"Nick! Oh my God! Nick!" Zoe gasped as he forced the last of the air from her lungs. She felt his arms relax, just a fraction, even after all this time he could sense her every need. Her lungs reacted automatically and she drew a deep breath of cool air across his skin. Her internal muscles tightened in response to his scent, a swirl of butterflies tumbled in her stomach. She savoured the sensation, hands spread against his back, moving slowly over him, memorising every contour of muscle and bone. He had lost weight, his muscles gaining definition, his shoulder blades and ribs distinct beneath her fingertips. She held him tight, their bodies locked together as though they belonged. She felt him breathe, the same rush of cool air over her skin, he held the breath, she echoed the simple action. The smell of him so familiar, clean and fresh. Hospital clean, scrub soap with just the faintest hint of delicious sun tanned skin and the unique smell of her lover.

He turned his head, the short soft beard unfamiliar but not unpleasant. His lips moved against her cheek, breathing her name. His broad powerful skilled hands moving over her, comforting, gentle, yet every movement stoked the fire that had never been extinguished. His long fingers found their way beneath her hair, grazing across her neck, inducing goosebumps and memories in the instant before he cupped the base of her skull in his palm. She leaned into him instinctively, trusting the security of his embrace, obeying his unspoken instructions as though a connection had been forged with her brain.

His lips brushed hers with the gentlest of kisses, teasing, searching. Her hand skimmed his shoulder and neck, fingers raking gently through his short clipped hair just behind his ear, strengthening the connection if that were at all possible. Memories surged through her mind, taking her back to that evening in his office, the first time their lips met. The same gentle, almost shy inquisitiveness of his lips which, she had fallen head over heels in love with, it was beautiful, but she knew the full force of his passion filled kisses. Her lips parted just a fraction, the tip of her tongue caressing his lips. His embrace shifted, gathering her protectively as he responded.

It had been well over a year, almost two, since she had seen him and almost double that since he had kissed her like this. Zoe melted against him, closing her senses to everything except the solid warmth of his body and the all consuming way in which he kissed her.

She barely heard the knock at the door, but she felt the cold draught as someone opened it.

"Oh sorry."