Caoilainn

We make it back to the club with just enough time for me to change and grab a quick bite to eat before class. After popping the vitamins my doctor gave me the other day, I close the prescription lid tight, and put the bottle back in my tote bag.

Stretching my legs, I think about the day that Tadhg and I made a run to the orchards for Duncan. He had placed an order for hard apple cider for the bar and we volunteered to pick it up. I'm missing Tadhg like crazy today, and I smile at the memories.

I laughed as Tadhg tugged my hand forward, pulling me to the back of the orchard and away from the crowds. Before we picked up Duncan's order, Tadhg and I took ourselves on a little detour of the grounds. We had ducked under a rope and kept jogging, ignoring the signs posted that the section of the grove we were heading into wasn't ready for picking yet...

...I hopelessly try to steer clear of fallen fruit on the ground and under my feet. I do my best to be quiet. I don't want a lot attendant or anyone else to hear us.

Tadhg's in stealth mode. He's quite adept at silent movement between obstacles, in fact. While the soles of my sneakers slide across the skin of errant unripe apples, he navigates the way with deadly precision. He's on a mission and will not be deterred.

When the noise of the crowds is left far behind, Tadhg tightens his grip on my fingers and pulls me in between two apple trees. Our lips lock before any fruit can be shaken free from the branches. His hands are in my hair and cruising to my backside. Before I have time to react, we're on the ground rolling tiny apples out from under us.

Lying there in Tadhg's arms, it's as if the whole world has disappeared.

All too soon, when we hear a nearby apple cart's wagon wheels squeak, though, and we halt in place, waiting to see how close the person is to us.

"Tadhg," I whisper, giggling. "We have to get up. Someone's going to find us."

"Not yet," he pleads. "I need you."

"Tadhg, we're in a public apple orchard, for Pete's sake," I laugh exacerbated but just as eager. "We're going to get caught." That's what I tell him, and yet, still my hands continue moving, egging him on. My pulse speeds up at Tadhg's answering touch. He's kissing my neck. His lips caress my skin delicately enough not to leave a mark, but passionate enough to let me know he's as lost in the moment as I am.

When I hear an old man whistling in time with the squeak of wheels I start to squirm.

"Tadhg, someone's coming," I pant out, eager to finish what we've started before we're found.

"Just one more second," he answers, shifting our position. Tadhg groans as he finds home and we're both caught up in our movements. "Oh damn, Caoi." His eyes are closed as we frantically pick up our pace.

"Tadgh!" I echo his sentiment, finding my own rhythm. "Oh, shit, Tadhg! Oh!"

Immediately afterwards, we pull apart. Just as we get somewhat decent again a man wearing dusty overalls rounds the corner. We're standing next to an apple tree like two cats who swallowed canaries and got caught. I turn from Tadhg's devilish glance and suppress my grin with difficulty, saying hello to the man.

"Hey, you two," he points at us, adding a well-deserved lecture next. "You're not supposed to be back here! This section's not open to the public yet. Didn't you read the signs?"

We look at each other and do our best not to laugh. It's not the easiest thing in the world to do considering Tadhg's shirt is hanging half-in and half-out of his pants. To say nothing of the brambles and leaves donning my hair.

"Uh, sorry Mister," Tadhg stammers. "We didn't notice. We'll move along back down the aisle then. Thank you for letting us know."

We turn to go as the man sighs in frustration, talking to himself. "Dang kids, didn't see the sign. How can't you see the signs? They're everywhere. I tell you, darn people these days, no respect..."

It's all I can do not to laugh out-loud as we run back through the aisles.

Slowing our pace, I hold on tight to Tadhg, wrapping my arm around him. I slide my hand into his pocket and sigh, leaning my head on his shoulder.

"A rúnsearc," Tadhg exhales. "I do love you so. That was awesome."

"I know," I reply with a content grin. "Never picked apples quite like that before, Tadhg. Don't think that's on the usual tour map, do you?"

"Oh, I don't know," he answers, bringing me around and into his arms. He looks down at me. "Seems to me that women have been tempting men with apples for millennia."

"What?" I ask insulted, tapping him on the arm for good measure. "Are you blaming me for that lude display back there, Sir Adam?"

"Adam?" he laughs. "Why, Ms. Eve, my little Hellcat, I do believe I am. You did indeed lead me into temptation today, a rúnsearc."

"Oh yeah?" I ask teasingly. "I did, did I? Seems to me like you were the one tugging my arm back there, not the other way around."

"So, you're denying you wanted me?" he challenges, backing me up against another tree, this one full of barely ripe fruit; the pungent smell of apples bouncing over my senses, mixing with the assault of Tadhg's own animal scent. Unbelievably, I feel my pulse pick up again as my own primal needs return. I can see Tadhg's eyes dilate as he takes in my obvious wantonness.

"Oh," I gasp. "Oh, I wanted you, Tadhg," I reply seductively, turning his predation around. He's now my prey as I flip our position, coyly putting his back against the tree before he can respond.

"And like Eve," I continue, my hands strolling around mischievously. "I am all too happy to lead you to the forbidden fruit, Tadhg. Forget heaven, baby. You and I; we're going to hell together and I'm going to enjoy every minute of getting there with you."

His lips are blistering mine again and we only stop to come up for air when we hear a gaggle of kids turn the corner of our aisle on their way to pick blueberries. Drawing the line on public displays of affection when children are around, I take a break from our embrace until the children pass by and move on to another section of the orchard.

When they're gone, I reach up and grab a Yellow June apple from above Tadhg's head. Despite it being slightly unripe for picking, I take a bite making sure that some of its tart juices drip down my chin. Tadhg wastes no time leaning forward to lick it off of me. I close my eyes and moan at his ministrations. He kisses my lips but then steps out from behind the tree.

"Come on, hellcat," he says, suddenly serious. "We have to leave."

"We do?" I ask, blinking my eyes open and coming back to myself.

"Yeah, we do. You're right," he finishes with a laugh. "If we don't leave now, we're going to be arrested for indecent behavior. Let's go get something to eat."

"Oh, I love their apple cider donuts, Tadhg," I reply almost skipping into step with him. I turn and walk backwards, giddy. "Come on, let's go get some. I'll let you lick the sugar off my lips when we're done."

"Caoilainn," he smirks, picking up his pace so he can grab ahold of me and swing me up into his arms. When I'm off my feet, he plants a last kiss on my lips before putting me back down. "A rúnsearc, you're gonna be the death of me-Ok, let's go."

Lost in thought, it's not until my first student of the day runs into the hall that I realize how far away my mind was.

"Hello, Rian," I say, standing up to greet her while stretching out the arches of my feet. "How are you today?"

"I'm great, Ms. Caoilainn!" She exclaims, turning her feet out to me. "Look, new gillies!"

"Awesome, Ri," I cheer, complementing her. "Let's get to work breaking them in. What do you say?"

"Yes!" she agrees enthusiastically. "I can't wait!"

As the room fills with students, I walk to my iPod to bring up my playlist of songs for the class. As I scroll through it, I feel a tight pull in my back and a sharp pain in my abdomen. The way it pierces me so suddenly takes my breath away. I have to lean on my ballet bar to catch it back.

"Are you ok, Ms. Caoilainn?" Rian asks, touching my back gently.

"Of course," I reply, feigning composure. "Just cramps. No worries." As the pain recedes I stand up and stretch my back out into a more comfortable position. "Come on. Let's get started."

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Thank you for reading! I hope you're enjoying the story so far!