Page 48 of Call It Home

Mac chuckled. “Think Barbie and Ken are having an argument over Barbie’s Dreamhouse?”

I snorted. “Or maybe Ken’s jealous because Barbie’s Dreamhouse has a better closet than his.”

After we finished our interviews, we went back to the trailer.

“I feel like I could sleep until tomorrow morning,” I moaned and flopped onto the couch.

“Me, too,” Mac answered, sinking deep into the cushion beside me. He closed his eyes and leaned his head along the back.

My head rolled to face him. “Feels good to win, doesn’t it?”

His eyes remained closed, but my question drew a small smile from him, but that was the only response. In fact, it seemed he had actually fallen asleep already.

“Mac?”

No answer.

“Mac?” I repeated, this time poking him in the stomach.

Seriously? He could not be asleep already. I poked him again, this time in the ribs, earning me a brief twitch. Could Mac be ticklish? I poked him again, this time earning a definite squirm.

I was either slaphappy from lack of sleep or childish—probably both—but I decided it would be fun to see this giant of a man brought to his knees in such a silly manner.

I sat up and twisted to face him, wriggling all my fingers on both sides of his ribs. The corners of his eyes crinkled even tighter, and his big body lurched to the side. I laughed, more amused than I’d been in a long time, and dug my fingers in. This time, he squirmed even more, his eyes popping open.

I couldn't help but grin as Mac’s deep laughter filled the air. I’d never seen him so vulnerable before. Honestly, it was kind of endearing. I noticed how his eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint.

“You’re gonna pay for that, Cam,” he warned between gasps for breath, his voice laced with amusement.

I didn’t care about his threat. I was enjoying this secret, playful side of him. Not to mention the added bonus of feeling his muscular body wriggle underneath me.

I finally relented and sat back, panting. Mac lay on the ground next to me, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

Suddenly, he rolled over and lunged at me, his fingers poised to tickle me back. I shrieked and tried to scramble away, but he was too quick for me. He pounced, his fingers finding my most ticklish spots, and I dissolved into laughter.

As we wrestled on the ground, I felt an undercurrent of something deeper between us, something that had been building for a long time. And as I landed on his chest, breathless and giggling, I knew I wanted to explore that connection further.

His fingers stopped moving, but his hands didn’t leave my hips. I could see the shadow of his light beard from where he hadn’t shaved this morning, and for a minute, I let myself wonder about what it would feel like scratching against my stomach, my thighs—and every other inch of my body. His eyes grew darker—heated. Hungry. I could feel his breathing grow more erratic beneath my fingertips, where they rested against his chest, matching my own uneven breath. Was he remembering the kiss we’d already shared? Did he want to kiss me again, as much as I wanted him to? But this time, I needed it to be his decision.

I held my breath, waiting to see what he’d do as his fingers dug into my skin.

Suddenly, he lifted his head and claimed my mouth with his own, gentle at first, then with growing ardor. He anchored his hand in my hair as his tongue swept against my lips. His lips caressed mine in between sucking my lower lip into his mouth, where he gently nipped it, causing a shudder to run through me.

Oh, God.When was the last time I’d felt like this? Was there even a last time?

It felt so natural, as if we’d done this hundreds of times. And even though we hadn’t, I knew it was something I wouldn’t mind becoming a reality.

“Cam.” His groan vibrated through my skin. “What are you doing to me?”

I kissed my way across his jaw. “Hopefully, the same thing you’re doing to me.”

“We shouldn’t do this,” he replied breathlessly.

“You don’t want to?”

“I didn’t say that, either.”

I lifted my head and arched my eyebrow. “Well, if you want to and I want to, in my book, that adds up tolet’s do this.”

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