Lexi was sitting out on the patio with Nell and Sean later that evening when Liam's voice echoed from inside the house. She had spent the day with Liam’s parents, and despite initially feeling a little uncomfortable, she found she actually enjoyed her day with Nell and Sean.
“We’re out here,” Nell called out, letting Liam know where they were. A few moments later, he appeared at the back door, and the moment his eyes found Lexi, the biggest smile spread across his face.
“Hey,” he said as he hurried across the terracotta patio tiles, greeting Lexi with a kiss. “Are you feeling okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good,” Lexi replied with a smile. “I’ve just been catching up with your mom and dad; it was fun to see them again.”
“I was just telling her,” Nell said as she stood up to greet her son. “Just how much we all missed her.”
“We sure did,” Liam said, as he kissed his mother on the cheek. “But she is back now, and she is here to stay.”
“And we couldn’t be happier for you both, Son,” Sean said as he stood up, shaking Liam’s hand.
“Thanks, Dad,” Liam said as he returned his attention to Lexi, crouching down in front of her once more. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah,” Lexi said, giving him a worried look. “Did you find anything on the camera that helped?”
“We did,” Liam said with a broad smile, kissing Lexi once more. “You, you clever girl. You caught him on film several times; you just didn’t know you had.”
“So you know who he is?” Sean asked, giving Liam a hopeful look.
“We’re running his image through the computers as we speak,” Liam replied. “Searching through the DMV. If he has a San Francisco driver’s license, we should have a name before the end of the day.”
“And if he doesn’t,” Lexi asked, still wishing that this was all over with.
“Then we will extend the search,” Liam replied, giving her a smile. “Don’t worry, we are going to get this asshole.”
“I know,” Lexi replied with a smile.
“But I was thinking,” Liam said, standing up, heading back towards the house. “Until this asshole is off the street, I don’t want you on your own anymore.”
Before Lexi could reply, Liam disappeared into the house, then returned a few moments later, with the most beautiful German Shepard Lexi had ever seen.
“Oh my, God!” Lexi exclaimed as she sat up straighter in her seat.
“This is Sky,” Liam said as he led the dog over to Lexi. When they reached her, Lexi held out her hand, allowing Sky to sniff her, getting to know her a little. “Sky was training to be a police dog, but she was a little too sweet to be a tough cop, so they were looking for someone to adopt her. She is fully trained, and while she isn’t quite right to be on the force, she will make a perfect companion, and an awesome protector for you when I’m not about.”
“We…we can keep her?” Lexi asked, as the dog snuggled into her hand, then rested her head on Lexi’s lap. Lexi instinctively rubbed the dogs head.
“Well, yeah,” Liam said giving her a broad smile. “I mean if that’s what you want?”
“Are you kidding me?” Lexi said leaning down kissing the top of the dogs head. “I would love to.”
“Good,” Liam said, giving her a broad smile. “Because I have filled out the paperwork, and Sky is now yours.”
“Oh my, God,” Lexi squealed as she jumped up and hugged Liam tightly. “Thank you, so much.”
“You’re very welcome,” Liam smiled, kissing Lexi on the lips once more, before she turned back to Sky, crouching down in front of her, Lexi rubbed behind the dog’s ears once more, as Sky licked her face.
And just like that, Lexi and Sky were best friends.
Chapter 18
Liam walked into the living room and found Sky on the sofa, snuggled up next to Lexi, who was reading a book. They both looked up at him in unison, and Liam couldn’t help but laugh.
“What’s so funny?” Lexi asked as she reached down and absentmindedly stroked Sky’s head.
“Nothing,” Liam said, as he leaned down over Sky to Lexi and softly kissed her. “You’re just very cute. You both are.”
“You’re very cute yourself,” Lexi replied with a grin before turning her attention to Sky. “And so is my beautiful girl.”
“And is your beautiful girl going to steal your heart from me?” He laughed, kissing her once more, this time harder than before.
