The Mighty Quinns: Brian

“So if we don’t talk about our jobs, or the weather or where we’re from, what should we talk about?” she asked.

“Whatever you want,” Brian said. “I’ll give you five questions and you give me five. Anything. No restrictions. And we have to answer honestly. That should start some interesting conversation, don’t you think?”

“I’ll start,” she said. “Are you married?”

“No. Never been married. Are you?”

“No, never.” The orchestra segued into “Embraceable You” and they continued to dance. “I came close once, but it didn’t work.” She considered her next question carefully. “Involved?” she asked.

He clucked his tongue and shook his head. “Oh, sweetie, you’re going to burn a question on that? No, I’m not involved. And I won’t ask you that one, because I don’t care if you are involved. You’re here with me now, and that’s all that matters.”

“One more question,” she said. “What’s your name?”

“Brian,” he said. “Brian Quinn.” He paused, waiting for her to offer her own name, then realized she was going to force him to ask. “And what about you?”

“It’s Lily Gallagher. That’s three for me, and two for you. Don’t you want to ask me another question?”

“Are you from Boston?” he asked, unable to contain his curiosity.

“For the time being. But I live in Chicago.”

So she really didn’t know who he was. They were essentially strangers. “It’s nice to meet you, Lily,” he murmured. “Lily. I like that name. It suits you.”

“And why is that?” She winced. “And that wasn’t one of my five questions. Just curiosity.”

“Oh, now here’s the test for me. I’m going to have to come up with something very poetic to say about your name or you’ll realize that I’m not as smooth as I’m pretending to be.”

“I’m a big fan of poetry, Brian Quinn.”

He cleared his throat. “Well, unless it’s a dirty limerick, I think you’re out of luck with me.”

“Hey, I’ll take a limerick.”

Brian groaned softly. “I guess I stepped in that one.” He thought for a moment, all the off-color limericks he’d ever heard racing though his mind. “I’m Irish, so this could come naturally. There once was a girl dressed in gold, who I approached in a way very bold. We danced through the night, held each other so tight, and left all our sad stories untold.”

Lily laughed. “That wasn’t bad. But it didn’t answer the question.”

“That’s because the only words that rhyme with Lily are filly, frilly and dilly.” He paused, studying her until she was forced to avert her gaze. “Lily suits you because I like the sound of it when I say it. And I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone named Lily, so whenever I hear that name, I’ll think of you first.”

A tiny sigh slipped from her lips. “That’s very poetic.”

He stared down at her, his gaze skimming over her pretty features. He didn’t have to think before he kissed her. He simply leaned forward and she was there, waiting, her upturned mouth soft and damp and sweet. There was no hesitation and no doubt that it was the best use of that particular moment. And then he drew away and they continued dancing.

She felt good in his arms, as if she fit. His hand rested on her back in just the right spot and her fingers nestled perfectly in his palm. And their bodies brushed against each other as he pulled her near, hips against hips, her breasts pressed to his chest.

Brian couldn’t remember the first time he’d been attracted to the opposite sex. It had happened so long ago and there had been so many girls and women since then. But there was something different about Lily, something that he couldn’t put his finger on. Maybe it was the little game they were playing, two strangers in the night exchanging more than glances.

With each new tune the orchestra played, he learned more about her, about the way she moved and the sound of her voice, the shape of her body beneath her dress and the smell of her perfume in the curve of her neck. They talked, but not about anything important, yet each word seemed to draw him in, to make him want her more. He didn’t know what she did for a living, he didn’t know her favorite food or even if she had any hobbies.

But he did know where the evening might end and for the first time in his adult life, Brian wasn’t sure that he wanted it to end there. He pushed the thoughts from his head, focusing on the music and scent of her hair, determined to enjoy each little moment, without regard to where it was leading.

He drew in a slow breath. Hell, that was a revelation. Maybe spending time with a woman didn’t always have to be about sex. Maybe seduction could end in just a simple kiss good-night.

The music stopped and the lights in the ballroom gradually came up. Lily lifted her head from his shoulder and glanced around, her brow furrowed. “What time is it?”

“Time to go,” he said. “We’re the last people on the dance floor.”

