Thanks so much for the kind reviews, it's very cheering to find that Clocking Off still has a healthy fan base after all this time. Nothing whatsoever to do with the lovely Mack, of course. ;)
Here's the next instalment, which carries a smut-warning for all those of a delicate disposition …
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Chapter 2
Mack inclined his head in assent and stepped back to allow her entry, and she followed him through the vast hallway and into the kitchen.
"Glass of wine?"
She nodded, leaning against the table.
"Please."
"Where's lover boy tonight, then?"
He reached into the fridge to retrieve a bottle of chilled white and she crossed her arms defensively.
"Gone away for a couple of days, just to clear his head."
Uncorking the bottle expertly, he glanced up at her and raised a sarcastic eyebrow.
"Run away because he can't stand the heat, more like."
She felt her hackles rising.
"He's just found out he's about to be a father in a few days. How the hell would you feel?"
"Why do you keep covering for him? He doesn't deserve it."
She glared at him, her eyes flashing.
"Why do you think? Because I love him."
He picked up the wine and moved to stand in front of her, deliberately invading her personal space, and she dropped her gaze to the floor.
"So why are you here, then?"
"I really don't know …"
She could feel the heat radiating from his body and her breath caught in her throat.
"Oh, I think you do …"
His voice was a low growl against her ear before he stepped back and headed towards the living room. She closed her eyes and released the breath she'd been holding before trailing after him on shaky legs.
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"I see you've finally put the house on the market, then?"
He nodded, contemplating her from the other end of the sofa as she took a much needed sip of her wine.
"Uh huh. I've been thinking about it for a while, actually. Might just take the money and head off to Spain, live on the boat for a while and get a manager in to run the factory."
She was genuinely surprised, blinking at him in disbelief.
"You must be joking. Leave someone else in charge? Who are you, and what have you done with James Mackintosh?"
He snorted and she tried not to stare at the exposed 'V' of his chest and picture him lying in the sun wearing next to nothing.
"Straight up. I've decided there must be more to life and there's nothing to keep me here now, so why not?"
"Well, if you really are serious, good for you."
She took another sip of her drink and placed it on the coffee table, aware that he was watching her intently.
"Why don't you come with me?"
Her stomach lurched and she put a hand out to steady herself.
"What? Don't be ridiculous!"
She searched his eyes but his gaze never wavered and she was the first to look away.
"Shall I ask you again in the morning?"
He put his glass down and slid to his knees in front of her and she could feel her heart thundering in her ears. Slowly he leant in and ran his tongue teasingly along her lower lip before pressing little kisses along her jaw and she swallowed, barely able to think straight any more.
"Mack?"
"Hmmm?"
He was nibbling on her neck now, his sensual assault sending sparks of arousal through her whole body.
"Why did you stop last night?"
He sat back for a second. Those eyes should be illegal, she thought.
"Because you weren't capable of thinking straight, and it wouldn't have been right. I needed you to decide for yourself."
She nodded, hardly trusting herself to speak. He reached up to stroke her cheek, his eyes searching hers.
"It's still not too late to change your mind. Do you want me, Trudy? Yes or no?"
Her gaze dropped to his lips, her voice barely a whisper.
"Yes … "
It was all the confirmation he needed as he leaned in and their mouths finally met in a slow, sensual kiss. She melted into him, her tongue entwining erotically with his as one hand snaked around her waist and the other moved to cup the back of her head. The heat flared between them as simmering, pent-up desire burst into unrestrained passion and his mouth possessed hers, his tongue masterful, demanding as she gripped the front of his shirt like a drowning woman clinging to a rock in the middle of a raging torrent.
There was no reason, no logic, no rational thought, just him … his taste, his scent, his touch … and she couldn't get enough, taking everything he could give her, breathless, frantic, lost.
When he finally released her she was dizzy from the lack of oxygen, her head spinning, her eyes glazed. He stood and offered her his hand.
"Bed …"
She took it willingly, surprised when her legs actually supported her, floating up the stairs behind him in a daze. He stepped aside to let her into the bedroom first and she took a couple of nervous steps forwards, keeping her back to him, confidence threatening to desert her now the moment had arrived.
Two strong arms enfolded her and a warm mouth pressed gentle kisses along the exposed skin of her shoulder and slowly up her neck as she moved her head to one side to give him easier access. She sighed softly as his tongue traced the shell of her ear, leaning back into him, her nerves dissolving under his sensual attentions.
