Author's Note: This is an extended version of chapter 32 from Phoenix Rising. The plot aspects probably won't make much sense without having read that story; however, the lovin' in here doesn't really require an understanding of the plot.

Chapter Thirty-Two: "They Don't Make a Greeting Card for That"

"You're not saying anything."

Audrey met Nathan's gaze and tried to keep her expression as impassive as possible, but internally, she quaked. "What do you want me to say?"

"Don't know. Maybe that I'm wrong, but I'll settle for the truth."

The truth.

That was what it all came back to: the painful truth that Nathan's mother died after a series of tragic events, all of which directly or indirectly tied to Lucy. If it weren't for Lucy, Holly may not have been hell-bent on taking Nathan and leaving Garland. If not for Lucy, Garland may have had a better handle on his Trouble that fateful day and the cracks may never have appeared. If Holly hadn't been upset with Lucy, perhaps Holly would have seen the crack in the road sooner, been able to avoid it without taking her car over the embankment. If not for Lucy draining the life from her, Holly might still be alive. Hallmark didn't make a sorry I killed your mom greeting card for painful truths like those.

"The truth is this is a conversation you should have with your father because once you and I do, there's no going back."

Nathan rested his hand at the nape of her neck. "Audrey, you do know that no matter what, I love you, right?"

She shrugged from his touch. "You say that now—"

"You think it's conditional?" Nathan's frustration was evident in his slightly raised voice.

"Look, the things I learned today…I want to be honest with you. Fully. I just don't know that these are my secrets to tell. Not entirely."

"So you and my dad are keeping things from me now? This is rich."

"Don't."

"Don't what? Be pissed off that you're doing to me what's been done to you? That you're keeping me in the dark, making me feel like I have absolutely no control of my life?"

She looked at him pointedly and pulled her cell phone from its holster. After entering a few digits, she lifted the device to her ear. "Hey. It's Audrey. Look, we're down here at Wapék Park, wrapping some things up. Nathan was hoping you could come over to his house for dinner tonight, say eight o'clock." Nathan shot her a warning look, but she ignored him. "Good. He'll see you then."

"What are you doing?" he demanded.

"Being pushy," she replied as though it were the most natural thing in the world. "You two are so pig-headed, how else are you going to work this out?"

"One night isn't going to fix us."

"No, but it's a start. It's what you both need, whether you realize it or not."

Nathan took a deep breath. This was the last way he wanted to spend his night, fighting with the old man. "You going to be there?"

She considered his question. "It's not a good idea."

"Why?"

"You two need to be able to speak freely. Not sure you can do that if I'm there."

"Parker."

"Wuornos," she echoed his use of surname. It came off sounding more harsh than she had intended. "Look, I'm going to take the evidence, get it submitted to the lab. I'll see if I can get a rush on it."

"Audrey, come on."

"Call me if anything else happens out here." Without another word, she reached into the Bronco and retrieved the evidence vial.

"Wait."

She stopped in her tracks. Nathan reached out and took her hand, pulling her close to him. His eyes met hers, a subtle plea within them. Don't go. Not like this. And she was his captive, not by demand but by choice. Her arms coiled around his waist, and she reveled at the feel of his tight muscles against her softer form. His hand cradled her face. "I'm in love with you," he whispered against her lips. "Nothing changes that."

The rawness of his emotions had Audrey biting back her own fears. "I'm going to destroy you."

"Only if you stop trusting me."

At his earnest expression, Audrey felt tears form in her eyes. Dammit. She hated crying, hated feeling vulnerable.

Nathan saw the emotions play across her features and wished he could imbue her with his love, make her believe that nothing that happened in the past would send him running for the hills. "Believe in me. Believe in us. Trust your partner." He wiped her tears with his thumbs before their mouths met in a slow exploration of texture and taste. He focused exclusively on her lips for a moment, worrying her bottom lip with his teeth before soothing her tender flesh. Audrey set the evidence jar on top of the Bronco before her hand came up to the back of his neck, her fingers toying with the hair at the nape. She could feel the shivers run through him; her touch did that to him, made him alternately content and longing for more. She could relate. Even now, despite the heaviness in her very soul, she ached for him, ached to join with him.

