Chapter 37
Odette
This time when I woke, Murphy was asleep next to me, still clinging to me like his life depended on it, and maybe in some way, it did.
A brief glance at the sky showed me it was well on its way to being dinnertime, and we needed to make it back in time for dinner with Lux.
In fact, I’m surprised I hadn’t heard my phone at all.
Slowly sliding out from under the sheets so I didn’t wake Murphy, I slowly bent down to pick up my clothes off the floor. Large hands wrapped around my waist, pulling me back into bed, and I found myself laughing like a giddy schoolgirl.
“Unhand me, sir.”
“Never.” He nestled into my neck, which seemed to be his new favorite spot.
“I was going to let you sleep, you looked peaceful.”
“I woke up the second you moved from my arms.” His whispered voice over my neck had me nuzzling back into him.
“What do you say we get dressed and go get our girl, then come home?” I asked and turned my head up to get a view of him.
“Home?” He stared down at me, his voice wavering a little at his question, but his eyes were filled with so much hope and longing.
“Here, the new place you’ve built, the cottage. Home is where you are, and I think I’d like to make up for lost time.”
His lips met mine in a kiss that could only be described as adoring.
His tongue coaxed mine out in the slowest rhythm, and he pulled back just enough so he could nibble on my lips.
I knew to the outside world it would seem as though this was going fast, but for me, it felt like it was years in the making.
Years of trying to find myself, when all I needed was here.
I didn’t and would never regret leaving, it was something I needed to do, but this was where I was always going to end up. Here, with him.
“I’m actually kind of shocked we haven’t heard from your mom yet. We should have been back hours ago.”
Murphy had the decency to blush, and I cocked an eyebrow at him.
“What did you do?”
“I uh...may have shot her a text message telling her we’d be late.”
“And she had no problem with that?”
“I’m sure she’s planning our wedding.” He laughed but then turned serious. “You know you’re mine, right, Odette ? That I’m never letting you go? We can take this as slow as you’d like to, but now that I know this is what you want... You. Are. Mine.”
“I know.” I felt the corner of my lips tip up. Being claimed by Murphy was such a heady experience.
“I’ll never hurt you again. Losing you, losing this family…I wouldn’t survive it again.” His remorse and regret were always written on his face, his pain always surrounded him, and I knew this was the truth.
“I know,” I whispered, giving him a look of understanding. I felt the same. Losing him once was enough.
“ Mine.”
He lowered his head to kiss me, so soft yet I felt it everywhere.
He pulled away from me and whispered in my hair, “Odette, I won’t be able to deny you, but we really need to go get our girl.”
Sighing, I knew he was right, but I couldn’t get enough of him. It was like I’d been starving myself, and I’m finally letting myself have what I’ve always wanted.
“Who’s breaking the news to your mom that we are coming back here for the night?”
At the exact same time, Murphy and I slammed our pointer fingers to our noses and shouted, “Nose goes!”
I’d barely registered that he was calling it out at the same time but managed to hip check him, so his hand flew to the side to righten his stance as we were walking.
We used to do that all the time; it was a rule. Whoever was last had to suffer the consequences, no exceptions.
“You won by a technicality! A hindrance. A foul , if you will!” Murphy sputtered, and I couldn’t help but laugh at him.
I looked at him with humor. “Once a lawyer always a lawyer.”
“You caught on to that did you?” He held his hand out for me to take it as we made our way out of the bedroom and down the stairs. I was absolutely bemused that he was holding my hand, like some part of him needed to always be touching me.
“Care to explain now or later?”
“You should have been the lawyer.” He shot me a look behind his shoulder as we made our way out the door to his car. The bliss of the afternoon had started to wear off a bit, and my ribs were starting to throb. Wincing, I slowed my pace a bit in hopes that would ease some of the pain.
“My love…” Murphy was at my side, looking at me with concern, but the only thing I was focusing on was the fact that he called me my love .
“Murph, I’m okay. I’m sore, but the world isn’t ending.” I tried to joke with him, but the pained look he was shooting at me was impenetrable by my wit.
“ My world would have ended if something happened to you, you get that, right?” His whispered words caused goosebumps to break out over my skin, as if my body could sense the truth and sincerity behind them.
“I’m beginning to.”
He pulled me in close but minded my ribs, and placed a kiss on my forehead, then scooped me up bridal style and walked the rest of the way to the truck.
“I can walk, you know.” I couldn’t help my amusement at this side of Murphy.
“I know, but I don’t want you to.”
Accepting this answer, I snuggled in close. “Don’t think this lets you off the hook for the job thing.”
His chest rumbled with laughter. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
I could have sworn I saw steam come from his ears when he realized he wasn’t going to be able to continue holding me and open the door at the same time. If Murphy could have grown a third arm right then and there, he would have.
“I think you’re going to have to let me down, big guy.”
“No,” he huffed and I cackled.
“Then I guess we'll just stay here all night, and Lux won’t spend the night with us.”
He huffed and mumbled before gently placing me on the ground and fixing me a don’t you dare move look. He went about opening the door, all while muttering about trade in values and family vehicles.
“Family vehicles? I could see you in a minivan.” I shrugged, wincing again over my ribs, knowing I had overexerted myself but couldn’t find it in me to care one damn bit.
Murphy scooped me back up and, as gently as one could, got me into the passenger seat. I started to buckle myself in while Murphy made his way around the car, but his hand met mine mid-buckle.
“I buckle you in, from now until forever.” He clipped the buckle into its slot and put the car in reverse. “Let’s go bring our girl home.”
“Home,” I murmured back at him.