“I think she will understand that I need some TLC,” Lexi mumbled against Liam’s mouth.
“I certainly hope so,” Liam chuckled, but just as he said the words, Sky climbed up and licked Lexi’s face too, making Liam groan and Lexi laugh out loud.
“Do you want to snuggle too?” Lexi said, turning her attention back to Sky.
“Arrghh!” Liam groaned, as he pulled back, then flopped down onto the sofa, making Lexi laugh once more.
“She just wants a little attention too,” Lexi said as she scratched behind Sky’s ear.
“She does know that I am the jealous kind?” Liam asked, giving Lexi a pleading look.
“I will have a word,” Lexi giggled before Sky licked her face again.
Liam laughed once more. Getting Sky for Lexi had been the right thing to do. He now knew that when Lexi was alone, she was safe with Sky there and this pleased him.
Still, Liam would be happier once they picked this asshole up, and he was behind bars. Maybe then they would be able to look to the future properly.
“Do you think the photographs will really help?” Lexi asked as if reading his thoughts.
“I do,” Liam assured her, as he moved closer to her on the sofa, but as he did, a squeaking sound filled the apartment, making Liam groan and Lexi laugh. He reached beneath his butt and pulled out one of the many toys Lexi had bought for Sky when she insisted on stopping at the pet store on the way home.
Liam threw it towards the big fluffy bed Lexi had picked for Sky too. Without missing a beat, Sky was up from the sofa, chasing after her toy, before she settled down on the fluffy bed too.
“Finally,” Liam said, moving closer to Lexi, pulling her into his embrace. “I thought I was going to have to spend the night on that damn bed on the floor.
“You’re not jealous are you, Detective Murphy?” Lexi asked with a giggle, giving Liam a cheeky smile.
“Very,” Liam said claiming Lexi’s lips with his, before kissing her deeply.
“Wait!” Lexi exclaimed, but Liam was determined to take things further. He dropped his lips to the bare skin on her neck. “You were saying about the photographs.”
“I don’t want to talk about work,” Liam grumbled against her neck, as his fingers found the buttons on her blouse, and he began to unbutton them.
“But I want to know,” Lexi groaned, but Liam didn’t let up. He wanted her. His cock was hard as hell, and right at that moment, he didn’t want to think about work or anything else for that matter.
“But you taste so good,” he breathed against her skin, as his lips began their journey from her neck, down to the curve of her very beautiful, perfect breast. “Now is not the time for anything else but you…”
He stopped as he peeled back the lace of her bra before he glanced up at her.
“… and me,” he continued, before flicking his tongue across her nipple, making it instantly pucker up. Liam smiled before claiming her now, taut nipple, in his mouth making Lexi moan in pleasure.
It was a sound Liam had always loved, and hearing it just made his cock pulse and strain against the material of his pants.
Reaching for the other cup of her bra, he pulled it back, moving his mouth to her other nipple. He swirled the tip of his tongue around the sensitive ridges of her nipple, before he sucked it harder into his mouth, making Lexi cry out once more.
“Oh, God!” Liam growled as he released her nipple, quickly moving back to her mouth. “I fucking love you.”
Slamming his mouth against hers, he kissed he
r like he’d never kissed her before.
Suddenly the atmosphere changed between them. There was an electricity in the air that Liam had never felt before. He broke his lips from Lexi’s breathlessly, gazing down into her eyes as he tried to calm his breathing.
Lexi stared back at him, her breath caught in her chest.
There was so much that Liam wanted to say to her, right at that moment, but he couldn’t seem to think of a single word. Instead, he kissed her once more. Pushing her back down onto the sofa.
“I need you,” he groaned against her mouth, as he kissed her with everything he had inside of him.
“Liam,” she whispered softly.
Lexi reached down, pulling at the belt on his trousers, opening it with one, single tug.
“I want you inside me,” she moaned against his lips, as she reached into his pants and the tips of her fingers brushing against the head of his cock. Liam cried out loudly, knowing it wouldn’t take much to push him over the edge.