A faint blush crept up her cheeks. Even in the harsh light, she looked beautiful. “I didn’t realize it was so late.”

Brian slipped his arm around her waist and steered her toward the table where she’d left her shoes and her purse. “Let’s get out of here.” He picked up her shoes and bent down, helping her slip them on, then fumbling with the straps.

They started toward the lobby, but halfway there, Brian pulled her into a small alcove and kissed her, her damp lips just too tempting to resist. His hands smoothed over her face as his tongue invaded her mouth. A tiny sigh slipped from her throat and when he finally drew away, she didn’t open her eyes for a long time.

“Where are we going?” she murmured.

“I don’t know. Anywhere. As long as it’s with you.”

“I—I have a car outside,” she offered.

“Let’s go.”

When they got to the street, Lily handed the parking attendant a card. He made a quick phone call and a few seconds later a limo pulled up to the curb.

Brian ignored the car until Lily started toward it. The parking attendant held open the door and she slipped inside, then looked back out at Brian.

“When you said car, I figured you meant Toyota or Ford,” he said.

“It’s a limo,” she called, leaning out the door.

“I can see that,” he said, getting inside.

“Do you want to take your car?”

Brian thought about the beat-up Chevy parked in a public lot a few blocks away and compared it to the luxurious leather interior. “No, this will do just fine.”

“Where to?” the chauffeur asked, watching them in the rearview mirror.

Brian looked at Lily, deciding to leave it up to her. “Where would you like to go?” he asked softly, his gaze fixed on her lips.

“Just drive,” she murmured, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Take us to see the sights.”

The privacy screen whirred as it rose, but all Brian could really hear was the thud of his heart as he pulled Lily into his arms.

2

HE PRESSED HER BACK into the soft leather seats, pulling her body beneath his, his mouth covering hers in a deep kiss. Lily moaned softly, her head spinning with the taste of him, her hands running over his body frantically. She knew she ought to stop, that she should want to stop. This was crazy!

She’d just met him a few hours before, but from the moment he’d looked at her, she’d been captivated, every nerve in her body jangling with anticipation. Lily shoved her hands beneath his jacket, pushing it over his shoulders. With a low groan, Brian tugged it off, his lips never leaving hers.

Lily knew if she asked him to stop, he would. There was something about Brian Quinn that she trusted, even if her instincts told her to be careful. But she didn’t want to stop. As long as they stayed in the limo with the driver on the other side of the glass, then she’d be in complete control.

As her fingers fumbled with his bow tie, Lily felt her heart begin to race. This instant attraction they felt for each other was too much to deny. It was powerful, magnetic, an unseen force that seemed to propel them closer and closer to intimacy. She should be able to resist, but with every kiss and every touch, her inhibitions dissolved.

Was this really what she wanted, to throw herself into the arms of a stranger simply to satisfy a craving? His hands skimmed over the bodice of her dress and grasped her hips, pulling her close. Yes, Lily’s brain screamed. Yes, yes, yes.

As he drew her beneath him, the fabric of her wide skirt billowed around them, creating a barrier as effective as any chastity belt. He stilled his frenetic exploration of her clothing, cursing softly. “What are you hiding under there?”

Lily giggled. “If I would have known I’d end up here, I would have chosen a different dress.” Something shorter, with buttons down the front, she mused.

Brian grinned, then glanced out the window. “The Public Garden,” he murmured. “And Boston Common is coming up. There’s a statue of George Washington that you might be interested in seeing.”

“Forget the sights,” Lily said, grabbing the front of his pleated shirt and dragging him back down. “I’ll see them later.”

His gaze raked over her features and settled on her lips. “Lily, are you trying to seduce me?”

“If you have to ask, then I guess I’m doing a pretty poor job of it.” Lily sighed. “I’ve never really seduced a man before.”

Brian smoothed his palm over her cheek, then let it drift down her neck. “Believe me, you’re doing just fine.” He slipped his fingers under the spaghetti strap of her gown, toyed with it for a moment and pushed it off her shoulder. “Tell me what you want,” he murmured as he pressed his mouth to her collarbone.

“That’s nice,” she said. He let his hand drift down further until his fingers brushed along the swell of her breast. She sucked in a sharp breath. “Oh, and that’s nice, too.”

