Who's Your Paddy?

Chapter 14

"Morning, Luv." Liam planted a sensuous kiss as the alarm went off. He pulled me close, wrapping his arms around me.

"Mmm. Forgot to turn that thing off. I'm not going to the office today," I said, through squinted eyes. I snuggled into the nook under his arm against his chest. "Don't make me move yet. Reviews can wait."

Sleep hadn't dulled the sense of fear or wanting. There wasn't a shadow of a doubt that we both craved each other physically, but those desires were temporarily relegated to the back seat as we deliberated more fundamental concerns.

"Let's make this real, Annie."

"Isn't it already?"

"I mean we see only each other. See where it takes us. What ya think?"

"Ah, I like the sound of that too," I said, stretching through a yawn.

"What'd ya think I meant?"

"It's 7am. I'm not  thinking yet."

He pulled my chin upward with his finger and we kissed. "I don't want us to be bothered by others, or any more of that shite."

"What did you do anyway?"

"Do?"

"Yeah, you said ya told some people off or something."

"Ah no. I jest made things a bit more clear. I met with Deb."

"I thought you said meeting with her would give her the wrong impression?"

"Not this time. Had ta tell her it was over, like, fer good. An I set the record straight 'bout that shite she said to ya."

"How'd she take it?"

"As well as any woman bein' told somethin' they didn't wanna hear."

I nodded.

"Wasn't pleasant, but I did that fer two reasons. First is I want ya to understand that actin' that way killed me. I dunno what happened, but when she said some of those things to ya, I snapped."

"You don't have to-"

"Lemme finish. An' then second, havin' to start somthin' off with all that aggro lingerin' around isn't fair to either of us. I wanted it gone."

I grinned. "You made room for me in your life."

"Oh and speakin' of which, I should probably tell ya, it's definite now, I'm goin' home in a few weeks."

"I figured. I talked to my friend last night too. I'm probably going too, but I don't have all the details yet."

"Ah. That's good news, aye?"

"Yeah."

"So, uh, what if we go at the same time?"

I smirked. "You asking me?"

"Well, no. I was askin' what if."

I furrowed my brow. "So you aren't asking me?"

"No, no. Wait, let's start this over." He turned his head on the pillow, lifted my chin with his finger and kissed me. "Maybe we can travel together."

I smiled. "I'd love that."

"Jayses, there's so much I wanna say to ya. This past week has been horrible."

"So, say it now."

The moments that followed, in some ways, qualified as my first out of body experience. My own voice fell conspicuously silent and the desires of my body acted on their own, as if unattached to fear or judgmental constraint.