A/N: OMG Thank you for being so wonderful and patient with me. This has been a challenging time-not so much writer's block as lack of time and space to give it the 1000% I know it deserves. I am really happy to have new readers (waves!) and appreciate everyone who has stuck with me and supported me with PM's, reviews, and follows. I hope you love this chapter as much as I do...and I can't wait to hear your thoughts. Think we can crack 100 reviews? We have almost hit 100K words! Say What? This is already the longest story I've ever endured to write, and I have lots more planned for Connor, Blythe and Murphy. Lots of love and a brief note at the end. xoxo-J
Ch. 20
Blythe woke up early surrounded by the strong arms of her two favorite men. They had shifted in the middle of the night-Blythe's cheek was now resting against Connor's chest, and Murphy was wrapped around her from behind. One of Connor's legs was draped across all three of them, and she had no idea how she would disentangle herself without waking one or both of them up.
As if the universe knew of her problem, Murphy rolled in the opposite direction, halfheartedly pulling at her waist to follow. His movements caused Connor to retract his leg as he tried to curl into a fetal position against her. They really were adorable when they were asleep. Blythe thought. She could easily picture them as boys, flushed cheeks like cherubs as they slept with mischievous little smiles on their faces.
This was her chance to escape and have a little alone time before they woke up. She needed to shower and wanted to get a head start on the apple pies for tomorrow. As she grabbed her robe and a change of clothes, she noted they had put her to bed in her clothes last night, and she smiled as she thought of how they were always taking care of her. She hummed softly as she lathered up under the hot water. It was a rare occurrence for her to be up before either of them and she wanted to take care of the boys as much as they had her the past couple of weeks.
Blythe continued to hum absently as she waited for the water for the coffee to heat up. She had french braided her wet hair, hoping it would dry into bouncy waves. By some miracle, she wasn't hungover-thanks to the quick thinking of Dr. Connor she guessed. She stared at the large bag of apples and began rinsing them in preparation for making the pie filling. There was at least an hour of peeling and slicing ahead of her.
Just as the coffee finished brewing in the french press, Blythe felt a familiar set of arms wrap around her waist. "Hmm good morning, love." Murphy mumbled as he kissed her cheek. He was always an early riser.
She smiled as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, blindly reaching for the coffee cup. "Join me for smoke?" he smiled as he put on his coat. Blythe nodded and pulled on Connor's coat before climbing out onto the fire escape. She had changed into a thin long sleeved tee and leggings after her shower. The morning air was crisp as they sipped their coffee quietly, leaning into one another. It was blissfuly peaceful, reminding her slightly of when they were on the rooftop of the loft the morning after they had met. It had only been a couple of weeks, but it seemed like a lifetime ago.
Murphy pulled her from her thoughts with a kiss on her cheek. "When you space out, love...ye really go far.." he chuckled. He had finished his cigarette and was staring at her, blue eyes sparkling.
"I'm just under caffeinated, love." she smiled. "Thinking about all those apples in there."
"Well, I helped ye pick them...I suppose I can help ye peel them. Especially if it means pie." he grinned as they crawled back into the apartment.
###
An hour and a half later, Murphy and Blythe slid two magnificent looking apple pies into the oven to bake. She smiled as she set the timer. The pies would have taken half the time to prep if Murphy hadn't been helping, but she wouldn't have had nearly as much fun. They had kissed and nibbled on apple slices dipped in cinnamon and sugar as they cooked.
"C'mere...love. Ye got sugar on yer face." he laughed as he pulled her into his arms. His tongue traced a sloppy trail across her cheek, earning a squirm and a giggle from Blythe.
She swatted at his backside with a wooden spoon, laughing as he yelped in surprise when it connected. He grabbed her around the waist and tickled her until she twisted out of his grasp and swatted him with the spoon again.
Murphy chased her around the apartment, threatening an infinite wrath of tickles if he ever caught her. Blythe ran into a bleary eyed Connor as he came out of the bathroom. He looked amused as she hid behind him, pointing at Murphy with the wooden spoon. The pair were flushed and out of breath.
"What's me brother gone and done so early in the morning, lass?" he chuckled.
"Why do ye assume it was me doing somethin? She started it...swattin me in the arse with a wooden spoon!" Murphy grumbled.
"You licked my face!" she huffed, her voice full of humor.
"And I'd do it again, love!" Murphy chuckled, sticking out his tongue. He gave her a quick peck on the cheek as he brushed past them in the hallway, disappearing into the bathroom.
"It's too early fer this shit. Daddy needs coffee." Connor laughed as he pulled her out from behind him, his arms circling her waist. She laughed as she stretched up on her toes, capturing his lips. They heard the shower turn on as they finished kissing.
Blythe hadn't noticed that Connor had pulled the wooden spoon from her hands as they exited the hallway. Just as they reached the kitchen, Blythe felt a sharp sting explode across her rear. When she turned around, Connor had hidden the spoon behind his back. "Must've been a wasp or somethin..." he grinned wickedly. "What smells so good?"
