Okay folks! Thank you for your patience or lack their of. This is part has been fun, frustrating and amusing to write. Parts of it stem from a story I never wrote.

This is the clean version, at least, as clean as I could get it for without losing the jist. If you want the smutty version, send me a message with your email address. I will get to you when I can but, it's available.

Chapter 10 - Unleashed
"The gates of time have opened

Now, it's chains are broken

An ancient force unleashed again." - "Enter" By Within Temptation.

"I can't do this anymore." Harm said before taking her in his arms and pressing her body against his. Mac tried to resist but, her attempts to pull away were met with the frantic motion of his mouth on hers. He kissed her like he needed her, a lifeline to cling to in a dangerous storm and when his tongue ran along the seam of her lips she granted him access and gave in. Their tongues dueled and meshed and Mac could feel a familiar ache start to swirl between her thighs. The rain was falling even harder now but the cold droplets were no match for the warmth of his body against hers.

Harm's hand roamed over her body, stopping to cup her backside as he pulled her closer to him.

As they kissed, the weather seemed to respond - wind swirling, rain falling harder. The crack of lightning is what finally separated them and Harm took her hand as they ran across the park, making a beeline for a nearby establishment with a porch that they ducked into. Once safe from the storm, Mac pushed him up against the first wall she could find as her lips found his again.

"We need to… get back to...the cabin." He punctuated between kisses to her mouth and neck, doubting very much they'd even make it out of town before they would consummate the relationship. Harm held onto her, hands moving up and down her back, aching to remove the wet clothing that separated them.

Mac stopped him for a moment and motioned overhead. "I have a better idea."

Following her gaze, he read a weathered wooden sign attached to the ceiling above them. "Bed and breakfast?" At her knowing smile, he took her hand again and led her towards the entrance.

Inside they found an older woman named Margi who informed them that the roads into the town were closed until the storm passed. "I can tell you aren't from around here. What brings you into Milford?"

"Vacation." Harm said, using the towel she'd offered to dry off. "How much to spend the day?"

Margi glanced between the pair of them and shrugged. "It's off season, I'll keep it reasonable." She walked behind a small, wooden reception desk and grabbed one of the keys that was lined up on the wall behind. "I'm going to give you the Presidential suite, it's the largest room we have, has a sitting area and a fireplace." She handed Harm a large wicker basket. You can toss your wet clothes in there, I'll make sure they're dry. There are bathrobes in the room." She whipped around the reception desk and pointed to the left. "Go up those steps and it'll be the last room at the end of the hallway." She handed the key to Mac and grinned suspiciously. "Enjoy yourselves."

"Thank you, Margi." Mac lead the way up the stairs and down the hall opening the door to a room with a welcoming king size bed. A seating area with a small table and two armchairs was situated just in front of a large fireplace. When she found herself shivering, Mac turned on the pilot to the fireplace and lit a match that was on the mantel to get the flames roaring.

Harm stood at the doorway watching Mac with interest. Although they had been practically making out moments earlier, he suddenly didn't know what to do. Why was it that she could turn him into a bumbling idiot when he'd usually been such a smooth operator around women? She made him want to be a better man. He desired her for it, wanted her in ways he was sure he'd never want another woman. He placed the basket he was holding on the floor and then locked the door behind him.

Mac could sense him in the room with every fiber of her being and suddenly, the room felt so small. Would he pull away once again or make a move? Once the fire was lit, she leaned in, rubbing her hands together to get them warm. She felt him come up behind her and nearly flinched when his hands moved from her shoulders down her arms. The touch was so simple and yet electric.

His arms came around her waist then and Harm pulled her against him. She could feel his hardness against her body and sighed deeply when his mouth trailed kisses from her temple down to her neck. "Harm." Her hand came up to the side of his face, holding his head to her as he nuzzled her skin. Mac's heart was beating so hard, she was sure he could hear it, the staccato drowning out whatever he was trying to tell her.

When he came to slide his hands under her shirt, he could feel something hard and warm pressed against her skin. He released her then and turned Mac around, curious as to what she was hiding. Pulling up her shirt he found her pistol tucked into a holster and felt terrible for worrying so much about her. He should have trusted her, should have known that she could take care of herself. Slowly, Harm pulled the weapon from the holster and then reached around her back to unsnap the band that had held it in place. He placed the pistol on the mantle and let the band drop to the floor. Something about the act of disarming her seemed so erotic.

Mac swallowed hard when he came down to his knees in front of her and began to make work of her jeans. He unzipped them slowly and took hold of the waistband, forcefully tugging down the wet material over her hips and down her long legs. His warm hands ran up her legs, coming to a stop at her hips as he leaned in and kissed her navel. A discoloured spot on her right thigh caught his attention and he recalled why she had a marred section of skin. She'd been shot once when they were playing hide and seek with deranged poachers. He traced the spot gently with her fingers and then leaned in and kissed it. His fingers then hooked on the elastic of the light grey panties she wore and he pulled them off her tossing them aside with her jeans.

