"Oh god." "Please?" they spoke together, and Harm covered Mac's mouth with his own. He nipped gently with his teeth, and she parted her lips and met his tongue with a whimper. His heart stopped for a brief instant then began to race. Her insides turned liquid and she would have collapsed if he weren't holding her so tightly.

The kiss went on until they broke apart, gasping for breath. They stared into each other's eyes, searching, hoping. When it became almost too intense, Mac was the first to lower her gaze. Harm felt her body tighten as if she was planning to pull away. 'No, please don't' his mind screamed as he stopped her with a gentle fingers on her flushed cheek.

"Mac, I..."

"Harm..."

He stroked her face, letting his hand trail down her neck to the collar of her t-shirt. Her lips parted with a slight gasp as he continued downward and lightly traced the outline of her breast with just his index finger. Her knees starting shaking as she brought her gaze back to his, her eyes black with desire. All thoughts of pulling back were gone from her mind, as she grabbed his neck with one hand, his six with the other and pressed her body against his once more. Just before her lips captured his, she hissed "bedroom, right now!"

Although shocked at her sudden aggressiveness, Harm wasn't about to argue. He scooped her up without breaking the kiss and carried her toward her bed. Mac was struggling to pull his shirt over his head while they were moving. He couldn't see and didn't want to break the mood by dropping her or tripping over furniture. He figured distraction was his best defense, so he adjusted her body and pressed himself against her.

At the edge of the bed, they paused only to tear off their clothes, flinging them away in their haste. Mac felt as if Harm's gaze was burning her skin as he slowly perused her from head to toe.

"You are even more beautiful and perfect than I ever imagined or dreamed," Harm whispered in wonder, his voice almost reverent.

"You... dreamed about me?" Mac was surprised, first that Harm actually had imagined her naked, and second, that he would admit it.

"Oh, yeah, I have for years," he said without mincing words. It certainly wasn't the time for pulling punches. They were on the same page for the first time in forever, and he wanted her. Right now, if possible.

"So, what are you waiting for?" she replied cheekily, and with a growl her grabbed her and threw her on the bed. They made love with exquisite tenderness, ending with a sensual kiss.

Afterward, he shifted next to her and gradually their breathing slowed and their pulses returned to normal. Suddenly, Harm sat straight up and looked at Mac, who was still staring dazed at the ceiling. "Shit. Mac, I'm sorry!"

Her face fell visibly, and she choked back a sob before she turned away. 'He was SORRY!' her mind screamed. 'Well what did you expect,' her conscience mocked, 'you knew this would happen..."

"Mac?"

"It's OK Harm," she ground out between clenched teeth. "I know it was the heat of the moment."

He was glad she understood. "I would never deliberately hurt you. We just got caught up in things. It won't happen again."

Mac forced herself to stay still as tears started to trace a path down her cheeks. 'Breathe,' she told herself, 'just focus on your breathing, he'll be gone soon and then you can break down.' She waited in silence for him to say something else, to move away to get dressed and leave, to do something.

Then the bed shifted and she closed her eyes in agony, waiting for the final blow to her pride and her heart. And she was shocked when his arms came around her and pulled her close, while he nuzzled her ear and whispered, "I love you, Sarah."

'The hell?'

She wrenched away from him and turned to stare at him incredulously, complete disbelief keeping her from speaking. Harm stared at her beautiful tear-stained face and started to ask "Mac, what's wrong..."

She found her voice. "What kind of bastard are you, Harmon Rabb? You love me? Then how can you be sorry about what we just shared? How..."

Harm stared at her in confusion for a moment, and then wasn't sure whether to laugh, cry or kiss her senseless. He opted for the third, and cut off her tirade mid-sentence. Mac struggled for a moment, and then went limp in surrender. When they separated, Harm placed a gentle finger on her lips to keep her silent.

"Mac, Sarah, I'm such an idiot. I said I was sorry because we didn't use birth control! I didn't ask you about it, hell, I didn't even THINK about it until we were finished. That's what I meant! Of course I love you, I'm in love with you, how could you think otherwise?"

Mac couldn't help herself, she started to laugh. "Harm, I'm on the pill and have been for years. Don't you think I would have said something if there was a problem?"

"I don't know Mac, I kind of hoped you were as overwhelmed as I was and couldn't think about it." He flashed his trademark flyboy grin to show he was teasing, well sort of teasing anyway.

"Obviously we need to work on our communication skills." Mac answered. "I'll go first. I love you, too."

Harm grinned in response and pulled her against him once more. "I think that's enough talking for now."

Fin