“Tell me,” he urged, running his fingers along the edge of her dress, back and forth in a lazy caress. Her skin began to tingle and Lily closed her eyes and arched up, bracing herself on her elbows. Suddenly, she wasn’t the person in charge of this seduction, he was. “I want your hands on my body,” she whispered as her inhibitions slowly dissolved.

She felt his hands circle her waist and then, in one easy movement, he pulled her up to sit on the seat across from him. Her skirts billowed up around them, but he brushed them aside and took her foot in his hand. “I was beginning to wonder if you had legs underneath this skirt.” He slipped her left shoe off and gently massaged her foot.

Lily moaned softly, leaning back into the seat. When she’d asked him to touch her, she hadn’t had a foot massage in mind. But as he rubbed his thumbs into the arch of her foot, she was surprised at how sensual the caress was—especially when he set her foot between his legs and slid his hands up her calf.

Her foot rested in a very intimate spot, and every time he moved, it rubbed against his growing erection. Lily had never considered the sole of her foot to be an erogenous zone, but as his hands traveled upward to her knees and then her thighs, she knew she’d be learning a few things about seduction from Brian Quinn.

Lily wondered where they’d stop—or whether they’d stop at all. Since she couldn’t see what he was doing beneath her dress, she closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensation of his warm palms on her skin. And when he moved to her inner thighs, she held her breath. “Look at that,” he murmured.

Lily opened her eyes.

“Park Street Church,” he said, nodding toward the window. “The tall steeple just over there. And the Boston Athenaeum and the Old Granary Burying Ground. Lots of famous Revolutionary War soldiers are buried there.” His hand slid a bit higher and Lily sucked in a sharp breath. “Including Paul Revere.” And then he was moving again, running his fingers up and over her hips. He caught the lace of her panties with his fingers and slowly began to tug them down. Lily shifted and they slipped to her knees and then off her feet.

Brian held them up and examined the lacy scrap of lingerie. “I love black underwear.”

Lily leaned forward, but her skirts once again billowed up between them. She shoved the fabric down, then knelt in front of him. Though he’d lost his jacket and tie, his shirt was still buttoned to the neck. With nimble fingers, Lily reached out and began to work on the studs.

When she’d brushed the shirt aside, she smoothed her hands over his chest, hard and muscular. Then she leaned forward and pressed her lips to the soft dusting of hair beneath his collarbone. Working her way down, she kissed a trail to his belly. But when she let her fingers drop to his trousers, Brian grabbed her hands and drew them away.

“Are you sure about this, Lily?”

She smiled. He didn’t have to be such a gentleman, but Lily was glad that he made the attempt. “There’s nothing wrong with two…” She moved back to his trousers. “Consenting adults…” She worked the button open. “Engaging in mutually satisfying…” She slowly drew the zipper down. “Sex.”

Most guys had probably dreamed about hearing those very words. And Lily had never expected that she might be the one to say them. But she’d had enough of “relationships.” What was wrong with taking pleasure where she found it? She’d always wanted to make more out of a simple sexual attraction and that had only led to disappointment.

Lily knew Brian Quinn wouldn’t disappoint her. Not tonight. And after tonight, she wouldn’t give him a chance. They’d go their separate ways and be satisfied with the pleasure they’d taken in each other. “Haven’t you ever just been swept away by the moment?” she asked.

“Yeah,” he said with a smile. “I think that’s happening right now.”

He reached around her back and pulled on the zipper of her gown. When it gaped in front, Brian drew Lily up onto his lap, settling her knees on either side of his legs. She groaned as he unhooked her strapless bra and tossed it aside.

He reached up and shut off the light, the sights of Boston now illuminating the tinted windows of the limo and their tempting seduction. Brian slowly explored her body with his hands and his lips. Every so often, he’d brush aside clothes to get to naked skin, but both of them still remained half-dressed, their clothes providing an effective barrier to complete surrender.

Lily wrapped her arms around his neck as he slipped his hands beneath her skirts. He’d done away with her underwear and now she was naked beneath the gown, the fabric shifting over her skin as she moved. He drew her down, settling her on his lap, but his boxers still stood between them and pure contact.

