The scramble up the tree was precarious but Nya didn't mind, the smile on Aric's face was worth it.

"Have you lost your mind?" he scolded jokingly as he helped her through the window. "We're three floors up." After looking her over he pulled her into his arms, sighing as he hugged her. "But I'm glad you came."

"Me too," she sighed back, leaning into him and breathing in the warmth and scent of his body.

He'd been on deployment for two weeks and it'd seemed like a lifetime. Whatever they had him doing wouldn't allow for outside contact, and she knew better than to ask what it was. Another reason for her sneaking up to his window tonight, she didn't think she could make it until daybreak to see him. They clung to each other for a long while, then moved to his bunk, laying down side by side. She snuggled up on his chest as he stroked her long auburn hair and she heard him sigh in contentment.

"You really shouldn't be here Nya," he murmured. "Contact with civilians was supposed to be limited until Major debriefed us in the morning."

"Debrief, huh," she poked him teasingly. "Hope they kiss you afterward."

"No such luck," he chuckled again. "Don't even buy us dinner."

They shared low laughter and she felt him take another deep whiff of her hair as he relaxed under her. She'd picked up wafts of his stress and had seen it around his eyes when she'd stepped into his room; feeling it seep from him now did her heart good.

Her handsome soldier always looked so solemn, she thought, must have been why her sister Ren thought they'd be so good together, despite how much older he was than her. But when they were together the difference seemed insignificant. She loved making him smile and watching his amber eyes crinkle in laughter, and his serious nature balanced her own more capricious one.

"Brought some new holo-vids," she said as she ran her hand over his tee. "You wanna watch?"

"No, this is fine." His deep voice sounded drowsy. "Just enjoying the quiet."

"Rough one?"

She felt the mumbled affirmative rumble against her ear. "Can't talk about it."

With so many members of her pride in the military Nya probably understood better than most. Covert ops and secret missions couldn't be discussed, even with loved ones, adding to the pressure of performing such dangerous jobs. So she just snuggled into him and squeezed.

"You know how much I love you Nya?" His deep, sleepy voice let her know he was about to doze off and she tugged his blanket over them.

"Yes," she chuckled. "But tell me again."

"With my last breath." She could hear the smile in his words, "Just keep loving me back."

"You got it big guy." Pulling back from him for a moment, she moved so that her face was even with his. Laying a hand on his cheek, she looked deep into his dimly glowing amber eyes. "I love you Aric."

Leaning down she gave him a lush kiss, pressing full against him. She'd meant it to send him sweetly to sleep but it seemed to have the opposite effect. His arms tightened and a low growl rumbled from him as their kiss opened. She shifted over him, loving the feel of his muscular body under hers as their warm kiss became more heated. Long and deep, she started smelling the rich scent of desire pouring from him as he pulled her tighter.

Another growl rumbled in his chest and she knew it was in response to the pheromones she gave off. Communicating through body language and scent was an integral part of being Cathar, and he was reading the unspoken signals she was giving him. They'd fooled around before, touching, stroking and rubbing, yet always through the barrier of clothing. He'd never pushed her to mate, but tonight with how much she'd missed him, things felt too right not to.

She rubbed against him, feeling the hardness of his arousal against her center, and the sound that came from him was a puzzled growl. Untucking his shirt, she ran her hands under it and rubbed against him again. This time his hands grasped her hips and he lifted his to push against her. Their breathing started coming faster and she kissed down to his neck, licking the fur of his throat.

"Nya?" Her name was a harsh gasp, "If we're gonna stop, we should do it now."

"Uh huh," she murmured and licked again.

She rocked against him and he groaned as her tongue traced the edge of his ear. His scent was rich, like warm wine, and she was feeling dizzy from it. He was still holding her hips, grinding against her and the rush of heat overwhelmed her. He rocked her harder and harder, building the heat until she'd thought she'd ignite, and then stopped, holding her still.

His breathing was labored as his hands soothed up her spine then pushed her back slightly. He cupped her cheeks and brought her face to his, his eyes smoldering into hers.

"You sure about this?" Drawing his face closer he kissed her gently before sighing, "I want to, but only if you do."

Nodding quickly, she smiled down at him. "Yes Aric, I'm sure." Golden fire burned up at her at he grinned, then pulled her back down to him with another groan.

His mouth pressed to hers and she felt a wave of heat as her lips parted, licking her tongue to his. He rolled her onto her back as he deepened the kiss and she dug her fingers into his shoulders. He was rocking against her again, the friction driving her wild. She wanted him closer and wound her legs around him tightly. His arousal pulsed against her, harder than it'd been during their playful fumblings and she felt herself getting damp in response.

He broke from the kiss breathlessly, yanking off his shirt and she purred as she smoothed her hands over the hard, toned muscles of his amber-furred body. Tracing her hands down, she held his gaze as she unfastened his fatigue pants, then reached in to cup him. He hadn't been wearing undergarments, a typical military habit, so she was instantly able to wrap her fingers around his hard length and marveled at the heat coming from him.

She stroked him several times, feeling his head growing slick, then ran her thumb over his tip and brought it to her lips. His eyes had closed as she caressed him, but they snapped open and he watched as if hypnotized while she sucked the fluid from her thumb with a teasing smile. He grinned again as he finished taking off his pants, his velvety nakedness hovering over her under the blanket. But where he'd rushed out of his clothes, he took more care with hers, gently tugging her tank over her head.

