Mackenzie

The first order of business would be to blow dry my hair and tie it back. Tied back would be best for what I had planned. It was late afternoon and the sun set earlier this time of year.

I emerged from the bedroom and Richard had the kitchen cleaned and had made coffee.

He looked up. “Hello, baby, a little overdressed, aren’t we?”

“Not for what I have planned.”

He raised a quizzical eyebrow.

“We’re going for walk. It’s nearly sunset and the colors are beautiful this time of year. It will give us the chance to try out your new creation.

Am I correct in assuming there was no time for that?”

“You’re right. I jumped the line to push it out in time for my birthday,” he shrugged. “We’ve done it before. I would like to try them out for myself, though. Let’s take a walk.”

He stood. “Don’t give me that face. I’m not taking yours, I brought my own.” He reached for his shoes.

Pulling two hoodies out of the closet, he crooked his finger. “Come here,” he gestured. “Now it appears you’re under dressed for what we are going to do.”

I watched his hands as I let him wrap and zip me up in his hoodie. A flashback reminded me of what Richard said, memories would overlap, but the feeling would be different.

He was right. Michael had often helped me into his hoodies. It was such a simple thing. Today it had a new meaning, I wasn’t flinching, I didn’t have an uncontrollable urge to run.

I did not want to run from the warmth his simple gesture emphasized.

We pulled anchor and headed back to the island.

He took my hand and led me off the boat. The air was cool; it didn’t matter, I was overheating at the simple touch of his hands in mine.

Being outside in the cold was the only situation I could think to put ourselves in where we would not be tempted to end up back in bed.

“You will like Tranquility, Mac, it’s a small town on the Atlantic. It won’t be much unlike where you live now.” He brought my hand to his lips and kissed it. “I’m not oblivious to the fact that it may take you awhile to get your affairs in order.”

“Lucky for you I’m low maintenance. Except for a small studio apartment I rent above Sally’s, I don’t have much.”

“It’s been a rough year, hasn’t it?” he stated. I felt a slight reassuring squeeze of his hand. He wrapped his arms around my shoulders and pulled me closer.

“Yeah, it’s been a rough year. You have to understand I’m not ready to give up my apartment. I’m willing to spent some time with you at yours, that’s all I can offer.”

I wasn’t sure what his reaction would be. He was possessive in our love making earlier. Would he accept this small development in my resolve?

“If that’s what you want,” he faced me and kissed me tenderly on the lips, “I accept any terms if it means I can spend more time with you, no matter how little.”

“Tomorrow I’ll head back into town and pack enough for a week. We can reassess our living arrangement after that, if that's okay?”

I was staring directly into his stoic brown eyes. I wanted to see if he really meant it when he said he loved me.

It had only been a week, yet it was also a lifetime. I meant it, why did I find it hard to accept he did as well?

He placed another chaste kiss on my lips before reclaiming my hand and continuing our walk.

“Mac, did you ever contact the charter company you talked about?”

“No, not yet, I tried going over the contract they had with Michael and my father. There’s a lot of legal mumbo jumbo and it’s taking a while. I thought I might get someone to look at it for me.”

“My business partner has a law degree, do you want me to ask him to give it a once over?”

“I thought I might make an appointment to talk to the legal staff from the charter. Their main operations is out of New York. It would be nice to get into the city for the day.”

“You should get Aleksander to go over it first. It would be to your advantage to know the terms fully before you get there. If you would like, I could ask Evonne’s husband Dickie to take a look at it also. He had some dealings with some of the charters already.”

“That would be nice, thank you.” I was enjoying the walk. The conversation was natural and pleasant. The sun was setting and the stars began their appearance. “I love walking at night this time of year. The air is fresh and clean.” I inhaled a deep cleansing breath.

“And cold,” Richard added. “Makes it easier to concentrate on the conversation. Don’t think I didn’t conclude that it would be too cold to rip your clothes off and take you against the tree.”

“You can’t blame me, Richard, we’ve done nothing but fuck like rabbits since you stepped foot on the island. Not that I mind, I just need to...recuperate for a while.”

We walked in silence for a short distance.

“Richard,” I paused, “you got a little possessive. What was that bit about babies?”

“I know, I’m sorry, baby. I can’t explain it. I have never wanted anyone more than I want you and it scared me. If you didn’t agree to come with me, I think I might have actually left everything and moved here to be with you.”

His confession frightened and excited me at the same time. Someone wanted me to that extent. It also sent a shiver down my spine.

