This time when they returned to the sofa, Keely sat close to him, unlike when they’d rehearsed. His arm went around her and her head rested on his shoulder. They propped their bare feet on the square coffee table in front of them. Mac wrapped his hand around hers. Contentment filled him. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this way—or if he ever had.
As a kid, he hadn’t noticed what it was like between his parents. By the time he hit his teen years, though, he realized they argued quite a bit. Home became an uncomfortable place to be so Mac spent as much time at school as possible. He played every sport he could, practicing long hours and then coming home late from games on week nights and all-day tournaments on weekends. After the car wreck that claimed his family’s lives, he’d spent the last three months before graduation living at his baseball coach’s house, a chaotic place with five kids.
After that, the army proved to be home. Even that was transient, though. He’d spent a couple of years after basic training at the DMZ in Korea before shipping out to various hellholes in the Middle East. The one house he’d barely called home was the rental in San Diego that he’d found when he’d brought Ellen stateside for long-term rehab. He’d only stayed in it two weeks before heading back to his posting. When he’d returned, it had been to find Ellen with her lover. Mac had briefly stayed in the same place when he left the army until he came to Hollywood at Greg’s urging. He had an apartment in Venice Beach but it never seemed like home.
Being with Keely felt like home. It wouldn’t matter if it were at her cottage or anywhere else. Something about this woman called out to a place deep within him. It told him not to be foolish and mess this up. A tiny voice in his head told him he needed to put roots down. With her.
“I was married before,” he blurted out. “I thought you should know that.”
She snuggled closer. “How old are you?”
“Thirty-four.”
“Doesn’t surprise me. A lot of guys your age have been married before.” She looked up at him, a mischievous smile playing about her lips. “I should say I’m sorry to hear it didn’t work out—but I’m not.” She stretched. “Call me selfish. I don’t care.”
“She died.”
Keely tensed and looked back at him. “I’m sorry. Were you close? After the divorce?”
He decided to lay all his cards on the table. “Ellen cheated on me. I walked in on them. Turned around and walked back out. Then I found out she was sick. Cancer.”
She turned, her palm cradling his face. “Oh, Mac. I’m so sorry,” she said softly. “Even if things went wrong between you that had to hurt.”
He lifted her hand from his face and kissed the center of her palm tenderly.
“It did.” He paused, looking deep into those hazel eyes. “Not anymore.”
His lips sought hers, greedily, hungrily. He pulled her into his lap and kissed her thoroughly. Each kiss healed another part of his damaged soul until the thought of loving Ellen—or anyone—washed from his mind. Mac held Keely close, reveling in each touch, each kiss.
He pulled away, his voice husky, and said, “I want you, Keely.”
Her eyes had gone dark with passion. “I want you more.” Her teeth sank into his lower lip and tugged playfully. A jolt of desire heated his blood.
Mac stood, bringing her with him, her long legs wrapping around his waist as her arms entwined behind his neck.
“Your choice. Either I sweep the magazines and knickknacks off this coffee table or I try to get us to your bed.”
“Bed,” she whispered and kissed him.
He didn’t know if he could make it that far.
Mac tightened his arms around her and walked her down the hall, past the powder room and into her bedroom. He stopped as he reached the bed and her legs unlocked, causing her to glide down him. Hunger for this woman flooded him and he slid his hands into the neck of her crisp, white shirt and jerked it apart. Buttons flew everywhere as he pushed it from her shoulders to her elbows, entrapping her arms. Mac clutched her elbows, keeping her in place, and devoured her mouth, tasting the cabernet they’d shared. He moved to her throat, his tongue finding her pulse and swishing back and forth across it, feeling it jump.
Yanking the shirt the rest of the way down, he tossed it aside. His hands slid to her back and unhooked the clasp of her bra, lifting it away. Keely now stood bare to her waist.
“You are so beautiful,” he said reverently, eyeing the perfect, round globes before him and then pushing her back onto the bed.
Mac feasted on each breast, taking his time, letting his tongue and mouth do the talking for him as his hands drifted along her satin skin. Keely’s soft whimpers grew louder as she twisted on the bed. He sensed her fingers unbuttoning his shirt and shrugged out of it when she finished. Her long, slender fingers moved up and down his chest, playfully tweaking his nipples, causing desire to run rampant through him.
He unfastened the slim, black pants she wore and pulled them down those long, luscious legs. She wore a filmy strip of pale blue silk under them. His finger slid along the seam of her sex.
“Oh, Mac.”
Her voice trembled as much as her body did. He tucked his fingers into the top of the silk and pulled hard, tearing it away.
“You are perfection,” he murmured into her ear as he pushed a finger into her. “And very ready for me.”
His finger stroked her as his tongue circled her ear. Keely writhed beneath him, exciting him. Her low moans grew louder as her fingers tightened on his shoulders. His tongue trailed down her throat, between her breasts, and lower. When he reached his target zone, he removed his finger and inserted his tongue instead. She nearly came off the bed as he plunged it inside her, licking at her sweetness. Then she shuddered violently. His hand found hers, their fingers locking together as her orgasm peaked and subsided.
Mac reluctantly moved away from her and doffed the rest of his clothes. He returned to the bed and scooped her into his arms, kissing her deeply.
Keely’s hand slid down his body, finding his shaft, and guiding it to her.
“I need you right now, Mac Randall. All of you,” she said breathlessly.
He grinned. “I don’t think I could deny you anything right now but I need to get a condom, sweetheart.”
“I have an IUD. I can’t wait. Now, Mac,” she urged.
He hovered above her a moment and then plunged inside. Keely was all smooth velvet, tight and sweet. Mac moved inside her, feeling her tighten around him. His hands swept into her hair as he kissed her then returned to slide down the sweet curve of her side. He clasped her hips and pumped enthusiastically.
Soaring . . .
Falling . . .
He climaxed and roared, hearing her call his name. Mac collapsed atop her, his face falling against her hair, breathing in its fresh, honeysuckle scent. His lips moved to nuzzle her neck as he rolled to his side, taking her with him, knowing he couldn’t let go. His arms went around her, drawing her close. Her cheek rested against what he knew was his pounding heart.
Mac twirled a lock of her caramel hair around his finger, amazed by the sensations he felt. Sex had never, ever been like this. Not with anyone. He felt as if he’d climbed to the top of Mount Everest and now looked down on the world, filled with satisfaction and pride. The woman nestled in his arms wasn’t just any woman.