Thank you so much for your support! Also Danni2016, for still sticking around, and levyruth18 for your trust. Hugs to you too!

Day 33.

"Hi Connor! How are you doing?" she exclaimed with a forced cheerfulness that tried to mask her discomfort as he opened the door.

"Murphy isn't here," Connor only broodingly answered.

She sighed in aggravation: "Really? When I talked to him just yesterday, he told me to come over tonight!"

Murphy and she hadn't been able to see each other again since that dreadful morning, but they'd spoken over the phone. So, she knew Connor had simply pretended nothing had happened, and his idiot brother was all too eager to play along. What more was needed for these two pig-headed fools to finally have an honest conversation? Murphy was miserable and, from the look of it, this one here wasn't any better.

"Well, he called earlier saying he had to take an extra shift, to cover for a coworker. He'll be back later tonight. I guess he figured I'd tell ye."

"Oh." She'd been at the university all day, then drawing at the library all evening, so that meant he couldn't have warned her even if he'd tried. Still, that meant she had come all this way for nothing.

It wasn't like Connor was going to invite her in. After what had happened, she had assumed she wouldn't be his favorite person, but she'd never thought he could actually hate her until she found herself alone with him now.

"Well, I guess I'll leave you be." But then, she thought this was in fact the perfect opportunity to try and salvage what could be, make sure he knew Murphy had nothing to do with the drawing –even though she dreamt of explaining everything-, or maybe just get this one to warm up to her a little bit. "Or, I could keep you company… What were you planning on doing tonight?"

"Nothing exciting. Got a pizza on the way. There's Die Hard on the telly tonight." His tone was ice cold.

"I've never seen it," she mused, mostly for herself, deciding that it was her cue to leave him alone; however, he briskly turned to her, his expression one of disbelief:

"Ye've never seen Die Hard?"

"I haven't. Why, is it any good?"

"Any good? That's a fucking masterpiece, lass! What the fuck do ye and my brother find to talk about all day if ye don't even know the basics?"

"Well, shut up, Connor! I know plenty of other things, I've just never seen that one, big deal!"

"Big deal? Okay, sit yer ass down, ye're about to get seriously schooled, girl."

She swallowed a little triumphant smile. "Okay, if you insist."

He frowned, figuring he had been played, but unwilling to acknowledge it out loud.

While she shrugged off her coat and slumped on the couch, however, she thought back to the turn of phrase he had just used: 'what ye and my brother talk about all day'… He had sounded jealous. But, not of Murphy, of course, jealous of herself. So, she suddenly understood what he had against her: it wasn't all about the drawing, she was the one stealing his brother from him for the past month!

He begrudgingly opened a beer for her, before remembering she was only nineteen, and snatching it away from her extended hand.

"I forgot. No drinking for underage chicks."

"You think this would be my first drink? I may not be the most outgoing person, but I've had beers before."

"Still, I wouldn't want to be the kind of lad that pushes a nice girl into breaking laws."

She rolled her eyes. And a knock on the door made her jump.

"That's just the pizza guy, lass." He laughed at her jitteriness.

"Sorry if I'm a little skittish after walking all the way here alone on a Friday evening… Your neighborhood's kinda creepy."

"Remind me to slosh Murphy for making ye do that. And for nothing, on top of it! Plus, another time too because I'll have to walk ye home afterward."

She bit her lip in shame. Wanting to say she didn't need him to, but knowing she did. Maybe he had a few other reasons to dislike her after all, she thought.

"Hey, let me pay for that pizza, at least."

"Nah, I'm good."

"For half, then!"

She shoved the money into the young delivery man's hand while Connor was busy setting the food down on the coffee table.

"Ye think I'll let ye eat half my pizza?"

"I couldn't eat half of that huge-ass monstrosity even if I was coerced! And don't tell me you're planning on guzzling down that whole thing by yourself! Come on, you won't even notice I stole a slice. Now, shut up, the movie's starting," she quickly added, leaping on the couch, in case he would change his mind about her staying.

