My facial expression goes from stunned to elated, smiling from ear to ear, in a split second. I jump out of my seat and into his arms, like I’d never left their warmth. “I can’t believe it’s really you.” My lips go to his without thinking, then I remember Pim telling me he was married. I quickly draw back and touch my mouth with my hand.

“I take it you two know one another,” Dr. Smith says. “You never mentioned that, Ashe.”

“If she knew I was here, she might not have come.” His green eyes are piercing through mine.

Dr. Smith clears his throat in the moment of silence. “How about I give you two a moment alone.”

Neither one of us argue with him, we just continue staring. The door creaks closed behind us.

“Have you been here the entire time?” I ask, almost in a whisper.

“Since the day I left New York.”

“Dr. Lucifer, huh?” I chuckle. I run my hand down his arm and my fingers wrap with his until I feel the metal object on his finger. I let go and take a step back. “Pim told me you were married.”

He lifts his hand and looks at the ring. Then he walks by me and sits on the edge of the desk. “I wear it so the women here will leave me alone. Cute young nurses and doctors come through here all the time. A lot of them are lonely and want companionship while they’re working here.”

“You only love one woman,” I whisper the words Pim included in his extended monologue.

“That part is true.” He scoots off the desk and walks around to sit in Dr. Smith’s chair. “How is Wren?” He folds his hands in his lap.

I laugh and walk around to his side of the desk. His eyes never leave me. “Married.”

He glances down at my left hand, then takes it in his, rubbing the spot where a wedding band should sit.

“Just not to me.”

He stands and pushes his nose to my cheek. “Did he hurt you?”

My hand moves between us, stopping on his chest, and I push him. “No, he didn’t hurt me. You did when you left me.”

“You know why I left,” He moves back toward me.

“I tried to tell you that I didn’t love Wren the way I loved you and I never would.” I walk back around to the other side of the desk.

“Who did he marry?”

“Remember Traci?”

“From the wreckage in the Pentagon?”

“Yep, that one.”

He’s back on my side. “How did that happen?”

“Does it really matter? You left.”

“I wanted you to have a life with someone that didn’t rely on drugs to keep them sane.” A familiar tingling sensation radiates from where his hands rest on my hips.

“You are sane, Ashe. It took me awhile to realize I wanted you. All of you. The good, the bad, and the fucked parts. But you left before I got the chance to tell you.” He’s so close I can feel his breath flow against my skin.

“I didn’t want to break your heart again, doll.”

“I broke your heart too. I think our hearts will never mend until we’re back together.” My hand lays on his bearded cheek.

“You still want that after all this time?”

“I’ve never wanted anything else.” His mouth covers mine like a hungered man. Our tongues unite, sending a desperate need down my body. He walks me backward until my back is against a wooden pole.

“I love you, Aedon. I’ve always loved you,” he says between devouring kisses. He suddenly stops and steps back. His chest is heaving as much as mine.

“What is it?” My hand covers his heart.

“You couldn’t handle me being off my meds.”

“Are you still taking them?”

“Yes, but every couple of months I go off them. Dr. Smith monitors me and gets me back on track. I need those moments in my life. It’s the only time I ever feel free.”

“I want you to have whatever you need.”

He takes my face in his hands. “I need you, doll, as much as I need that freedom. I’ve ached for you since the day I left you standing in the airport wearing my t-shirt. Walking away from you was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

“Then don’t ever do it again.” This time I finally quench my thirst for him and I plan on never stopping. “Where is your hut?”

He takes my hand and leads me outside through the village until we come to a large green tent that I didn’t notice before. He pulls back the opening and yanks me inside. His mouth and hands are back on me as he walks me toward the bed. I lift my arms and he pulls my top off. I claw at his shirt, wanting my hands on his skin. While he takes it off, I remove the rest of my clothing.

“God, you’re as beautiful as I remember.” His pants come flying off along with his boxers. He picks me up and lays me on his bed, climbing on top of me and pressing his hips into mine. “I’m never letting you out of my sight again.”

“Does that mean we are staying in this position the rest of our lives?”

“If that’s what it takes, I’ll gladly make the sacrifice to stay pressed against your naked body forever.”