Suddenly she moved, pushing Liam back against the sofa before she climbed up from the chair.
Lexi stood in front of Liam, he could see from the rise and fall of her chest that her breathing was fast, and her heart was racing.
Holding his eyes with hers, she unfastened the last couple of buttons on her blouse, before she dropped it down her arms, letting it billow down to the floor.
Next, she reached behind her, unfastening the zipper at the back of her skirt. Lexi held Liam’s gaze, as she undid it before she let go of the skirt, letting it drift to the floor.
Liam swallowed hard as he watched her standing there before him, wearing nothing but black, lace panties, and a bra, that was no longer covering her perfect, erect nipples.
“You are beautiful,” Liam whispered as he leaned forward in his seat, pulling her closer to him, pressing his lips against the soft skin of her tummy. “You smell so good.”
He breathed in her perfume and smiled. It was a smell he knew all too well. It was the most beautiful fragrance in the world.
Lexi ran her fingers through his hair, grabbing it in her fists, as Liam reached up and hooked his fingers into the rim of her panties. He pulled back, he looked up into her eyes, as he eased her panties down her legs.
As she stepped out of her panties, Liam allowed his eyes to drift back down her body. As they did, his eyes fell on the scar at the bottom of her stomach, and he hesitated for a moment, as the million questions he had crashed through his head. He needed to know what had happened to her.
But not right at that second. Right at that moment the past, nor the future mattered. It was about right there and then and how much he wanted her.
Taking hold of her hips, Liam sat back on the sofa, pulling Lexi down onto his lap as he did. He let her go, long enough to pull his shirt over his head, throwing it down to the floor.
“Make love to me, Liam,” Lexi whispered before she leaned up onto her knees, then slowly lowered herself back down onto his impressive erection.
She cried out, as Liam pulled her down closer to him, pushing his cock deeper inside her before he captured her cries with his mouth. Lexi reached up and fisted her hands in his hair pulling his mouth closer to hers, as she began to move, grinding her body against his. Her movements were slow and deliberate, each roll of her hips taking Liam deeper inside her.
“Jesus,” Liam growled, as she pulled herself closer to him, her whole body pressed against his so closely, they were almost one. “You’re so amazing.”
He could feel her heart pounding through her chest, almost keeping time with his as they moved together.
Her body started to move faster and faster, her breathing became shallower and laboured. Liam had never seen this side of Lexi before. It was almost like she was completely lost inside the moment. Every hurt, every fear she felt over the last few days came pouring out of her body as she came undone.
Suddenly she threw her head back, releasing an almost feral cry as she came apart. As she did, Sky sat up in the corner and howled as if she was replying to Lexi.
Liam felt a mixture of confusion and complete arousal as she continued to ride him hard. Finally, he grabbed her hips with both of his hands, pulling her down hard against him, as he came apart, pumping his arousal deep inside her.
Sky howled once more, and this time Liam couldn’t help but laugh.
“I’m not sure if she’s impressed, or jealous,” He gasped as he held Lexi close to him, her tired body like a wet rag, slumped against his.
“I’d say a little bit of both,” Lexi breathed out, without lifting her head from Liam's shoulder.
Liam laughed as he pulled her closer to him before he climbed up from the sofa.
“What are you doing?” Lexi asked, without lifting her head from Liam’s shoulder.
“I’m taking you to bed,” Liam replied, as he headed across the living room, closely followed by Sky.
“No, no,” Liam said, stopping in the hallway, then turning to face Sky, Lexi still in his arms. “You go back to bed.”
He stared at the dog for a second, as Sky stood there, staring back at Liam before she released a whining sound, her head tilting to one side.
“Come on, Girl,” Liam said, with a sigh. “Don’t look at me like that. Back to your bed.”
Once more Sky whined, tilting her head to the opposite side.
