Luck of the Irish by Cindy Sutherland Page A

smart and beautiful.” Cian punctuated his words with little kisses to the sensitive skin of Quinn’s neck. “You’re passionate and kind, and I have no doubt that you are capable of writing anything you set your mind to.”
Quinn turned a little so he could press a kiss to Cian’s jaw. “How can you be so sure?”
     
“I’ve been watching you, listening to you.” Cian pulled him up so Quinn was sitting on one thigh and his legs hung over the other.
    “That first day, in the pub, you were alone and probably a little nervous. But you didn’t hesitate to correct my rather rude observation in front of my friends.” Cian chuckled. “Damn, but you were fierce. My mates teased me relentlessly for letting a firecracker like you walk out the door.” He kissed Quinn on the temple. “Kinda glad fate brought you around again.”
Quinn grinned up at him. “It’s not the first time my temper’s gotten the better of me.”
    Quinn pushed Cian onto his back and swung his leg around so he was straddling Cian’s hips. He leaned in and kissed him sweetly, no real intent behind it, tasting of coffee and salty ham and strawberries. It was delicious.
    He pulled back, reaching out to explore the planes of Cian’s handsome face. Cian just lay there, enjoying the soft touches, his arms flung up over his head, and when Quinn curled his hand around his cheek, Cian turned a little to press a kiss into the palm.

Theysat quietly for a few minutes until Cian noticed a shadow pass over them,
and he glanced up. When his eyes widened, Quinn looked up too.
     
“Uh-oh!” Quinn scrambled off Cian and got to his feet. “It looks like we’d better get back to the car.”
     
Cian nodded as he stood. “Yeah, doesn’t take long for the weather to change around here.”
    They quickly packed everything up, but it was too late. Just as Quinn was folding the blanket, the first fat drops of rain hit him. It was like someone flicked a switch. The rain came down in sheets as they ran for the car.
    Cian pushed the button on the key ring and the trunk popped open. Quinn threw in the soggy blanket and the remains of their picnic and closed the lid. They ran for the doors, slid in, and slammed them shut.
Cian sat behind the wheel, trying to get his breath back, and then looked over at Quinn, who promptly burst out laughing.
    Cian’s hair was plastered to his head, water falling out of it, down his face and the back of his neck. His shirt was stuck to his skin and almost see-through, and Quinn shivered as he noticed Cian’s nipples were peaked from the cold.
Cian scowled for a second and then joined in the laughter. “Like you’re any better off?” He raised his eyebrows and looked Quinn up and down.
    Quinn looked at himself and realized that his white T-shirt was even more seethrough than Cian’s, and it outlined every muscle in his chest and stomach. The damp fabric also clung obscenely to the bulge in the front of Quinn’s jeans.
    He looked up at Cian and blushed at the dark heat in his eyes. Quinn’s gaze caught a drop of rainwater that slipped from Cian’s hair and was snaking its way down Cian’s face and neck.
Quinn couldn’t help it. He curled his hand around Cian’s neck and pulled him in to follow the drop’s path with his tongue, eliciting a pained groan.
    “Jesus, Quinn, you really are trying to kill me.”
Quinn pulled back and smiled. “Nope, I’m not into necrophilia.” Cian snorted. “Sometimes the things that come out of your mouth amaze me.”
Quinn gave a wicked smirk. “I thought you liked it better when I put things in my mouth.”
     
“Quinn, if you don’t let me start driving right now, we aren’t getting to Sallybrook anytime soon, and we might even get arrested for indecent exposure.”
    Quinn just sat there looking at him like he was considering something. “Well? Are you gonna let me drive?”
“I’m waiting for you to give me a reason. I’m also deciding if it would be worth it to have to call my