Yeah! OCTOBER!
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I woke the next morning to the sound of thumping at my front door, snorting loudly as my face shot up off my pillow, sending Jeanette out the door in a frightened streak of white, black and orange. The pounding continued obnoxiously and I growled angrily as I rolled out of bed and plodded out of my room, through the living room and to the door which I swung open with a heavy lidded glare.
"Oh, whoa!" Murphy almost visibly recoiled at the sight of my morning self, but he suavely recovered, "You're fuckin' gorgeous and it scared me a bit. Intimidating."
I scoffed, in no mood for flattery, even from him.
"What the hell are you doing pounding on my door at this time of morning?!" I growled, my voice gravelly and deep from my state of half awakeness.
"Well...it's your day off and it snowed pretty heavy last night and I just thought maybe you'd want to...you're really not a morning person, huh?" Murphy's tone went from cheerful to fearful. "Aby, please don't kill me."
I slugged him in the arm with all the strength I could muster...which was a pathetic amount considering my grogginess. Still, he rubbed the spot and furrowed his brow at me.
"The key phrase there is 'day off'," I grumbled, "Meaning, in Aby language, 'Sleep all day long'."
Murphy laughed lightly and leaned down to kiss me on the cheek.
"That's all you get till you brush your teeth this morning, babe," he said teasingly. I stuck my tongue out at him and rubbed my face a few times with my palms as I tried to wake up.
"Oh my god, fine," I grumbled as I headed for my bathroom to do just that and try to make myself look less frightening.
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When I reemerged from the bathroom, dressed and smelling like cherry blossom soap from my shower, the whole apartment was permeated with the smell of coffee brewing. I smiled and followed the tantalizing scent to the kitchen where I found Murphy at the stove, flipping pancakes and singing lightly. I stood back and watched in silence, trying to keep him from noticing I was there for as long as possible. He tossed the finished cakes on a plate with a few other already cooked ones and jiggled the pan next to him, causing a sizzle to issue from it and I smelled sausage over the coffee. I recognized the song he was singing as Galway Girl and I decided to end his unknown humiliation by walking into the kitchen and leaning on the counter by the fridge.
"Well, my eyes are blue, but sorry my hair ain't black," I announced as he sung the familiar words. He looked over at me and grinned.
"That's just fine with me, lass," he replied happily, "You don't need to change a thing, obviously. I fell for ya, didn't I?"
"Because I'm exotic," I teased, "You know, American and all."
"You ain't American no more," Murphy said with a wink, "You're Irish, I don't care where your citizenship is."
I smiled as I sat down at the table to watch as he finished up the pancakes and sausage. He surprised me by chopping up both and throwing a pile of the combination on two plates. He then went to the fridge, grabbed the syrup and poured it over the piles on our plates and then handed me one along with a fork.
"Murphy MacMannus...how did you know I love this?" I asked in amazement as I stared at my plate.
"Do ya?" Murphy looked genuinely surprised. "I just made it 'cause it's my favorite and thought you should try it."
I laughed at the coincidence and set my plate down to pour us both a cup of coffee. I poured the two spoonfuls of sugar into my cup of the delightfully dark chocolate colored liquid and turned to Murphy.
"Black with two sugars?" I asked, knowing somehow it was right.
"How'd you know that?" Murphy asked curiously.
"Just had a feeling," I chuckled, handing him his cup and picking up my plate again to move into the living room. I plopped on my big, soft, comfy chair and dug into my pancake/sausage awesomeness. "My god, Murphy, this is so good."
Murphy laughed with his mouth full, a habit he had that drove me crazy. I rolled my eyes, chewed and swallowed my mouthful of food and turned my head to glare at him.
"What?" he asked, but it came out more like 'mwhuh' as he spoke around his pancake wad.
"You're so gross," I muttered.
"Um..." Murphy had finally swallowed and he was looking at me in confusion.
"No, not in general," I quickly reassured him, "But, damn it, Murphy, I can't stand when people talk with their mouths full!"
Murphy nodded, realization dawning in his eyes.
