Just Couldn't Help Myself

“It’s either that or I start scratching up your furniture.” Lonnie told me the next day as I wrestled with my armload of groceries to unlock my front door. “They aren’t that expensive, you know.”

“I just don’t want cat stuff cluttering up my already tiny apartment.” I told him, and he sighed. “Besides, if you- shit.” I dropped my keys. Setting my bags down by my feet and retrieved my keys. I unlocked the door and Lonnie darted past me. “Oh, sure, after you, Mr. High-And-Mighty-Kitty.”

Murphy chuckled behind me, and I nearly drop my groceries. I turned, flushing, and saw him coming up the stairs. “I can’t get over how cute that is.” he told me, and I found myself remembering the last time we were face to face in front of my apartment door. He was looking particularly good today; a well cut casual suit in charcoal gray, with a white dress shirt untucked with the top two buttons popped. I gave him a thorough once over, unable to help myself, which made him grin.

“How’d your interview go?” I asked him, and he closed the distance between us to take some of my bags. “No, I’ve got it-”

“It’s no trouble.” he told me, sounding firm, so I nodded and led the way into my apartment. “And it went great. I got the job.”

“Hey, congrats, man.” I said, flashing him a smile before dumping the groceries on the table. He did likewise, standing a little too close to me.

“Thanks.” he said quietly. “I was hoping you’d want to celebrate with me.”

“What did you have in mind?” I asked, turning a little to meet his eyes. I suddenly knew exactly what he had in mind, and the kitchen was very quickly way too warm. I cleared my throat. “Let me cook for you?”

He raised an eyebrow. “You cook, huh?”

I nodded. “I was going to make portabella burgers and antipasta salad for Lonnie and me, I can make more no problem.”

“You mean antipasto.” he corrected.

“No, I don’t. It’s different. You’ll like it.”

He smiled and nodded. “Dinner sounds good, sure.” he took a step towards me, which seemed impossible considering the lack of space between us as it was. “But maybe we could celebrate a little right now?” his hand slid up my arm to my shoulder and toyed with the collar of my shirt. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you yesterday.” he said quietly, his eyes on my mouth. “I hope I didn’t overstep any boundaries.”

I bit my bottom lip anxiously, not wanting him to move away, and wanting him to be as far away from as possible at the same time. He made me nervous and kind of sweaty, painfully aroused and scared to death. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Lonnie glaring at me from the kitchen doorway.

Oh, to hell with this.

I grabbed Murphy back the back of the neck, surprising him, and kissed him hard. He didn’t seem to mind at all, actually making an approving little sound against my mouth before slipping his arms around my neck and licking at my lips so I would open for him. I put my arms around his waist, sliding my hands up under his suit coat, and he moved closer, practically plastering himself to me and pushing me until the small of my back was against the table. He slid one hand along my jaw and then down my neck, and the other ran through my hair. His teeth caught my bottom lip, nipping gently, and when I licked at his lips he bit at that a little too.

Lonnie made a yowling, hissing sound from the doorway, startling us both, and Murphy pulled away, looking flushed and pleased. He turned his head towards the cat and I caught the smell of his hair; cinnamon and soap. Oh, to punt that cat across the apartment…

He chuckled, and I felt it rumble through my chest. “Somebody’s jealous, hmm?” he asked, and let go of me to go and crouch beside Lonnie. He reached out to pet him, and the cat swiped at him, hissing. Murphy snatched his hand back and stood up. “Okay, I get the message.” he shot me a look and grinned. “Protective cat you’ve got there.”

I ran my hands through my hair, my mouth feeling swollen. “You have no idea.” I muttered.

“So when’s dinner?” Murphy asked. Before I could answer his cell phone went off, and his ringtone made me burst out laughing.

“You’re a nerd?” I asked. “I love Battlestar.”

“Me too.” he said, glancing at the display. ‘Shit, I’ve got to take this or she’ll kill me.” he hit the answer button, cutting off the Cylon theme in midnote. “Hey, Bunny.” he said into the phone, smiling. “Thanks. Yea.” he listening, his head tilted. “I have plans tonight, but maybe-” he stopped, frowning. “Well, I don’t know… hang on.” He covered the phone with one hand and asked me, “You think maybe Bunny-”

“I can cook for her too.” I agreed, and he flashed me his dimples and went back to his phone. “Seven’s a good time for dinner.”

“Yea, that’s fine. No, that neighbor of mine I told you about is cooking me dinner.” he rolled his eyes. “You’re one to talk. Meet me at my place at six thirty. Okay.” he laughed and hung up the phone. “Thank you, Johnny. It’s really sweet of you.”

