CHAPTER FOURTEEN

 

It took some time, but McCoy returned to his normal self within a few days. His quick wit and clever banter had been lacking while he suffered from headaches and dizziness for three days. But by the fourth day he was his normal self. I had taken the week off work. We were snuggled up on my couch together and feeding each other popcorn. There was no movie on. McCoy was my movie.

I lay tucked into his side. He had himself propped up on one elbow and he was playfully dropping pieces of popcorn down into my mouth. He laughed when one piece bounced off my nose and disappeared between the couch cushions. He kissed the tip of my nose, and I pulled him down to kiss his lips.

When he pulled away we stared at each other in quiet comfort for a while. I felt so secure, so loved, and so special lying beside him. When he started to play with the top of my shorts, I scowled at him. “No physical activity for a week. Doctors orders.”

He raised an eyebrow at me. “Wow, you are a goody good, aren’t you?” He rested his hand on my hip and his fingers still grazed the bare skin of my stomach. He was doing as I asked, but walking a fine line.

“I just want you to heal as fast as possible.” I corrected. “If you want to call it being a goody good, then so be it.”

“So sensitive,” he chuckled. “You don’t need to worry about me. I promise. I’m fine.”

“Are you?”

“I am.” He pressed his lips to mine again. They were warm and reassuring. He kissed my neck. My collarbone. “I feel good as new.”

I smiled. He grabbed another piece of popcorn and popped it into his mouth. Then he gave me one. When he kissed me again it was a salty and buttery kiss. I could have stayed there all night with him sharing those sweet kisses.

“McCoy?”

“Yeah?” He twisted himself so that he was facing me more directly. One hand rested on my stomach, the other still held his head up. He searched my eyes. “What is it?”

There was no better time than now to tell him. The words were on the tip of my tongue. I wanted to say it. A small panicky voice in my head taunted me with the thought that he might not love me back. I felt like he did. Surely he did. The way he was looking at me now.

“I love you.”

I waited for him to answer. The way he was looking at me was hard to read. He looked down at his hand on my stomach for the briefest moment. When he looked back up to me his eyes were warm and bright. He was smiling. “I love you too.”

I felt the insane impulse to start crying. As the tears built I was distracted by McCoy’s laughter. The laughter I adored so much. It was contagious. Soon I was smiling up at him, and my tears had been all but chased away. “What’s so funny?” I asked.

“Not funny. Just… it all feels pretty damn good.” He cracked that devilish smile at me. “I’m a lucky man.”

“You have no idea, McCoy.” I said playfully as I twisted myself upwards and swung one leg over him so I was straddling him. He lay beneath me with one hand resting on each of my thighs. His head rested on the pillow and his hair was splayed out in all directions. He was smiling at me.

“What are you doing up there?” He asked, his hands slipping up the inside of my shorts and creeping higher up my legs.

I slapped his hands away. “Clean your ears out. I said no physical activity for a week.”

He laughed and held his hands up beside his head. “Okay, okay, I hear you. You’re so bossy all of a sudden. I take it back. I don’t love you.”

“That’s not how this works,” I giggled, slipping my hands up under his shirt. “All I said is no physical activity for you. I’m free to do whatever I want.” He raised an eyebrow as I followed his treasure trail down his chest and to the top of his pants. “And there’s nothing you can do about it.” I popped the button of his jeans open.

“That’s good, ‘cause I’m not gonna do a damn thing to stop you.”

I straightened above him and flipped my hair over one shoulder. I leaned down slowly and kissed him. His hands wandered all over my body until they buried themselves in my hair. When I pulled away he was breathless. I undid his jeans the rest of the way and teased him with wandering fingers.

“Are you ready for me to show you just how lucky of a man you are?” I asked, giving him my best rendition of his own devious smile.             

He couldn’t help himself from drawing me back down on top of him. His hands shimmied my lace tank top off and he dropped it on the floor. He slipped his hands in the front of my shorts. I didn’t stop him until he grazed the top of my panties. I held his wrist and raised an eyebrow at him. “I asked you a question.”

“I’m ready,” he answered, unable to hide the smile on his lips.

“I hope you’re not above begging.”

His smile turned into a laugh. The sound in my ears was better than my favourite song. Better than anything I had ever heard. I released his wrist, and the two of us gave in and cascaded into bliss together.