He let himself into the house, and was instantly surrounded by dogs.

“Hey boys. Where’s Emma?” he asked, taking a moment to scratch each of the two bouncing heads.

He found her in the den, stretched out on the couch with the TV on. Apparently, she hadn’t heard him come in, because she started when he entered her field of view.

“Hey, doll. What are you watching?”

“You’ve Got Mail. It’s almost over…Shhh, they’re going to kiss now…”

He stared at the screen for a few seconds. “Oh come on, we can do better than that.”

With a laugh, she murmured, “You’ll have to prove that. This is a classic.”

He took that as an invitation. He sat on the edge of the couch, leaning over her. His mouth found hers quickly.

“Mmm,” she moaned as he deepened the kiss, his upper body pressing into hers as he settled on top of her.

She opened her mouth to his willingly, her tongue creeping out to meet his. She lost track of time as they kissed, his mouth playing warmly over hers, and after what seemed like forever, his hand gently ran up her body and cupped her breast.

He caressed her lightly, loving the soft pleasure sounds she made. She made no protest when he slipped his hand under her shirt to continue his exploration of her body. Her shirt slowly got dragged higher and higher until her bra-clad breasts were free for his admiration.

He had taken her this far before, in the past three months, but this felt different. She knew he wanted more.

In a bold move, his hand slid down between her legs, cupping her through her jeans.

“Emma,” he rasped as he took in the sight of her. The feel of her. “Emma, let me take you upstairs. I’ll make it good for you, I promise. Better than that first time.” He pushed himself up, holding his upper body off hers with one arm out for support so that he could study her face. His hips pressed heavily into hers, and she could tell he wanted her.

Propping herself up on one elbow, she kissed him, hard. “I don’t know if it can get better than the first time.”

“It can, Em. It will be. All night long.”

“Are you trying to kill me?” she asked with a disbelieving laugh.

He chuckled, running a gentle hand up her body. “I’m a doctor. I would never let you die. I just want to give you pleasure. That’s all that is important to me right now…making you happy.”

“I am happy,” she said simply.

“Em…” his eyes pleaded with her. “Em, please. I ache for you…it’s been so long…I haven’t—in months—”

“How long?” she asked, knowing he knew the whole question.

He met her eyes evenly as he answered. “There were two, the week after I first met you. None since then. It’s only you, Em. It’s all you.”

“Take me upstairs, James. Make me yours.” She gazed trustingly up at him, her eyes hazy with passion.

He paused, resting his forehead against hers. His hands lingered on her hips. “You are mine. I love you, Emmaline Mitchells. I’m never going to let you go,” he swore softly. It was the first time he had actually said the words, even though she had known for a while that he loved her. He had written it out on notes, on cards, in emails, but he had never said those three little words out loud until now.

“I love you too…” She held onto his neck as he stood, pulling her up and into his arms.

Upstairs, he reverently set her down on her bed and helped her out of the last of her clothes, until she sat before him in the nude.

He gazed at her so intently, and for so long that she grew nervous, crossing her arms over her chest.

“No, Emma, let me see you…” he murmured, pulling her hands away.

With a pout, she tugged at his shirt, wordlessly expressing her interest in seeing him remove it.

He obeyed, taking his clothes off, and she quickly found herself laying beneath him, skin to skin, as he picked up the kiss where it had left off.

His hand resting on her stomach, he pulled back slightly. “You’re okay with this, right?”

“James, I’ve slept with you before,” she said through her muddled brain.

“I know, I know, but this is our first time as a couple, and I don’t want to rush you.”

“It’s been three months since we started dating, James, and I’ve wanted this nightly since then. Please, make love to me.”

“I’ve wanted you every second since you collapsed in my arms at that damn bar and even before that.”

“But you moved so damn slow. Please,” she pleaded.

“Slow is good, doll. Fast can be fun too, but this time, we’re going to take it slow and I’m going to show you just how much I love you.”

She arched up against him. “Get on with it then.”

“Bored already?”

“Mmhmm. Kiss me.”

He obeyed willingly, his mouth hot on hers as his hand slipped downward between her legs.

She shivered and cried out when his fingers found her and skillfully tore moans from her throat. He slipped a single digit inside of her, and her muscles involuntarily clenched around him.

“God, Emma,” he groaned, “You’re so wet…so tight, so ready for me…”

“James, please,” she begged, and wanted to cry when he shook his head. She wasn’t sure how much more of this she could take.

His lips latched onto her neck, before moving down to her breasts. He sucked a nipple into his mouth, and her back arched up against him.

When he had brought her through two orgasms with his hands and his mouth, and reached for a condom from his wallet, she put her hand on his wrist. “I’m on the pill…”

He sat back on his heels, straddling her hips, looking down at her. “I was tested last month through the hospital. I’m safe.”

She nodded shyly. “I am too.” She wanted to really feel him; feel him in a way that she had never felt a man before. She wanted him to be hers. Slowly, he lowered his body back down to hers, his mouth seeking as he settled between her parted legs.

