They skipped most of the preliminaries to get to the main event, and with his body joined to hers, Eli felt as if he’d died and gone straight back to the paradise he’d found with her long before either of them was ready for it. “Oh God, Candace… This is just how I remember it, only better.”

“Yes.”

He closed his eyes and surrendered to the bliss, hoping that this time, it would last forever.

In the morning, Sam woke early to find Nick curled up to her, his arm around her waist. He’d been called back to work again the night before to contend with yet another issue with the North Koreans and their missiles.

She covered his hand with hers, floating in the predawn moments before another frantic day began. This one would end with a remembrance of their beloved Detective Arnold, killed one year ago already. How was that possible? While the year had gone quickly, it felt like forever since she’d last seen the endearing young detective who’d been so eager to please.

“What’re you thinking about?” Nick asked in the gravelly early morning voice that only she ever got to hear. She loved that voice.

“Arnold. A year today.”

“God, that’s right. Hard to believe it’s already a year.”

“I was just thinking how I feel like I haven’t seen him in much longer than that.”

“It’s been a rough year all around.”

“Sure has, but we got through it.”

“Because we have this,” he said, holding her closer as his erection pressed against her back.

She squeezed his arm. “I don’t know what I’d ever do without this.”

“Same.”

“My hip is feeling much better if you want to attempt some old-school morning fun.”

“Oh, old school, you say?”

“Three cheers for good old missionary.”

“Hip, hip, hooray.”

“You had to bring the hip into it.”

Chuckling, he moved so he was on top of her, gazing down at her with the heated hazel eyes that were like windows to his soul. All she ever saw in them was love and tenderness and utter devotion. “If that phone rings right now…”

“Shhh, don’t even say it.”

“Tell me if anything hurts.”

“You’ll be the first to know.”

He kissed her neck and had her fired up in a matter of seconds. Add that to his list of superpowers, the ability to light her fire with a minimum of effort.

Sam raised her left leg and slid it to the side, hoping to give him enough room to get things done.

He slid into her with the effortlessness that was so much a part of who they were together.

“I’ve missed being able to look at you when we do this,” he said.