Instinctively, Nessa inhaled deeply. That delicious smell infiltrated her system, relaxing her until her momentary panic disappeared, leaving her reeling at its absence.
It was so baffling. Murphy was a tall, muscular man. Intense, too. He could shapeshift, for crying out loud. Her panicshouldhave skyrocketed after being startled like that.
With anyone else, it would have.
She’d noticed a similar thing in her teahouse yesterday morning at the memory of his aroma, and then again last night when Murphy had her pinned between her car and his strong body. There was something in his scent that helped ease her anxiety.
But how could just the smell of him alter her emotions so effectively? Was it a mate thing? A shifter thing? She had no idea, but curiosity ate at her, demanding to be sated.
“Do you always assault people on your doorstep?” Murphy asked hotly, exasperation evident in his voice.
Instinctively, Nessa’s hackles rose at his tone, the need to snap back at him as irresistible as inhaling another lungful of his scent. “Do you always lurk outside of people’s houses like a stalker?”
She breathed him in then, fighting the urge to roll her eyes to the back of her head in pleasure. She wanted to rip his sweater off and roll around on it, and then wear it for weeks, baskingin the delightful smell. Her core spasmed at the thought, desire stirring to life as slick dampened her panties.
A second later, her panic rebounded, her eyes rounding as a horrifying thought crossed her mind.
Oh, no, how strong was his sense of smell? Could he tell she was turned on?! If he could scent her fear, then he could definitely smell when she was aroused!
Shit, shit!
Murphy narrowed his eyes, and she almost ran back into her house right then and there, determined to escape her building embarrassment. “It isn’t lurking if I knock, announcing my arrival,whichI’d intended to do,“ he answered, oblivious to her predicament.
Nessa stilled in surprise.
Wait, he didn’t know how he’d affected her?
Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you.
She almost wept in relief, whatever desire she’d been feeling completely replaced by mortification.
She never would have forgiven herself if he’d come all the way here under the guise of friendship and she’d spread her hoe pheromones around like a cat in heat. Okay, well, maybe ‘hoe pheromones’ was a bit farfetched …
Hoping to hide how flustered she was, Nessa raised her chin defiantly. “I didn’t hear you knocking. Ergo,lurking.”
“Ergo?” He snorted, his grip tightening on her purse as he towered over her.
Just how tall was he? Definitely more than a few inches over six feet. The bag hung suspended between them, and she was sure the two of them looked ridiculous to any prying eyes, especially as she refused to let go of the handle.
“What’s in here? Bricks?” He shook the heavy bag for emphasis.
Nessa made a face. “No, of course not. Just my wallet, a makeup bag, a pistol—“
“You have a gun in there?” Murphy asked incredulously, his eyes widening in disbelief. She didn’t know why he was so shocked. She’d shot Jason a few times that night at Tank’s house. It wasn’t like the gun had just appeared out of thin air.
“I never leave home without it,” she admitted quietly. And she hadn’t, not once since she’d purchased it from the man who’d forged her new passport and driver’s license. She was determined to fight for her life if Tony ever found her.
Murphy’s expression turned pensive before he nodded in understanding. “Is it loaded?”
“Well, yeah. I can’t imagine someone would just let me load it while they patiently waited to get shot.” Nessa laughed, hoping to lighten the suddenly depressing mood.
He shook his head. “You’re so—“
“Well prepared,” Nessa cut in, batting her eyelashes. “A bad ass. A rebel without a cause—“
Murphy’s lips twitched. “I was going to say ‘intriguing,’ though now I’m wondering if ‘silly’ wouldn’t be more accurate.”
“Oh.” Nessa flushed, though she couldn’t quite figure out why. It wasn’t like he’d complimented her or anything. Hesitantly, she tugged on her purse. “Any chance I can get this back?”
