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  “What else?”

  Joe arched one beautiful, thick eyebrow for me. “That if I ever left you, to please let him be the first call I made.”

  I leaned sideways and sucked his ear lobe into my mouth, inhaling at the same time. “You’re never leaving me.” My voice rumbled deep in my chest.

  “No,” he agreed, holding onto the counter as he shivered.

  Six years—it had officially changed while I was gone—and the man still got weak in the knees when I kissed him. I was so lucky.

  When I was done with the kitchen, I flipped off the light and just stood there a minute watching him. He was folding laundry that he’d done earlier and was listening to some baseball game that was on TV.

  “Marcus,” he called over to me distractedly. “Remember tomorrow night is that charity benefit Ryan’s hosting, so you have to pick up both of our tuxedos from the cleaner’s before three and be home no later than five.”

  “Yes, dear.”

  He grunted, immersed in what he was listening to.

  I went into the bedroom, and after awhile, he poked his head in.

  “Whatcha doin’?”

  “Crossword.”

  “I can turn off the TV. We can play cards or something.”

  “Nah.”

  He slid into the room. “You want something for dessert?”

  “Like?”

  “I dunno. We could take a walk for ice cream or pie or—”

  “No, I’m good here.”

  “You feel okay?”

  “Yeah, just sore.”

  “We could go get a drink.”

  “You drank enough the other day,” I reminded him.

  He flipped me off, and I started laughing.

  “We could call some friends, go out if you want.”

  “You wanna do that?”

  “Not particularly, but I will.”

  I yawned. “That doesn’t sound real good.”

  “So what, then?”

  “Baby,” I smiled at him. “You’re not here to entertain me. You know that.”

  “I know. I just don’t wanna take you for granted.”

  “You’re not. I’m home. I’m safe, so are you. We’re fine.” He looked good in his jeans and a rugby shirt. “We’ll find our old rhythm. Don’t worry.”

  “I’m not worried.”

  “But listen, I don’t expect you to cook every night all of a sudden.”

  “No, I know, but I like cooking for you, and you appreciate it, and talking while we do the dishes is probably one of my favorite things in the whole wide world.”

  “You’re very easy to please.”

  “No, I’m not. You’re the only one that I want to do this stuff with.”

  “Come here.”

  “What?”

  “I was gonna attack you later when you came to bed, but could you just pretend it’s later and let me have you now?” I grinned slowly, dropping the newspaper and the mechanical pencil I was using to do the crossword on the floor.

  “Uh yeah,” he laughed, climbing onto the bed.

  I reached out for the collar of his shirt. “I missed you today.”

  “Bullshit. You were too busy to miss me.”

  “I wasn’t, I swear. I missed you.”

  “That’s kind of romantic, huh?”

  “Don’t get used to it. Just kiss me.”

  He chuckled against my lips before I grabbed him, rolled him over onto his back under me, and kissed him breathless. When I was sure I had him at my mercy, I went to work on his clothes.

  The bite was unexpected, hot but surprising, and I lifted up to look down at him.

  “Why am I stopping?” I grumbled irritably because I just wanted to take his clothes off and ravish him, and why was he being difficult?

  “I just—” He took a shuddering breath, “—love you, is all.”

  “Yeah, I love you too,” I said quickly, bending to reclaim his mouth. I got his chin.

  “Marcus!” he squealed.

  I growled at him.

  “I’m serious.” He started laughing. “Stop being an ass.”

  I whined loudly, taking his face in my hands. “I love you too, baby, more than anything. You’re my whole life. Now can I please just do you?”

  His face was alight with happiness, and his eyes, the beautiful pale blue I was a slave to, were dancing. “Yes, Marcus, I’m all yours.”

  It was always nice to be reminded.

  The Warder Series by Mary Calmes

  http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

  About the Author

  Mary Calmes currently lives in Honolulu, Hawaii, with her husband and two children and hopes to eventually move off the rock to a place where her children can experience fall and even winter. She graduated from the University of the Pacific (ironic) in Stockton, California, with a bachelor’s degree in English literature. Due to the fact that it is English lit and not English grammar, do not ask her to point out a clause for you, as it will so not happen. She loves writing, becoming immersed in the process, and falling into the work. She can even tell you what her characters smell like. She works at a copy store but has been unable to incorporate that into a book... yet. She also buys way too many books on Amazon.

  Paranormal Romance from Mary Calmes

  http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

  Contemporary Romance from Mary Calmes

  http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

  Copyright

  Nexus ©Copyright Mary Calmes, 2011

  Published by

  Dreamspinner Press

  382 NE 191st Street #88329

  Miami, FL 33179-3899, USA

  http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover Art by Reese Dante http://www.reesedante.com

  This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. This eBook cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this eBook can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the Publisher. To

  request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press at: 382 NE 191st Street #88329, Miami, FL 33179-3899, USA

  http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/

  Released in the United States of America

  October 2011

  eBook Edition

  eBook ISBN: 978-1-61372-248-0

  Table of Contents

  I

  II

  III

  IV

  V

  VI

  VII

  VIII

  IX

  The Warder Series by Mary Calmes

  About the Author

  Paranormal Romance from Mary Calmes

  Contemporary Romance from Mary Calmes

  Copyright