It wasn’t that long ago that another very rich man was obsessed with me and did not want to take no for an answer.

Why was I not more scared at what Richard had professed?

“That came out really creepy, didn’t it? If you need me to back off, Mac, say so. I want you, there no denying it, but I love you more and I won’t hurt you. I won’t try to own you.”

Richard voice was steady, calm, with no hint of the possessiveness I’d previously seen.

“I think it kind of went both ways. I was more than a little possessive at times myself. Like you said, it’s unexplainable. Why have you changed your mind about wanting children?”

“I want to give you anything you want. If that’s children, I want that too. We would make beautiful babies, Mac.” He pulled me to him and devoured my mouth.

I opened my mouth and let him delve deeply into mine, challenging his tongue thrust per thrust.

He released me, “You know, you still haven’t accepted my request to be my date for my birthday party,” Richard teased. “I hope you willing to spend more time with me was a yes?”

“Yes, I would love to be your date and show off your new design. They’re comfortable, I’m not noticing any discomfort on the heel or toe. Those are the places I usually get blisters with new shoes.”

“That’s good. We have been looking into the unisex market for a while. We talked about taking the company global. The new men’s line was a huge success and we want to capitalize on that. Launching this before spring showing is risky, I hope the gamble pays off.”

I halted in my tracks. “Are you worried? From everything I’ve read in the papers, you’re a genius. No one is going to question your decision.”

“You read about me in the paper? Have you been stalking me?” he rasped as he backed me up against a tree. “Are you sure it’s too cold out here for this?” He ran his hand up my shirt and cupped my breast.

“I read about you in the business pages, like everyone else,” I scolded him. “And yes, it’s too cold out here for this,” I slapped his hand away. “Your hands are cold,” I giggled.

“My hands might be cold, but your body is hot, so very very hot,” he said and claimed my mouth. I expressed my appreciation for his talent with a pleased moan.

I gripped his strong muscular arms and wrapped my arms around him. “I think we need to head back now. Do you want to spend the night on the boat, or in the cabin?”

“I like the coziness of the cabin when the fire’s going. I know the bed is not as big.” He brought his forehead to rest against mine, flashing his sheepish grin. “We made it work with no problems the last time.”

I slipped my arms around his and laid my head on his shoulder.

“What will I do all day when you’re at work?” I questioned.

“Do you still work as a veterinarian's assistant?”

We hadn’t taken the time to talk about what I had been doing.

“I had a hard time returning to work after the accident. Every time I had to explain to a client we lost their love one, it brought back too many memories.” Everyone told me I just needed more time. I knew I no longer had the passion for it.

“What have you been doing this past year?” His voice was monotone, like he wouldn’t judge me if I chose to sit and mourn this past year and nothing else.

“After the funeral and selling my father's house, I moved into the loft and helped Sally at the coffee shop. It was mindless busy work. It kept me occupied. I attended a few grief counselling sessions, but they didn't help.”

This revelation surprised me. I had always told people they helped; this was the first time I admitted they had not.

“What do you want to do, Mac?” He ran his hand down my back. I gasped with the awareness he was deliberately applying pressure to the divot at the bottom of my spine. The spot he knew made my knees goes weak and my insides melt.

“I want to get my bearings. Remember, this is just a visit, I can’t promise anything permanent. Beside, I think I may need the day to sleep. I don’t think we are going to get much of it at night,” she giggled.

We arrived at the cabin and Richard volunteered to get wood while I used the kindling to start the fire. I loved the way the cabin smelled and how warm and inviting it felt with the old pot belly stove at full flame.

“Do you want some coffee?” I offered.

He stepped closer and ran his hand up my shirt. “No coffee,” he growled.

“I agreed to go with you, you don’t have to fuck me into submission, you know.”

“Good, now I can fuck you for the sheer pleasure of it.” He picked me up and carried me to the bed.

“It wasn’t pleasurable before?” I purred in his ear.

“With you, baby, it is always a pleasure.”

We began ripping at each other’s clothes. ”It’s not a competition, Mac.”

“With you it’s always a competition. Are you ready to lose?”

“Even when I lose, I still win, baby.” God, what that man can do simply with a sheepish grin.

He laid me on the bed and positioned himself above me “If you want a competition, how about, you have to stay one week for every orgasm I give you,” he enticed.

“That’s not fair, it’s different for women than men. We don’t need as long to recover and we can be coerced in more ways than one.” I relished the thought of accepting his challenge.

I would enjoy being coerced, but would I be able to keep my side of the bargain?

Was I willing to give him more than one week?