Page 19 of Hot Irish Halloween

The zeal in his eyes when he talked about his sport made goosebumps rise along her skin, even as it created heat inside her body. His passion for it was so compelling. And a thousand percent relatable. He’d described perfectly how she felt when she hit a difficult note or finally mastered a new instrument.

“You miss it?” she asked softly.

“My time in the cage is over. I have people coming up after me. It’s their time now.”

But something about the way he said that didn’t ring entirely true.

“Can I ask why you stopped? Why did you retire? You were on a winning streak.”

Jack wasn’t smiling anymore. “I did win. But the night of my last fight, I got hit pretty hard. I’d had a few concussions by then, but that one…that one was the big one. I had what they called a hematoma in my brain, and I needed emergency surgery. Could’ve died, but I didn’t. After two months of sleeping, I woke up.” Their eyes met again, and she was shocked at the sudden longing in his. “I…” There was another pause, this one deep and full of mysterious meaning she couldn’t begin to fathom. Then he grinned, lopsided. “My old doctor had a good long chat with me and said if I fought again, and I got another knock to me thick skull like that one, the next time, I might not be so lucky.”

“I’m sorry,” Penny murmured, not knowing what else to say. The thought of Jack lying in bed unconscious yet fighting for his life filled her with alarm and dread. The sensation was all too familiar.

“It’s a tough career to be in for long. It’s hard on the body. Hard to dedicate most of your life to training, traveling, making appearances. It doesn’t leave a lot of room for anything else. Most fighters go into the pros knowing they’ll tap out in about ten or fifteen years. I did my time.” But again, she wasn’t sure he meant it. Jack’s smile returned. “I think you should come by the gym. See that we’re not a pack of mindless monsters. Maybe I’ll even put some gloves on you and get you into the ring. You might like it.” Now he was definitely teasing her.

Penny rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah. I don’t know if my idea of fun is getting knocked around at your gym.”

“Whatisyour idea of fun?” Jack leaned forward again. His entire focus was on her.

Too sexy. Please stop.

“Crocheting,” she said abruptly.

“Will you make me something?” The teasing gleam in his eyes made her woozy, even as it made her smile.

“I’ll make you a scarf.”

He shifted back in his seat, and the conversation thankfully got lighter after that. Penny had a scrumptious slice of carrot cake with her coffee, while Jack indulged in a hefty piece of German chocolate. He settled the bill and did the gentlemanly thing once again by helping her put her jacket on. And once again he escorted her out with his hand on the small of her back to move them through the dining room.

Outside, while they waited for the valet to bring his car, Jack stepped closer. “I’ve gotta ask. When you responded to me on the app…did you just want a night out on Halloween? Or did you want a real date? With me?” he murmured. Her nipples tightened at those words and that look.

Penny would never admit that she had, in fact, not chosen him to be the one she broke her dry spell with. Didn’t want to tell him that looking at his picture, she’d immediately sensed danger, like a deer catching the sudden scent of a hunter. The danger of being with a man who’d undo every last defense she could muster.

Jack was still, his body tight and tense as he waited for her reply, a hunter poised with his bow and arrow pointed and ready.

She couldn’t resist. She didn’t want to.

“I was looking for this,” she said, sliding her hand inside the warmth of his coat. Under her touch, his muscles jumped. His heart pounded a rapid beat against her palm.

Then, as if he couldn’t help himself, he suddenly leaned over, grasped her chin, and kissed her. His wine-sweet tongue licked at the seam of her lips and pushed into her mouth, seeking, tasting, devouring. This kiss scorched her down to her toes.Penny reached up to sink her fingers into the short hair at the nape of his neck, loving the silky feel.

“Good.” He pulled back to stare into her eyes with stark lust brimming in his own. “Because I’m still hungry. And I need to know what you taste like.”

7

SPIRIT 2.0

JACK

Jack had one singular mission: to make Penny come as hard and as often as he possibly could.

He’d started the afternoon with every intention of taking it slow with her. After all, even though he’d spent years imagining everything he’d do to her, in reality, they’d only met yesterday.

But when she’d opened her door to him, all his resolve to keep his hands off her flew out the fucking window. It was because ofthat dressdisplaying every luscious curve of her voluptuous body. As if the dress wasn’t enough, there was the pull of her soft, dark eyes, reflecting the same desire that was consuming him, burning away resistance in a bright flame.

They sped to her house as fast as legally allowed. They were silent in the car, but this time, the silence was thick with anticipation. Every bit of him was tensed and ready as he pulled up in front of her house. As if in a dream, he followed her to the front door, where the keys shook in her hand. Laughingbreathlessly, Penny managed to unlock it. They were barely inside before he shut the door behind them and reached for her. Kissing madly, squeezing, touching, hauling her up against him with his hands while she gasped.

Jack was unable to get enough of that delicious taste of wine still on her tongue. The scent of her skin bombarded his senses, and he inhaled deeply, like a man starving for air, and she was giving off pure oxygen. He wasn’t sure what it was, something fruity and delicious, but whatever it was went straight to his cock.

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