Murdock, p.11
Murdock, page 11
Murdock chuckled. “Never had an orgasm?” He shook his head. “Sweetheart, you don’t know what you’ve been missing.”
“Exactly. And what I’m beating around the bush about is—” Gabbie drew in a deep breath and spat it out, “I want to make love with you. When I’m near you, I get hot all over and want to get naked with you.” She laughed. “I’ve never felt like that before, so I have to conclude that I’m sexually attracted to you.”
“Is that a scientific conclusion? Or are you throwing science to the wind to embrace the possibility of fate playing its hand?”
“Both.” Gabbie closed her eyes and braced herself for rejection. “Look, I understand that just because I’m attracted to you doesn’t mean you’re attracted to me. Although, you did say you liked me. Or at least that you liked me better in jeans and boots.”
She threw her hands in the air. “Hell, I’m botching this, aren’t I? Bottom line is, I want you. If you don’t feel the same, I’ll understand, and I won’t bring it up ever again.” She rested a hand on his chest and stared at where her fingers curled into the borrowed shirt. “But if you feel even a little of the same desire and want to make love, I’m all in.”
When Murdock didn’t answer immediately, Gabbie dared to look up into his eyes.
His lips curled in a gentle smile.
“Oh, hell. You’re not interested.” Gabbie started to back away.
His arm circled her waist, and he pulled her to him. “You’ve got that wrong. I’m stunned that you think I’m not interested. Did you hear the words I said?”
Gabbie nodded slowly and then shook her head.
“I said I liked your red hair. I said I liked so much about you. I was hooked when you came to my rescue.”
“Liked? What does that mean? I told you I’m not good at reading cues. Does that mean you like me like a kid sister? Or do you like me like someone you want to make love to?”
He cupped her cheeks in his palms and tipped her head up. “I want to make love with you, Gabbie Myers. I want to be the one who gives you your first orgasm. And believe me, you’ll know it’s an orgasm when it’s for real.”
She drew in a deep breath and let it out in a whoosh. “Whew! That’s a relief. For a moment there, I thought I’d just made the biggest fool of myself, and I would never be able to look you in the eye ag—”
Murdock cut off her words with a crushing kiss that stole her breath away and scrambled her thoughts. She leaned into him, rising on her toes to deepen the kiss. When he swept his tongue across her lips, she opened to him.
His hands slid down her back and lowered to rest on her hips, bringing her close enough to feel the evidence of his desire pressing into her belly.
Heat seared through her veins, bringing out the wanton in her she never knew existed. Gabbie leaned back and worked loose the buttons on his shirt. One by one, she freed them, pulling the shirttail from his waistband to finish the task. Then she pushed the shirt over his broad shoulders and down his muscular arms, her hands smoothing over his taut skin as she reveled in his strength.
He shifted his weight and toed off first one boot and then the other.
Gabbie reached for his belt, unbuckled it and pulled it free of the belt loops, letting it drop to the floor. Then she pushed the button free on the waistband of his jeans and slid the zipper downward.
His cock sprang free, jutting out, hard and straight.
Fascinated by how long and thick it was, she wrapped her hands around it. It was as hard and soft like stone encased in velvet. She ran her fingers along its length, stroking and touching, getting to know the smooth ridges.
Murdock captured her hand and held it still. “You know, you’re killing me, don’t you?”
She frowned up at him. “Does that hurt when I touch you there?”
“Only in the best way.” He raised her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to her palm. “But I won’t last long if you keep that up. And I want to get there first.”
“Oh.” She drew in a ragged breath and let it out slowly. “Would it help if I was naked?” She raised her hand and slipped the thin strap of her dress over her shoulder.
Murdock caught her before she slipped the other one free. “Let me,” he said and kissed her mouth in a long, sensual coupling of their tongues that left her knees weak and desire burning at her core.
Abandoning her mouth, he blazed a path of kisses down the length of her neck, pausing at the base of her throat where her pulse beat wildly. Then he kissed his way across her shoulder to the remaining strap, sliding it slowly over the edge.
As she’d imagined, the dress slithered over her breasts, down her torso and past her hips, falling in a pool of fabric around her ankles.
Gabbie stepped free and started to bend to remove the strappy sandals from her feet.
Murdock stopped her by catching her hand and raising it to his lips. “Not yet. There’s something incredibly sexy about a woman in heels and nothing else.”
Her pulse spiked at the intensity of his gaze as he stepped back and looked at her from the tips of her breasts to her toes.
Had he looked at her any other way, she might have felt compelled to cover herself.
But the way his gaze caressed her made her feel…beautiful.
Murdock slid his hands over her shoulders and down her arms to her hips. He reversed the direction, following the curve of her waist up to the swell of her breasts. Cupping them in his palms, he squeezed gently and then tweaked the nipples between his thumbs and forefingers.
He bent to take one nipple into his mouth and flicked his tongue across the tip until it hardened into a little bead.
Gabbie laced her fingers in his hair and held him to her breast, her hips rocking slightly with each flick or nip.
She ached for more, wanting him inside her.
