Chapter 19 #2
Instead of stepping back, his hands gripped her waist and he lifted her in one smooth motion, like she weighed nothing. Rachel gasped, her legs instinctively wrapping around his waist, her arms looping around his neck as he held her suspended against him.
"Okay?" he murmured, his forehead pressed to hers.
"Very okay," Rachel whispered, kissing him again.
Mac carried her down the hall, her body warm and perfect against his chest, her fingers threading through his hair, her lips never leaving his. He navigated blindly, muscle memory guiding him to his bedroom door.
Mac's bedroom was dark except for the moonlight filtering through the window. He lowered her gently onto the floor.
She was still wearing that gray dress that had been driving him crazy all evening. Her hands slid up his bare chest with a tentative touch that quickly grew bolder, nails dragging lightly over his skin.
He kissed her, harder than before, his hands sliding into her hair and tilting her head back for better access. Rachel made a soft sound against his mouth, her body pressing into his, and Mac groaned when he felt her breasts crush against his chest through the thin fabric of her dress.
His fingers found the zipper at the back of her dress, sliding it down slowly while his mouth moved to her neck. "Tell me if it's too much," he murmured against her skin. "We can slow down."
"Don't slow down," Rachel breathed, surprising them both with the command in her voice. The dress pooled at her feet, leaving her in nothing but black lace. "I don't want you to be careful with me."
"God, Rachel." Mac's hands spanned her waist, thumbs brushing up to cup her breasts through the lace. "You're so fucking beautiful."
She reached for his belt with fumbling fingers, and Mac covered her hands with his, helping her. His jeans hit the floor, and Rachel's eyes went wide when she felt exactly how hard he was pressing against her hip through his boxers.
"Feel what you do to me?" Mac said softly, rolling his hips forward. Rachel forgot to breathe, her cheeks flushing as she felt every inch of him.
She nodded, her hands exploring his chest, his shoulders, the muscles of his back, like she was memorizing him through touch. When her fingers traced lower, hesitating at the waistband of his boxers, Mac caught her hand and brought it to his lips.
"Bed," he said, his voice rough but gentle. "I want to take my time with you."
He walked her backward until her legs hit the mattress, then followed her down, his body covering hers.
The weight of him seemed to ground her, and Rachel's legs wrapped around his hips tentatively at first, then with more confidence, pulling him closer so she could feel how hard he was against her core.
"Good?" Mac asked, his hand sliding up her side, watching her face carefully.
"Yes," Rachel whispered. "More than good."
His mouth found her collarbone, then lower, and when he reached behind her to unclasp her bra, he paused. "Still good?"
Rachel nodded, and he pulled the lace away. Mac sensed her nervousness and kissed her deeply, his hands gentle but sure as they explored, his thumbs brushing over her nipples until they hardened under his touch.
"You're perfect," he murmured against her lips.
She surprised him by arching into his touch, by the small sounds she made when his mouth traced down her body, when he took her nipple into his mouth and sucked. Mac took his time, learning what made her gasp, what made her fingers tighten in his hair.
When his hand slid between her thighs, Rachel tensed before relaxing. Mac looked up at her, his eyes dark but questioning.
"Don't stop," she said, her voice shaky but sure.
He didn't. His fingers moved slowly at first, stroking her through the lace of her panties until she was wet enough to soak through the fabric. Then he hooked his fingers into the waistband and dragged them down her legs, and Rachel had to fight not to close her thighs.
"Let me see you," Mac said softly, and Rachel let her legs fall open, her face burning.
"You’re so wet," he murmured and slid through her slickness, finding her clit and making her gasp.
When he dipped his head lower, Rachel's back arched off the bed before she could stop herself.
"Mac—" She sounded like she wasn't used to this, to being the center of attention like this, to someone taking such care with her pleasure.
"Let me," he murmured against her inner thigh. "Just feel."
When his mouth found her entrance, Rachel had to bite her lip to keep from crying out. His tongue was hot and sure, licking and sucking until her fingers tangled in his hair, and she surprised him by pulling him even closer.
"Mac, I—" She couldn't finish the sentence, her body trembling. "Please, I need—"
"I know." His fingers slid inside her while his mouth worked her clit, and Rachel shattered with a gasp that might have embarrassed her if she had any awareness left. Her whole body shook with it, her pussy clenching around his fingers, and Mac groaned against her like he loved the taste of her.
He kissed his way back up, looking entirely too pleased with himself.
"That was..." Rachel covered her face with her hands.
Mac gently pulled her hands away, kissing her palms. "That was perfect. You're perfect."
