Enchanted (30 page)

She couldn’t help the
clenching
of her muscles, but she let him delve into her innermost being. Never had anyone touched her this way, his tongue teasing, his lips and mouth tasting, seeking, sending her senses to the peak of rapture. She didn’t want him to stop, wanted him to touch her this way forever. And then, as if he knew she couldn’t take any more, he raised himself above her, looking down into her love-filled eyes when he entered her, filling her with his hot desire.

Tight. Warm. Oh, the heavenly feeling of being inside her. Deep, so very deep. He couldn’t seem to get enough. He wanted to become one with her, to hold her this way until the end of time. More than passion, more than desire. He wanted to kiss her, but even more, he wanted to look into
her
beautiful, azure eyes as they traveled to heaven and beyond. He wanted to know that she loved him, loved him the same way he loved her. Together, perfectly matched, one in sync with the other, they reached the pinnacle of their love, and they rejoiced in their cries of fulfillment.

Lying side by side, he brushed wisps of dampened hair away from her face, kissed her temples, held her close, and in the light and warmth of the fire, they fell asleep.

“I’m starving.”

“You’re always hungry,” Mac teased Kathleen, pulling on the socks he had found shoved in a corner of the couch.

“You’ve worn me out, McKenna O’Brien. And you haven’t been gentleman enough to feed me in the last six hours.”

“Oh, but you’ve fed me, my love, and nothing ever tasted so good.”

She tossed a pillow from her sitting position on the floor and hit the side of his head, then covered her face when she thought he might throw it back. Instead, he stood before her, grinning his most wicked and lascivious grin, and managed to look just as wonderful partially clothed as he had stark naked.

“All right, I’ll feed you. Don’t leave.”

He went into the kitchen, and Kathleen watched his every step. Oh, how she loved the man. Never in her life had she felt such wonderful abandonment as she had in his arms. Six hours of touching, exploring, tasting, finding sensitive spots, and trying out new and original ways to delight each other, until they pushed themselves to the brink and had to come up for air. The next time they came together, she planned to be in that satin-and-lace gown she had so carefully packed in her bag, but for now they needed to talk of things to come, their hopes, and their dreams.

“A penny for your thoughts?” He held a plate piled high with food and stared down into her eyes.

“It will take a lot more than a penny to make me divulge my secrets.”

“How about a bite of chicken?”

“Mmm, you’ve won me over.” She reached for the plate, but he pulled it away. “Oh, Mac. I’m hungry. Don’t tease.”

“I plan on feeding you, but I thought we could find a better place to eat than on the floor.”

“At the table?”

“No. I thought I’d save that for later, in the middle of the night, when I’m tired of bed.”

“Stop it!”

“Okay, how about the rocking horse?”

“You’re out of your mind.”

“I’ve been looking at it for hours. It’s big enough for two.”

“You are out of your mind. I’m not getting on that horse.”

“Please?” He tried so hard to fight the laughter ready to burst from inside, and somehow managed to keep the little-boy look on his face.

“Oh, all right.”

She started to climb on the horse when Mac stopped her. He shook his head. “The other way.”

“You mean facing backward?”

“Of course. We’ll face each other and share this wonderful plate of food.”

“This is crazy, but I suppose if I’m going to get anything to eat . . .”

“That’s my girl.” He climbed on after her, pulling her legs over his thighs so she would lean back against the horse’s neck. “Now, isn’t that comfortable?”

She shook her head and laughed. “Can’t we do anything without my legs being wrapped around you?”

“Hush.” He picked up a chicken leg and held it to her mouth. She took a bite, and he took one after her, savoring the taste, and reveling in the feel of having her so near.

“Tell me about Julie.”

“She’s adorable. Long black hair, straight as can be, and big brown eyes. She’s got a pudgy little face and dimples on both sides of her mouth. She likes Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and Beauty and the Beast. And I can’t wait for her to come home tomorrow.”

“You miss her?”

She nodded, taking the fork out of his hand and offering him a bite of potato salad. “My parents love her and I’ve often thought it would be a good idea to move back to Montana. She’d have a much better life growing up there than in New York.”

“Why do you think tha
t?”

“Cleaner air. More room to run and play.”

“Now she’ll have McKenna House. And if you want, we’ll get a place in Montana, too.”

She leaned forward and kissed him, the horse rocking slowly beneath her legs. “I’d like that.”

“You know what I’d like?”

“What?”

“To dance with you.”

She laughed and he nearly melted into her eyes, her smile.

“Are you tired of the horse already?”

“No, I just felt this strange compulsion to hold you in my arms and waltz around this room,”

“Did you see that old gramophone?”

“Where do you think I got the idea? How about if I crank it up while you change into something, um, more comfortable?”

“I thought you’d never ask.”

He climbed off the horse and helped her down. She found her suitcase and went to the door of the small bathroom, turned, and looked back at the man she was hopelessly in love with. “I’ll only be a moment.”

“Make sure it’s only one moment. I don’t think I could stand it if you were gone much longer.”