Naked together for the first time, Nya suddenly felt flustered, and buried her face to his shoulder. Aric placed a finger under her chin and lifted her face to meet his eyes. There was tenderness in them along with the trace of humor as if understanding her sudden shyness. Capturing her lips, he let his hands slowly travel over her, soft and soothing.

His head dipped down and Nya gasped at the feel of his tongue laving the tight bud of one breast, while his fingers stroked the other. Her fingers dug into his shoulders while she made wordless cries of pleasure, thrilling at the attention of his mouth first at one nipple then the other, moving slow and easy. He lifted his head briefly and she met his eyes as he smiled.

He shifted under the blanket and nuzzled her stomach. She felt his mouth moving downward, until he reached the waistband of her shorts then tugged them off along with her underwear before settling between her legs.

She gasped in shock at the sensation of Aric's mouth at her center, unfamiliar but seeming like exactly what she needed. He parted her lower lips with his broad tongue, easing past them to her core and his fingers stoked her inner thighs. Long strokes of his tongue mixed with gentle nibbles that pushed her closer to the edge. Tension and heat were building in her and she moaned.

He sucked on the tender cluster of nerves at her apex and she grasped at the blanket, writhing in anticipation. Suddenly a flare of ecstasy blasted through her and she cried out as she was caught up in it. Her whole body jolted as tremors of pleasure shook her head to toe. She felt him smile at her center while he continued suckling and her back arched as she shuddered again.

"Oh, Aric," she breathed his name like a prayer, and felt him smile again as he rubbed his cheek on her inner thigh.

He moved his hand to where his mouth had occupied, continuing to lick while easing a finger into her center, and she gasped again at the feeling of him stroking her. Her knees bent giving him more access, and she arched again as he licked faster. He slipped in a second finger, continuing to stroke and soon another flare burst through her, then another. She let loose a soft cry, then lay back shivering.

"Alright?" she heard him ask as he moved back up her body, and she nodded weakly.

"Mm hmm," she sighed. "Incredibly."

He chuckled as he emerged from under the cover to her eye level and stroked her hair back. He leaned down to nuzzle her throat and Nya ran her hands over his shoulders, enjoying the warmth of his body. Lifting his head he smiled before leaning in for another thorough kiss. He shifted so that he was over her, his heated arousal stroking along her center and she moaned into his mouth. He lifted his face again his eyes glowing into hers.

"I love you, Nya," he said as stroked against her again.

"I love you too Aric," she replied as she cupped his cheeks and kissed him sweetly.

He moved between her legs and she kept kissing him as she felt his hands stroke down her thighs, bending her knees again. His member slid against where she was moist from his earlier kisses, teasing where he had suckled. The tip of him rubbed her center and she threw herself into their kiss, plying her tongue and teeth hungrily. His tongue danced with hers briefly until he pulled it back and bit her lower lip playfully.

For as powerful as he was, he was amazingly gentle with her, rocking his hips slowly and using short strokes to enter her body. He let her surround him, stopping once he was completely inside. She felt her body flutter at the unfamiliar fullness and he let out a deep groan, his hands continuing to run up and down her thighs.

"Still alright?" he asked, his voice strained.

"Uh huh." She was glad to see him smile as he reached up and stroked her cheek. His hips shifted to help her get used to the feeling of him within her and he gave her another light kiss.

He pulled back slowly before pushing forward again, and Nya let out a deep moan at the sensation of him filling her. Aric echoed the sound, shifting back and repeating the move. Nya's hands ran over his shoulders, lightly digging in her nails as he continued to move. Tension and heat built in her as Aric started thrusting faster, driving her closer to her pinnacle.

Her body rocked under his, suffused with the new sensations. Instinctively she raised her legs and wrapped them around his hips, gasping at the change in feeling. Then, as suddenly as before, another flare burst through her, striking her blind with rapture. Her eyes squeezed shut as she arched under him, feeling her whole body tighten as she heard Aric's deep groan at her ear.

"Nya," he rasped her name with the same reverence she'd used for his earlier as he continued moving within her.

Swaying with his thrusts, she came again, crying out as she writhed. His arms crushed her to him as he moved faster and faster, a tempest pushing her beyond what she thought she could stand.

Finally he groaned as he surged in one last time before locking up over her. She felt the spasm and pulse of him within her, igniting another flare and she moaned weakly. Feeling the shudders of his muscles under her hands, she opened her eyes. His burned above hers, yellow into her blue, as they both caught their breath. She lifted a hand to trail her fingers over his shoulders as she moved her legs down to drape it around his.

"Whoa," she whispered with a smile that he returned.

"That good?" he quipped, giving her a peck on the nose, and Nya shared a light laugh with him.

He shifted to her side pulling her onto his chest and she burrowed into his arms, feeling completely peaceful. "Always so tiring?" she joked, resisting a yawn, and she felt Aric place a smiling kiss in her hair.

"Naps afterward are kind of a tradition." He stretched under her, then tightened his arm around her. "I could use one and I like the idea of waking up with you in my arms, Nya." She smiled as his sleepy sounding words.

"Sounds good," she said as she nestled into him and her eyes drifted shut. "How much do you love me again?"

"With my last breath," he murmured, squeezing her tight.