He led me to my bed, then gently laid me down and covered his body with mine. Our kisses were wild and claiming, his hands were gentle but demanding.

“Mine,” he whispered as his hands stroked me, exploring and teasing.

“Yes,” I answered, arching up to meet his touch. I was hot and ready and when he brushed his thumb over my lower lip, I drew it in, suckling him until he groaned with soul-deep satisfaction.

“In me,” I said. “I need you inside me. I need to feel us together. Please, Tyler. Please, now.”

“I love you, Sloane,” he said as I spread my legs wider and he thrust inside me. “I love you,” he repeated, as we pistoned together, deeper and faster, the sweet storm rising higher and raging harder. “For now,” he said, his voice right on the edge. “For always,” he said, and exploded inside me.

My own release was like the crescendo of a symphony, rising up and up, and then higher still until there was no where left to go and there was no choice but to burst free in color and light and music.

He held me tight while I came back to myself, and I curled against him. “I love you, Tyler,” I said. “I always will.”

He sighed, the sound full of warmth and pleasure, then stroked his fingers lightly over my bare shoulder.

“There’s one other thing I have for you,” he said. “I don’t want to move, but I want you to have it now.” He grinned, revealing his dimple. “Don’t go away.”

“Never.”

He left the bed just for a moment, then came back with another wrapped package. This one in red, and not nearly as professionally done. I glanced at him. “You wrapped it?”

He lifted a shoulder.

I narrowed my eyes, then tugged out the card—and then looked at him with genuine confusion. “The card says this is a gift from me to you.”

“Yes,” he says. “It does.”

“I’m giving this gift to you? This mysterious thing I’ve never seen before?”

“You are,” he said, then held out his hand.

With a baffled laugh, I gave him the package. He held it up to his ear and shook it gently. From his expression, I could almost believe he didn’t have a clue.

“Go ahead,” I said, playing my role. “Open it.”

He peeled off the paper, then opened the box. Slowly, he tilted the box to show me what was inside.

“Jahn’s watch,” I whispered, pulling it out of the box and holding the now-ticking timepiece up to my ear.

“You fixed it,” I said.

“No,” he said, his voice full of love. “You did.”

I blinked back tears of understanding and joy. Then I shook my head, smiling easily. “We did it together,” I said.

“Yes,” he agreed. “We did.” He put the watch on, strapping it on his wrist with something close to reverence.

“We’re going to make a hell of a team,” I said.

He drew me close and wrapped his arms around me. “Sweetheart, we already do.”