She narrowed her eyes in mock anger. "You mean besides me? Tomorrow's dessert. Murphy helped me make apple pies this morning while you were getting your beauty rest." she replied, biting her lower lip as she stifled a grin.
Connor chuckled as he pulled his mug of coffee out of the microwave.
"How are ye feelin this mornin, lass? Ye look te be in pretty good spirits." he said, taking a large sip of coffee.
Blythe smiled as she checked on the pies. "I feel great! Thank you, Dr. Connor." she blushed as he pulled her close. "Wait till ye get my bill, lass." he whispered. She smiled against his cheek as she felt his hand drift under her shirt. "I'm just glad ye do house calls..." she sighed as his fingertips wandered, making her shiver as they skirted across a nipple. Connor set his coffee mug on the counter so he could wrap his other arm around her waist. She jumped closer when a hand drifted across the sensitive spot on her rear, earning a chuckle. "That wasp got ye good..." he mumbled as he kissed his way across her neck. Blythe scoffed as she tugged at the hair on the back of his scalp, earning a growl.
"How are the pies comin, love?" Murphy asked as he walked into the living room, his hair damp and dripping slightly onto his clean white t-shirt.
"Almost ready..." she smiled. "Stay right there! I want to get my camera!" she called as she walked towards the bedroom, looking for her bag.
"It's by the door, love!" she heard him call.
Blythe ran into Connor in the hallway again, his eyes dancing with amusement as she kissed his cheek. "Be sure to shave while you're in there..." she smiled, nodding her head towards the bathroom door. "I thought ye liked me scruff..." he said, rubbing at his jaw.
"I do! But I don't want beard burn before all our friends come over tomorrow. Besides... I'm getting you in front of the camera later." she said, skipping down the hallway.
###
Murphy bit at his thumb in concentration as Blythe focused the camera lens. "Hold still, love! Ok... thumb down...now look at me, look right through the lens." she said as she snapped a few frames. "Excellent!" she pulled the camera away from her face and beamed.
He closed the distance between them, capturing her lower lip. "I do love it when ye boss me around." he said, wrapping his arms around her waist. "It's called directing...love." she scoffed. Murphy chuckled as he pulled her back against his chest while he peppered kisses along the back of her shoulder. "Whatever you say. Ye got yer hair all plaited, love. Makes it easier to nibble on yer neck." he said. Blythe giggled softly as he pulled her tighter. The timer for the pies went off and she pulled them out of the oven, placing them on the kitchen table to cool. She picked up her camera and took a picture of the pies, beaming with pride. Murphy smiled and laughed before he pulled Blythe back to him, content as he resumed kissing her, leaning against the back of the sofa.
Connor emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later, freshly shaven and shirtless. His jeans hung dangerously low on his hips, as he casually leaned against the doorframe. "Has anyone seen my belt?"
Blythe's pulse quickened as she took in the tone of his muscles. She lifted her camera and quickly fired off a frame. If he didn't put on a shirt soon, she was fairly certain the three of them would never leave the house. Between the sweet and sexy kisses she was currently receiving from Murphy and the greek god darkening her doorway, it was a wonder she had any willpower at all.
"Did ye try under the bed?" Murphy asked, his fingers absentmindedly playing with the end of Blythe's braid.
"Right...under the bed." Connor winked at Blythe before retreating back to the bedroom.
After a minute they heard a muffled "Found it!" come from the bedroom. Connor finally emerged fully dressed, having added his favorite black v-neck sweater to the aforementioned jeans. They locked up the apartment and headed downstairs. Doc hadn't come in yet, but it was still early.
"So where are we off to, lass? Ye takin us on some grand adventure then?" he asked as he helped Blythe put on her grey coat.
"Thought we would hit the farmer's market for a few things for tomorrow, grab lunch...maybe do a little thrift shopping? It's supposed to snow later this afternoon, and I thought we might get back in time to take a few pictures and spend some quality time on the couch?" she said. She was slightly worried the boys might not be into that plan...most guys would dread running errands on a Saturday with their girlfriends.
"Love, we get te spend the whole day with ye...whatever ye want to do is fine with us. Just as long as we get food, maybe a couple a pints, and some kisses during the day." Murphy said as he shrugged on his pea coat.
"That was nicely put, brother. Although I might want more than a couple a kisses to get through the day..." Connor chuckled as he put on his sunglasses and lit a cigarette. He looked too damn good doing that, she thought as she walked down the block arm in arm with Murphy.
Blythe began to giggle as she turned to Connor. "More than a couple of kisses, aye? Ye want me to smack yer ass and call you silly names?"
Murphy burst out in a fit of laughter as Connor's jaw dropped to the sidewalk. "You should see yer face right now!" he cackled, holding onto Blythe's shoulder.
"That's our girl talkin like that!" Connor scoffed, unable to hide the grin on his face.
Blythe twirled away from Murphy and walked backwards in front of them, grinning wildly. "And you both love it!"