Harm didn't ask for permission, he was afraid that whatever magic had been woven between them would come to an end. He wanted to taste her, to pleasure her.

"Harm." Mac knew he was teasing her, trying to draw out the moment as long as possible. She was desperate to have him, to feel him inside of her. . Her hands held onto his shoulders, trying to keep her balance as his mouth wreaked havoc.

Harm couldn't get enough of her and their current position wouldn't allow him to please her as he wanted to. He came to his feet, took her hand and lead her to the bed. "Lay down, Mac." He hadn't meant for it to be a command and yet, that is exactly how it sounded.

She did as told, laying right in the middle and watched him curiously. Harm had stripped off his shirt and fought with his wet jeans until he stood in front of her completely naked. Mac couldn't help but stare, he was absolutely beautiful. Strong arms, muscular chest peppered with dark curls of hair that led a light trail down to the part of his anatomy she was unfamiliar with. She licked her lips in anticipation and he bore his body to her. He was staring at her with a hungry gaze although still wearing the t-shirt that he'd seemd to have forgotten take off of her, she felt less than sexy.

Harm was breathing heavily, hands at his side and fists clenched. He could feel her gaze on him glancing down his body, branding him as if she'd touched him. Some time later, her skin was covered in droplets of sweat and Harm had never seen her so attractive as he did now with her eyes half closed and a sated expression that he'd put there. He crawled up on the bed and came to lay at her side.

Mac leaned in and kissed him slowly, savoring the taste of herself on his lips. She felt his hands grip the edges of her shirt and raised her hands to him pull it off. Next, he made quick work of her bra and stifled a laugh as she remembered Kate Pike's barb about him having the "fastest fingers in the Navy." She wanted to finish what they'd started, needed his body over hers, pinning her down into the mattress as they made love.

She opened her eyes and stared into his blue depths, a look of concern in his eyes. Oh no. "What's wrong?"

"Tell me you want this." He felt like a fool asking but, he wasn't going to make any mistakes in regards to her. Desire had a powerful way of clouding judgment and he needed to know that this wasn't one sided. He needed to know that she wanted him.

Mac almost cried at the look in his eyes, an expression of concern and desire mixed into one. She pressed her palm to his cheek and then caressed her fingers down the side of his face and over his lips. "Yes. . .I've wanted you for years, Harm." She said shyly, hoping not to sound too eager. There was a problem though, something that she was ashamed to admit and yet she did anyway, "I haven't been with anyone since Mic."

"I'm told it's like riding a bike." For a brief moment, Harm felt an ache in his heart, a sense that he'd betrayed her while she'd remained faithful.

"Kiss me." She said and eagerly took his mouth with her own hoping whatever dark thoughts had suddenly crossed his mind would be forgotten. Mac's fingers began tracing circles on his chest and then started a slow trail past his abdomen.

Harm closed his eyes and leaned into her touch. They'd been skating around a relationship for so long that the tension had become combustible and even her gentlest touch threatened to send him over the edge. "Mac, stop." He commanded, breaking a kiss as his hands stilled her own before he became completely unglued. He took her mouth with his before she could protest and kissed her passionately before breaking the kiss to look at her. God, he wanted her more than he'd ever wanted any other woman

Mac stared into his darkening eyes that were seeking for permission that had been granted years ago. She'd wanted him for so long. "I want you." She breathed out.

"Mac." He joined them at once, shifting their relationship from friends to lovers. He'd always found her attractive but, never more so than at that very moment with her cheeks flushed and her eyes filled with desire for him. She was his now, fully and unequivocally his, there was no going back now.

How had he waited so long for this moment? How had he denied himself the pleasure he was feeling and love he felt in his heart as she called his name. "Harm… Yes, Harm." Her vision tunneled to the point that nearly passing out from the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

A heavy body collapsed against hers and he'd finally loosened his grip long enough for her to wrap her arms around him. Harm's body was trembling, head resting against her chest.

They lay like that for several minutes and Mac believed that Harm had fallen asleep until he raised his head and his eyes met hers. Wishing he could freeze time, he'd live this moment forever if he could. Dear God, why had they waited so long when this had felt so right? Why hadn't he given himself to her that night in Sydney? He'd been such a fool and had nearly lost her countless times because of it.

Mac could see the storm raging in his eyes and she wondered if he thought this to be a mistake. It would be the last straw in their tumultuous relationship. Before she would let her mind wander that evil path, she kissed him hoping he understood that this was an experience that she wanted.

When his body began reacting to her kisses, any feelings of doubt fell away. His tongue slid across the seam of her mouth, asking for entrance which she gladly granted. They kissed passionately, wildly. Tongues dueling, meshing in a silent conversation that spoke more than words ever could.

They made love again this time more powerful that the time before. Mac brought Harm to the brink of exhaustion and despite his want to stay awake, it wasn't long before long he fell into a deep, blissful sleep.