“Oh, my… heavens!”

“Cover your eyes, Mother.”

I woke to the creak of the door and Gus’s astonished voice. I threw the sheet over us and shielded Maggie with my body.

“Now I don’t know just what in damnation you think you’re doing,” he shot me a fierce look from under his bushy grey brows, “but I won’t have this under my roof… not for one more minute…”

“He’s my husband,” Maggie said gently, peeking out from under the sheet. “You must be Elsie’s husband.” She smiled beguilingly, appealing to the old woman. “This is my husband, Joe… He’s the man I was searching for…”

“Go back downstairs, Elsie,” he grumbled, giving her a gentle push. Gus cleared his throat awkwardly and averted his eyes politely. “Pardon, missus,” he apologized with a nod. “Mother told me you were callin’ out a name all night long.” He clucked his tongue and his eyes brightened. “Imagine that… The two of you windin’ up right here…”

He suddenly seemed to remember himself, and hurried to close the door. “Just came up to say the doctor’s here. Your friends, too. I’ll send them up, if you’re feelin’ strong enough.”

“No,” we said in unison. “I’ll be down shortly,” I added, as Gus closed the door.

“If that’s Dean downstairs…”

“Then he’ll be relieved to find you safe and sound,” I said, with more confidence than I felt. “He can’t possibly think the worst of the situation when he finds out what’s happened.”

“He will if he finds out everything that’s happened,” she said, biting her lip.

“Mmmm….,” I groaned, watching her. “That’s my job…”

I kissed her and took that swollen lip between my own teeth. The sheet fell away and I crushed her nipples into my chest. “I should go downstairs,” I said with difficulty.

“They’re waiting,” she agreed. “I could go with you…”

“It’s better if I go alone, Maggie. Especially if your brother’s here. There’s already a fucking hell of a lot for the two of us to work through.” I could hear voices coming from downstairs. “Let me talk to him…”

I moved to get out of bed and she pulled me back. “One more kiss,” she begged. “I feel like I only just got you back… I’m not ready to let go…”

I smiled and kissed her, pushing her body back down on the bed. I stretched my length over her naked body and felt her lush curves mold to fit me. She wrapped her arms and legs around me, holding me tight, and I kissed her, losing myself in the pure sweet pleasure of loving her.

Any other time, I would have heard the warning signs. I’d have heard the voices growing louder… and the footsteps on the stairs. There might have been enough time, if I hadn’t been lost in the energy building again between us. But I heard nothing but her voice, nothing but my name on her lips...until it was too late. The door flew open…

“...You fucking bastard…!” Dean stood in the open doorway, his face was red with fury.

“It isn’t what you think,” Maggie cried out, as he grabbed my bandaged arm, tearing the stitches underneath and half dragging me out of bed. Maggie scrambled to cover herself as Dean shot daggers with his eyes.

“I asked her to marry me, Dean. You have to know that I love her. I’d give my life for her…”

His fist shot out and caught me hard in the jaw. I stood naked and bleeding, but unwilling to strike back. He was my friend, and I understood his anger.

“The people downstairs said you’re already married,” he spat out. “How many more lies have you told, Joe? I trusted you to keep her safe, and I find you here… like this…

Get the fuck out of my sight,” he ground out. “So fucking help me… if you ever lay so much as a finger on Maggie again…”

“He saved my life, Dean,” Maggie said angrily, clutching the sheet up to her chin. “He asked me to marry him and I’m going to. He’s the only reason I’m alive right now… the Walker’s, too. Did you find them? Are they all right?”

“They’re fine,” he said through gritted teeth. “Get dressed, Maggie. The doctor is going to make sure you’re all right, too… then I’m taking you home.

You can find your own way back,” he said to me, gathering up my clothes from the floor and tossing them at me in a ball. “You fucking stay away from both of us,” he said, grabbing my blood-streaked arm and pulling me into the hallway. He closed the door against Maggie’s shrill objections. “Get the hell out of my sight.

I don’t ever want to lay eyes on you again.”