Cam sat in the dark on the back porch watching the sky. The stars were out in force, and he tried to identify the different constellations, listening to the crickets and the frogs in the meantime. He expected Logan to pass by later, and they'd drink a few beers and talk shop. Logan was the only one he'd told the full story about his relationship with Ana, and he knew he wouldn't have been able to stay away from her so long if not for his brother's weekly updates. He glanced at his watch, and noted that it was getting late. He wondered what was keeping Logan so long, but he wasn't worried. Sometimes he'd stay over, and spend some time with their mother.
He thought idly about nothing in particular, watching a shooting star zip across the sky, and remembering to make a wish before it disappeared. That brought his thoughts to Ana, and to the hope he had that his letters to Matthew would be the beginning of a renewal of their love for each other. He touched the gold ring at his neck again, feeling the connection to her like a physical force. He ached to see her again, to hold her small sweet body in his arms, to make wild, passionate love to her. He heard a car pull up on the driveway, and he stood painfully and walked over to the bar to pull a couple of beers out of the freezer where he had placed them earlier to get cold. By the time Logan came through the house to the back door, Cam was back in his seat, beer in hand, watching the stars again.
"Had a date, did you?" he asked, swallowing a mouthful of beer and turning to look at his brother. He almost dropped the bottle he held in his hand. Logan was not alone, and Cam could pick that diminutive body out of a lineup. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out, so he closed it again, feeling like a fool. He put down the bottle and struggled to his feet, trying not to let the woman he loved see the pain he was feeling.
"Ana," he said finally, his voice hoarse with emotion.
"Cam," she replied, sounding no better than he had.
Logan cleared his throat. "I'll be in the study, Cam," he said and turned on his heel, not waiting for his brother to reply.
Cam stared blankly after his brother's retreating back, and then slid his eyes back to Ana's face. She had not moved from her place by the door, and she seemed as unable to cope with this meeting as he did.
"Ana," Cam began again, but she didn't let him finish.
She moved towards him then, the dress she wore swirling around her legs. She stopped a foot away from him, and looked at him. Cam couldn't help himself. He reached for her, pulling her into his body, and lowered his head.
"Cam, I'm sorry," she breathed. "Please forgive me!"
Cam closed her mouth with a sweet kiss, hugging her tightly to him, ignoring the pain that shot through him. When Ana opened her mouth to him, he was lost, reveling in the feel of her silky tongue in his mouth, and her hands spread over his aching back. It was as though they had never been apart.
"Darling," he whispered, pulling away from her to look into her cat-colored eyes, "how...?"
Ana put her trembling fingers to his lips. "I was doing a book signing in town. I didn't call because I didn't know if you'd want to hear from me. Your brother came to the reception tonight and he said if I wanted to know what you felt I had to ask you myself." She stopped and gazed up at him, the unspoken question in her eyes.
"I have longed for you with every breath since the day you left me," he said passionately. "I didn't call because I thought you wouldn't want to hear from me." He chuckled. "We're a couple of dolts, aren't we?" he said, and bent his head to kiss her again.
"Logan said you had been in an accident, but I don't believe him," she said, pulling away from him again. "What really happened?"
Cam's face grew still, and he tried to hug her again, but she resisted. The pain he felt in his back and down his leg almost doubled him over, but he fought against it and sat down slowly. He knew Ana did not miss the way he sat carefully, nor could he hide the grimace of pain that slid across his face.
"Cam," she said, kneeling next to his chair, fear in her voice, "what happened?"
He took a deep breath, and turning his eyes to the dark lake over her head, he answered, "I had a disagreement with an international arms dealer. He tried to make sure I went to meet my Maker."
"How long were you in the hospital this time?" she wanted to know.
"Three months," he said slowly, still staring at the glistening lake waters.
"Why didn't you call me, Cam?" she asked, her voice thick with tears. "You know I would have come if you had." She reached over and turned his face so that he was forced to look at her. The love Cam saw shining in her eyes melted the last vestiges of his doubt and reserve, and he pulled her up toward his mouth again.
"I love you, Ana, more now, I think, than when we first fell in love. I want you with me all the time. How am I ever going to let you go again?" He covered her mouth with his desperately, and she answered his need with a deep kiss.
"I've never not loved you Cam," she said, when she could speak again. "I wish things were different now, and I could stay with you, but I have a final leg of the book signing tour to go on, that will take me into your back yard. I'll be in England for a week, and then I have to go back to Pine Bluff to work. My leave of absence is up in a little over two weeks." She sighed, and kissed his face again, before standing slowly.
Cam didn't let go of her fingers. Instead, he struggled to his feet and pulled her up against his chest. "What if I came with you?" he wondered.
"You're obviously not well yet, Cam," she argued, looking at him with worry in her eyes. "Won't traveling like that aggravate your injuries?"
"Nothing will aggravate me if I can be with you every day," he said, and drew her bottom lip between his teeth. "Don't make me beg," he implored.
He sucked her bottom lip into his mouth, and he licked it on his way to her top lip. She moaned, and he settled his hungry mouth over hers. Between them there wasn't a coherent thought for a few minutes after that. Finally, when Cam could not mask the groan from the persistent pain that tore through him, Ana pulled away and took his hand.
"Come on," she said. "Let's go in. It sounds to me like you need your meds."
Cam let her lead him into the house, and when she paused to close the door behind her, he looked at her. She was so beautiful, she took his breath away, and she was his. He inhaled deeply, feeling grateful that she still loved him, and that he was being given a second chance to make it right with her.
"Where are your meds?" she asked, turning to him.
"Upstairs, in my bedroom," he said huskily, the thought of her in his room shooting adrenaline straight to his groin. "I'll get it," he said, turning to go, but she stopped him with a hand on his arm.
