The day stretched on into eternity, and he could feel every aching muscle in his body. There was nothing he longed for more than to return home—but in the state they were both in, getting behind the wheel would’ve only led to a swift and certain crash.

But he missed her. Missed her with such fierce, aching intensity that it sometimes stole the breath from his lungs. She was the first thought when he opened his eyes, and the last before sleep pulled him under. She was his home—the one he yearned to return to every evening, just to feel the warmth of her sweet skin, to breathe in the soft floral trace of her perfume, to bury his face in the silk of her hair. He ached to gather her into his arms and never, ever let her go.

The hunt had dragged on longer than expected, and it had been nearly a week since he’d last seen her. Oh, how he ached to rest his warm hands on her skin, to see her radiant smile again, to kiss every inch of her beloved face. But for now, he had to make do with the sound of her voice—sweet, familiar, and the only thing keeping him tethered.

So when Sam disappeared into the shower, he sprawled across the bed and dialed her number—the one etched into his memory like a sacred verse. Once… twice… The phone rang, then finally clicked. She answered, saying nothing. But he could hear her steady breathing on the other end, and he imagined it brushing against his skin like a whisper.

“Hi, baby.”