He grumbled a bit before sitting on the farthest side, and she sighed. How would she go about making him like her enough that they could openly talk about the other day? She was wondering if she shouldn't simply have left. Friendships couldn't be forced.

However, when she opened her mouth to excuse herself and go before the opening credits, she realized he was extending a slice of pizza her way, keeping his eyes on the TV. Alright, baby steps then.

They began watching the movie in silence, but soon, Connor got engrossed enough that he would let out little comments, like: "That's important," when John McClane got his shoes off, or laugh at her surprised yelp when the President got shot.

Without realizing it, he progressively relaxed, his beloved characters putting him in a better mood.

"They don't look like terrorists," she then remarked. "I don't think they care at all about those demands…"

He smiled appreciatively: "Well, ye're observant."

She bit her cheeks to repress a proud beaming grin. Then, the commercials started, and Connor got up to fetch a fresh beer. This time, he casually opened another one that he left on the coffee table before her. Baby step.

The silence between them became oddly comfortable. And at the second commercial break, she realized they now sat way closer on the couch. And that he loved to explain little details and anecdotes about the film. She usually preferred for people to remain quiet during movies, but she couldn't help enjoying the way he would excitedly laugh at his favorite parts or lean in to whisper a small comment. It felt casual and cozy.

"I need to take a leak, lass," he then announced, "in case ye want to cover yer eyes."

"Well, it's not like there is anything I haven't already seen, Connor…" she reminded him with a smirk.

He let out a brief laugh, keeping his back to her still, and answered above his shoulder: "Right. Then, if ye want to go, I could get some payback."

She gulped and slowly put the beer back down, making him laugh more outwardly.

"I knew you two hadn't put up a wall there for a reason…" she exaggeratingly squinted her eyes at him, trying to make a mean face that turned out ridiculous enough to keep making him laugh.

"Aye, ye got us all figured out, lassie! We're just a couple of perverts, not at all two lazy-ass bums living in a slum!"

Although, right after quipping this back at her, she saw him withdraw. As if he'd realized what he was saying and that had reminded him too much about why he was acting cold in the first place.

So, she quickly answered to change the subject: "It's funny, you may be right, but I still love it here. It's weird, I know. I've always thought comfort was important. But now, I understand that's not what makes a home."

"Ye should come back when the heat stops working in the middle of winter, ye might rethink that," he grumbled back, and she tried to keep it light:

"Are you inviting me to come back all the way to next winter, Connor? Thanks!"

Although he only sighed, with a scowl plastered on his features. So, she backtracked and muttered, finally coming around to what she had meant to say all evening:

"You know, if you're tired of having me around so much, I'll back off. I'd never dream of coming between you and your brother."

He scoffed: "Don't flatter yerself, luv."

"Right. Nothing can come between you two. Linked since the womb, blah blah blah. So, what are you jealous about then?"

"Jealous? Ye're fucking hallucinating, girl!"

She stood up to face him, but he dismissively sat back on the couch anyway. She gritted her teeth not to let her bubbling frustration take over:

"Alright! So, tell me why you are acting like a total dick! What did I ever do to you?"

"Nothing, lass. I just don't understand what the fuck my brother is doing with ye. Ye two are not even fucking! So, is that it? Are ye leaving him to stew with sex as a fucking reward?"

"Screw you, Connor! You think I'm stringing him along? Hell, it's none of your business anyway, but, come on! Did it not occur to you that he and I could be friends?"

"Ye can't." That sounded so final it made her pause. Before her anger grew tenfold:

"Excuse me? Are you saying I'm so frigging awful that it's not even plausible?"

Still, he didn't back down; "No. I mean ye can't. Because I know Murph'."

"So? Enlighten me, Connor, because I'm this close to throwing that beer in your face."

"The Murphy I know, –or 'knew', 'cause I don't fucking recognise him when he's with ye…- the Murphy I knew would never manage to remain 'just friends' with a lass as hot as ye. He'd fucking lose his mind."

