A small burst of laughter pushed through Maddie's lips and her eyes welled up even further and then without much thought to anything else, she let him gather her closer, she let him bring her in and she let him kiss her.

Right there in that terminal; with all of the people, with all of the cameras, with all of the reporters.

Harry tilted his mouth over hers and he kissed her; warm and soft and full on the lips.

And it was the most amazing thing she had felt in so long that she couldn't help but twist her fingers into his hair and hold him to her just a moment longer than would be publicly acceptable. And when he finally pulled back, just enough to smile down at her, just enough to press his forehead to hers, she grinned and nudged his nose with hers.

"I've missed you so much Captain."

"I've missed you too Maddie..." He kissed her once more before pulling further away. With a deep breath, he sat her upright; steadying her on her feet.

"I can't believe you're here," she looked him over, ran her hands over his shoulders, over his arms.

"Funny, I was just thinking the same thing about you," his eyes were sweet on her, his arms opening up regrettably to allow her to move from him, to stand on her own. "Back from the North Pole."

"Ha!" Maddie laughed; her heart so full of joy, so light with excitement; at finishing the trek, at seeing her husband. She felt like she was floating. Taking a breath, she turned her eyes back to the rest of her team; smiling wide as she looked them over. "I'm so proud of them," Maddie sighed, her hand moving up to hold onto his, their fingers intertwining.

"I'm so proud of you," he brought her hand to his lips for a kiss; holding her skin to his mouth for a moment, relishing the warmth, the softness. Maddie turned back to look at him, her fingers reaching to stroke against his cheek and she smiled wide. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, the Trek guide called them all back to the entrance, wanting to take a few more photos; one last shot of them all in their gear before they were free to shower and change and meet up again in about an hour for dinner.

"I have to..." She nodded her head to the side; nearly lost in his blue-eyed gaze.

"I know," he nodded; holding onto her for just a beat longer before he released her fingers. "I'll be right here."

"Hmmm...." Her lips pressed together as she looked him over; head to toe. "Best surprise yet, Captain. Best surprise yet."

Harry chuckled as she walked away, missing her next to him the moment she took the very first step. But he smiled with pride as she took her place next to the other trekkers and when photo time came, he pulled out his phone and snapped a few of his own.

After the photos had ended, they were all dismissed to settle in. They had instructions to meet for a celebratory dinner that evening; a chance to unwind and have conversation without the sub-zero temperatures and bitter winds.

So Maddie had waved good-bye to her new friends, promised to be there for dinner and then, with Harry's hand locked into hers, she led him from the airport, to the awaiting cars, back to the hotel.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Maddie shut the door behind her, clicking the lock into place and when she turned back into the room, he was right there in front of her with that brilliant smile of his.

"Hello," his eyes twinkled as he moved closer. She watched as any sort of public persona he had worn in the airport faded and it was just the two of them.

Harry and Maddie.

Her with her back against the door. Him closing the distance between them with confidence and determination.

"Hello," she echoed with a smile as the space lessened between them. As he stepped up to her, into her space, her hands rose and for a split second did not know where to go. They wanted to be everywhere. As his arms moved around her, as his hands pressed to the door on either side of her, hers slid into his coat and over his chest. It was warm and soft in there and under her right hand she could feel his heart pounding. "It's really you." Her eyes flashed up to meet his and he nodded with a sweet, soft smirk.

"It's really me," he stepped closer; his body pressing tighter to hers.

Maddie's hands moved up his chest to his shoulders; his broad, strong shoulders. And her smile pulled higher. "I thought it was going to be days before I saw you," she ran her fingers up his neck into the soft spikes of red hair at the nape.

"I couldn't wait that long," he shook his head as his hands on the door slid closer to her body, closer to her. "I hope you don't mind."

"Oh God," she shook her head, tears threatening to well in her eyes. "I don't mind. Not at all. Not in the least." Her hands slid back down, pushing his coat off his shoulders as they went. "I've missed you."

