For Karrin

[dresdenforhire]

There's a saying- when the going gets tough the tough get going to the little blonde woman with the cute nose and is even tougher. Not many people say that but it's definitely a saying I use. Well, I don't exactly say it out loud but I definitely think it. I think about Karrin Murphy for a lot of reasons but one of them is definitely help with the tough things. She may not pack a magical wallop but she doesn't need to. Plus she's not afraid to call me on being a dumb ass and that's a very important trait I look for when things are tough. Plus I can fit more gear in the Blue Beetle if she's the other person riding with me.

So that's why I was pulling up outside of her house unannounced late Friday afternoon. I needed help at the last minute for a rather unpleasant job and I knew Karrin Murphy well enough that I knew if she had to she'd cancel plans to help me. Not as any huge favor for me most likely but because she knew I wouldn't ask if it wasn't really important.

Unfolding myself out of the car I made my way up to her front door. I could feel the energy around the place, the magical barrier that all homes had. Of course hers was stronger than most, her grandmother having lived her and it being truly a home.

I stopped short of the door and used my staff to knock. I wasn't sure what types of electronics she might have on her or near the door since I was showing up without warning and I didn't want to fry anything important. I at least try to be courteous about that, especially if I'm going to be asking someone for help.

Comments

[murph]

Rugtats sleeping bag? For her? Karrin's eyes narrowed at him for that remark. Did he do it just so she would punish him? She wouldn't put it past him now that she knew what she knew of his proclivities.

"Oh I don't know, you might want to bring it I can think of a place you can stick it if you're worried about space." She snarked back at him but if tonight went the way they'd both been talking so far she wasn't sure either of them was going to be doing much sleeping, in a bag or out.

So since he wanted to be a jerk, why shouldn't she. "It's magnificent by the way." She said just matter of factly. "My ass. Jared said it was the best ass he'd ever seen, and he's seen all kinds." She leaned back as if remembering. "He had these big hands that could just reach down and grab a cheek in each hand and pull me right up to his mouth." She casually looked over at him as if just now noticing. "Huh, you have pretty big hands too don't you."

[dresdenforhire]

I snorted in laughter at the comment about where she thought we could stick the sleeping bag and remarked that I was glad it wasn't very big if that was the case. Again, that was entirely deserved and I didn't mind that banter. The comment about Kincaid hit me differently though, my jaw clenching tight and my hands white knuckling the steering wheel. Winter demanded that we pull over now and stake a claim to Murphy and then go find Kincaid and fight him to the death. My own feelings mirrored the first impulse but I wasn't such a caveman or so suicidal that I wanted to do the second. But that's what made the Winter Mantle so insidious, sometimes it so closely resembled my own thoughts.

I was a big boy though and took a few deep breaths to relax myself. This was just teasing banter and I wasn't some knuckle dragging ape that thought Karrin was my possession or anything. My knuckles were at least a few inches off the ground, thank you very much.

"Extra large, at least according to my gloves," I acknowledged just as I pulled the Beetle off of the main highway and onto a side road. Just a bit farther down here and we could park and then hike the rest of the way in. "Only one way to find out if they serve your purposes."

[murph]

"I think they'll do just fine." She'd meant it to sting a little bit but not cause quite the reaction he'd shown, she didn't want to start things off that way. Teasing was a fun easy thing with them but that sort of tease took on new meaning now that they were talking about what they were.

"You know I only get serious right? If I'm with you, I'm with you nobody else. I'd expect the same." She was still in that position of power but also letting him know she was meeting him there. If he really was all in then so was she and she wasn't looking for anything else anywhere else.

She felt the bumps when they moved from paved road to side road and she figured they were getting closer to where they were headed, on a number of levels.

"Also before anything happens I need to know something, and this is absolutely non negotiable." She was serious now, and she waited till they parked to continue because she wanted to be looking at him when she said it. "Before any clothes come off, before any touching. I need to know your safeword because I never want to do anything that is going to hurt you in a way that you're not going to enjoy."

[dresdenforhire]

I would hope that Karrin would know I'm all in too and there's no one else I'm interested and I wouldn't even consider "seeing other people". I don't think I'm built that way and couldn't see other people even if that's what the other person wanted.

"I'm an all or nothing kind of guy with relationships, Karrin. And you're definitely my all," I said. Super cheesy I'm sure but she was definitely going to have to get used to that because it was really the only way I knew how to be. My heartfelt sentiments tended to run along cheesy lines even though they were entirely earnest. Or maybe it was me being earnest that made them cheesy?