She closed the door behind her, and Mac went to the gramophone. He’d never used one before, but had seen them operated in many old movies. Turn the crank and put the needle on the record. Please work, he begged the machine. He turned the crank over and over again, and when he heard the door to the bathroom opening, he put the needle on the record.

He heard only scratching noises coming from the antique machine as he turned to look at his bride-to-be. The silky white fabric of her long, slim gown was more beautiful than the dress she had worn at the Plaza, more intoxicating than what she had worn to the ball. Both of those times he had thought she was the most ravishing woman on earth. Now he knew no one could equal her.

The scratching stopped and a mellow voice filled the room. He walked to the woman whose long auburn hair fell over her shoulders and curled at the rise of her breasts. He took her in his arms and kissed her lips, waltzing around the room to Bing Crosby’s
“
White Christmas
,
”
and all thoughts of disliking the holiday left forever. He would remember this moment for the rest of his days, the happiness he felt holding her close. He even thought it would be nice to celebrate Christmas every day of the year, if all of those days could be like this.

Except for their breathing and the strains of the song, all was quiet. Their eyes met and held, and when they neared the window, Mac looked out into the dark night sky and saw the light snow falling to the ground. “Look,” he said, pulling her to a stop before the window.

“How odd. Snow in July.”

He laughed. “My guardian angels at work.”

“I think I like your guardian angels. Do they perform other miracles?”

“They brought us together.”

“No. We were always meant to be.”

oOo

Mac rolled over o
n the overstuffed mattress and pulled Kathleen into his arms. She opened her eyes and he moved a strand of hair away from her lips. “It’s morning, sleepyhead.”

She stretched and yawned. “I don’t think I’ve ever slept in a bed so nice and warm and comfy.”

“Maybe my being in the bed had something to do with that.”

“
M
aybe just a tiny bit.”

He rolled onto his back and pulled her on top of him. “I like you this way.”

“We do fit together rather well, don’t we?”

“In every way imaginable. And I think we tried them all last night.” He put his hands around her neck and pulled her mouth to his. “You taste wonderful, even in the morning.”

“Good. I expect you to feel that way every morning for the rest of your life.” She sat up, straddling his hips, and stared down at his unshaven face. “But for now, I hate to put an end to this, but we have to get back to the city.”

“And interrupt what you just started?”

She looked at him questioningly, then felt the stirrings at his groin. “Maybe I can give you five more minutes.”

He pulled her back to his chest, kissing her lips, teasing her tongue as he rolled over on top of her. “I have every intention of taking full advantage of those five minutes.”

oOo

“So, what do you think about living at McKenna House? I’ve always thought it would be great to live there again.”

They were halfway back to the city, driving along in the warm summer morning air. When they stepped out of the cottage, it was as though there had never been any rain, or any snow. Maybe they had imagined it all, but the cold, stormy weather had only enhanced their night. On their drive to the cottage, Kathleen had spent her time admiring the scenery. Now she only had eyes for the man behind the wheel.

She thought about living at McKenna House. It would be wonderful, especially for Julie. Fresh air, plenty of room to play. A grandmother close at hand. But it was a long drive from the city, and her job. “Maybe on weekends. I don’t want to commute every day to work.”

“Did you forget we’re getting married?”

“Of course not.”

“You don’t plan on working once we’re married, do you?”

She hadn’t expected to hear those words. “Do you have a problem with that?”

“I just assumed . . .” He pulled over to the side of the road and stopped the car. “Look, let’s not talk about it now. Let’s not spoil the day.”

But a damper replaced her lighthearted spirit. Mac didn’t want her to work, he never had, he probably never would, and deep inside she had known he would ask her to quit How could she have gotten so caught up in his love that she forgot this major problem? How could she ignore it now? Earlier, her thoughts had cried out an unconditional love, and she did love him. But she loved her work, too.

“Kath?” He lifted her chin with his fingers, letting his thumb trace her lips. Looking into her eyes he saw the hurt—the hurt he had caused, but all he wanted in life was a wife and children, someone to come home to at night. He’d given up so many things with Ashley, he didn’t want to give them up again. “I told you I’m a selfish man. I don’t want you to work. I want you at home. Can you understand my feelings?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I can’t understand your feelings any more than you can understand mine.” She looked out the passenger window at the bright, sunny sky, but her day had been darkened.

“I want to understand. But I thought you’d enjoy staying home with Julie.”

“I’ve tried to explain my feelings before. I love my work.”

“What about Julie? What about me? Do you love us?”

“How can you ask that?”

“Because I want to know.”

“I love Julie very much. We’ve done okay by ourselves for the last five years. She doesn’t mind me working, in fact, I think it makes me a better mother. And I love you, too. But . . .” Tears ran slowly down her cheeks and she did nothing to stop them. “I’ve already proved to myself I can live without you. I don’t want to, but I got by before, I can do it again.”

“We don’t have the same relationship now that we did back then. I don’t want you to live without me. I don’t want to live without you.” He turned her face to his and saw the streaming tears. “I love you.”

“I know. But I think we’d better rethink our plans to get married. I don’t think it would work.” She looked into his eyes, at the sorrow, at the tears at each comer. “Take me home, please.”