Gage woke slowly to sunlight warming his skin. It poured through the open curtains to gild the lovers entwined on the wide bed. He stretched, and his toes pushed at the sheets wadded at the end of the bed. He would have loved to do the same with his arms, but Sophie’s head rested on his shoulder, one thigh lay atop his, and her body was curved into his to snuggle close. He didn’t want to wake her just yet.

This was their first morning. The first time they’d wake together. The first time they’d make love without darkness to shadow their expressions. The first time light would illuminate their passion. He wanted to love her with his eyes wide open.

He lay there quietly listening to her breathing. She snored slightly, making a soft snuffling sound with each exhale.

Gage smiled, telling himself he would have to remember to tease her about that. He knew it would be fuel for many arguments to come. Oh, yeah, life with Sophie would not be dull.

She rolled to her back, and he took the opportunity to slide his arm out from beneath her. He let the pinpricks of sensation return before he turned on his side to watch her as she lay in slumber. Sophie slept in a sprawl, arms stretched above her head, legs parted.

She was beautiful in the soft morning light. The sun glinted on gold and copper strands that spread over her pillow in a golden cloud. Her lashes were tipped in the same pale shades. Her lips were slightly parted and plump—a little swollen from their rough use the evening before, he noted with satisfaction. They were magically talented lips.

Gage leaned closer and pressed a feather-light kiss to them. He raised himself on an elbow and continued his inspection. He noted for the first time that those lips were the same strawberry shade as the aureoles of her breasts. He wondered if the decorator’s color scheme continued further south and decided to explore.

---

Sophie dreamt of red, white and blue pennants waving in the breeze. She was poised to enter an arena, a blue robe with the American flag and a number pinned to the back was cinched loosely at her waist. She strode confidently down the long aisle to the roar of the crowd, past the judge’s table, and ducked beneath the ropes to enter the ring.

She found her corner, and Bryce was there to help her remove her robe. He massaged her shoulders and shouted last minute encouragement in her ear, before slapping her shoulders and pushing her to the center of the ring.

In the opposite corner, Gage was dressed in wrestler’s briefs. He paced the corner, his eyes studying her intently. He was looking for a weakness to breach.

Sophie stared back fearlessly. She was well prepared for this match.

A bell sounded, and the two opponents moved together, circling each other.

Gage lunged for her, grabbed her arms and pinned them to her sides.

Sophie placed a foot behind him, and she shoved her body hard against his. He fell to the mat, dragging her down on top of him. But he quickly stole the advantage, as he rolled, and lay his full weight on top of her while the referee began the count.

Gage’s face hovered above hers, and he leaned close so that she could hear his words above the shouts of the crowd, “I win!”

She smiled back at him and said, “No, I let you win.”

Leaning forward, she kissed him as the judges raised scorecards with perfect tens.

---

Sophie was smiling as she awoke.

Gage waited for the moment when she realized where she was, and what he was about to do. Her lashes fluttered, and her arms extended into the air, before falling limply to his shoulders. She drew her head back suddenly to stare up at him. “Good morning.”

He didn’t return the greeting, just continued to stare down at her. He felt her shift beneath him, her legs widening to make more room for him to settle against her, her arms tightened slightly around his shoulders. He felt the tips of her breast pucker with each rise and fall of her chest against his. Good, she was awake. Finally.

He rolled away from her then sat back on his heels beside her.

She began to follow him up, but he pushed her shoulders gently back to the bed. He bent over her, with hands braced at either side of her head and kissed her. It was no passionate joining of tongues, but an openmouthed gliding of wet lips.

He slid to her neck, and sucked at the tender skin there, branding her, before continuing downward. Small hands guided him to claim a pebbled nipple. He drew it past his teeth, biting gently, while his tongue slid back and forth across it. He drew back and blew against it, and she nearly pulled out his hair in her eagerness for him to find the other.

Gage pulled her hands from behind his head and positioned himself between her legs.

She raised her knees eagerly and let them fall open in invitation.

He denied her, sitting back on his heels once more. He placed a large hand on her pale belly and kneaded it gently, the other hand threading its way into the nest of golden brown curls between her legs to glide against the slick flesh of her opening.

She moaned, and her head rolled from side to side upon her pillow.

He tested her with one finger, and she reared up against it with a gasp.

