Shades, air conditioning and a ceiling fan kept the midafternoon sun out of the bedroom. It was cool and semidark as the reunited lovers came down from their sexual high and personal heat wave.

C.J.'s head rested in the valley between Danny's arm and torso. His arm supported her leaving his hand free to link his fingers to hers. "Can we make a habit of long lunches like this?"

"I wish. I moved heaven and earth to have a few hours of midday."

"Believe me darling, I am aware you can make both heaven and earth move."

She laughed and brought their joined hands to her mouth for a kiss. 'You can say the nicest things. I love your postcards."

"More to come plus I brought presents."

"Danny, how'd you get back early?"

"P.J. was nobly turning down a party invitation to avoid hurting my feelings. He fessed up so we ended the trip early."

"A lovely gesture on your part too. Glad you're both okay, you are fine, right?"

"Didn't I prove all my body parts are in fine working order?"

"Well, the largest parts anyway."

Now it was his turn to be pleased. "Feel free to take inventory."

C.J. did that and delighted in her task. She traced the places where his tan changed shades and where there was no tan at all. Her mouth kissed a small bruise on his arm. There was a scratch on his shoulder and a healed mosquito bite. "Okay, you came back to me in one piece."

"You are welcome to do more in depth research."

"Not now but tonight."

"You have plans for us?"

"Danny, I stocked the fridge and was hoping you'd do the cooking. You know how I feel about your baked potatoes."

"Yes, ma'am." He saluted and then used the hand to stroke her arm.

"I like a man who follows orders. I have needs."

"Liking the sound of that."

"I need to catch up on our lost time and I need to store up for the next week."

"White House duty?"

"I'm taking several nights in a row to help out Toby and Donna. And then there's my personal schedule or more concisely my personal cycle."

"Oh, we're close to that. I lost track, let's see." He skimmed a finger across one of her nipples and from the instant heightened reaction surmised it was close to C.J.'s period. "First of all, I'm not such a sex maniac that that's the only reason I want you. I'll content myself with just holding you and I love necking with you."

"Yes, you do. I'm the sex fiend." She snuggled against him, "You said first. What's second?"

"How does Donna figure into the White House rotation?"

"She hasn't let anyone stay at Josh's in her place. It's been too long since she had a break so we called in reinforcements."

"That means Mrs. Landingham."

"She and the assistants are going to go there and kidnap Donna. Sam will be with them to stay with Josh."

"Good plan and your contribution is to take Sam's White House night."

"I'm also taking Toby's night because Andi is taking him to New York City for a game and a Nathan's Hot Dog."

"That leads me to believe the President is also doing better. All of you are loosening the chokehold."

"Guess so if I could take a long lunch." She danced her fingers along his arm and then stopped, "Oh, God. You've sidetracked me again, Danny. I'd planned to see Josh between leaving her and grabbing something to eat."

Danny glanced at the clock and gulped. "Sorry, time stood still while we made the earth move."

She started to scramble away. " Bad metaphors are not going to make me feel better."

He tightened his hold on her. "Slow down, girl. No one has called looking for you."

"I'm not even sure where my phone is at the moment."

"On the couch with mine making beautiful ring tones and baby pagers."

"Pager. Where's my . . . ?"

"Clipped to the waistband of your skirt on the floor. We would have heard it."

"I'm screwed." She put a finger on his lips. "Not a word."

"On my best behavior. I'll make you lunch."

"You have nothing except what I brought."

"How about p.b.&j. along with homemade cookies?"

"Sold." She relaxed against his chest promising herself just one minute more. "Tell me how you're going to conjure up homemade cookies."

"Homemade bread too. Trish sent me back with care packages."

"You're a brave or stupid man, Concannon. You're in bed with me and talking about your wife's domestic talents."

There were several elements evident in her tone. Danny picked out jealousy, doubt, distress and a touch of anger. He rolled to his side and brought her to the same position facing him. She resisted until his strength and the look in his eyes quieted her movements.

Danny wrapped his legs and arms around her before taking her mouth in a rough, edgy kiss that demanded her surrender.

He finished the kiss and locked onto her eyes. They were drifting from hazel to a storm tossed green. "C.J. I want you to listen to me very carefully. Trish is my EX-wife. I can show you the divorce decree. BUT she will always be my son's mother and therefore, a part of my life. That won't change and I don't want it to for Patrick's sake."

"Fine."

"No, it's not fine yet. She kindly sent a care package for Josh figuring he'd like something simple and homemade to tempt him. She thought he might be tired of hospital food and take out. It's her way of caring."

"So she cares for you too."

"I hope she still does. She worries about me being alone. That should lessen because I told her about you. I wanted to get her take on the best way to make P.J. aware that I have someone in my life that I love very much."

C.J. was humbled by the careful way he tended the precious things in his life and he'd let her know once more she was incredibly important to him.

"I'm sorry Danny that I doubted you."

"It's your old pattern, C.J. You look for disappointment. Keep looking, you won't receive it from me."

"Believe it or not, I'm getting better. Or trying to." This time she reached for his mouth.

He said, "Damn, you've got a luscious mouth. I use my tape recorder more often during Briefings because watching your lips distracts me from your words."

"And I thought you just wanted to figure out what color lipstick I wear."

"I prefer your lips and you down to just smooth bare skin." He was aware they were racing the clock but wanted her again. Their bodies were still entwined and he just shifted positions slightly and began to seduce her with his mouth and hands.

"Danny. . . don't, we. . .Oh. . .God, what are you. . . I'd forgotten that when you. . . Whoa. . . not now. . . what the hell. . . yes. . . more. . ."

She surrendered and silenced herself by kissing him until it was simply the two of them becoming one on a fast, explosive ride of desire and pleasure.

Her hand was playing in his hair as his head now rested on her chest. He intermittently let his mouth or tongue wander toward one of her breasts enjoying it when C.J.'s fingers tightened in his hair and her mouth made wonderful little sounds.

She gulped for air and announced, "I really have to leave."

"I figured." He raised his head, "I'd better go make your lunch. Should I make it to go?"

"Probably best." A glance at his bedside clock had her springing up. "Oh, God."

He grinned at her, "You keep saying that in here."

"Shut up." She shot him a dirty look. "This is your fault - you're too damn sexy and potent. I needed a fix."

"Feeling satisfied?" The grin grew more wicked.

"For the moment." She eyed him, "Touch me and you'll be a dead man."

"But what a way to go."

"Hold that thought. I'm going to take a shower."

"Want some help?" He loved her glare. "Let me point out that a shower delays your departure."

"But if I go back like this, they'll know I had sex."

"Okay, I sort of see the logic."

"Yeah, this way they'll think I went to the gym."

He couldn't bear to tell her that she looked flushed, sensuous and satisfied in a way that screamed out, "I've been making love and great sex all afternoon." Instead, he rolled out of the bed and started for the kitchen. She sighed and watched a tanned and toned body walk away. C.J. regretted having to go back to work.

By the time she'd pulled fresh lingerie out of the dresser drawer she'd taken over from him, her mind was thinking work and how soon she could wrap up take out the trash day.

She took her clothes with her to the bathroom in a bid to avoid temptation. C.J. admitted she probably wouldn't resist if it was offered.

(TBC)