Murdock hooked his thumbs in the elastic waistband of her panties and slid them over her hips and downward, his hands caressing her hips, her thighs, her calves all the way down to her ankles.
He knelt in front of her and lifted one foot at a time to remove the undergarment, pressing a kiss to her calves on his way back up. He guided her backward until she bumped into the bed and sat on the edge.
Murdock placed his hands on her knees and spread her legs, his fingers sliding along her inner thighs, his mouth following with flicks of his tongue.
As he neared her center, her breath lodged in her throat, and her pulse pounded through her veins.
When his fingers touched her there, Gabbie moaned.
He parted her folds with his thumbs and stroked that nubbin of flesh, igniting her firestorm of desire into a raging inferno.
When his mouth closed on that same nubbin, he flicked it with his tongue. The first time was deliciously shocking. The second flick made her fingers and toes curl. The third jettisoned her into an explosion of sensations so intense she forgot to breathe, so focused was she on riding that feeling to the very last electric current tingling from her core to the very tips of her fingers and toes.
She fell back against the mattress, dragging air back into her lungs. “Oh, sweet Jesus,” she gasped. “You were right. Oh, so right.”
He chuckled, his breath warm against her sex. “Now, you know what you’ve been missing.”
“Yes. I. Do.” She reached for him. “But it’s not enough.”
He laughed. “Getting greedy? Wanna go for round two?”
“I ache for more,” she said. “I want you. Inside me.” She sat up and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Please.”
With her still holding on around his neck, he rose, swinging her up in his arms. He kissed her as he laid her on the bed, then stepped back.
He fished his wallet out of his back pocket and plucked a packet from inside. Then he shed his jeans and kicked them to the side.
He stood for a moment, starlight bathing his muscular body in an indigo-blue glow. His cock stood straight and thick.
He was magnificent.
“If at any time this isn’t right for you, just tell me, and I’ll stop,” he said.
“Shut up and come to me,” she said, her voice choked with her desire.
He climbed onto the bed and leaned over to kiss her lips.
She parted her legs, and he settled between them, the tip of his cock, nudging her entrance.
Murdock rose to his knees and ripped open the packet.
Gabbie took the condom from him and rolled it over his engorged staff, loving that she’d made him that hard and that she’d soon have him inside her.
She lay back against the pillow, gripped his hips and guided him into her slick channel.
He moved slowly, filling her, stretching her to fit his length and girth. Once he’d sunk all the way to the hilt, he pulled almost all the way out.
Impatient for more, Gabbie gripped his hips and brought him home again. She set the pace, increasing the speed until Murdock took control, pumping in and out, faster and harder.
Gabbie raised her knees and planted her heels in the mattress, rising to meet him at every thrust.
Murdock’s body tensed, and he thrust once more, driving deep into her. He stayed buried, his cock pulsing inside her.
Gabbie wrapped her legs around Murdock, holding him close until he finally collapsed against her, his body crushing the air from her lungs.
He only lay there for a moment before he rolled onto his side, taking her with him.
“I’m glad you were my first,” she whispered and laughed. “My first orgasm. Thank you for making it memorable.”
He laughed. “I don’t think anyone has ever thanked me for making love to her.
“Well, they should have.” Gabbie moved closer, resting her cheek against his broad chest. “Just so you know, I don’t expect anything from you. No strings, no commitment.” She rested her hand on his chest, wishing they could stay like they were at that moment, forever. “We’re two consenting adults. I promise not to make any crazy demands.”
“Oh, yeah?” Murdock rose on one elbow and stared down at her face in the limited light from the stars. “What if I want strings or I crave commitment?”
She cupped his cheek. “It’s too soon. We barely know each other. Until we do, we shouldn’t make any rash promises in the heat of passion that we might regret later.” She gave him a tight smile.
He frowned. “Is this your way of giving me the brush-off and making it sound like you’re doing me a favor?”
“No, that’s not what this is.”
“Don’t you believe in fate and love at first sight?”
She grimaced. “I told you. I believe some things were meant to be. But the scientist in me wants to prove the theory before I make my conclusions.”
“And I believe life is short, and you have to go for the joy whenever and wherever you find it.” He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. “For some strange reason, I can’t explain…you bring me joy.” He held up his hands. “Don’t worry, I won’t campaign for commitment or promises, even though I believe fate brought us together when my horse ran away with me. And I won’t speak of undying love until you’ve had time to prove your theory.”
“Thank you,” she said.
Murdock shook his head. “My gut tells me to hold onto you and never let go. So, I’ll give you the time you need, but I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be here when you come to your conclusion. One that I already know. We were meant to be.”
Chapter 10
Gabbie had fallen asleep. She woke when Murdock shook her several times.
He hated waking her, but they needed to get moving
“What?” Gabbie said, sitting up straight and blinking.
Murdock leaned over and kissed her. “Wake up. It’s time to go.”
It took a moment or two for her sleep-fogged brain to engage. When it did, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and pushed to her feet. “I’m ready.”
Murdock chuckled as he slipped his radio earbud in his ear. “You might want to put on some clothes. It gets cold at night in the mountains.”