She wondered if he could sense her shift in mood because his kisses intensified. His hands roved her body, moving beneath her shirt until one of his thumbs found its way under her bra and stroked her nipple, hardening the sensitive skin into a peak. She gasped at the contact, reveled in it, even as he guided her against the Bronco, his body sheltering her and wanting her.

All the while, Nathan's mouth caressed hers, kissing her thoroughly, leaving her gulping for air until he finally left a trail of kisses from her jaw line to her ear. He knew where she wanted him to go, as he moved towards her earlobe instead, teasing her as she protested with a whimper. He just smiled against her skin there before turning his attention lower towards her collarbone, finding her sensitive hollow and tending to her sweet spot. He felt rather than heard her laugh softly.

"I thought we were going to be discreet."

"We did say that, didn't we?" Reluctantly, he slipped his hands from under her shirt and looked around, grateful that no one was in sight, particularly in light of the tenting of his pants.

"We made it a whole two hours."

"Toughest two hours ever," he replied with a hint of a smile. "You still coming over tonight?" He tenderly ran his fingers through the blonde strands that had fallen loose from the bun she wore.

She nodded. "After you've had time to talk with your dad."

"You should bring an overnight bag."

Audrey's heart quickened. He was still certain nothing could shake his feelings, and she hoped Nathan was right, but it was hard to believe in a happy ending for them. "An overnight bag? That's not keeping us on the down low."

Nathan groaned, remembering the agreement they had made in Ohio. His resolve was quickly waning. "I don't care who knows that we're together. I'm sure the chief has put it together. Brand, too."

At that, Audrey swallowed hard.

Ephraim. What were his secrets? Lucy knew—at least some of them—and was certain she could end the Troubles, though she never got the chance. She'd chosen to save Garland's little boy, and the choice was taken from her.

And the boy grew to a man, the man she—Audrey—loved.

It was so convoluted, almost maddening.

And Audrey desperately needed to keep him safe. Garland wasn't off base when he voiced concerns for Nathan's wellbeing. Ephraim Brand was the unknown variable in the equation.

"I need you to be safe."

"Then you shouldn't've fallen in love with a cop. What we do isn't safe, Parker."

"You know this isn't about your job. It's about my past."

"I was the little boy that Lucy saved. Your past, my past—they're intertwined."

"Nathan…"

"Can't go back. Can't bring my mom back, but I know Lucy wouldn't have done anything to intentionally harm her."

"You sound so certain."

"Because I know you."

After Audrey dropped off the lab sample to be transported to Bangor, she stopped by the chief's office.

"Come back for round two?" he asked, his back to her.

Audrey was impressed he knew it to be her. Maybe she was predicable, or maybe that was what made Garland Wuornos a good cop. "Feels as though it should be more like round five or six. I'm not here to fight with you. It's about the crack at Wapék Park; there was something peculiar about it."

He turned to look at her. "Explain."

"It was full of blood, or at least, what looks like blood." She wrinkled her nose. "And what smells like blood."

The chief scrubbed his face with his hand. "What the hell is going on here?"

"I was hoping you could tell me. Have you ever known of any other cracks to fill with blood?"

"No."

"Could you…?"

"With my magic blood hose?" the chief scoffed. "This wasn't me. So where is it coming from?"

"Can't say, though I certainly have a theory, and you're not going to like it."

"You don't say," he replied flatly. "Does it involve Brand's bleeding trees?"

"Yeah. The samples taken from the trees and the mountain lion that attacked Nathan showed that the blood was human."

"Think this was something you should have brought up?" Garland demanded.

"You told me to leave it alone."

"Can tell you listened," he replied wryly. "When did I lose control of the whole damn department? We seem to deal in wholesale secrets around here."

"About that. You need to be upfront with Nathan. He's pieced it together that he is the little boy who drowned thanks to a run in with Max Hansen."

