Mack's Witness

by Myla Jackson

  As though caught in a time warp, Deirdre couldn’t move. Nor did she want to. Since he’d kissed her in the airport, she’d thought of little else. She lifted her face to his and met him, her mouth opening to accept his tongue, her own coming out to sweep across his.

  It was as if the world stopped turning and time stood still. Even the music ceased to beat against her ears.

  “Hey the song’s over, you two.” Ronin bumped against Mack’s shoulder. “Come on. I think we’re about to start the serious drinking, and I believe you have to get it going with a toast.”

  Mack broke away from Deirdre, his dark eyes nearly black, his lips wet from hers. He shook his head and focused on the room around him. “Toast? I thought we only did that after the wedding.”

  “We need more reasons to piss the night away.” Sam shoved a mug of beer into Mack’s hand and one in Deirdre’s as well.

  “I didn’t think my brothers or any Irishman needed a reason to drink,” Mack grumbled. He lifted his mug toward the ceiling. “To my brother, Wyatt and his bride-to-be, Fiona. I wish you all the love your hearts can hold and long, healthy lives together.”

  The mugs rose in the air to a hearty “Here, here!”

  Deirdre raised her mug and drank a long, healthy swallow. She hadn’t had a whole mug of beer in the ten years she’d been working as a model. After the first swallow, she tipped the mug and drank it all.

  “Hey, slow down there or you’ll be crawling under the table before the end of the night.” Mack chuckled and took the empty mug from her, setting it on the table.

  “That’s the first beer I’ve had since I was a teenager.”

  “I thought the Irish loved their beer. Why have you waited so long to have another?”

  She snorted and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, feeling a little buzz creeping up on her. “Do you know how many calories there are in one bottle of beer?”

  “No, I don’t know, but I’m sure you do.”

  “Sadly, I do—” A hiccup escaped her mouth and she clapped a hand over her lips, her cheeks heating. “Excuse me.”

  “Here, have another.” Sam handed Deirdre another mug full of beer. Before she could think to say no, she was raising it in the air. “To my beautiful cousin Fiona and her fiancé Wyatt, may you both live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live!”

  The roar of approval shook the rafters of the old pub.

  A slow, sweet melody filled the room. Paddy O’Connell held the microphone and sang with only a guitar as accompaniment. Fiona and Wyatt came together in a tight embrace, swaying to the music.

  At the sight of the couple so in love, Deirdre’s heart squeezed so tightly that breathing became difficult. She downed half the mug of beer before Mack took it from her hand and set it on the bar.

  “Dance with me,” he commanded. His voice low, heated and sexy as hell, combined with the effects of the beer, made her completely powerless to resist.

  The music and Mack’s arms wrapped around her. Deirdre leaned against him, resting her cheek against the side of his neck, the stubble on his chin rasping against her temple. He smelled of soap and male musk, a heady combination, more potent than the alcohol she’d consumed.

  A moment later, or so it seemed, the song ended and the O’Connell brothers broke into the Irish song “Finnegan’s Wake”. The Irish guests all joined in and helped the others who didn’t know the words to sing along.

  When Deirdre made a move to step out of Mack’s embrace, he slipped an arm around her waist and tugged her up against his side.

  She didn’t argue or try to pull away.

  As the noise swelled in the pub, Deirdre longed for the quiet.

  “Wanna make a break for it?” Mack asked.

  Her heart skipped a couple beats and raced to catch up. “Yes.”

  Mack clapped his brother Wyatt on the back. “I’m going back to the hotel. Sleep well your last night as a bachelor.” He leaned over and kissed Fiona on the cheek. “Are you sure you know what you’re getting into?”

  She nodded. “I do.”

  “Did you hear that?” Sam laughed. “She’s already practicing to get the words right.” He punched Wyatt in the ribs. “You should too.”

  While his brothers poked fun at Wyatt, Mack gripped Deirdre’s hand and he guided her through the crowd to the exit.

