Page 7 of His Claim

I was like other girls.

So much like other girls.

We had been walking for what felt like hours, and all I wanted was a hot bath and my bed. In that order. I could also go for a cheeseburger, but honestly, I just wanted to feel clean and collapse into bed.

My body was sore from being kidnapped, and now I had way surpassed my daily step goal by thousands.

“Do you, um, have any clue where we could be?” I asked.

“The woods,” Murphy grunted.

I rolled my eyes. “Perhaps more specific?”

Murphy stopped and looked around. “The woods at night,” he grunted. “We’re going to have to stop or we’ll end up hurting ourselves. I can barely see five feet in front of me.”

That was better than the two feet I could see. “Uh, where are we stopping? I don’t see a Motel 6 with free continental breakfast,” I joked.

“How does a trunk of a spruce and my shoulder as a pillow sound?” he asked.

More appealing than he knew. “Fine, but I might leave a scathing review if my pillow is lumpy and talks back.”

Murphy led me over to a large tree and kicked around the pine needles and leaves. “Allow me to fluff your bed, baby girl.” He sat down and held his hand out to me. “It shouldn’t get too cold tonight. Once the sun comes up, we can keep heading to the road.”

“At least you’re wearing one of your fancy sport coats.” I nodded to his dirty and somewhat tattered jacket. “We can use that as a blanket.”

I plopped down next to him as he shrugged off his jacket. “Whatever the lady wants,” he chuckled.

He leaned against the tree, and I snuggled up next to him. He draped his jacket over us, and I let out a relieved sigh.

“Okay?” he asked.

I nodded and laid my cheek against him. “As good as I can be.”

“You’re doing good, Tatum.”

“I hear a bit of awe in your voice, Murphy,” I giggled. “Did you think I was going to be some whiny, shrieking woman you were going to have to carry through the woods?” I asked.

“Well,” he drawled. “Most people would not be able to do half of what you’ve been through, baby girl. You’re blowing me away with every step you take.” He wrapped his arm around me and rubbed his hand up and down my arm.

“Thank you, I think. Though I’m not too sure how I feel about you doubting me.”

A chuckle rumbled through his body. “Don’t get too twisted about it, Tatum. I don’t even think Greer would have made it as far as you have.”

“Please,” I scoffed. “That woman is amazing. She would have traipsed through the woods in her stilettos all while carrying you on her back.” She might not have liked being kidnapped and then running for her life, but I knew Greer would kick butt if it happened to her.

“I think you might have Greer a little too high up on a pedestal, Tatum. Her creature comforts of living in her penthouse might have softened her the past five years.”

“Lies,” I muttered. I smothered a yawn with my hand and snuggled into Murphy.

“Try to sleep, baby girl. Hopefully, it won’t be long until we get to a phone, and all of this shit will be over for you.”

“And you?” I whispered.

He sighed and adjusted the jacket over us. “This is my life, Tatum. I can’t run from it.”

Chapter Four

Murphy

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