Garland's eyes narrowed. The whole town would be better off if Hansen would just disappear. He'd tormented Nathan when he was a child. Garland was just grateful Nathan couldn't remember it, thanks to a little help from a friend. Now it seemed Hansen was back to blow up his life all over again. The twinge began, the burden intensifying. He took a deep breath to try to contain it. "What minefield are you sending me into? You trying to get me to take the whole damn town apart?"

"Listen, you've had so much pressure building for so long, I think that's what is causing these cracks. You've got to let it go. Just let it go."

"Easy for you to say."

"I am culpable in ruining Nathan's childhood, so, no, it isn't easy for me to say."

"Is he blaming you?" Garland asked.

His question gave her chills. "Not yet."

"He shouldn't. It wasn't your doing. If anyone's to blame, it's me. Holly and Lucy both are gone because of me."

Audrey studied the chief for a moment. "I don't remember what Lucy's last minutes were like, but I do know that she cared about you. She'd want you to stop blaming yourself for things you can't change. I think Holly would, too."

"With Nathan…I've not…I…" At times he could look at his son, feel pride that he must have done something right in his life. At other times, all he could feel was regret that he'd not been a better father, that his son barely tolerated him.

"Set things right with him. Stop antagonizing him. Stop pushing him away because of your guilt."

"You love him."

"Yeah, I do."

No hesitation. No excuses. Garland should be happy that Nathan had found someone kind, compassionate, beautiful.

But all he could feel was dread gnawing its way into his gut.

"You shouldn't love him," the older man replied bluntly. Audrey was about to protest when the chief held up his hands to calm her and added, "Not that he isn't a good man. He'll be a good husband someday. A good father. But your loving him puts him in danger and it's a distraction. At the end of all this, do you really see any scenario where you and he have a normal life?"

"At the end of this, I see him by my side."

The chief halfway snorted. "When I brought you into the department, it was because you were willing to see things for what they are. You've lost your touch."

The chief's words stung.

Perhaps they would have stung less if not for the element of truth they held.

Audrey headed to the bullpen to finagle a ride back to the Over the Way Bed and Breakfast when she caught sight of Julia Carr heading into the lounge carrying a flat pink box. Curious, Audrey followed her friend. When she entered the break room, she heard Julia muttering under her breath as she set the box on the round table in the center of the room.

"They say talking to yourself's the first sign of madness," Audrey quipped.

"Then I'd have been in the Freddie years ago," Julia replied when she heard her friend's voice. "What are you doing here?"

"I work here. What are you doing here?"

"M.E.'s office lost a bet. I got chosen to deliver the goods."

"Donuts from Rosemary's to the police station. How stereotypical."

"And oddly delicious. Well, the boys in blue do like their donuts." Julia eyed Audrey curiously. "I didn't expect you back so soon."

"I didn't expect to be back quite yet. When Nathan and I were in Ohio, we discovered some unfinished business here that couldn't wait."

"Sounds ominous."

"It was."

"So did you find some answers?"

"A few. And more questions."

"So why are you here with me instead of with Nathan?"

"He's having dinner with his dad tonight."

"Did you and he…?"

The door to the break room swung open. Stan smiled nervously when he saw the two women and immediately had the sense he had interrupted something. "I heard something about donuts..."

Julia stepped aside and gestured to the box. Stan quickly selected a chocolate-covered, custard-filled donut and vacated the room, though not before he amiably added, "I'll get out of your way."

"I was actually about to head home," Audrey said.

"Need a ride?" Julia asked.

"Could use one. How did you know?"

"I didn't see your car or Nathan's Bronco out there." Julia paused a beat before adding, "Hey. I'm a medical examiner. I notice things."

The two friends headed out. Once they were in the car and on their way, Julia broached the subject of Nathan again. "You never did say whether you and Nathan took things to the next level."

"I guess I didn't, did I?" Audrey hemmed. "But yeah, we did."

"And?" Julia prompted.

"And…," Audrey reddened slightly though she couldn't help the smile that formed on her lips, "I'm not really used to talking about things like that."

"At least tell me if it was good."