"And, ah, I don't have a safe word," I admitted before hastily adding, "Yet. It's never come up with a partner before. Guess I haven't felt comfortable enough to go to that place with someone before. "But my safe word is... Dagobah."

[murph]

"You...fucking nerd." It came out with a laugh and somehow a tone that held absolutely no insult to it. No matter what else changed with him he was still and always would be the Harry Dresden who had been driving her crazy for years.

When it was safe to lean over she did, and she kissed him again but this time it wasn't all fire and passion. It was gentle and appreciative and held a warmth that radiated from her kisses like that, and all that went with them were the kind of thing that protected from White Court vampires.

She took her time with the kiss, slow and measured, and with her being the one to lean across the car this time it was a bit easier and less awkward to manage. It was sweet almost literally she felt like she could taste sweetness on his lips. This time the kiss ended not in breathless heated need but in sated pleasure.

"Come on, I hear it's a hike to the campsite, and if you want to walk behind me and check out my ass you're going to need to get moving before we lose the light." She patted his cheek and grabbed her own bag as she got out of the car, ready for the hike.

[dresdenforhire]

I was about to argue that it was a really good safe word because who wouldn't stop when talking about a swampy planet with an old, green Jedi Master? But then she was kissing me and I was MUCH more interested in doing that than arguing about how awesome my safeword was. The kiss was slow and warm instead of heated and needy like the earlier kiss and it was amazing in it's own way. I felt my entire body melt and relax in a way it hadn't in a long, long time. I don't want to say it was like it was coming home or I found a missing piece to myself but it was similar to that. It was just good. It was good and it felt right to feel her soft lips pressed to mine and to taste her.

When she pulled away all I could respond to her comment was a pleased "Mmmmm" because my brain was slightly broken from just how good the kiss was. Giving a sappy, happy sigh I unfolded myself from the car and started grabbing supplies out of the backseat before doing the same with the trunk. I had a nice backpack with a bedroll along with a sleeping bag that was lined with some spells that would keep it warmer than a bag as thin as it was had any right to be. Being nearly 7 feet tall I needed a lot of bag to fit me which already made it big, I didn't want to add bulk by making it thick to be warm.

"Your pack," I added, holding one out for her. It was considerably lighter than mine and I was sure when we trekked out she'd make sure she carried more of the weight but for now she was stuck with this. Once she had it situation instead of walking behind her, as much as I was tempted, but instead reached down... and down and down, to grasp her hand with mine. I could swear I felt a jolt of something at the touch and a giddy part of me that was still a child wanted to dance around calling out "I'm holding hands with my girl!!!" Instead I just asked, "Ready?"

[murph]

"Thank you." She took the pack and shrugged into it, waiting for him to close the bonnet and join her. She was surprised when he took her hand though, hers not having nearly the reach issue he was. But it felt comfortable and right, even with the size difference of his massive hand.

Been ready. Just waiting for you. What took you so long to catch up? a few smart ass quips came to mind but she shrugged them off for simply nodding and saying "Yeah."

The woods were darker than the open road had been which made her glad for the clip-on light she'd thought to bring, she snapped it in and fixed it to the strap of her pack. "So how long have you known you leaned that way?" She looked up at him, and neither her tone nor expression held any judgment. Everyone liked something and it wasn't her place or way to think one way or another about it.

[dresdenforhire]

“Huh, good question,” I admitted as I scratched at the back of my head with my staff. This was one of the few places where carrying a big old wooden stick wasn’t out of place, the other being a hockey game. “I think... it was always a little there? I knew pretty early on I really liked pleasing my partner. At first I thought it was just because I knew that as a guy it was pretty much a given I was going to enjoy myself and that really didn’t seem fair so I really threw myself into pleasing the other person.”

And Elaine certainly hadn’t complained. Also it was hard to imagine Elaine being submissive even back then. Not that all relationships had to have those roles but still. That wasn’t her.

“And I’ve always been attracted to strong women but I haven’t really had a partner before where I felt I could really... let go with this sort of thing,” I admitted. Maybe it was maturity or maybe some part of me knew that Luccio didn’t like me for me, I don’t know. “It’s just much, much more of an exciting idea when I imagine you doing it.”

