He smiled. “The orgasms are amazing, but it’s more than that for me.”

“More?”

He ran a finger along her jaw, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “My unit’s being sent out, Piper.”

Her heart seized. “Where? For how long?”

He kept his gaze on hers. “Until the job is done. Word is maybe a week, maybe more.”

He hadn’t said where, and she understood that he couldn’t. “When do you leave?”

“Eighteen hundred.”

“Tonight?” she squeaked.

“Yes.”

She nodded, trying to emulate his quiet calm. This was what he did, put life and limb on the line to protect and serve. And if he could do so with such courage and bravery, then she could do her best to give him the same. “And after? Your leave from the DEA might be over by then. Will you go directly back to the East Coast?”

“If I have to. But it won’t be to stay.” He paused. “After losing Rowan, I realized something. I’ve moved every year or two for the Coast Guard, but I don’t want that anymore. I want to settle down. I want”—he gestured between them—“this to be more.”

There went her heart again. “It was never meant to be more. You know that.”

“I do. What I don’t know is if you still feel that way now.”

She closed her eyes and drew a deep breath. “I feel things I didn’t want to feel.”

He pulled her into him, entangled their legs. “Piper. Look at me.”

She opened her eyes and met his. “There’s a lot of things I don’t know about those feelings,” she whispered.

“Can you tell me what you do know?”

“I know I want you.”

“You’ve had me. Only a few hours ago, in fact,” he murmured on a small smile. “I’m sleeping in the wet spot. And you know what I mean.”

Did she? The kick of her heart against her ribs certainly suggested she did, that she knew exactly what he wanted to hear. He wanted more. And he wanted to know if she did too. “And if your transfer doesn’t come through?”

“Geography isn’t a hurdle. Not in my book. I can always leave the DEA and find something here. But I’m pretty sure they’ll transfer me.”

“You’ve heard from them then?” she asked.

“Not yet, but they said they intended to keep me, however they could. As for the Coast Guard, I was active duty for twelve years, and have two in the Reserve. I’ll be able to retire in two years.” He gave a small, dry smile. “Although I can’t tell if you’re more worried about my transfer not coming through, or that it will.”