The meal was the best she’d eaten in a long while. Even though the food was just a simple broccoli and cauliflower casserole, she devoured her dinner like it was the most delicious of gourmet feasts.

She knew her enjoyment had more to do with the man she dined with than the taste of the food. Things felt right between them. There were still things to discuss, problems to solve, but for right now, she reveled in being with Grey once again. No secrets, no evasions.

They talked about nonconsequential things, nothing heavy or business related. He told her about the theater and what he had done to renovate it.

“But why did you buy it? I thought you were interested in turning that Victorian house you liked into a B&B.”

His eyes glinted with laughter. “And that’s exactly what I wanted you to think.”

“But why?”

“I wanted to give it to you as a gift.”

Her throat clogged, and unexpected tears burned her eyes. He had never given her anything like that. Jewelry, a first-edition book by a favorite author, a painting or work of art she had admired. He had occasionally gone whimsical and surprised her with something frivolous and silly. But this? This was beyond anything he had ever done.

“You had me completely fooled.”

“The biggest problem was keeping it out of the news until I could get it finished. I’m sure the workmen thought I was the most eccentric of businessmen, since I asked them to only enter through the back and requested they not discuss the project with anyone.”

Their projects each year had been one of their joys. She’d driven by the park they’d renovated on the way to her secret visit to Kennedy and had loved seeing children running and playing in an area that was once a mass of weeds and broken-down swings.

“I can’t wait to explore it.”

“I have a confession.”

“What’s that?”

“When we were walking through it that first time, I had my phone in my pocket recording the ideas you threw out. I wanted to get it as close to your vision of it as possible.”

Touched and overwhelmed, she reached up and grabbed his face for a quick kiss. “Thank you, Grey.”

“You’re welcome.” He glanced at her plate. “Finished?”

She nodded and picked up her empty plate. They carried their dishes to the kitchen and worked together to clean and straighten up. The coffee set for an early rising tomorrow, Grey held out his hand to her. She went into his arms, pressed her face against his chest.

“I can hardly believe we’re here, together again. I never thought it would happen.”

He squeezed her tight, dropping a kiss to the top of her head. “Nothing’s going to pull us apart this time, I promise you that. Whatever troubles we face, we face together. No more secret missions, no more hiding. No more running. Understood?”

“Yes.” She smiled up at him. “I love when you get all autocratic.”

“I thought that was how I was most of the time.”

“It is.”

As far as she could remember, she had never told anyone that she loved them. She would tell Grey that she loved the things he did to her, the way he did something, but she never used those words in relation to how she felt about him. He hadn’t either. Despite that, she felt his devotion, and she knew, without the words, how very much he cared. Could she take that last step and tell him what was in her heart? Were the words really necessary? Didn’t he already know on some level? What if he didn’t say them back? What if—

He must have felt her tension and uncertainty. “Slow and easy, sweetheart,” he said softly. “It’s just us. Grey and Irelyn, together again. Nothing hard about that.”

She moved sensuously against his obvious arousal. “I have to disagree about that. Very hard indeed.”

Issuing a sound between a laugh and a groan, Grey covered her mouth with his, and the world and all its problems fell away. Strong arms gathered her closer, and she lost herself in his taste, his passion, his need. This was the dream she often had about him. When she was in bed, alone, missing him so much her heart literally ached and her body felt so cold, yet so needy.

This was everything she craved, and more. This was Grey, wanting her, needing her. The heat from his hard body warmed her, his thick arousal pressing against her caused her heart to flutter. She felt empty and needed this man to fill her.

Clothes fell at their feet, and she didn’t bother to notice if they were hers or his. She knew only that she wanted both of them naked and as close as two people could get. Grey’s hands, rough and gentle at once, were roaming over her, leaving a trail of fire. His mouth continued to devour hers, and the slow burn of arousal began to flame out of control.

“Bed?” she gasped against his mouth.

“Don’t think I can make it that far.”

“Sofa… countertop. Floor.” Laughing with sheer joy, she wrapped her arms around him, and then jumping a bit, she wrapped long legs around his waist. “I don’t care where. I just need—” She broke off on a gasp as Grey entered her with one swift, hard thrust.

She sighed her contentment. “Yes. Exactly that.”

Jaw clenched, his entire body rigid, Grey took two steps forward until he reached a counter. Cupping her ass slightly, he lifted her until she was at the exact level he needed. Then he could no longer hold on. She was all hot, sensual woman, and she was his. It had been so damn long since he’d felt anything this good, this right.

