Luck of the Irish by Cindy Sutherland

painted their stomachs and chests with sticky hot stripes of come. Just seeing that pushed Quinn over the edge, and he came hard, moaning Cian’s name.
    As Quinn came down, he slowly relinquished his hold on Cian’s legs and let them fall to the bed. He looked into Cian’s face, seeing flushed skin and red, wet, kiss-swollen lips, and he was sure it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.
He slipped out of Cian carefully, wincing in sympathy with the small hiss Cian was unable to stop.
     
After dealing with the condom, he curled into Cian’s side, lying with his ear over Cian’s heart, listening intently as it slowly regained its resting cadence.
    “You okay, love?” Cian had one arm wrapped around Quinn’s shoulders and was carding through Quinn’s damp hair. The other hand was tangled with Quinn’s on his stomach.
“Yeah… just a little overwhelmed?” He sounded so unsure, Cian couldn’t help but smile.
     
“Well, as I’m the one who was just thoroughly fucked, I think I’m the one who should be a little befuddled.”
     
Quinn snorted. “Thanks… I think.” He took a deep breath and then sighed. “I guess we should go shower again. I have to be in Sallybrook this afternoon.” Cian kissed the top of his head. “Yeah, I know. Separate showers this time, I think. Or we’ll never leave this hotel room.”
    Quinn lifted his head to look at him, and Cian gave him an exaggerated leer. Quinn smacked him on the arm and chuckled. “I’m so tired now. Apparently coming my brains out makes me exhausted.” He pressed a kiss to Cian’s chest before continuing. “I think you can drive, so I can sleep.” Quinn’s words come out in a drowsy jumble.
Cian just hugged him closer. “That could be arranged.”
     
After a couple of minutes snuggling, Cian forced them both to get up, pushing Quinn into a quick shower while Cian packed up the room.
    When Quinn was done in the bathroom, they traded places, and soon they were ready to go. Both were reluctant to leave the hotel, but they had to get going. After a few more kisses, they left, casting longing glances over their shoulders as the door closed softly behind them.

Chapter 10
T
HEY stopped for coffee on the way out of Limerick and then had breakfast in a small town called Ballincolly.
    They grabbed some sandwiches and fruit from a little roadside stand and drove until they came to a nice spot to pull over. There was a little meadow sheltered by some trees, and Quinn grabbed a blanket he’d spotted in the trunk earlier and spread it on the grass.
    After they’d settled comfortably, they talked as they ate.
Cian glanced at Quinn and smiled at the soft look in his eyes.
“So, young Mr. Donovan, do you have plans for the future? Just going to go into business with your dad? Or is there something else you want to be doing?”
    Quinn thought before answering. “I don’t know.” He frowned down at the plum in his hands before continuing. “I love to write, and I was thinking about going back to school and taking some courses.” Quinn blushed. “Sounds kind of lame, I guess.”
“Why lame? If you love to do it, why not take the chance if you can?” Quinn shrugged. “I’m afraid I’ll fail. I hate feeling like a disappointment to my family.”
    Cian grinned and moved around behind Quinn. He pulled Quinn back between his legs and smiled when he leaned back into Cian’s chest. “I’m pretty sure that nothing about you is a disappointment to your family, Quinn. Your dad wouldn’t have sent you here alone if he didn’t have faith in you.”
Cian wrapped his arms around Quinn’s trim waist, letting his hand come to rest on his stomach.
     
Quinn reached down and played with the fingers on one of Cian’s hands. “I know that in my head, but sometimes in my heart, it doesn’t feel that way.”
    Cian nuzzled the side of Quinn’s neck, his lips curling into a smile at the little squeak Quinn gave when Cian’s lips touched his skin. “You’re