Chapter 23
When Murphy had suggested to Nessa that they go back to her place, he wasn’t sure what he’d realistically expected them to do.
Lust had clouded his brain, his cock thick and heavy in his jeans as images had danced through his head; Nessa’s lips sliding over his throat, her teeth grazing his skin as she pressed her body flush against his.
All he’d wanted was to get out of that restaurant, to be alone with his mate with no distractions.
But whatever he thought they’d be doing when they reached her home, it hadn’t been this.
“We can put on something else if you want,” Nessa offered, sitting stiffly beside him on her couch. His arm was slung over the back of it, just slightly out of reach from draping over her shoulder, their thighs pressed together as Pride And Prejudice played quietly on the TV in front of them.
“This is fine,” Murphy answered, his focus entirely on her and not at all on the movie she’d put on when they’d arrived.
She’d been a bit off since they’d left the diner.
Several times, she’d squeezed her knees tightly with her hands or blurted out some random comment, only to look away from him quickly and focus on the movie, feigning interest in Lizzie and Mr. Darcy’s on-screen romance when it was obvious she wasn’t really watching it either.
Currently, she was drumming her fingers on her kneecaps absentmindedly, staring blankly at the screen.
Something was definitely up with Nessa, and considering how well he’d gotten to know her over the past week, he could only assume she was anxious. About what, though? It had to involve their talking of claiming marks back at the diner.
She’d been completely fine before that.
Did she think he was going to shift into his bear form, latch onto her shoulder with his teeth, and chomp down on her flesh like some kind of rabid animal?
He didn’t think so, mostly because he’d mentioned pleasuring her to keep her from feeling the pain of the bite.
He’d scented her desire when he’d mentioned that, so he didn’t think she’d dislike the experience.
In fact, he was confident she’d love every moment of it.
So what was going on?
“I’m due for a rewatch,” he added when she said nothing else.
Nessa craned her head up toward him in surprise, her fingers stilling momentarily before picking up the same silent rhythm as before. “You’ve already seen this? When?”
Murphy shrugged. “When it first came out, and then a few times since.” Well, maybe closer to fifteen times, if he was being honest. He’d also watched the TV series from the nineties more than a handful of times.
“Huh. I had you pegged as more of a war movie kind of guy. Maybe it’s the Alpha superiority complex,” she joked, glancing down, her fingers still dancing on her knee.
“I’m a bit of a movie buff when I have the time to watch anything. I enjoy reading, too. I’ve got a pretty impressive library in my office. I enjoy collecting the classics.” He even had special editions of all Jane Austin’s completed works.
Unable to ignore her behavior any longer, he nudged her thigh with his to get her attention. She lifted her chin, her eyes meeting his. “Why are you nervous, Nes?”
“What? Me? Nervous?” She let out a short, strained laugh. “Why do you think I’m nervous?”
“You fidget a lot when you’re anxious.” Murphy’s eyes dropped pointedly to her hands and then back up to her face. He sent her a cocky smirk. “Plus, you’ve been chatting about random things on and off during the entire movie.”
“Okay,” Nessa drawled, dropping her hands into her lap. She bit her plump lower lip, and he nearly growled, wanting to be the one to nibble on it. “I am nervous. Not in a bad way or anything. I just … I’m going to feel ridiculous if I try to explain it.”
Unable to keep his hands to himself a moment longer, he palmed the side of her neck, his thumb caressing her jaw. He leaned in close. “Tell me what’s on your mind, little mate. I don’t care if it’s silly.”
Besides, even if it was something ludicrous, he wouldn’t mind. He loved listening to her talk about anything and everything.
Nessa reached up, her fingers wrapping around half of his wrist. He heard her heart pick up a quick rhythm, growing more frantic by the second. She opened her mouth as if to say something and then closed it. She repeated the motion, making a choked noise in her throat when no words emerged.
“Nessa, whatever it is, you can tell me,” he reiterated, his brow pinching with worry.
What if she didn’t want him to mark her? Was that her concern? She was human—maybe the idea frightened her?
They’d still be mates, of course. But after they claimed one another with a bite, it would be official. Forever. Even though she was human, since they were true mates, they’d even be able to communicate with one another telepathically with enough time and effort.
Although he hadn’t discussed it with her yet, he was looking forward to that level of connection between them. Of knowing all he had to do was reach out, and she’d be there.
“I want to be intimate with you,” Nessa blurted out in a rush, catching him off-guard.
His nostrils flared, the lust he’d experienced at the diner roaring back to life. His dick stiffened, his gut tightening with a voracious, carnal hunger.
She wanted him. Wanted to be with him.
At that moment, he didn’t give a damn about the scars littering his body, or what she’d think when she saw them. All he could think about was getting her under him, exploring her body until he knew every inch, every mark by heart. He ached to learn everything he could about her.
She grimaced, her nails digging into his wrist and snapping him from his thoughts.
“I-I mean try. Try to be intimate. Not like sex or anything, but we have to practice, right?” She squeezed her eyes shut as if the words pained her to say out loud.
They popped back open a second later. “I don’t mean practice.
What is it, baseball? Some kind of sporting event?
No, it’s sex—well, not sex. M-Maybe just touching or—”
“I’m going to kiss you now,” Murphy interrupted, tilting her head back until it rested on the arm he had behind her.
“You are?” she breathed, her lips parting in invitation as the scent of her desire perfumed the air. Need clawed at him, his bear roaring at him to make a move. To sate the same need he knew filled her.
