“Oh”—he stroked a lock of hair away from her face—“I wouldn’t call it disappointment. I just wish I’d known so I could have been gentler.”
Her heart beat harder. “I don’t think gentle is what I need from you. Can you just make love to me the way you want to? I’m sure I’ll like it.”
He kissed her again, lapping at her mouth like a starving man and sufficiently distracting her so when he plunged all the way into her, it was only a twinge. And once past that, it started to feel good. Great. Amazing. In and out, faster, faster, and deeper until she felt they were almost one person. He filled her so full, but he felt so right inside her, like he belonged there.
Mac cursed himself for not realizing he dealt with a virgin. He should have known. The signs were all there. Her letting him into her bedroom was not a sign of experience but of innocence. And that very untried quality contributed to the tightness he plunged into. Despite her assurances, he held back some, not wanting to hurt her or push her too far too fast. But she fit him like a velvet glove, even with the condom encasing him, and he drove into her a little harder each time, watching her for signs of discomfort.
Instead, he saw a face of bliss, her eyes sparkling with passion, her cheeks and chest flushed, nipples raspberry-red and peaked. She breathed in little gasps and murmured encouragement to his drive into her. His desires peaked, his balls tightened against him and, with a growl, he emptied himself into the condom, startled to find her falling with him, crying out his name and rhythmically milking his cock.
He fell over her, just catching himself on his arms before he could land on her. Her eyes flicked closed, and she smiled. “That was nice.”
Gathering her close, he cuddled her against him. “I might use a stronger word. It was quite the gift you gave me. I hope you don’t regret it.”
She opened her eyes and stared at him. “Me, too.” Then she rolled onto her side and yawned. “I’m so sleepy.”
Tina was out within minutes, and he slipped into the bathroom for a moment and returned to spoon her, loving her rounded bottom against his half-erect dick.
Mac woke to midafternoon sunshine spilling through the window over the bed where they lay entwined. How could he have known her for only a day? He lay for a while before moving, wanting to enjoy the closeness, enveloped by her sweet scent.
He didn’t want to leave, but he had to change clothes before dinner. He kissed Tina on the cheek, trying not to wake her, and hopped down the wobbly steps, lighter-hearted than he’d been in a long time. He’d leapt over the closed car door and gunned it down the road before he realized he’d forgotten to mention they were going to be dining with his parents. He didn’t have her phone number, either. For just a moment, he considered going back, but she’d been so sound asleep. They hadn’t actually discussed where they’d be dining, anyway. And she had a new outfit. They’d eat and leave early so they could go back to the apartment and talk. Or maybe his house where the steps were secure. And maybe less talk and more of what they’d just done. If she wasn’t too sore. A virgin. He considered himself a modern man but the caveman inside beat his breast in triumph that she’d waited for him.
Chapter Five
Tina sat on the edge of her ancient velvet sofa. She’d found it at the Goodwill store in Sacramento where she’d bought many of her furnishings. This piece just made her happy and, as she waited for Mac to arrive, she stroked the nap. Everything had changed in one afternoon, and she couldn’t take it in.
Angela had been very unhappy about her hair when she called to let her know she wouldn’t be in. She told her the minor fib that she’d taken the rollers out herself because they were too uncomfortable to sleep on. She’d sworn the curls were still perfect, however, and in fact, they were. Despite the tousling they’d taken, or perhaps because of it, when she took off the shower cap and stood in front of the vanity, she’d never been happier with the shiny length. Inspired by the mod dress, she did a little backcombing for height and added an antique silver barrette—another thrift store find—to hold back some of the front hair and complete the effect.
Tracing her eyes with dark liner, she’d searched her reflection for something different. Something that would indicate to a casual observer that she’d crossed the line from spinster to free spirit. She hadn’t asked him for a promise or a ring but given what she chose to and accepted what he offered in return. It had taken this long for her to get past the advice given her by her mother who had raised her alone after her father hit the road and left them behind. She’d married him because Tina was on the way and spent all these years alone because of one night of passion.
It would kill her if Tina made the same mistake.
But they’d been careful. Nobody was going to be in the family way from their afternoon together. He’d been so sweet, so caring of her pleasure, not at all what so many of her friends reported of their boyfriends or husbands. She’d wondered on more than one occasion why they’d all been so anxious to go to bed with their boyfriends if they had so little fun in the act.
But either they were lying or she’d stumbled upon a one-of-a-kind amazing guy. Good looking, smart, brave…if she didn’t stop itemizing his charms, she’d think this relationship was much more than it was. She’d stepped into the sexual revolution and fallen into the oldest trap at the same time.
She’d slept with him therefore she must be madly in love with him. Just like every silly friend she had. A way for a woman to excuse herself for breaking the rules. Holding up her arm, she let the trio of bangles chime together and instructed herself not to get in too deep.
At a rap on the door, she jumped up, ready to race to it, but stopped. Deep breath, slow down, stroll the eight feet to the door at a casual pace. Take ten seconds instead of five. She rolled her eyes at her silliness and called out, “Be right there, Mac.” She smoothed her dress, glanced down at her go-go boots, and tapped her feet in pleasure.
