Crystal held in a groan. The last person she wanted to see right now was Joe. Especially when he had an armful of flowers in his hands.

Standing up, she set her cellphone down and picked up her shirt and pulled it over her head.

“Joe, is there something I can help you with?”

“I… thought we’d finish that conversation.” His eyes were shooting daggers towards Rory. “About taking this to the next level.” Joe’s chin rose slightly.

“This?” she asked, resting a hand on Rory’s arm to assure him.

“Sure.” Joe stepped into the room further.

“There is no this.” She waited. “There hasn’t been for almost a full year.”

“But…” He blinked and looked towards Rory again. “Can we talk in private?”

“No,” she said quickly. “Nor do you have permission to enter my home without notifying me.” She moved to walk towards the door, but Rory beat her to it.

“I’ll show him the way out.” Rory took the skinnier man’s arm and tugged him towards the front.

She wanted to argue, but seeing the look on Joe’s face as Rory dragged him from the room was priceless.

When Rory came back, there was a crease between his eyebrows as he frowned at her. “You have to start locking your doors.” He crossed his arms over her chest.

She couldn’t help it, she laughed. Not a small chuckle, but a full-blown laugh.

He looked so serious. So… dangerous. So… manly. She wanted nothing more than to finish what they had started earlier, but she knew that moment had passed.

Walking over to him, she rested her hands on his arms. “I’ll consider it.” She reached up on her toes and placed a quick kiss on his lips. “Now, why don’t you help me make a batch of jelly. I purchased the berries today and don’t want them to go to waste.”

“What kind of berries, and where did you get them at this time of year?” he asked, following her into the kitchen.

“Blueberries. They arrived from South America.” She glanced over her shoulder. “If we’re lucky, there’ll be some left over for a pie for tomorrow night.”

“Are we going to talk about that?” He motioned towards the front of the house.

“What would you like to know?” she said as she got everything out to start the process.

“He is your ex?” he asked, leaning against the countertop.

“Yes,” she said, without looking up.

“He’s half your age.”

She glanced up and smiled. “Tell me you’ve never dated someone younger than you.” She waited until she saw the truth in his eyes, then turned back to finding the big pot she used to boil the fruit in.

“When did you break it off with him?” he asked after she set the pan on the stove.

“January.” She moved to the pantry and pulled out the box of berries she’d brought home earlier that day while Rory had been busy working on her computer. She doubted he’d even noticed she’d been gone for more than an hour, since he hadn’t looked up from the computer screen when she’d left or returned. “What about you?” She set the berries down and turned to him.

“I haven’t broken up with Joe.” He smiled as he grabbed a berry and plopped it in his mouth.

She chuckled. “When was the last date you went out on?”

He reached for another berry, but the look she gave him had his hand pausing in midair, then returning to his side. “Over six months ago. I’ve been kind of busy since then.”

Just then, his phone chimed. He frowned as he looked down at the screen. “I’m going to have to take a rain check on helping out. My secretary, Gloria, has a fire she needs me to put out.” He sighed.

“I hope it’s nothing major.” She nodded to the phone.

“The usual.”

“Go, I’ve got this.” She smiled at him and then, before he left, filled a small cup with the berries and handed them to him.

As soon as she was alone in the kitchen, she dialed Serenity’s number.

“Hi, Mom.” Her daughter sounded out of breath.

“Hi, sweetie, how are my girls tonight?”

A little over an hour later, she had one batch of jelly done along with two pies and breakfast rolls that would be ready for the oven first thing in the morning, and she felt steadier. She’d chatted with Serenity on Skype while she’d moved around the kitchen.

She had finished cleaning up and wondered if Rory was still working. Instead of heading upstairs, she stepped out the back door and made her way to her art studio.

It was just past nine o’clock, but she was still revved up. She felt the need to paint.

Picking a large canvas, she pulled out the colors she desired and put on the apron Serenity had bought her years ago. The Wonder Woman symbol was long covered up with paint, but it was still her favorite apron to wear while painting.

She lost track of time when she worked, mixing colors, letting them flow on the canvas, showing everything she’d been feeling for the past few days.

When she finally wiped her hands and stood back, she was pleased with her creation.

When a slow clap started behind her, she jumped.

“Sorry.” Rory smiled over at her. “I thought you heard me come in. I saw the light from my room.” He took a step closer. Clearly, he’d been there for some time, and Crystal realized just how into her work she’d been.

“I guess I got lost in my work.” She shifted so he could get a better look.

“It’s amazing. I’ve always wondered what an artist’s process was.” He stopped next to her, his eyes glued to the fresh paint. “It reminds me of Christmas.” He smiled.

She tilted her head and nodded. “The smell of blueberry pies always reminds me of this time of year. My grandmother used to bake them for the holidays. They were my grandfather’s favorite.”

Rory crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s perfect.” He turned to her.

She smiled. “Thank you.”

He moved closer to her, his hands going to her shoulders.

“You’ll get paint on your shirt.” She nodded to the shirt. She could tell he’d showered, and he was wearing worn jeans and a white T-shirt.

“I’ll get another one.” He moved again until their bodies collided. When his lips touched hers, she knew this time, there wouldn’t be any stopping.

His hands moved over her and suddenly, the apron fell to the floor, along with her clothes.

When he laid her down on the long sofa that sat under the wide windows, she was completely naked. She’d managed to remove his shirt and unbuckle his jeans, but other than that, she’d been too busy enjoying the feeling of his hands and his mouth on her skin.

“I…” He broke off, his breath hot on her skin. “I didn’t bring anything.” He’d stilled, his weight holding her hostage against the soft cushions.

“Drawer.” She motioned to the small end table next to the sofa.

He looked down at her. “Do you always have condoms handy?”

Instead of answering, she pulled on his hair until his lips covered hers once again.

* * *

Rory’s control was quickly slipping. Just looking down at her soft body underneath his was making it slip even more. She was more beautiful than he could have imagined.

Her nails scraped down his sides until she was tugging on his jeans. He allowed her to slide them off his hips as he toed off his shoes.

When he covered her again, it was pure heaven feeling her skin against his. She wrapped her legs around his hips as he slid into her. Twin moans echoed in the room.

“Rory,” she sighed as he began to move.

“Hold onto me,” he said into her hair. She smelled of blueberries and paint. The mixture was oddly appealing. He could smell her soft scent just below the other stronger smells and inhaled deeply as she moved underneath him.

Her nails dug into his hips as they moved as one. Somehow, they had rolled on the sofa until she was above him. When she leaned back, her long hair fell over her shoulders as she continued to move over him.

Her hands rested lightly on his chest as she swayed her hips back and forth. Her eyes were glued to his as a smile slowly spread on her lips. She looked like she was enjoying herself so much that he let her continue to be in charge. She closed her eyes and moaned when his fingers dug into her soft hips.

“More,” he growled out, demanding more of her. His hands moved her further as her body began to rock harder. Her hands traveled up her own body and rose above her head until she was reaching high above her. Then, in a quick motion, she fell forward, taking his hands with her own, locking their fingers. She had him trapped underneath her, and he felt himself building faster and harder than he ever had before.

“Crystal.” Her name came out as a warning, causing her to laugh and move faster.

“Let go,” she begged. “Just let… go.”

His hips jerked as his eyes slammed closed. For the first time in his life, he did just that. He completely let go of everything. All the years of pent-up emotions, feelings of abandonment, fear, joy, love, everything. In his mind, he saw only light and freedom.

Everything he’d ever desired in his life was right there, in her arms.