In the quiet stillness after the storm, the morning light spilled softly into the kitchen, glinting off glass and warm wood, casting everything in a cosy glow. Jarod was at the stove, sliding eggs onto a plate while the coffee machine gurgled its final notes. He wore a relaxed smile, clearly savouring the routine but he wasn't alone for long.

Miss Parker strolled in, barefoot and still drowsy, wrapped in his white button down shirt from the night before. It hung loose on her, the sleeves rolled up. The hem hitting her leg mid thigh. She caught him eyeing her and smirked.

"Morning Chef" she said her voice still husky from sleep "are all your guests treated to this kind of service?"

"Just the ones who wear my shirts and don't bring any other clothes" he replied giving her a sidelong glance.

She gave him a little grin, sidling up to the counter as he placed breakfast in front of her, eggs, toast and a little fresh fruit. Simple, comforting and perfect. She leaned a hip against the counter, crossing her arms and pretending to inspect his work.

"Should I trust your cooking?" she asked

"Oh I'm hurt, didn't I manage okay with dinner last night?" he whined

"Not sure how much can go wrong with hamburger helper"

"Hey, we are both on a learning curve here, you have to admit I'm improving"

"And I've always admired your persistence, even when I was determined to hate you"

"Good thing I never gave up on you"

"Yeah. That I'll never get my head around". This was punctuated by a soft sigh as she looked down at herself, buttoning up one of the buttons on the shirt to provide a semblance of modesty.

He stuck his bottom lip out. There was something about the way he looked at her, tender, almost reverent, a rare glimpse into his usual self assured exterior. It struck Jarod slowly at first, then with the sharp clarity of revelation: Parker wasn't just his partner in survival, she was his catalyst. For years he thought himself simply an instrument of the Centres plans, an experiment perpetually shifting his identity to survive, like a machine programmed to pretend. But with her here now, he was understanding the depths of his being. He had become something freer, more complete than he had ever allowed himself imagine. She was a key turned in a lock that had once held his humanity and potential in its grasp. He saw with renewed clarity the potential they both shared. For intelligence, for strength and for compassion so sharp it could cut through the fabric of the dark past they shared. She was a compass and her resolve transformed his abilities from survival tools into something that stretched beyond the bounds of some sterile lab and into the realms of possibility.

And for her. Seeing this in Jarod felt like stepping into a familiar but long locked room, realising that the shadows of her mother's ambitions lingered there, waiting to be reignited. Her mother always believed that the Centre could be turned into a force for good. To expand human potential. A sanctuary where innovation served humanity not terrorised it. It had been a dream whispered to her in childhood, a secret vision that had died with her mother's murder, buried under the institutions dark machinery.

Now with Jarod and her together that dream no longer seemed an impossible utopia.

Her perfume pervaded the kitchen. A scent that always invoked a powerful reaction in him. They had been disturbed in the bathtub the night before by the piercing, hungry cries of the baby. A good thing too as less than ten minutes after they had dressed hurriedly JR and the Major announced themselves in the kitchen. Sweating and filthy from rounding cattle all day. They were loud and boisterous when they saw Michael was awake. Passing him to each other and throwing him gently in the air. If they noticed a shift in the atmosphere between Jarod and Parker they didn't let on. She had slipped into the bedroom to slip on a robe while Jarod and the boys talked vets and vaccines. Jarod arguing that they didn't need the surly vet Louise rocking up charging them a small fortune now that he was here. Parker listened as the banter flowed down the hall through the walls as her heart rate slowed. Of course she had known this would happen. There had always been an inevitability to it. From the moment they had met. Like it was engraved in some manual for the universe somewhere stuck under the sofa cushions of Gods couch. It was if the universe had woven them together, pulling them into each others orbits no matter how many times they'd tried to break free. Every argument, every chase through dimly lit hallways, every glance that lingered just a moment too long had been part of this cosmic equation. A path they'd walked toward one another even when they hadn't understood why. A feeling that went beyond choice. It was more than just desire, attraction but the culmination of something much deeper, something that had always been there, a force neither of them could resist. But she wasn't prepared for the emotional reaction she was having. He had made her come like nothing she had ever experienced and just with his hands. She let out a shaky breath. They hadn't even kissed she realised. He had done that to her and they hadn't even kissed yet. She found herself wondering if it was just because he was a genius who was capable of anything. If he had given other women the same level of pleasure or attention or if it was just her. Just them and this thing between them. She was struck by how badly her body craved him. How it ached for him. It was a desire no man had ever wielded over her before. She had always held the cards in that department and enjoyed this fact immensely. She had weaponised her beauty, her sexuality so much that now that she was faced with something real she was completely knocked for six. She was almost pissed off with him. Almost. She was smiling to herself thinking how she would have her revenge. She imagined herself toying with him expertly, confident and assured, how intoxicating it would be to have him at the mercy of her touch. His control over her gnawed at her even as she felt the warmth of his love, his protectiveness. These thoughts all flitted through her mind as she stared at herself in the bathroom mirror.

