Title: Slow Burn
Characters: Harry Dresden, Lt. Murphy
Verse: Mixed verse
Rating: R to NC-17
Prompt: Fire
Spoilers: None
Word count: 1866
Summary: Sequel to Asphyxia.
Author's notes: I don't own the characters or series or books (which is a shame), Jim Butcher does tho (lucky guy). I make no money with this. I thought I should use this prompt as a sequel to asphyxia so I can get some Fluff down.
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Murphy didn't remember much from the drive home, besides that she was freezing. Really freezing, not the kind of chills you get when moving from a warm room into a slightly warmer one, or when going outside into cold weather. It was the core kind of chilling that went deep into your bones and left you with clattering teeth, blue lips and the wish to just curl up and maybe fall into a deep slumber. The Duster Harry had given her helped little since it was soaked from his jump in the pool.
Once they had arrived at his place he had almost ripped her door off and dragged her out hurriedly while telling her to not think about sleep. She must've yawned quiet often then, the evening and fight with the Demon, as well as the involuntary bath in the pool having drained her power.
Murphy was so tired and cold that she didn't even notice him lighting all the candles and the fireplace with a few muttered words and a little more strain than usual. She simply let herself be deposited on the couch.
'Ok...ok...we're here. That's good at least. It'll be warm soon. I...damn Murph you need to get out of those clothes.'
She wanted so much to throw back a remark but simply didn't find the strength and glared.
Harry was bustling around a bit helpless before he wrapped the drenched Lt. in a thick blanket and threw more wood into the fire.
'Ok, look I'm going up and change and bring you something dry down. I'll hurry, just stay before the fire. And please don't fall asleep.'
Before he went up he positioned Bob's skull, on one of his shelves, to face her whispering to the ghost.
'Keep an eye on her for me, alert me if she falls asleep.'
As soon as she was alone, Murphy got out of her shoes, socks, pants and shirt, throwing them on the ground watching as puddles formed. The shivers subsided slightly but not completely and with as much grace as she could muster with her stiff limbs, she sat on a pillow on the ground before the fireplace. Closing her eyes Murphy let the warmth of the embers wash over her warmly, her cheeks heating as blood shot back into them, her lips growing more full from all the blood being able to rush through her body again.
The rest of her was a mess. Hair hanging down heavy with water and mind jumbled. With a shaking hand she plucked some wet tresses of hair behind her ear, laying her forehead on her knee's. Minutes later Dresden came back down, the steps pounding, shaking the almost ancient wooden floor beneath her.
'Murph?'
'Mhhh?'
'Just checking. Alright...I brought you clothes, some slacks and a shirt and a pullover, they'll be a bid big.'
She didn't care much. Murphy just wanted to be getting warmer, feeling it envelope her again, driving the chill out of her bones. Without much words she took the offered items and changed, not really caring where Dresden was but knowing he had probably turned around. Once she was finished a sigh escaped her and she sunk back on the ground, trying to pull the heavy comforter back over her body. After some fruitless shuffling of her own she felt Harry lifting it off of her completely and then felt him sit behind her, his warmth registering to her immediately.
Why was the guy like a damn furnace?
Harry readjusted the blanket around them and then pulled her in, praying to the powers that be that she wouldn't slap him silly for it. She hated when he went all gentleman on her and hoped Murph would see the necessity in what he was doing.
'C'mon Murphy lean back, I'm warm enough. You need to stop freezing.'
It was whispered to her, softly and stifling another yawn she complied and he felt her defenses loosen.
Any other day he'd chuckle at the situation. Here she was, tough as nails cop Lt. Murphy, brown locks plastered to her head, all droopy and allowing him to take care of her. Closing his arms around her tiny frame he made sure no gaps where left open, so only the warmth of them would stay inside, then pulled her closer still, telling himself it was to get her warm.
Get a grip Harry. So not the right situation to let your mind wander.
She'd gladly have his head on a platter if she knew. Still he'd almost gotten Murph killed tonight, he was allowed some emotion.
'Getting better Murph?'
He twisted his head to look at her, her eyes drifting shut again as she nodded slowly.
'Hey don't fall asleep just yet. Ok?'
She mumbled something before her eyes drifted closed again. He shook her and then grunted as her weight settled against him heavily.
'Now c'mon Murphy.'
'Just resting some Dresden. I'm just a bit drained.'
'You can rest when you're warm enough and I don't have to worry about you not waking up from slumber. One time almost getting you killed a night is fairly enough.'