Audrey's mind drifted back to the feel of his lips on her skin, his body joined with hers. Yet it was more than the snatches of physical pleasure that had her suddenly feeling warm all over. It was finally finding where she belonged and knowing it was with him. "Good isn't a strong enough word."

Julia practically squealed. "I want details!"

"You're not getting them," Audrey replied bluntly.

Julia slowed as she came to a stop sign. "I don't need to know who put what where. I'm thinking more along the lines of how did it all come about?"

That, Audrey could deal with. "He got us rooms at a bed and breakfast in my hometown that I've always loved."

"Rooms? Plural?" Julia grimaced.

"My reaction, too. We ended up with only one room, but I can appreciate the fact that he was being a gentleman and not making assumptions."

"So…"

"One thing led to another and there you have it."

Julia scolded her friend. "We've got to work on your narrative skills."

"Things are complicated."

"But you and Nathan are solid, right?"

That was the question, wasn't it? Nathan thought so, but there were so many things he didn't know. Armed with new knowledge, would he still feel the same about her? Tonight would be the test of that.

When Audrey didn't reply, Julia shook her head. "Sex usually makes a relationship more solid, not less solid."

"Sex is definitely not the problem."

"Then what is?"

"My past. Ending the Troubles. Haven's future. The usual."

Julia pulled the car to a stop in front of the B&B. "I'm really starting to remember why I wanted to get away from here."

"It's not for the faint of heart."

"Listen, I have to get back to the office, but do you want to meet up later?" Julia asked.

"Sure. I told Nathan I would stop by his house later tonight, but his dad isn't showing up until 8:00, so…"

"Let's say 8:00ish at the Gull," the brunette suggested.

When Audrey unlocked her room at the B&B, she almost immediately flopped down on the bed. Her eyes went to the ceiling, and she found herself noticing the oddest things. A layer of dust on the rickety old ceiling fan, a tiny crack in a drywall seam of the ceiling…

It made her think of the blood-filled crack.

Blood.

Ephraim had said that Haven was in his blood, but she never thought he meant that literally. So what, if anything, did he have to do with the blood that kept creeping up in all the wrong places?

She turned and on the nightstand saw the book Ephraim had gifted her by proxy the first day she went to the Brand Estate. The first day you went back, she silently corrected herself. The place had been Lucy's home.

She reached for it, her eyes taking in the inscription as she opened the front cover. To my eternal love. She had once loved Ephraim Brand. The knowledge felt so removed from her emotions. While she had initially found him intriguing, now the thought of him filled her with dread, proving there was, indeed, a shelf life on love, at least where Ephraim was concerned. All that remained was a cat and mouse game that, though it had once seemed amusing, now felt cold, sinister.

Audrey also wondered at his presence, carrying an apple the day of Holly and Nathan's accident. From what few memories of Lucy she had, she got the impression that was the last she saw of Ephraim before she changed, before Lucy ended and Audrey began.

She began to flip through the pages of the book, which mostly detailed the architecture of the house but also featured a few photographs of artwork. Amazing how so many of the pieces were tied to resurrection myths.

One photograph caught her eye, an exterior shot of the stone manor house. In an upper window, a woman stood staring out. She was easy to miss if not specifically looking for her, but Audrey noticed her right away, for it was her own face staring out. Lucy. She wondered what she had been thinking in that moment.

And Garland's words came back to her. Your cage might be gilded, but it's still a cage.

The chief was right. Nathan would never have a normal life with her. At best, it was selfish to think otherwise. At worst, it was dangerous.

The ringing her of her cell phone interrupted her thoughts. NATHAN showed on the screen. She pushed the answer button.

"Everything all right at the park?"

"Yeah. The blood's receding. I actually just got home."

"Oh. That's…that's good."

He cleared his throat. "Thought you'd want to know."

Awkwardness hung between them. "Thanks," she finally said. "Was there anything else?"

"I know you're going through a lot, but we're going to be okay."

"We'll talk later." She pressed the end button, flopped back against the pillows, and stared up at the ceiling again.

It seemed odd that they expected her to have the answers to their Troubles. She couldn't get her own act together, and here she was doling out advice to everyone else.

