Never Say Never
Chapter 3
Monday, February 28, 2000
1100 Local Time
Burnett Residence
La Jolla, CA
When Mac and Harm were at the Qantas departure with the Brumbys saying their goodbyes, Renee embraced Harm saying to Mac, "Forgive me, Sarah, I just have to kiss the groom."
Mac was a good sport as Renee grasped Harm's face and laid a long kiss on her fiancé. After about 20 seconds, Mic was the one to say, "Hey red light."
Mac stopped any jealous outburst, by taking hold of Mic's face and laid her own kiss on her friend. Both couples broke their lip-locks with chuckles.
As they exchanged goodbye hugs, Renee asked, "Make sure you send the save-that-date notice, but if you can make it after my due date of April 30."
"We'll do that. Just promise you to send us pictures of the new baby," Sarah replied.
"We will," Mic promised.
At that Mac & Harm boarded the Qantas 747 for their 10-hour flight to Los Angeles.
Now as Harm pulled their rental car into the driveway, Trish Burnett, with her arms spread wide, came running out to meet them. She went to Mac's side of the car first. Mac saw her coming to her and got out to meet her future mother-in-law's charge.
As Trish enveloped Mac in a fierce hug, she said, "Oh, I was so happy to get your call to tell us you were finally engaged."
When Trish released Mac from the hug and started walking into the house, Mac showed her left hand. "I was thrilled that Harm finally asked. He was keeping me in the dark for so long. I didn't know that you gave him the ring when he visited you after we came back from Russia."
"Well, from what you two told me, he had a lot on his plate; going back to flying, getting back to JAG, and then dealing with that idiotic charge against the president."
As the two women reached the living room, Harm was bringing his and Mac's bags into the house. He dropped them at the foot of the stairs and joined the women. He went up behind Mac and wrapped his arms around her waist. As he bent to kiss her cheek, he said, "Well I had plans to propose on Valentine's Day. But when Mic called for help in Australia, I had to scrap those plans. I was really thrilled that Sarah was coming down to "Oz". I couldn't wait till we were alone so I proposed on the ferry with the Brumbys as our witnesses. Hell, if there was a preacher, we could've been married there."
Trish had them sit on the sofa as she said, "Well I'm glad you didn't. I want to enjoy my son's wedding. Do you have a date in mind?"
"Well on the flight here, we were talking about March or April of next year. That will give us time to plan everything."
"Where do you want the wedding to be?" Frank Burnett asked as he came into the room.
"Well, we want to have it on the farm in Belleville. Gram practically ordered us to do that when we visited her last Christmas. She must have known back then Harm would propose," Mac replied.
"Yeah, I think she did. She always has a way of knowing those things before anyone else does," Harm chuckled.
Everyone shared a laugh at that. Then Trish ordered, "Well you two change out of your uniforms and get settled. Then join us on the terrace. I have lunch prepared."
Mac and Harm got up to do so. They went upstairs to Harm's old bedroom. The only change Trish made to the room was replacing Harm's twin bed with a queen-sized bed. She didn't have any prudish thought that her son was a virgin.
As she watched Mac getting undressed, he said, "You are so beautiful. I should take you to bed now."
By that time Mac was down to her lingerie and Harm just had his shirt off. She went up to him wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. She broke the kiss and leaned back to look at him. She kept her hand interlocked at the back of his neck as she asked, "Harm, can I ask for something please?"
"Sure, honey what do you want?"
"I want us to wait until our honeymoon till we make love again. I know nothing will match our first time, but I think the wait will make our wedding night that much more special."
"Are you sure honey? I mean I'm willing, but are you really sure? It's going to be tough."
"Yes, I'm sure. I want to stop taking my birth control pills. I want us to have a honeymoon baby. The year of abstinence will give my body a chance to get rid of the contraceptive."
"Well if that's how you want it, then that's how I want it as well. I know it'll be just as special as our first time."
Flashback
Saturday, March 1, 1997
1330 Local Time
Harm's Loft
North of Union Station
Harm had the Spanish dancing music up loud as he sat on the floor changing the sanding pad on the rental floor polisher. He didn't hear the door to the loft open and Mac calling, "HARM!"
