Spirited

Chapter 32

He didn’t answer, just continued to look at me, until I met his tawny eyes and hoped I was reading correctly what I saw there. If he’d thought me brave overcoming my fear earlier, this was even more terrifying and a whole lot more risky. And entirely dependent on him.

I had to say it.

‘I want you. I want you so much,’ I whispered. ‘And I’m more scared now than I was in there because I don’t know if you feel the same.’

His face became a glorious picture of shock and hope. ‘Fuck.’

 ‘Lisa! Lorcan!’ Finlay called from the end of the corridor.

‘Coming!’ I called back, but as they disappeared round the corner I gathered together what little remaining courage I had, took a step forward, and looked up at him, tilting my head so that all he needed to do was lean down to kiss me. There was a moment when he didn’t respond and I wondered if I’d just made a terrible, terrible mistake and it was India all over again, but then his lips were touching mine and he started to tentatively kiss me, his fingers coming to rest on the tops of my arms as his lips moved against mine. They were smooth and warm, contrasting with the soft scratchiness of his beard. My fingers climbed his chest, over his shoulders and into the soft hair at the nape of his neck as I pressed my lips harder against his and he responded. The first touch of his tongue on the inside of my lip made me shudder with lust and I relaxed against him, sinking into his kiss, grateful for his warmth and solidity and the feel of his strong arms around me. I could have stayed there forever, except . . . except we had to join Finlay and the others. I gently pushed back and then pulled slowly away from him, although he seemed reluctant to release me.

‘Christ,’ he muttered. ‘And you’re not the only one who’s scared, sweetheart.’

‘Am I that scary?’

‘More than anything I’ve ever encountered,’ he said, as he stroked a finger across my cheek.

‘We’d better . . .’ and I nodded down the corridor towards the bar.

Except he pulled me back into him for another more demanding kiss, one which was even more difficult to withdraw from as I could feel his hardness through his jeans pressing against me, followed by, ‘Dear God, I’ve waited so long to do that.’ He ran his fingers into my hair, his eyes roaming deliciously over my face. ‘But I guess I’ll have to save you for later.’

My stomach plummeted into my boots and I swallowed. Hard. But then felt suddenly giddy with excitement. I’d kissed Lorcan Kearney. We’d kissed! And it was every bit as wonderful as I could possibly have imagined. And then some.

‘Come on, we’d better go,’ he said, snatching one more kiss before he took hold of my hand and hurried me along the corridor. ‘I don’t know about you, but I need a drink. And to watch you because I love the way your breasts move under your T-shirt. Especially like now down these stairs.’

‘Pervert.’

‘Just appreciative. Don’t forget I’ve already seen them.’

‘You’re never going to let that go, are you? I’ve been trying to erase it from my memory.’

‘You can be damned sure I haven’t.’

As we reached the door to the bar, he paused. ‘Lisa?’ I waited for the question. He bit his lip and then changed his mind. ‘It doesn’t matter. Come on. They’ll think there’s something going on between us if we’re any longer,’ and he grinned conspiratorially at me.

Brandy in hand, I relaxed into the armchair and watched Lorcan settle on the sofa opposite me, loose-limbed and gorgeous. He caught me watching and winked. Never had I fancied him more, but then Geoff engaged me in conversation about the infrasound and its effects and I could only steal glances at Lorcan while he talked with Finlay. A second drink was pressed into my hand, and then a third as Kenny checked the twitter feed for the programme and was excitedly reporting that it was receiving praise from both the paranormal believers and scientists alike.