What advice would she give someone having her meltdown? You've got to snap out of it. Stop living in fear. Fight for what you want.

And she wanted Nathan.

Wasn't it time to stop moping and start fighting?

Nathan set down his cell phone and went to remove a beer from the refrigerator. He wasn't sure why he bothered refrigerating the bottles; it wasn't as though he could perceive the temperature. There was something about seeing the condensation run down the side of the bottle, though, that made it taste better. Completely psychological, he realized.

When he opened the refrigerator, he saw the assortment of coffee creamers he'd purchased for Audrey's benefit.

Audrey.

Months ago, when he realized he could feel her, he had tried not to dwell on it for her sake and his—beyond his initial bewilderment and tests. She was his friend above all; his witty partner with the lusty laugh, a wicked sense of humor, and a beauty impossible to ignore, try as he might.

The last twenty-four hours had been heaven and hell.

Heaven. Being wrapped in her arms, feeling her lips, her fingertips, the most intimate parts of her enveloping him in warmth and pleasure. Waking with her in his arms. Seeing the adoration in her eyes. They were sexually compatible; he hadn't doubted they would be, for they seemed to fit together in every other way.

Hell. The past. It nipped at their heels, took hold, and shook its head with ferocity. The doubts Audrey had were far more frightening than anything else they'd faced together, more so than pyrokinetic teenagers, bleeding trees, cracks, murderous shadows, or chameleons. Troubles, he could fight. Doubt—that was something she would have to fight on her own.

He ambled to the living room, beer in hand. The place seemed empty without her, too quiet. A few days earlier, they had been curled up on the sofa, the tension between them palpable, but he never thought anything would come from it. He'd gone out of his way to not cross lines with her, to not make her uncomfortable. Now he'd give just about anything to have those moments back, to take a chance, to have those extra days with her before everything got so damn complicated.

He would never regret loving Audrey.

The sound of the doorbell jarred him from his thoughts. He set his beer on a coaster and went to the front door. He moved aside the curtain to peer outside before opening it.

Audrey.

He opened the door and tried to rein in the thrill that ran through him. "You're here," he said, looking into her eyes, trying to read her intentions.

"You should invite me in." Her tone was flirtatious, glib. Gone were the doubts that seemed to plague her earlier. He wasn't sure what had changed, but either way, he would take it.

He stepped aside, and she walked in before he closed the door behind her. "About that." Nathan dug a key out of his pocket, took her hand, and pressed it into her palm.

"What's this for?"

"Key to my house."

"Nathan…"

Was it too soon? It didn't feel too soon, not after everything they'd shared as partners, as friends, and now lovers. "For convenience."

She quirked an eyebrow. "How practical of you."

He half-smiled, half-grimaced. "I'm doing this all wrong."

She took the key and put it on her key ring before touching his face. "I love that you aren't smooth."

The warmth of her hand and the softness of her skin, had his face alight. He leaned into her touch and kissed her palm, sending shivers of delight through her. "It's only 5:45," he said huskily.

"Need help cooking dinner?"

"Eight o'clock won't be here for awhile. I was hoping you could help me with something else."

"What's in it for me?" she asked, a saucy grin playing across her lips. The look alone was almost enough to make him come undone.

He smiled. "I have a few ideas," he said, but the last word barely made it out before his lips found hers. He'd been starving for her all day, and he fully intended to feast. The kiss quickly deepened as their tongues sought one another, the pleasure of discovery building between them, as did their yearning. Wordlessly, her hands came up and ran through his hair, her fingers lightly scraping his scalp. He moaned at her teasing touches.

He wrapped his arms around her body fully, as he backed her up towards the door. They crashed into it, shaking the curtained window in the process. That elicited a chuckle from her, as she buried her face in his neck, feeling the warmth of his skin, breathing in his scent. Hands against his chest, she pushed him back playfully.

He looked at her questioningly until her hands moved down his arms to capture his hands in hers. Gently, she pulled him toward his bedroom.

"I have a few ideas, too," she said as she rounded the corner into his room.