Connor caught her around the waist, stopping her from walking backwards into their car. His eyes darkened as he drank in the amusement dancing across her face in the sunlight. "Aye, lass. We really do..." he smiled before pressing his lips to hers. When he pulled away, Murphy tugged her by the arm and pulled her into another searing kiss. "Aye and that goes double for me." he laughed as he opened the passenger door for her before crawling in the backseat.
###
Blythe, Murphy, and Connor roamed around taking in the sights, smells, and sounds of the large marketplace steps from the docks. On weekends, there were vendors of all sorts, including used booksellers, jewelers, clothes, antiques of greatly varying quality.
Connor had stopped at a stall selling used video tapes, and bought an obscure Clint Eastwood film, The Eiger Sanction. "Yer gonna love this one, lass! He's an art history professor and trained assassin!" he said with glee.
"Future career goal for me, Mr. MacManus?" she smiled.
Connor grinned and kissed her on the cheek. "I'd hire you in a heartbeat, lass. Ye would make a sexy art historian/assassin."
As they ambled through the flea market, Blythe found a couple of photography books, and let her eyes wander over some beautiful vintage jewelry. Connor caught Murphy's eye and had a silent conversation with his twin.
Murphy caught up with Blythe, helping her stuff the photo books into her messenger bag. His girl did seem to have a black belt in shopping. He insisted on taking the bag from her as he grabbed her hand and walked her to another booth.
"We're gonna need a bigger car, we keep goin shopping with ye, love." Murphy laughed as Blythe eyed a large antique mirror. "I think that thing is taller than you are!"
"I'm just looking!" she protested. "It's fun to look and get ideas..." she mused.
"I have a few ideas, for ye lass..." Connor said as he reappeared, whispering wickedly in her ear. He put an arm around her waist as they wandered through the rows towards the food vendors.
Murphy chuckled as he trailed behind them. He saw a floral vendor selling stargazer lilies, and decided to buy Blythe a bouquet. They were a great deal cheaper than at the corner store, and after charming the elderly saleswoman, he walked away with a rather large bouquet of the pungent blooms.
When he caught up to Connor and Blythe, they were in the seafood section of the marketplace. Murphy held the lilies up to his nose, thankful for the bouquet.
Blythe's eyes lit up when she saw Murphy hiding behind the giant bouquet. "Love...you spoil me! These are incredible!" she said, burying her nose in a flower. She threw her arms around him, kissing him deeply before trailing her lips over his neck and cheeks. He laughed as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "So are you love..." he whispered back.
Connor was currently in deep conversation with a fishmonger, laughing and gesturing wildly with his hands. "My dear brother an his fish stories..." Murphy chuckled next to her. "I have a feelin Connor is negotiating the price of our lunch, love...let's go see if we can find a place to sit in the common area, yea?"
Blythe nodded as Murphy guided her through the busy marketplace to an enclosed center section filled with tables. After a few minutes of searching, they lucked out and found a clean four person table. "I'll go help Connor...you guard the table, love." he said, kissing her temple. She placed her large bouquet of flowers on the seat directly across from her.
A few minutes later, her boys came back with two trays loaded with food. Connor kissed her cheek as he sat down on her right, grinning in triumph. "Look, lass! I cooked!" he said, motioning to the seafood covered trays. There were hot lobster roll sandwiches, steamed scallops, and a variety of raw oysters. "So you did, Mr. MacManus...so you did." she laughed as he pulled three bottles of cold beer out of his coat pockets. "Good man!" Murphy cheered as he took the seat to her left.
Blythe took a satisfying bite of her lobster roll. "Mmmm, this is fantastic!" She watched with curiosity as the brothers prepared two oysters and sucked them down raw. It was a fascinating ritual-eerily similar to when they smoked together. She stared as she took another bite of her sandwich.
"You ever had raw oysters before, lass?" Connor inquired, with a raised brow.
Blythe nodded. "When I was younger. My parents took me to Monterey, CA the summer before my Dad died." she smiled a little sadly. "There's a large pier, and lots of stands selling fresh seafood. All I wanted to do was go to the aquarium and see the otters."
Connor's eyes softened as he listened to her story. Murphy had grabbed her left hand under the table and stroked his thumb over her knuckles. Blythe squeezed Murphy's hand and kissed Connor's shoulder. "My Dad was so funny. He said part of going on vacation is trying new things and getting out of your comfort zone. So I had to try the raw oyster before we got to go see the otters."
Murphy chuckled. "And what did you think of them, love?"
"I spit it out and a seagull swept down onto the pier and ate it!" she said. "He looked at me, busted up laughing and said, well...at least you tried it! Let's go see the otters!"
Connor and Murphy laughed heartily, with Blythe not far behind.
"A toast to Blythe's Da!" they cheered. The trio struck their beer bottles together and took liberal sips. Blythe wiped at the corner of her eyes as she looked between Connor and Murphy. They were such good men, she had to believe that her father would have loved meeting them-perhaps he would have understood their relationship. On the few occasions her mother took her on a trip after he was gone, they made a point of trying something new in his honor.
