"So," he said in an effort to break his internal tension, "any other secret desires I should know about?"

She smiled. "I'll have to get back to you on that," she murmured. "Think the gang's noticed we aren't there yet?"

"Did you want to join them?"

She thought to herself for a moment. She thought for a moment, then pulled it around her more tightly. "I don't think waiting a few more minutes will kill them. So . . . was it good for you too?"

The two shared a laugh at her unintended cliché. But a few minutes later, they disentangled and took a quick shower together. Neither was...