She was so wet, but he wanted more. He reached for the pillow beside hers, lifted her hips and slid it beneath her bottom, raising her closer to him. He brought his thumb to his mouth and wet it with his tongue, and watched as she licked her lips in response. He placed the thumb against the nubbin hidden in the curls and circled it slowly.

Sophie’s heels dug into the mattress, and she lifted herself closer to him. He leaned against her, gliding himself against her in imitation of the act they were both desperate to begin.

“Please, come inside me. Now,” she begged, her hands fisting in the sheets.

With a hand on each knee, he pushed gently to widen the space between her thighs and placed himself at her entrance. He dipped into her and then stopped.

Sophie bucked against him, urging him to complete the joining. Her face was flushed with passion, her legs trembling with exertion.

Patience at an end, he hooked his arms beneath her knees, lifted her hips off the pillow and slid fully inside her. He paused. “Look at us.”

They both looked as he moved in and out of her, faster and faster.

Her head fell back and she moaned, “Ohmigod...Ohmigod...” The contractions of her climax close around him. With a shout of triumph, he pumped harder once, twice, and a third time before his release washed over him.

He released her knees, and then, still joined and supporting the weight of his body over hers on trembling forearms, he kissed her deeply.

After he rolled to his back, Sophie laid her head on Gage’s chest. His stomach rumbled.

“Want me to cook breakfast?”

“No.” Realizing how abrupt he must have sounded, Gage softened his words with a smile. “No, please let me. I just happen to make the best omelets this side of the Pacific Ocean.”

---

Somewhat offended at his aversion to her cooking, Sophie felt compelled to defend herself. “I’m really not as bad a cook as your one experience has led you to believe. I’m quite good at such culinary delights as scrambled eggs and toast.”

His mouth curved. “I can see we’re going to have to assign chores according to our skills in this marriage. How about if you stick to your creative talents, and I’ll do all the cooking?”

“I can think of a few creative things I’d like to do right now.” Sophie walked her fingers up his chest to his lips, where he pulled one into his mouth and bit gently. “Ouch. I guess we better get breakfast for you before you turn cannibal.”

Sophie hopped out of the bed and stood naked, looking around the room for something to wear. Her black dress lay in a crumpled wad on the floor and didn’t seem appropriate in the bright morning light.

“Look in the second drawer of my dresser. You’ll find some pajamas. Help yourself.”

Gage rolled out of the bed and walked up behind her as she rummaged through the drawer and produced a set of men’s striped pajamas.

Sophie held them up. “These look brand new.”

“I got them as a gift from my mother a couple of years ago. I just didn’t have the heart to tell her I sleep in the nude.”

“That’s probably not something I would share with my mother either. You want half?” Sophie held out the bottoms.

Sophie slipped the shirt over her arms and shoulders and fastened the buttons.

Gage pulled the pants up to his waist, tying the drawstring to keep them from slipping down again.

It amazed Sophie how much the simple act of Gage putting his clothes on excited her as much as when he took them off.

She had to shake away the urge to skip breakfast and go back to bed. Instead, she led the way into the kitchen.

Gage went about the task of preparing their breakfast. Sophie helped by chopping vegetables to go into the omelets, setting the table and pouring juice in the glasses.

One by one, Gage carried the frying pan to the table and slid their fluffy yellow omelets onto the plates. When he was done, he set the pan in the sink, took his seat beside her at the table and dug in.

“I suppose our engagement won’t be much of a surprise to the unit, will it?” Sophie said, between bites of the most delicious omelet she’d ever had the pleasure of eating.

“Nope. I’ve already asked the first sergeant and Sergeant Schott to be groomsmen, since they think it was all their idea.”

She sighed. “I guess you also realize we can no longer be in the same unit.”

“Yep. I’ll put in for a transfer next week.”

“I’ve been thinking about that, Gage.” Sophie paused and looked away. “I’ve been with that unit for the last three years. It’s time for me to move on. You, on the other hand, just took command of the company and need to see it through, not only for the unit, but also for your career in the Army National Guard.” She paused before locking her gaze with his. “Besides, I already had the first sergeant put in my paperwork for a transfer.”

“You did what?” he thundered. “Don’t you think you ought to check with me before you do things like that?”

Her eyebrows rose. “Now, don’t go getting all bossy with me, mister. I have a brain of my own and don’t you forget it!”

They stared at each other across the table, leaning forward, halfway out of their chairs. She realized how silly they were being, and he must have as well, because he sat back down at the same time as she did. They laughed.

