Page 5 of Outlaw Heartstrings

“It’s no problem, promise.” She tilted her face to press her cheek against his, the movement intimate and sweet. “You wouldn’t do well on the couch. It wasn’t built for sleeping.”

“You know…” He hesitated and gave her a beseeching grin. “When I looked at it, it looks like it’s a really big bed.”

Her hip bumped his, and he caught a glimpse of her return smile. “Is it? I never noticed.”

“It is.” He stood straight and held up a finger. “I mean, it looks big enough for two. We should try out the theory.” Reaching over to take the kitchen towel from her, he hung it up alongside his and grinned, waiting for her teasing comeback.

Ellen lifted her gaze to meet his, her playful expression slowly fading. “I haven’t been with anyone since Jerry died.” Her hand drifted up, fingertips grazing across the scar along her jaw. “Haven’t wanted to test those waters.”

“You loved him.” Irish pushed certainty into his voice, projecting confidence with his next words. “Wanted to honor him.”

“I’ve been—” Her voice caught and broke. Swallowing hard, she closed her eyes for a breath and then began again. “I’ve been alone for what feels like forever.”

“It’s hard, mourning someone worthy of that love.

I lost a patch brother last year. Been weighing on me something fierce.

I can only imagine the pain when it’s a more soulful connection.

” Irish opened his arms, sighing deeply with the way it felt right when Ellen folded herself against his chest. “You don’t have to be alone tonight, darlin’.

I’m here, and I’ll be with you. We don’t have to do anything more than this, but I’d like to hold you tonight, if you can see your way clear for that. ”

Her head rubbed against his shirt, her chin lifting and falling as she wordlessly nodded.

“That’s good, then.” He tightened his hold on her, somehow not surprised that she fit him perfectly.

Like she was made for me. “I could use some holding too.” Her arms crept around his waist and squeezed.

“Yeah, just like that. My momma always said hugs could heal the heart and soul. I never believed her before, but this one just might.”

Ellen’s laugh was torn through with a hiccuped sob. “Ugh. So sexy, right? Crying is the best.”

“Sometimes it’s exactly what’s needed, you know?

” Leaning back slightly, Irish looked down into Ellen’s uplifted face.

“And I can testify that even wet with tears, your face is gorgeous.” His gaze dropped to her lips, and when he met her eyes again, there was a dark heat present.

“I’d love to kiss you, Ellen. Think we can go that far? ”

Her response was to lift to her toes and press her mouth against his, the caress of her lips trembling and tasting of salt.

Irish started out slowly, testing the texture and softness of her kisses.

His tongue slid against her bottom lip, and he groaned when she opened to him, the tip of her tongue meeting his in a glancing glide.

Carefully deepening the kiss, Irish slid a hand up, spread fingers cradling the back of her skull.

He angled her head and delved further, mapping the movements that pulled sounds from her throat, repeating them until he refined his knowledge of what turned her on.

Ellen’s hand wandered up and down the planes of his back, caressing and pressing by turns.

When her fingers clutched at the fabric of his shirt, Irish broke the kiss, resting his forehead against hers as they shared quickened breaths.

Wide-eyed, Ellen’s pupils were blown so the blackness nearly covered the orbs.

“We’ve privacy just down the hallway. Let’s walk that way.

” Without releasing his hold, Irish steered her backwards, navigating the distance to the bedroom door within moments.

“The power is in your hands.” He reminded her of what he’d told her before.

“If all we do is sleep wrapped up in each other, I’ll count it a blessing.

Already holding you is easy as breathing and feels just as natural. ”

“We could start there.” Ellen’s palms rested on Irish’s hips, fingers curving around to grip tightly. “And see where things go from there.” The smile she directed his way was soft and warm. “I feel safe with you, Liam.”

“High praise.” Dipping his mouth to hers again, he found her bolder this time, and it didn’t matter whether it was due to familiarity or because they had a locked door between them and the household.

I’ll take it. Knowing she trusted him lit a fire in Irish’s belly, a warmth stoked to flames by the connection of mouth and hands.

He pulled away with a groan. “Your mouth is fuckin’ perfect, darlin’. ”

Ellen’s lips curved into a smile against his. “I like your mouth too.” She punctuated the statement with a nip to his bottom lip. “Makes me think wicked things.”

“Do tell?” Irish dropped one palm to the curve of her ass, fingers curling possessively around the flesh. “What kind of wicked things, woman?”

