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Unconditional Love 8: The Right Time
Rating: IM15 *AO version available - send age statement to
slick1969@aol.com for the URL.
Summary: I was a teensy bit cruel in the last chapter – I’ll try to be
nicer this time. Harm and Mac have their talk and settle a few things. It's a
long one, but I think you'll agree it's worth it LOL.
Spoilers: In case you didn’t notice, I am selectively ignoring certain
parts of Season 9. But anything up to the season finale is fair game.
Disclaimer: See Part 1
“Have a seat,” and Harm pointed to the desk chair. He cleared away the papers
that were there, and sat on the armchair opposite her.
Mac perched on the chair, seeming unsure if she was going to stay. Harm broke
the silence that hung between them.
“To start with, I’m sorry for snapping at you. Both at the hospital and in the
parking lot.” He paused. “But I was a bit surprised, and I’ll admit, hurt by
your reaction. What’s bothering you?”
Ordinarily, Mac would have responded with a sniping remark. But she caught the
expression on Harm’s face and realized how upset he was. She picked her words
carefully. “First off, I’ll come clean and say I’m probably feeling a bit
jealous.”
Harm interrupted, “Mac. I have to help Mrs. Talbert. When I look at her, I see
my mother, right after my father died. She had to deal with all kinds of legal
papers and forms with no one to lend a hand. I wasn’t able to help my mother,
but I feel like I can make this whole nightmare a little easier for Mrs.
Talbert.”
She held up her hand to stop him. “But you seem to have a fatal attraction for
the ‘damsel in distress’ – a woman in need, and you’re the only one who can help
her. First, it was taking Mattie and PO Coates under your wing, and now Mrs.
Talbert.” She shook her head. “And someday, your help will be misinterpreted as
something more, and you’ll hurt more than help.”
Harm said softly, “What about Paraguay, Mac? I was the one who got hurt that
time.”
Mac replied, trying to remain calm, “I thought we’d gotten past that, Harm. You
can’t hold Paraguay over me forever.”
Harm shrugged. “I wasn’t the one who said we’d never have a chance. And now you
say you’re jealous? You can’t have it both ways with me, Mac.” He was surprised
at the bitterness in his voice and couldn’t leave it at that. “I’m sorry, Mac.
That was a cheap shot.”
“Yeah, it was,” Mac replied. “But true.” She smiled sadly and ducked her head,
avoiding his eyes. “We both do that, you know. We can’t stand to see each other
with anyone else. But bad timing seems to be our curse. Heaven forbid both of us
be ready at the same time to commit to each other.”
Was she giving him an opening? Harm grinned slightly and decided to test the
waters. “There is a first time for everything, Mac.”
Mac’s head snapped up and she stared at him. “What are you saying?” Her voice
was a whisper, barely audible.
“Maybe this is our right time, Mac.” He slid his chair closer to her, and
she didn’t move away. He reached out and took her hands in his and tugged her
towards him. She didn’t resist; instead, she let herself be drawn into his
embrace.
He tipped her face up and traced a finger along her chin. “Are you sure about
this, Harm?” she asked, trembling slightly at his touch.
He let his kiss be the answer. His lips were gentle but sure, expressing his
feelings in a way that words alone couldn’t convey. Her mouth opened and she
deepened the kiss, leaving him in no doubt about her emotions.
When they came up for air, somehow one of his hands had slipped inside her
blouse and was caressing her. And inexplicably, his shirt had gotten unbuttoned
and was pushed back, exposing his muscular upper torso. She was surprised by the
effect seeing his bare chest had on her, considering all the times she had seen
him clad in a tank top or less. But now she was seeing him through different
eyes. The eyes of a lover.
“Mac, I-” and she put a finger to his lips, silencing him. She didn’t want him
to spoil a beautiful moment with backpedaling and double-talk.
He kissed her finger and then held it away from his mouth. “Mac, before we go
any further, I have to say this. Just so there’s no question in your mind. I.
Love. You.” He spaced out his declaration, letting the words sink in, one by
one. “I don’t want you to feel pressured-” Again his words were cut off by Mac.
This time, however, it was because she tackled him and pushed him onto the bed.
“I love you, too, Harm. And now I’m not letting you get away until we seal the
deal.” Her last words were muffled as he pulled her head back toward his.
Afterward, they cuddled together on the bed.
“I only wish our first time together could have lasted longer,” Mac teased.
“Longer?” Harm exclaimed. “After 8 years, you’re lucky I lasted past the first
kiss.” He kissed her forehead. “Besides, we’ll have plenty of opportunity to
take our time in the future.”
“Oh no!” Mac sat up in bed.
“What?” Harm asked with a little anxiety.
“The paperwork for Mrs. Talbert. You didn’t get it done. I’ll help you get that
done.” Mac started to get up, but was held back by Harm’s arms.
“It can wait until morning. Right now, we’re working on something more
important.” He kissed her again. “Us.”
To Part 9
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