Marcy heard bells vaguely in the distance. Were they in her head? In her heart? As Nathan’s hungry mouth, teeth and tongue continued to feast on her breasts, the ringing gave way to an urgent voice calling her name; it took her several seconds to realize it was her mother’s voice!
“Marcy, are you in there?” Margaret Johnson yelled through the door.
“Oh, God,” Marcy groaned as she fought her way out of a passion-induced stupor.
“Marcy?” Her mother’s voice sounded again.
“Nathan?” Hands anchored on the side of his head up, forcing his mouth away from her flesh with difficulty. His body moved up and over hers, and he captured her lips instead. “Nathan, my mother is here,” she whispered against his mouth as his body moved seductively against hers. He ignored her words and kissed her again. “Nathan, baby, my mother is here,” she replied more urgently, evading his lips with difficulty.
“What?” he thickly asked, biting into her neck, scraping his teeth down her shoulder as his fingers pulled her sweater down her arms.
“Marcy!” Her mother was yelling and rattling her doorknob, bringing her back to reality as a wave of heat swamped her at Nathan’s ardent caresses.
“I’m coming, Mom!” Marcy yelled and fought down a hysterical chuckle as she realized how appropriate those words were. Nathan lifted his head to stare at her with passion-glazed eyes.
“Who is that?” he asked, annoyed. She smiled at his disconcertion.
“My mother,” she whispered again, pushing at his shoulders and scrambling from beneath him.
“Your mother?” he echoed as he, too, slowly stood. “Oh, hell!”
“I know,” she sympathized as she refastened the snap of her jeans.
“Marcy Johnson, if you don’t open this door—”
“I’ll be right there, Mom!” She kissed his lips softly before walking over to the door. She smoothed a hand over her hair and her thoroughly kissed lips and tried to comb her hair into some semblance of order before opening the door.
“What on earth took you so long to...?” Her mother’s voice trailed off, and the irritation that had furrowed her brow disappeared as she noticed her daughter’s flushed face before spying Nathan standing by the sofa trying to discretely rebutton his jeans. Margaret didn’t need to finish her question; their disheveled appearances bore witness to what she had interrupted. Hallelujah!
Nathan felt a huge knot of unfulfilled desire coil in his stomach and was certain Marcy’s mother could see that, too, along with the undeniable painful bulge in his pants. How had he allowed things to get so out of control so fast? Logically, he knew it was for the best that Margaret had interrupted them, but a huge part of him wished she hadn’t because wrong as it was he wanted nothing more at this moment than to be nestled deep within the woman who had captivated him since their first meeting.
“Mom, what are you doing here?” Marcy adored her mother, but she had never been less happy to see anyone in her life.
“Didn’t your father tell you I was bringing this suit you ordered by tonight?” Her mother handed her the garment bag in her hands.
“Um, yes, I think he mentioned it.” Marcy took the bag and carelessly tossed it over a nearby chair. “I—” she glanced briefly at Nathan “—guess I forgot.”
“Understandable, dear.” Margaret glanced knowingly from one to the other. She couldn’t wait to call Linda. “Hello, Nathan.” She beamed at him.
“Mrs. Johnson, it’s nice to see you again,” he lied. He liked her, but he didn’t like her at this moment, though he realized he should be grateful to her for stopping them both from making a terrible mistake.
“Have I interrupted anything?”
“No, not at all,” Nathan coolly responded and Marcy envied his control. “I was just leaving.” He walked over and picked up his jacket.
“Leaving?” Marcy almost wailed as she walked after him. “Excuse me, Mom. I’ll be right back,” she yelled as she hurriedly followed Nathan out of the apartment and grabbed his arm. “Nathan, don’t go.”
“Marcy I have to,” he said, frustratedly scratching his chin.
“I’ll get rid of Mom quickly,” she promised.
“Don’t be ridiculous. What are you going to do, tell your mother to go home because we want to make love?” His tone conveyed how absurd he thought that would be.
“Why not?” she seriously asked, squeezing his rigid arms.
He wished she wouldn’t touch him because it made it impossible for him to think logically. He was hanging on to his sanity by a very slim thread as it was, and it was all he could do not to pull her back into his arms and let madness have its way.
“You would, wouldn’t you?” Despite the ache in his loins and his heart, he managed a lopsided grin.
“After all the hard work it took to get you to this point? Damn right I would,” she fiercely agreed.
“You said you believed in fate,” he reminded while continuously punching the button to summon the infernal elevator, praying it would come quickly.
“I do.” She covered his hand with hers and lowered it from the control panel.
“Then maybe your mom stopped us for a reason—because we’re not meant to be,” he logically concluded.
“I don’t believe that.” She negatively shook her head.
“Well, I do,” he countered, removing his hand from hers as he turned his back on her, hoping she would go back inside, which of course, she didn’t.