She kissed him, tasting herself on his lips, and slid her hand down his stomach. When she slipped her hand into his boxers and wrapped around his cock. Mac drew in a tight breath.
"Rachel—"
"Is this good?" she asked, mimicking his earlier question, and Mac groaned.
"More than good." His hips moved into her touch, and Rachel felt a surge of confidence at his reaction. She stroked him slowly, her thumb sweeping over the head, feeling the moisture there, learning what made his breathing hitch.
"Fuck," Mac breathed. "I'm not going to last if you keep that up."
He reached for the nightstand, and they worked together to get the condom on, both of them trembling now. Mac positioned himself above her, the head of his cock pressing at her entrance.
"Yes." Rachel pulled him down for a kiss. "Please, Mac."
He pushed inside slowly, and they both went still, foreheads pressed together, breathing hard. Rachel's fingers dug into his shoulders as she adjusted to the fullness of him, to the stretch.
"Come here." Low. Hoarse. Not quite a question. "Shit, you're tight."
Rachel experimented with moving her hips, and Mac groaned. He did, slowly at first, pulling almost all the way out before sliding back in, and Rachel whimpered at the sensation. The careful exploration gave way to something more urgent as Rachel's inhibitions fell away piece by piece.
"Mac," she gasped, and the sound of his name on her lips, breathless, desperate, nearly undid him. His mouth found hers again and again, swallowing her gasps, one hand tangled in her hair while the other gripped her hip.
"You feel so fucking good," Mac breathed against her neck. "So perfect."
Her hands roamed his back, his shoulders, her nails digging in hard enough to sting. Mac shifted his angle slightly and hit somewhere that made her cry out, her whole body arching beneath him.
"There?" Mac asked, doing it again, watching her face.
"Don't stop," she gasped, her eyes meeting his. "Please don't stop."
Mac thrust harder, deeper, and felt Rachel rise to meet him, her hips lifting to take him as deep as possible.
The sound of skin slapping against skin filled the room, along with their ragged breathing and her increasingly desperate moans.
All sounds Mac wanted to memorize, to replay in his mind forever.
When her second orgasm hit, Mac felt it, the way her entire body tensed and then shook, the way she cried out his name, the way her pussy clenched around his cock so tight it sent him over the edge.
He came with a groan, his body shuddering against hers, everything narrowing to just this: Rachel, warm and gasping beneath him.
Mac rolled to the side, pulling her with him so she sprawled across his chest, their legs still tangled together, both of them breathing hard, skin slick with sweat.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Rachel buried her face against his neck, half-amazed at herself, half-mortified now that the haze of desire was clearing.
"Hey," Mac said softly, tilting her chin up to meet his eyes. "Don't hide from me now."
"I just—" Rachel bit her lip. "I've never been like that before."
"Like what?"
"So... uninhibited." Her cheeks flushed. "I don't know what came over me."
Mac's expression softened. "You were perfect. You are perfect." He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "And for the record, I liked seeing you let loose."
Rachel smiled despite her embarrassment, her fingers tracing idle patterns on his chest. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." He caught her hand, bringing it to his lips. "Stay. Tonight. Stay with me."
She hesitated, and Mac saw the fear flicker across her face.
But then she nodded, settling back against his chest. "Okay."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." She didn't look away, didn't flinch. "I'll stay."
Mac tugged the covers over both of them and pulled her against him. For a moment, the quiet felt like its own kind of safety.
Then he surprised himself, “Come with me to Cole and Ellie’s wedding.”
Rachel lifted her head. “What?”
“May fifteenth.” His thumb traced a slow circle on her shoulder. “Come with me. As my date.”
“Mac—”
“I know.” He cut her off gently. “But I want you there. I want you beside me for the important things.” He met her eyes. “I want people to know you’re with me.”
She inhaled sharply. A wedding.
“I don’t know if it’s a good idea.”
He kissed her, slow and certain. “Please.”
“O-okay,” she whispered, barely audible.
“I’m taking that as a yes.”
He pulled her close again, and this time she didn’t fight it. Her breathing softened, her body melting into sleep. Mac stayed awake, watching moonlight drift across her face.
He was in love with her.
Completely, irrevocably, terrifyingly in love with her.
And she was hiding something. Something that involved Derek Matthews and her ex and whatever had happened one year ago that still had the power to make her shut down completely.
But tonight, she was here. In his arms.
Puck eventually slunk into the room, giving them both a certain look before claiming her spot at the foot of the bed with an indignant meow.
Mac smiled, pressing one more kiss to Rachel's temple before letting himself drift off.
Tomorrow's problems could wait until tomorrow.