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‘Trust me, you’re doing that in spades.’ His mouth returned to her nipple and with one hot flick her back was arching as need sparked through her.
How? She hadn’t done anything. Mac’s hands touched her as though with wonder. Her. Amazing...
‘You’re beautiful,’ he whispered against her breasts.
She tensed. He couldn’t see her properly in the semi-dark.
‘I mean it,’ he growled against her skin, sending shivers of heat through her.
To hell with not touching him. It was agony, and ecstasy. It was wonderful and frustrating and oh... ‘Do that again.’
Her body was shattering as a conflagration of desire and love rolled through her, took her out of this world and shut her mind down, leaving her free to absorb the wonder of Mac’s lovemaking.
And then he was above her, entering her, taking her to a whole new level of wonder, going with her, until they both peaked and the heat exploded around, through, between them.
Breaking the rules wasn’t so bad.
CHAPTER EIGHT
KELLI HADN’T STOPPED smiling since Mac made love to her last night, and everyone was noticing.
‘You two are hot together.’ Leanne grinned as they walked into the salon where they were to be made beautiful. ‘I’ve never seen you so happy.’
Mac had told her she was beautiful and she’d begun to go with it. To trust him on this. He hadn’t turned away from her that morning when they’d woken in full daylight, he hadn’t studied her like a specimen to be catalogued, or the night before’s mistake. No scalpels in sight. Instead Mac had reached for her and caressed her before making love with her again. He’d made them late for breakfast and earned a whole load of witty comments from her obnoxious brothers. Mac was in for a long morning on the golf course unless he managed to shut them down.
‘I hope those men don’t wear themselves out playing golf. Especially Billy. He’s going to need his stamina for the wedding and the wedding night.’ Kelli poked Leanne on the arm. Back at you.
The bride-to-be only laughed. ‘No worries on that score.’ Then she stopped and hugged Kelli. ‘As long as you’re happy, that’s all anyone wants.’
Her heart stuttered. This wasn’t how it was meant to go. The crash was going to hurt a lot more than she’d expected. But then she’d never meant to make love with Mac, or to find herself falling for him. ‘I am,’ she managed around her doubts. If it were all true then she’d be crazy happy, not just warily perched on cloud nine. Next time Tamara had any insane suggestions like asking Mac to accompany her to something, she’d hang up and stay hung up. Not that it had been her friend’s idea to fake an engagement; that brainwave lay entirely with Mac.
But if she’d ignored Tamara she’d have missed out on getting close to Mac, last night being the icing on the cake so far. Tonight might lead to an even sweeter topping. Then tomorrow would come and they’d continue the charade but on Monday reality would strike and the show would be over. Her stomach cramped. Her mouth dried. No. She didn’t want that. But perhaps Mac did. He’d signed up for a weekend, not a lifetime. By his own admission this was his first foray back into the dating world. Apparently she had a lot to do with his willingness to participate, but he’d be wanting to test the waters, try out other offerings.
What if she made him fall in love with her? Was that even possible? Where to start?
‘Kelli, my girl, don’t stand there looking lost.’ Mum was at her side. ‘You’re up for nails first.’
Was this a sign? An answer to her question? Get made to look more than her best, starting with her nails? Be so alluring Mac couldn’t resist her. It was a start, and the only one she could come up with. Though it did reek with falseness. Shallow. Not how she wanted any relationship she was involved in to go. She knew first-hand the downside to that. But striving to look fabulous so as to deflect Mac seeing the real her was being honest to herself in a way. Though she was meant to be toughening up about that, it was hard to stop hiding behind amazing clothes and hairstyles and sometimes even witty conversation. Incredible how many people bought it, saw only what she wanted them to.
Mac’s not like that.
Could explain her feelings for him. But it’d be a big step to trust him never to see her faults.
‘Kelli, you’re daydreaming.’
‘Yes, Mum.’ Sinking onto the chair being held out for her by the nail technician, she smothered a wry smile. If only she were truly engaged and could enjoy the moments of excitement like Leanne, but since she couldn’t she’d make the most of the day and have some fun, maybe even figure out how to make Mac think twice about walking away next week.
