Page 31 of Mac
"It'sNCIS: Los Angeles.There's not a lot on Sunday nights, especially if you don't have a DVR or movie channels."
"I don't watch it enough to pay for extras.I've been considering getting rid of the service all together but haven't gotten around to it.Not yet."
Mac shook his head, his eyes going back and forth from her to the tv screen."I couldn't do it.I don't watch it all the time, but I watch enough that I want to have enough to keep me entertained."
She looked at the screen a moment then back to him."I get that.I just figure I can get a few more books every month with what I send them.Especially picking them up second hand.And I do read a lot more than I watch this."She tilted her head toward the TV where some shaggy blond guy was making smart remarks to a woman with long dark hair.She could see the appeal to the guy but didn't know if one hot guy was enough to keep her watching.She sipped her wine and blinked.
"I'm sorry, I didn't think.Can I get you something to drink?"
"What do you have?"
"Wine," she lifted her glass and grinned, "soda, tea, water."
"Is the tea sweet?"
"Nope."
"I wouldn't mind a glass of that."
"Coming right up."Elyse carried her wine with her into the kitchen where she considered topping it off while she fixed Mac's tea but decided not to."Here you are."She handed him the glass and sat back down, a little closer this time."What did I miss?"She cocked her head toward the TV.
"Nothing important.And thank you."He lifted his glass and took a long drink."It's good."
"Thanks."Elyse smiled and leaned a little closer."You sure you don't mind coming over, just to hang out?"
Mac glanced down, and something in his gray eyes made her freeze.Not because he scared her — no, something in his gaze made heat pool low in her belly.She wished he would kiss her and get it over with, but he stayed where he was, watching her with a dark smolder for long moments before he spoke.
"I don't mind."
His voice, somehow lower than normal, made her belly flip.
"What about if I wasn't really lonely, I just wanted to see you?"
He stared at her a moment."I guess I'd be okay with that too."
A small smile curved his mouth, drawing her eyes.Elyse wondered, not for the first time, how he would taste and if his lips were as soft as they looked.
"Is that why you wanted me to come over?"
Mac's lips moving and the low rumble of his voice made Elyse realize she'd been staring at his mouth.Heat rushed to her face and she opened her mouth, but no sound came out.She tried again.
"Maybe."Elyse turned back to the TV that kept playing despite her giving it none of her attention.At least she had the excuse of watching it to keep from looking at him, at least for a moment.
"A thasgaidh."
Elyse kept her eyes on the TV, not sure he'd even spoken at all.
"A thasgaidh, look at me please."He put one hand on her arm.Slowly, she turned back, not wanting him to see how embarrassed she was, but still unable to resist.
"What's that mean?"She frowned at the word that sounded like someone had tried to swallow it instead of pronounce it.
"It's a term of endearment," he said with a shrug, "Roughly, my darling or my dear."
Elyse wasn't sure how to take his calling her that, so she frowned, thinking about it.It hadn't been a reaction she'd been expecting so it took her alcohol slowed brain a moment to change gears.She shook her head to jar her wandering thoughts back into place.
"I'm sorry, you just surprised me with that, and it distracted me for a minute."She took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she tried to remember where she'd been going.She stayed facing him, but kept her gaze lowered.She licked her lips and beganagain."I wasn't really lonely.I wanted to see you again."
"There's nothing wrong with that."