“Unless you don’t want me to,” he added softly. She might be interested, but if she changed her mind, or got cold feet, he didn’t want to take advantage of the situation.
Nessa nodded quickly. “I do—”
Without another moment’s hesitation, Murphy slid his mouth over hers, fisting her thick, silky hair in his hand.
The strands slid through his fingers, and he bit back an appreciative groan.
He loved touching her teal hair, loved playing with the locks until Nessa usually swatted his hand away irritably.
This time, she didn’t try.
He angled her head back, tension lining every inch of his body as he gently nipped her lower lip.
He licked the sting away before nibbling on it again.
The urge to fuck her mouth with his tongue, to drag her onto his lap and pick up where they’d left off last night was strong.
But he refused to push her past her limit, to do something she might be uncomfortable with.
So when she gasped, he eased his tongue past her lips, teasing hers until they tangled together. She grabbed his sweater, fingers twisting into the thick material as he took their kiss deeper, sliding in and out of her mouth at a steady, languid pace that had her moaning.
Her desire deepened, that heady scent calling to him. If he reached into her jeans and cupped between her thighs, she’d be wet. He knew it, and he ached to do just that. Instead, he plundered her mouth, swallowing each soft moan she uttered for him.
He wanted more. More of those sweet sounds, more of her. More—
“Murphy,” Nessa whispered, pulling her mouth away slightly even as she tugged his body closer to her.
She brushed her nose against his, her breathing heavy as she leaned back to look up at him.
Her lips were a darker shade of coral and swollen, a beautiful flush staining her cheeks.
“Will you touch me, Murphy? I-I want to feel you.”
It was such a simple question, but he felt it in the deepest part of his soul. She was trusting him with another piece of her. Trusting him to take care of her, to be the male she needed.
“Where, Nessa?” His hand left her neck, slowly moving to her breast. He palmed it through her T-shirt, relishing in how perfectly it fit in his hand. He squeezed it gently, and her breath hitched. “Here?”
Hesitantly, she shook her head. Grabbing his hand, she moved it lower, trailing it down her stomach until the pads of his fingers grazed against the button of her jeans. He bit back another growl of anticipation, thumbing the button that stood between him and the haven between her thighs.
“Are you sure?”
Please say yes.
“Yes.” Nessa looked up at him, trust shining in her eyes that he’d never take for granted. “Just … No sex, okay?”
“I want to taste you,” Murphy rasped, his voice guttural, revealing how threadbare his restraint was becoming.
“Will you let me, Nessa? I’ve thought about it for months.
How sweet you’d taste, how it would feel to have your legs wrapped around my shoulders while I licked every inch of you.
The noises you’d make as I made you lose yourself to pleasure. ”
Her tongue darted out, swiping over her lips. And then she nodded.
Desperate to have whatever he could of her, Murphy released his hold on her hair, sliding from the couch and dropping onto his knees in front of her. He popped the button free on her jeans, fumbling with the zipper before pulling it down and exposing a pair of dark blue panties.
Slowly, he pulled the denim from her legs, revealing each flawless inch of her tan skin to his gaze. He devoured her with his eyes, reaching for her panties as soon as he had her jeans on the ground beside him. As he grabbed hold of the edge, Nessa tensed.
His eyes shot to hers, waiting for her to tell him she’d changed her mind. She exhaled and then lifted her hips in encouragement, placing a hand on his shoulder to keep her balance.
Murphy’s eyes moved back to her legs, and as he peeled away the last barrier between him and her tempting cunt, he swallowed thickly, overcome by a sudden onslaught of his own nerves.
It had been over a decade since he’d gone down on a female, and he didn’t want to mess this up. Hopefully, his enthusiasm was enough for her to overlook whatever shortcomings he had in this department.
We’ll just have to make sure we practice often, he reassured himself, staring hungrily at the neatly trimmed dusting of black hair between her thighs. He cupped her, gently at first, her heat seeping into his palm. His middle finger slid over her damp slit in a teasing stroke.
She felt like heaven, and he’d barely touched her.
“Is this okay?” His finger slid over her wet cunt, his touch light, when all he wanted to do was sink it inside her, to feel her spasm around him. His cock throbbed painfully in agreement, so hard he was surprised it didn’t punch through the zipper to break free.
“Yes,” Nessa told him, her grip tightening on his right shoulder and her voice shaky.
Anticipation making his mouth water, Murphy found her entrance, more juices coating his finger. “You’re so damned wet, Nessa,” he growled appreciatively.
With his free hand, he lifted her leg, settling it over his left shoulder and stretching her pretty cunt open for him. He used his fingers to spread her open further, the nectar dripping from her center tempting him closer, to lap up every drop of her slick until he’d gorged himself on her.
“You’re fucking perfect, little mate,” he praised, meaning every word.
He pushed his finger inside her, sinking two knuckles deep. Immediately, her body tightened, her inner walls locking around his finger in a chokehold as liquid dripped onto his hand.
Fuck, if she was this tight when they eventually had sex, he’d cum within ten seconds.
Five if she moaned his name.
Two if she called him ‘Alpha.’
“Murphy,” Nessa whimpered, arching her back ever so slightly. His finger sank in all the way, and a needy expression crossed her face, causing precum to seep from his cockhead. “Please,” she begged. “I need you.”
A deep, animalistic growl exploded from Murphy’s chest, and as his lust swelled, Nessa’s plea ringing in his ears, he bent his head and feasted.