Matilda moans and I imagine her eyes rolling back into her head as she responds to my growling voice.
“Murphy,” she moans.
My breathing quickens and my heart races as I imagine Matilda’s hands exploring my body. My muscles tense, pulling my balls up close to my body as I increase the tempo of my strokes. With a final thrust, pleasure surges through me, heat spreading up from my groin as I give into the blissful release. Collapsing back onto the bed, exhaustion sets in as I savour the afterglow.
Matilda giggles softly. “Wow.”
I chuckle at her bluntness. “Yeah, wow.”
She says nothing, and the silence stretches between us. I’m not sure what to say to her, so I settle for what I know. “I love you, Matilda.”
I should’ve said it to her in person. Face to face in some grand gesture, not with my softening dick in my hand and come sliding off my abs.
The phone crackles in the wake of her silence, and I hold my breath. Finally, after what feels like an age, Matilda replies.
“I love you too, Murphy.”
In that moment, I know what I have to do.
Sixteen
Murphy
It’sastrangefeelingto be going back to Bodella with the intention to stay. Since I left the small outback town many years ago, I’ve never stayed put for very long. I’m a nomad. A traveller.
Yet, the rodeo scene no longer feels like home and, after many years living and working on the circuit, I’ve officially hung up my spurs. It’s like my body has been waiting for a reason to slow down and now it’s here. Or should I say,sheis here. My Omega. My Spitfire is waiting for me.
I still feel guilty about putting her life in danger the last time we were together. I won’t let it happen again. The moment I set foot back in Bodella, I’m going to claim my Omega. Once we’re mated, both of our aura sicknesses will weaken and make our coexistence safer. While it’s been hard, the forced space has given us both time to be absolutely sure our attraction and affection is the real deal.
I am positive this is the right choice. It’s not driven by my typical reckless, impulsiveness – rather, it’s what my soul is telling me is right.
Driving into Bodella, the first place I go is to Ida’s house. I know Matilda is off doing her community nurse rounds and won’t be home until later in the evening.
“Murphy!”
I lean down and accept Ida’s warm embrace. She holds me tightly, like a mother bear protecting her cub. Her hugs have always felt like coming home. I know I’m her favourite Bodella Alpha. Ida’s not great at keeping her affections to herself, and I like to think its fate that Matilda appears to be another favourite too.
“It’s good to see you, old woman.”
“You too, troublemaker. Come in, come in.”
I follow Ida inside, and she leads me through the hallway to the kitchen. The house is cool with fans in every room whirring furiously.
Ida busies herself with a large kettle as I take a seat at the small kitchen table.
“It’s been one month already? I have to say, I didn’t expect you to stay away from her for so long,” Ida says.
I shrug, rubbing the back of my neck. “It wasn’t easy. I had to fight my aura every step of the way. I swear I got in the driver’s seat to come back every damn day but Matilda needed to find herself again and she couldn’t do so when she’s overwhelmed by auras – especially mine. Besides, I had a lot of growing up to do with not a lot of time to do it. I didn’t need such a tempting distraction.”
Ida gives me a kind smile, places a mug of coffee and a glass of ice-cold water before me. She pulls out a chair, sits down, and grasps my hand in both of hers. They’re so small. Her skin looks thin and weak against my tanned, calloused palm.
“Murphy, I’m very fond of Matilda.”
“Me too.”
“And as much as I love you...”
Her wrinkled hands squeeze mine with a surprising strength, her nails biting into my skin.
