Okay, perhaps he shouldn’t be yelling at her. But when he’d realized she wasn’t dead, courtesy of a phone call from Jasmine saying, “Joel isn’t dead. Protect my sister,” he’d gone through several layers of emotion.

The first, anger. How fucking dare Annie let him think she’d died?

The second. Relief. She wasn’t dead.

The third, a cold fear when he realized she might die before he could reach her.

He held her away from him and noted her ashen expression, her wide eyes, her trembling lips.

The red marks on her neck that would blossom into some epic bruises.

She tried to speak; it emerged as a hoarse croak. “I’m sorry.”

His turn to reply. He’d prepared all kinds of diatribes during his frantic speeding to get to her in time.

He had planned to give her hell. To punish her for hurting him.

Now, faced with her, the relief washed away his anger and, in its place, aching need to hold her again.

“I missed you,” was his admission.

“Me too,” she whispered, her eyes brimming with tears.

And with those two words, he didn’t care that she’d run. He forgot everything but how happy he was to see her again.

He opened his arms, and she launched herself at him. He caught her, his arms wrapping tightly around her.

I am never letting you go. Words obviously spoken aloud because she replied, “Okay.”

Then there were no words to say, just frantic kisses as he lifted and carried her to the bedroom, but they didn’t make it to a bed. He kissed her, his lips and tongue frantic with need.

His passion was returned. She clung to him, hands pulling at his shirt, her mouth sucking hungrily at his tongue.

At his age, he should have had more restraint, more finesse. But he’d found her again. His precious Annie, and he didn’t want to wait. He shoved at her yoga pants, pushing them down far enough that they slid the rest of the way and she could step out of them.

Apparently, she understood his need, felt it, too. Without being asked, she turned away from him and thrust out her ass, an invitation he couldn’t ignore.

He fumbled, clumsy in that moment as he tried to free himself from his damned pants.

Fuck wasting time completely pulling them off. She waggled her ass at him, and he lost his mind. He poked her with his erection, groaned as she pushed back, and spooned her ass against his groin.

“Now,” she said in a husky murmur.

Yes, now. He nudged her thighs apart as Annique braced her palms on the wall.

The invitation was there. But he still wanted to be sure she was ready for him. Reaper reached between her thighs and ran his fingers over her slick cleft.

So wet and hot for him. He grabbed hold of his shaft and nudged the head against her nether lips, spreading them and pushing into her. He sucked in a breath as he slid into her molten sheath, a firm, snug grip that had her moaning.

He pushed deeper until he was fully sheathed, her sex pulsing all around him. Then he began to move, thrusting his hard length in and out of her. Holding tightly to her hips so as not to lose his rhythm.

When she began to mewl and cry out in pleasure, he pounded faster, harder. Each stroke a deep thrust that hit her sweet spot and caused her to cry out as her breath quickened.

He was panting himself as he pumped her faster, and faster. He was close, so close, which was why he reached under her body and fingered her clit.

Her entire body tensed around him, and a hoarse cry was torn from her as her climax hit hard and fast. It drew his own pleasure.

He uttered his own harsh cry as he spilled his seed deeply inside her.

Slowly, their shudders eased. Their bodies cooled, and he slipped from her body with reluctance. He turned her so that he could hug her against him.

“I missed you,” he said. “Missed you so damned much.”

“Me too.”

He rubbed his face in her hair, inhaling her fragrance, enjoying the silken touch of it. “I don’t ever want to lose you again.”

“How about I promise to never leave as your Valentines Day’s gift,” she murmured, her voice husky.

Holy shit. It was Valentine’s Day, and he’d not brought a gift. He only had a sudden idea. “Marry me.”

She stiffened against him, and he could have groaned. Way to jump the gun.

But I’m getting too old to play games and wait.

She laughed and peppered him with kisses as she said, “Yes. Yes.” Over and over again.

To seal the deal, they made love again, and again until she fell asleep with a smile on her lips.

A smile I put there. He’d do his best to ensure she always wore a happy face.

Which meant taking care of business.

That night, while she slumbered, he disposed of the body they’d left lying in her living room. This time, Joel wouldn’t be coming back to haunt her.

Reaper didn’t have far to go. Annie had chosen to live on the East Coast, which made things so easy. Only a short drive to dump the corpse off a cliff.

The ocean washed the body away. The fish would dine on it before it surfaced to shore again, hiding any evidence of foul play.

Just another tourist dead in paradise.

When Reaper returned, he crawled into bed beside Annie. Without waking, she turned into him and snuggled.

She murmured, “I love you.”

So do I, Annie, until death do us part.