Authors Note: I was going to leave this story as is (was), but I think we all want to know what Harm thinks about the final product ;) So, I added a little something to lead into the next few stories/chapters.
They were snuggled in bed, bodies exhausted from the weekend's activities, but not ready to fall asleep.
"Soooo, the calendar," Harm started, pausing when Mac shot him a look that warned to tread lightly. "I'm sorry for the way I reacted… it's just… I… don't like the idea of other guys seeing you in your skivvies."
"Harm, a bikini is not the same as skivvies," she smiled, appreciating the sweetness of his tone.
"Yeah, it's sexier."
"Really?" She pushed up on her elbow to face him, "Sexier than the bra and panties I put on for a whole two hours today?"
It was almost embarrassing. The couple had gone back to bed after their early morning wake-up call and hadn't had the need to put on anything other than a robe until after lunch. They barely made it out of her bedroom to grab a few things from Harm's apartment and eat dinner before falling back into bed, …well, technically, couch.
He gave her a knowing look, "No, not sexier than those, but that blue bikini you had on in Australia?" He sucked in a breath, "God, I fantasized about it for weeks and all I saw were the bottoms."
"Oh yeah?" She smiled at him, "Maybe I could pull it out sometime so you can see the top."
"I'd like that," his voice dropped as he moved his lips to her neck, "…and the green one with the little flowers on it?" Mac swore she could see pink spreading across his cheeks as she pulled back.
"Miami?" She questioned; her eyebrows raised.
He smiled, "Your legs in that suit while you held a gun on that guy? I still think about that."
She cocked her head to the side, trying to remember the last time she wore the string bikini. Did she even still have it?
"That was three years ago…. why didn't you…?" The conversation took a more serious turn.
Harm let out a long breath as he grazed his fingertips over her hip, "You were with Dalton, I was with Annie… Then everything happened with Coster… and Russia. It was a mess, Mac."
She waited for him to continue. "I wanted to… but I wasn't ready."
"Is that why… Australia?" she looked up with trepidation, not sure if she wanted to know the answer.
He nodded, "I don't have a very good track record with relationships, you know that." He cautiously met her eyes, "…and I had a thing with a previous partner… I didn't even want a relationship with her, and it ended badly." She took his hand in hers. "You mean too much to me to fuck it up." He kissed her knuckles. "I guess I was waiting for the right time."
She leaned in for a tender kiss before delving into the subject they had avoided all weekend. "So, what happens tomorrow?" He could see the flicker of fear in her eyes before she looked down at their joined hands.
"We wake up, get ready, go to work," he moved his hand to raise her chin, "…then you come back to my place so I can cook you the dead animal that's been in my fridge all weekend," he finished with a smile.
"Why do you have meat in your fridge?"
"I was planning to make you braised short ribs, but you opted for Chinese when I asked you over for dinner."
"Oh," she blushed before getting back to the subject at hand, "but what happens while we're at work?"
"What do you want, Mac? Should we tell the Admiral?"
"No." she saw flash of concern in his features, "Harm, as of Friday I was wearing another man's ring. And for all they know you're still dating Rene." Her tone gentle yet serious. "It wouldn't bode well for us to stroll in on Monday, flaunting a new relationship."
"We don't have to flaunt it, Mac," his blue eyes meeting hers.
"I know, but that's what it would look like." She sighed, "Can you imagine the scuttlebutt if we showed up together, in the same vehicle at the same time, me without a ring? What would be the advantage to that?"
He grinned, "The benefit would be that I can touch…" he whispered, sliding his hand up her waist, "and hold," he pulled her closer, bringing his lips to her pulse point, "and kiss you, and we wouldn't have to worry about getting caught."
She giggled as his fingers brushed a particularly ticklish spot on her side. "Harm, do you really think the Admiral would put up with us canoodling all over the office?" She gave him a pointed look, "He'd ship one of us off to Antarctica."
It was his turn to sigh. "You're right. It makes sense to keep things quiet, at least for awhile."
She gave him a grateful smile that quickly turned mischievous as she moved her hands over his chest. "Besides, I think sneaking around could be kinda fun."