Irene breathed out a big breath, her cheek on Sam's chest, listening to his breathing return to normal in sync with hers.  She smiled and trailed a fingertip along the centerline of Sam's chest, drawing swirls and curlicues throught the fine air and sweat-dampened skin.  His professions of love, the promise of forever...  She knew better; there was no such thing as forever.  There was only Now and she was well pleased with her current Now.<br/><br/>"I love you, too, Sam--Mr. Markham."  Lifting her head, she planted a kiss on his chest before resting her cheek once more on his warm skin.  "You know, if we lived somewhere cooler making love might be even more attactive as it would keep us warm.  Though, slick skin does have a certain attraction," she mused, laughing softly as gooseflesh raised under her trailing finger.<br/><br/>Her hair, tangled wildly about her shoulders, the twist long gone in the exerteions of their love-making, slid slowly over her shoulder, making her shiver as it tickled her back.  She halted her teasing torture, lifting her finger from Sam's chest to run her fingers through her hair.<br/><br/>"There's no point in staying here, Sam.  What would happen if we discovered who killed Tim?  I'd likely kill them and go to jail forever.  I swore to get revenge...but, the desire to do so has waned.  The anger is still there...will it ever die?" she added in a half-whisper, talking to herself really.  "If I killed the man or men who killed my husband, I'd be no better than them.  I wish there were another way...to ruin them..."  She sighed and flopped to her back, disgusted with the way her mind had turned.  Had they not just made love?  Hadn't it been one of the best days of her life?  She rubbed her face with both hands and groaned.  "Sam, what was your job?  To check on me?"  She laughed softly.  "I think you can check that off the list.  But, what else?"