She yanked the door open with a smile, ready to say hello, but Mac swept her up in his arms and kissed her with a vengeance. You’d have thought they hadn’t seen one another in months, that they’d been dating for years, rather than just having spent the afternoon in bed together after meeting the day before. By the time he set her on her feet again, she was rumpled but happy.
He, on the other hand, was completely dapper in neat slacks with a flare at the bottom and a navy-blue collarless blazer over a white button-down shirt. Instead of a tie, he wore an ascot, sky-blue with gold figures. Neat, clean, and just a little dangerous. Or maybe it wasn’t the clothes.
The little doubts about giving away the milk when the cow was free. No, that wasn’t right, but whatever the adage, he certainly didn’t seem to have lost interest. Reaching to the table by the door, she grabbed her adorable white vinyl bag and her fuzzy gray sweater and accepted his hand to walk down the stairs, out the gate, and up to a blue car.
He opened the door and helped her into an immaculate white interior. “I never thought when I put the top down. Your hair will blow all around.”
She laughed. “A girl never goes out for the evening without a scarf in her purse, Mac.” She drew one out, a pretty gray and tan patterned fabric that went with her dress, unlike the one she’d had the day before that went with nothing. Tying it under her chin, she tucked her long hair underneath and nodded. “Ready for action!”
He pulled out onto the road, and the ends of her scarf blew out behind her as they sailed along. She laughed and petted the seat. “What a beautiful car, Mac. And listen to that engine. Feels like we could almost take off and fly.” The warmer-than-usual fall day called out for a long ride, and it was a shame their destination was only a few miles away.
Reading her mind, he said, “Maybe next time we can go to the coast. Have you ever been to the Cliff House for breakfast?”
“Not since I was a little girl. My mom and I went to Playland, too. I’ve always found the ocean side of San Francisco more magical than the Bay itself. So wild and free with the sto
rms and the ocean crashing onto the rocks. Why don’t we go there now? It’s a beautiful night, and I think we’re both off tomorrow, right? So we don’t have to get up early?”
Mac pulled onto the highway, in the direction away from San Francisco and the wild ocean, then glanced toward her, a crease between his brows. “I wish we could but—”
“No, I’m sorry,” she said, resting a hand on his arm. “What was I thinking? We’re just going to have dinner. It would take a long time to get there, and I’m sure you have other things to do in the morning anyway. I was imposing.” Doing just what she hadn’t wanted to do, assume since they’d “gone all the way,” they had a relationship. Her cheeks blazed with heat.
“You were not imposing. You were suggesting my ideal date. Long drive with the top down—at least until we get cold near the coast—then an adventure. And I want to do it very soon. But tonight’s plans are already made.”
She might have bounced a little in her seat. How long since she’d had fun? And how great would it be to have fun with Mac who made her heart speed up every time she saw him. One day! I’ve known him one day! Then why did it seem she’d known him forever?
Resting back in the seat, she glanced to the side and saw nothing but fields and trees. When had they left town? “We have reservations for dinner locally? We’ve already passed Main Street…”
They approached the long gravel drive leading to MacKay’s Farm, and Mac pulled to the side of the road. “About that. Remember when I told your boss we were having dinner with my folks for the big ring reveal?”
She faced him in the seat, pulling the drooping scarf off and smoothing it in her lap. Her face was in shadow with the lowering sun behind her setting her hair ablaze. Each time he looked at her, he saw something new. For example…her hair wasn’t just one color, it was many shades of red and gold like a sunset over the Pacific. “Right…”
“Well, we are having dinner with my parents.”
Her eyes flared with panic. “Please tell me you aren’t giving me a ring. We can only take this charade so far. Why do we have to lie to your parents about being engaged?”
“No, of course not,” he said, taking her hand in his and lacing their fingers together. “I had plans to visit them today, anyway, and Mom always goes to so much trouble when one of us is coming over that when I remembered, I didn’t want to cancel. I guess it was in the back of my mind when I mentioned it. What’s wrong?”
She fixed her gaze on their joined hands in silence for a moment before lifting her face toward him. “Mac?”
“Yeah?” What if she insisted on being taken right home? No girl liked to have the guys’ parents sprung on her without warning, without a chance to get herself together, although he could not imagine she could be any more together than she was right now. From her shiny curls falling down her back to her very modern dress and white vinyl boots, she was every inch the pretty, modern girl. And she was a teacher, soft-spoken—usually—and overall the nicest girl he could possibly introduce to his mother. “Don’t worry. My parents will love you.”
“And how many girls have you brought home to meet them?”
“In high school, I brought home quite a few. Mom’s cooking wins so many ribbons at the fair every year, she’s stopped hanging them up and just stuffs them in a drawer. Everyone liked to come over.”
“Okay, so you brought all your friends and casual girlfriends over in high school?”
“I did. Mom loves entertaining my friends.”
“And since high school?” She freed her fingers and laid her palm against his cheek, giving him a look full of meaning. He just didn’t know what meaning that was. “Have you brought any girls, or women, home to meet your mother since you were eighteen?”
