“Yes! God, yes!” This was exactly what I needed, what I longed for, what I wanted with all my soul.
I knew it wouldn’t be the same with anyone else. I opened my eyes and met Matt’s wide, intense gaze locked solely on me. He knew exactly what he was doing, same as I did, but neither of us was willing to give voice to that. All we were prepared to accept was the fact that we wanted each other, needed each other, more than anything else.
For now, right here in this moment, that was enough.
Matt picked up the pace and I matched his rhythm, until we both were heaving for air and screaming out our release. I dug my fingernails into his arched back, and he gripped my hips, pressing me tighter to him, then he fell forward and collapsed on my chest. I wrapped my arms around him and stroked his back, totally spent. We both just lay there, basking in the pure unadulterated feeling of being completely satiated, even though we were both still nearly fully clothed.
That just made it even sexier.
As the air drifting over us grew cold, Matt stood up and slowly pulled away. I propped myself up on my elbows as a lazy, completely satisfied grin crept over my face, and I met his equally satisfied smile. But then my gaze dropped lower, and my eyes sprang wide at the sheer size of his magnificent penis…but then a realization hit me.
I gasped. “Wait…is that a clover?”
Chapter Three
“The stupid legend? That’s what this was about?” Matt yanked up his pants, his face growing rigid. “Yer good, I’ll give ye that.”
I’d watched in fascination as his shamrock had started to shrink seconds before he’d pulled up his pants, and then his words registered. More precisely, his disgusted tone.
My busted gaze snapped up to his steely one. “Matt, that’s not what I meant. I would never—”
“Really, now.” He zipped his jeans as I yanked down the hem of my dress and refastened the bodice. “Yer telling me all this,” he gestured to the pool table, “wasn’t about seeing my so-called tattoo fer yerself?” He crossed his arms over his chest and arched a brow.
“So-called? Honey, I have eyes. I know I saw something.” I tried to lighten the tension, because admitting how much I’d needed him was not an option.
He scowled. “Ye don’t know what yer talking about. What ye saw was…ye know what? Never mind. It’s not worth it, and ye’ve pretty much answered me question.” Matt shook his head.
“No, I haven’t answered your question. What we just did had nothing to do with the legend. Well, maybe originally when the girls…” I started, but Matt looked thoroughly disappointed as he threw up his hands.
He stormed away.
I scrambled off the table and charged after him.
“Matt, wait, it wasn’t like that. You made me feel good after a really crappy day. That’s what this was about. Just letting ourselves feel good. What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing if that’s all ye be looking fer.” He turned out the lights as he walked, his back ramrod straight and the set of his shoulders marble stiff. “I just happen to be looking fer something more in a woman, and ye made it perfectly clear yer not on the same page as me. So, what’s the point?”
“The point is we connected in a way I never have. I know you felt it,” I said from right behind him.
“We connected physically,” he stopped abruptly, and I bounced off his back, stumbling a couple steps as he turned around to nail me with a glare, “but that’s all there could ever be between us.” His gaze ran over me from head to toe, and I felt the chill from four feet away. “Yer not exactly the kind of woman I’d take home to me ma.”
I gasped. “Whoever said I wanted to go home to your ma anyway?” I narrowed my eyes. “Is this why you stopped popping into my shop? Because I don’t meet your standards? Coming from a man who called me high maintenance, you have some nerve.”
“I’m not the one who’s divorced, lass.”
I plopped my hands on my hips. “Oh, my God! What are you, a Neanderthal?”
“No, I’m Catholic.” He shrugged. “Me family is very old-fashioned. They would never accept me dating a divorced woman.”
“Oh, for Pete’s sake.” I waved one hand in the air.
Matt’s family sounded as bad as the people in Mayflower. Because of my grandmother, I had their respect by association, but they’d made it clear they didn’t care for my choice of career in teaching sensual massage.
“I’m just being honest with ye, lass,” he thrust a finger in my face, “unlike ye were with me.”
“Now you’re the one who doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” I thrust my finger right back. “And what do you call what we just did, oh saintly one?”
“Based on yer knowledge of me tattoo, a poor lapse in judgment.” I could see the regret on his face seconds after he said those words, but it was too late.
A sharp pain sliced through me.
I’d been a lot of things in my day, but never anyone’s ‘poor lapse in judgment.’ “How will you ever live with yourself now?” I spat. “No wonder you’ve never been married. A bit strange for a man in his forties who claims to be all about family. Ever think maybe it’s not the women? Maybe it’s you.”
He threw his hands up. “At least I didn’t try to trick ye. I was honest. I know what I want.”
“I know exactly what I want.” I grabbed my purse and straightened my dress. “To be as far away from you as I can.”
He put his hands on his hips and stared me down. “It’s good to know we’re finally on the same page, lass.”
“My thoughts exactly.” I charged past him and headed for the door.
“Tiffany, wait. Let me call you—” Matt started to say from behind me.
“Oh, I think you’ve called me enough for one night, thank you very much.” I swallowed the tears clogging my throat.
His voice gentled. “That’s not what I meant.”
“Spare me,” I managed to get out.
