She shook her head. No way would she sleep there, surrounded by his smell and his soft sheets. All the reminders with none of the benefits of his company. "I'm fine on the couch."

He winced as she scurried from him and practically dove beneath the quilt he must have pulled over them while they slept. She realized why he'd rather have her spot when he didn't stop to find his supplies and his prosthesis, instead rising to hop to the stairs then climb them using some oddly graceful combination of his knee on his residual limb and his foot on his other leg.

Unable to look away, she watched in awe as he navigated the stairs his way. Quick and efficient. Demonstrating his strength. But when he got to the top and saw her staring, he shut down completely, as if she would judge him for acclimatizing to his surroundings and his new body.

"Dumbass," she muttered beneath her breath, but it didn't matter-he'd already vanished down the hallway like a wounded animal slinking into the night.

Ellie got up, locked the door then returned to the couch, taking a deep breath to inhale his dissipating scent before it vanished like he had.

Ellie didn't sleep at all without Lucas by her side. Neither did he, if the periodic tossing and turning or sighs she heard from overhead were any indication. By the time golden morning light poured through the window, she had given up. Shrugging into her dress from the night before, since the rest of her new wardrobe was still in the trunk of the car, she shuffled into the kitchen and started a pot of coffee.

She was nursing her second cup, doodling on a napkin at the table, when Lucas appeared.

"Morning," he said, not bothering to put a good in there.

Awk-ward. With a capital A.

On one hand, she wanted to race to him and smother him in kisses. Both because he'd given her the best sex of her life and because her heart hurt for him. They'd both shown their wounded sides in the middle of the night. There weren't going to be any instafixes for either of them. Plus, he was sporting a faint shiner, courtesy of her foot. Shit.

But...if they couldn't work through their issues together, then falling any harder for him would only be begging for heartache. Because she could admit she was already pretty much in love with the man and that gave him unimaginable power over her. Something she was wary of.

"I know I fucked up last night," he said. "But the silent treatment? Ugh."

Ellie couldn't help but laugh at his exaggerated yuck face.

"I'm thinking about what I want to say." She toyed with the handle of her mug as she considered her options. "I guess I just want you to know that no matter what happens between us on the sexual side of things, I'll always consider you a friend and I don't want to chance screwing that up. I missed you these past six months."

"I think I liked the silent treatment better." He stomped into the kitchen to get his own coffee and a bowl of cereal before plopping down across from her.

After he'd shoveled a few spoonfuls into his mouth, and chewed them somewhat more vigorously than required, he said, "Don't act like the link between us isn't there. It's electric and way more potent than that friend bullshit."

"I know," she admitted. "But if we can't make that work, at least we could have something."

"I don't think so." He shook his head. "Every time I'm near you, it's a stronger pull."

"Okay, fine." She tapped the end of her pen against the tabletop in a rapid tattoo. "Then why are you still hiding from me? I've shown you all the ugly parts of myself and you're going to go and act like I'm gonna be some judgmental bitch about your disabilities? That's totally unfair."

"Damn, E." He dropped his spoon into the bowl with a clatter. "You are so stubborn! It's not about you. I trust you. Hell, I even told you about how I grew up. It's just that...sometimes...I'm still not ready to deal with this, okay? I'm not nearly as strong as you are. Don't hold that against me."

"Let me know when you're ready to be a little more honest with us both." She flipped her pen around then started drawing again, more viciously this time.

They might have argued about it more if his phone hadn't buzzed just then.

"Shit." He banged his fist on the table, making her jump.

So she collected her mug and her drawing and took them out into his sunroom, where she could try to regain her calm while he talked to the Men in Blue.

The guys on the phone must have sensed something off because they insisted on coming over for a debriefing and check-in. Ellie didn't see how that was wise, considering the place would be teeming with cops and they were trying to scam some scammers, but she figured they knew best.

A few hours later, it shocked the hell out of her when people started showing up.

Not through the front gate or up the driveway, but on golf carts from the other side of the lake.

"I own a cabin about a mile that way." Lucas pointed. "It has more surveillance equipment and a secondary exit-or entrance, in this case-to the property through a tunnel in the wine cellar. I have a motorcycle and some other supplies stashed there in case I ever have to make a run for it for some reason."

He shrugged as if that were a normal thing.

Was she fucking a superhero or something? Too bad he couldn't fly-then they wouldn't have gotten in a fight the night before and things wouldn't be threatening to unravel before her eyes.

When it seemed like he was about to say something, maybe to bridge this horrible gap between them, the back door opened and Ryan rushed inside. He scooped her into his arms and squeezed her tight enough to make her squeak.

Over her brother's shoulder, Lucas was watching them with a sad smile. Was it because he was wishing he had a sibling of his own? Or because he was happy she had someone to fall back on if things between them got blown to smithereens?

Either way, Ellie knew she couldn't let him walk away from what they'd been building because it was too good to throw away over something as superficial as his image issues.

Later, after everyone left, she would try to convince him of the same thing.

