"Tell me again about the night your father left." Jack's voice is soft and warm but the words he speaks cause my heart to split in two.

"It's not a very good bedtime story."

"Then I guess we'll have to stay up," he answers, rolling towards me to press a warm, inviting kiss to my shoulder blades.

******

"Jack," I breathe softly, enjoying the feeling of his lips on me but not wanting to remember the pain and sadness I've endured.

"Are you afraid I'll leave?" My eyes glance into his, reminding him he has in the past. "I'm sorry," he kisses my shoulder softly, the bare skin beneath his warm lips. I let out a soft breath, closing my eyes at the intimacy and love I haven't experienced in far too long.

"I was three," I answer him, opening my eyes to feel the warmth from his gaze. I roll onto my side, finding myself in his arms and feeling protected. "He came into my room when I was asleep and gave me a kiss. I woke up and saw him looking down at me with sad eyes. I told him I was sorry, because earlier that night I threw a tantrum-although I don't remember what it was about." I laugh softly and feel his arms drawing soft lines over my back as he clings to me.

"He gave me a key chain of a rabbit's foot and promised me that whenever I made a wish, he would always be listening and be there to do his best to make it come true. I asked him why he was crying as he gave me a final kiss goodnight and slipped out of my bedroom. I felt as though something wasn't right, but I was only three years old," I remind him.

Jack presses a soft kiss to my forehead, as his eyes look deeply into mine.

"As I grew older, I vowed if I ever found a man, I wouldn't fall in love because all he would do is hurt me--like my father did to my mother."

"I'm sorry, Sam."

"Don't be," I shake my head with tears in my eyes. "You haven't done anything wrong."

"But I have," he answers, running his hand through my hair as he kisses the tears away. "I've done so much I wish I could take back, and there's so much I wish I would have done differently."

"I really don't want to be talking about Maria right now." I eye him.

"Then why are you bringing her up?" His eyes stare into mine as I let out a soft breath and glance away.

"I guess I'm afraid you'll go back to her, like you always do."

I feel his finger on my chin as my eyes move back towards his.

"That's never going to happen."

"What do you mean?" I question.

"I told you, Maria and I are getting a divorce."

"You also said you were trying to work things out," I remind him.

"Her idea of working things out was for me to quit the Bureau, and I couldn't do that. This job is what I live for, and to lose that would be losing a part of myself."

"So you're really getting a divorce?"

He nods his head 'yes'. "Last night I even talked to the girls about it. They weren't happy, but Hannah wasn't entirely surprised. Speaking of which, I still have your hair scrunchie in my car."

I can't hide the soft smile on my lips. "So, where does that leave us?"

"Where do you want it to leave us?" He moves his lips closer, and I feel his leg sliding between mine as he rolls me onto my back.

"Mmm, right here is good," I answer, closing my eyes as I feel his mouth descend on mine.

"We should get some sleep." He presses a soft kiss to my cheek and leans towards the lamp to shut it off. He cuddles close to my body, keeping me warm as we drift off to sleep together.

I feel Jack's arm around my waist as my eyes slowly open, allowing the morning light to shine in.

"Hey," his voice is low and raspy and his head is resting against mine.

"You stayed," I whisper, with a slightly surprised look on my face.

"I told you I was going to." I feel his hand move along my hip, drawing me towards him.

"I suppose you did," I answer with a yawn. My eyes close, as I feel Jack's clothed body beside me. "You put on something?" I question, peeking out from the darkness.

"Yeah, I got cold last night." My hand feels over his naked chest and down towards the waistband of his boxers.

"Didn't think to lend me something?"

"You were sound asleep." Jack presses a soft kiss to my lips, as I feel myself growing more awakened. Jack sits up in bed and I eye him curiously. "You want your pajamas or something of mine?"

"Stay here." I sit up slightly, holding one hand to the sheets to keep them from falling and using my other hand to tug on his shoulder, pulling him back down onto the bed. "I want you to keep me warm."

I see Jack's lips tugging upwards in a smile. "I'll see what I can do," he answers, slipping between the covers and rolling me onto my back. His lips melt onto mine as his body burns above me.

My fingers tease at the waistband of his shorts, skimming his stomach, as I feel his muscles clench.

"Relax," I remind him, glancing up into his eyes.

"Shouldn't I be telling you that? You're the one who always quickens the pace."

"I know," I answer with a soft laugh. "I realized that recently. I thought you were the one always rushing things, until last night I realized it was me." I laugh softly and bite down on my lower lip with a smile. "I guess you do that to me." I lean up to press a soft kiss to his lips.

"Don't you ever want to savior the experience?"

"Always," I answer, taking a taste of Jack's mouth and moving my hand down his back. "Then again," I breathe out in a heavier voice, feeling my way down his body with kisses.

"I thought I was supposed to keep you warm?" he questions as my lips dance along the edge of his boxers, tugging them off.

