The night was sweet torture. Gary held her breast while they slept. He woke to find himself pressed into the crack between those firm hips. But Caroline didn't stir. And, he knew, she wouldn't really respond until she had slept her exhaustion out. He slipped out of bed taking care to not wake her, care that looked unnecessary.

She had spent two weeks in the field, living on coffee and adrenaline. Contract clinched, she'd flown over most of the continent Friday night. Having dozed on the plane and in the car when he picked her up, she'd staggered into the bedroom to let him help her undress. Then she had crashed.

When he heard the water in the bathroom basin, he started cooking. Grocers sell frozen waffles for occasions like this. She ate neatly, taking small bites but keeping them coming. Seeing her sate one appetite reminded him of how she could sate another. He walked around behind her and played with her ears. She had such pretty ears, with such sensitive back edges. "Miss me?" she asked as she finished the fifth waffle. "I missed you." She covered the sixth with syrup and dug in. He combed his fingers through her hair, feeling the chewing muscles move every time his fingers passed over her temples. "I could take a quick shower," she continued. "I took enough of them the past two weeks."