She gripped the edge of the sink, her knuckles white as she stared at herself, lost in the weight of everything that had happened. Her thoughts returned to Jarod's hands, his touch, his possessiveness. The way he had made her body come alive reverberated through her and she ached for more. She could feel him everywhere, even though he wasn't yet in the room.

The door creaked open softly and she didn't need to turn to know it was him. She felt him the moment he entered the room, his presence filling the space like a force of nature. Her eyes met his in the mirror, and she saw the intensity in his gaze, the desire, the raw need that mirrored her own. Her breath hitched.

Jarod moved towards her with that slow deliberate stride that always made her heart hammer in her chest. His eyes never left hers as he approached, coming to a stop right behind her. She could feel the heat of his body against her back, the tension between them thick and electric, ready to snap.

For a moment, neither of them spoke, the air heavy with anticipation. Miss Parker's grip on the sink tightened as she leaned forward slightly, her breath coming faster. She could feel the need rising in her, her pulse quickening, her body responding to the unspoken promise that hung between them.

Slowly, deliberately, she reached for the belt of her robe. Without breaking eye contact with him in the mirror, she loosened it, letting the robe fall open, partially revealing herself. The flicker of hunger in his eyes deepened as he took in the sight of her, his gaze darkening.

"Parker" he murmured, his voice low, rough with need. His hands came up to rest on her hips, his fingers digging into her skin just enough to make her gasp. The touch was possessive, claiming and it sent a shiver of anticipation down her spine.

"Jarod.." she whispered, her voice barely audible, her body already trembling with the tension between them. She pushed her hips back slightly, inviting him closer, her breath catching as she felt him press against her, hard and ready.

Jarod's hands moved, sliding the robe down her shoulders, letting it pool at her elbows. His fingers caressed her skin, slow and deliberate, making her heart pound in her chest. She could feel his breath hot against her neck, his two day old stubble rough and prickling as he clamped his mouth onto the soft spot between her neck and shoulder. His hands gripped her hips, harder now, pulling her back against him. She let out a soft moan, undoing what was left of his restraint as her hips arched towards him. She was already so wet, so ready for him when he pressed his body fully against hers she couldn't stop the gasps leaving her lips. In one swift motion he positioned himself behind her, she could feel the head of him, hot and hard, pressing against her entrance and she pushed back against him, desperate for more, desperate for all of him.

With a low guttural sound Jarod pushed inside her, filling her completely in one deep, possessive stroke. Miss Parker cried out softly, her body arching against him as the intensity of the sensation overwhelmed her. He felt so good, stretched her so much she gripped the edge of the sink even tighter, bracing herself for the onslaught of pleasure.

"You're mine" he growled against her ear, his voice rough with desire "Say it"

Miss Parker's breath came in ragged gasps, her body trembling with pleasure as he thrust inside her, sending waves of sensation through her. Her mind was spinning, her body alive with the feel of him buried so deep inside her she couldn't hold back anymore.

"I'm yours" she admitted "I'm yours Jarod"

Her words seemed to push him over the edge. He growled low in his throat, his grip of her hips tightening as he began to move faster, his thrusts deeper, more urgent. The pressure was building inside her, coiling tighter and tighter with every thrust, until she was teetering on the edge, ready to fall. He nudged her there as his fingers slid from her hip to slick folds of flesh between her legs. Jarod's fingers circled her clit in slow deliberate circles and she leaned heavily back against him. Her cheek pressed against his before he returned his lips to her neck, suckling painfully. His name evaporated on her lips as she shattered and he followed her quickly as he noted every expression on her face. Jarod held her tightly through the aftermath of their release, turning her in his arms, pushing her hair out of her face as he captured her lips with his. The kiss deep and searing, almost returning them to baseline all over again. His tongue slid against hers exquisitely as he gripped her neck gently, holding her in place for fear she'd disappear. His free hand was gently cupping her breast, his fingers splaying over her soft, tender skin. The sensation of his hands on her breasts, gently kneading with tender teasing strokes made her flutter her eyes closed. His fingers traced a nipple as she felt him nuzzle against her ear.

"You're so beautiful" he murmured against her hair. The contrast of the coarseness of his hands with the softness of her skin only heightened her pleasure, every stroke, every squeeze of his fingers undid her. His hands were so much larger than hers, enveloping her breasts completely and each movement was designed to tease, to claim, to bring her back to the edge. She was in awe of how quickly he had her back on the precipice. She felt a thick finger push inside her and withdraw almost immediately. She opened her eyes in protest and he dropped to his knees in apology. Parker felt the stubble of his jaw against her thigh and moaned involuntarily as he began to slowly lick and suck her into oblivion.

"You really are a genius" she muttered as he stood grinning before pressing his forehead against hers.

"Glad I've finally convinced you" he chuckled and turned on the water in the shower "Only took twenty or so years".