Connor captured her lips softly. "Well now ye have te try them again, lass. Although I don't see any seagulls around te help ye out..." he said.
Murphy grinned as he handed her a cardboard boat with two oysters on the half shell. The blue grey shells were about the size of a half dollar. "These are from Ireland, love. They bring them over live, shuck them fresh."
"Should I chew?" she asked as Murphy took a fork and loosened the mollusk from its shell.
"Only if ye want to, love. But these are quite good. A little sweet and a little salty. Just like a certain lass we know." he winked.
Blythe raised a shell to her lips and tipped it into her mouth. It was cold and salty, but as she chewed the flavor evolved and she tasted a burst of sweetness like Murphy had described. She swallowed it and took a sip of her beer.
"Well she didn't spit it out...so that's a good sign!" Connor grinned.
Murphy raised an eyebrow. "What did ye think, love?"
Blythe kissed him on the cheek before turning and repeating the action on Connor's cheek. "I think we're going to need a few more oysters. And beers."
Connor's eyes lit up with amusement. "As my lady commands!" he said, jumping up to get more oysters and beer.
Murphy laughed and pulled Blythe's chair closer to him, nuzzling the side of her face. "Ye know, love...oysters are an aphrodisiac..." he whispered before nibbling on her ear.
"Is that right? Are you trying to seduce me, Mr. MacManus?" her voice light and playful as she laughed softly in his ear.
Murphy groaned against her neck as he kissed her before pulling away reluctantly. He was having a hard time controlling himself in public. In the last few days, Blythe had really come out of her shell-and it was damn near impossible to resist the urge to carry her off to the bedroom like a caveman.
"Me dear brother certainly is..." he quipped as Connor re-appeared with a half dozen oysters and three more beers.
Blythe giggled as Connor insisted on feeding her another oyster. His eyes darkened as she tipped her head back, taking another swig of beer. "Murphy let me in on your devious plan, Mr. MacManus..." she whispered conspiratorially.
Connor laughed as he dabbed some tabasco and a squeeze of lemon onto his oyster. "An what's me devious plan, lass?" he said, looking up with his best smirk.
"You know..." she grinned. "But now, you know that I know...and Murphy knows...so...we're all on the same page. Right?"
He blushed a little and kissed her quickly before downing another oyster. "I have no idea what yer talking about, lass..." he said with his best neutral face.
###
After lunch, the trio wandered through the produce market, with Blythe carefully choosing some vegetables for tomorrow's dinner party.
"I must say, I've never seen purple carrots before, love." Murphy said, holding up the colorful bunch Blythe purchased.
"Well, me neither, but when you see a purple carrot, you buy it I guess...and don't worry! I bought some regular colored carrots too. And some lovely parsnips that are going to pair well with the roast you brought home." she said picking up a bundle of fresh herbs.
"Now... where on earth has your brother wandered off to?" she mused. She found herself laughing when she realized she sounded like a weary mother looking for her kid.
Murphy shrugged as he kissed the inside of her wrist. After wandering through a few more vendor stalls, they found the other Mr. MacManus.
Connor was engaged in a staring contest with a street performer dressed as a robot.
Blythe kissed his cheek as he continued staring at the unmoving man. "He hasn't moved in ten minutes, lass. Its kinda disturbing/impressive." he said. "I don't think I could stay still fer that long."
"I know you couldn't stay still for that long!" she giggled.
Connor tickled her side and wrapped his arm around her. "Cheeky girl..." he scoffed. As they walked away, Blythe saw the robot man wink at her pointing towards Connor and Murphy, before he started making exaggerated kissing faces. She giggled when Connor turned around to look at the robot man, who immediately went back to staring into space like a sentry.
"Come on, loves...let's go home." she said, linking her arms around her boys as they walked back to the car.
###
By the time the trio had returned to McGinty's, the weather had changed considerably. The wind had picked up, indicating the impending storm. Large banks of clouds sat to the east of the city, contrasting with the golden afternoon sunlight.
"Looks like it's going to be a good night to stay in, lads." Blythe remarked as they carried in their treasures from the marketplace.
Murphy grunted in agreement as they hauled their stuff upstairs, saying hello to Doc and his afternoon regulars on the way.
Connor was the first one upstairs, and had already grabbed three beers out of the fridge and had flopped down on the couch.
Blythe giggled as he waggled his eyebrows suggestively, nodding to the vacant spot next to him. She walked over and grabbed the open beer, taking a healthy swig. "I got you one of yer own, lass." he protested. Blythe raised an eyebrow and took another swig, laughing as he snatched the bottle from her hand. "I thought all three were for you." she said.
Murphy walked across the living room, his face suddenly illuminated by the golden afternoon light streaming through the large windows facing the street. Blythe leapt into action, scrambling to find a camera. "Stay there!" she called as she opened up her secret closet and grabbed a Polaroid land camera and light meter. The camera was fully manual, producing 3x4 prints with wet chemistry. It was a film format many professional photographers used to take test shots before spending the money to shoot larger sheets of 4x5 in or 8x10 inch film. Blythe always thought it looked more interesting than some of the regular film, and it had the added benefit of being ready right away.