"You are," I answer, feeling his knee slide between both my legs as his mouth teases mine with feather-light kisses. "Ugh," I groan out, gently biting down on his lower lip before running my tongue over his mouth. "You shouldn't tease me."

"And why not?" he chuckles softly.

"You make me want you more," I groan, biting down on my lower lip as my breathing intensifies.

"And that's a bad thing?" he teases into my ear.

"It is if you're trying to slow things down."

"I don't want to slow anything down," he whispers into my ear. "I just want to enjoy this a little longer."

"So, enjoy it," I answer, moving my mouth down his jaw and over his chest.

"Sam," his voice is gruff and my cell phone jars loudly, interrupting us. "Are you going to answer it?" He eyes me as my lips continue a path down his torso.

I slip out from under him and reach towards the nightstand to see Martin's number. I let out a sigh as Jack glances over my shoulder.

"Tell him you're in the middle of something," he reminds me, as I answer the ringing phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Samantha."

"I'm kind of busy right now," I answer, feeling Jack's body moving to straddle my frame as I lay back and feel his kisses down my breasts. My breathing grows heavy and I stifle a moan.

"I wanted to offer to take you to breakfast. I was worried how things went."

"I'm not home yet," I answer with a breath, feeling my words begin to fail me. I glance into Jack's eyes, as he smiles and continues to kiss and devour my body.

"Samantha, it sounds like you're with someone."

"Yeah, I'm up visiting my family," I point out, "and you caught me at a bad time."

"I can call back later? Or maybe you could call me when you get home."

"I'll see you tomorrow," I offer the words to remind him.

"Yeah, be careful on your ride home."

"I will." I hang up the phone and toss it to the floor as I feel Jack's fingers teasing my thighs apart. "Are you trying to get us caught?" My eyes glare into his with a smile.

"I'm just making sure there's no question who you want."

"Oh," my eyes widen with a grin. "You worried I might ditch you for Martin?" I tease.

"I'm not too concerned," Jack answers. "I'm pretty sure I know where your heart lies."

"Yeah," I nod, pulling his mouth towards me, "just in case there's any question." My tongue dances along his lips, seeking its way into his mouth as my body aches for his.

"Jack," I groan, feeling his hot breath on my neck.

"I love you." His voice is low and sexy in my ear.

"I love you too." I feel a smile forming on my lips as my breath catches in my throat. I groan out, feeling Jack's body warm me to the core. My breathing grows heavy and thick as my hands clench on to him.

Minutes pass, and we lay there together, our breathing slowly calming down.

"You're incredible," Jack whispers, his fingers in my hair.

"Mmm," I answer in a breath with closed eyes.

"Sam?"

I keep my eyes shut, not wanting to face the reality of the moment---the fact that Jack isn't officially divorced yet, and Martin is still in love with me.

"Yeah?" I breathe out, feeling his hands drawing through my hair.

"I told Hannah about you."

My eyes flash open as I sit up in bed, clenching the blanket to my breasts. "You did what?"

"Calm down," Jack laughs, softly tugging at me to lay down with him. "She knew there was someone else, and I couldn't lie to her."

"You could have stretched the truth."

"No, Sam, I couldn't have. She would have found out sooner or later."

"You had to tell her before you consulted me about what I wanted?"

"Sam, calm down." His hand runs against my arm, as I lay on my side, facing him.

"I just wish you wouldn't have said anything yet."

"What was I supposed to do? Wait until she was getting married?"

"Jack," I shake my head and wait a minute before continuing, "I don't know what you're asking of me."

"You're one of the best parts of my life, and I wanted you to be a part of their lives."

"We can't." My eyes meet his. "There's work and what if--"

"There's a million 'what if' scenarios, Sam," Jack interrupts me. "I can't say for certain what I want, but I know I want you in my life."

I let out a soft breath and press a gentle kiss to his lips, as I lay my head down beside his.

"What'd Hannah say?"

"I didn't tell her everything, just that I thought the world of you."

"Does she know about the affair?"

"I didn't tell her."

"And if she asks?" My eyes rise to meet his.

"I'd be honest with her."

"You still didn't answer my question," I remind him.

"She told me she missed me being happy. She wasn't excited to find out about the divorce, but she wasn't oblivious to the problems."

"And Kate?"

Jack nods his head, "She wasn't as accepting." I let out a soft breath. "She's a child, though, it won't take long for her to accept you."

"And if she doesn't? What if they don't? I can't ask you to choose between your family and me."

Jack's lips meet mine for a reassuring kiss. "Don't worry," he answers. "I love you and I love my daughters. Nothing will change either of those things." He presses a kiss to my forehead as I lean into his warm body.

"Jack," I glance into his eyes and bite down on my lower lip, "I want to talk to you about something, but I don't want you to get upset."

"All right," he answers, rolling onto his back as I roll onto my stomach and rest on my elbows to glance down at him.