[murph]

Karrin listened and didn't interrupt, this was real talk and they didn't do that a lot these days. She was glad they could start whatever it was they were starting on the right foot, with communication.

"I think I started when I was a kid." She realized how that sounded and hastily spoke again. "I don't mean sexually, just that well Dad always wanted sons who would follow his footsteps, well he got two of each instead. And being the oldest I decided I'd do it. I'd be just like him. It sure as hell wasn't going to be Lisa. " She'd set her mind to it from a young age and made good on that.

"I guess it started there and just felt natural, taking charge, leading, being responsible for people." She gave his hand a squeeze. "Because that's part of it too you know, it'll be my job to make sure you're ok. You have to tell me when things get intense or too much, and we slow down or stop." Because the last thing she wanted to do was hurt him, well in a way that wasn't ultimately his choice and pleasure.

"You set it off in me right away I think, when we met. You're just so damned contrary and you have problems with authority figures." He would be lying if he tried to deny that.

[dresdenforhire]

"Hold on," I said, needing a bit of clarification for that. Sure I knew that I was a pain in her ass since day one and in my defense I only had a problem with authority figures that tried to tell me what to do that was a tiny bit on her. Teeny tiny. But I needed her to clarify something for me. "I'm just trying to clear up the timeline of 'Karrin wants to bang Harry'... I set you off in a 'I want to punch his tall face until he listens' kind of way or 'I want to ride his tall face so he can't talk' kind of way from the beginning? Or both?"

Because I was already getting a bit head that Karrin Freaking Murphy and I were together. I mean I was sure I had a huge grin on my face since she first kissed me and I was going to be insufferable about this but if she'd wanted me for that long? Yeah, I might just be slightly more insufferable.

[murph]

Jesus, really? Karrin rolled her eyes and didn't even both looking at him. "Ninety five - five, more the former than the latter. But you were cute and I was in a dry spell so don't let it go to your head."

He will note she did not act on anything then, because her attitude toward him had some pretty drastic changes in the years that followed. Distrust hell even fear at one point. She and Harry hadn't always seen eye to eye no height jokes there please, but they had found a way to work through their differences. She'd taken him out of the 5% category when they became friends and he had a thing with Susan.

It hadn't flipped the other direction until situations changed. Seriously, that night at the Wal-Mart emotions were running high and she kicked some massive ass and could damn well have grabbed him and given him the typical damsel dip kiss had the situation been less volatile. Then there was that whole thing at the Deeps, and then there was him riding behind her while they were chased by the Wild Hunt. Her heart was pounding so loud in her chest that she was amazed she could hear the Harley over it. She could have ridden Harry home that way she'd felt at that moment, but again the circumstances were not well suited.

"Telling me you had never thought of me that way until later?"

[dresdenforhire]

"Hey, that's about five percent more than I would have expected," I said with a grin. "And no worries, I'm letting everything that's happening now go to my head so we're covered."

Was I still more giddy about this than maybe a grown-ass man should be? Possibly, but I wasn't going to let anyone rain on my parade because I was walking hand-in-hand through the forest with Karrin Murphy. If I didn't believe in tempting Fate I would tell the universe to suck it. Instead I was just going to feel pretty good about myself and things in general for the moment.

"I mean, I was definitely aware that you were an incredibly attractive woman and had certain... personality traits that I found enticing," I said. I didn't think I was telling her anything that she didn't already know though. There was a time where I was pretty sure she would shoot me sooner than sleep with me but we had worked through that. "But you know how for a long time I was the definition of 'it's complicated'."

Part of me really regretted that. Obviously I wouldn't change things because of Maggie but in hindsight I wish I wouldn't have made Karrin wait so long.

"Not to say I didn't have a few very hot dreams about what you could do with a pair of handcuffs..."

[murph]

She snorted. "I wouldn't waste a good pair of cuffs on you. You'd pick them or break them or burn them down." She knew better, and besides, there were far better ways of making him secure than standard issues handcuffs.

"Those belonged to the city, not to me. Zip ties work though, and leather." Which she just dropped casually like it was no big deal.

They would have time to explore that, she was sure, but this was almost a dry run of things for them. And to think it all came about because she finally just made him talk to her. Who knew what other secrets of the universe were waiting to be unveiled?

[dresdenforhire]

"Well I will let my subconscious know next time I see him," I said, then paused for a moment before adding. "Which is actually a thing I could do because he's showed up a time or two..."