“No, you don’t,” she spoke to his back. “You’re just looking for an excuse to walk away from me again.” Anger began to simmer within her.
“Go back in to your mother.”
“So you don’t want me?” Tired of talking to his back, she stepped in front of him. “Is that it?”
“No, I don’t,” he lied through his teeth. He wanted her as he had never wanted anything else in his entire life. “Chalk up my behavior to temporary insanity.”
She didn’t say a word but instead moved closer until her body was plastered against his. She smiled into his aroused eyes, reached up and pulled his mouth down to hers.
He promised himself he wasn’t going to respond to her kiss. That resolve lasted for all of a second. She felt and tasted wonderful—sweet and spicy. After all, he was a red-blooded healthy man, so how the hell was he supposed to stop himself from kissing her back? One of his hands roamed under her sweater spreading across her satiny bare back; the other coiled in her hair, pulling her head back so that his mouth could feast as he took hungry control of the kiss—a kiss that led to another and another. When their mouths parted, his forehead rested against hers; they were both breathing hard, and he was perilously close to taking her in the hallway.
Margaret Johnson slowly closed the apartment door and rubbed her palms together in glee. Things were progressing very well between the children. She would definitely have to call Linda and give her all the juicy details—just as soon as she went on a little fishing expedition with her daughter.
“Liar,” Marcy whispered before slowly moving out of his arms and walking back to her door. “We’re not finished with this, Nathan,” she promised and sauntered back into her apartment.
No, he feared they weren’t. This situation was intolerable, but he had only himself to blame. He knew better than this; he should never have touched her, yet common sense seemed to fly straight out of the window whenever he got near Marcy. The elevator finally arrived, and he entered it with a loud sigh. His body ached with need, his blood boiled with unfulfilled desire and he felt like breaking something!
He would feel better once he went home and took a long, freezing shower—a necessary nightly ritual he had become quite accustomed to since meeting Marcy Johnson.
* * *
“I’m sorry, dear,” Margaret apologized as Marcy returned to h
er apartment, frustration evident.
“Oh, Mom. I almost had him this time,” she wailed in disappointment.
“Marcy Johnson, watch your mouth.” Margaret feigned indignation.
“You and Mrs. Carter are the ones trying to get us married off. We’re just doing our parts, trying to find out if we’re compatible...”
“I didn’t raise you to talk like that, young lady,” her mother chided as she walked over and smoothed her tousled hair away from her mischievous face.
“Yes, you did.” Marcy kissed her cheek before walking away. “We were so close this time.” Then she sighed.
“Nathan is special to you,” Margaret unnecessarily stated.
“Yes, very special,” Marcy softly agreed, turning to face her again.
“And how does he feel about you?”
“He’s fighting me—us.” Marcy shook her head as she sat heavily down on the sofa.
“What man doesn’t?” Margaret’s dry tone had her daughter laughing. “How they cling to their infernal freedom like a badge of honor.” Margaret shook her head disdainfully.
“Truer words...” Marcy nodded in agreement.
“Don’t fret, darling. You’ll get another chance, and I promise not to interrupt when that time comes and to flay the skin off of anyone else who tries to,” Margaret vowed as she sat down beside her.
“I love you, Mommy.” Marcy hugged her tightly.
“I love you, too, baby,” Margaret whispered as Marcy snuggled close. “I am sorry I spoiled your plans tonight. If I had known Nathan was here—”
“It’s okay. Like you said, we’ll have another opportunity and soon,” she vowed, a determined glint in her eyes.
“That’s my daughter,” Margaret approved, kissing the top of her head and squeezing her tightly as she rocked her in her arms, making her laugh.
“Yes, I am,” Marcy agreed, squeezing her back.
You got a reprieve tonight, Nathan, but the next time we meet—watch out, Marcy silently promised.
Chapter 7
“Hello.”
“Hi, handsome.”
“Marcy.” Nathan groaned inwardly at the happiness that sprung to life within him at hearing her voice.
“You don’t sound glad to hear from me.”
“I am.” Nathan silently cursed his truthful tongue.
“No denial. That’s very good.” She laughed at his audible sigh. “What are you doing today?”
Trying to stay away from you—a task that’s harder than anything I’ve ever undertaken. It had been two days since their passionate encounter in her apartment during which time he had somehow refrained from calling her. Frankly, he hadn’t known how much longer he could hold out. He should have known she would make a move since he hadn’t.
“I have some work I need to get done,” he finally answered.
“You’re on vacation, Nathan, and besides, it’s Saturday— time to relax.”
“I don’t do relaxation well.”
“You should know better than to challenge me.”
“That wasn’t a challenge,” he said and smiled. “It was a statement of fact.”
“Well, I took it as a challenge, and as such, I have to prove you wrong.”
He laughed in spite of himself. “How do you plan to do that?”
“By taking you to the Bronx Zoo.”
He paused before repeating, “The zoo?”
“Yes.” She laughed. “You know the place where they house all types of animals.”