"Intelligence is so sexy." With that, he pulled her tight against himself and let his hands explore her body. Hands under her shirt, he trailed the small of her back, marveling at the smoothness, the softness, before going lower to cup his hands over her jean-clad bottom. He gave her a small squeeze and then lifted her to sit on his dresser, equalizing their heights. And their lips met again, the sound of their greedy kisses filling the air around them.

Between their bodies, her hands eagerly worked the buttons of his shirt until she pushed it over his shoulders and he shrugged it off the rest of the way. She traveled the planes of his chest and abdomen, lightly grazing his skin with her knuckle and taking pleasure in his responsiveness. His muscles twitched as she stroked him, tantalized him in a sweet, sweet torment.

Moving her hands lower, she unfastened his belt. His eyes glanced down to her hands, and he could see the bulge in his pants that she was working to free. This was going to happen again; the thought nearly felled him. She could have any man, and she wanted him. Before he knew it, she had worked his jeans down his legs. He used one foot and then the other to slide off his shoes, kicking them aside, then stepping out of the pile of denim on the floor.

Her legs encircled his waist; the warmth of her thighs against his sides had him sucking in breaths in gulps. Still, she continued her enticements, pulling him closer with her lean-muscled legs as his hands ran down her arms.

Her hands left their exploration of his sculpted torso briefly, as she pulled her shirt over her head, tossing it away. He pulled back for a moment to admire her and couldn't help the lusty grin that formed on his lips. She wore a red lace bra, something he'd never imagined her wearing considering her general preference for neutral or muted colors, but it suited her, the contrast of the rich color against her porcelain skin. Audrey wasn't the sort to draw attention to herself; this, he realized, was for him and him only.

Noting his amorous gaze, she tilted her head playfully. "You like?"

"Very much," he choked out.

She pulled her hair loose from its bun, sending her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders in waves. She ran her fingers through the strands, revealing more of the creamy skin on the column of her neck. He audibly drew in a breath. "You're so beautiful," he mumbled as he stepped forward again to kiss her lips. His attention was diverted, however, to her graceful lines. He trailed kisses, lingering at the spot where her neck and shoulder met, the hollow where he could feel her pulse point. Her answering sigh of bliss made him smile against her skin before he continued toward his goal of lavishing her with kisses.

"Oh, Nathan," she breathed heavily. He stopped and looked up to meet her eyes. They were dark with want and intent as she reached behind her back, released the clasp of her bra, and the material slipped forward. He ran his fingers under each strap, sliding them down her slender arms, and pulling the material away from her body.

His mouth descended almost immediately, latching on to one breast, the other supported by his hand, his thumb brushing over her neglected nipple. He released her for a moment, blowing a breath of cool air out. She inhaled sharply at the sensation and he repeated it quickly on her other breast.

Moving down from her breasts, he trailed his mouth slowly down the center of her flat abdomen, pausing to swirl his tongue around her belly button. Her muscles twitched at the contact. He looked up to see her staring down at him, her mouth slightly agape, her eyes stormy.

Her hands came up to unbutton her jeans, and she waited for him to make the next move. Nathan needed no further encouragement, as he reached to unzip her pants. Red fabric peeked through the denim. She pushed up onto her hands and he slipped the denim off her hips and down her legs. Tossing her jeans aside, he stood and pressed a kiss to her lips and then looked down between them to see matching red lace panties, the final barrier between them.

He kissed her again, his tongue twirling with hers, before whispering against her lips, "Wrap your legs around me." His hands slid underneath her and lifted her off the dresser. Her heart pounded in anticipation and exhilaration as he carried her quickly to the bed and laid her down, hovering above her, bracing himself on his elbows. His eyes locked on hers as she lifted her body to make more contact with his. He hissed as she tightened her legs around his waist, the feel of her smooth thighs intoxicating as ever. Suddenly, he found himself on his back, staring up at her in surprise. She smiled down at him wickedly, her hands finding themselves snaking under the waistband of his boxer-briefs.

She ground herself down upon him, moaning as the only thing separating them were her panties and his boxer-briefs, which had become much tighter over the last few minutes.