"I-… You-… What?"

"That tosser's always horny as fuck! And ye're telling me he's not trying to screw ye any time he's got the chance? Ye? No fucking way."

"He's… No! Well, we fool around, but, he's not-"

"So tell me yer secret! 'Cause I know ye're attracted to him as well! I see ye watching him with lovey eyes when he's not looking. But ye're saying ye're not together. So, why?"

"We're just friends. We enjoy spending time together-"

We're the only ones with whom we can be completely ourselves, she didn't dare answer. She knew that would be hurtful. And the only way she could back that claim was by telling him Murphy's secret. Which -despite how much she wanted to get it over with- was not an option.

And Connor kept ranting: "Tell me why the fuck ye're not more than that! See, I'm tired of being left out of the fucking joke. He never had any secrets from me before ye came along!"

"Oh, that's what you think?" she couldn't help sneering.

"Aye, that's God's fucking truth."

"Damn, Connor! You're so blind!"

"Don't fucking start on me!"

"I mean, I get it, I probably would have a hard time believing it too. But, come on! You claim to know everything about him! And, guess what, I believe you do. You do know, but you don't want to acknowledge it because you're too scared."

"Me? Fucking scared? Scared of what?"

"I can't tell you, Connor. I can't tell a secret that he's entrusted to me. But, God, it's hard. It's so hard to watch you two frigging idiots act like neither of you knows. Because… Damn! You said you see how I look at him behind his back? Tell me, how do you look at him, Connor? You don't think I see you just as well?"

He frowned in confusion.

"Yeah, think about that for a second. And get off my case. I'm not the frigging problem here."

She grabbed her coat and went for the door until she stopped in her tracks. Changing her mind, she turned around and came back to plop on the couch once more. The movie was starting again, and she wanted to watch how it ended. How would that reckless barefoot cop get out of his predicament. And would he and his frigging wife finally tell each other how important they truly were to one another.

She even took her own shoes off so she could ball up on the couch, needing to find some feeling of self-preservation in that fetus position. After a long while, he ended up slumping next to her, still moping as the villains started firing on people on the roof. She glanced at him once, then twice, wondering how she could get him to open back up just a bit, without ever getting anywhere close to an apology.

"So, you think I'm hot," she stated matter-of-factly, and he turned to watch her as if she had lost her damn mind.

"What?"

She shrugged: "You said I was too hot to be your brother's friend."

"I also said he's a fucking lecher."

"Still."

He gaped at her and she smirked in victory; at least the conversation had taken a turn he would never have expected. The fact that he was speechless for a few seconds was decidedly a win for her.

"Okay, ye're not too bad looking, but, Jesus, ye're a pain in the ass."

"I knew it."

"Ye fucking knew what? That ye're a pain?"

"No, I knew you wanted me," she almost surprised herself as this taunt left her lips. It wasn't like her. But he had infuriated her more than she'd thought possible and she didn't care if it wasn't true. She didn't even care about rejection; all she wanted was to make him uncomfortable. Since he chose to stay blind to the truth, she could at least play around. He'd already made up his mind about her being a pain anyway.

"I never fucking said that!"

"Oh, come on, Connor, it's so obvious. You can't fight your desires." She laughed at the absurdity she was babbling, but he was disturbed enough not to notice her bluff.

"Ye're fucking insane."

"And you love that about me too."

"And ye were saying ye're not a fucking tease, lass?" Although he was now sporting a lopsided smile that he swallowed back as fast as he'd mumbled that.

"I'm just stating the obvious."

"Would ye shut up so I can watch the movie?" He now sulked.

Oh, that was definitely another win for her.

"Only when you've admitted I'm right," she still pushed.

"About what now?"

"Everything."

Suddenly, he grabbed her ankle -so fast she didn't have time to react- and he yanked it to him, effectively laying her down on the couch. Then, he loomed over her bewildered face.

"Ye should stop playing with fire, kid."

