Chapter Two

Jaime and Steve stood together, watching the chopper fly away, and then a little while longer, savoring the serenity of their home for the next two weeks. Jaime, especially, was awed. "It's so beautiful..." she whispered.

"Almost as beautiful as you are," Steve told her, placing one gentle hand on the small of her back, and tenderly caressing her face with the other.

Blue eyes and hazel ones met and paused as though on the edge of a precipice, then dove eagerly into each other, radiating emotions so deep they reached the very core of both souls. Steve's fingertips drifted from their almost reverent touch on Jaime's cheek around to the back of her head, turning her to face him directly, their bodies nearly touching.

"I love you," they both said in virtual stereo. Their lips brushed together with a fluttering, feathery softness. Jaime shivered at the intensity.

"Cold, Sweetheart?" Steve asked.

"In your arms? Definitely not," she said softly.

"We could head inside; check the place out. I'll bet there's a fireplace."

"I like how you think, Colonel."

This was definitely no 'cabin'. Steve got a fire going in the huge brick fireplace while Jaime checked out the kitchen. She literally bounced into the den, her eyes sparkling. "Steve, there's a wine cellar. Freezer's full of steaks, roasts, even lobster!"

"Look out the back window," he told her with a wide grin.

"A hot tub! Since when does a safe house have a hot tub?"

Steve joined her at the window, encircling her in his arms. "The elite among us have to stay safe, too, I guess."

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Their first night's dinner had been pre-prepared for them, needing just an hour in the oven. As the tantalyzing aroma wafted through the house, Steve and Jaime snuggled together in front of the fire, blissfully comfortable in each other's arms.

"Why do you s'pose Oscar really sent us here?" Jaime asked. "I mean, our last assignment wasn't exactly a resounding success."

"Hey, we got out before the rescue team had to come in after us."

"Yeah, but we landed at their feet just as they were making their grand entrance."

"Still - the teamwork in that landing was spectacular." They both laughed, and Steve pulled Jaime closer. "We're the best team out there." He kissed her, harder this time, their mutual need pulling their bodies as close as they could get. With an inviting little flick of her tongue, Jaime let him know that - finally! - they were on the same page.

Their desire for each other had never been more intense, and the kiss grew as deep as a kiss could possibly get. Jaime moaned softly as she melted into his embrace. Any doubts Steve might've had about her state of mind or pushing her into anything disappeared, as her passion seemed to be fueling his own.

"I could turn the oven to warm," Jaime said breathlessly. "Unless you're really hungry..."

"Hungry, yes, but not for dinner," he replied, following her to the kitchen, unwilling to take his eyes off of her.

Jaime adjusted the oven setting while Steve kissed the back of her neck, a move that had always made her swoon. It still did. Jaime turned, and the slight space between them disappeared as she pressed her body fully against his. Their lips met again, with more fire than either of them had known was possible, and Steve swept her up in his arms, holding the kiss all the way into the den, where he sank onto the huge sofa with Jaime in his lap. Their tongues played together and their limbs became entangled as Steve made short work of the buttons on her shirt and marvelled at the velvety softness of the skin beneath.

Jaime was even quicker with Steve's shirt, and she let her hands explore every bit of his broad, muscular chest, curling the chest hairs playfully with her fingers before reaching around to give the muscles of his back equal treatment.

When neither of them could stand it for one more minute, Steve gently lowered her onto the thick, plush carpet beside the fireplace. When they joined together, bodies and souls, it was soft, sweet and more than either one had dared imagine or hope for. There was no awkwardness or hesitation; they knew each other too well for that. Several hours later, completely content, they were ready to think about dinner.

"You know, this place was already inspected with the OSI's finest-toothed comb," Steve pointed out as they dug into the beef and mushrooms with nearly the same hunger they had for each other. "They'd never have 'acquired' it otherwise."

"I know. Are we supposed to turn in a report or something?"

"Doubt it," Steve answered. "But just in case, maybe we should check out the hot tub - you know, make sure it's in perfect working order."

"And that the beds are sturdy, and the mattresses soft but not too soft..."

"I really like how you think," Steve told her.

"I had an excellent teacher."

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