Chapter Ten
Three Answer Options

DECEMBER 2005

1630 PST
MACKENZIE-RABB RESIDENCE
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

Mac was laying in the middle of her and Harm's king-sized bed, twirling a piece of hair around her finger. In her other hand was her cellphone, waiting for her husband to pick up.

"Hello."

"Hello Captain," Mac smiled, running her hand over the fabric of the silk robe she was wearing.

"Captain?" Harm chuckled. "Why are we being so formal, Colonel?"

She giggled. "No reason," she answered coyly. "When are you coming home?"

"I was just about to get into the car," he paused. "Why?"

"I have a surprise for you."

"You do?"

"Uh-huh," Mac sat up, looking at her reflection in the full length mirror across from their bed. Her white robe slid down her arm, revealing a patch of the red chemise she had underneath. It was brand new-she had just gotten it that morning.

"What is it?"

Mac laughed. "That would ruin the surprise," she told him. She shifted her position, looking back at herself in the mirror to see how she looked. She wanted to have everything in place by the time Harm got home.

"I guess I'm just impatient."

"Then come home," Mac said, feeling a little impatient herself.

"Feeling a little bossy today, aren't we? We're the same rank level now, you know."

"Oh Harm," Mac smirked. "I'll always outrank you, in one way or another."

Harm unlocked the front door, the only sound in the house being the jingling of his keys. "Sarah, I'm home," he announced to the eerily silent home. He wiped off his shoes on the doormat. There was no answer.

"Sarah, where are you?"

"Right here."

Harm jumped, hearing Mac chuckle behind him. He turned around to face her, and what he saw made him drop his briefcase. Mac smiled with satisfaction at his reaction. "Surprise, sailor."

Mac was wearing a white silk robe with a red chemise underneath it. The chemise was completely sheer and had a furry white trim along the plunging neckline. It left absolutely nothing to the imagination and was enough to leave Harm speechless. "What's all this?" he finally managed to ask, trying to ignore the heat pooling in the pit of his stomach.

She ignored his question. "Captain Rabb, I have a question for you."

Harm felt a little jilted that Mac hadn't answered him, but he decided to play along with whatever she had planned. He was no stranger to being bossed around by Colonel Sarah Mackenzie, and he would be lying if he said he didn't enjoy her bossing.

"Yes?"

Mac walked towards him slowly, all the while easing her robe farther open. "Have you been naughty or nice this year?"

Harm chuckled. "What?"

"You heard me," Mac told him. She walked behind him, her fingertips dancing across his shoulder. "Have you been naughty or nice this year?"

"Umm…" Harm was finding it a little hard to concentrate, especially since Mac's hand was now resting on his hip. "I'm not sure, you tell me."

"I want your opinion, Captain."

She was now standing in front of Harm again, she looked up at him with a sultry gaze. Raising an eyebrow at him, she awaited his answer.

"Well," Harm cleared his throat. "In my opinion, there's an answer option you're missing. I could be both naughty and nice."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "Why don't you take me into the bedroom and decide for yourself?"

"Hmm," Mac reached up to run her fingers through Harm's hair. "I like that idea."

"I thought you would," Harm reached under Mac's robe, feeling her hips under the thin fabric of her chemise. Mac backed up, leading him into the living room.

"I don't think we'll make that far," she said, and Harm knew she was right.

THE NEXT MORNING

Mac stretched, her fingers traveling across the bedsheet in search of her husband. Much to her dismay, the only thing her hand came into contact with was thin air. She opened her eyes and quickly noticed she was alone in their bedroom.

"Harm?" she called.

There was no answer.

"Harm?" Mac repeated, louder that time. She sat up, gathering the covers around her chest.

"I'm down here!"

"Why is he in the living room?" Mac murmured to herself as she climbed out of bed. She found her robe where it had been discarded on the floor the night before. Putting it on, Mac padded out of the bedroom and down the stairs, heading into the living room. What she saw made her stop dead in her tracks.

Harm grinned. "Surprise, marine."

He was standing in front of the Christmas tree, wearing absolutely nothing except for a big red bow tied around his waist. He had his hands on his hips, waiting smugly to see what Mac had to say.

"Is this my present?" she asked, leaning against the wall.

"It depends," Harm said. "Have you been naughty or nice this year?"

Mac laughed. "I hate it when you use my words against me."

"You still love me, though."

"Oh, I definitely do," Mac walked towards him, her eyes never leaving the bow around his waist. She kissed him on the lips, and the bow hit the floor seconds later.