She reached between them and tugged at the silk, but Brian whispered for her to stop. He searched the car for his jacket at the same time she looked for her purse. Lily found a condom first and handed it to him. He smiled gratefully. “For a minute there I was afraid we’d have to stop at a drugstore.”

Lily pushed up, anticipating the feel of him slipping inside of her. Then she slowly lowered herself on top of him, his hard shaft probing at her damp core. Brian moaned softly, his hands sliding up beneath her skirt to her hips. He held her fast, controlling her movement until he was completely buried inside of her.

She’d only met him a few hours ago and now, they were making love in the back of a limo. Just the thought of it made her shiver with desire. This was what it was all about, basic lust, the need to be with a man, to feel him move inside of her and to reach her release.

But as they moved, Lily couldn’t help but believe there was something more to this spontaneous intimacy. Maybe she had fallen a little in love with Brian over the course of the evening. He was sweet and funny and sexy and he’d swept her off her feet. She couldn’t have chosen a more perfect man for this little adventure.

Lily ran her hands over his face. He opened his eyes and looked up at her. Their gazes locked as he began to increase their rhythm. She watched his reactions as his hands controlled her, the pleasure that suffused his features, first easy and then intense. He drew her up and down on top of him but then stopped suddenly. Without warning, he held on to her waist and gently laid her back onto the seat. Her skirt billowed up around her face and he fought through it until he could kiss her.

He was so gentle with her, yet so determined, and when he slipped his hand between them and touched her, Lily knew that he be wouldn’t satisfied with simply taking his own pleasure. He began to move again as he caressed her. A tremor shot through her at his touch and she felt her need increase, tightening in her belly.

Lily closed her eyes and focused on that feeling, on the sweet sensations that raced through her limbs to the tips of her fingers and toes. Every thought dissolved in her head and she could only feel, aching for her release. She arched up, meeting his every thrust, daring him to take everything she offered.

His name slipped from her lips, not once, but twice and then again, a plea to give her more.

“Come with me,” he murmured, his mouth hot on hers. “Come with me, now.”

And then, as if his invitation was all she was waiting for, Lily felt her body explode in a soul-shattering orgasm. She cried out, but he’d already found his own release, driving into her one last time and then allowing the spasms to shake his body.

He collapsed on top of her, then rolled off to the side, grasping her waist to pull her tightly against him. For a long time, he didn’t speak and Lily listened to his breathing, harsh and quick at first, then slowing.

“Are you all right?” she asked.

“I can’t believe we just did that. I’ve never…well, I’ve just never done that.”

Lily smiled hesitantly. “I find that a little hard to believe.”

“Believe it,” Brian said, nuzzling her neck. “That was pretty incredible. You were…wow.”

She furrowed her fingers through his hair and kissed him, lingering for a long time. Lily had never felt so completely satisfied and given the choice, she’d have spent the next week making love to Brian Quinn in the back seat of the limo. But she’d made a promise to herself and she was going to keep it. A one-night stand was just that—one night.

Suddenly, a wave of regret washed over her. Maybe this hadn’t been such a good idea. After what they’d shared, Lily didn’t want to just walk away. Brian Quinn was a wonderful man! And from what she could tell, he was available. She sucked in a sharp breath. Now was not the time to change directions.

“I think I have two questions left, don’t I?” Brian murmured.

Dragged from her thoughts, Lily frowned. “I—I don’t know. I lost count.”

“So what happens now?” Brian asked, running his hand along her shoulder. “We can’t drive around in this limo forever. We’re going to run out of gas.”

“I say we go until we run out of gas,” Lily murmured, her attention fixed on his mouth.

“We could go to my place or we could go to yours,” he suggested.

Again, Lily had to force herself to remember her plan against formidable distractions. She sat up and adjusted her dress, then reached for the zipper. Brian turned her around on the seat and zipped it for her, then let his hands drift down her arms.

His touch sent a shiver through her, but Lily occupied herself by collecting her underwear and shoes. She stuffed her panties and bra into her purse, and slipped the strappy sandals on her feet. Then she pressed the intercom button. “Driver, take us back to the Copley Plaza, please.” She glanced over her shoulder and her gaze met his. For a moment she lost herself in the beautiful color of his eyes. “Let’s be honest with each other,” she murmured. “This was all about passion and lust and it was wonderful. It was exciting. But it doesn’t have to be more than that. I don’t expect more.”

