She liked the sound of that. She wanted him with her all night. Maybe even the rest of the weekend. When he covered her, she felt her body shiver with want.

When he touched her, it was like napalm spreading over her skin. Heat forced her goosebumps away as her skin burned for his touch.

He settled between her legs, and she realized she still had on her wet bra and panties. When she reached to remove them, he held her hands down on the soft mattress.

“I’m in charge.” He smiled down at her. “For now.” His lips moved over her skin.

She lay back, enjoying, burning, as he explored her. When he nudged the wet silk of her bra aside, she moaned as his mouth covered her.

Her fingernails dug into his hair, holding him to her skin as her legs wrapped around his hips.

She didn’t even know she was grinding her hips against him until he jerked, and she felt his hardness against her.

“Please,” she begged, “I’ve wanted this, wanted you, for so long.” She reached around and grabbed his ass, pulling him closer to her. Her nails dug into his boxers, tugging until he was free. When she wrapped her hands around him, he stilled.

“Keep that up and this will be a quick ride.” He nudged her hands up again, this time, pinning them above her head. She kicked out, but he shifted and kept her pinned. “Stay still,” he warned softly.

She smiled up at him. “Make me.” She kicked again, this time catching his knee with the hopes of flipping him. They struggled for a while, her blood boiling with every touch. She could tell the moment he relaxed his hold on her, allowing her to twist easily and get on top of him.

“You let me win,” she said, frowning down at him. “That’s no fun.”

He chuckled. “You would have worn yourself out trying.” She usually enjoyed that he knew her so well, but not this time.

Deciding she still had a few tricks up her sleeve, she bent down and showed him just what he’d missed out on the past half year.

Her mouth traveled over him as she scraped her nails down his muscles. She heard him hiss and tense when she took him into her mouth. His hips jerked as she used her tongue to please him. She lost herself in the heat of it until he flipped her over and repeated the torture on her.

“That’s not fair,” she groaned as he ripped her wet panties aside.

“Life isn’t fair,” he said before covering her. This time it was her turn to hiss as he ran his mouth over her. “Cole,” she begged when she couldn’t stand it any longer, “now!”

This time when he moved, she held onto him as he glided into her slowly. The taste of him still on her lips, she arched back and enjoyed his slowed movements as her breath hitched with each thrust.

She let herself go, and she felt him follow shortly after. There was something about feeling the weight of him covering her, her body warm now from his, their breaths matched perfectly, as were their heartbeats.

“Okay, so, there’s that,” he said into her hair.

“Hmm?” she mumbled as her hands slowly moved over his tight butt.

Leaning up, he looked down into her sleepy eyes. “This.” He nodded as his eyes narrowed. “Tell me you’ve never felt… that before.”

A slow lazy smile formed. “What exactly did you feel?”

He made to move away, but she stopped him by holding onto his butt cheeks. “This?” she asked, “The sex or…” She leaned up, placing her lips over his. “This?”

He moaned when her lips met his. “That.” He sighed and moved aside. “I could go for a shower.” He looked down at her, his eyes running over her. “And then maybe we can order some Chinese?”

She leaned up, not bothering to cover herself. Taking his hand, she walked with him into her bathroom.

“Wow,” he said as they entered the newly remodeled room.

“It was the only thing that the previous owners had done. They ran out of money after that and moved back to Kentucky.”

“Nice,” he said, stepping into the large shower with her.

The blue tiled walls were so beautiful, she often spent too long in the shower just enjoying the space. There was a long seat near the back and the shower heads were something most people just dreamed of. Three heads hit every sore spot.

“You plan on doing this to the rest of the place?” He looked around the rest of the room.

She smiled at the new custom countertops and cabinets, the long wall of mirrors, the two custom sinks. There was also a private dressing and makeup area. The room was easily one of her favorite spots in the house.

“Yes.” She sighed as he dumped some shampoo on her head and started scrubbing. She took the bottle and did the same to him.

“Your hair is longer.” She enjoyed the thickness of it all.

“So is yours.” He smiled down at her.

“You could use a shave.” She ran her hands over his stubble-covered face.

He smiled, then reached down and whistled. “So, could you.”

She laughed. “Okay, shaving is on the list for tomorrow.” Her fingers once again moved over the scars. Three distinct angry holes that had been patched up. They hadn’t been there last time, which meant, since Paris, he’d been shot, three times. She knew he’d deny it, but he’d almost died and, for some reason, didn’t want her to know about it. Maybe he didn’t trust her. Or maybe he was embarrassed. Whatever it was, she was determined to get to the bottom of it, sooner or later.