"Oh...well I'll try to remember that," he said, before taking another bite. He did very well, and made it through breakfast without speaking. He took our plates out and washed them, then he came back in and pulled me to my feet by my wrists and taking my spot on the chair.
"Well, that was rude," I stated, furrowing my eyebrows at him as he sat there looking smug.
"Stick in one of those zombie movies of yours," he stated simply, standing up again and walking into the back hallway. He came back with a blanket and I blushed at the thought that he'd gone into my bedroom because it was an absolute mess in there! He laid the blanket on the arm of the chair and headed to the kitchen, returning soon with our cups of coffee refilled and steaming. He set the cups on the end table between the chair and couch then plopped back into the chair. I stuck in the movie and grabbed the remotes and headed for the couch, but Murphy's hand shot out and grabbed my left arm to pull me over to him and down onto his lap.
"Murphy," I giggled as he nuzzled my neck with his nose, "You're crazy."
"Might be," he murmured happily, "But you like me crazy, right?"
I giggled and kissed him gently on the lips, rubbing my nose with his as I pulled back.
"Aye, that I do," I replied honestly.
He stared at me in silence for a moment, his eyes incredibly soft, he looked completely at ease and happy and I felt like his face was mirroring the way I felt inside. I felt warm and tingly where my body connected with his while the places that didn't have the good fortune of touching him were cold and goosebumpy from the chilly temperature in my apartment. I had been inwardly complaining because my landlord hadn't turned on the heat yet...but now I was grateful for the chill when Murphy repositioned me at his side and pulled the large blanket over us both, encasing us in a warm tent as the movie began.
"It's bright in here," I mumbled, eyeing the glare on the tv screen with distaste. Murphy heaved a dramatic sigh and stood up, sending our blanket sliding to the floor. He walked about the apartment, closing all the window shades, casting the room into dim shades of grey and tans before he returned and assumed his position beside me.
"What are we watching this time?" he asked.
"Undead or Alive," I stated with a giggle. "You're gonna love it. Western zombie comedy."
"You're a freak, Aby," Murphy laughed, pulling me closer by his right arm around me, "I've never met a girl like you before."
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As we sat there in the chilly room, wrapped in the warmth of the blanket which was further heated by our body heat, I realized I'd never felt so safe in my life. Here I was, clinging to the arm of a known murderer, and I'd never been more confident and sure of anyone before in my life. I wondered in the back of my mind how many people they'd known in their life had turned their backs on them when they'd discovered the truth?
"You're awful quiet," Murphy's voice reached my ears and my thoughts went flying out of my mind. I smiled up at him from my spot on his arm.
"I was just thinking about how lucky I am," I said, and it was the truth. "I'm living in the country I've always dreamed of, I have a good job and a steady income, I have a roof over my head and a car that's totally paid off...and I have the two best friends a girl could want."
"Friends?" Murphy cocked an eyebrow as he glanced down at me.
"Ok, best friend and best boyfriend," I reiterated.
"That's more like it," Murphy stated, leaning his head down to press a kiss to my hair. I felt a shiver go through me as the muscles of his arm twitched under my hands. Good lord he was intoxicating even when we were just sitting there like this, watching ridiculous zombie movies...he was so easy to be with, so calming and quiet, not seeking attention but sending out unintentional vibes of pure, unadulterated sexiness. He didn't even have to try.
I nuzzled closer into him, breathing in the scent of cigarettes, horse, dirt and pure Murphy...and maybe a hint of gunpowder, or was that my imagination?
"You smell good," I commented without even thinking.
"I smell like smoke and sheep," Murphy muttered, "I wouldn't call that good."
"Maybe I like those smells," I replied stubbornly.
Murphy chuckled and pulled me closer, hooking a hand around my right thigh to pull me onto his lap, where I very happily settled before I leaned in and kissed him softly, almost timidly at first. I felt him smile under my lips and his hands slid up my back to rest on my back, pulling me closer to him as he took control of the kiss, deepening it immediately, his tongue sweeping into my mouth with hesitation.
This was another thing about Murphy that I loved. He may be quiet and not say much beyond the necessary, but there was nothing shy about him, despite what people thought he wasn't shy, he was just thoughtful and calculating. He kissed with confidence and his hands held me firmly, nothing shy about his movements as the heat between us started to increase.