She went into work mode, turning Murphy's head slightly and pointing his chin down. Firing off a few quick shots, she smiled in satisfaction as she pulled the film through the camera, activating the developer pods. After a couple of minutes, she carefully peeled apart the developed instant film. The chocolate film looked so unique, almost sending Murphy back in time. "Promising start. This light is amazing. We have to take advantage before it disappears." she said, her eyes darting around the apartment. The fire escape was bathed in similar manner, with light reflecting off the whitewashed building next door.
"What can we do to help, love?" Murphy asked. Blythe had begun hauling her large format 8x10 camera out of the closet, along with the massive tripod that supported it.
Connor had risen from the couch, having finished his beer. "That camera is bigger than you, lass!"
Blythe shrugged as she set up the forty pound camera. It was a beast, but she was so used to working with it, she hardly noticed. She only wished it was easier for her to haul it around outside a controlled environment, like the apartment or a studio. She longed to take it out in the field. Perhaps the boys would be of some assistance with that some time.
"Pardon my ignorance, lass...but I noticed ye have a million different cameras. What makes ye want to shoot with a beast like this one?" Connor asked.
Blythe smiled. "Great question. Each camera has its own personality, Connor. Some cameras are more well suited to certain types of photography. The film used in the camera is like a painter's canvas, but with a palette of colors already built in-the photographer's job is to bend the chemistry to fit their vision. Using a big camera like this-means a bigger playing field. The larger the film, the more information it captures. This camera and its specialty lenses will create striking detail, and allow us to see what this new film is truly capable of."
Connor looked at her with pride and admiration. "Our girl is sexy and smart-how'd we get so lucky, Murph?"
Murphy opened his beer and took a large swig. "Maybe its cuz we're Irish..." he shrugged. Blythe blushed and kissed both of them quickly.
"Can you two go out on the fire escape/balcony for me? Coats on, no sunglasses, bring your cigarettes. I want to take some pictures of you out there, but I'm going to have to set the tripod up so the camera is almost hanging out the window..." she said as she pulled out several large film holders. She had preloaded the film before running errands the day before, knowing her moment to shoot would come spontaneously.
Murphy's face lit up with excitement. "She's gettin that sexy glint in her eye as she bosses us around, Connor. I think we'd better listen to her."
Connor grinned as he climbed out onto the fire escape. "Don't make her mad, brother. She's liable to swat ye with that spoon again."
Blythe narrowed her eyes while trying to suppress a grin. Murphy crawled out onto the balcony and watched with fascination as she made adjustments to the camera's massive bellows.
"Someday yer going to have to teach me how all that works, love..." he said as Blythe threw a large black cloak over her and the back of the camera.
"It's a date Mr. MacManus..." she said from beneath the cape. "Ok boys...no moving about. Murphy, turn your head a fraction of an inch away from the camera...Connor, straighten your shoulders-jaw angled towards the street. Eyes in the lens...clear strong gaze from both of you. Right there!"
She was in another world as she focused the inverted image of her twins on the large piece of ground glass that made up the back of the camera. It was important to get the image as crystal clear as possible before locking the large plate of film in place. Blythe had her routine down pat as she checked all of her settings before looking at her boys. "Looks great, guys, eyes in the lens...deep breath...exhale...here we go!" she said, pressing the cable shutter release. She stuck a post it note on the film holder, indicating she had shot it along with some exposure notes. When they were done, she would run all of the exposed images through the special 8x10 developing machine Polaroid made. It was the size of a large printer, and it sandwiched the exposed negative with the chemical developer and photo paper. After a few minutes of developing, she would pull the sheets apart and have a unique 8x10 inch image.
All three of them relaxed as the shutter snapped closed. "Whew! Lass... ye make that look easy...but holding a pose like that...Christ." Connor said, lighting a cigarette.
Blythe chuckled as Murphy smacked the back of his head. "Imagine if we were sittin for an oil paintin, Connor! Lord's fucking name. We're happy to pose for ye, love."
"Well I know how hard it is to pose, Connor...and I appreciate you humoring me. Both of you. You can relax for a minute while I move the camera around." she said.
Blythe took several more images of the boys outside, one with Connor doing a shirtless pull-up on the wrought iron of the fire escape, and another of Murphy smoking a cigarette in profile. She alternated between the chocolate, black and white, and color film. She labeled each exposed piece of film carefully, knowing she would have to match the film with its corresponding chemistry when it was time to develop.
She kissed both of them passionately as they crawled back in from the fire escape. "Thank you for suffering for my art, loves."
Murphy smiled and grabbed a beer out of the fridge, kissing her softly before leaning against the counter. "Can't wait to see the pictures, love. And the ones we developed the other day."
Connor pulled her close and bit at her earlobe, whispering "I think we've been very well behaved boys this afternoon..."