“Naked wicked,” she responded, body arching into his touch. “The kind of things that make having a big bed a blessing.”

Pulling her tight against him, Irish ground his hard cock against her belly, letting her feel his arousal.

“I like naked wicked things.” Trailing kisses along her cheek, he whispered into her ear, “Tell me more.” Alternating kisses and nips, Irish traced the taut tendons in her neck, nuzzling the collar of her shirt to the side in order to mouth along her delicate collarbone.

“What wicked things do you want to do, darlin’? ”

Breathing quickly, Ellen arched her neck, offering him easy access. “All kinds. So many things. But— oh ,” she gasped when he latched his teeth into the side of her throat. Her voice was hoarser when she continued, “But you’re overdressed for all of them.”

“Am I?” He found the hem of her shirt and started easing it up, ready to retreat if she offered any hesitancy. “That means you’re overdressed too.”

“I am,” she agreed and lifted her arms as he pulled the shirt over her head.

Gentle light spread into the space from the adjoining bathroom, the door slightly ajar after his quick washup before the meal.

It was enough to illuminate everything Irish so desperately wanted to se e _ the luminous glow of Ellen’s skin, her lips kiss-swollen and glistening, eyes still dark with lust. She was so pretty his hands trembled as he traced paths around the edges of her bra, the skin velvet soft.

Pulling her close again, he unfastened and discarded her bra, followed quickly by his vest and shirt. Then they were skin to skin, her soft curves molded against him, the slide and friction exquisite.

“God, Ellen.” Irish mouthed the hinge of her jaw, dragging his lips back to her mouth for another deep kiss.

“Is this okay?” Given her past and long season of abstinence, he felt compelled to make this a safe space for her.

“If you don’t want this, at any time, just say so, and we’ll stop.

Anytime, you hear me? Doesn’t matter what we’re doing at the time. You say stop and we do.”

“I hear you, Liam.” Her words were punctuated with soft kisses along his throat. “I’m pretty into this, though. You’re… different. You feel different to me.” The edge of her teeth scraped along his Adam’s apple. “Right.” Another teasing graze of teeth. “You feel right to me.”

Now she was the one steering him towards the bed, pushing at his remaining clothing as if time would get away from them before she had a chance to do whatever was foremost in her mind.

It was no hardship to acquiesce, and Irish stripped efficiently, deliberately finding and folding his vest and stacking it on the nearby dresser before toeing off his boots and socks, then dropping his things wherever they landed.

He plucked a condom from his wallet, and then both belt and chain wallet rattled as they hit the floor, the abrupt sound pulling a giggle from Ellen.

Irish stood with his arms out to the side in silent question, and she giggled again.

“I know it’s impolite to discuss previous partners, but that sound, the rattle on the floor, always meant Jerry and I were about to go to pound town.

Makes me clench in places I haven’t felt in a long time.

Pavlovian response, I guess.” A tiny, embarrassed shrug lifted one shoulder.

“I didn’t know I’d missed it like that.”

He tossed the condom to the bed as he smiled widely and swooped towards her, wrapping Ellen into his arms, holding her like a treasure.

“I have no anxiety surrounding you discussing him, as long as it makes you happy.” He popped the button on her jeans and lowered the zipper inch by inch.

“But only as long as you’re naked with me. That’s important protocol.”

“Wouldn’t want to ignore protocol.” Chin lifting, she graced him with a smile. “I don’t think I could ever ignore you.” Leaning back slightly, she looked him up and down. “Also, there’s no ignoring the fact that you’re gloriously naked, and I think your little friend likes me.”

“Oh, trust me. The entirety of my body wants to say hello, not just my dick.” He hissed out a breath when her fingers closed around his cock, giving it a long, slow stroke up and down.

“You keep that kind of thing up and this’ll be over in about point two seconds.

” A slow breath in was broken when her fingertips plucked at his sack, tugging slightly as he shuddered with want.

“Seriously, Ellen, it’s been a while for me too. ”

“Means you have more than one in you then, right?”

When he nodded at her question, certainty spread over her features, and he leaned his forehead against hers.

Then, as he attempted to focus on removing her clothing, Ellen set about teasing and torturing him.

Cock hard as steel in her sure grip, his balls drew up tighter with each delicate pluck and tug, bringing him closer to the heat building at the base of his spine.