Mac smirked and went up behind him and nudged his shoulder. Harm looked up at her totally startled. He relaxed into his trademark smile when he saw it was Mac.
She went to turn the music down and said, "I brought a peace offering."
"What is it?"
"A vegetarian plate."
Harm made a show of looking around saying, "I don't have anywhere to eat except the bed."
"That's okay. I'm sure I can control myself."
"Alright, if you're okay with it."
As they walked in, Harm asked, "Is that what you brought for yourself?"
"Now I got a Beltway Burger with fries and a chocolate shake."
"Figures. One of these days I'm going to get you to eat right."
"Yeah, sure you will," Mac said as she spread a napkin on the bed. She took her burger out and took a bite.
As Harm ate his vegetables, he occasionally looked at her enjoying her burger. When they finished eating and began to clear their meal leftovers, he told her, "You know you look as cute eating that burger as when you ducked under the courtroom table."
Mac stopped and looked him in the eye, held up her finger at him, and said, "Marines don't duck. We take cover, but never duck."
Harm was totally captivated by her. She looked even cuter as she held her finger up at him as she made her pronouncement. She was totally oblivious to the spot of ketchup on the corner of her mouth that she had forgotten to wipe off. He reached over and palmed her cheek and used his thumb to rub the ketchup off her cheek. She put his hand on his and turned her head to suck on his thumb. He became aroused as he felt her lick his thumb in her mouth. When she withdrew her mouth from his thumb, he held her hand on his cheek and leaned his head toward her. Mac nodded her head and welcomed him when his lips met hers. She felt his tongue glide across her teeth seeking permission. She opened her mouth to allow his thrusting tongue into her mouth and along her teeth, and she absorbed him. She thrust her tongue back and reached inside of him to explore the hardness of his mouth. During the kiss, they lay fully on the bed. They started reaching under their shirts rubbing each other's backs as they also entangled their legs.
As they fully aligned their bodies, Mac felt his erection along her belly. She withdrew from the kiss and asked, "Harm make love with me, please?"
"Are you sure, I don't have any condoms."
"Yes, I'm sure. Don't worry; I'm using the pill. It regulates my period."
"If you're sure, then okay."
He started kissing her again. At that they were making out like teenagers, reaching and helping each other remove their clothing. When they got each other's tops off, Mac rolled them over to be on top. She sat up and in the most feminine looking movement, reached behind her and unclasped her black lacey bra. Harm marveled as she crossed her arms, lowered the bra straps from her shoulders and set her impressive breasts free. She reached and took his hands to bring them up to her breasts. She kneaded his hands on her breasts, roughly mashing them. She dropped her hands and let him have his way. She let out sharp breaths as he twiddled her nipples.
As Harm had his way with her breasts, Mac reached to pull his jeans and boxer shorts down. She marveled at how his erection sprang up at being set free.
She took his hands from her breasts and said, "Lie back and let me work. I've always imagined doing this to you."
Harm was breathing hard as Mac took his jeans and boxers completely off. When she let them drop to the floor, she reached and grasped his manhood and started stroking him up and down. After a few strokes, she saw a drop of pre-cum appear at his tip. She bent and took him fully into her mouth. Harm threw his head back and gasped as Mac deepthroated him. He saw her nose at his pubic hair. She held him in her mouth like that and worked her tongue on him. She started stroking her head up and down on his shaft. After a time, Harm had to beg, "Mac, I want to cum inside you the first time."
Mac withdrew from him with a pop and smiled saying, "As you wish."
As Harm helped her drag her panties and jeans completely off, he embraced her and rolled them over so that his body covered her. Mac spread her legs for him and reached to guide his tip to her entrance.
She let go of his cock, brought both of her hands to either side of his face to look into his eyes, and said, "Yes Harm, I want you in me.
Harm smiled and pushed himself into her. Mac gasped as she felt him slide all the way into her. As he slid into her up to his hilt and settled onto her saddle, he said, "Sarah Catherine Mackenzie, I love you. No matter who stands in our way, I'll always love you."