“But we should at least—”

Lily placed her finger on his lips. “What? I should give you my phone number and we’ll get together? Maybe you’ll call, but maybe, after thinking about it for a day or two, you’ll decide that it’s better to just let it go. But if I give you my phone number, then maybe I’ll expect you to call and when you don’t, I’ll be hurt. Or maybe we’ll get together again and realize that there’s nothing but…this between us. Or maybe, we’ll even find that we have a lot in common and we’ll have a relationship. But then, you’ll grow bored or I’ll get too demanding and we’ll fight and it will all end badly and we’ll hate each other.” Lily smiled and drew in a deep breath. “So maybe it’s best that I don’t give you my phone number and we just skip all that pain and heartbreak.”

He buttoned his pants and yanked up the zipper, then reached for his jacket. “Lily, I don’t—”

This time she replaced her finger with her mouth, kissing him deeply, her arms wrapped around his neck. “I had a wonderful time, darling.”

He sighed. “So did I, sweetheart,” he murmured, pressing his mouth into the curve of her neck. “But, that doesn’t mean—”

“Yes, it does.”

The car stopped and Lily looked out the window, surprised to find that they were back at the Plaza so quickly. Brian slipped his hand around her nape and drew her close, giving her a fierce kiss designed to persuade her to go with his point of view. “Won’t you at least let me try to change your mind?” She drew away, shaking her head and he finally loosened his grip. “Then, I guess I won’t be seeing you again.”

“I guess you won’t,” Lily said with a smile. “I had a good time, Brian.”

He looked into her eyes for a long moment, then shrugged and slid across the seat to the door. “Good night, Lily.”

“Goodbye, Brian.”

With that, he pushed the door open and stepped out. For a moment, Lily thought he might turn around and say something to her. But then he shut the door. She watched him walk down the sidewalk, but the tinted windows made that difficult. With a soft sigh, Lily sank back into the leather seat and pressed her palm to her chest. “What have I done?”

“Miss Gallagher?”

Startled, Lily pushed the intercom button. “Please take me back to my hotel.”

As the car pulled away from the curb, Lily closed her eyes and tipped her head back. This was no time for doubts. She had a job to do here in Boston and when she was finished, she’d go home to Chicago. And she’d take along incredible memories of a very passionate and spontaneous encounter to keep her warm at night.

She braced her hands on the seat and her fingers fell on a smooth bit of fabric. Lily picked it up and realized it was Brian’s bow tie.

“It was great sex,” Lily murmured, fingering the tie. “And that’s all it was.” But though she said the words, they just didn’t seem to ring true.

“AREN’T YOU DOING the news tonight?”

Brian slid onto a bar stool next to his twin brother Sean and waved to his father at the far end of the bar. For a Sunday evening, Quinn’s Pub in South Boston was relatively empty. A few of the regulars were playing pool in the back and a couple sat in one of the booths near the bar. A soft Irish ballad played from the jukebox.

Seamus, a canvas apron around his waist, strolled up and tossed a paper coaster in front of Brian. “Aren’t you doing the news tonight? We’re tuned in,” he said, pointing to the television in the corner.

Brian nodded. “Yeah. The eleven o’clock news. I’ve got to be at the station at seven. I thought I’d get something to eat.”

“We’ve got corned beef and cabbage,” Seamus said. “I’ll get you a plate.”

“No cabbage,” Brian said. “It’ll make me burp.”

Seamus raised a bushy white eyebrow. “So?”

“Da, I have to read the news. I can’t be burping every few seconds. Give me a club soda over ice. And a cheeseburger, no onions.”

Seamus fetched the drink, then wrote the order down on a pad and walked it back to Henry, the short-order cook in the kitchen.

Brian and Sean sat silently, both of them contemplating their drinks. They didn’t need to talk. Since the moment they’d been born, they’d shared a silent kind of communication, an ability to read each other’s moods, to know what the other was thinking. While Sean rarely confided in his other brothers—or anyone for that matter—when he was alone with Brian, he was able to open up.