“You jumped into the Pacific Ocean in the middle of a violent storm?” Never in his wildest dreams would he have believed this woman had deliberately gone into the sea. “My God, what courage! And you survived.”

She sniffled, wiped her nose on the back of her hand and peered up at him with big, sad eyes of brown and blue. “You said I died.”

“You revived.” Right. Sure. That was obvious.

“The more I recall, the more solid I feel, as if I’m reassembling the body I have always been.”

He handed her the box of tissues from the table.

She used one to dab her eyes and blow her nose. “Of course, it was you who brought me back to life.”

“Rune is right. I was meant to find you.” Adam put his arm around her, hugged her, and somehow...somehow their lips met. They kissed. He brushed the tears off her face. And they kissed.

The best kiss he’d ever received. Ever enjoyed. Ever... They slid off the couch onto the floor. The floor was the best he’d ever kissed on. He climbed on top of Elle and kissed her. That body was the best he’d ever kissed on. Worshipped on. Welcomed into the exploration of his own body.

Her voice murmured in his ear. “Adam, maybe it’s been a while for you. But this works better if you don’t wear your boxers.”

She was tugging at his pants.

Right. Get rid of them.

And slide her dress up her leg, up her thigh, to her hip, grope for her panties to bring them down...

“Aha!” It was not so much an exclamation of surprise as satisfaction. No wonder he hadn’t been able to discern panty lines. She wasn’t wearing panties.

She laughed throatily, sat up and pulled her dress over her head.

No bra. No panties.

No restraint.

Well. Except for the one. Groping in the end-table drawer, he found the condom he had so hopefully stashed there and pulled it on.

Elle chuckled. “Always prepared.”

“Always.” He flipped her onto her back. “Let me love you. Let me taste you.” He was babbling.

She was miles ahead of him. She straddled him, guided him into her and called the tempest inside.

They held each other, screaming as the winds swept them, the rains washed them. They raced across the ocean, confronted the heart of the storm, lost themselves in pleasure and need and vanquished the darkness.

As they finished, the electricity went out.

Of course it did. They’d blown the circuits.

But the generator kicked on, and one by one, the night lights it powered illuminated the living room.

It looked almost like candlelight.

Elle lifted herself off Adam’s chest.

He was aware of several things.

1. He’d managed to remove his pants, but his shirt was open and still on.