Now I had kissed James before, but it was nothing more than light kissing per my own requests and he had never forced the matter, at the time I thought it was because he just cared that much. Now I figured he had had other outlets on the side to satisfy his physical wants. And James had definitely never been on top of me in the manner that Murphy was at this very moment.

Murphy's lips were warm and soft, and he completely overwhelmed my senses. As he massaged my mouth with his own he gently lowered his weight so that my body was pressed fully against his. It felt strange, though not unpleasant and I found myself relaxing. He brought one hand up to support my neck and the other rested on my side. I in turn ran my hands up his back, over his shoulders, and into his hair. It felt soft against my fingertips as I gently rubbed his scalp.

His mouth parted and his tongue urged mine to do the same. I did somewhat hesitantly and felt his tongue run across my teeth and then mingle with my own. I moaned and pulled him tighter against me as sensation after sensation rolled through my body. He moved his hand from behind my head so that both rested on my waist and his kisses traveled from my mouth, down the line of my jaw, to my neck. I tilted my head back and sighed. His fingers began brushing the bare skin between my sweats and my top, and then they were crawling upwards, underneath the fabric.

My brain sent of a loud warning. "Murphy." He didn't hear me or refused to reply, to intent on the spot just below my ear. "Murphy, stop!" I place my hands against his chest and pushed. In reality his weight was such that I couldn't make him budge but the pressure I applied was enough to divert his attention. He pulled back and looked at me. "Please."

His eyes were swirling storm of blue and grey as he looked at me. He let out a shuddered breath of air. The storm behind his eyes calmed. I bit my lip and looked away. He rolled off me and ran a hand over his face. "Sorry," he murmured. "I shouldn't have done that."

"It wasn't entirely you're fault."

"I'm the one who pushed it as far as it did and yer the one who stopped it, just like ya said ya would."

"No, if I had stopped it when I said I would I would have stopped it before you kissed me and I wouldn't have let it go as far as it did." I turned so I was facing him. "If it makes you feel any better you got farther in four hours than James ever did in a year."

He laughed softly. "His loss, if he had any idea what he had he would have been willing to wait an eternity for it." He ran his thumb over my brow and rested his hand on my face. "And I'll wait."

"You don't even know me."

"So I'll get to know ya. And ye'll get to know me.

I raised my eyebrows. "What makes you think you'll be getting any more after we get to know each other."

"Oh I'll be getting more, I'm certain of it. And I'm even more certain that when I get it I won't be the one who starts it."

"Cocky lil' bastard."

"Hey, none of that. There's no need for name callin'. But if ya must insist then I'll have no choice but to call ya beautiful, and sexy." I laughed at that one and he gave me a hurt look. "I compliment ya and I get laughed at."

"I'm sorry, it's just that I am about as plain as a person can get."

Murphy's eyes grew hard. "Now ya listen to me. Never let anyone think that ya are less than beautiful or sexy, ya hear me. If I ever meet that James fellow…"

"You will leave him alone." I wrapped one arm around his waist and rested my cheek on his shoulder. "That's all in my past now. I've got new life, I've got you and Connor and your 'Da' as dysfunctional as I find you."

"We function."

"Yes you function, outside the parameters of all that is normal." I yawned. "How is it I can sleep all day and still be tired?" My eyes began to droop.

"Well I do tend to take a lot out of women."

I gave Murphy a gentle poke in the stomach. "There will be no talk of other women with me around mister."

"Yes ma'am." He entwined his finger with mine and I fell asleep.