Her eyes darkened as his voice lowered with desire. "I think you have, Mr. MacManus..." she whispered back.
"But I'm not quite done with you yet..." she grinned. "See that patch of sunlight on the wall? We're going to take a picture of the three of us...maybe a few."
"It's a damn good thing yer so adorable, lass..." he quipped.
Blythe and Murphy moved her camera across the room so that she could line up the shot of the three of them. She was mostly looking forward to having some pictures of them together-hopefully suitable for framing.
"Murphy...love...can you grab my 35mm Nikon and the little tripod too? And the Sx-70... it should be in the camera closet with a little black bag of cable releases." she said. "Connor...stand there and look pretty." as she held up her light meter, measuring the proper exposure time.
Connor curled his lip and batted his eyelashes at Blythe. "Smart ass." she giggled as she threw the dark cloak over her head to look through the ground glass. Murphy put the items she requested on the pool table, easily accessible from where they were set up before joining Connor against the wall in the waning rays of the golden hour. She placed the film holder in the slot on the back of the camera and pulled up the dark slide, the last step before pressing button to release the shutter.
"Beautiful, loves. Stay there...and make room for me." she said as she attached her longest cable shutter release to the 8x10 camera.
"What should we do, love?" Murphy asked.
"This is for us... whatever comes to mind. We'll take a few." she said.
Murphy looked at Connor, the two silently communicating with twinkles in their eyes. "Ok, love...you look straight into the camera, we'll tell ye when to push the shutter." he said.
She felt Connor trail a series of kisses across her neck and jaw as he pulled at her waist. Murphy began mirroring his movements on her other side. "Hmm...guys..." she purred as they both kissed her cheeks.
"Mmph, Now...love..." Murphy mumbled against her.
Connor tickled her side as she pressed the shutter release, catching them in an unguarded moment. Both of them held tight for a moment, tracing her shoulder blades and nuzzling her neck.
Blythe sighed into their touches, smiling whenever one of them caught her lips with theirs. Her arms were locked at her side by their identical embraces, the cable release dangling in between her fingers.
Her face lit up suddenly as inspiration struck. Connor protested as his lips missed her face when she walked back over to the large camera. "Don't pout, love...I'll only be a minute. And this is going to be an incredible shot if we can pull it off."
"Of course we can pull it off!" Connor declared. "Look at us!" he said, flexing as he posed.
Murphy chuckled. "What do ye have in mind, love?" he asked as he snapped a few behind the scenes shots with her 35mm camera.
"You two, shirts off, me in the middle, implied no shirt-one of each of your arms crossing over my chest, with your hands holding my face along the jawline-exposing your Veritas and Aequitas tattoos. Your faces half lit in profile, turned towards me-eyes closed or open. I'll look into the lens." she said, excitement bursting from her as she moved them into the composition of the shot. She propped up a giant metallic reflector with a chair to the left of her tripod. "It will be really interesting, all sorts of angles and lines-and you'll look like action heroes." she smiled.
"Eh-just admit it lass, ye just want us to take our clothes off." Connor joked.
Murphy laughed. "Well I'm game. Let's take yer hair out of that braid, love..." he said, pulling the elastic from her hair. He paused to trail kisses across her forehead, brow and eyelids. Blythe bit her lip and resisted the urge to collapse into Murphy's arms as his fingers massaged her scalp, loosening her hair from her braid. Blythe flipped her head over and fluffed her hair, shaking out bouncy full waves.
Murphy's hand wrapped around the back of her neck as he pulled her in, his lips crashing roughly against hers. "Mhmmm...let's make some art, love." she whispered. Connor removed his shirt and pulled her backwards against his chest. "With pleasure, lass." he said, his arms wrapped around her just below her breasts. Murphy chuckled while removing his shirt.
Blythe blushed as she walked back over to the camera, making a few adjustments before joining them in the center of the frame and removing her shirt. She pulled her bra straps off and looked at her boys, nodding. Connor crossed his left hand across her chest, his forearm covering her left breast while his hand cupped the right side of her face. He straightened his thumb and forefinger so that his Veritas tattoo was clearly visible. He kissed her left temple and waited for Murphy to get into position.
Murphy traced his thumb along her throat as he slid his hand over Connor's. He positioned his thumb and forefinger to mirror his brother's-only with his Aequitas tattoo clearly visible. Their crossing forearms made a "V" framing her face. Both stood positioned slightly leaning into her, their faces in profile and eyes fixed on her. "Ready whenever you are, lass." Connor said. He grabbed onto Murphy with his other hand behind his back, his thoughts running to when they had found her in the alley all those weeks ago.
Blythe took a deep breath and looked straight into the camera. "Ready...eyes closed...and one, two...click!" she said as she hit the cable release button, the shutter opening and closing quickly.