"Mmmm … Mack …"
He released her and slipped the straps of her dress from her shoulders, the brush of his fingertips sending a shiver down her spine. Slowly he began to lower the zipper, growling low in his chest as he revealed more of her naked back and realised how little she was wearing underneath. Holding the bodice up with one arm she turned slowly to face him before letting it go, slipping the garment easily over her hips and stepping out of it before straightening up again, hoping she looked a lot more confident than she felt. He whistled through his teeth as his hungry gaze raked over her, taking in the pert breasts, the tiny thong and the length of stocking-clad leg now on display.
"Christ, Trude."
Before he had chance to recover, she closed the distance between them and began to undo the buttons on his shirt with shaking fingers.
"One of us is still overdressed …"
Tugging it down his arms, she slid her palms up over his bare flesh, feeling the heat radiating from him, and he pulled her to him with a groan, crushing her chest against his. His mouth was insistent, demanding, and she kissed him back with equal fervour as her arms twined around his neck. Walking her slowly backwards to the bed, he finally released her and she slipped off her heels and lay back to watch him, deciding that there were few things more appealing in this world than a good looking man wearing nothing but a pair of faded denims. Except possibly the same man standing in front of her stark naked and sporting an impressive erection. Wow.
A shiver of eager anticipation ran through her as he settled between her thighs, his tongue teasing the hollow at the base of her throat before his lips moved lower to caress the rise of a breast. Slowly he worked his way towards the taut bud, smiling against her skin as she wriggled impatiently beneath him.
"Mack … please …"
She gasped in delight as his mouth fastened over it and he sucked hard, each movement of his lips and tongue sending little shockwaves of pleasure down through her belly as the pulsing between her legs became more insistent. One hand moved up her body to torture the other straining nipple, squeezing it hard, and she moaned softly, entwining her fingers in his silky hair.
His lips tracing a slow path down her stomach and over her hip before his teeth nipped at the soft skin of her inner thigh. A fingernail slid teasingly across her underwear and the friction caused her to gasp as a sharp stab of desire speared through her. Raising his head, he gazed at her from under those insanely long lashes and flashed her a wickedly knowing smile.
"Time for these to go, luv."
As she obediently lifted her hips, he dragged her knickers down her legs and off before resuming his position between her thighs and blowing gently across her heated centre. Trudy shivered and moaned, desperate now, and he finally took pity on her, lapping at her sensitive flesh. As his mouth closed over her and his tongue swirled around her swollen nub, her hips bucked wantonly towards him and her breath caught in her throat.
"Oh God! Please … don't stop …"
He continued his amorous assault and she quivered and shook, grasping the sheets in delicious torment as he pushed two fingers inside her and moved them in and out, driving her to the edge and then leaving her teetering there, panting for breath. Shifting back up the bed, he positioned himself and began to push slowly inside her, withdrawing and then thrusting deeper as her fingers gripped his shoulders, her body all one flame of need. When he was fully immersed, he looked down into her flushed face, his eyes glittering.
"Christ, you feel good …"
His voice was gravelly and she ran a finger along his lower lip, revelling in the sensation of their two bodies finally joined.
"James … I need you …"
It was the first time she'd ever used his Christian name and his eyes darkened as he leaned in, his mouth capturing hers again. As he began to find a rhythm his tongue darted in and out mirroring the actions below, and she wrapped her legs around him, her hips meeting him thrust for thrust. Her head spun and all her nerve endings tingled as she dug her nails into his shoulders, grinding herself against him as the pleasure built in intensity. Finally she lost all control, squeezing him in strong pulses, crying out in rapture as wave after wave of shuddering tremors wracked her body.
Through a haze of bliss she heard him groan in triumph as he surged into her one last time and found his own long awaited release, his hips jerking uncontrollably as he flooded into her over and over, and the world fell away.
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Much later, sleep still eluded her as she lay wrapped in Mack's arms, her head pillowed on his chest as she listened to the steady 'thud, thud' of his heartbeat. She snuggled in closer, burying her face in his neck as she breathed him in, the rawness of her emotions suddenly threatening to overwhelm her. Tears welled up in her eyes and she swallowed hard as one escaped and trickled slowly down her cheek. Oh God. What the hell have I done?
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Hope you enjoyed. If so, please let me know!
