ve shown me who you are. You’re brave, strong and persistent. You care about others. You’re the real deal, Kieran. I’m just sad we won’t… that we can’t….”
“Me, too.” Shoving aside all the voices in his head telling him it was a mistake, he reached for her.
She didn’t resist when he pulled her close, but she didn’t nestle against him either. Instead of winding her arms around his neck, she laid her palms against his chest. “We shouldn’t.”
“I know.” Taking off his hat, he dipped his head under the brim of hers. “But I’m not as strong as you think.” Surrendering to a yearning deep in his soul, he kissed her.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Kieran’s velvet lips rested gently against Sara’s before gradually increasing the pressure. She could still pull away, still call a halt to this madness. But his mouth felt exactly the way she’d known it would.Wonderful.
He tasted of spicy mustard, a flavor she happened to love, and he… oh, yeah, this Irishman knew how to kiss. He didn’t rush it, but there was nothing tentative about his approach.
He wanted in, and she unlocked the door. With a soft groan he took the action from sweet to scorching, his tongue doing things that shredded every last one of her good intentions.
Cupping the back of his head in both hands, she buried her fingers in his luxurious dark hair and slackened her jaw, allowing all the access he needed to drive her insane. She did her best to return the favor.
The prickle of his upper lip was just enough to add erotic undertones. His breathing picked up and he pulled her closer, much closer.
No mistaking that move. He wasn’t shy about letting her know what he was thinking. So was she, now that he’d worked her into a lather with the most arousing first kiss of her life. If this was a prelude, she couldn’t wait for the main attraction.
Now what? They could have a creative make out session in the woods, but she didn’t want that. She wasn’t a teenager anymore and he certainly wasn’t. She was hip-to-hip with an experienced man who wouldn’t be satisfied with half measures.
That said, she’d already started unbuttoning his shirt. She longed to touch his skin, feel his heart pounding and his chest heave.
He lifted his mouth a fraction away from hers. “I want you, Sara.”
“Ditto, Kieran.”
“Not here.”
“No.”
“But where?”
She swallowed. “I don’t know.”
“Where do you sleep?”
“In one of the kids’ old rooms.”
“Alone?”