He chuckled. “Yes, I know what a zoo is.”
“Will you come with me?”
Nathan opened his mouth to tell her he couldn’t make it, but instead he asked, “What time?”
“Around noon. Is that good for you?”
“That’s fine.”
“Great, I’ll see you then.” She paused before saying, “And Nathan?”
“Yes.”
“Prepare to relax and have fun.” With that, she rang off.
As he hung up his phone, he couldn’t help laughing out loud. If his team members could see him now, they wouldn’t recognize him; he barely recognized himself since meeting Marcy. Where was the no-nonsense, determined soldier who wisely shied away from personal relationships and recommended his men do the same while they were involved in Black Ops? He was a first-rate hypocrite for engaging in the very behavior he had warned them about more times than he could count.
He should call Marcy back and cancel; yep, that’s what he should do, but he knew he wouldn’t because the simple truth was he couldn’t wait to see her again.
Two hours later, Marcy and Nathan were at the zoo—on a date. Both were similarly dressed in faded jeans, light sweaters and leather jackets. They walked around for hours glancing at animals, holding hands, having ice cream and cotton candy and riding the train.
He was having a wonderful time—something that came very easily to him whenever he was around Marcy. She was so easy to be with—so impossible to stay away from.
“You love animals, don’t you?” He smiled as they leaned against a rail watching a pair of giraffes, their graceful, long necks reaching to strip leaves from the trees that compromised one side of their habitat.
“Very much.” She turned to smile at him. “I would have a big house full of them if I could,” she admitted, fighting a groan as he brushed a stray strand of hair out of her eyes. His fingers continued to slide absently through her long tresses; she doubted he was even aware he was doing it.
“Why don’t you have any pets?” He removed his fingers from her hair and grabbed her hand as they strolled away.
“I’d love some dogs, but I spend so much time at work. Besides, I’d have to get a house with a big yard so that they could run free.” She laced her fingers with his, and he unconsciously pulled her closer to his side.
They stopped walking to watch a pack of Asian elephants slowly moving around their domain, trunks swinging from side to side as they sauntered.
“They’re marvelous, aren’t they?” She enthused as she watched them.
“I saw some when I was in Asia and Africa last year,” he stated matter-of-factly.
“You really do travel all over the world, don’t you?” She turned questioning eyes on him. “Isn’t that odd for a lawyer?”
“Not when you work for the State Department. We have clients worldwide,” he smoothly replied.
“I guess you would,” she agreed as he pulled her away. “I tried to get tickets for a sleepover, but they were all sold out.”
“A what?” He stopped and stared at her perplexed.
“A sleepover.” She laughed. “Didn’t you ever stay at one when you were a child?” At his negative nod, she explained, “A sleepover is an event the zoo puts on where they allow people to spend the night and wake up with the animals.”
He decided it was a good thing they had been sold out. The last thing he needed was to sleep beside her all night and be expected to behave like a gentleman.
“Maybe some other time.”
“For the sleepover at the zoo or just with me,” she teased as they walked on.
“Marcy...” He stopped and shook his head; he didn’t know what to say to her.
“Oh, I know. I’m a handful.” She chuckled.
“More like an armful,” he corrected, taking her hand again as they walked on.
“But you’ve got very strong, capable arms, Nathan,” she whispered. Though he remained silent, the heated look he gave her spoke volumes. “How about a late lunch?”
“You can’t be hungry.” He was aghast. They had eaten nothing but junk for the three hours they had been there.
“Not really,” she admitted. “I just don’t want the day to end.”
“Neither do I,” he easily confessed, and she stopped to happily stare at him.
“No?”
“No,” he echoed.
“Well, in that case, I know this place that serves the best food, and they even have entertainment,” she promised as they walked off.
“Is that a fact?” He smiled and entwined his fingers with hers as he pulled her closer to his side.
“Yeah,” she breathed.
“That sounds interesting.” He bobbed his eyebrows. “What kind of entertainment?”
“You’ll see,” she mysteriously promised.
“What are we waiting for, then?”
“Follow me,” she softly ordered, and they left hand in hand.
They had just exited the zoo and taken only a few steps when two young men purposefully blocked their way. Nathan quickly sized up the situation and knew the pair was up to no good—a fact that was confirmed when one of the men spoke.
“Hey, baby, wanna date a real man?”
Marcy swept contemptuous eyes over him and his friend. “I’m with the only real man in the immediate vicinity.”
The man jeered, “You’ve got a smart mouth on you, baby.”
“I’m not your baby,” Marcy icily replied.
“We could change that.” The man reached out a hand to touch her, which Nathan quickly intercepted.
“Don’t touch her!” Nathan’s hard eyes, steely voice and fighting stance promised he was ready to back up his order with action.
“What you gonna do about it, pretty boy?” The man opened his jacket, revealing a gun.
Our First Kiss Page 9