Hurt Locker

Chapter Nine- Emotional Sparring

You kissed me," she said with a small smile. Riley was overjoyed Mac seemed to have feelings for her too. If he hadn't taken the plunge she surely would have….eventually. It was everything she wanted it to be except for the aftermath. He looked so ashamed. Why the fuck was he ashamed?

"Look Riles,"

"Don't." She didn't need to be a mind reader to know what he was going to say. And she didn't want to hear it.

"Hear me out," he said. "You're in a…delicate place. Your emotions are running high and you're still confused about a lot of things."

Riley folded her arms, "So what?"

"So I don't want to impose anything onto you right now only to find out down the line that what you think you're feeling was just a …"

"A what? Symptom? You know for a genius you say a lot of stupid things."

He looked her dead in the eye and she was shocked to find a storm of emotions reflected in his eyes. "Riley just last night you thought you were locked in the trunk of a car."

"That's not fair…Mac if you felt this way why would you kiss me, why would you do this to me?" He had opened a can of worms and she knew it would be impossible to stop her feelings back inside. Maybe she could have gone on without knowing but now that she knew, now that she felt it-felt him, how was she supposed to forget about it?

He shut his eyes grimacing, "I'm sorry…I was just caught up in the moment…and you looked so…I just couldn't help myself."

"Let's just go," Riley conceded. She didn't like the way Mac saw her. Like some broken, fragile thing. When had she ever been the victim like this? She hated it.

They got into the car, thick silence covering them. How had they gone from hot passion to awkward silence within the span of two minutes?

When they got back to the house it occurred to Riley she would have to face her bed alone tonight. Now that things had blown up with Mac she didn't feel like asking him to stay with her again. Even though there was a fat chance she would be able to get any sleep without him, what could she do?

Hanging up the keys and taking off his shoes Mac's eyes stayed on Riley the entire time. It unnerved her.

She knew there was something between them but she also knew she would not be able to convince him of that tonight. There would be tomorrow. She was emotionally tapped out.

"It's okay, I'm a big girl." she told him. She leaned up and kissed his cheek before walking away.

Later that night she was sitting in bed, up against the pillows. No light but the bedside table lamp, delaying the inevitable. She was actually scared to fall asleep. How pathetic. Maybe Mac was right, she was broken. Sure he hadn't used those words but he might have well have. She sighed and slipped down into bed, what choice did she have. Just as she was settling under the covers there was a knock on her bedroom door. Mac opened the door and stuck his head through the small crack. She hadn't expected him. But she was in no position to refuse his company.

"Room for one more?" he said.

She grinned and patted the space on the bed next to her. He closed the door behind him, holding his pillow to his chest. Riley thought he looked adorable. He slipped into bed beside her and she felt an immediate weight off her shoulders. Even if she would be terrorized in her dreams later in the night, she felt safe in the moment. That would be enough to soothe her to sleep. Mac's back faced her and she felt slighted he didn't even want to see her.

"We're okay Mac," she said to his back. He turned around slowly to face her once she had spoken. He stared at her, a world of thought brewing in his eyes but none he verbalized. She desperately wanted to know what he was thinking.

"I know you think I'm might be confused about my feelings for you but it doesn't matter. I'm not going to give up. Watch me prove you wrong. Doesn't matter how much time passes, I'm still going to feel the same way. I felt it back then and I still feel it now."

His eyes softened, "Riles…"

She smirked, "Goodnight,"

Well into the night a sleeping Riley fidgeted in her sleep. She was hanging off the side of a building. Terrified for her life and crying out for help. She called his name, again and again. But he never came.

"Mac," She startled awake, still tasting his name on her tongue. Her heart hammered in her chest as she slowly realized she was safely in bed and not falling to her death. Mac stirred awake beside her, worry plastered on his face. She cradled her own face, deeply embarrassed that she was once again scared and broken in front of him.

"I'm right here," she heard his reassuring voice and felt his warm hand on her back.

Before he even opened his eyes Mac had to admit how much he loved waking up in Riley's bed—enveloped in her smell. He almost didn't want to leave it. His eyes fluttered opened and found nothing but empty space. Where was she? She had slept through the entire night after her nightmare. She wouldn't talk about it this time. He wasn't sure if she was just that terrified or she was being tight lipped because of new developments in their relationship.

Knowing it was he alone that could calm her demons was strangely flattering. That it was his name she called out. He knew it was nothing to be proud of but the part of him that was a mere a mortal man loved that he could help her in anyway imaginable.