Mac was so overwhelmed with is declaration, that she started to tear up in happiness. She mashed her lips to his in a long kiss. As they kissed Harm began to stroke himself in and out of her.
As he was pumping her, she closed her eyes and let her body feel as her flesh sensuously slipped outward, and her flesh sensuously slipped inward. Someone else was within her, as deep as she could imagine that deep could go. Beyond the thrust of his large manhood was only the her of her, and it felt wonderful. Trying to keep up with his rhythmic pumping, Mac wrapped her legs around his ass and bucked her hips up and down to keep him as deep inside as she could.
After a long time of pumping, Harm gave a sound and ramming himself into her completely expended himself in her. Under her closed eyes, she sensed more than felt it. As he fell on her, she felt the pressure of his cock thrust as high up as her navel.
'Oh my God, I love how this man fills me,' she thought under her closed eyes. She loved the heavy weight on his body as she interlocked their legs and rubbed her hands up and down his back. They rested in that position for a long while.
As Mac lay with Harm still inside her, she closed her arms to hold him tightly and whispered, "You are a fine strong man. I love you too. I'll be ready to deal with anyone who stands against us."
They made love throughout the afternoon three more times, alternating who was on top. After their third time, they pulled the covers up and snuggled in an embrace.
As Mac watched the sun shine through the window, she lay in Harm's embrace, rubbing her hand on his chest, combing her fingers through his thick chest hair. She sighed and started, "Harm, there are some things about me that you have to know."
"What's that honey?"
Mac smiled at the endearment as she answered, "I was married once. It was just after I turned 18 and was still in high school. I was drinking at the time, heavily. His name was Chris Ragle. He was the local bad boy. He latched onto Eddie and me and schmoozed us to agree to let him live in Eddie's house with us. One night after we had been drinking, he convinced me to go with him to Vegas and one of those kitschy wedding chapels. When we got there, I was so hungover and signed whatever he put in front of me. I just wanted to go somewhere and lie down and recover or get another drink. I do remember on my alleged honeymoon night; he was nowhere to be seen after he checked us into and left me at a cheap roach motel. He came back the next morning to get me. He was in a panic and rushed me out the door. We didn't even stop at the front desk to check out. As we were driving out of Vegas, we got pulled over. Chris was arrested and his car was impounded. The cops arrested and cuffed me as a precaution. When we got to the precinct, Chris was charged with armed robbery."
"When did he rob someone?"
"Right after he dropped me off at the motel, he and two other guys he knew robbed a local 24-hour check-cashing establishment. Chris was the getaway driver. He was waiting in the car when the two perpetrators went in. One of them shot a clerk in the shoulder. She was lucky it wasn't fatal."
"Did you love him?"
"I was too drunk to know what love really was or even care for him. He was just someone I knew. You see I'm one of those kinds of drunks that don't black out. I have an uncanny ability for remembering things. I recalled Chris's two friends as being at Eddie's house a few times. They were talking of a big score. I barely remembered that they mentioned that their wives wouldn't be able to testify against them because of the sanctity of the marriage pact. So, I think Chris had the same idea, hence the quickie wedding in Las Vegas. We never consummated it."
"Really? So that means that we…"
Mac smiled cupped his cheek and leaned in to give him a kiss, and said, "Yes, you were my first."
Harm smiled the biggest smile as he asked, "What about your, aah, uhm…?"
"My hymen and why there was no blood from our intercourse?"
"Yeah, that," Harm said half embarrassed.
"Well, that was torn from when I rode a horse when I was thirteen. My family went to a dude ranch near Phoenix. It happened when the horse I was riding was spooked by a rattlesnake, bolted, and bucked a bit. I was bounced really hard in the saddle. When the horse calmed and I looked down, I saw the blood on my jeans. Mom took me to the ranch's doctor who explained that it was common for that to happen. Her own daughters experienced the same thing from riding."
"So, getting back to your marriage to Chris. What happened?"
