"Okay." He immediately stilled, his other hand gentle on her back. "It's okay. We can stop."
Rachel pulled back, breathing hard, suddenly very aware that she was topless in Mac's lap with his hand literally in her pants.
"I'm sorry," she gasped. "I just—it was too much. I'm not ready. I thought I was but—"
"Hey." Mac carefully withdrew his hand, then cupped her face gently. "Look at me."
Rachel met his eyes, expecting to see frustration or anger.
Instead, she saw only concern.
"We stop right now," Mac said firmly. "No pressure, no guilt. You set the pace, Rachel. Always."
"You're not angry?"
"Angry?" Mac looked genuinely confused. "Rachel, I'm half-naked with the most beautiful woman I've ever met in my lap. I'm a lot of things right now, but angry isn't one of them."
Rachel felt tears prick her eyes. "I want you. God, Mac, I want you. But I'm scared. Scared of going too fast, of messing this up—"
"Then we go slow." Mac pressed a kiss to her forehead. "As slow as you need. There's no rush."
He reached for her bra, helping her put it back on with surprisingly steady hands, then handed her sweater. Rachel pulled it over her head, and Mac grabbed his own shirt.
They sat there for a moment, both flushed and breathing hard, the air still charged between them.
"I should probably go home," Rachel said quietly.
"Or you could stay." Mac said it quickly. "Just to hang out. Watch a movie. With all our clothes on and appropriate distance between us."
"Appropriate distance?"
"At least six inches. Maybe a throw pillow as a buffer."
Rachel smiled despite everything. "That sounds very responsible."
"I'm trying to be responsible. It's very difficult when you look at me like that."
"Like what?"
"Like you want to kiss me again."
"I do want to kiss you again."
"Rachel," Mac groaned. "You're not making this slow thing easy."
"Sorry." She wasn't sorry. "One more kiss. Then movie with appropriate distance."
"One more."
It turned into three more, but eventually they settled on opposite ends of the couch, Puck materializing to claim the space between them like a furry chaperone.
"Your cat is suspicious," Rachel observed.
"It's his default state." Mac grabbed the remote. "What do you want to watch?"
"Something mindless. Action movie?"
"I have the entire Fast and Furious franchise."
