It was always the same.

First, the soft fluttering starting deep within that inevitably gave way to a tightening of her inner muscles. Next came the sensation of muted tingling, building from the tips of her toes it seemed and exploding deep inside. Usually, she was able to attain a small form of blessed relief and wrap her legs about his head, a subtle plea to him to cease his ardent efforts. Tonight, there would be no relief. His strong hands, splayed about the insides of her lissome thighs, pinned her limbs to the bed with the greatest of ease as he adored her with his mouth. Each sweep of his tongue against her tiny sensitive nub was designed to elicit a response, be it vocally or physically.

“C’mon, sweetheart,” Jack murmured as skilled fingers parted the folds of flesh. Again, his tongue dipped within her warmth, delving deep and slowly, expertly teasing her; giving her a preview of what was still to come. “Let yourself go.”

Audrey Raines’ entire body tensed. Her lips parting in a silent cry, she swallowed the sounds of her satisfaction. Any cries that did escape were drowned out as she turned her face into the plush pillow and eyes tightly closed – always, never opened – rode out the wave of pleasure.

No sooner had she caught her breath than Jack was rising from between her legs and lowering his body atop hers, positioning his throbbing erection at the entrance of her still over-sensitive sex. With a hoarse cry, he entered her, the sound of his pleasure accompanied by one of shrill surprise from his lovely fiancée.

It was always the same.

He practically had to orchestrate her participation. Going down on her was a no-brainer, a sure thing; he knew that her response, however reserved, was a foregone conclusion. But sex – almost always missionary style, every now and then female superior…every now and then; never rear entry – was different.

Yes, he enjoyed the feel of her hands gripping the planes of his shoulders; the soft kisses as she stroked his face while she murmured his name. There was a time and place for that. Just not all the time. What he wanted—what he needed—was the give and take, both physical and emotional, that made the sex not just an act but an experience. He hadn’t felt that in a long time.

It was always the same.

“In or out?” Audrey slid her hand across the kitchen table’s surface and laced her finger’s within Jack’s.

“Hmmm?” Jack continued to peruse the file before him.

“I said,” she laughed softly, emphasizing the last word even as with her free hand she flipped the dossier closed, “where would you like to honeymoon—in or out of the U.S.?”

Gingerly easing the folder from beneath her splayed hand, Jack could not prevent the smile beginning to ease across his face if he tried; it was hard not to when witnessing the woman before him like this. “You know I’m good with whatever you want, sweetheart. Whatever makes you happy.”

Several years ago, had anyone asked Audrey Raines her thoughts on happiness, the winsome blonde would have placed the euphoric state in the same category as mermaids or UFO sightings—a highly conceptualized myth, but a myth just the same. Life and loss had taught her that painfully hard lesson. Back then, she had believed the relationship she’d begun with then professionally exiled CTU Agent Jack Bauer marked the start of a new chapter in her life. Estranged from her husband of five years, wealthy international businessman Paul Raines, when she met the ruggedly handsome Federal Agent she was moved in a way she had never experienced before. Perhaps it was the stark contrast in temperaments – where Paul was subtle and at times hesitant, Jack was blunt and confident – or maybe the purely visceral reaction she experienced whenever he was near, a truly foreign sensation to the reserved government liaison; whatever it was, the difference was enough to make her want to pursue a relationship with him.

Much to her surprise, she fell hard and fast—as by his admission did Jack.

Other than, at her insistence, keeping their romance a secret from Jack’s then boss—Audrey’s father, Secretary of Defense James Heller—their budding relationship had been conflict-free. Until a threat to national security thrust Jack back into the world of violence and danger he had vowed to leave behind. It was a side of Jack she had been completely unprepared for. While she was no stranger to the inner workings of the government, Audrey was not naïve enough to think there were not hard choices that had to be made; dark secrets to protect and even darker acts to be executed. What she was not prepared for was to witness the man she loved carrying out those acts—and doing so without hesitating for even a second.

In the end, the threat was neutralized—but at an incredibly high cost. When the dust settled Paul Raines was dead, the result of a judgment call by Jack: he forced the surgeon to halt the surgery being performed on a critically injured Paul and instead treat a similarly wounded accomplice of known terrorists who possessed vital Intel on the impending threat. Within the span of 24 hours, Audrey had gone from the excitement of anticipating building a life with a new love to the somberness of planning the funeral of her estranged husband. Fueled by understandable anger and grief, a distraught Audrey broke off the relationship with Jack. Already numb from the day’s events, just when she didn’t think there was any further cruelty life could heap on her, she received news of Jack’s—staged, unbeknownst to her—death.

Upon discovering Jack had faked his death—that he was actually alive—her immediate response was not one of anger but, rather, relief. She viewed his ‘return from the dead’ as a second chance; an attempt to have the life together they were meant to. And make no mistake about it, as far as Audrey was concerned, she was the only woman for him.

It had taken some time – not to mention the agony (and embarrassment) of watching from the sidelines as Jack became involved with the brash surgeon who saved her father’s life – but Audrey’s belief the union between Jack and Sabrina DeLane was a temporary thing, just pure and simple lust (the woman was nothing more than an educated tart, in Audrey’s opinion), had been proven true when the so-called ‘relationship’ ended.

And somewhere over the course of a year—of time apart and together and averting numerous threats to national security—Jack, to Audrey’s delight, had finally come to realize what Audrey had been trying to get him to see all along: they were good together. More importantly, he made her believe it was possible again.

Happiness.

“So,” she hedged, “if I want to forego a honeymoon all together and just use that time for us to get settled in D.C.?”

“The move,” he reminded her, “isn’t definite until CTU has put a new Director of Field Ops in place.” He held up his hand, offering up an apologetic smile to ward off what he knew was her forthcoming protest. “Curtis Manning isn’t interested. Turns out he’s got his eye on the administrative side of CTU; I believe he one day sees himself either in the role of CTU Director or a top spot over at Division.”

“Jack…” Smoothly easing herself onto her fiancé’s lap, Audrey snaked her arms around his neck, stealing a kiss before drawing back to gaze upon him as she raked her fingers through his hair. “You know if it weren’t for the fact that I know your department is already short-handed, I’d start to think you’re looking for reasons not to vacate your role as head of Field Ops.” Although she tried her best to disguise it, the attractive blonde’s disappointment was evident in both her tone and body language. “You do still want to return to D.C., right? Make that ‘new beginning’ we talked about so long ago a reality?”

“Yeah, I do. But in the end, location is irrelevant when it comes to us making a new start, sweetheart. The main thing is that we’re together,” he soothed. Jack lovingly stroked Audrey’s cheek. “The fact is, this is what I do, Audrey. It’s who I am. I thought I was ready to walk away from this part of my life all those years ago.” He sighed. “We both know how wrong I turned out to be.”

“Jack,” Audrey began, “I told you then and I’ll tell you again now, I do not blame you—”

“I know, I know,” he nodded. “Fact is, until they can replace me, I can’t go anywhere. So let’s just concentrate on the things we can control, like this engagement party you’re planning,” he groaned mockingly.

“I promise you won’t have to wear a monkey suit!” she laughed. “It’s not gonna be black tie; more like…business formal.”

“Okay, okay,” he relented. Playfully, he swatted her on the hip motioning for her to get up. “I’ll leave both the party and the wedding to you.” Leaning in, he placed a whisper-soft kiss on her forehead. “I’ll do my part and show up, okay?””

“Works for me,” she beamed. “Hey!” Her hand darted out for his. “Do I ever tell you how happy I am?”

“All the time,” Jack smiled as he raised her hand to his lips. “All the time.”