David spun around and laid the pistol on the orange counter top. He crossed to Anissa in two long strides and grasped her upper arms with his hands, squeezing until it almost hurt. "Where the hell did you go? Damn it, I thought I'd killed you or banished you or something." Then he crushed her to his chest in a great hug that left her unable to breathe.

She allowed the embrace for a moment, burrowing her nose into the warmth of his skin through the thin undershirt. Then she ...