It jolted her, the way he said that. Guilt laced in the timbre of his voice. Twisting her head towards him she saw the fire flickering in his eyes, a sad lopsided smirk on his face.
'Don't go all sentimental on me Dresden.'
He shrugged like a little boy and looked somewhere else than her eyes.
'You're such a sissy sometimes. I get almost killed so often Dresden that I've stopped counting. I'm a cop for gods sakes.'
'Well I don't have to add to that.'
'It's what we do Harry. We find the bad guys and get them. And sometimes they struggle.'
In a moment of weakness, she told herself later, Murphy reached out and touched his cheek softly, her hand stroking over the stubble, a soft scratching sound coming from the motion. For a split second Dresden closed his eyes before looking at her again, his head bend into the soft touch. Murphy chastised herself for the intimate contact but couldn't break it.
So often almost killed. So often alone at night. No one to share with. No one to lean on when the world around them just got to be too much. No one to fight with you, bear your crosses. Unless you started counting him. One of the only freaking guys in Chicago holding a door open for you, no matter how annoyed you got by it or the threats of smothering him with one of his smart ass comments.
The whisper of his beard tickled her palm and she shuddered, both startled by the sudden intimacy. Dresden's eyes boring into hers, something simmering in them hotly. Murphy started feeling lost in their depths, unable to shake out of it and telling herself it was probably just the previous lack of oxygen that made her feel all different.
You could've drowned.
Seize the moment, take the opportunities thrown to you. That's what Ebenezer had often told him.
Take it before she goes like the others.
Harry hadn't even registered himself leaning in to her, claiming her soft lips in a feathery kiss, until her hand tangled in his hair keeping him close.
Everything was the mess he thought for a brief moment as he broke the kiss and looked down at Murphy puzzled. One more time he'd almost gotten her killed, one more thing to blame himself with and he was more sure than ever that he didn't want her too deep in his world. At least not in
the fucked up part of it where goblins attacked you and faeries stole babies.
'Murphy...'
The question Harry couldn't voice hung in his eyes. She shrugged in response, her shoulders dropping as she kept stroking his cheek. She wanted so desperately to feel alive, feel warmth and live flooding her. Murphy knew the longing was still between them ever since the kiss and she told him she would slap him again. It would be so easy to lose herself in his arms. She knew it. He was good looking, she never denied that.
Shaking her head she closed her eyes, her fingertips over his full, always looking puckered, lips. She wanted silence.
'Don't.'
And before Dresden realized what was going on with her, Murph had twisted in his embrace and straddled him, kissing him for earnest, unlike the chaste kiss he placed on her lips. For a nano second Harry thought about the possible consequences before her wandering hands stilled his mind and made it fog over as he lost himself in feeling her coming alive on him.
It was all too much and too fast and all too overwhelming but it made things in her spark, like a flower coming to live in a dessert after rain. He was warm and oh so alive under her hands, his skin flushed, chest heaving as they tumbled to the floor in a mess of limbs, pillows and blankets. It wasn't enough, the kissing and touching. Murphy needed more and with a grunt of frustration she wrenched the gray shirt over his head, their muscles protesting.
The feral glint in her eyes spurred him on, rolling them so he was on top, his hips clasped between her thighs and knee's as they kissed, moaned and got rid of clothing. The coldness was gone, left behind was the warm glow of the fire behind them, illuminating her and all her edges, corners and soft curves. The more they revealed the deeper did the fire seem to burn in them. Slowly simmering them into an all encompassing fire from within.
Her small hands stroked over his chest, drew moans from him, sounds he didn't know he could form, her nails scoring his flesh, making goosebumps rise and Harry forgot where he was and what was happening. All that mattered was staying where he was until he couldn't hold himself up over her anymore, until they were panting masses on his living room floor, sweaty and hot.
The moment Murphy felt him thrust into her was sweet bliss. She felt like combusting from the heat they created, wanted to scream and writhe under him, scratch her nails down his muscled back and make him thrust harder. Sweet oblivion settled over them as their bodies danced together before the fireplace until they stifled their screams with kisses and bites, until their breathing started to even out again and Murphy felt him shift and pull out, grabbing more blankets and pillows and bedding her softly.
No words were spoken between them, mutual consent. For a second coldness was back, the sweat drying on her skin. She shuddered and then sighed as she was pulled back against his body, blankets wrapping around them, locking them together for the night, their limbs tangling in a sensual embrace she had missed so long when going alone to bed each night.
Right then the outside didn't matter, nor that this would lead them to more trouble probably. In the end they'd always turn to each other and who else would really understand?