I shrugged. “No big deal.” I told him, and he came over and looped his arms around my neck again. I tensed a little, then relaxed, but he caught it anyway. He attempted to move away but I caught him by the hips. “Don’t do that.” I said, and he leaned up and kissed me softly. “I like you.” I told him.

He grinned. “I hope so. I hate to think what this would mean if you didn’t.” he sighed and stepped back. “I need a shower. I’ll be here at seven sharp, okay? With Bunny in tow.” I nodded agreement, and he turned to leave.

“Murphy?” When I said his name he stopped and looked at me, eyebrows arched. “Thanks.”

“For what?” he asked, looking pleased but confused.

“For picking this building to live in.” I told him, which made him laugh. He waved and left. When the door shut, I went looking for Lonnie, who was sitting on my bed looking murderous. “What the hell, cat?” I snapped at him.

“He could be him.” Lonnie told me. “Did that slip your mind?”

I rolled my eyes. “This is getting old.” I informed him.

He sighed. “Fine.” he stood, his tail puffy. “Get everyone you love killed. See if I care.” he sauntered out of the room, but paused halfway out the door. “Just don’t come crying to me when the shit hits the fan.”

I put away my groceries, took a shower, cleaned the apartment, and then started cooking at four. All that time Lonnie stayed hidden, for which I was grateful. I was tired of the whiney little fuzz ball. I was tired of thinking about anything at all. I was just flat out tired. Murphy was a welcome respite from all of my newfound insanity. Plus, I’d come up with a plan. If Lonnie was telling the truth and there really was the devil out there, then I could screen Murphy for it and get laid in the process. After all, ideally, you’re naked for sex, so I could look this supposed tattoo.

Slutty, sure, but it’d been a while and the hot ginger neighbor upstairs wanted me. No person in their right minds would say no to that… and since I wasn’t in my right mind, I could use that as a justification for being slutty.

Murphy came in without knocking at six fifty five, and I went out into the living room to greet him. He kissed me lightly on the mouth, smiling a little, and introduced his friend Bunny. She was cute and curvy, with chocolate colored hair and huge gray eyes. She hugged me, giggling, and gave Murphy an approved pat on the shoulder.

“Oh, he’s adorable, Murphy.” she said, her voice high and almost squeaky. “Tall and skinny, just like you like them.” she gave me an appraising look. “Hell, you could use him as a stripper pole.”

I flushed, and Murphy laughed. “Tempting.” he said, and patted me on the ass as he went into the kitchen. “I brought beer.” he said, and Bunny winked at me and followed him into the kitchen.

We ate dinner, and I found I liked Bunny a lot. She was a little flighty, and her voice was sort of annoying, but she was sweet and had a great sense of humor. I enjoyed dinner a lot; my meal had come out great, they both praised it, and Murphy kept his hand on my thigh under the table through the whole meal. After the plates were cleared we sat around, finishing off Murphy’s beer and talking. Lonnie still hadn’t shown himself, and by the time Bunny exclaimed about how late it was, and how she had class in the morning, I had a pleasant, low grade buzz.

I followed them out into the hall, and Bunny hugged each of us before telling us to behave ourselves and hurrying down the stairs. Murphy watched her go, smiling to himself, then turned and regarded me. “Alone at last.” he said, and I smiled. “Do you want help with the dishes?” he asked.

I shook my head. “I’ll take care of them tomorrow.” I said. “Besides, this was a celebration for you.”

He nodded, stepping towards me. “Help me out here a little, Johnny.” he said softly. “I’m a little tipsy, and I can’t think of a legitimate reason to get back in your apartment.” he slid his hand down my stomach to my belt buckle. “Other than to have my way with you, that is.” he traced my bottom lip with the tip of one finger. “Now, to me that sounds like a perfectly reasonable excuse, but if you need some persuading…”

And then he was kissing me again, and my back was against the doorframe, and his hands were squirming under my shirt. His fingers were cool and smooth against the skin of my stomach, and when those hands slid upwards and the pads of his thumbs brushed both my nipples at the same time, I moaned loudly into his mouth, grabbing his hips and pulling flush against me.

“Holy shit.”

Murphy made a protesting sound and pulled away, and we both turned our heads towards the unfamiliar voice. I, for one, was getting really fucking tired of interuptions.

The black haired guy in the motorcycle jacket was leaning against the stair wall, his arms across his broad chest and a smirk on his face. Very slowly, he reached up and took off his glasses. His eyes were blue, electric blue, alien blue.

“Oh, don’t mind me, Johnny.” he said with a chuckle. “I’ll just stand here and enjoy the show."