  She had every chance she needed to tell Mack she wasn’t ready to leave, especially with him. The trouble was, she wanted to leave with him. And she didn’t want the night to end. Not yet. That first kiss was nothing compared to the one they’d shared during the dance. That one liquefied every bone in her body.

  No man had ever inspired such a complete meltdown before. Like a cat was drawn to catnip, she couldn’t resist him and followed him willingly, frustrated at the amount of time it took to get through the crush of people in the pub.

  At the door, he snagged her jacket from a hook on the wall and held it for her to slide her arms in.

  When at last they spilled out into the street, she sucked in a deep breath of chilled, misty air, hoping to cool the heat building inside.

  As they started toward the hotel, the mist thickened into rain.

  “Come on!” Mack’s hand tightened on hers, and they ran to the end of the block and turned. The hotel was only a short distance and they ran hand-in-hand, arriving in the lobby of the hotel, wet and laughing.

  Mack didn’t stop there, dragging her into the lift, closing the door before anyone else could get in with them. He punched the button for his floor and immediately pulled her into his arms, his mouth crashing down on hers.

  What little breath she’d gathered after their mad dash was stolen away in his kiss. It wasn’t nearly enough. Before they reached Mack’s floor, Deirdre was pushing his jacket from his shoulders and fumbling with the buttons on his shirt.

  Tearing her mouth away from his, she pressed a kiss to the side of his throat and to his chest through the gap in his shirt.

  The elevator bell rang and the door slid open.

  Deirdre grabbed his hand and ran out into the hall. “Which one?”

  He pulled his key card from his pocket, kissed her hard on the lips and hurried toward a room near the end of the hall. In seconds he had the door open and they fell through, ripping at each other’s clothes.

  Mack pushed her jacket off her shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. He unwound the scarf from her neck, tossing it to the side.

  Deirdre finished unbuttoning his shirt and shoved it down his arms. She turned, presenting her back and the zipper to her dress to him. “Hurry,” she said.

  His hands dropped onto her shoulders and he pulled her back against his warm front. “Are you sure?”

  She nodded, afraid that if she thought too long, she’d sober up and talk herself out of making love to him.

  His fingers moved to the zipper and slid it down her back to the swell of her bottom. “We can stop at the kiss,” he said.

  “No, we can’t.” She stepped away from him and turned, sliding the straps of the dress off her shoulders. The garment dropped to the floor at her feet and she stepped out of it. Wearing nothing but black, lace panties and her high heels, she stood in front of him, her chest rising and falling, her breathing ragged.

  When he didn’t make a move to take her into his arms, she froze, afraid she’d gone too far. Afraid he didn’t find her attractive. Afraid of this man’s rejection.

  Was she insane for throwing herself at him?

  Mack locked gazes with Deirdre, refusing to let his eyes feast on her luscious curves. “I thought you didn’t want the complications of a quick fling.”

  “I changed my mind.”

  He snapped his fingers. “Like that?” Mack shook his head, cursing himself for stalling when she was offering him her body. But the kisses they’d shared had meant more to him than he cared to admit. “If I take you to bed, will you change your mind again?”

  “Not tonight,” she said.

  “
After tonight?”

  She shook her head. “I’m not here for a relationship. You and I could never work out as a couple. Not in our two careers. I make no guarantees.”

  “Good. Because I can give no guarantees.”

  “Then we’re good?” She rubbed her naked arms. “Because I’m feeling fairly underdressed here.”

  “Come here,” he commanded.

  She complied, sliding into his arms. “Are you not going to get naked as well?” Deirdre glanced up at him, raising her brows.

  The sensual invitation in her tone washed over him, making his pulse quicken and his groin tighten. “I was enjoying how soft your skin is and how sexy you look in that outfit.”

  “Why ’tis nothing but a bit of silk and heels.”

  “Exactly.” His hands slid across her naked back and cupped her bottom, lifting her until her legs wrapped around his waist. Then he turned and pressed her against the wall. He bent to nibble at her earlobe and to brush his lips across the pulse pounding at the base of her throat. “Promise me one thing.”

  “Saints preserve us. What?” she gasped.

  “No regrets.”

