“Oh no.” Total rejection flashed across his face. “No.”

“On the floor,” she added quickly.

“Why do you insist on tormenting me like this?” he demanded.

“Tiago is going to barge through our front door at any moment,” she reminded him. “And we can’t just shut Skeeter in another room. Come on, it’ll be fine.”

Taking him by the hand, she led him into their bedroom. He threaded his fingers through hers. “Just think, a couple of hours ago I was a happily married man.”

“Ouch!” she said laughingly.

“I wasn’t done.” He squeezed her hand. “I had just retired. Life was so simple.”

She pulled away, dropped the baby monitor on the bed, and gathered up the throw they kept at the foot of their bed. Folding it, she told him, “Life is still simple. You are still happy, and your wife is both hot and wise.”

“She is. I will grant you that,” he said, eyes gleaming.

“Now there’s just a dog on your floor, so quit being a big baby and let’s go to bed.” She set the folded throw on the floor and stood back to admire her handiwork. It was probably a good thing that the throw would smell like them.

Dragos snapped his fingers at Skeeter. “Go to bed.” Skeeter curled up on the throw and looked at Dragos soulfully. Dragos sighed and clenched his jaw. Then he said, “Good dog.”

The dog sighed too and closed his eyes.

Pia said with heartfelt sincerity to Dragos, “I have never loved you as much as I love you right now.”

“Woman, you are a complete mystery to me,” he told her, even as he pulled her into his arms.

“I know,” she said gently, laying one hand against his cheek.

He glanced at the clock and then out the French windows where predawn had begun to light the horizon. “Maybe we have time for one round before Niall’s next feeding. What do you think?”

“That sounds great to me.” As he lowered his head, Niall started to cry. Skeeter leaped upright and started barking.

“What the actual fuck,” Dragos said. She had never seen him look so offended.

Pia bent at the waist and laughed so hard tears sprang to her eyes. She choked out, “It’s not his fault. He didn’t know there was a baby.”

“Stop,” Dragos ordered. Skeeter cut off in mid-bark but looked extremely alert. Dragos looked at Pia. “I’m not getting sex tonight, am I?”

She laughed harder. “At this rate, I’m not sure we’re getting any sleep either.”

When she turned to go to the nursery, Dragos caught her by the wrist. “Make yourself comfortable. I’ll get him.”

“Thank you.” As she stripped down, she watched him stride out of the room. The dog sprang to follow.