On the edge of sleep, Kenzie felt lips touch the nape of her neck. Smiling, she stretched, arching back against the body behind her. Gunner sighed and tightened his arms around her, moulding his body to hers with a possessive growl.

"Morning, baby." He murmured into her throat.

"Mmmm, morning." Kenzie replied languidly.

Gunner's hands began to roam as his lips became more insistent. Warmth spread through Kenzie as his breath feathered over her skin. Rolling onto his back Gunner gripped Kenzie's hips and pulled her to straddle him. She lowered herself down onto his rigid length with a sigh and Gunner gave a guttural groan, his hands tightening on her hips. Kenzie rolled her hips, riding Gunner just like he loved and was rewarded with another deep groan and a breathy 'fuck, babe'.

Opening her eyes, Kenzie watched Gunner lose himself in sensation, eyes rolling half-closed and lips parting on a moan. Kenzie scratched her fingertips lightly across Gunner's chest, increasing the pressure as he groaned in response. Gunner's hands slid to Kenzie's back as he sat up, pulling her towards him until their faces were mere inches apart. With half-lidded eyes dark with desire, Gunner grinned lazily at Kenzie as he pulled her legs around his hips and started to thrust upwards with increasing intensity. Heat began to build in Kenzie's core and she moaned breathily, rolling her head back as the waves of pleasure began. Gunner's lips traced her collarbones and his hands moved up to her breasts, tracing the delicate skin beneath her nipples with calloused fingers. Kenzie's ecstasy peaked and she arched backwards, crying out as she came. Gunner followed, spilling inside her, groaning roughly into the crook of Kenzie's neck as his body shuddered with release. Panting, they collapsed against each other, bodies slick with sweat. After a long moment, Kenzie turned her head and nuzzled Gunner's hair. He rumbled deep in his throat and raised his head to meet her eyes.

"Fuck, babe. I love you." Gunner murmured.

Kenzie slung her left arm around Gunner's neck, and brought her right hand up to gently stroke his face, forehead down to cheek, to his chin and back again. "I love you, too." She whispered. Turning her head, Kenzie focussed on the clock radio on the bedside table. "You have to go soon?"

Gunner glanced back over his shoulder and sighed. "Yeah, I'm late."

"Where this time?"

Studying the clock face Gunner answered. "We're breaking some old team mate of Barney's outta this black ops prison, a guy called 'Dr. Death', then heading into that hellhole Somalia to stop some guy named Minns from selling some fucked-up bombs."

Turning back to Kenzie, he saw her expression had gone dark and serious, and he frowned in question.

Kenzie bit her bottom lip. "You come home safe to me, okay?"

Gunner opened his mouth to answer, but Kenzie added lowly. "Promise me."

Gunner lowered his head. He could deny her nothing, but he couldn't lie to her. They both knew that his survival was anything but guaranteed. The mercenary life was violent and dangerous, all too horrifying brief; and Gunner had already defied the odds, spit in fate's face and laughed at death far longer than he'd ever had any right to. Swallowing hard and raising his head, Gunner said quietly. "I can't promise you that, baby."

Kenzie nodded in resignation, desolation creeping into her eyes; cutting Gunner to the quick. She lowered her gaze and Gunner reached up, gently stroking her cheek. "Look at me." He whispered.

Kenzie met his eyes slowly and Gunner said lowly and earnestly, trying to convey through his eyes and touch what he couldn't find words for. "I will always come back to you, one way or another."

Kenzie nodded, then took a deep breath and rolled off of Gunner, his hands briefly grasping her waist to support her, and sat cross-legged on the mattress beside him. When she looked at him again, the sadness was gone from her eyes, replaced by quiet acceptance, a brave face to lessen his guilt.

"You'd better hurry." She said, her voice gaining strength. She smiled and added, "you know the guys are going to rip your ass for being late."

Gunner nodded and climbed out, hurrying to the bathroom. He emerged a few minutes later, freshly showered and nude, quickly dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. He grabbed the duffel he'd packed the night before and strode back to the bed. Kenzie still sat; her legs folded, the covers pooled around her.

Gunner reached out and stroked her hair. He leaned down and pressed a fevered kiss to her lips, lingering, inhaling her scent, relishing the taste and touch of her mouth against his.

Unwillingly, he straightened and said. "Bye, baby. I'll call you when I can."

"Bye, big man." Kenzie replied and Gunner turned and left before he changed his mind and stayed, climbing back into the bed and losing himself in the body of the woman he loved so fiercely.

Kenzie listened as the door opened and shut, as Gunner's chopper fired up and roared away before breaking down.