Irish Comfort Read online

  Evernight Publishing

  www.evernightpublishing.com

  Copyright© 2013 Nikki Prince

  ISBN: 978-1-77130-358-3

  Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs

  Editor: Marie Medina

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  DEDICATION

  I had so much fun writing this little short. Thank you to my fellow writers (you know who you are) for always listening to me whine. I love you all dearly.

  IRISH COMFORT

  Nikki Prince

  Copyright © 2013

  Chapter One

  Boxty on the griddle, boxty on the pan; if you can’t make boxty, you'll never get a man’. –Irish Folktale

  “Girl, do you even know how to make Irish food?”

  Imani looked over at her sister Sonia and laughed. Sonia had the most skeptical look on her face. “Yes, Soni, I can make Irish food. Besides before Sky’s mother passed away she’d sent me her recipes for everything that I’ve made for him tonight.”

  Sonia crossed her brown eyes and made a silly face at her, and Imani could not stop the laugh that escaped.

  “Do you think I’d try to pretend I knew how to cook it? If I did that this whole plan could backfire.”

  “What are you planning on making him?” Sonia took a deep breath. “Least it smells good in here, so I guess you do get what you’re doing.” She chuckled.

  “I’m making bangers and mash, along with corn beef and cabbage and boxties.”

  “Okay, I’ve heard of the first two, but what the heck are boxties?”

  “Basically an Irish potato pancake.” She couldn’t stop the smile that spread over her face as she perused her sister.

  “So tell me your plan again?” Sonia questioned.

  “Basically, Soni, Skylar has been feeling homesick. I plan to show him some Southern California comfort via the Irish way.”

  “Ah, so the whole ‘the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach’ deal?”

  “In a nutshell, yes, that’s exactly my plan. Sky hasn’t been himself lately and the closer we got to today, which is Saint Patrick’s Day, it’s gotten even worse. I want to show him that home is wherever he lays his head and that I can take care of him and give him what he needs. I want him to smile again.”

  “Is he always like that? I mean I don’t remember him always being so sad when we all used to hang around together.” They’d all grown up together so Sonia was just as familiar with Skylar as she was, though Sonia had been a few grades ahead of them.

  “No, he isn’t always like this. I mean I recognize it has a lot to do with his mother having died last year and very close to Saint Patrick’s Day. It made him homesick and understandably so. He was able to go home before she passed, but it was hard on him. I just want to give him a taste of what he was used to having when she was alive. I can’t bring her back, but I can give him a bit of comfort that he was used to.”

  Her sister settled back on the leather couch crossing her legs and looking as if she were in deep contemplation. “Are you prepared for what could happen if it doesn’t work?”

  Imani paused for a few minutes before she answered her sister. Playing with one of the tiny braids in her hair she thought of Skylar Magee, the man she was gambling everything on, and his deep green eyes, closely cropped red hair and Irish good looks,. Her next words were easy, and she hoped they sounded confident.

  “I’m as prepared as I’m gonna get. I want him, Soni. You of all people can see how long I’ve waited to have him.”

  She thought she heard her sister mutter, ‘too long and it’s about time.’ Sonia nodded her head and then stood. Imani got up as well and followed Sonia to the door of her small apartment. Opening the door Sonia looked back at her.

  “Then I am one hundred percent behind you. Go get your man.”

  Moving forward Imani hugged her sister tight and gave her a kiss before pulling back. She stayed at the door until Sonia left. If there was one thing she appreciated about her older sister, it was that she always had her back no matter what. She closed the door and made her way back to the kitchen. Everything was almost ready for her dinner with Sky. She needed this to work; if it didn’t there was the potential of losing Skylar as a friend. She could only hope that she’d been reading the signals he’d been giving off correctly. Otherwise, her plan was going to fail.

  The food was prepared and warming. The only things left for her to do was to ready herself and make sure that everything she’d need to lead up to an evening she hoped would be spent in Skylar’s arms after all was said and done. She looked towards the dining room table which was a cozy setting of the china she’d received from her mother. That was where they’d start first. But if things went as they should, he wouldn’t want to eat, least not at first. How was she doing on time? A quick glance at the clock told her there was about two hours before he’d be there. Taking a deep breath she glanced around. Satisfied that everything was as it should be, she headed off for her shower.

  ***

  Skylar didn’t understand why he was nervous, but he was. Extremely nervous if he had to be honest about what he was feeling. It made no sense; he was just going over to Mani’s house like he’d done hundreds of times before. She’d promised him dinner and time to take his mind off of everything else.

  What the hell was there to be anxious about? He tightened his grip on the steering wheel and examined his hands for a few moments. Why did he sense that something was going to happen tonight? He hadn’t allowed himself to be alone with her like this in a long time, with very good reason.