  “The only regret I have is that you are still wearing your clothes.” She caught his face between her palms. “Undress already.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He crushed her lips with his in a swift hard kiss, spun her around and dropped her on the bed.

  “Well!” she huffed.

  Then with slow deliberation, he shed his shirt and unbuckled his belt.

  “Now, you’ve got it right.” She reached out, pushed his hands away from his zipper and slid it down.

  His cock sprang free into her palms and heat coiled deep inside of him.

  “My, my, you’re a big one, are ya?”

  “So I’ve been told,” he said through gritted teeth. As long as it had been since he’d had a woman, it wouldn’t take much to set him off.

  Deirdre ran her hands down his length, cupped his balls and fondled them. “Well, then, let’s put this bad boy to use.” She slipped out of her panties and flung them to a corner. “Pray tell you know what to do with something this magnificent.”

  Chapter Three

  Mack kicked off his shoes and shucked his trousers. He stood naked in front of Deirdre, enjoying the image she provided. Beautiful with her auburn hair falling down around her pale shoulders, wearing nothing but a pair of bright red stilettos.

  She scooted backward across the bed, her lips curling up in a smile. When she was far enough back, she let her legs fall open, exposing her slick, wet entrance to him.

  Mack growled low in his throat, every primal instinct since the beginning of time seeming to rise up in him as he crawled up between her legs and leaned over her. “Woman, you make me crazy.”

  “Still think I’m an ice queen?”

  “I’ll let you know in the morning.” Then he dropped down over her, his chest rubbing against the soft swells of her breasts as he bent to claim her lips. After a long slow twisting of their tongues, he trailed kisses and nips along the smooth line of her jaw and down the slender length of her throat, pausing at the point where her pulse beat beneath the skin. So fast. Her chest rose and fell with every breath, making her nipples brush against him.

  One delicious inch at a time, he tasted his way downward, stopping to feast on her breasts, sucking one velvety-soft tip into his mouth, rolling the tip on his tongue until it beaded into a tight little button. While his tongue laved one breast, his hand fondled the other, tweaking and flicking the tip, then moving over her ribs and down her flat belly to that wonderful fluff of hair over her sex.

  Her hips rose to greet him as he threaded his fingers between the folds, finding and strumming the narrow strip of flesh between.

  Deirdre moaned, her back arching up off the bed. “Jazus! There!”

  Mack chuckled, abandoned her breasts and slid his mouth downward over her torso and belly to join his fingers as they played her delicate instrument until she sang out loud.

  “Oh Mack, I can’t take more.” Then, she stiffened, her fingers curling into the comforter. “Yes!” Her body grew rigid and her eyes squeezed shut as she rode the wave of her orgasm to the very end.

  He flicked and tongued until she grabbed for his hair and tugged. “I want you. Now. Inside me.”

  Mack reached over the side of the bed and dug his wallet out of his trousers pocket and fished out one of the little foil packets, thanking his lucky stars he’d had them there from before he’d deployed to Afghanistan.

  Deirdre took the packet from him, tore it open and rolled the condom over his engorged cock. Her warm and gentle fingers guided him to her entrance.

  Bracing himself over her, he slid into her wet heat.

  Her muscles clenched around him the deeper he went. He eased out, slowly and back in, equally slowly.

  Slender fingers closed around his buttocks. “Faster,” she said and pulled him toward her.

  “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “I don’t care. Give me everything you’ve got. Hard. Fast. Now!” With her hands, she set the rhythm.

  When he matched her pace, her fingers curled around his hips, her nails digging into his skin.

  She felt so good. So hot and wet. After over a year without the comfort of a woman’s body, Mack was afraid he would shoot the moon too soon. He fought to control himself.

  When her long gorgeous legs wrapped around his waist, all bets were off. He drove into her one last time, thrusting as deep as he could go before he stopped and held steady as he catapulted into the stratosphere, his body pulsing with his release.

  Minutes later, her legs dropped down beside him and she flung her arms out. “Amazing.”

  Mack chuckled and he rolled onto his side, taking her with him, still hard inside her. Pulling her close, he liked the way her cheek nestled against his chest. Inhaling deeply, he reveled in her scent.