As soon as the shutter closed, Blythe was covered in urgent kisses as Murphy's lips ran across her face while Connor's hands traced the curve of her spine. His lips walked along the slope of her shoulders. Their breath quickened as her body responded to their attentions, Blythe sighing and moaning softly as they cocooned her in between the warmth of their muscular frames. They were dancing on the precipice, the physical and emotional energy in the apartment was quickly escalating-were they ready for what came next? she thought.
As always, her twins were two steps ahead of her. She shivered at the intense passion painting their faces. Connor's eyes were deep sapphire as he slowly pulled away. Murphy kissed the back of her neck softly before backing up.
Clearing his throat, Connor smiled as he pulled his shirt back on. "Looks like the snow is about start any minute, lass. Murph an I are gonna run out and grab somethin for dinner and bring it back here. Figured you could use a little homework time so ye can process the I believe we were promised a snuggle and a movie..." he smiled.
"Are you sure you don't want me to come with?" she said.
Murphy shook his head and kissed her on the forehead. "It's cold out, love. We'll be back before ye know it."
###
Blythe blew them each a kiss as they walked out the door. A part of her appreciated the time out. It gave her a few moments to gather her thoughts as she worked on processing the 8x10 Polaroids. Pulling her hair back in a bun, she opened the door to the hidden room and pulled out a large black cloth, covering the pool table. The cloth was a lintless polyester-the last thing she needed all over the drying prints was green fuzz from the felt table.
She set the processor up on the floor by one of the few available outlets. I need to add some power strips to my shopping list. she thought.
Blythe ran her fingers over her lips as she processed the first image. She blushed as she felt the sting of being slightly swollen from an afternoon of fervent kisses. Murphy would start out all soft and cautious; only to devour her whole moments later. Connor was strong and direct-a master at dizzying passion. The buzzing of the processing timer pulled her back into the moment.
The first image she processed was the one where Murphy had told her to push the button at the same moment Connor tickled her. Her face was a blur of joy, with the only definition being on her brilliant smile. Murphy's face was scrunched up mid giggle, and Connor looked like the evil ring master. She chuckled. This was so them.
As she processed the other images, she felt a sense of calm and certainty returning to her mind. This was the breakthrough in her work Professor Flandus had been waiting for her to make. The execution was spot on, but the composition was new and fresh. The chocolate film looked incredible-Blythe was sure she could sell the idea of a special edition film to the higher ups. If not, she'd sneak the rejected boxes out in the cover of night. It was too special to destroy.
She had taken two black and white individual images of the boys-and they encompassed everything she had come to love about them. The 8x10 Polaroid format was so detailed and unique, she felt like she was looking at two oil paintings by one of the old Dutch masters.
Murphy was sitting on the fire escape, almost in a crouch. His coat was open and covering most of his body. He was smoking a cigarette, the smoke lingering around his face. His eyes were cast in the distance, the light catching in his irises. His jawline looked more pronounced, and his moles were right where the sunlight met the shadow on his face. The photograph captured the calm, inner depths most people overlooked in Murphy, his thoughtful nature and the stunning beauty that radiated from his romantic and honest persona.
Connor was also on the fire escape, shirtless with his arms raised above his head, gripping onto the iron work that connected to the stairs leading to the roof. His jeans were held onto his slender hips by a leather belt and a prayer. The light bounced off his abs, the ridges that defined them more pronounced by shadow. He was looking directly into the camera, his face a study of casual confidence and an underlaying current of passion and conviction. He looked like a man that would fight to the death protecting everyone he loved. His lips quirked up in a way that only Blythe or Murphy would notice, the playful and confident Connor simmering just below the surface.
Blythe carefully laid the images flat on the covered surface of the pool table, anxious for them to dry thoroughly so she could store them in her portfolio. She was incredibly pleased with all of the images taken today. Usually there were a few duds-but it was as though there was something magical in the air. It was a good thing Professor Flandus was coming over tomorrow night-otherwise Blythe might get in the car and drive over to his house. She was dying to show off her work and hear what he thought.
Holding her breath, she cleaned the rollers on the processor one last time as she prepped the final image for development. After the requisite time, the machine beeped in her ear, informing her of the moment of truth.
Blythe gasped as she pulled the developer sheet away, revealing the image. It was the last image they took. Her composition turned out exactly how she had envisioned. The boys had their eyes closed, inches from her face. They almost looked to be in reverent prayer. Their arms crossed in front of her chest, binding the trio together. Their tattooed fingers cradled her face, which held all the love and trust she felt for them in her direct gaze into the camera. She smiled, a tear threatening the corner of her eye. It was perfect. It was them.
As she carefully placed the image with the others on the pool table to dry, she looked out the living room window, seeing the blur of snow mixing with the neon of the McGinty's sign. Figuring the boys would be a few more minutes, she walked into the bedroom, turning on the blue twinkle lights before quickly making the bed they had left rumpled this morning.
It would be cold tonight, she thought as she went to the closet in search of an extra blanket.
The dove grey nightgown was hanging in her line of sight, beckoning. After tossing a navy chenille blanket onto the bed, Blythe felt her fingertips trace the padded hanger. Closing her eyes, she knew tonight was the night. Her heart leapt with excitement-soon she would belong to Connor and Murphy in every way.
