His erection nudged her belly in response. This first time was going to be fast, intense, followed by long-drawn-out. Three cheers for tantric. "Did you bring condoms? Because God knows I wasn't expecting to get laid on TDY."

"Good thing, too, flyboy."

"So? Where the hell did you Ziploc those things up?"

"I brought them, but..."

"But what?"

She stared back up at him, intense, hopeful, her hair a toffee splash against the white pillowcase. "I was hoping I could convince you that it's time to stop using them." When he didn't answer right away, her hands glided over his back, soothing, but the longing in her eyes stayed. A primal wish for children together that stirred an answer within him. "I want us to be parents, Jack, and someday have grandbabies to talk about while we're in those retirement rockers. I got the idea lately that maybe now you're ready to start working on that, too."

Children with Monica. Hell, yes, he wanted a houseful of little Korbas with Monica's eyes. Sure he couldn't stop the twinge of fear in his gut when he thought about how he'd lost Tina. But he realized those fears were mostly illogical and just a part of loving someone so damned much. He was a lucky man to have found such deep love twice in a lifetime.

Deep. The word definitely did not scare him anymore now that he fully appreciated the payoffs. And what a payoff it was, being loved by this woman who honored his past while still demanding he move forward with their future. "Babies, huh?"

Monica skimmed her fingers over the bristle of his late-day beard. "I thought we could start with one for now. More later."

His mind filled with images of Monica with their baby at her breast. "I'm already working on the words for Elvis's 'Teddy Bear.'"

With a Texas-size cheer, she threw her arms around his neck. "I love you."

Three little words he never tired of saying or hearing these days. "Love you, too," he answered against her lips.

She arched up into his kiss as he sank down onto her lush curves. Cereal crunched under their writhing bodies. Fruity scent wafted up, almost managing to override the persistent itch from the mess, an itch that would be increasingly uncomfortable once he got Monica naked. Very soon, hopefully. They'd sure come a long way from his lonely cold shower in Vegas months ago.

And speaking of showers. "It was a long flight and I really do need to wash up." He rolled off the bed and onto his feet. "And, Monica?"

"Yes, my love?"

Amazing how those last two words coming from her mouth turned him on, and he knew that anytime, anywhere, they always would.

Smiling, Jack extended his hand. "You're most definitely invited to join me."