  Only because he’d wanted to make sure their friendship stayed a friendship. She was gorgeous, funny, caring and intelligent, all the things he loved in a woman. That meant Ms. Imani Parker was off limits to him, so that their friendship would stay intact, because he didn’t want to hurt her. Did he want her? Yes. That was a given. He desired her above all others, but their friendship couldn’t be derailed because his little head was trying to rule his big head. He loved her. He always had, but that didn’t mean he should just take what he wanted.

  He remembered the time when he was going to take things a bit further with her she’d come to him gushing about some guy she’d been wanting for a long time and the fact he’d asked her to marry him. Well, that was a quick way to douse a man’s libido. The marriage hadn’t happened, but that was the point when he’d decided to keep it simple with her. Friendship only.

  He’d almost told her he wanted to stay home at first, but when he’d been about to refuse he looked at her expectant face and knew he couldn’t deny her. He was stalling for time, and he knew it. Sitting up he squared his shoulders, closed his eyes and muttered a prayer that he would be able to behave himself where the sexy Imani Parker was concerned.

  Now all he had to do was sit there a few moments longer to get rid of the raging hard on that happened just by merely thinking about her. He shifted in his seat and tugged at his jeans, which were becoming more uncomfortable with every second, and sighed. It was going to be a long night.

  ***

  The sound of the doorbell alerted her that Skylar was there and on time. She looked at herself in the large bedroom mirror one last time, and satisfied with her appearance she hurried down to open the door.

  “Hello, Skylar.” She grinned as his mouth sort of fell op
en before he quickly shut it.

  “Um, Mani, did I come at the wrong time?” He continued to stare at her.

  “No, why do you think that?” She moved to the side and signaled for him to come in. He entered but stayed just in the hallway still staring at her. “But you’re in a negligee.”

  She nodded her head and glanced down at the silk emerald green nightie that complimented her cocoa-colored skin so well. This was one way to get his attention.

  “Yes, I am. Come on, I’m sure you’re hungry.” Closing the door she moved down the hallway towards the dining room. She was aware of his eyes on her, and knowing she had his attention made her warm from the inside out. She turned quickly only to have him bump into her with a grunt.

  “Oh!” She pressed her hands against his chest and felt his arms wrap around her to steady her.

  “Oh God, sorry, Mani, I … guess I wasn’t paying attention.”

  “It’s okay, Skylar, actually neither was I.” She’d been worried by the look on his face that he’d turn and run back out of the house. She hadn’t let the tension release until he’d come in.

  “About dinner, Mani. You’re not dressed for any dinner I’ve ever been to.”

  She giggled. “Then perhaps you haven’t met the right people.” She of course was teasing him.

  “We need to talk. This isn’t what I came over here for.” He took her hand and led her over to her couch and settled her in it, before sitting down next to her. Granted he was as far as he could get from her on his end of the sofa.

  “I understand it’s not. You wouldn’t have shown up if you had even an inkling of this being what I wanted to happen.”

  “Mani, we can’t do this. We can’t go there.”

  “Why, Sky? We’re two consenting adults. I want you, and you obviously want me.” She nodded her head in the direction of his lap, and his gaze followed hers to where his erection strained against his jeans.

  “What if it ruins our fantastic friendship? I can’t lose you as a friend, Imani.”

  “What if it doesn’t? We can’t build our lives around what ifs.”

  She watched as he raked his hand through his hair and hung his head as if he was in deep contemplation.

  When he did make eye contact with her, his eyes sparkled fiercely. “You’re the only bit of strength that I have left. With my mum gone, you’re all the family I have.” Imani remembered that his father had left his mother long ago, and she’d never remarried nor had any more children. With her gone it was basically the end of his family. His mother had struggled to take care of Skylar and when he’d come of age, she’d decide to head back to Ireland to live. He hadn’t always been able to just leave to visit, but he’d taken trips as often as he could to see her.

  “But don’t you realize that this could only make our bond stronger?” She scooted close and placed a hand on his knee. She observed him as he closed his eyes and drew in a deep lungful of air.

  “Mani, you realize I’m weak where you’re concerned. I’d do anything for you. With one exception and that exception is I won’t hurt you.”

  “Denying what we feel is hurting me, Sky.” She squeezed his knee gently, not willing to lose contact with him. She was so close, so close to having all that she’d ever wanted. She had to see this through. He opened his eyes and she heard the tortured groan he gave as he took her into his arms and settled her in his lap facing him.

  She took a shaky breath and swayed against him. Hell, he felt so good. In the skimpy silk she could experience every bit of his hard body. He was in good shape; being a fireman he made sure he worked out to be in the best condition. His grip on her tightened, and she felt the shudder that moved through his body. His green eyes were filled with indescribable emotion.

  “Sky? Please tell me you want this as badly as I do.” She whimpered softly as she rocked back and forth in his lap, needy.

  “You’ve got me so hard, Mani, I hurt. Can you tell how badly I want this?” She nodded her head. His gaze fixed on her as he paused, his voice dripping with emotion. “How desperately I need you.” He rocked himself against her core, and she shivered. He was hard as steel.