She could try just being herself. There was a novel idea, and it fitted with being strong.
The hour of the wedding ceremony sped towards Kelli so fast she thought she’d never be ready in time. With chaos surrounding her Leanne had become cool and calm, organising her best friend into the bridesmaid dress and not panicking when some buttons popped off. Kelli took over there, reattaching them with needle and thread after realigning others to allow a bit more room so the dress wasn’t quite as tight.
When Kelli went to get dressed in her specially made teal silk shift Mac was nowhere to be seen. His suit was gone so she presumed he’d already showered and dressed and was with the guys somewhere. She swallowed her disappointment at not preparing alongside him. That was what couples did; not them. To be fair, she’d left him with the brothers for most of the day so couldn’t expect him to be hanging around waiting for her when she chose to make an appearance. They’d managed lunch together, along with most of the family: a rushed meal with people coming and going, grabbing sandwiches and coffee to have on the run.
Andy had come over when Mac was with her to say, ‘Don’t believe this one whenever he says he’s not good at something. He aced the golf.’
Mac had looked the picture of innocence as he’d said, ‘I don’t recall saying I wasn’t any good at golf.’
Not those exact words, no. ‘You did kind of imply it,’ she’d laughed before devouring a small salad. This getting glammed up was hard work.
Kelli had just slipped into her dress when the door to the suite opened and Mac strolled in, looking divine in his dark grey evening suit and white shirt. ‘Oh, my.’
‘Have I got grease on my chin?’ The hunk grinned.
She fixed him a look that said ‘don’t fool with me’, and growled, ‘Can you do up my zip?’ How like a couple that sounded. ‘Would you mind?’
‘No, I’d hate it.’ He was still grinning, which took the edge off what he’d said.
‘Then I’ll pop down the hallway and knock on the next door to find someone else to help me.’
‘Oh, no, you won’t,’ he growled back. ‘While we’re a couple, that’s my job.’ He stepped behind her and sucked in a breath.
While we’re a couple. A thrill shivered through her. Mac wasn’t touching her zipper. ‘Problem?’
A gentle tug where the zip started, then zilch. Only the sensation of kisses whispering over the skin between her shoulder blades. ‘Mac.’ She had no idea if she said his name out loud, no idea of anything except those kisses caressing her, of whispers of breath as his mouth caressed her skin. ‘Mac. Please.’
‘Please what?’ he asked quietly beside her ear.
Tipping her head back, she felt his lips moving slowly up her neck, tasting her, awakening her, tightening her belly and creating a tsunami of need centred at her core. ‘Take me.’
His laugh was low and sexy and intensified everything she was feeling. ‘And have your mother banging down the door asking why we’re not already waiting in the ceremony garden? No, Kelli, this is something to be going on with until tonight.’
Mac said that? Nothing like his usual measured speech and words, more like a hot man in need of getting c
lose and personal—with her. Twisting around in his arms her hip swept across his need, rock hard and pushing the front of his trousers out of shape. What was going on? Apart from lust? Did Mac want more too? More likely now he’d got back in the saddle he’d be unable to stop. There was a drought of four years to make up for. Kelli shuddered as if a bucket of icy water had been dumped on her.
Knock, knock. ‘Kelli, Mac, are you in there?’ Dad called from the hallway.
‘What did I tell you?’ Mac grinned. ‘Trish has sent the cavalry. I’m in the bathroom until Dale’s gone.’
‘Good idea,’ Kelli muttered, glancing at the evidence of his need. ‘But first, my zip?’
Nothing sensual about the way Mac dealt with it this time; up and closed, done deal, and her skin was bereft.
Opening the door, she gasped. ‘Hey, Dad, what’s up?’
‘Your mother needs you. Something to do with her jacket not sitting right.’ Dad glanced around. ‘Where’s Mac? He’s not gone down already?’
‘He’s in the bathroom.’ She slipped her arm through her father’s. ‘Come on. Let’s go sort Mum out.’