"Ha!" He laughed out into the room, moving his hands from either side of her so that she could push his coat from him. As it slid off his last arm, he tossed it aside and focused in on her; his eyes serious and full of want. "God Madeline," when his hands moved back to her, they bypassed the door, bypassed the tease and went straight to her hips. "You have no idea how much I've missed you."

"Well..." Her voice dropped low, her hands reaching back out to him, her fingers curling around the fabric of his shirt. "Maybe you come on over here and..."

If he ever really needed an invitation, that was all of one he needed. With that familiar smirk of his lips and that well known dance in his eyes, he leaned in and for the second time that day, for the second time in four months, his mouth caught hers.

The first few passes of his lips over hers were a soft, sweet "welcome home" but when her fingers tightened on his shirt and her mouth opened under his and she let out that small breathy whimper, the heat in the room—between them—peaked.

And he couldn't hold back any longer.

With a moan into her mouth, he pressed in. His tongue moving in between her lips as his hands on her hips moved higher; sliding up in between them, over her stomach, over the swells of her breasts. Making her moan.

As his mouth continued to move with hers, his hands wrapped around the front of her coat and pushed; wanting her out of it. Wanting her out of everything. Forcing her hands from his body, he tugged her coat off and tossed it away.

And just like magnets they were forced back together.

It was hot and feverish and full of this desire that had been building and smoldering since he had left her four months ago.

His hands wasted no time as they moved back to her hips, this time slipping up under the hem of her shirt. When his flesh met hers, she gasped into his mouth and her eyes flew open. With a smile against his lips, she pulled away; her breath coming up short and heavy, her lips pink and swollen and happy.

"Harry..." She breathed as her body reacted instinctually to his; pressing against him even as she tried to move away. "I....I haven't even showered."

"I don't care." He was quick with the words, quick with a shake of his head; his tongue licking his lips as he bent in to kiss her again.

"Ha!" She laughed loudly and happily as her hands pushed at his chest. "But I do!"

"Maddie..." He groaned in that frustratingly sweet boyish way he had.

"I haven't shaved my legs in weeks," she eyed him, her body arching out against him as his fingers tickled over her ribcage.

"Madeline," he grinned as his hands moved around her back pressing hot against her, bringing her closer against him. "I've just returned from months in the desert. I survived a helicopter crash. I swam for miles and you..." His eyes looked her over and his cheeks grew pink; the corners of his eyes crinkling up in his smile. "You're back from the North Pole and you look...so fucking sexy..." She rolled her eyes but he held her tighter. "And you're here. In my arms and I swear to you....Maddie, Maddie...I don't care about any of that. Please." His smile softened, his eyes growing wide. "Please. Let's make love."

There was a moment of hesitation, a blink of her eyes when all she wanted to do was tear off his clothes and take him right there against that door. She had thought of this moment so many times, wanted his hands on her, his mouth on her; wanted him so much. Harry caught her pause, caught her second of indecision.

And he moved in. His hands were moving under her shirt, back around towards the front of her. His lips were kissing at her mouth, her chin, her jaw; moving over her in a heated sort of need. As he dipped down into her neck, Maddie laughed at the way his slightly fuzzy chin tickled her skin. Harry chuckled against her, pressing her closer, tighter. "Oh God..." She groaned as her own desires moved her into him; wanting his hands all over her. Needing his hands all over her.

When Harry pulled back from her neck, his eyes were flickering with amusement; with love and humor and everything she had missed about him while he was away. "God baby I've missed you so much," he shook his head, his fingers moving deftly as they found the softness of her breasts.

Even though she moaned, even though she wanted this—wanted everything about where his hands were headed, where his lips were leading them, she shook her head and moved to stop him. Her hands moved up under her shirt, her fingers wrapping around his wrists and when he pulled back from her with confusion in his eyes, her lips curled up in a smile.

"I need to take a shower baby," she pushed his hands out from under her shirt. "I need to take a hot shower and wash away this trip and..." She bit her lip as she moved away from the door, as she stood tall and wrapped her arms around his neck; tipping up on her toes to kiss him. "And when I come back..." Her lips kissed his...slow and hot and full of promise.