"After Uncle Matt dried me out, he helped me find a marriage lawyer in Vegas. He was able to prove that Chris married me under false pretenses and since it was never consummated, it was annulled."
"Where is Chris now?"
"Last I heard, he was serving twenty years in the Nevada State Prison outside Reno."
Harm nodded at that as he asked, "So, how do we go forward with JAG? Because I'm not gonna give you up."
Mac smiled as she replied, "We keep it to ourselves. We're the same rank and not each other's supervisors. We may be partners, as the admiral told us, but we still run our own separate section of attorneys at headquarters. Also, our private lives need to remain private. We can't give any hint at the office that we're an item. If we do Chegwidden will sure as shit separate us; most likely to different parts of the globe."
"Yeah, he might." He gave her a quick kiss and then said, "That works for me, sweetheart."
"So, we're onto the "terms of endearment phase", huh?"
"Yes, we are. It's gonna be hard for me to refrain from calling you those endearments at the office."
"It'll be hard for me as well Imzadi," Mac said as she gave him a smooch.
"Imzadi? You're a Trekker?"
"Yes, I am. I loved Riker and Troi's relationship. I read both books. "Imzadi and Imzadi II."
"So, have I. What other term of endearment do you like?" By this time Harm had tightened his grip on Mac in his arms and rolled them until she rested under him.
"Well, there are some Persian terms my maternal grandmother taught me."
"Such as?"
"Such as Azizam, which means 'my dear'."
Harm gave her smooch, "And?"
"Khoshgelam, 'my beautiful'."
"I think I'll call you that." Another smooch.
"Eshgham, 'my love'."
"Another good one." More smooching.
"Aziz-e delam – 'dear of my heart'."
"Still good." Still more Smooching.
"And finally, there's Âsheghetam."
When Mac didn't explain, Harm held off his smooch to ask, "What does that mean?"
"Oh, that's the best one. It means, "I" kiss "love" kiss "you". She finished with a really long kiss. During the kiss, she reached between them to take hold of him and stroked him.
Harm indulged in her up to a point as he broke it off to say, "Hold it a bit. You got your imagination's wish. Now it's my turn. Just lie back and enjoy."
Mac acquiesced and lay back spread her arms out and closed her eyes thinking, 'Oh my God, I must be dreaming this.'
With that, he started kissing her about her neck and down the valley of her breasts. As he began his oral examination of her, she gripped the corners of the sheet and threw her head back in ecstasy. She shivered as he, cupped the heavy weight of one breast in his palm, pushing it gently up, and kissed it on its underside. He repeated the process on the other breast. He took each nipple in his mouth and grazed his rough tongue tickling each one. He loved how they each became fully erect as he worked on them.
He then kissed down her cleavage and settled at her navel ring. He took it in his mouth and gently sucked on it, feeling her quiver beneath his fingers, it occurred to him that there was nothing more stunningly beautiful and arousing than hearing those little gasps in the back of her throat. He looked up and saw her looking down her body at him with smoky eyes flushed cheeks and a small grin.
Mac spread her thighs to give him access to her core. At that Harm buried his head between the warmth of her thighs. Mac gasped as he dove his tongue into her. He loved the taste of her, the smell of her. It was overwhelming him, and he wanted to make it last as long as possible. He could feel it as she came close to climax. He backed off and kissed up her belly as she shook her head no. He resisted her as she tried to push his head back to where she wanted it. When she settled down again, he went back where she wanted him and worked on her until she was close again and then he backed off.
Mac finally realized what he was doing and stopped trying to force him back whenever he stopped to let her catch her breath. But she reached her limit on the 5th time around. She managed to gasp, "Do it, Harm! Do it NOW!"
Harm resumed his ministrations of her. Mac gasped loudly, sliding her hands down to his head and entangling her fingers in his hair. Soon he was rewarded with a sharp cry as his tongue found her clit. Her own willpower crumbled in the face of the fire coursing through her blood. "Oh God," she called out, bucking her hips up against him. He felt her hands slide away from his head and he lifted his gaze up long enough to see her reach out and clutch again at the sheets with her fists, clenching and unclenching as she writhed and moaned in pleasure.