"We're gonna miss the movie," Murphy laughed lightly.
"I've seen it," I whispered breathlessly, smiling down at him from my spot kneeling over his lap, "I'm ready to see something totally different."
Murphy laughed through his nose as I settled my weight on his lap. I could feel that tell-tale hardness beneath me and I smiled wickedly as I experimentally moved my hips around, watching his face closely. His eyes dropped shut slowly, at the same time his jaw dropped slightly and he let out a heavy exhale mixed with a laugh. His hands slid lower, coming to rest on my lower back, pulling my hips forward into him firmly.
"Lord have mercy, Aby," he mumbled into my ear as his lips began to trace it's shape. "You really wanna do this right now?"
"Why wouldn't I?" I asked, surprised.
"We've only been together for a day," Murphy reasoned, his voice gravelly and deep in my ear, thick with sex. "I'm not pressuring you."
"Don't you want to?" I asked worriedly, wondering if I was rushing him.
"That's a pretty pointless question, don't you think?" Murphy chuckled, bucking his hips gently to prove his point by nudging my inner thigh with his hardness. "Pretty obvious answer."
I was just about to throw all caution to the wind and jump this beautiful man's bones when...my phone rang, interrupting the moment and making us both jump in surprise. Growling with annoyance, I reached to the side where the phone sat on the end table.
"Ya'ello?" I drawled, my odd way of answering the phone.
"Aby, this is Kyle," the voice on the other end spoke into my ear. Kyle was one of the bartenders who worked my off days. "Look, I know today's your day off but my kid got bit by our dog and I've got to take him to the hospital. I was wondering if you could cover my shift tonight and I can take yours tomorrow?"
I closed my eyes and sighed inwardly.
"Of course, Kyle," I replied easily, knowing it wasn't his fault, but feeling annoyed at the sudden interruption none the less. "You just take care of that boy of yours and let me know how it goes."
"Thanks, Aby, you're a life saver!"
I said goodbye to Kyle and hung up, immediately deflating on top of Murphy with a heavy sigh.
"What's wrong?" he asked me quietly, running his hand through my hair soothingly.
"I have to go to work," I mumbled, "Kyle's son got bit by their dog and he's taking him to the hospital. His shift starts at three."
I felt Murphy's head turn and I knew he was looking at the clock on my wall. The digital clock on the end table told me the cold, hard truth already: 2:30.
"Damn," Murphy muttered, and I felt him relax underneath me at the realization we didn't have time to finish what we'd started.
"I'm sorry, Murph," I said sadly, scooting backwards and off of him.
"Hey, it's ok, Aby," Murphy replied, giving me a pathetically fake half smile. "You're a workin' girl, I understand."
I growled in annoyance at the circumstances, but I marched off to my bedroom to change and get ready to go anyway, knowing a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. When I came back out in my jeans and my t-shirt with the dancing silver fox with long eyelashes and a pink bow on the tail, advertisement for the Silver Vixen Pub. Murphy was leaning in the doorway of the kitchen, downing a cup of coffee, when I walked up to him, he looked at me and smiled.
"Nice shirt," he jerked his chin in my direction and I looked down with a laugh, eyeing my shirt.
"Thanks," I replied, "I really don't want to go to work right now. I won't be able to think about my work when I'm hot and bothered like this."
"Hey, I hear the longer the wait, the better it is," Murphy said with a wink.
A leg weakening shiver ran down my spine at his words, not to mention the way he was looking at me, like a lion sizing up its prey as he walked around me.
"Well, I'll see you later, Murphy!" I said quickly, backing out the door before my body gave into him. I ran down the stairs and pulled my hood over my head as I made my way across town to the pub, wishing for nothing else but to be back in Murphy's arms.
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The Princess and the Frog is on so...I must go! :D Sorry once again that this chapter has been a long time coming, but you know how life can be. Just spent three days in the local E.R. doing clinicals for EMT training. Ugh, three 12 hours shifts starting at 5 A.M. can sure wear a girl out.
Anyway, reviews are boss!