Despite her breath being taken away, she still cringed at his condescending tone. "I'm not a kid, jerk." But then, when he opened his mouth to retort something probably even harsher, she added, faking a confidence she wasn't sure she was feeling: "I'm a frigging arsonist."

This provocative sally gave him pause enough to truly boost her own self-assurance. She settled in her new lying position as if it was the most comfortable she'd ever been, her expression triumphant.

"That ye are," he almost purred.

He was hovering above her, the tribulations of the lone hero cop on TV already long forgotten. Connor's pupils had expanded, leaving little space to the strikingly deep blue of his irises. And even though he kept his whole body a few inches from hers, she felt enfolded in his rising heat. His breathing low and steady as though he enforced a careful control on it.

And she widened her eyes in sudden comprehension, completely baffled: "You are into me…"

But he'd strayed too far to flinch back now; he had to take back the upper hand. So, he leaned in closer, his lips ghosting over her cheek to reach her ear and blow steamy air as he whispered back: "Well, not quite into ye just yet…" Meaning that would happen very soon.

Needless to say, her brain shut down.

She swallowed hard, tensing, and he watched her with a curious frown, straightening up and perceptibly away. Until he seemingly understood something and asked, sounding apologetic: "Wait, are ye a virgin, lass? Of course, that's why Murphy backed down…"

He immediately motioned to stand, with an unquestioning respect that couldn't not make her smile and breathe. That's why she quickly grabbed his shirt in a fist to stop and pull him back down.

"I'm not, Connor. I'm just extremely difficult, probably too much of a challenge." His eyebrows rose as fast as his interest was piqued, firing her up. "And if you're expecting me to swoon at a pitiful half-witted pun, well, all I can say is your brother gives you too much credit. I'm mean, you can't rely on your good looks alone to-"

His lips crashed on hers. It was hard and forceful at first, but it soon relaxed into a softer nip of lips that made her mind twirl and dive into the wonder that was happening. Connor was kissing her. That was literally incredible. And it felt…well, not nearly enough.

He still pulled away however: "That enough to make ye shut up?"

"Only just enough to ensure I'm mad at you for making me miss the ending." She hinted at the TV and he chuckled.

"Oh, ye know, the baddies die and the hero wins back the girl. Classic."

"You were absolutely right, awesome movie," she replied, not serious in the least, though that still made him smile and nod approvingly.

She grinned back, tugged at the shirt she was still clutching to bring him closer, and pecked at his lips. Once, twice, until it became feverish, and he kissed her back. Their tongues hadn't even touched yet that they were becoming breathless. Her free hand clawed the short hair up his nape, his were on her sides, so he wasn't holding himself up as much anymore. He let his weight pin her down and she instinctively arched into it. Her small frame hard-pressed against his tight body, the softness of his lips making her slowly forget about the world.

But he didn't just yet: "Shit, ye sure Murphy won't mind?" he asked, not keen on stopping what he was doing.

After everything they'd shared, she was pretty sure that if Murphy was here, he would be jacking himself off watching them. But she couldn't swear that telling this to Connor would be a good idea.

"Why would he? We're not together, remember?"

"Still. He met ye first."

"So? He called dibs?" she mocked, keeping her grip on the fabric of his clothes tight and his torso right above hers. "Plus, technically, I saw you first."

"Ye did?"

"Yeah, you were napping in the park, and I draw a picture of you. That's how he and I met…"

"A picture, eh? The kind of picture I saw?"

"I guess…" She blushed now.

"So, that's what gets ye off, lass? Twin brothers? Where does that leave ye?" His voice was low, and she could feel the rumbling of it in his chest under her hand. With eyelids still heavy, his look trailed to her mouth, her throat as she swallowed, the crease between her collarbones.

"Hum… Hopefully, right in the middle?"

He let out a laugh before latching onto her neck. Licking the building-up sweat he was provoking. And he pressed his stiffening groin against her. She let out a moan that surprised herself more than him. They were now writhing to feel each other's bodies, desperate for friction, and clothes were beginning to feel superfluous.

