“Reese?”

Tory dropped her keys and wallet on a small table by the door and started toward the stairs that led to the second floor and their bedroom. Just as she did, Reese came in from the deck.

“Hey,” Tory said. “It’s so quiet, I thought you’d all gone to bed.”

Reese put her arms around Tory and pulled her near, burying her face in Tory’s thick, silky hair. “Not without you.” She kissed Tory’s neck. “What would be the point?”

“God, you feel good,” Tory murmured. She curved her arms around Reese’s shoulders and relaxed against her body. Her planned six-hour shift had turned into nine, and she was dead tired. Her leg ached, as it often did after she’d been standing for an extended period, and her back felt as if she’d been lifting fifty-pound boxes all day. What she wanted was to soak in a hot tub, curl up next to Reese, and fall asleep. “Is the baby asleep already?”

“She’s with Kate and Jean.”

“Really?” Tory laughed. “They don’t get enough of her, babysitting almost every day?”

“I asked them to keep her.” Reese moved her hand to the back of Tory’s neck and worked her fingers into the tight muscles on either side of her spine. “I’ve got an open bottle of Merlot out on the deck and some nibbles if you’re hungry.”

“You do, huh?” Tory ran her hands up and down Reese’s back. “One lounge chair or two?”

“One.” Slipping her fingers higher into Tory’s hair, Reese massaged her scalp. “And a blanket.”

“Oh, it’s that way, is it?” Leaning back, Tory kissed the tip of Reese’s chin. “You do realize we both have to work in the morning?”

“I won’t keep you up too late.”

“Don’t make promises you might not be able to keep.” Tory kissed Reese, savoring the way Reese smelled…warm sunshine, salty ocean spray, and Reggie…all the things Tory loved. Reese’s body was firm beneath her hands, a sculpted landscape of strength and certainty. As she took the kiss deeper, skimming her tongue into the smooth, warm recesses of Reese’s mouth, she heard Reese moan softly and felt her tremble. “Are you all right, sweetheart?”

“Perfect,” Reese whispered. “You’re here.”

“Where else would I be?” Tory placed her hand over Reese’s heart. It beat wildly beneath her fingers. “This is my home.”

Reese turned her face away and pressed her cheek to Tory’s hair, not wanting her to see the tears that came quickly and unbidden. Hoarsely, she said, “How about some of that wine?”

“I can see that you’ve got plans. So why don’t you just lead the way.”

“Remember you said that.” Reese grasped Tory’s hand and guided her out onto the deck. She settled into a lounge chair and drew Tory down so that she rested with her back against Reese’s chest, nestled between her outstretched legs. With one arm curved around Tory’s waist, she leaned sideways and filled two glasses from the bottle of Merlot she had left open on a small table. “Here you go.”

Tory sipped the smooth, dry wine, sampled the crackers and cheese Reese had assembled, and watched the moon flit in and out of the clouds. It was heaven. She sighed, content.

“Cold?” Reese asked.

“No, not with your arms around me.”

“You know what I think about, every time I lie out here with you like this?”

“No, what?” Tory shifted so she could lean her head back and see Reese’s face. In the moonlight, her dark hair and bold profile were edged in silver, like an image on an ancient coin. Tory felt a surge of arousal and smiled inwardly, pleased that time and the common joys of daily life had not diminished her desire.

Feeling Tory’s gaze upon her face, Reese met her eyes. “Of the night we made love out here and afterward, you told me you wanted to have a baby.”

Tory smiled softly. “I remember. And I remember you telling me that you wanted it, too. That it would make you happy. I don’t know why I ever thought you wouldn’t understand.” Tory kissed her gently. “You always have.”

“The only thing in my life that’s made me happier than having Reggie was finding you.”

“Reese?”

“What?” Reese whispered, reaching out without looking to find the table and setting down her wineglass. Before Tory could respond, Reese turned sideways so they were facing each other and tugged Tory’s blouse from her jeans. She smoothed her palm over Tory’s belly, her fingers tracing the sweep of her ribs. “What?”

Tory arched into her touch and closed her eyes. “I…is…”

Reese released the clasp on Tory’s bra and danced her fingertips over the full curve and tight, round nipple. “What?”

“Nothing. I can’t remember. Can’t think when you touch me like that.”

“Good, don’t think. Feel me.” Reese lowered her head as she pushed Tory’s blouse higher and circled Tory’s nipple with her tongue. It hardened at the caress, and she sucked it in, scraping the edges carefully with her teeth before soothing the tingling spots with her lips. She was aware of Tory fumbling with her belt and she lifted her hips, giving her room to release it. “Don’t distract me.”