He thought about it. “No, I guess not. But I was in the service then in college then I started with Dallas Fire and Rescue…so I haven’t dated anyone around here since then”
“No wonder I didn’t know anything about you. You’ve been away forever. Did you do any traveling in the service?”
“I did but where they sent me is still classified.” He’d love tell her, share a lot of the stories of his time in Southeast Asia, but his security clearance still held and his former superiors would rather nobody knew just how early the first advisors had entered Vietnam. Hopefully, he’d be able to open up soon. His brothers-in-arms were scattered all over the country, and without them to talk to, he felt a little isolated sometimes.
“Vietnam, then.” The girl was spooky; she caught every nuance.
“Classified.” He bent forward to kiss her grinning lips. “I’d tell you but I’d have to strip you naked right here and toss you into the backseat.” He intended just a quick buss, but she parted her lips and he couldn’t resist just a little more. Soon their tongues were tangling and he’d shoved his seat all the way back and dragged her into his lap. Her skirt rode up to reveal more of her patterned tights. His cock hardened under her wriggling bottom.
Her arms were trapped between their bodies, but she didn’t struggle to get away. Her eyes closed, the lashes fanning out over her cheeks before he allowed the kiss to take over every inch of his mind.
That is until a horn honking filtered into his awareness and reminded him he was parked on the side of the road outside his parents’ spread with the top down and a schoolteacher in his lap. If the car idling beside them was the principal, he’d slash his wrists as a distraction and save Tina any further embarrassment.
“I don’t want to look,” she murmured against his lips.
“Me either.”
“Do you think they’ll go away if we just keep kissing?”
An appealing thought, but probably ineffective. “Okay, on the count of three, we stop kissing and turn and smile at whoever that is. Ready?”
She nodded, her lips sliding up and down against his.
“One, two, three.” Mac jerked his head back and faced out the driver’s side door to see a late model sedan. In the passenger seat, his younger sister who had moved to San Francisco the day she graduated from high school and rarely came home. The guy driving must be her husband. She’d eloped while he was in Texas, and he’d only seen their wedding picture on the wall at his parents’ since his return. “Martha, my little sister, and this must be…” What was his name? “Steve! Your husband Steve.”
“Sam.” She shook her head. “But I forgive you since you’ve never met. Honey, this is my brother, Mac, and good heavens, it is you! This is Tina who was a year behind me in school. What a small world.”
Tina shifted back to her side of the car, holding her skirt down as she went. “Hi, Martha. Long time no see.”
“What are you doing here, Martha?” His annoyance made little sense considering he’d been the one making out in public. And he should be more gracious seeing his baby sister after so long. But the throbbing in his pants made gracious harder than it should be.
“On our way to Mom and Dad’s for dinner. You coming in, or are you just going to neck out here until someone calls the fuzz?”
He tried to subtly adjust himself, but with his sister on one side and Tina on the other, there was no hiding his actions. “Mom didn’t tell me you were coming.”
“Wouldn’t miss it! Ouch.” She rubbed her arm where Sam had inexplicably pinched her. “Well, see you in there. I’ll tell Mom you’re right behind us.”
“Martha?” He took in her dark hair and blue eyes, so like his own and their other siblings and realized how much he’d missed her. “It’s good to see you.”
She flushed and waved him off as Sam what’s-his-name leaned across the car. “Nice to meet you all and see you inside.”
They crunched away down the gravel drive while Mac tucked his shirt back in where it had pulled loose and Tina flipped down the vanity mirror and reapplied her pale-pink lipstick. He lifted his face toward the rearview to check that none of her first coat of lipstick now adorned his lips. “Ready to go meet the folks?
“As I’ll ever
be,” she murmured, patting her hair down into some semblance of neatness. “I guess.”
“They’ll love you. Look how happy Martha was to see you.” Shifting the car into gear, he waited while a rattling farm truck piled with round, orange pumpkins passed them by. “You two must have been good friends.”
“No, we weren’t.” Tina tied the scarf on again, tucking her hair into place. “We knew each other, but everyone in school did. We didn’t eat lunch together or share any classes. She was too happy to see me.”
He shrugged. “You know how it is when you’ve been away for a long time. Everyone looks like home.”
“I suppose,” she said. “I’ve never been out here before. How far to the house?”
“About another quarter mile, but you can’t see it from here because that low hill is blocking our view.” He winced as a pebble kicked up. “I need a klunker for when I come out here. Or my new car will look like one in six months.”
“And it’s such a pretty car. Borrow mine anytime. It already looks like it belongs on a farm.”
“You aren’t hinting to borrow Betsy here, are you?”
She gasped. “Oh no, I couldn’t! What if something happened?
He winked at her, and she relaxed and giggled. “No sweat, chick. I think she likes you.”
“You call her Betsy?”
“Well I can’t call her Caroline.”
You’re such a tease, but I’ll bite. Why can’t you call her Caroline?”
“Because that’s my Harley Davidson’s name.” Darkness made it hard to see the road, even with the brights on, so he slowed down and kept the low hill on his right. “Watch right up here as we go around this bend and you’ll see the house.”
Dallas Fire & Rescue: MacKay's Fire (Kindle Worlds Novella) (MacKay Destiny Book 2) Page 5
