Chapter 7

Mac's POV

Harm's reheating our dinner when I step up behind him and circle my arms around his waist. He wears boxer shorts and a t-shirt, smells freshly showered and stops what he's doing to turn and kiss me.

I'm amazed how easy it feels and any of that awkward moment after is just not there. When we made love again. When he pulled me out of bed to shower so that he could sate my rumbling stomach. All of it felt like we've been doing this forever.

I'm apprehensive, of course as flashes of our life back home remind me that this is just a holiday getaway. The rational side of me wants to talk about the aftermath but I push it down and try to ignore it altogether. This is better than nothing at all and I'm okay with that.

"Hungry?" Harm asks in a suggestively low voice. He's cupping my face and staring at me like he wants to take me back to bed. I close my eyes when his lips meet mine again and feel him backing us against the cabinets across from the oven.

He raises me up on the counter and steps between my parted thighs. It's almost embarrassing how wet I already am. Harm sighs when the dress shirt I'm wearing - his - raises up and he notices I'm wearing nothing else.

I think he tells me something about dinner taking twenty minutes to heat up or maybe it's my imagination. Either way, I'm pushing his boxers halfway down his hips and using my legs to draw him closer.

He's kissing me again while expert fingers begin to stroke and tease until I'm screaming his name in pleasure. Seconds later he's inside me again. Harm's deliciously long, thick and quite possibly has ruined me for any other man.

"Make me come again." I beg of him and it's a challenge that he meets with fervor.

Harm's POV

"I swear if you gave up JAG to become my personal chef, I wouldn't complain." Mac pushes away from the dinner table, a content smile spreading on her lips that she licks.

I chuckle at her compliment, the one of many she's showered me with since we finally settled down to eat. I really didn't intend to have my way with her on the kitchen counter of all places, especially after…after…shit…I can't even remember how many times we slept together in the last few hours.

I've never, ever wanted a woman this way, with this explicit desire that I'm incapable of denying. Not to compare Mac to others but with most women, once was good enough and I'd conk out (or run off) shortly after. But, I want her and I want to please her just to hear the way she says my name when she comes.

"It's not that hard." I blush at the unintended innuendo and Mac burst out laughing.

"Oh, I think it was plenty hard."

I groan and reach for her hand, placing a kiss on the inside of her wrist. "That's not what I meant. Cooking is not so hard. Some recipes I may pull out a cookbook but the rest I tend to toss in herbs and seasoning that I like. I burnt plenty of things and can't bake worth a shit."

"Now that I can do." The woman makes the most exquisite pies and cakes despite baking being so much more calculated than cooking savory dishes. "I love baking. It's controlled and precise."

"That there is a difference between us sailors and you jarheads, I guess…Speaking of, Eric brought us some goodies." I stand and hurry to the kitchen feeling an odd sense of pride in the way she watches me. It's no longer friendly curiosity, it's charged with a spark ready to ignite.

I think I'm taken back by how intense this all feels. It's a good intensity but it's a little overwhelming and I don't want to think about the ramifications when we go back home. "Pie should be warm enough by now." I'm amazed nothing was burnt or dried out given our earlier kitchen acrobatics.

"Want me to put on the coffee?" Mac's halfway out of her seat when I wave her off. I seriously can't have her that close again and keep my hands to myself. At least the table kept us at arms length.

"Nah, I have it ready to go." I say hitting the power button and then grab the desert dishes. I lay a healthy slice on each one, add a massive swirl of whipped cream on hers and use a tray to carry the food to the living room.

Mac's sitting on the sofa, her legs tucked under her. She perks up when I set the pie in front of her and is already licking her lips even before taking a bite. Down boy, I think to myself as certain parts of my body twitch in anticipation.

Mac's POV

We sit on the sofa, Christmas music playing in the background eating the most decadent apple pie I've ever had. It's the crumble kind, my absolute favorite and with the whipped cream, the pie is perfect. I make a mental note to ask Eric where he bought it and try to recreate the delicacy when I get home.

Harm's watching me. His eyes hover above the brim of the coffee mug he's holding. Funny how twelve hours ago he all but ignored my cute little bathing suits. A few days ago he was busy searching for a little black book for a holiday date. I don't want to think about that but, I do. It's kinda hard not to consider he turns on and off like a…well, bilge switch. "What changed?"

"Wha-" He nearly chokes on the coffee and has to dab a napkin on his chin to stop from making a mess of himself. "What do you mean?"

"Us. You weren't cold with me but, you weren't this enthused either." I put down my plate and turn fully towards him. My better sense tells me not to mention the other women but, I have to because this change is too sudden. "Back at HQ you were calling every woman I assume you've had a sexual relationship with."

Harm looks mortified and I hate that my statement makes him push away. "Mac, it's not-"

"Don't tell me it's not what I think because it is. You're a single, good looking man. I understand not wanting to be alone for the Holidays. I didn't want to be alone either."

He stares at me in confusion, takes another sip of his coffee and settles the mug down again. "Was there a question in there? What do you want me to tell you?"

"The truth."

I'm being difficult, I know but my mind can't wrap around his change towards me. For years the innuendos and flirtation was fun but, there was an invisible line neither of us crossed. It was like we both silently agreed to not test the tension between us. Being in uniform made it easy and past lovers made us unavailable - until now.

"Why now?" I ask and watch the shadows fall on his face as he searches for an answer.

Harm's POV.

Mac was right, I did search for a woman to spend my leave with. Any woman would have done because I wasn't expecting more than a few hot nights followed by a split in opposite directions.

I hate that she's broken my Christmas cheer but I guess it's something we need to address sooner or later. "Yeah, you're right. I was looking for a girl to spend the Holiday with." I admit and feel my cheeks heat. "No attachments. A little fun and then we would go our separate ways. No commitment."

"No commitment." She repeats my last words and I feel myself start to panic when Mac stands and walks out the sliding glass doors.

I don't stop her, though I should. Nor do I follow because I'm bursting with anger and my words to her would not be kind ones. Why the hell did she have to destroy such a lovely day? Why the hell did it matter who I was calling days earlier when I've made it clear that I want to be with her?

I clear the table, drop the plates in the sink and begin to violently scrub each one. My eyes occasionally glance out the door but it's too dark to see anything outside. She's perfectly safe, I assure myself but, when I'm done cleaning and Mac still hasn't returned, I decide to give chase.

The back deck has a few adirondack chairs and a firepit that rarely gets used given the tropical climate. I only see her because of fireworks being set off on the beach. Each crackle illuminates the deck and without asking, I slide into the chair next to hers and watch the action.

"It's beautiful." Mac says and I want to tell her that she's the real beauty but I don't. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ruin tonight but I-" She stops talking and shrugs. "I'm sorry."

"Mac-"

"No, you don't have to explain anything. I have feelings for you that you don't have for me."

God, is that what she really thinks? So much for actions speaking louder than words. "Mac, you're wrong."

"Harm, it's fine. Let's just go inside and enjoy whatever we have here."

She's dismissing me and her words serve to piss me off more than her questioning my lack of commitment. I stand up so fast the chair nearly topples and at once I'm dangerously hovering over Mac. "Damnit, Mac. I'm in love with you too!"