“Agreed.” He leaned in, tucking his face in the crook of her neck. She felt his hot breath on her neck and moaned. Later, she decided.

“If you keep this up, we’ll never eat.”

His lips started moving along with his hands. He nibbled on her skin and she sighed at the feeling of her body responding. “I’m enjoying my meal.” He nibbled on her skin again.

He backed her up until her shoulders were pinned against the tile wall.

By the time they walked out of the shower, she was starved.

“I’ll call in the order,” he said, her blue towel wrapped around his hips as he reached for his cell. He paused and looked over at her. “You wouldn’t happen to have some sweats I can borrow?”

She thought about it as she pulled on her own clean sweats and sweater. “I have a box.” She looked around. “I think there’s an old pair of Aiden’s basketball sweats in there.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m still finding his stuff in my things.”

“I’ll find it.” He pulled open a box. “You call the order in.” He tossed her his phone and started digging through the boxes.

Looking down at his phone, she felt her heart skip when she noticed the background image was of her painting, the one he’d stolen. It really was some of her best work.

She punched in the number for the local Chinese place and ordered her favorites, adding extra for Cole. As she placed the order, she walked out into the hallway. When she hung up, Cole’s hands wrapped around her waist, causing her to smile.

“What’s up there?” He nodded towards the stairs.

“My studio.” She turned and wrapped her arms around him.

“Can I…” He nudged.

She narrowed her eyes. “You aren’t going to steal another painting, are you?”

He chuckled. “Maybe.” He nudged again and they climbed the stairs.

When they arrived at the top, she opened the door and he stepped in. He was silent as he looked around the large room. Here was her absolute favorite spot in the house.

The low ceilings were painted a soft cream color. Since they were arched, no paintings hung on any of them. There were two large skylights, which allowed light in any time of the year.

The end wall was a wall of glass which overlooked her back yard. The room was big enough that along the other end wall she had built-in shelves holding most of her works. Still, there were stacks of paintings leaning against every empty spot.

Her large table desk stood in the middle of the room. On either side, there were easels with her current works in progress. Her desk was filled with paints, brushes, and everything else she used to create her art.

“Nice.” He looked around. She noticed that he wasn’t looking at the space, but at her paintings instead. She stood back, more nervous than she’d been at any showing she’d ever had.

---

Cole was amazed at her use of colors and scenes. He lost himself in each painting. He could hear the ocean in her beach scenes and smell the rain in the forest as it fell.

He moved over to a stack of some more contemporary pieces. Here, there were shapes, shadows, and motions instead of actual scenes.

“Well?” she said behind him.

He realized he hadn’t made a sound since walking into the room. Turning, he smiled.

“I was just calculating where I’d hang them all. Your style has grown so much.” He held up a piece in golds and silvers. “This would look amazing above your fireplace.”

She nodded. “I have a few places for each of these in mind, but I have to unpack all the boxes before I start putting holes in the walls.” She smiled.

Just then, they heard her doorbell ring. He reached for her hand and followed her downstairs. After paying for dinner, he sat beside her on the sofa and watched TV as they ate. She curled up next to him and pulled a blanket off the back of the sofa to cover them.

“This is nice.” She sighed.

“Yes. It is.” He thought about everything he’d gone through in the past few years and decided this was his favorite moment. He held her close and felt when she fell asleep in his arms.

A little over an hour later, he carried her up the stairs, laid her gently on the bed, and crawled in beside her.

He still suffered from insomnia but found himself easily drifting off, listening to her heart beat next to his.

When he woke, it was just before dawn. He heard his phone buzz and groaned slightly. Ashley shifted, wrapping her arms around him further until he was pinned down. Reaching over, he glanced at his phone and frowned at the number.

Gently pulling out of the hold, he rolled out of the bed and stepped out of the French doors onto the small balcony on the side of the house. He shut the door behind him, wishing he’d grabbed his shirt as he answered the phone.

“Yes?” he whispered.

“Your appointment to see Doctor Stiles is today at noon,” the automated voice said before the line went dead.

Damn. He looked down at his watch. He had hoped to have at least the entire day, if not the full month, off with Ashley. How was he going to make his excuses to her without tipping her off that he was going into work?

He knew that she’d gotten his hint that he had some time off, and he had hoped that it was true, since his last assignment had ended several weeks ago.

He felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise and quickly glanced around the quiet neighborhood. He could see a few homes from his view. Everything looked dark and still, and he berated himself for allowing his work to seep into the slice of heaven Ashley had built for herself.

Leaning against the railing he watched the sun rise, the light hitting North Table Mountain. The view here was amazing. He’d missed Colorado and wondered how much longer he could do what he did. How much longer would he want to?

Glancing over his shoulder, he smiled at the small bundle under the blankets. Being with Ashley had changed him. He had something to look forward to, to live for.

Stepping back inside, he crawled next to her and pulled her closer.

“You’re freezing,” she gasped.

“Sorry, I had a call.” He shifted, trying to get warm as she pushed him away.

Laughing, she tried to break free. “Talk about a rude awakening.” She shoved him back, her hair in her face. He reached over and brushed it aside as she blinked a few times to look at him.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

His eyebrows shot up. “Who says…” Her eyes narrowed. “I have an appointment today.”

She tilted her head, moving until she rested her head on her hands. “Okay,” she said slowly. “What kind of appointment?”

He shifted. “Just a… doctor’s.”

“Is something wrong?” She sat up slightly.

“No,” he answered quickly. “It’s… code,” he said softly.

“For?” She tucked her knees to her chest and waited.

“It means I have another mission.” He sat up beside her.

“You’re… leaving again?” She frowned, and it almost broke his heart seeing the sadness flood her eyes.

“Not necessarily.” He knew he was giving her false hope, but he needed it as much as she did.

“When will you be back?”

He shrugged. “I don’t… I’m not sure.” He sighed. “How about we grab some breakfast.”

“Do you have time?”

“Yeah, if we get going now.” He pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head.

“Will you call this time?” she asked, looking up at him.

“Yes,” he promised. Her eyes narrowed at him. “I promise.” He kissed her and knew as she responded to him that he would be late for his meeting.

When he parked the car in the parking garage at the downtown building, he was running five minutes behind.

He punched in the code to let himself into the secure building, checked with security, signed in, and then headed up to the fifteenth floor.

When he walked into the conference room, he wasn’t surprised that he was the only person there.

Sitting down, he pulled out his secure laptop, logged in, and waited.

Ten minutes later, the connection started.

“Morning, Miller.” The image of the man he knew only as RJ jumped up on his screen.

“Morning.” He waited.

“We have some disturbing news,” RJ said.

An hour later, he drove back to his parents’ place to pack. He was a little shocked when he walked in to find them home.

His father greeted him at the door. “So, you are home.” He shook his hand and gave him a manly half hug.

“Yup, not for long.” He frowned, trying to figure out how to convince them to go on another trip, and soon.

“Oh? Your mother will be disappointed to hear that.” His father turned towards the stairs. “Debbie, get down here and see your son before he leaves again.”

Moments later, his mother rushed down the stairs in one of her tennis outfits. She hadn’t changed at all. Both of his parents were still in great shape. Perhaps it was their healthy living or the fact that they were always on the go.

“Mom.” He hugged and kissed her.

“What’s this about you leaving already?” she asked.

“I ran into a snag. Looks like I’m needed back in Italy.”

“So soon?” His mother had the mother-pout down perfectly.

“Yes,” he lied. “When’s your next trip?” he asked, trying to hint to his father.

“Oh, we’re back for a month, then we’re off to Brazil,” she answered happily.

His eyes met his father’s. He hadn’t totally confided in his old man, but he was pretty sure one of the smartest men he’d ever met had caught on a long time ago.

“Honey,” his dad stepped in. “I know Kendra and Matt were talking about hitting Maui this weekend. I forgot to mention it to you, but I told them we’d tag along.”

“But, Nick, we just got back, and Cole is going to be here…”

“I’m heading out now,” he supplied.

“But you just got home,” his mother said again.

“Mom.” He wrapped his arms around her.

“Debbie, we know how busy his job keeps him. He’s young. He’ll be back before you know it.”

An hour later, he left his house, his backpack of belongings thrown over his shoulder. The car that he’d arranged to pick him up sat directly outside.

He kissed and hugged his parents and waved as he drove away. He pulled out his cell and for the next ten minutes tried to think of what to say to Ashley.

Finally, he texted her a simple message.

-Have to head out. I’ll call.

He wasn’t surprised when she responded almost immediately.

-You’d better.

He smiled and typed.

-I will.

Then, chuckling, he punched her number.