Tory laughed and held Reese’s head more tightly to her breast. “No chance. You started it. Now you have to finish.”

Reese bit down and Tory cried out. The sound made Reese’s mind swirl, pulsing red with the rush of hot blood and thick lust through her limbs. She moved from one breast to the other, licking, sucking, biting, while she unbuttoned Tory’s blouse, pausing only long enough to strip off the offending garment. She leaned away and absorbed the sight of Tory, her head thrown back, her breasts…heavier now after Reggie…flushed and swollen with desire. Tory’s chest rose and fell rapidly as her lips parted with the silent pleas only a lover could hear. Touch me, take me, claim what is yours.

“I love you,” Reese murmured.

Tory opened her eyes, her vision hazy, her body ripe and ready. “No one else ever has…not like you. Never wi…” She jerked and lost her breath as Reese cupped a hand between her legs. “Oh!”

Reese shifted until she was kneeling on the deck by Tory’s side. “I always will.” She opened Tory’s jeans. Slid the zipper down. “You’re the only one I’ve ever wanted.” She curled her fingers around the waistband, waiting for Tory to rise up so she could ease them over her hips and down her legs. “All I’ve ever needed.”

“Reese,” Tory whispered. Reese’s face was in shadow, her body curved over Tory’s like the blade of a knife, hypnotically dangerous. “Sweetheart, what…”

“I live for you, for this.” Reese leaned down, kissed the curve of Tory’s thigh where it blended into the soft folds of her sex. “And Reggie.” She brushed her fingertips through silky wetness and Tory whimpered. “Our life.”

Reese cupped Tory’s buttocks and guided her down the chaise, opening her thighs with gentle insistence. “You see the stars up there?”

Tory’s hand trembled in Reese’s hair as Reese lowered her head and kissed between her legs again. It was so hard to think.

“Yes.”

Tory’s voice was high and thin, tremulous with need.

“When I see them…” Reese caught the crystal droplets of Tory’s passion on the tip of her tongue “…I think of you.” She eased her fingers along the path her tongue had taken, sliding smoothly inside. “Of the beauty and peace you bring into my heart.”

Tory braced her arms on the sides of the lounge and pushed up so she could watch Reese make love to her. She strained against Reese’s hand, taking her deeper than she ever had. “Go inside me more. Fill me up.” Her head fell back as Reese pushed slowly forward. Her arms shook and her voice broke on a sob. “Oh God.”

“More?”

“Yes. Yes.”

Sweat drenched Reese’s back and her stomach tensed as she fought back her own aching need. She focused every ounce of concentration on Tory’s breathing, Tory’s body, Tory’s small sounds of pleasure. She pushed, Tory opened, and she pushed higher. “Oh Jesus, Tor, you’re so hot inside. You feel so amazing.”

Tory wrapped her arms around Reese’s shoulders and pressed her face to Reese’s neck. Panting, she gasped, “I want you all the way inside. Keep going. Oh, more.”

“Sure?”

“Uh-huh. Uh-huh.”

Reese slowed, waiting for the tense tissues to relax. “All right?”

“Good,” Tory groaned. “So good.” She took a long breath and willed her body to soften even as the pressure spiraled in her depths. “Do it. Let me feel you make me come.”

Reese supported Tory with an arm around her waist and steadily, carefully, relentlessly worked her hand within the slick, hot muscles. “Hold on to me,” she whispered. “Hold on, baby.”

Tory closed her eyes and gave herself over to Reese’s embrace, her legs around Reese’s hips as Reese rocked her arm between her thighs. Every thrust drove her a little bit closer to the edge, but she held back, wanting the sensation to go on forever. Wanting Reese so far inside of her that nothing could ever come between them. They were one, and nothing had ever felt so right.

Reese felt it, the first spasm, before Tory jerked in her arms and cried out, “I’m coming.”

Reese covered Tory’s mouth with hers, drinking her passion, swallowing her cries of pleasure as she curled her fingers forward and pressed the spot that always made Tory explode. She wasn’t prepared for the force of Tory’s orgasm and cried out in surprise as Tory stiffened in her arms, clamping down around her hand and dragging her to the brink of coming.

“Oh Tory,” Reese moaned. “You’re so beautiful.”

Tory couldn’t speak, she could barely breathe. She’d never come this way before, with Reese inside every cell of her body, every molecule of her consciousness. She hadn’t thought they could be any closer. But somehow they were. She pulled her hips back and then pushed down hard on Reese’s hand, and came again.

“Oh my God,” Tory gasped when she caught her breath. She laughed weakly. “What did you do?”