The sensation of being stretched and the smooth gliding into my core, combined with his intense concentration and words of love were too much. Too much for my body and too much for my soul.
The heat and fluttering sensations between my legs where our bodies were joined took over, leaving all my reticence, self-doubt, and worries behind. I clung to him as I screamed out his name, crying the entire time.
“Look at me!” he growled, going down on his elbows and grasping my head on either side in his huge hands. I was trapped in his life, his face just inches away.
“I can’t! I can’t!” I gasped out, my face contorting with the effort of managing sorrow and orgasm at the same time.
He crushed his lips to mine and then stiffened, his entire body going rigid for a second before he began pounding into me with short hard thrusts. His mouth became too hard against mine, forcing me to turn my head.
“Andie! Goddammit, Andie!” He was breathing against my face like a freight train as he came inside me.
Anything else he might have said didn’t register. I was too far gone to hear or say anything of substance; all I could do was feel. I was drowning. Love and pain and hope and loss mixed into one big maelstrom of emotion. “Mack!” I cried, hanging onto his back with every ounce of strength I had, bucking underneath him until I couldn’t take the sensations anymore. My cries turned into silent tears and I just let them fall.
He collapsed on top of me, suffocating me with his weight and distracting me from my sadness. When it got to the point where I had to struggle to breathe, he fell off to the side, pulling out of me abruptly. I reached over and slapped him gently on the face.
“What was that for?” he asked, reaching over to wipe the tears from my cheeks.
“That’s for leaving me and being so mean like that.”
He grabbed me as he rolled over onto his back, pulling me with him. I was lying on top of his chest, looking down at him and his passion-flushed face.
“You’re the one who’s leaving and being so mean, not me.”
I frowned, my heart stung by his words. “Don’t say that.” Leaving felt so wrong; it was killing me to imagine myself on a flight out of here.
“Stay.” He reached up and gently pushed a lock of hair out of my face. “At least for the picnic. I want you to meet the family before you go.”
The knowledge that he’d accepted my departure as a foregone conclusion hurt. The masochist in me wanted him to keep fighting for me to stay. I guess I hadn’t caused either of us enough pain yet.
I sighed. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“Sure it is. What’s one more day going to do? Just stay. My grandma wants to meet you and my mom needs your help.”
I stared into his sneaky blue eyes, frowning at him. “Low blow, Mack.”
He shrugged, not smiling. “I’m going to use whatever tricks I have up my sleeve to keep you here.”
I sighed, not wanting to let him or his mom and grandma down. It was a great excuse to put off my heartbreak for one more day. “Fine. I’ll go to the picnic, but that’s it. After that, I have to go back.” What I was going to do when I got there was still an unknown. The only thing I did know was that I wouldn’t be getting married to Bradley. This little tryst in the meadow had solidified that decision in my mind.
Mack came off me with a push-up and stood, reaching for my hand.
I gave it to him and let him guide me to my feet. “What are we doing now?” I asked, falling against him as his arms wrapped loosely around my back.
He dipped down and gave me a quick kiss on the lips. “Now, we play tag.”
I frowned, going still, not sure I’d heard him correctly. “What?”
“You heard me.” He grinned and pushed me away from him, reaching around to smack me lightly on the butt cheek. “I’m It. Better run.”
I laughed for a second. “What are you talking about?” A tickling sensation started in my stomach as I pictured him taking me down by the heels.
One of his eyebrows went up in a devilish challenge. “Better run. If I catch you, you’re going to get thrown into the lake that’s just behind those trees. And I have to warn you … it’s pretty cold this time of year.”
A huge dose of adrenaline shot into my veins, and I took off running without a second glance at him. The horses lifted their heads as I zoomed by heedless of the snakes that might be waiting for me, only knowing I had to get away from the crazy man who was going to turn me into a human popsicle.
His pounding footsteps came up behind me, causing me to scream and laugh at the same time. Hysterical giggles bubbled up out of my chest and echoed around the clearing.
“Gotcha!” he shouted, grabbing my upper arm.
I twisted away and ran around him, shrieking again when I saw him go into a crouch, his muscles bunching up in preparation for attack.
“No, Mack! No!” I flew over the grass and flowers, my heart racing and my arms pumping.
“Yes!” he growled, hooking me around the waist from behind and lifting me up in his arms.