Unholy Blue Read Free Page B

showing restraint. Seeing that your husband is standing a knife’s length from me.”
    Ann pulled him closer and tilted her face up. “Oh, for the Goddess’s sake, Irish up and greet me properly.”
    Bann kissed her again, this time on the mouth.
Wait for it
, he thought, enjoying the innocent flirting and prolonging the kiss, much to Ann’s pleasure.
    â€œHey!” Shay and Hugh protested at the same time.
    Laughing, Bann and Ann broke off, both grinning at their lovers. Or in Ann and Hugh’s case, lover
and
spouse.
I wish for that, too
. His elbow nudged the lump in his jacket.
    â€œKiss me wife-mate like that again, Bannerman Boru,” Hugh growled, giving his brogue free rein, “and I’ll kick yer arse, be ye the long-son of the High King or no.”
    â€œShe’s a fine woman. Worth fighting for, Hugh Doyle.” He wrapped an arm around Ann and gave her a hug. His face flushed when she patted his butt before slipping from his side.
    â€œI love it when men fight over me.” Ann spoke over her shoulder, allowing herself to be led away by a laughing Hugh. They disappeared inside.
    Shay edged closer. “She copped a feel, didn’t she?”
    â€œDo you blame her?”
    â€œDamn, but you’re arrogant.”
    Bann glanced around the empty porch, then took her hands and walked backwards, tugging her along, until he reached the railing. Sitting down, he captured her between his legs.
    With a smirk, Shay leaned closer and entwined her arms around his neck. “Or should I say
cocky
?”
    â€œA fitting term.” Lowering his head, he fastened his lips on hers. The warmth and softness of her mouth was a drink of mulled wine, all heat and spice and with a splash of brandy. He pressed harder, needing more, and parted her lips with his own. The
yield
of her mouth sent his blood rushing south. Shay matched him lip for lip, tongue for tongue. He slid his hands along her hips and cupped her buttocks, reveling in the way each cheek fitted perfectly in his hands.
Like she was fashioned by the Goddess Herself for me, and I for her
.
    â€œUm…”
    A boyish voice made him break off the kiss. Keeping his arms around Shay, he glanced over at Cor fidgeting, ill at ease, in the doorway. A part of Bann was embarrassed to have his son see him fondle a woman who was neither his wife nor Cor’s mother.
Yet
.
    â€œCor?”
    â€œAnn says supper’s ready.”
    â€œWe’ll be along directly.”
    â€œâ€™Kay. I’ll tell her.” At that, Cor whirled around, banging into the doorframe in his eagerness to escape.
    Sighing, Shay started to pull away. “We’d better get in there. Ann’s a tyrant about food getting cold.”
    â€œA moment.” He tightened his arms around her. “There’s something I wanted to discuss with you. I’ve had a change of heart regarding our sleeping arrangements.”
    â€œSo you
don’t
want to share the guest room with Cor anymore?” Her fingers toyed with hairs on the back of his neck, sending shivers through him.
    â€œI do not. After all, he slept in Ann’s guest room all week by himself. I think this would be a good time to…” His voice trailed off as he tried to put into words what he was thinking.
    â€œEstablish the next level in our relationship in a more open, honest way in front of the child.” At Bann’s surprise, Shay grinned. “I read that line once in
Cosmopolitan
. So, you and I will be sleeping together from now on?”
    â€œWell, I dinna say anything about
sleeping
, mind ye.”
    â€œHey, I was trying to keep it classy around here. What I
really
meant was…” She leaned forward and whispered in his ear.
    Flooded with heat, his groin protested about tight jeans and Bann’s seated position. He shifted uncomfortably as she finished with a flick of her tongue along his earlobe. Stepping back, she grabbed his hands