  The next words she might have uttered were stolen from her as his lips crashed into hers. She gave a full on moan as he deepened the kiss, as he placed his hands on her ass, removing them from her waist. He was kissing her and his hands were on her. She didn’t want it to end.

  When he parted the kiss they were both breathing raggedly. He cupped her cheek, kissing the tip of her nose. “Please tell me you have condoms here, Imani.”

  “Yes, I made sure I bought some. They’re next to my bed on the nightstand.”

  “Damn, girl, you thought of everything.”

  “I’ve wanted you for a long time, Sky. Not going to mess it up by forgetting something that important.”

  “Can dinner wait?”

  “Yes, it can. That is if you’re not hungry.”

  “Oh I’m hungry, though not for food. I suddenly have a taste to feast on the beautiful Imani Parker.”

  “I’m just as hungry for you, Sky.” Slipping out of his lap, she reached out for his hand. Once he took her hand she led him out of the living room towards her bedroom. She’d lined the hallway with gold coins.

  “Ahh, this treasure leads to the true treasure, doesn’t it?” Skylar asked.

  “I was hoping you’d think that.” She stopped at her bedroom door, which was closed, and turned in his arms. “There’s no turning back beyond this point, Sky. If you’re going to do so, do it now.”

  “I’m done running.”

  Her heart flip-flopped over those words, and she stood on tiptoes and kissed him hungrily, licking then nipping at his bottom lip before pulling back.

  “Just what I wanted to hear.” Pulling gently as she walked backwards she nudged her bedroom door open and brought him in with her. Turning she continued to hold his hand and waited to see what he’d say.

  The bedroom held a large queen size bed that she’d adorned with green satin sheets, on which she’d laid out some more golden coins. The lamp that sat on the nightstand was on with a green scarf over it so that the room had a beautiful green glow.

  “Damn, girl, you went all out.”

  “I know you’re missing home. I want to show you that you’re not alone. You have me.”

  His eyes darkened, and he squeezed her hand gently. He opened his mouth then shut it again, and she took sympathy on him and shook her head, pressing her fingers to his lips. He kissed her fingertips, and her heart fluttered.

  “Now let’s get you out of all these clothes.”

  “I want to see you in the middle of the bed as you’re dressed now.” He picked her up and she let out a squeal of surprise. In a few steps he had her in the center of the bed amongst the gold pieces and settled back to look at her.

  Chapter Two

  Skylar stood back for a few moments, just taking in the beautiful sight that was Imani. She was a natural beauty who never needed much make up, and damn if her body wasn’t to die for. She had nice full breasts that he’d always wanted to taste, and he was going to do that as soon as he was out of his clothing.

  He wasted no time in getting his clothes off, and once done he stood there before her proudly. He heard her sharp intake of breath as she eyed his naked body for the first time. Imani had moved to her knees on the bed, and her eyes held a look of hunger as they roved over his body.

  “You’re so big, Sky…” Her voice was so low it was almost a whisper, and he had to strain to hear her.

  “I won’t hurt you, Imani. I promise you.” He noticed she shook her head and gave a small laugh.

  “Not worried about it hurting in a bad way, Sky. Now come and kiss me.”

  “Baby, you’re naughtier than I ever dreamed.” As he approached she opened her arms wide for him. Kneeling on the bed he pulled her forward until she was flush against him.

  “You’ve no idea, Sky. I’ve wanted you since we were old enough to know wh
at desire was.”

  Slowly he stroked his hands over her back, once again cupping her ass. Imani’s hands cupped the back of his neck as he held her. Placing his face where her shoulder and neck met he nipped and licked at her skin. She smelled so good, like roses and vanilla. Her taste and scent enveloped his senses, and he groaned as those sensations went straight to his throbbing cock. He hissed as she wrapped her hands around his cock, holding him nice and firm as if she’d read his mind and knew that’s how he liked it.

  “Fuck, Mani, how did you know I like it like that?” He heard the chuckle she gave at what he could assume was an answer to his question.

  “I caught you one time, jerking off, and I took notes.”

  Looking up in surprise he couldn’t help but laugh himself. She was a true gift and an enigma to him all rolled up into a sexy package.

  “Really now?”

  “Mhmm. It was that night that we’d gone to the concert and you crashed over here. I’d gotten up to use the restroom and well … there you were. Right there in the bathroom and I couldn’t look away. Hell, I didn’t want to look away. What I wanted to do was help.” As she was speaking, mesmerizing him with her voice, she was stroking him slowly. He arched himself into her hands, figuring he might as well go with it. She was running the show, and he loved letting her have the reins. He’d let her play and then he’d take over.

  “Every time I think I know you … you open up like Pandora’s Box.”

  “Hold on, Sky, I’ll be right back. I forgot something.” She jumped off the bed and left the room, and he frowned. What was up, and where could she possibly be going? A few moments later she returned holding a green-colored wicker basket that held a bowl with lemon wedges, a bottle of his favorite Irish vodka and some sugar packets in her other hand.