He kissed her neck as he entered her, driving her towards number three. He smiled in victory when she cried out his name.

“Ah! Did I—ever tell you—you’re the best one, ever?” she asked.

He smiled tightly, his body steadily thrusting into hers as his hands cupped her cheeks, holding her head still to receive his kisses.

When it was finally over, Emma had lost track of how many times she had orgasmed, and she was too exhausted to do anything but wrap her arms around James as they lay motionless.

Motionless, except for his hand gently stroking her hair.

“I love you,” she whispered when she could breathe again, just loud enough for him to hear.

“I’ve never loved you more, Em.” He tightened his arm around her, and a fleeting kiss landed on her temple. He could hear the clock downstairs chiming midnight. “Happy birthay, doll,” he murmured.

She smiled. “You remembered!”

“Of course I remembered, silly. The big 3-0, huh? I’ll give you your present in the morning.”

Her smile widened and she gave him a quick kiss. “There’s nothing else I need, right now.”

“But I got you something anyway. And Emma, not to get off the subject of your birthday and how wonderful you are and how much I love you…” He hesitated and touched his mouth to hers before continuing. “Will you move in with me?” he asked. “Share my apartment…my bed, my life?”

She glanced downwards. “James, I—“

He touched a finger to her lips. He could tell from the tone of her voice that she wasn’t saying yes. “You don’t have to explain. If you don’t want to, fine. But I’m gonna go.”

He rolled over, ready to climb out of bed and find his clothes.

With all her strength, she grabbed his wrist. She couldn’t let him leave without saying what she had meant to say.

“James, listen to me before you get pissed off and storm out of here…I meant…I was thinking, maybe you could move in here? I mean, I have more room, and I’m closer to the hospital…and you aren’t exactly the King of collecting ‘things.’ I just thought it might be easier, and with the dogs and Rhett…”

“You’d let me move in here?” he asked, shifting so he could look down at her.

She nodded, meeting his gaze.

“We’d need a new bed. My feet hang off the edge of yours. Too many pillows.”

“That’s fine,” she whispered.

“And a bureau. I’ll need some of your precious closet space. Or I can get a wardrobe.”

She nodded silently.

“And you’d have to sleep naked. Easy access and all that. My job is high stress and I need to relieve some pressure every night.”

Cracking a smile, she pinched his arm, and he grabbed her hand, bringing it up to his lips.

“The extent of my experience in the kitchen is alphabetizing the pantry, although I’m decent on the grill. I’m a grouch in the mornings, and I work too much. I can get called in at any time and not make it back in time for dinner. Even on holidays. And I’ll expect you to let me pay the rent.”

“You can pay your half, no more. And, I know, James, I know. None of that matters,” she told him, her voice husky.

“You’re sure you want to live with me? We’ll both have to adjust…”

“Are you trying to talk me out of this?”

“No, Love. I just want there to be as few surprises as possible because I don’t want to lose you.”

“Then it’s my turn, right?” she asked as she sat up.

He gave her a nod and a gentle kiss, his hand caressing her cheek. She had never imagined she could feel so loved, and she had never thought that James would be so cuddly and romantic. “Your turn.”

With a deep breath, she began talking. “I have a habit of bringing home strays from work. Some stay longer than others. My work life affects my personal life, and if something bad happens, it will upset me for the rest of the day and I’ll take it out on you because I’m used to being alone. I’m not the best cook, but I can get by all right as long as you don’t expect any thing before ten am, because I get nauseous when I try to eat early in the morning.”

“I don’t eat until I get to work.”

“Shh, my turn.” She placed her finger over his lips. “And…it doesn’t have to be right away…but someday, I would want to at least consider having a family…I want kids…” She bit her lip, wondering if that was too much. She didn’t want to scare him away, but she didn’t want to live being afraid to say things to him.

He was silent for a long minute before kissing her tenderly. “I love you, Em. I need no more than this, but the thought of you with my child in your arms…I think that someday a baby, or two, would be a good idea… I loved being a father. Having a child…it’s one of the most amazing feelings in the world. Being with you, would make it even more perfect. But I think you would have to marry me first. I’m a little old fashioned.” He must have seen the look of shock on her face, because he added, “I’m not proposing yet. But I think we both know it’s a reality, that that day will come for us. Maybe in a couple more months, even a year. Let’s take it slow, Em, see where we go.” James smiled to himself. He had already begun the hunt for the perfect ring, but he didn’t tell her that.

“Not too slow, James, you’re already an old man,” she teased.

He laughed, pulling her body hard against his. “I’ll show you old,” he growled. She smiled gratefully against his mouth as his body covered hers and there was no more talking after that. Not for a very long while.

All night long, indeed.

AN: And the end is finally here! Thanks to everyone who's read and reviewed this story, and I hope you enjoyed the pure fluffiness of this epilogue.

Thanks all,

Ashley