I have Dr. Brennan's authority to submit this story by him to your Dulcinea Memorial Writing Festival. Reposted stories, and hence revised ones, are specifically permitted in the rules.

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She woke in an empty bed. This had been happening too often lately. At four a.m., she found him sitting in front of a screen saver with his head against the back of the chair, snoring away.

He jumped when she kissed him. The taste of his mouth almost made her jump, as well. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"Kissing my love. Kissing him at four a.m. Mountain Daylight Time. Better known as time for bed. If you are going to sleep, why do it alone?"

"I'm running the grammar checker over the entire document. That always takes a while. Then I have to deal with the results, put in the headers, and send it off. *Then* I'll sleep."

"Yeah, like a log. You won't be any fun then either."

"You only love me for my body."

"Not for your mouth, that's for sure. Why don't you brush your teeth while the computer works? Gargle with mouthwash while you're at it."

When he came out of the bathroom, she tasted the results. "Um. Much nicer mouth, do you think you could fake some feeling?" She pulled him against her, feeling his hard-on against her mound, his hard chest against her breasts. After a moment, he returned the kiss. His hands squeezed her asscheeks. Then he stepped back.

"I don't have to fake anything. You know I love you, it's just that the report is due tomorr... Today, by now. Didn't you feel my love in that hug?"

She smiled and touched his semi-erection. "I felt this. Is that called your love?" She knew she had him then. As he hardened in her hand, his protests softened in her ears.

She could tell that he *had* missed her. The computer competed for his attention, not his desire.

She tossed off her night gown before helping him with his clothes. His hugs were now enthusiastic, and they rolled around on the bed like newlyweds before he pinned her. Kissing her breasts, he explored her folds with his fingers. She clasped his arm with her legs while he spread her moisture around.

"So wet!" he said. She responded in kind, kissing the shoulder which was all she could reach while he was at her breast. The fingers of one hand trailed lightly over his ass; the fingers of the other grasped his cock. As she had intended, that ended foreplay. She spread her legs as he rolled on top of her.

"What did you think I had been thinking about?" she asked as he hurriedly positioned himself. Then neither had time for coherent speech. She could feel the tension in his muscles as he fought for restraint while pressing slowly into her. When she rocked her pussy upward, the restraint disappeared. His ardor matched hers; her rhythm matched his. Arching with her climax, she pulled him tight into her. Then he came with shaking and grunts.

A moment later he lay gasping on top of her.

His breath evened and then turned to snores. "Sleep well, my love," she whispered as she slipped from under him. The project would flow smoother when he was rested. Cuddled against him, she found the rest which had eluded her in the empty bed.

Having prepared the batter long before, she heated the pan when she heard him stirring. "Pancake breakfast in ten minutes," she told him from the bedroom door. "Rested and fed, you can whip that report out by one."

"One! What time is it?"

"Eleven thirteen."

"The report was needed at a board meeting at nine- thirty *Eastern* Time. They'll fire me. They'll have to." He looked devastated.

She went back to turn off the stove. He wouldn't want pancakes; pancakes were for celebrations.