“Hold on. Okay?”

“Yes. All right.”

Leaning her back against the counter, Grey slid out of her, groaning in ecstasy, and then plunged back in to the hilt. Irelyn’s bare heels dug into his hips, urging him deeper. As he gave her hard, short thrusts, maximizing the pleasure, his mouth devoured her luscious breasts, suckling, licking.

Tension zipped up his spine. Dammit, not yet.

“Grey. Grey. Grey.”

Her soft, lyrical litany of his name was his undoing. Unable to hold back, he pistoned into her, heat consuming, overwhelming, and then, with one last hard thrust, he growled her name as he exploded.

Holding her close, he felt her spasm around him, and he could barely keep himself from thrusting into her again. It’d been too damn long.

“Let’s find a softer place for the next round.”

“Next round? Oh, Justice, you are so the romantic.”

“Ha. Give me about five more hours inside that beautiful body, and I might be able to squeeze out some romance. Right now, I feel like an animal in heat.”

“Five hours, hmm?”

“Hours, days,” he muttered against her neck. “I never want to let you go.”

Pulling out of her was impossible. “Hang on.” With that, he gathered her to him and headed out of the room and up the stairs. Since she nibbled on his ears and whispered hot, sexy little suggestions as he carried her, he figured she didn’t mind his barnyard references.

Striding into the bedroom, he took her down to the bed and immediately began thrusting again. She was right there with him, taking him deep, urging him on with her hands, her words. He lost himself inside the only woman he could ever want or need in his life.

She was his Irelyn, now and forever.

Hours later, she woke exhausted, sated, and wanting more. Yes, she was sore. Grey had not been gentle, but that wasn’t what she had needed. They had renewed a physical connection in the most elemental way possible. It had been raw, earthy, and absolutely perfect.

She smiled as she remembered some of his mutterings. Grey was the most articulate person she knew, but when it came to their lovemaking, he could make a caveman sound literate. And she loved every single utterance. The most controlled man in the world lost his head when she was in his arms. How could she not love that?

“Are you still breathing?” he asked in a gruff voice.

“Barely. How about you?”

“I’m considering it. Guess it’s been a while for both of us.”

Rolling over, she propped her chin on his chest. “You know what they say, abstinence makes everything harder.”

“I think you mean absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

She took him in her hand, caressed him till she felt that hardness begin to return. “I like my version better.”

He hissed a soft sigh and arched his back. “Yeah, I see what you mean.”

“I’m glad you missed me.”

“You’ll never know how much.”

“Try me.”

“I slept with one of your nightgowns beside me.”

A wave of tenderness swept through her at his admission. Grey could often be romantic, but rarely was he sentimental. To have him admit something so mushy was so out of character.

“Did it help?”

“Hell no. I woke up craving you even more.”

Her hand continued its caresses up and down his length. “How can I make it up to you?”

“You’ve made a good start.”

“Let me see if I can help things along.” She went to her knees and peppered kisses on his chest, whirling her tongue around a hard, male nipple. With each lick of her tongue or touch of her hand, his body went stiller, stiffer. Smiling at the effect she was having on him, she continued kissing down his body, stopping on occasion to lick at a spot, nibble another. By the time she reached the hard, male part of him, he was whispering curses, along with her name, and, if she wasn’t mistaken, a few hallelujahs, too.

Having set the course and knowing torturing him would only mean torture for her, too, she delayed her play no longer. Leaning over him, she took him deep into her mouth, sucking hard.

With a harsh curse, Grey arched up, but Irelyn held him down and gave him her full attention. She loved his taste, his scent. She loved that this very male part of him had been inside her, had given her the most glorious pleasure imaginable. She loved that she could reduce this strong, beautiful man to mutters, grunts, and growls.

When she knew neither of them could handle another minute apart, she released him. Straddling his hips, she took his length into her hand and slid him inside her. Though darkness surrounded them, the lamp in the hallway gave enough light to see his beautiful face, the glittering of those cobalt-blue eyes, gleaming with heat, need.

She gasped when he grabbed her hips and held her like that. They stared at each other, connected, their bond both physical and spiritual. He was her Grey, she was his Irelyn. Everything they were, all that they were, was in their touch, their locked gazes, his body within hers.

And then everything accumulated into a massive rolling wave of ecstasy. Irelyn closed her eyes as she plunged into the deepest ocean and then was flung heavenward into the stars.