Shout-out to my reviewers:

probably a reader: Although I am not an E/O fan, I do still love their partnership. More soon!

Ghostwriter: Yes, an appearance from Elliot, 'cause I'm good like that.

Mistra Rose: No review or thoughts on this? I hope you'll like this chapter better!

Previously, in "Persuasive Tactics", Maggie and Jubal's kids, Tali LaCroix and Clinton & Abiola "Abby" (Valentine) Skye's kids are held hostage at their schools.

Chapter Seven

Soft, warm breath whispers over the skin of Maggie's forehead as she turns onto her side and snuggles tighter against Jubal. He tightens his arm around her and begins snoring in a soft manner.

Today's ordeal had worn them both out enough that neither Maggie or Jubal had taken their work clothes off before falling asleep on top of the covers on Jubal's bed. Sometime during the night, however, they both discovered that they'd been stripped of their work clothes, and knew it had to be Jubal's sister Abiola, a local doctor and her husband Clinton Skye, a fellow FBI agent and member of their sister task force Most Wanted.

In the morning Maggie awakens to excited chatter from one floor above her and Jubal, reaching out with one slender arm to feel around for him. Feeling only cool sheets, Maggie sits up on her elbows and listens to the muffled voices as feet softly pad on the floor.

Upstairs Abby and Sam, who'd made the half-hour drive from Scarsdale, help round up the kids in order to take them all to school. "Does everyone have their backpacks and lunch sacks?" All of the kids, including Tali, bob their heads in affirmative responses before the two women escort them all out via the front door.

Once they leave after splitting up all eleven of the kids, a group going into Sam's van while the other gets into Abby's, Jubal heads back downstairs to where he watches Maggie walk toward the open door of his bathroom.

Before she can disappear inside, however, Jubal is grasping her hand to lead Maggie back over to his bed. "You deserve so much more than the shower, Mags, and more than a quickie before work," he says hoarsely, speaking against Maggie's lips just before capturing her lips with his own.

"So let's wait," Maggie replies, her own voice just as hoarse. "I'm sure Abiola and Samantha won't mind watching the kids for us tonight."

"That sounds good enough for me," Jubal says with a smile that Maggie reciprocates before the two of them go take individual showers, get dressed and head to work, separately.

Jubal sure as hell wasn't drunk but each new kiss he exchanged with Maggie is just as intoxicating as the ones that came before. But now, as the song "Crazy Love" by Ray Charles & Van Morrison plays in the background, Jubal realizes how lucky he is. With Maggie, with his kids, with having a steady job he thoroughly likes. Running the pad of his fingertips in grazing caresses down the bare flesh of Maggie's back, Jubal lets out a low groan with each dip and swirl of Maggie's tongue against his own.

She definitely surpassed every expectation he could think of and had since day one. Now Jubal hopes that he won't screw this relationship up like he'd done with Samantha. "Jubal…" he hears Maggie speak in a low tone, pulling him from his deep, heavy thoughts and he opens his eyes to stare into hers. "I can hear the grinding squeak of the wheels turning in your head. What's on your mind?"

"I'm realizing what a lucky man I am," Jubal replies, nuzzling his lips against Maggie's in a soft and tender manner. And then he's reclaiming the lips before his very face; hands passionate in their caresses as Jubal's tall and muscular frame gently presses Maggie to lay back, among the mess that are the covers on his bed. He follows moments later with one quick peck to her lips before trailing his own along the brief length of Maggie's strong jaw. Jubal smirks to himself at the way she reacts by attempting to divert him back to her lips but he has other plans.

Giving her another quick, sweet peck on the lips, Jubal angles his head into a tilt and begins a trail of moist kisses. Starting at the sensitive spot behind Maggie's ear, Jubal begins moving downward; his tongue darting out briefly on occasion to leave moisture behind. At the juncture where Maggie's neck slopes into her shoulder, Jubal gives her flesh a gentle love bite before continuing to move downward.

His trail stops once more briefly at her collarbone, where Jubal gives Maggie's flesh gentle nips from his teeth. Continuing his intentional trail further south, Jubal adds soft and sensual caresses to the previously passionate ones while tugging away at the belt, button and zipper of her dark slacks. Pressing more kisses to the flesh exposed, Jubal keeps going with his intentional downward trail; moistening her flesh on occasion. "J…Jubal…" Maggie's hoarse, begging plea reaches Jubal's ears but he doesn't divert his attention from his current task of pleasuring her.

As soon as Jubal has gotten everything off of Maggie's lower half, Jubal takes a brief but deep inhale of her aroused nub. Then he's nuzzling at her dark, curly pubic bone before probing his tongue deep between her nether lips. Maggie does her best to keep still other than to come her fingers through his hair. Her hips twitch and squirm but Jubal's hands move to firmly hold Maggie's pelvis in place. After a few minutes, Maggie's hips tense up and a soft cry of pleasure emerges from her throat as her hands fling out on either side of her slender body frame. She curls both sets of fingers around the soft silk bed sheets as her orgasm surges through and Jubal keeps her going before Maggie covers her mouth with one hand to hide the loud moan that emerges from her throat.

Once Maggie floats back down from her climatic orgasm, her head turns to watch a now standing Jubal disrobing what remains of the clothes he has on. Returning to her Jubal removes Maggie's blouse, bra and sits her up to take down the French braid plait her hair is donned with. "You're absolutely stunning right now," he says in a hoarse voice.

Maggie's lips curl upward into a soft smile. "That's the sexual tension talking," she whispers.

"It's the truth," Jubal whispers in response. Maggie nods before they tumble to the bed together in a tangle of limbs and deep, toe-curling kisses with one purpose in mind: drive the other wild with desire.

They both end up succeeding as Jubal reaches out toward the top drawer of his bedside nightstand. Maggie stops him before he is able to pull the drawer out with a firm grip on the wrist and gently caresses his forearm. "I'm clean and on the pill," she whispers.

"All the same, I'd rather not hear the end of it from my sister and ex-wife," Jubal replies, giving her lips a quick peck before grabbing a group of condoms. Ripping one with a tug of his teeth, Jubal slides it carefully up the length of his erection with minimal help from Maggie.

Sitting back a little, somewhat to tease Maggie, but also to truly admire the woman who lays sprawled out before him. After a few strokes from his hand, Jubal finally eases himself into the quite soaked opening of Maggie's nether lips. Maggie brings both of her legs up to wrap around Jubal's hips, adjusting herself to accommodate him.

He smiles softly at her and slides himself slowly back out before thrusting back in with a slight groan. After letting Maggie adjust to his size a bit more, Jubal begins a steady and gentle rhythm of rocking his pelvis back and forth against Maggie's.

Staring into Maggie's eyes as he moves, Jubal sees a quick flash of their future together and it makes him smile. Maggie smiles in response, having seen her own version of their future together.

Both of their climaxes send Maggie and Jubal into a tailspin down a peak, ripping moan after moan from Maggie's throat. Jubal groans in response, squeezing one of her breasts at the same time his other hand slinks its way down between their fervently rocking bodies to pinch the bundle of nerves his cock is clenched between. "Jubal!" Maggie cries out passionately.

"Maggie…" Jubal groans out.