“Right.” Gabbie gathered her jeans and shirt and walked across the room to the bathroom.
“Have I told you how sexy you are naked?” Murdock said as she passed by him.
“No, but feel free to knock yourself out.” She winked as she went by and stepped into the bathroom.
Minutes later, she was dressed and combed, and her hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail at the back of her head. She emerged from the bathroom wearing her own clothes, with no makeup and looking a little ragged around the edges with less than two hours of sleep.
She was still the woman he admired most. Hers was the last face he wanted to see at night and the first one he wanted to see in the morning.
Had they only known each other for two days?
“I’m going to leave the room first,” Murdock said as he stood near the bedroom door. “If the guard tries to stop me, I’ll have to deal with him. I’d prefer if you’d give me a couple of seconds before you come out.”
Gabbie leaned up on her toes and kissed him. “Be careful. I want to keep you around a little longer.”
Though she smiled, it was tight, and the light didn’t shine from her eyes.
He gave her a quick kiss and opened the door. After a quick look, he ducked out and pulled the door closed behind him.
The hallway was mostly dark, with nightlights placed to mark a path for its length.
Murdock moved silently to the top of the stairs where he’d last seen the armed guard. He was nowhere to be seen.
He didn’t trust that leaving Williams’ mansion would be easy. The guards were there. He just hadn’t run across them yet.
Back at the room he’d shared with Gabbie, he opened the door. “Let’s go.”
She slipped through the door and walked with him to the top of the staircase.
With Murdock in the lead, they descended the stairs to the main level and hurried across the living area to the door they’d come through the day before.
“Be ready. I’m not sure what will happen if we’re discovered. It would be best if neither of those scenarios came to pass. But if they do…run.”
Murdock pushed the door open.
Immediately, a siren wailed, and lights blinked.
“Now would be a good time to run!” Murdock grabbed her hand and ran to the end of the patio and down the steps to the ground below.
Guards came from both sides, carrying military-grade semi-automatic rifles.
“Halt, or we’ll shoot!” one guard cried.
With guards on either flank, Murdock and Gabbie ran straight, heading toward the stables.
“Halt!” the voice called out again.
With little cover available between the house and the stables, they were exposed and could be easily picked off if the man with the rifle was a decent shot.
Once committed to this course of action, they couldn’t stop.
Murdock insisted Gabbie run ahead of him. Thankfully, she was in good shape and a fast runner.
By the time they reached the horse trailer, they’d managed to put a little distance between themselves and their pursuers. Not much, maybe a few seconds. Knowing they didn’t have much time, Murdock ran straight for the horse trailer, quickly dropped the ramp and dove inside with Gabbie.
He shoved aside the divider walls until he reached the last one. Murdock almost whooped for joy at the sight of his motorcycle. He’d almost expected it to be gone.
He leaped onto the seat and leaned forward to make room for Gabbie.
As she slid onto the back, Murdock turned the key and started the engine. It immediately roared to life.
“Hold on!” Murdock twisted the throttle as Gabbie’s arms tightened around his middle.
The bike shot out of the back of the trailer and raced away from the stables.
Shots rang out behind them.
Gabbie hugged him tighter.
He hated that she was on the back. If the gunmen were lucky enough to hit the pair on the motorcycle, Gabbie would be the one to take the bullet.
All the more reason to get out of range as soon as possible.
Murdock sped along the road leading to the gate. If it didn’t open automatically, they’d just have to find another way out, even if it meant ditching the bike and climbing over the wall.
They reached the wall well ahead of the two guards who had been on foot.
The gate did not open automatically.
Quickly ditching the bike, Murdock and Gabbie ran along the gate wall until they found where the stone wall ended, and the six-foot-tall perimeter fence stretched into the distance.
“You go first.” Murdock bent, laced his hands together, and said, “Step into my hands and jump for the top. I’ll help you get there.
Gabbie placed her boot in Murdock’s hands. As he rose, she flung herself over the top of the wall and dropped down to the other side.
She looked up, waiting for Murdock to join her.
“Come on, Sean!”
Intent on watching for Murdock, she didn’t realize she wasn’t alone until a hand clamped over her mouth and nose. Something sickly sweet filled her nostrils.
Gabbie fought to get free until a black abyss consumed her.
* * *
After helping Gabbie over the wall, Murdock backed up for a running start. Just as he was about to take off, he was hit from the side and knocked to the ground. Someone landed on top of him.
Survival instinct set in. Murdock bucked and rolled in an attempt to get out from under the man holding him down. He felt a sharp stick in the back of his neck and a burning sensation. When he finally managed to slip out from beneath the big man, he rolled to his feet, staggered a few steps and fell to his knees.
Gabbie. Must get to Gabbie.
His vision blurred. He shook his head in an attempt to clear the fog, but everything faded to black.
* * *
When Gabbie came to, she blinked in an attempt to open her eyes, only to realize they were open, but she was in a place so dark not a fraction of light came through. She couldn’t move her arms. They were secured behind her back with something hard and plastic. As the brain fog cleared bit by bit, she remembered being caught from behind and a hand with a cloth pressing over her mouth and nose.