  “Definitely not an ice queen,” he pronounced, resting his cheek against her hair.

  “I know.” Her hand smoothed across his chest, her fingers finding and tweaking his nipples. “It was you who had to be convinced.”

  He held up a hand like he was swearing in a courtroom. “Color me a believer.”

  Deirdre pressed her lips against his chest. “A satisfying end to the day.”

  “More than satisfying.” He kissed the top of her hair, his hands gliding down her naked back. “And not the end.”

  She drew a line down his chest to his navel. “You have more to show me?”

  “You bet.” His cock stiffened and he surprised himself at how quickly he was ready to go again. He stripped off the condom, grabbed for another and eased it over his cock. Then he rolled onto his back and balanced her on top of him. “Only you get to be on top this time. I’m all for equal opportunity and girl power.”

  She rose up on her arms and knelt with her knees on either side of him. Then with slow deliberation, she lowered herself over his shaft. “Now this is what I call empowerment,” she said, her breath hitching as she rode him. Her breasts bobbed with each rise and fall and her hair bounced around her shoulders.

  Mack gripped her hips and slammed her down harder as he impaled her with his thick shaft.

  Her channel was so tight around him, her inner muscles clenching, suctioning each time she rose. She was wild and wicked, everything a man could want in bed and more.

  Sensations centering in his groin rippled outward, spreading throughout his body like a sunburst, strengthening until they exploded in a fiery torrent. He brought her down hard on him and held her there, his gaze on her face as she flung her hair over her shoulders and arched her back. She clutched her breasts, pinching the nipples as her body shook with the intensity of her orgasm.

  For a long moment he held her like that until her shoulders relaxed and his own body unwound.

  Deirdre lay across his chest, her cheek resting on his neck. “I could fall asleep like this,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
r />   “Then why don’t you?”

  She shook her head. “I need to go.”

  Mack stiffened, his cock twitching inside her in protest. “Go? Why?”

  “If I stay and the paparazzi get wind of it, you’ll never have a moment’s rest. They’ll want to know all the dirty little details of our relationship.” She rolled off him and stood beside the bed, still wearing her stilettos and nothing else, her hands on her hips. “And since we agreed we aren’t in a relationship and don’t have the time or the physical proximity to conduct one, I don’t want to bother answering questions about you, any more than have already been asked.”

  Mack sat up, frowning. “So that’s it?”

  She smiled. “Other than the wedding tomorrow, I probably won’t be seeing you again. You’ll be on your way to wherever you go with the military, and I’ll be on to my next modeling engagement.”

  He didn’t like how matter-of-fact she was and couldn’t fathom how she could jump right up and rush out of the room after such a soul-shattering orgasm. “I’ll be here a couple days.”

  “Really? You should take a tour of Dublin while you’re here.” She gathered her clothes.

  Mack swung his legs over the side of the bed, peeled the condom off and slung it into the trash. Then he stood, capturing her hips in his hands as she bent to collect her panties. He pulled her bottom against his still stiff member. “Stay.”

  “I can’t.” She straightened, her back rigid against his chest.

  “You can.” Sliding his hands upward, he cupped her breasts in his palms and massaged them until the nipples budded. “Show me Dublin from a native’s perspective.”

  “I haven’t lived in Dublin for years. You’re better off catching one of the tour buses,” she insisted.

  “I don’t want a tour. I want you.” Mack pushed aside her hair and nibbled at the back of her neck.

  A moan rose from her throat and she melted against him.

  While one hand continued to fondle her breast, he slid the other down her front to the juncture of her thighs, cupping her sex, his pulse hammering. “Stay the night.” He couldn’t let her go. Not now. The image of her walking toward him in the airport, wearing the cold white jacket, flashed in his mind. He’d thought her icy, possibly frigid. She’d proved to be a deliciously warm contrast. And now that he knew what fire lay beneath the disguise, beneath her skin and in her heart, he couldn’t let it end so soon. He’d just gotten a taste for Deirdre and it left him craving more.