When Ryan finally put her down, Ellie was immediately hugged again by Shari and Ben and Ben's niece, whom he had sole custody of since his sister had not survived Morselli's dungeon. Ellie embraced her brother's roommate a little tighter when it was his turn. She knew what he still struggled with, and it could just as easily have been her brother grieving instead.

Shari eventually cut in, handing her an enormous paper bag. "I thought you might want some art supplies to help you cope with the stress while you're here."

Though her friend might have meant the heist, it was clear she didn't when she glanced between Ellie and Lucas, who hadn't taken his gaze from her for a single moment.

"Thank you." The woman was a lifesaver. This would allow her to stay calm, especially if things between her and Lucas deteriorated.

Shari leaned in closer and said, "I put some of your collection in the bottom of the bag, in case you need some way to release the tension without relying on your host."

Ellie's face flamed. She would have told Shari she had a much better substitute, but Lucas's smirk was enough indication that he had a pretty good idea of what had caused her flush. Screw him. If he was still acting like an idiot later, maybe she'd put on that show she'd teased him about.

Then she'd see what he had to say.

When the hell had she become so bold? Probably about the time he'd made it clear that the two of them together were clear frontrunners in the world's best-sex-in-the-history-of-mankind contest.

"Uncle Lucas?" Julie went up to him and took his hand between both of hers. It looked so strong and enormous, compared to the innocent girl's.

"Yeah, sweetie?" He crouched down to her level.

"I saw a rope swing in the backyard. Uncle Ben and Uncle Ryan said I had to ask if I could play on it. Can I? Please?"

"Sure." He beamed at her. His adeptness with children was just another endearing factor about the man. Damn him. "Want me to push you really high?"

"Yes!" she screeched, making the adults grin. It'd taken the child a while to return to her playful self. All of them had been wrecked in some way or another by Morselli and the Scientist. At least Julie seemed the most resilient. "I want to touch the clouds."

"Well, maybe not that high." Lucas laughed as he let her drag him out into the sunshine. Ben and Ryan followed along.

From the sunroom, Ellie and Shari watched the other Men in Blue join their guys out back, suspiciously not far from the grill, while Lacey, Jambrea and Lily headed in toward them.

Matt and Clint-Jambrea's men-unpacked rations for an impromptu barbeque while the ladies joined Ellie indoors under the guise of whipping up some side dishes.

After a round of hugs from everyone and some baby talk from Ezra, who rode Izzy's hip, they all stared expectantly at her. Lily went ahead and said it for them all, "So...are you two doing it yet or what?"

"Um, yes. Kind of." She couldn't help but smile at that revelation.

Her friends cheered louder than they had when she'd hit that cursed jackpot last weekend.

They were so noisy the guys must have heard them from outside and turned their way for a moment before resuming their chatter.

"Shh...shhh." Ellie held her hands with her palms down and lowered them toward the floor. "It's not all sunshine and roses. I mean, it was, until last night."

By the time she'd finished explaining, the group of women was giving her plenty of suggestions for how to overcome Lucas's hang-ups. Not a single one of them doubted that working through things was the way to go.

"Honey, I can see him looking over his shoulder at us every ten seconds. He can't stop staring at you. He just needs some time to adjust." Shari smiled at Ellie.

"Speaking of"-Jambrea winced as if she hated to bring it up-"how are you doing? With the physical aspects of the relationship, given your condition?"

Spoken like a true nurse.

"Honestly, he's better than any of the hormone therapy I've been getting. It's amazing. He makes me feel so good. Almost normal, except way sexier than I used to be." She giggled as she shrugged nervously. "But...I was wondering..."

"We've heard it all, Ellie." Lacey slung an arm around her shoulders. "Do you know how many people we see in the ER each week who get stuff stuck up their butts? What could be more embarrassing than that?"

Lily looked between them before offering, "I can leave if you want to talk to them in private. I know what it's like to respect someone's confidentiality, though, and I'd never break yours. I hope you know that."

"It's not that I'm worried about anyone knowing, I'm just sort of thinking I might be nuts." She shrugged. "Stay, stay. I trust you all. Is it possible that when he comes in me, either in my mouth or my pussy, the Sex Offender effects are diminished?"

Shari couldn't help herself. "He's got magic jizz?"

"Oh. My. God." Ellie put her face in her palms. "I knew that was crazy, right?"

"Actually, no. It's not." Jambrea tugged on Shari's hair. "Quiet, ho."

When they broke into a mock fight, Ellie turned to Lacey instead. "It's not?"

"Jambrea and I have interviewed all of the recovering Sex Offender addicts at the hospital. Even Lily." Ellie held out her hand to her friend. Only people who'd experienced the ravaging effects of the drug could truly understand. "There aren't that many of you because, you know, it was so addictive. Most people who used it OD'd. But I can think of four who have told us the same thing you just did."

Lacey and Jambrea exchanged a look over Shari's head.

"What? What was that?" Ellie asked.

"It could be coincidence. We have a correlation going, not a causation-type situation. There's no proof for sure..." Jambrea hedged.

