It was amazing how relieved she felt now that the decision was past them. She was still terrified of the future, of the possibilities that still remained, but for now the decision was made and Clint was standing by her, no matter what. That made all the difference in the world.

It felt good to touch him, to feel his skin beneath her fingers, to feel his muscles flex and relax under her touch. They had been almost as strangers, their touches awkward and unnatural, but that much of it seemed to have passed without the pain and uncertainty hanging over them.

“I’ll hold you to that,” she said, returning his smile as she moved on to his thighs. “You really did a number on yourself, didn’t you?” she said, working the muscle a little harder than necessary. She would never be too hard on him, but if he wanted it to hurt then she could make it hurt. Just a little. Then maybe he wouldn’t do something this stupid again for a very long time. “Maybe you should stick with water sports from now on.”