I’d given a wave of my hand. ‘It’s all business.’

‘Sure it is,’ she’d said, taking some candid shots as they’d approached. ‘Don’t forget once the wedding is over, those rules of yours can be tossed out. For God’s sake, take him to bed, woman, otherwise you’re both going to waste.’

‘Ellise!’ I’d hissed. ‘He’ll hear you.’

‘Even better.’

‘I’m regretting getting you down here.’

She’d laughed, throwing her head back. ‘Liar.’ She’d had a point.

* * *

‘You look pretty done for too.’

‘Yep. Been a long day, but, unlike you, I wasn’t working.’

‘I know. But it can still be tiring. Thanks for helping this morning. I can’t even remember if I said that now or not. If not, sorry.’

Lorcan shook his head and rested one large warm hand over mine. ‘Not a problem. Comes with the territory of best man anyway. I’m just glad it all worked out.’

‘So am I.’

‘So, are your duties as a planner for this wedding officially over?’

‘They are,’ I replied, sighing languidly as I warmed the golden liquid in my glass with the palm of my hand.

‘Good,’ Lorcan said, shifting on the sofa, taking the glass from my hand and placing it on the coffee table in front of us. ‘Then that means I finally get to do this.’ His hands cupped my face as his lips tentatively brushed mine, sending thrills and sparks of electricity racing through my body. He pulled away, his gaze meeting mine, almost as if waiting for permission, which I willingly gave.

This time the kiss began softly but quickly grew into something more raw, more urgent, the pent-up frustration of our time together bursting through as his hands slid back from my face. A low, guttural moan escaped from him as they met the confines of the clips securing my hair. With a couple of swift moves, they were gone and Lorcan was entangling his fingers in my curls, one hand winding a length around his fist and tightening as he pulled me towards him. The sense of pleasure combined with a hint of pain set my senses spinning as we explored each other’s mouths and then further. One hand dropped to my waist, impatiently pulling at the blouse before sliding up my skin to cup my breast, his kisses moving down my neck as now his hands moved to the hem of my skirt and pushed it up. His fingers found the fastenings of my suspenders and Lorcan momentarily pulled away, my skin suddenly chilled from the loss of his lips. The heavy-lidded gaze dropped to my thighs, straddled as I was across him, stockings on show, and the deep appreciative sound growled again in his throat as he slid his hands around my backside and pulled me closer.

* * *