Nathan threw his head back, basking in the contact between them. "Audrey," he halfway gasped as she rocked against him and watched in satisfaction as the pleasure played across his features. His thumbs stroked her hipbones and he held her firmly in place, savoring the friction between their bodies.

Audrey leaned down and kissed him then, a soft caress that belied the intimate contact of their lower bodies. Close but not close enough. He needed to join with her; needed to make her feel some semblance of the bliss she gave him.

He rolled them over, exploring her with his calloused hands, moving over her breasts and then over her stomach ever-so-lightly, until finally tracing over the laced edge of the panties and moving down lower between her legs, the material already damp with her want.

Their eyes met, his seeking permission and hers granting it. She would have promised him anything in that moment.

He hooked his thumbs into the sides of the frilly fabric and slowly pulled the swath down her legs. Then, beginning at her ankle, he placed soft kisses up her leg, to her calf, behind her knee, to the inside of her thigh, which quivered at the contact as he lingered. Suddenly her hand was in his hair, pulling him closer to her. He glanced up, and Nathan was certain he had never seen anything so arousing as the sight before him. Her head was thrown back, anticipating his next move, her bottom lip caught between her teeth, her small breasts rising with each breath she took, and her porcelain skin, flushed. Finally, he descended, his mouth tracing over her carefully, then with more certainty. All the while, she began to make the sexiest sounds he ever heard from the back of her throat. With each stroke of his tongue, her pitch increased until, as he felt her thighs shaking involuntarily, she cried out and then gasped, "Nathan!" He lifted his head, watching her ride out the waves of pleasure before he stood and stripped off the last barrier between them, his boxer-briefs.

He saw her eyes open, languid now, as she took him in fully. She smiled and beckoned him toward her with a finger. He needed little encouragement as he moved towards her, bracing a knee against the bed. She reached down between their bodies, touching him with confidence. He kissed her, trying to communicate to her just how he felt in this moment.

He took her hand in his and they came together, slowly. Nathan felt the lush heat surround him as he moved within her. Their bodies surged together, her legs locking around his waist as she arched her hips to meet each of his powerful strokes. She raked her nails down his back from the bottom of his neck to his tailbone, causing him to rear up as pleasure mixed with a delicious pain. On and on their dance continued, bliss building and building. As he approached his peak, he dropped down to his elbows, her breasts flattened by his chest. He felt her tense beneath him, and then her body clench around him as she called his name again. He let go, shuddering through his own release before kissing her tenderly and brushing an errant lock of blond hair from her forehead.

"You are going to be the death of me." A sheen of sweat clung to their skin, even as they still clung to each other.

"But what a way to go," she whispered before nipping at his lower lip. "I think I could do this over and over and over."

"I know I could. For the rest of my life."

That was what she wanted, too, but she couldn't give voice to it.

"Hey."

"Hmm?"

"You okay?"

Audrey pushed away the shadows of doubt that invaded her mind. Nathan was the man she—Audrey—chose. "I just had mind-blowing sex with the man I love. I'm good. I'm more than good. I'm…happy." She shifted and could feel the evidence of their lovemaking begin to leak from her, sticky and warm.

"Don't think I'll get tired of hearing that."

He nestled against her, holding her, stroking her hair. Before long, exhaustion overtook her, and she fell asleep. Sometime later, she awoke with a start. The room was dark; Nathan's breathing was measured. Her eyes sought the alarm clock. 7:34.

"Nathan."

"Mmmm." He stirred against her.

"We fell asleep. Your dad will be here in less than thirty minutes and you need to shower and there's no food made."

"You need a shower worse than I do," he pointed out as his fingers lightly traced her inner thighs, finding the slickness on her legs from their earlier lovemaking.

She drew in a breath at his touches and turned to face him. "All I want to do is stay right here with you."

His lips brushed against hers, and then he whispered, "You'll be back later."

"Yeah."

"With an overnight bag," he declared with a small smile.

He was nothing if not persistent. Persistent—and correct.

"It's already in the car."