Damn my life was weird. Now that I thought about it leather and zip ties in the bedroom was probably one of the less weird aspects of my life. Definitely one of the more enjoyable ones as well. Or at least I assumed so.

"For the record they were really hot dreams of you shoving me in the back of a squad car and then doing very wild things with and to me."

[murph]

"You're very weird." She nodded to his mention of his subconscious, who was by all description pretty fucking hot. But where most people spoke of it in euphemism she knew Harry's head was a very strange and bizarre place. Like one of those science fiction tv show ships that were smaller on the outside but inside was huge.

Stick with her, she had a whole lot more to show you Harry.

"That would be an abuse of power as well as city resources. I could have lost my job and my pension for that." She clucked her tongue at him, probably cruelly destroying a fantasy. "But I'll tell you what, once we get back if you want to play cops and robbers I will be your bad cop all night long."

[dresdenforhire]

"You don't have to flatter me, I'm already yours," I said with a wink. I'd definitely heard worse, even from her, and I was at least a little weird so I couldn't really argue that. And I was about to say that I would make sure that any of my future dirty dreams about her would comply with Chicago PD Rules of Conduct but all that came out was a "guh" sound as my brain shifted into thinking about what Karrin being "bad cop all night long" would look like.

"Yeah? Will you be bad for me? Very, very bad?" I asked. The words sounded ridiculous in my ears and I would blame her if she laughed but I hoped that the pleading in my voice would get to her at least a little of the same way that her words were doing to me.

[murph]

She saw the moment when his train of thought derailed. He went from jokester to being deeply distracted and she was willing to bet she knew why. He had an image in his mind now or he was trying for one anyway.

Karrin took her next step carefully, She pivoted on her left foot bringing her around behind him and using their entwined fingers to bring his hand up behind his back. It was easy from there to bend her knee into the back of his and force him to the ground on his knees, hand up behind him, pressed between her body and his own.

"She leaned in around his backpack, far easier to do with him lower, and hissed in his ear. "I would have my way with you for hours." She dragged out the last word with a rasp. "Make you please me with your mouth, your face, your hands, your cock, whatever I wanted. Make you cum until you run dry and couldn't take it anymore."She let go of his hand and grabbed his hair to pull his head back.

"And you'll get a sample of that tonight because I've been wet since we first kissed and I think it's only right that you take care of that." She gave a moment for that to sink in before she leaned in and kissed him sort softly it might have been a feather brushing his lips, then she released him And moved around to offer a hand up to help him back to his feet.

"Yeah, I can be very, very bad."

[dresdenforhire]

Everything happened so fast that by the time I realized what was going on I was very, very into it. If I had any doubts at all about being into this they had vanished instantly as she pulled my head back by my hair. I hissed but it was out of pleasure rather than pain and it was the only way I could keep from whimpering at the words she was saying. I thought I was turned on before but now I was squirming on the ground and it had nothing to do with my hand pushed up behind my back.

I was so into this.

The kiss she gave sent shivers down my spine even as light as it was. When she stepped back I instantly missed her being near and wondered if that was going to be a thing. Even in such a short amount of time was I going to hate not having her touch me, even just holding hands? Probably.

I held up a hand to indicate I needed a moment. When I had that much arousal going through me while also being driven to my knees Winter was raging inside of me and I needed a moment to collect myself. A few deep breaths later and I pushed myself up into a standing position.

“You know, I’m starting to think you have a little crush on me.”

[murph]

He reacted perfectly, she could have gone harder on him but it was sort of a test and he definitely ticked the boxes. He was the type who would love being topped and she was completely capable and willing to do so.

When she kissed him it was that little reminder that there were feelings behind all the talk and action, genuine feelings. If they were going to do this then she was going to be his friend, partner, lover all in one and there was a lot of emotion wrapped up in that.

There was also the other factor to take into consideration, he might not have noticed it but she sure as hell did when his eyes went lighter and the air around them grew colder. Winter was kicking up a fuss and he was getting it and himself under control. She'd have to remember that as well. She gave him his time before he got back to his feet.

"Keep giving me reasons, Dresden." She snarked back at him and clasped his hand in her own to spur him back into motion.

[dresdenforhire]

"It would be my pleasure," I reassured her. I liked this arrangement- I still got to tease her and in return she would do wonderfully bad things to me. It was interesting how well suited we were to each other in several aspects and how easily I felt like I was falling into being "with" her. I guess being close friends for so long who danced around this sort of thing made it easier once I finally got my ass in gear and talked to her about it.

