CHAPTER SEVEN
– ELODIE –
The smile on my face gives a small impression of the carefree feeling running through me. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this way, if ever. There was never a moment in my life where I felt ready for any kind of a relationship with a man.
Curiosity about sex and desire was subdued by toys, and by my own hands. Though, if I knew how deliciously exciting the real thing between a man and a woman is? I should have done it years ago. Then again, it might just be Murray, and the chemistry between us.
We had sex twice yesterday, and once more when we woke up this morning; each time was just as hot as the first time. The man makes me the center of his world, and the look in his eyes is completely real. The lust when he stares at every single inch of my body is undeniable.
Oh, and those piercings. Damn. It’s safe to say I found a new addiction.
I don’t think I’ll ever want to know what it feels like to have sex with someone without a pierced dick.
Then again, why should I when Murray and I just started to discover things between us?
My life took a drastic change a few weeks ago, but my world spun on its axis again last night.
I have a boyfriend. Though, Murray doesn’t really fit half of the term. ..he’s no boy, and absolutely all man.
I can still feel him between my legs, and it’s also why Murray suggested we go fishing this morning. Staying inside the cabin would have led to more sex. It’s like a dam being broken and we can’t stop touching one another.
Hank loved the walk through the forest and spending time at the river.
We caught some trout, and now Murray is in the kitchen cleaning and seasoning the fish so he can cook them for dinner.
I check my watch and we still have an hour before Jaxie, Seamus, and Ballard will be here.
Seamus called Murray on the satellite phone.
There have been some developments and it’s the reason they called for a meeting at our place.
“Here you go, darlin’. Eat up, you’re going to need your strength.” Murray gives me a sexy smirk as he places a plate filled with food in front of me.
I jerk my chin in the direction of his plate that’s filled to the brim as he takes a seat in front of me. “Solid advice you’re taking to heart yourself I see.”
He only shoots me a wink before shoveling a forkful of food into his mouth. We eat in comfortable silence and once finished I do the dishes while Murray dries our plates.
“I didn’t want to tell you, with Goat and all,” Murray starts when we’re finished with the dishes.
Frowning, I drop my ass down on the couch and ask, “Tell me what?”
Murray rubs the back of his neck. “My horse, Ruby. I have to make a decision about bringing her home or keeping her at the ranch. I brought her there when I had an assignment for a few weeks. I was supposed to pick her up when the shit with you happened. It was an easy phone call to make to keep her a bit longer at the ranch. Except, Lisa called when you were still sleeping this morning, and she asked when I was going to swing by. It’s about six more weeks before her due date.
Either I bring her here or keep her at the ranch until after the foal is born. ”
The only thing waving a red flag from the load of information he just shared is the mention of Lisa.
A wave of something ugly courses through me, and it’s why I grit, “Who is Lisa?”
Murray steps closer and towers over me when he croons, “My woman is adorable when she’s jealous.”
I narrow my eyes. “You didn’t answer my question, which obviously means you had something with her.”
He releases a sigh and takes a seat beside me. His hard, muscled thigh presses against me and I scoot a few inches to the side. A knock on the door doesn’t break our staring match. It does, however, get on my freaking nerves when Murray stays silent.
“Well?” I grit.
“Yes, I fucked her. Twice. But it’s in the past and it was well over a year ago. I’m not a saint, Elodie, but I can tell you it was only sex with all those other women. Nothing compares to what it feels like when I’m deep inside you.”
“Says the man who went back for seconds with Lisa.” I get up to open the door.
More knocking along with Ballard’s voice, “Open up, I can hear you guys talking.”
Murray wraps his fingers around my upper arm and spins me around to face him. A gasp rips from me, but Murray swallows the sound when his mouth covers mine. His hands gently cup my face as he backs me up against the door.
He grinds his hips against me, letting me feel how his cock hardens against my belly. My fingers glide into his hair as I moan into his mouth, loving the way he lights up my body with heated desire.
For a moment we’re both cut off from the world, lost in one another, until we’re rudely ripped back to the here and now when Ballard hits the door with his fist and shouts, “Fucking against the door instead of opening it is not nice. Not nice at all. Unless you invite me in. I don’t mind watching or joining for that matter. ”
A growls rumbles through Murray’s chest, and he wraps a strong arm around my waist to pull me with him as he steps back to open the door.
His other arm flashes forward to grab the front of Ballard’s coat. “No one will ever touch my woman, asshole. Elodie is mine. I don’t share, and no fucking watching shit either.”
“I wasn’t hinting at watching her shit,” Ballard states with a straight face.
Murray isn’t amused at all and shoves him back. “Heed my warning, motherfucker.”
Ballard shakes his head. “You too, eh? Damn. You and Seamus fell hard and fast. Whatever, dude. I was only joking around. All the more chicks for me with you two out of the running. Besides, she’s not my type, and if she was?
I wouldn’t touch her if she threw herself at me.
..well, maybe I would, you know, to break her fall.
Otherwise, you’d be pissed at me anyway if she got hurt.
Fuck. What I’m trying to say is...there’s no way I’d disrespect a friend when it involves women.
Hell, it’s probably exactly the shit that started the grudge between Dax and Burk, causing the spiraling backlash we’re dealing with now. ”
I wince at the way Ballard sums it up and have to agree how something between friends in the past spiraled out of control. Murray gives him a tight nod in understanding.
We step aside to let Ballard enter, and when Murray closes the door, I tell him, “I don’t share either. If I’m yours, then you’re mine too.”
“One hundred percent, little rebel,” Murray murmurs and brushes his lips against mine.
I’m about to deepen the kiss when there’s yet again someone knocking on the door. This time it appears to be Seamus and Jaxie.
“You didn’t bring the dogs?” I ask when they step inside.
Seamus shakes his head. “No. We dropped them off at my mother’s place earlier. We had a lot of things we needed to take care of before we came here.”
Jaxie is wearing a grin and holds up her hand. The ring on her finger makes my eyes widen and realization hits. A scream of joy for my best friend rips from me right before I pull her into a tight hug.
“I’m so happy for you,” I gush and quickly end the hug to admire her wedding ring.
Even if she’s only known Seamus for a couple of weeks, and some might say they are moving way too fast, I happen to think it’s exactly what Jaxie needs. Not only did her father ask Seamus to protect her, Dax and Seamus’s mother, Edna, have been talking about setting them up for a date for years.
They are truly a great match, but I also know they must have tied the knot for another reason. Jaxie did mention getting married to Seamus would make it harder to simply kill her for her shares in Stalwart Ridge Security. Because those shares will belong to Seamus if they don’t have a prenup.
“What’s going on?” Murray asks from behind us.
Seamus draws all our attention when he states, “Royce called us into a meeting at the office this morning. Afterward Jaxie demanded we’d swing by the courthouse so she could marry my grumpy ass.”
Murray smacks Seamus’s shoulder. “Lucky fucker, congrats, man.”
“What meeting?” Ballard questions, and adds, “Congrats on the ball and chain. Always a good thing to put a ring on a woman if she can tolerate staying with your grumpy ass for weeks on end.”
Seamus chuckles. “It’s why I made a quick stop at the jewelry store and got her a ring.”
Jaxie pokes Seamus in his side. “I got you one as well.”
He looks down at my best friend with a clear emotion in his gaze. It’s love. Easily recognizable, and the same emotion is radiating from Jaxie. Their happiness is a ray of sun in the darkness of all this havoc surrounding us.
I feel Murray’s warmth covering my back before I feel his lips press against the crown of my head. Seeing my best friend’s happiness while just taking a leap of faith for my own gives me hope. Hope that we will pull through the shit we’re all still facing.