Page 18 of Mac's Vow

She had a pan of water heating on the stove when Mac came back in. “Cooking again?” he asked, as he watched her from the doorway.

“I always cook when I’m feeling edgy or anxious.”

He closed the distance and wrapped his arms around her from behind. “Don’t worry.”

“I’m not worried, just…yeah, okay, I’m worried.”

“Why? You heard Jimmy. He’s meeting with Mason. There’s already an investigation into The Judge’s activities. This is good news.”

A shiver ran down her spine. “I just can’t shake the feeling that it’s not over yet. You know?”

His chin nuzzled the top of her head. “Nothing is going to happen to you,” he said, his voice as unyielding as his resolve. “You have my word, Alyssa.”

She sighed and leaned back against him. Mac was so big and strong and she was just girly enough to wish she could simply climb back into bed with him. Curl up against his powerful body and stay there for the rest of the day. All safe and cozy. But she couldn’t bury her head in the sand. Alyssa peered at the clock on the wall. It was noon. Damn, it was going to be a long day waiting for Jimmy’s phone call.

Chapter Five

Mac forked up the last of the pasta. Shit, the alfredo sauce was delicious. Alyssa had also heated up a package of frozen breadsticks. He drank the last of his water and sat back, rubbing his stomach. “Woman, I keep eating like this and I’m going to be as big as a house.”

She bobbed her eyebrows. “Wait until you try my cinnamon rolls. I make them from scratch.”

Pastries were his kryptonite. He’d marry her next week at this rate. “How’d you learn to cook like this?” he asked as he took his plate to the sink and ran water over it.

“My mom. She was always cooking up a feast. Breakfast before school she’d make blueberry pancakes, sausage gravy and biscuits and the best omelets you’ve ever had. She always got up hours before Jimmy and me. And dinner was the same. Family dinners were a big deal for my mom. After they were killed, Jimmy tried his best to keep up the tradition, but between working two jobs to pay the bills and schoolwork there wasn’t a lot of extra time for family meals.”

Mac crossed the room and came up behind her. He started to massage her shoulders. She’d seemed tense all through lunch and he hated it. “I never did understand why the rest of your family didn’t help you guys. Weren’t there any aunts or uncles?”

“Mom’s family was a mess and she hadn’t talked to any of them for years. The only thing I knew about them was that they were abusive. Dad was an only child and his parents had passed on years earlier.”

“But at your age, why didn’t social services step in?”

“Uh, that one is a bit of a mystery to me,” she answered, as she glanced over her shoulder at him. “You know Brad and Cole have been friends with Jimmy for years, right?” Mac nodded, as he kneaded the muscles in her neck. “All I know is that they used theirmad skillsto fudge some records.”

Damn, even as teenagers the Reece brothers had been lethal. “Shit, seriously?”

She shrugged. “Ten years ago computers weren’t quite as secure as they are now, I don’t think. But, yeah, Jimmy never would talk about it with me.”

He massaged his way down to her collarbone and heard Alyssa let out a low moan. Her body went a little limp. “That feels amazing,” she moaned. “You have magic hands.”

He leaned down and kissed her on the top of the head before saying, “Go run a hot bath, while I clean up in here.”

She tipped her head back and looked at him. “Join me?”

He winked and tugged on her hair. “I saw the size of that tub, little baby. Both of us won’t fit.”

Alyssa pouted, which was fucking adorable. His cock flexed in his jeans. She crossed her arms over her chest and stated, “I already showered. I want you again, Mac. Please don’t deny me.”

He took hold of her chair and pulled it away from the table, then tugged on her upper arms until she was standing in front of him. “I never could deny you, Alyssa. I think that’s obvious. But I want you to soak those aches and pains a little first.”

Her eyes sparkled. Yep, she had him by the short hairs for damn sure. “Then we can have sex?”

He chuckled. “A goddamn earthquake couldn’t stop me.” Without thinking he swatted her bottom. She winced and sucked in a breath. Too late he remembered her welts. “Fuck! I forgot.” He ran his palm over her butt cheeks, hoping to ease the pain he’d just caused her.

She shook her head and smiled, but Mac could tell it was forced. “It’s okay. Just a little tender.”

“I’m such an asshole,” he grumbled, as he continued his massage.

She moaned and he could see the change come over her. “Keep that up and we’re having sex right here.”

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