Harry groaned at the way she made him feel, groaned as he nodded, his hands patting her ass as he surrendered. "Go. Shower. And come right back here."

"I swear on my life," her eyes met his in a solemn vow. And then with one last kiss, she stepped away from him; her hands sliding slowly down his chest as she moved.

He watched, his teeth pressing into his bottom lip, as she walked away and his entire body and soul ached for her to return. "Just a shower Sussex!" He called out. "No shaving!"

With a laugh Maddie stepped into the bathroom and shut the door behind her; leaving a breathless, happy Harry in her wake.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

When Maddie stepped out of the bathroom, a cloud of hot steam drifted out with her. Wrapped only in a large towel, her eyes immediately sought and found him. He had taken off his coat, his shoes and his sweater. Standing only in his jeans and a button-up, he flipped mindlessly through the channels on the television.

Until he heard her. His eyes snapped up to her and his smile spread wide. Without another glance to the TV he shut it off and tossed aside the remote control.

"All done..." Maddie smiled at him, feeling silly as she felt her cheeks blush under his gaze.

"And wearing just a towel," he nodded to her with that damn smirk of his; his arms folding over his chest as he looked her over. She shrugged and kept walking, right up to him.

"I assumed whatever I put on would be coming off," her hands were on him instantly; as if his hot, hard body was their natural home.

"You assumed correctly," Harry's voice dropped as her fingers moved over his folded arms up to the buttons of his shirt.

"Any reason you're still dressed?" She looked up to him under lowered lashes and the smile on her face made his knees weaken.

"None that I can think of." His head shook, his arms unfolding.

"We should remedy that." Maddie's eyes twinkled as her fingers worked quickly over the top two buttons.

"We absolutely should," he agreed with a chuckle, his own fingers working up from the bottom. When they met in the middle his hands caught hers and he pulled her closer to him. He wasn't sure if it was just the fact that he had been gone for months or if it was that she had just accomplished this amazing fete or if it was just that he wanted her as he always had—with everything in him. He wasn't sure exactly what it was but the site of her, the smell of her, the feel of her in the room with him—it warmed his blood, ignited his pulse and swelled his heart.

And there was a moment; a fork in the road when they both knew that this could go in two different directions. This could be the wonderfully loud, boisterous, laughingly fun reunion where she tore his clothes off and he tossed her towel aside and they fell into bed in a heap of rushed, heated desire. Or it could the other way; with high emotion and maybe a few tears as they pushed together, allowing it to feel as big and momentous as it possibly could. Harry watched Maddie closely, his lips turned up and his hands on hers; waiting for her to decide which way they were going to go.

She looked up at him, her lip pulling between her teeth. And then, as her smile stretched wide, she decided. Her fingers reached out to touch him; pushing into his now open shirt to his bare chest underneath. His skin was hot and her warm fingers against him made his breath catch. Maddie chuckled as his muscles jumped beneath her hand, as they grew accustomed to her touch again. Stepping in even closer, her fingers moved to trace a line from his sternum to his belly button. His chest rose and fell and Maddie's heart pumped faster as he watched her reaction to him.

A small sigh fell from her lips as her hands flattened out against his stomach. It felt so good to have him there with her, under her hands, at the tips of her fingers. Her eyes followed the path they blazed back up his chest to his shoulders. And then they locked with his. With a wide smile and big bright eyes, Maddie pushed at his shirt; tugging it off his shoulders, down his arms and tossing it to the side.

"There we go," she grinned; heat rising to her cheeks as she looked him over appreciatively. Her hands flattened out over his chest, sliding down to his stomach and then with a twitch in her lips, her fingers wrapped around the buckle to his belt and tugged him closer.

"Jesus..." He moaned; his own hands sliding up her arms, up her shoulders to hold her at the sides of her neck, tipping her face up to his. As his lips fell hot against hers, her fingers went to work. She unbuckled and unzipped and within seconds, she was pushing at his pants wanting them off. Now. She pushed down as far as she could without pulling her lips from his and then he took over, stepping out of the pool of clothing at his feet and stepping closer to her.