“Aww,” Lexi said without lifting her head from Liam’s shoulder. “Can’t she just stay with us tonight? This is all new to her.”
“You know that it’s a bad habit to give her,” Liam replied, knowing already that what he said didn’t matter. There was no way Lexi was going to make Sky go back to her bed.
He smiled to himself before he stared down at the dog once more.
“Fine!” He said, giving Sky a serious look. “But just for tonight.”
Before he had even turned around, Sky ran past Liam, into the bedroom, and up onto the bed, where she sat, waiting for Liam and Lexi.
Twenty minutes later, they were all in bed, Lexi lying in Liam’s arms as Sky lay curled at their feet.
“You know it’s Finn’s wedding this Saturday,” Liam said, as Lexi lay with her head resting on Liam’s chest. “I was thinking that you should ask Nikki or one of the girls to go shopping with you; you know, so you can maybe get something nice for the wedding. My treat.”
“That sounds like fun,” Lexi yawned. “But I have lots of dresses I could wear. I don’t see the point in buying something I really don’t need.”
“I thought you girls liked to shop for new dresses,” Liam asked with a chuckle.
“I just don’t think I need something new,” Lexi sighed before she yawned once more. “I’m just happy to spend the day with you and be a part of it.”
“I’m happy, you are too,” Liam replied, kissing the top of her head.
They lay there for the longest time in a comfortable silence. Liam was lost, deep in thought. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d ever felt this happy. Despite everything that was happening with the robberies; despite it all, Liam had never felt happier than he had at that moment.
He thought about the case. He wondered if the photograph Lexi took would help them track down this asshole. He believed it would, but so far, they hadn’t caught one single break on this case, so Liam had learned not to hold his breath.
Then he thought of Lexi. He thought of how she had been out on the sofa earlier that evening. While he had enjoyed every single moment of it; and he really had, Liam wondered where this side of Lexi had come from.
Then he thought about the scar once more. He needed to talk to her about it. He needed to know what had happened in her life while they were apart over the last five years. He just wasn’t sure he was ready to hear all the answers.
“Lexi,” he whispered into the darkness of the room. “Are you awake?”
He waited for a response, but none came. Her soft breathing told Liam that she was already fast asleep.
He decided he would find
the right time to talk about the scar, and everything else, once he found the perfect moment. For now, he would just allow himself to be happy, lying there with the woman he loved in his arms.
As he lay there, Liam thought about the first night they had spent the night together. They had seen each other every night for almost two weeks, and they still hadn’t slept together. This was very new for Liam. Not that he had slept around much back then, but things usually moved a lot faster for him than that.
But things with Lexi had been so different. She was special, and Liam wanted to be sure he got things right with her.
It had been Lexi who suggested that they stayed in, that she wanted to cook for him.
Liam knew that night was going to be special. He’d had a feeling all day, and when he finally arrived at her apartment, the nervous energy he was feeling, had his whole body trembling with anticipation.
He remembered just how beautiful Lexi had looked as she opened the door. Liam knew then and there; he would move mountains to make this girl happy.
That night, as they made love, it was unlike anything Liam had ever experienced before. How she moved, how she sounded, it was the most perfect night Liam had ever experienced.
It still hurt Liam that they had lost the last five years. As he lay there, listening to her softly breathe, he wondered how different their life would have been if they hadn’t broken up back then.
He imagined they would have been married by now; they may have even had a couple of kids. He imagined them living in the same neighbourhood as Landen and Amelia. They would have bought a nice, big house, with manicured lawns, trimmed with beautiful, perfectly maintained flower beds.
He would have built a treehouse for the kids, and every weekend, he would man the barbeque on the back patio.
Liam smiled as he imagined their perfect life together. Pulling her closer to him, he softly kissed her head as he promised himself that they would have that life. He was not going to lose any more time with her.
He decided then and there that he was going to marry her. He just needed to figure out how and when he would ask her.
Liam (The Murphy Boys Series Book 4) Page 18