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I couldn’t help staring. She was freaking beautiful. Like a present wrapped just for me. Her dark hair shone, and her dress encased her curves to perfection. I could get lost in her cleavage. She got my attention again with her words. “You know, if we sleep together, it doesn’t have to mean anything.”

I glanced up from the bounty in front of me. “Our agreement stands.”

“One year, drama-free,” she said softly.

I nodded. “That’s the deal. Can I profess my undying and dramatic desire to get you naked though?”

Her smile was swift. “You may. Before we get there, when were you last tested?”

“I’m packing protection in my suit; not the kind of gear I wear on the job. But I also went and got tested this week and got a clean bill of health.”

Her brows raised. “I never should have doubted you. I was beginning to wonder if you even wanted to make our relationship physical.”

I grabbed her hand in mine, tugging her close, until every dip and curve slid against my own. The fabric of her dress rubbed against my trousers, and I groaned. “Oh, Iwant.” Her warm eyes beckoned. “I want to kiss you.” I placed a soft kiss on her temple, then moved to her neck behind her ear to pause, inhaling. Melena’s smelled spicy-sweet, like the jasmine scent she favored. She arched into me as I exhaled, “Everywhere.” Her hands reached up to my shoulders, and her fingers tangled at the nape of my neck.

“Hmm...sounds good to me.” She tilted her head to give me easier access to her collarbone as I placed small kisses down her neck and across. She shivered and arched into me farther, rubbing against the tent in my trousers. I could feel her heat against me, and I went painfully hard.

I reached behind her for the zip on her dress, but her hands batted mine away and she slid the zipper down. I helped peel her dress down her shoulders, focusing on the additional cleavage revealed. Heaven. I was in heaven. I scraped my stubble gently against the arch of her breast above the cup of her bra and groaned before returning to sip from her lips.

Melena took our kiss from gentle and seeking to devouring in a heartbeat. She licked and bit at my lips as she ran her own hands down my chest, using them to push my jacket off of my shoulders and onto the floor, then hooking her fingers in my waistband and tugging me a little bit closer. I pushed our bodies into alignment. My take-charge wife wasn’t the only one who could get in the game. I unleashed my own rain of kisses down her neck, tracing down to that sweet, sweet, valley between her breasts.

I broke away to focus on sifting her dress to the floor. I sighed as the silky lavender pooled at her feet. Progress. I looked into her eyes; they were round to the point of panic and she swayed, gasping.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“I feel dizzy.”

“Shit. I’d love to believe that’s my manly charms, but it could be your heart. Let’s sit down.” I shepherded her to the couch, encouraging her to sit and pulling a throw blanket over her shoulders. I needed to help her calm down. So long as she stayed conscious, it would be fine. My hands only trembled a little as I smoothed them down her shoulders, trying to convey strength and serenity with my touch. “Take deep breaths. In. Out.” I reached for her wrist and started counting beats. It was fast. Too fast. “Did you take your medication today?” I asked.

She nodded. “I set an alarm to help me remember. I haven’t missed.”

“When did you start feeling off?”

She gave me an arch look. “It hasn’t exactly been a normal Saturday, but I really started to feel dizzy just now.”

I frowned. Shit. As much as I wanted to be a legendary lover, I didn’t want my legend based on knocking my partner unconscious. There was a theme here. Every time we got hot and heavy, she felt like crap. I didn’t want that. If getting her excited made her sick, then I needed to keep her calm. I took a deep breath.

I wanted her heart to race for me, but not to the point of illness.

“Your pulse is still fast. How are you feeling?”

Melena wavered her hand in the air, and it trembled.

“I’m still light-headed,” she admitted.

Her dark eyes gleamed. I wanted it to be disappointment, not fear. I did my best to push past my own dismay.

“I think we should relax today and take it easy. If you’re not feeling well soon, I want to take you to the ER again.”

She frowned but nodded. “I agree with the taking it easy part. But I don’t want to go to the ER again if I don’t have to.”

“Why not? It’s why you married me.” Ouch. The truth pricked at my fantasy. But it was why I’d offered to marry her, and why she accepted. All prospective naked time aside, we didn’t need to be married for that.

She scowled. “Still not how I want to spend our Saturday. I’ll call my cardiologist’s office on Monday and see if I can move up my appointment.”

My gaze met hers. “Do you want me to go with you?”

She shrugged, and I wondered if that was a yes. Melena’s cheeks flushed and she nodded a moment later. I didn’t like the fear in her dark eyes. I squeezed her hand. “You know I’m there. Moral support. It’s what husbands do. Just let me know when they reschedule you to.”