"Harry..." Maddie sighed into his mouth as his body pressed against hers. She ached to be closer.

"Mmmm..." He smiled and pulled back, watching as his hands moved to her towel. With a teasing look in his eyes, he slipped his fingers into where the towel was tucked around her. With a tug and a flick, the towel was tossed aside; just like that. "My God..." He groaned, his hands moving around her instantly; pulling her hot, naked body flush against his.

"Oh my God..." Maddie laughed, her hands catching his shoulders as he wrapped himself around her again. "I've missed you Harry. I've missed...this."

"You have no idea," he shook his head. He was so full of desire, so full of love; so full of her.

"Hmmmm..." She arched against him, her hands dancing up into his hair, pulling his mouth back to hers. "Maybe you show me."

"Yes ma'am," he nodded and dipped to kiss her again; hotter, heavier. As he gathered her closer, he moved to turn them, to turn her back towards the bed.

But feeling bold, Maddie stayed put; instead she pulled her lips from his and with her hand flattened out over his chest, she gave him a light push back towards the bed. Harry smiled big and wide when the backs of his legs hit the bed and when she pushed once more, he did exactly what she wanted him to; he sat down on the bed and moved back towards the center. His hand held onto hers as he moved, as she followed him onto the bed on her knees. When he reached the pillows at the head, he settled back and with wide eyes he watched as his gorgeous, naked wife moved her legs over his and straddled his thighs.

"My God," he breathed heavily, his hands moving to her hips as she scooted closer. "You're beautiful."

"Ha!" Maddie's head tipped back as she laughed. "You've been in the desert for four months; clearly you're a bit jaded."

"Watch your mouth," he leaned up as his right hand slid up the side of her body; his left sliding down. As his fingers moved into her hair, turning her mouth down to his, his eyes flashed wide and his smile grew. "Madeline Sussex...is that a smoothly shaved leg I feel?"

Maddie's eyes twinkled as she shrugged. "I don't know."

"You know that wasn't the deal," his fingers tightened as they moved down her leg towards her knee. "I think somebody's in some trouble."

"Yeah?" Maddie held his gaze, her hands settling on his shoulders; her fingers tickling at the back of his neck. "Exactly how much trouble are we talking about Captain?"

His eyes narrowed and his hands slid back to her hips and then, with his own desires pulsing below her, his fingers danced across her hip, across her stomach and then they moved; slowly and teasingly down towards her center. "Quite a bit of trouble," his voice was low and husky as he reached her hot, wet center where all of this build up had pooled, waiting for him.

She sucked in a breath at the feel of his long fingers stroking against her; her body acting on instinct and arching towards him. "Harry..." She breathed, her hands tugging into his hair.

"Madeline," he shook his head, his lips smiling as he leaned in to capture her nipple; hard and ready and aching for attention. She moaned when he pulled it into his hot wet mouth; gasped when his tongue flicked over it.

"Please...." She breathed.

"Please?" He echoed with a smirk and a cocked eyebrow.

Her eyes looked down at him, her tongue tipping out to wet her lips and then with this brilliant confidence and this unyielding sexiness, she wrapped her hands around his wrists and pushed him back. Harry's eyes went wide for just a moment as he watched her move over him; scooting higher as she pushed him back against the pillows.

And when her hot little fingers wrapped around his hard, pulsing cock, his head tipped back and his eyes closed and he had to work to keep himself from dying right there at her fingertips.

"Harry..." She called to him, wanting him with her now that he was finally with her. She had waited so long to be close to him, so long. She knew she simply couldn't wait any longer. His eyes pulled open and his hands moved back to her thighs; slowly and lovingly and when she lifted her hips up he sucked in a breath and braced himself. And then with a twitch of her lips, she moved the tip of him to her hot, wet entrance and she breathed. "Now."

He couldn't look away from her; couldn't tear his eyes from watching as she slid herself over him. With a groan and a gasp, Maddie sat down onto him, into his lap; taking all of him as far into her as she possibly could. Her cheeks flushed