At that moment, Harm wanted nothing in the world more than to see her come apart under his touch. With that in mind, he redoubled his efforts. He put her legs over his shoulders so that her knees draped down his back. He then took hold of her lifted her off the bed, and brought his mouth back to her.
He began to give her pleasure more energetically. It only took a minute for him to feel the rhythmic clenching of her thighs around his head, as she pushed herself into his face. Not letting up for a minute, he continued to bring her to her climax.
At that, her body started to shiver and she started screaming like a madwoman. Her body thrashed wildly, her heels drummed against Harm's shoulders as the most intense orgasm she had ever experienced played itself out, finally leaving her sobbing with relief.
He stayed between her legs wanting to prolong her climax for as long as he could. It wasn't until her body relaxed and the tremors eased that he pulled away completely, moving up to lie beside her.
"You are so beautiful," Harm whispered reverently as he reached out and gently brushed a lock of sweat-dampened hair from her forehead.
She smiled softly; her eyes still hazy with passion. Lifting her arms up, she locked them around his neck pulled him down, and kissed him. Sliding her arms down to grip his shoulders, she began trailing kisses along his jawline. She made her way to his earlobe and began to nibble gently, before placing her lips against his ear and said, "My turn," in what he determined was the sexiest voice he had ever heard. "Lie back and let me take over."
Sarah then gave him another searing kiss. She tasted the tang of her juices on his tongue.
Harm had no idea how long they stayed in that position, their lips locked together, her hand wrapped around his erection with their bodies pressed as close as possible. Mac probably knew, but he wasn't about to ask, she just kept moving her hand, gently stroking him as he got hard again. After they broke their kiss, she pushed him back to lie against the pillows.
"Now I'll show you how good I can be," Mac said provocatively.
At that, he readily gave himself over to her. Harm watched her eyes as she perused his bare chest with an appreciative eye as he stayed perfectly still, wanting to see what her next move would be. He wasn't disappointed.
Mac began kissing her way down his chest, letting her hands roam again over his chest and abdomen. When she reached his nipples, she ran her tongue across one while raking her nails lightly over the other. The sudden burst of pleasure took him by surprise, and he bucked his hips uncontrollably. He groaned as he let her continue.
Mac flashed him a wicked little grin as she leaned up, still running her nails lightly over his chest. Slowly, she began to crawl backward until she was straddling his knees. She ran her fingers idly across the skin of his abdomen, no other part of her body touching his. He was totally at her disposal, enjoying everything she was doing. Even so, he knew what she was doing and wanted her to get to what she had in mind.
"Mac, I can't take it anymore, please," Harm groaned.
Mac raised an eyebrow at him, and he thought he was going to have to start doing some serious begging when she took pity on him. Harm moaned when she licked her lips hungrily and fixed her gaze on where he wanted her most. Before he could prepare himself, he felt her warm wet mouth engulfing him again.
'Oh man, she 'really' is good at this,' he thought as she again swirled her tongue around caressing him, the sensations were so overwhelming. It took all of his self-control not to wrap his fingers in her hair to control her. He wanted to leave her in complete control. He reached up and grabbed hold of the headboard. He let what she was doing to him completely take over his consciousness. He wanted to hold his climax off to make what she was doing to him last as long as possible.
"Oh Mac, this feels so good, don't stop." Harm managed to gasp out.
Mac looked up at him with smiling eyes as she continued. She loved how he just put his head back to enjoy what she was doing to him. It wasn't long before she felt that he was getting very close. She closed her eyes in exquisite pleasure as she took him over the edge. Harm's eyes closed as he breathlessly called out "Maaac!".
She withdrew his penis a bit so that she sealed his dick head with her lips. She stroked his shaft as he pumped his seed to fill her mouth. She gladly accepted and swallowed all the reward for herself. She released him and got up to use the bathroom. She came back to find Harm lying almost insensate. She gently lay down next to him.
It took him a moment to come back down to earth, and when he did, he saw that Mac was lying next to him with her head propped on her elbow smiling down at him affectionately. Summoning up what little strength he had left, he reached up and pulled her to him, settling her at his side. She pulled the bed covers with her and immediately curled up against him under them, draping an arm across his chest.
