Chapter 38

To say that he was shocked to find his Chief of Staff in his arms was an understatement, but as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body against his, he couldn't help but react. Remembering the sounds of her passion from the dream he'd witnessed her having, didn't help at that point. As she leaned into him, his arms went out almost by instinct to hold her so they didn't fall back onto his desk. Mac's hands roamed to the back of his head pulling him even closer to her and he opened his lips to try and demand what she was doing.

Mac took that opportunity to deepen the kiss and her tongue invaded his mouth. At last she was in the arms of the man she loved! Even if she was only doing this to make Vicky jealous…who was she kidding?! That was NOT the only reason she was kissing AJ, she wanted to! There was no denying it, the only way it could be any better than it was, was if he would only respond!

He couldn't help it…he didn't know why, but his tongue reached out to meet hers and suddenly he was participating in the kiss rather than being only on the receiving end. Pulling his arms tighter around her, AJ fought his arousal at the feel of her in his arms. Without conscious thought, he deepened the kiss and sighed into her mouth as Mac moaned.

Neither of the two heard the door open, but they heard the gasp and Vicky's shrill cry of, "I knew it! First you spend the night with her and now I find the two of you kissing!"

Jen, who had been working on her computer, looked up at this strident comment just in time to see the Admiral and Colonel Mackenzie jerk apart. Her eyes widened in amazement and regret that she had missed this event. Jen was torn between watching the Admiral and the Colonel, or watching Ms. Frazer turn on her heel and storm out through the bullpen. Since the Admiral and Colonel were just staring at each other, she figured that Vicky's exit provided more entertainment.

It was clear as Vicky rushed past that both Bud and Sturgis had heard her loud comment as well as several aids in the bullpen. Bud was standing there in open mouth confusion when Sturgis turned to him and said, "I don't know what the kiss was about, but you can bet that the overnight thing was because of the blizzard. After all that's why they didn't make it to the luncheon.

Meanwhile in the Admiral's office after an awkward moment of silence both tried to speak at the same time.

"What the hell was that all about Colonel?" AJ demanded.

At the same time Mac said, "I'm sorry Sir, but I just thought that if I made her jealous, she might reveal her hand."

"Then I'm to assume that you got the reaction you were hoping for?"

With a rueful grin Mac responded, "No, Sir. I was actually hoping she would come after one of us."

"I think there's a flaw in your plan Mac. All of the previous attempts have been from a distance, why would you assume that if Vicky was the perpetrator she would come after either of us with her bare hands?"

"As I said Sir, I was hoping to make her jealous. A jealous woman will often act out of character and without forethought."

"Instead all you did was cheat me out of my lunch date, and most likely ruin my plans for this evening."

Hanging her head in sorrow, that he still didn't believe her, Mac said, "I'm sorry if I've caused you any problems Sir. That wasn't my intention."

"I'm sure that wasn't your intention…Dismissed Colonel."

"Aye, aye Sir," she said.

As she got to the door she heard him say, "Close the hatch behind you Colonel."

"Yes Sir," she answered and did so.

Wanting nothing more that to hide out in her office for the rest of the day, Mac instead faced the curious stares of her co-workers when she entered the bullpen and demanded, "What?!"

"Harriett has said for years that you loved the Admiral, but wouldn't admit it even to yourself. Wait until I tell her you finally realized that you love him!"

To be continued…..