"Just wait until I take you dancing and literally sweep you off your feet," I said, turning off the trail a bit to a site I knew we could set up camp. It also had the advantage of being a ways away from where anyone else might be and it sounded like we might be making a little bit of noise. Other than being remote the clearing we came into was nice. The river wasn't too far away and the trees circled around just enough that we had a clear view of the sky that would be perfect for star gazing.

"Also, important question... which side of the bed do you prefer?"

[murph]

He had her almost stumbling, unusual for the normally graceful woman. "You dance?"

Seriously, she was staring at him agape. "Like not Jan Brady style, but actual dancing? How did I never know this?" She squinted a bit trying to decide if he was fucking with her about it. But the idea did amuse and intrigue her.

They followed the offshoot from the main path to what was a nice little area actually. It was far nicer than she had expected for some reason. A clearing raised enough to not collect water if it rained. A soft burbling sound told her there was a river not far away and there was plenty of wood for a fire, no need to worry about needing matches at least.

"...wow." Karrin tipped her head back and looked up at the sky, they were far enough out of Chicago proper that light and sound pollution were non-existent and the clear cloudless evening was already promising a hell of a showing of stars.

"Huh? Oh, usually the right because it's closer to where I keep my gun. But I'll take whatever side faces the door so we have a line of defense if needed." Leave it to the five-foot nothing woman to decide to be the first line of defense.

[dresdenforhire]

"I was a ballroom dance instructor for a while," I said, looking both haughty and offended. Sure it was at a senior center but that doesn't change the fact that the title is accurate and I did know how to dance. Besides, some of those seniors could really cut a rug. Seeing her surprised by it was still satisfying though. Good to know that I still had a few surprises for her.

"I know I don't take you to a lot of nice places so... hopefully this makes up for some of that," I said. I knew that she wasn't with me because I might take her to Hawaii but I didn't want it to be all Walmarts, homicide scenes, and Wild Hunts. "Plus I like this spot and... and I've never taken anyone else here but I wanted to share it with you. Also, literal magic wielding wizard here who is capable of providing a line of defense and offense and picket fence."

[murph]

Ok, she was impressed and surprised. He was a dance instructor, must be the wizard gig needed some backup income at some point. It was possibly the least likely side job she could imagine him having, but now it was an image she wasn't going to be able to shake.

"Harry," She looked away from the stars but still up, to him. "I'm not with you because I expect exotic locations or pricey dinners. I'm with you because I care about you, Harry. A lot. Maybe a whole lot." Maybe even words she wasn't ready to say out loud just yet.

"This is special, it'll be special for us." She agreed and snickered at the rest of his statement. "Well, I guess we can take turns then."

[dresdenforhire]

“Trust me, I wouldn’t have let us be together if you were in it for pricey dinners and fancy locations,” I said. Not that those things might not happen, my life was strange enough that anything was possible but it wasn’t going to be the norm, not by a long shot.

“And I like you a whole lot too,” I admitted. Actually, I was pretty sure that it was more than that but I didn’t think either of us were quite ready to throw that word around just yet. I definitely hadn’t felt this way about someone in a long time, not since Elaine really and it was hard to really compare the feelings of a teenager to a grown-ass adult, even a grown-ass adult as immature as me.

“And you’re right, you should probably be closest to the door. Easier for me to cast magic around you that it is for you to shoot around me,” I said. Was the entire point of my protest because I wanted to be acknowledged as a legitimate bad ass? Maybe. “Plus it sounds like I might be a little... tied up at times.”

[murph]

"I didn't exactly know to pack that sort of thing, so I'll have to work with what I have." She didn't seem too put out by that though, Karrin Murphy was nothing if not creative in a pinch.

"When do we need to go speak to this friend of yours? Please say not tonight because these things always have enhanced senses and they are going to smell me from a mile away." She knew what their conversation had done to her and wasn't the least be ashamed of it. But it could make things awkward depending on the personality of whatever it was they were going to see. Hopefully, it wasn't something in the satyr sort of family.

"Let's get the tent set up and gear stowed first thing. We can deal with whatever other agenda we have after that." She gave him a very meaningful look, and maybe there was still a smolder in those gray-blue eyes of hers, but in the dark, it was tricky to tell.