She pulled at his shirt to drag it above his head, and he straightened up to help, his fingers promptly coming back to work on the buttons of her top.

"Let me tell ye, luv, when he hangs up after he calls ye, to start beating it on his bed there, and I decide it's a good time as any to do the same, I can swear ye're right in the middle of our thoughts."

"Am I?" she taunted, unbuckling his belt, suspecting she wasn't necessarily the one Murphy was thinking of then. Which she didn't mind.

"Do ye have any idea how unnerving it is to live with a lad that's so fucking turned on all the time?" His lips went right back to attack the skin above her petite breast, progressing decidedly down. But that didn't stop him from mumbling between the nips, licks and bites: "Ye make him so fucking hard it got me all jealous. Couldn't get ye out of my mind either. Was watching him moaning like a knobhead in the shower just this morning- hmph…"

She'd slipped her small hand into his pants, because him talking about a hard penis had her fingers twitching. And she wondered if he realized how worked up he was getting himself, talking about his brother. He barely inched away to give her some space to move, to slowly caress his tender skin as if she was testing the water. That reminded him of the night she was hidden under Murphy's sheets, doing the same but never bringing him to completion.

"Remind me to teach ye a thing or two about how male orgasm works, lassie," he grunted between gritted teeth; she was driving him crazy.

"What?" she innocently asked back.

"A little pressure, please!"

"Is that you begging?"

He could only growl. And she smirked.

"Because it seems to me that I'm doing just fin- ah!" It was her turn to be cut off by his own fingers sneaking their way down her panties.

It was invasive, no doubt about that, but he kept it light and gentle. It still court-circuited her thoughts enough that it took her a while to realize he was mimicking her own motions. When she grazed down his length, he brushed over her slit. Gathering her moisture, spreading it casually all over her sensitive parts but not paying extra attention to any.

It was smart. Unconsciously, she was doing exactly what she wished was done to her.

It soon had her mewling, and the idea of actually begging became so pressing that it clouded her vision. She didn't see him fetch the condom that he placed into her hand. She barely registered how they got rid of the rest of their clothes; it was too far from a conscious choice, just an innate reaction, born out of necessity.

Her fingers were trembling when she tore up the plastic wrapping, and he stopped her with a gentle squeeze of his hand, gauging if her tremors came from fear. Except, when he peered into her heavy-lidded eyes, he found nothing but wanton lust. They exchanged a knowing smile; there was no speck of doubt that their aspirations were perfectly aligned.

The only notion he was left to wonder about was if Murphy was as present in her mind as he was in his. Probably. I mean, she was the one fantasizing about the stupid chap in the first place, wasn't she? Himself, on the other hand, only just pondered over how much his twin would have loved to be in his place right now. The thought should have made him stop, to be honest, but it only made him want this more. The mere idea of Murphy being aroused in his stead made Connor's cock twitch and yearn. And, hell, he would feel guilty later.

He guided her hands, sensing her inexperience despite her eager willingness, to unroll the latex all the way down his impatient member. The blasted feeling of her hand. Her dainty fingers a little too delicate. The way her knuckles brushed his knackers, deliberate and yet way too fucking subtle. It took every last tiny bit of his self-control not to ram into her right there, fuck her silly and raw, until she learned a thing or two about teasing a lad out of his bloody mind.

He first had to make sure she was slick and ready for him. And when his finger entered her wet, hot twat, he watched her enthralled. She arched so far back, her eyes so tight shut, her mouth so wide agape, his intents came tumbling down his lips: "Jesus lass, I'm going to fuck yer brains out like no one has before."

A small: "God, yes…" escaped through her gasping breath that reverberated right down from his ears to his crotch. And he positioned himself to finally enter her.

Then, just before he did just that, the tip of his throbbing knob already tasting her dampness, he raised his head to watch the -oh!- so thirsting expression on her face.

That's when he had to freeze in his condemnable tracks.

And the one voice he knew better than his own jeered: "Oh, please, don't stop on my account, brother!"