Page 13 of Outback Heat
“Only if you give my mouth something else to do,” he retorts with a wink, his playful banter eliciting a genuine laugh from deep within me, an unrestrained burst of joy.
“Damn, you’re quite a handful, aren’t you?” I push at his chest, playfully nudging him to sit still on the treatment table. With purpose, I grab a pair of disposable gloves from the box and put them on with a satisfying snap.
Murphy snatches up a glove as well and inflates the powdered latex with a single blow, tying the base of the glove off. He bounces his makeshift balloon on his knee.
“I’m more than a handful, Spitfire.” He waves the ballooned hand in front of me with a waggle of his eyebrows. “Why don’t you come closer and see just how much I can handle?”
I let my eyes dip to a half-mast and move closer to him in a trance, drawing his attention by biting my lip. The moment he’s distracted, I swab the wound at the side of his head with disinfectant.
“Oi, that hurts!” he exclaims.
I chuckle and continue to clean the wound. Assessing it, I determine it’s not too deep and won’t require stitches, just a thorough cleaning to prevent infection.
“I’m sure it does hurt, but that’s the consequence of riding a wild creature named Bubbles,” I remark, my tone playful.
“Bubbles would learn to like me,” Murphy insists confidently.
“I don’t think he would.”
Murphy gasps and covers his mouth with the inflated glove hand, feigning deep offense. “He? How dare you! Bubbles is a lady.”
Another laugh escapes me as I finish applying a butterfly clip just above his eyebrow. Deep down, we both know Bubbles was coming back to finish the job, lady or not.
It’s becoming harder and harder to ignore the crackling energy between us, the inexplicable attraction manifesting itself in our thickening scents and mixing auras. I hurry to continue my examination and diligently assess for any signs of concussion. I instruct him to track my finger with his eyes. Instead, he resolutely holds my gaze with a fiery intensity which makes my hand tremble.
I clear my throat. “Are you hurt anywhere else?”
“Nope,” he replies casually, his nonchalant response contrasting with the electric current passing between us.
I pause and tilt my head expectantly, waiting for him to come clean. Murphy doesn’t fill in the silence. Instead, he uses the time to rake his eyes over me from head to toe, not hiding his appreciation of my body. I lick my lips and enjoy how it draws his attention.
To be honest, his sheer presence overwhelms me. I mean, compared to your average Beta, this Alpha cowboy is huge. And it’s not just his physical stature that gets me – it’s his larger-than-life personality that sets him apart from anyone I’ve ever encountered. There’s something about him that pulls me in like a magnet, like he’s the sun and I’m an eager flower, unconsciously angling myself towards him, tracking his every move. It’s as if my body has a mind of its own, unable to resist his gravitational pull. And let’s not even get started on his aura. There’s an energy about him which captivates me, leaving me both intrigued and conflicted in ways I’ve never experienced before.
With touches lingering longer than is strictly professional, I physically inspect his body for any injuries hidden beneath his clothing.
As I tap my fingers down the left side of his ribcage, a subtle flinch escapes him – a small reaction that could easily go unnoticed by someone unfamiliar with dealing with stubborn Alphas. But I know better. Closing the distance between us, I fix my gaze upon his face, my attention focused and unwavering. With purpose, I press my fingers against the exact spot once more. His response is immediate and telling. He inhales sharply, his teeth gritted to suppress any outward signs of discomfort.
“Would you quit doing that?” he chuckles, his tone laced with playful defiance. Murphy’s lips stretch into an unexpected smile and warmth floods through me. Is he happy I’m playing along with his flirtatious game?
“Why? Does it hurt?” I challenge. I can’t resist the tempting allure of his mischievous aura any longer. It wraps around me like a cloak, fueling a sense of recklessness.
His smile is like a drug, making me feel light and happy whenever he gifts it. I recognise that, in spite of his impulsive and reckless aura, there is a brightness within him. A lightness of heart that is rare in this world but it’s almost hidden from view by his aura sickness. I’m inexplicably drawn to it. I want Murphy’s light, untamed energy flowing through me. Leaning closer, I search for more, trying to draw the light aura deeper into me.
I notice the predatory glint in his eye too. Instead of capturing Murphy’s pure, joyful aura, I latch onto something far more volatile.
A surge of confidence wells within me, coiling and ballooning. I feel euphoric, like I’m on top of the world and nothing can hurt me. Anything is possible if I just reach out and take what I want. And what I want right now is sitting on the examination table.
His eyes dart back and forth between mine. There’s a sharpness, an awareness that cuts through the joviality. It’s as if he can see the change within me, as if he’s watching with rapt attention as his volatile aura infects mine.
“I think you have a bruised rib, Murphy.” I hear myself speaking, but it sounds so distant.
The crinkles at the corner of Murphy’s eyes dissolve and his expression is suddenly so serious it takes my breath away. In a split second, the cheeky, boyish Alpha is gone. In his place is a hot-blooded Alpha with his newly found compatible Omega.
He leans in closer, his warm breath grazing my neck, and whispers, “Then kiss it and make it better.”
Six
Matilda