Blythe took the silk nightgown and her satin robe into the bathroom and hung them on the back of the door. She turned on the hot water and poured in her favorite bubble bath-a light orange blossom scent that mixed nicely with her favorite vanilla lotion. She closed her eyes and let the warmth of the water soak into her bones before running her razor over her legs. When her skin felt as smooth as her nightgown, she got out of the bath and wrapped herself in a towel.
After drying off, she applied a tiny bit of concealer under her eyes and a quick coat of mascara. She knew the boys liked her with or without makeup, but she wanted to feel pretty. Instead of lipstick, she dabbed a bit of a rose tinted lip balm. Taking her hair out of its messy bun, her curls cascading nicely around her face.
As she slipped on the silvery grey silk and matching lace panties, she stepped back in the mirror to gauge the overall effect. The woman in the reflection was a completely different from the girl they found in the alley. She finally felt like herself.
###
Meanwhile, Connor and Murphy had walked the four blocks to the pizzeria, struggling to smoke as the wind picked up. When they arrived, they found they weren't the only ones with the idea to get take out before the storm hit.
After forty five minutes and two beers a piece, they were finally walking back to the apartment with two pizzas that were quickly losing warmth. Big fluffy flakes of snow had begun to accumulate as they quickened their pace.
"Christ its gettin cold!" Murphy grumbled as he pulled his coat tighter. "I cannot believe they wouldn't deliver te the bar!"
Connor shrugged his shoulders as he held onto the pizza boxes. "Eh the walk will do ye good, dear brother. It's almost like takin a cold shower." he chuckled.
Murphy growled and shoved at Connor. "Aye, and ye needed it as much as I did, Connor! I saw you lookin at Blythe like the big bad wolf!"
"Hey! Don't be makin me drop the pizza that took fuckin forever te get!" Connor turned and looked at Murphy sharply before seeing a mixture of concern for Blythe and sexual frustration in his eyes that closely mirrored his own.
His look softened as Connor stopped to face his brother. "May the lord grant us the patience to wait until our lass is ready...I know we've been foolin around with her, but its just not the same, is it?" he smiled.
Murphy took a long drag off his cigarette. "I know what ye mean. Everyday it gets harder. I just don't want her te ever think we'd pressure her in te anything...we're not him."
Connor put his arm around his brother. "You're goddamn right about that, Murph. We love her, truly. Ye think its time te tell her?"
Murphy broke out into a brilliant grin. "Aye."
Connor's mouth turned up into a smile equal to Murphy's as he balanced the pizzas in one hand. He put an arm around Murphy as the energy of their decision hit them.
"How are we gonna do it?" Murphy asked.
"Not a clue." Connor replied.
When Murphy and Connor got to McGinty's, they were surprised to find it nearly empty. The snow storm was expected to clear out by tomorrow morning, but it was putting a cramp in everyone's Saturday night.
"Last Call!" Doc barked out to the half dozen or so people left in the bar.
"Best te get home before the rest of this hits, Doc..." Murphy said as they walked past the bar.
"Aye. Luckily the bar isn't open long tomorrow either. Fuck! Ass! Ye can grab what ye need from down here when ye get back from church tomorrow. Tell the lass to make herself at home in the bar kitchen if she needs te start cooking before I get here." he added.
"Thanks Doc." Connor smiled as they walked toward the stairs to the apartment.
###
Blythe had lit a couple of candles and placed them in the bedroom. She was walking down the small hallway when she heard the door unlatch.
"Sorry that took so long, lass!" Connor called out.
Murphy had taken off his coat and was looking over the images on the pool table. He instinctively looked up when he heard her footsteps in the hallway. His breath caught as he took in the heavenly creature leaning in the doorway.
Connor had placed the pizza boxes on the coffee table and was fiddling with the VCR when she leaned against the doorway. He caught her out of the corner of his eye and stopped what was doing.
No words were said as they made their way over to her, their gaze never leaving her as she stood watching them intently. She blushed as she noticed the flush in their cheeks, and the way their blue eyes darkened as she grabbed their hands and lead them down the hallway towards the bedroom.
###
A/N: Don't hate my cliffhanger! Know good things are in the works, and come to those who wait! (LOL at my own innuendo.) Did anyone catch the obscure reference to a scene in All Saints Day? Connor makes a reference to the Clint Eastwood movie I had him buy at the flea market. Just wanted to say, while there aren't any bad photos of Norman or Sean, a couple of specific images influenced how I wrote the photography. You might want to check out Amanda Demme's shoot of Norman from last year-there is an image where he is in a pea coat smoking. Enough Said. Sean, well, again, how is one not inspired by his photos? The black and white image of him in the bathroom-his face inspired Connor's look here. Along with many others. If you are feeling photo curious...google Polaroid 8x10 images. There is nothing like large format. Thanks for reading! You all inspire me as much as Sean and Norm and their wonderful characters.