They lay there for an indeterminate amount of time, quietly enjoying the feel of their embrace. Mac moved first when she went to move off of him. But Harm stopped her as he wrapped his arms tightly around her and pressed her against his chest.
"Don't go," he murmured a hint of pleading in his voice.
Lifting her head, she smiled at him with tear-filled eyes. Pressing a kiss to his lips, and then to his chest, she lay her head back down and snuggled further into his warm embrace.
"I'm not going anywhere, Azizam", she answered firmly. He could hear the joy and contentment in her voice. "Not without you."
"You can call me that any time you want. I like the way you say it," Harm told her.
There was another long kiss as their hands explored each other.
As they broke the kiss Sarah sniffled and rubbed her face against his chest, causing him to laugh lightly, but still concerned enough to ask, "Are you okay?"
"Harm, I..." she began, pressing her head to his chest and locking her arms even more tightly around him, digging her fingertips into the skin of his side.
Harm waited.
"I feel, very," she continued. "Very warm, very cherished, very protected, and very..." She paused and buried her head more deeply in his chest.
"What?" asked Harm.
"Loved," she mumbled her voice almost inaudible.
"Excuse me?"
"Loved," she almost shouted. "Okay, happy now?"
"Very," he grinned.
A sense of peace and contentment washed over him at her words. For the first time in his life, he was truly and completely happy. And it was all because of the amazing woman in his arms. He was glad she had her head turned to the side so that she couldn't see the big, dopey grin he was helpless to wipe from his face.
Giving her a quick tight squeeze, he whispered sincerely, "I'm not going anywhere either, Imzadi. Not ever. I promise."
Sarah giggled at his endearment, "So I guess we're stuck with each other," she responded sleepily.
He laughed as she replied, "I guess so."
"Good," she murmured happily and promptly fell asleep. Harm reached out and grabbed the edge of the comforter pulling it further up to cover them both. Bending his head, he pressed his lips to her hair.
"Better than good, perfect," he whispered, before leaning his head back down. He closed his eyes and let sleep overtake him, secure in the knowledge that when he woke up, she would be there waiting.
End Flashback
Monday, February 28, 2000
Burnett Residence
La Jolla, CA
"So, as much as I want you ALL the time, practically 24/7, I want our honeymoon to be special and all about love and not lust. You see I'm as Catholic as they come when it comes to wanting a family and everything. I don't want anyone doing the arithmetic about when our first baby is conceived."
"First baby?"
"Yes, I want more than one. I mean didn't you want a sibling? I'm glad I had Diane. We loved those families that had a noisy house full of children. We gravitated towards the friends with siblings. I want the house with my husband to be full of kids. I want that when someone comes over, they have to have to step around the toys or move them from the couch before they can sit. I want our kids to come running to greet us when we come home from work."
"Well, if that's what you want, I want it to." They sealed their pact with a kiss.
When they came up for air, Mac said, "C'mon, mom and dad are waiting for us."
"I love that you call them Mom & Dad."
"Well, Frank has been more of a father to me than Joe Mackenzie was. He's given me all the help and counseling that any father would. You know he and Trish adopted me after my mom walked away from me again after Joe's funeral."
"They did. Why didn't they or you tell me?"
"Well, we agreed that I wanted to enjoy that by myself for a while. I tell you; I am more at peace with myself since they adopted me. I know you listen to me, but that's for the things a romantic couple would talk about. They listen to the things that a daughter only wants to share with her parents."
"What about your mother? Wouldn't she have to relinquish her parental rights?"
"Well, being that I'm of age, we didn't need to do that. Still, Dad's attorneys sent Deanne the papers for that to her last known address. She sent them back signed and notarized almost immediately. She included a letter to thank Frank and Trish for taking care of me. She did ask that we keep in touch. Deanne and I have been exchanging letters every month."
Mac and Harm were walking down the stairs as Mac told her story. They made their way out to the terrace overlooking the Pacific Ocean to join their parents.