He slowly sat up in bed and checked his phone for any updates. He didn't want to go into work and Matty was actually only calling him in if it were only necessary. In fact, everyone on the team had been helping out and covering his ass so he could stay with Riley. It was like they all knew how desperately he wanted to stay near to her even before he did.

He even had Desi to thank a lot. He just didn't know how to initiate a conversation like that, did she even want to talk him? She had stepped up a lot and was even taking solo missions just so Mac would have the time to stay with Riley. Did she know too?

He heard rustling outside and smiled unconsciously, her words last night rang in his head all night long. 'Watch me prove you wrong'. It was such a turn on he had to use all his will power not to get a hard on right then and there. "I felt it back then" did she really? If Riley had always had feelings for him then it would change everything. It would colour every interaction they've ever had differently. He pushed the thoughts away before they devoured him whole and took up his entire morning. He left the comfort of Riley's room only to find Riley pouring gasoline on the flames. Dressed in sinful black leggings and a matching sports bra, Riley was doing sit ups on the deck. She sat up when she saw him, Mac had to pretend not to notice the beads of sweat tricking down between her cleavage. Maybe he was better off at work after all.

"Hey," she said, nonchalant as ever, like she hadn't rocked his entire world yesterday. Now that he knew how damn good she tasted, he found it difficult to not look at her lips.

"Working out?" he said, even though it was obvious. Any distraction would be welcomed.

She stood up with her hands on hips and nodded. Those leggings had no right to hug her body that perfectly.

"I'm tired of feeling like a victim. I've been a lot of things in my past but I've never been helpless."

"You're not helpless."

She shrugged, I sure feel like it. But that's about to change. I'm going to get my strength back."

"You are quite the badass," Mac said.

"If I was then I can't remember?"

"Your muscle memory should kick in," he said taking a swing at her. She dressed back just in time.

"Whoa," she said shocked.

"See," he smiled.

"Again," she said in a demanding tone.

A few minutes later they were full on sparring, tugging each other back and forth on the deck. Mac was showing how to get out of his grasp. With every excuse to touch her, Mac didn't hold back. Riley ran warm under his own skin as he taught her various maneuvers and tricks. He was due for a briefing at the Phoenix and Riley seemed to notice his growing impatience.

"One more?" she said. He nodded because he didn't want to leave as much as she wanted him to stay.

He talked her through another maneuver and when she least expected it, he yanked her off her feet and flipped her onto her back. He moved with her, cushioning their landing. It still stunned the wind out of her and she stared up at him wide eyed.

"Whoa," she said, smiling up at him. Mac lingered over her a moment longer than he had to and then helped her to her feet. "You want to learn it?"

"Hell yeah," she said. He showed her slowly, how to use his own weight and momentum to her benefit. Once he thought she had the hang of it Mac advanced on her, she pulled him down from around the neck and used her legs to kick his feet out from under him. It seemed she had learned the skill better than Mac expected as they spiraled to the ground in an unexpected ball of flailing limbs. He landed flat on his back with a thud and she landed on top of him.

It wasn't the exact move Mac had taught her but she had used the basics she learned to improvise her own move. It was just as effective.

She straddled him with a look of complete victory on her face. It was probably that moment Mac realized the compromising permission they were in.

As their heavy breathing subsided, all that was left was smoldering heat between them. Like magnets destined to connect, their heads moved closer and closer until they collided in a clash of lips. They melted together, lost in the sensations of the kiss. He groaned into her mouth, unable to help himself. She yanked him by the shoulders in response bringing their bodies closer. His hand found its way on her thigh and she moved over him in response, grinding her centre on his growing shaft. She would literally be the death of him. He couldn't believe how easily he fell off the wagon.

She teased him with her tongue, in full control of both their bodies. Her tongue stroked in and out of his mouth leaving Mac woozy like he had downed three shots. Her hands skirted over his taut muscles, down his chest and over his abs. Just when he thought she was going to tear his clothes off she pulled away from him.

A moment rolled by between them without a word. They were just held in an intense gaze. Like a staring contest with higher stakes, much higher.

"You sure send a lot of mixed signals," she said. Her tone was even and calm but he couldn't tell what she was implying. Was she happy about it or annoyed.

"I'm gonna hit the showers." She got off him and disappeared down the hall.

Mac sat on the floor still with an erection and sighed into the ether.

Definitely annoyed.