“Okay, okay,” Gage conceded. “I know you have a brain of your own. I would just like to know what you’re up to. I don’t want you making all the sacrifices in this relationship.”

“Don’t worry. I’m sure there will be many more to come.”

Gage’s smile turned serious. “Sophie, are you sure you can put up with me? I know how you feel about men always trying to take charge of your life. I can’t promise I’ll always act the way you want me to, but I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

She blinked to clear the moisture filling her eyes. “Gage, I resisted you at first, because you reminded me of my dad and the way he always assumed control from my mother. But, I had an enlightening weekend with them, and they set me straight. Apparently, they do a lot of sharing of the decision-making—only I never saw that. I guess, as a teenager, I chose not to.”

Sophie stood and walked around the table to sit in his lap. She placed her hands on either side of his face and looked deep into his eyes. “I love you, big guy, and I want to spend the rest of my life sharing with you.”

They shared a deep and passionate kiss. Then, Sophie raised her head as if she had just remembered something. “Speaking of sharing...what are we going to do about Cujo?”

“Cujo? What’s wrong with Cujo?”

“Well, I can’t expect you to kick Rambo out of your life to make room for my cat, but he’s my baby. I love that cat. I don’t know what I’d do without him.”

“I never thought of myself as a cat person, but the pest has grown on me. Besides, come with me for a second.”

He set her off his lap and on her feet, took her hand and led her to the window overlooking the back porch and yard.

“I don’t think we have a problem with Cujo and Rambo. Seems like they have it all figured out.” Gage pointed to where Rambo lay on his side on the deck, his eyes closed, completely relaxed. Sitting on his haunches in front of Rambo was Cujo. His paws were working in a slow patting motion on Rambo’s soft belly.

Gage chuckled. “As long as that cat provides Rambo with a good belly massage every once in a while, they’ll be friends for life.”

Sophie and Gage stood with their arms around each other, staring out the window, completely at peace.

As if on cue, the front door opened and slammed closed.

“Gage. Sophie. Where the hell are you? I need to talk to you.”

---

A smile stretched Gage’s lips. “Ah, your brother’s here.”

Sophie nodded and turned to shout, “We’re in the den.”

Bryce entered the den and flung himself onto the couch. His face looked haggard, and his hair stood on end as if he had run his fingers through it a hundred times. “Gage, you gotta tell me.”

“Gotta tell you what?” Gage said.

Bryce glanced up, his eyes beseeching. “Who’s the mystery woman?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Feigning innocence, Gage couldn’t resist a smile.

“Oh, don’t give me that innocent act. You know the woman I’m talking about. The one with the black hair, blue eyes and drop-dead gorgeous body.” Bryce leaned forward, his gaze boring into Gage’s. “Who is she? I’ve got to know. You have to tell me.”

“Bryce, I really can’t say. I only met her in the hotel bar three days ago.”

Sophie dropped her arm from around his waist and planted her hands on her hips, ready for a battle.

“You met a woman in a bar?”

“But Gage, you must at least know her name,” Bryce cried, completely cutting Sophie out of the conversation.

Gage shook his head. “Bryce, I’m really bad with names. I can never seem to remember them, when I need to.”

Bryce leapt to his feet and paced the floor. “Of all the times to forget. The one time in my life, I find a woman so perfect she makes me crazy, and you can’t remember her name.”

Gage shrugged. “Sorry, pal.”

“Gage, you’re seriously twisted. This is some cruel, sick thing you’ve done. Sophie, you really shouldn’t hang out with this guy. This is a really cruel, man.” He shook his head and walked out of the room and out the front door.

“What woman?” Sophie asked again.

“The woman I had deliver Bryce’s comeuppance.”

“What?”

“I figured it was time Bryce got a taste of his own prankster medicine.”

“How’s that?”

“I had a woman come on to him in the bar last night and lead him to think that she wanted to sleep with him. At the last minute, she walked out, leaving him high and dry and apparently very frustrated.”

Sophie smiled and then broke into laughter. “Perfect. He so deserved it after all the pranks he pulled on us. But no dodging the issue. What woman?”

Gage grinned. “My cousin, Fiona. She’s an actress. She did it as a favor to me.”

“So how long are you going to let him suffer?”

“A couple of weeks, at least.”

“That’s pretty harsh, don’t you think?”

“It will do him some good, teach him a little humility. And besides...” Gage gathered Sophie into his arms, his lips hovering over hers, “...all’s fair in love and war.”