Author's note: So, I decided to add a bit to this and since it began with a challenge, I also decided to make this chapter based on a challenge as well, this time as follows: Challenge: 2500-word limit, write a story using the phrase, "He/she/you is/was/are like a great big overprotective mother bear," to describe someone OTHER than Amanda.

Amanda sighed in contentment as she lay wrapped in her husband's arms post-lovemaking. They didn't get enough quiet couple moments like this and it seemed fate had been determined that today would be no exception...that is, until she'd yanked the phone cord out of the wall.

"I love you," Lee murmured into her hair and placed a tender kiss to her lips.

"Mmm...I love you, too," she replied, but her concerned expression made her husband look at her questioningly.

"What? What is it?"

"It's just..." She propped herself up on her hands, leaning on his chest to look him in the eye. "It's just...that phone call...it was from Billy."

"And?" He probed.

"Do you..." She frowned. "Do you think he'll be mad that you didn't answer it? I mean, if he's calling you when he knows it's your day off, it must be something pretty important..."

"Hold it," Lee held up his hand in a 'stop' gesture. "Hold it right there, Amanda. For all we know, Billy doesn't even know that I'm at home right now."

"Well, I could've sworn I heard his voice on the machine telling you to pick up the phone. Well, actually more like yelling at you to pick up the phone. That's why I was worried that he might be mad. I mean, I could be wrong since I was trying to tune it out and focus on you and all, but..."

"Amanda, ALL my messages from Billy begin with 'Scarecrow, pick up the damn phone,' home or not. He does that on purpose figuring it'll get my attention if I am home."

"Which you are, so maybe...just maybe you should have answered if, after all."

"You're the one who told me not to answer it," He reminded her.

"Since when do you listen to me? Aren't you the one who's always telling me how you're the senior agent?"

"That's when we're at work. Right now, we are NOT at work." He indicated their state of undress. "That was kind of the whole point, remember? Not to be at work?"

"I know, but this is your home. You really shouldn't let anyone else tell you what to do in it."

He shook his head. "Wrong. It's our home. Well, at least when you're in it, it is. I can tell you, it doesn't feel too damned homey without you." He gave her his best smile to reassure her.

"Aww...That's so sweet." She smiled warmly at him for a moment, but then her expression changed again. "But don't think that gets you off the hook, Mister. You never did answer my question."

He let out a frustrated groan. "And what question was that?"

"Do you think Billy will be mad?"

"Mad? No, he knows that we're a couple AND he knows that if we both have a day off, chances are good that we are spending time together. He'll understand." He then grinned devilishly at her and added, "Besides, he can probably guess what we've been doing and wouldn't want to interrupt us."

Amanda flushed slightly at the thought of that, but then shook it off when her husband began to laugh at her. "Are you sure?" she asked dubiously. "Maybe we should check the machine just to be sure."

He shook his head firmly. "No...No, absolutely not. Because as soon as I do, we'll end up at work and I'm not giving up any more time with my wife than I have to." He lightly caressed her face and ran a hand through her hair. "You got me?"

Amanda nodded with a smile, his touch sending shivers up her spine. She did have to admit that they had both needed this and they could use some relaxation and time for just the two of them. "As long as you're sure he won't be mad?"

"I'm sure," He insisted. "You know Billy. He's like a great big, overprotective mother bear. He'll understand that we just want to spend some uninterrupted time together."

"You're right, you're right."

"Speaking of which, we have whole lot of time to kill," He grinned at her and ran a hand down her bare back as he lowered his voice to a near-whisper. "What do you suggest we do with it?"

"Oh, I'm sure that we can think of something if we put our minds to it," she responded just as she sighed in response to his alluring touch. "Like this." She kissed him firmly, pressing herself more fully against him.

Lee responded by tangling his hands in her hair and urging her lips apart with his tongue wanting desperately to taste her again. He felt his arousal building once more as he explored her mouth with his tongue and felt her slender body pressed into his. He groaned as he felt Amanda sliding her hand down his side to reach between them and grasp his rapidly-growing erection firmly.

She lowered her lips to his neck finding the pulse point there and suckling it causing him to groan again. She trailed kisses across his shoulder and down to his chest thumbing his masculine nipples into hardness before taking one in her mouth nipping at it with her teeth. She delighted in his response as she felt him twitch beneath her.

"Amanda," he growled low in his throat at what she was doing to him. He shifted their positions so that they were both lying on their sides as he kissed her and pulled her tightly against him running his hands down her back to her taut bottom. She moaned as he gave it a gentle squeeze and she felt his shaft pressed against her, exciting her further.

"Lee," She whispered, as she hooked one leg over his hip to encourage him and was thrilled when he took the bait and began breathlessly chanting his name as he slipped his hand between her legs and began expertly stroking her. She was lost in sensation and very quickly was crying out as an intense climax hit her. She didn't have time to fully recover before he grasped her hips and entered her, moving slowly in and out of her. She cradled his head in her arms raining kisses on his neck and face.

"Amanda," Lee gasped out as he continued to move within her enjoying the slow pace this angle created allowing him to truly relish every sensation that being with her brought. They had had so little of this since their marriage had begun, he found himself wanting to enjoy every tiny nuance of it unlike their prior frenzied coupling when they'd been sure they'd be interrupted again. "I love you so much," he murmured as he ran one hand through her hair, the other still locked on her hip as they moved together.

"I love you," she answered. She raised one hand to caress his face, then urged him down to meet her lips with his. Their mutual sighs and moans of pleasure were the only sounds in the room as they renewed their union, sharing long, languorous kisses as they did so until they were both spent.

Once his breathing had slowed and his heart rate calmed enough, he grinned at her and teased, "Still think we should listen to that message?"

"What message?"