He felt more alert now that he was sure that he was walking down the right path, more aware of everything now that he no longer had to waste his energy in worrying or hoping. His pulse was a touch faster, he thought her color was a little higher, and he wanted to be closer to her. "You know what I do all day," he said with a dismissive flicker of a sneer for everything he'd left up in his office. "Stupid letters. Overly sensitive children. The less agreeable segments of the staff. You may feel free to drop in." His hand slid further into her hair, long fingers tending to the back of her neck. "Please." He felt rather more intoxicated than he really was, which was just as well.