Lily squeezed Ellie's hand as she prepared herself to hear what they said next. "Tell me."

"The women who've reported this phenomenon are all in love with their partners," Lacey said. "You know a lot of the addicts were, and still are, prostitutes. None of them have described the effect when they're with clients they have no affection for. And even some of the women who are married haven't. But the ones who have rated themselves a ten out of ten on our survey when we asked about being in love."

"That's ridiculous. That's not how chemicals work." Ellie had been a lab tech before all this. She knew about reactions. They were standard equations. No deviations for something as intangible as emotions.

"You know," Jambrea added, "the more I think about things, the more I think I know a doctor you should talk to. I met him one time when he took Matt, Clint and me out to a fancy restaurant as a thank-you present. Remember when they saved that college girl who got kidnapped? The photographer?"

"Oh yeah." Ellie shivered as she realized she had a lot more in common with the woman now. "Wasn't her name Elsa? It was similar to mine, I think."

"Yes," Jambrea confirmed. "Well, anyway, her brother-in-law is Dr. Kurt Foster of Elembreth University. He invented this thing called the Dream Machine that's tearing up the field right now with its effectiveness in treating people who suffer from repressed memory, and especially sexual therapy through dream analysis. Anyway, he didn't used to believe in love at all because he only looked at base-chemical reactions. Long story short, he's convinced now-thanks partially to his wife, Becca-though he still thinks there are reaction types we simply don't understand yet that drive some of these unbreakable connections between people. It's fascinating stuff."

Ellie could see how it would be. "Could I get his card? Or his number or something?"

"Sure." Jambrea smiled. "How about I send an email when I get home, introducing the two of you? I think it could be really beneficial for you both."

"Thanks." She gave Jambi a quick hug.

"So until you and Dr. Hot Stuff crack the scientific reasoning behind it, I'd just recommend you keep draining Lucas." Lily shrugged. "If it ain't broke..."

"Damn it. It sort of is, though." Ellie frowned.

"Not for long." Shari smiled at her. "Trust us. You'll get through this. It'll be a fun trivia question at your bridal shower someday: What was your first fight?"

"What?" Ellie snorted as she shook her head. These ladies were too much.

"Yo, woman!" Razor shouted to Izzy from across the lawn. "The burgers are ready. Where's my potato salad? Don't forget the brownies either!"

They all cracked up at that, knowing poor Razor was about to get his balls handed to him yet again.

Sharing the fresh grilled food, they laughed and talked. A brilliant relief. Ellie sat quietly next to Lucas, wishing the heat of his thigh pressed to hers weren't their only contact. They spoke to their neighbors instead of each other, making her wonder if her friends had everything wrong after all.

Across the table from her, she watched Ben and Ryan offer Shari tastes of their food until she was too stuffed to finish what was on her own plate. From beside them, she could see Mason and Tyler rolling their eyes. More than once she heard them rag on themselves for being too stupid to make a move on Lacey earlier than they had and how they wished they hadn't wasted years of their lives before acting on what was between them. Matt and Clint seconded their opinions. Loudly.

Hopefully the third trio in their group would get the point soon.

Ellie could see how well they meshed. Why couldn't they?

She didn't want to make the same mistake. Just when she was about to whisper her revelation to Lucas, he got up from the table, clearing her garbage without being asked, before he joined the rest of the Men in Blue, who were tossing a football around near the lake.

When the ball popped off Clint's hands and went into the water, things turned into a cross between catch and a wet T-shirt contest featuring a host of sexy, ripped law enforcers. She, Izzy, Lily, Shari, Lacey and Jambrea swooned appropriately from the shore.

Ellie couldn't tell for sure, but at one point she thought she saw Razor reenacting their fucking faux sign language at Lucas. Oh God, had that been caught on camera? If it meant that the guys were treating Lucas as one of their own, not holding back or acting like he was too fragile for their jabs, she would gladly suffer a little embarrassment.

After a while, the guys headed in. Most of them had stripped off their shirts and were sunning themselves as they lounged near their women. The first really hot day of the year made them eager to soak up the sun's rays.

Laughing and dripping lake water, Lucas climbed up the bank then headed toward the pile of towels on the picnic table beside Ellie. She handed him one, admiring the way happiness transformed his sometimes too-serious features. He really did have a killer smile, dimples and all.

In silence, he began drying off his leg, pressing and holding where he'd gotten his liner and socks wet. His smile faded as he worked. Because of her?

"If you want me out of your hair, I'll go with JRad or one of the other cops until it's time for the sting," Ellie murmured so that their friends couldn't hear.

"Like hell." Lucas spun to face her so fast he had to take a moment to catch his balance, which only seemed to piss him off more. "You're staying with me. It's safer and...because...this is where you belong."

Ellie tried not to grin.

"Shit, E," he groaned, "I'm an idiot. I freaked out last night and I'm sorry it came between us. I can't promise that I won't get frustrated sometimes, but I'll try not to shut you out. Forgive me?"