Chapter 16

A/N This story began in Snowbound: Swan, Part I. If you want to read the entire story, go back and read that first. If you just want the smut, then keep going. ;-)

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Mark reached out and enfolded me in his arms as we met in a passionate kiss. His hands roamed my body, moving up and down my curves. I ran my fingers over his chest, his arms, his back. I couldn't stop touching him. I didn't think I'd ever have enough. The sensation of his bare skin pressing against mine was exhilarating, and addicting. I wanted more… I needed more.

Then Mark reached behind my back, to undo my bra. At least, he tried… he couldn't quite seem to get it. As his fingers fumbled with the catch, I giggled softly and reached back to help him.

As the undergarment was released, he stepped back, letting it slip through his fingers, to fall onto the floor.

His face held a look of wonder as he gazed at my breasts. I was starting to feel a little self-conscious, but it was obvious that I was being admired, and that helped me overcome my instinctive shyness.

"Oh, Princess…" he breathed, "I could never have imagined this…" and he reverently traced a finger across my bosom, and down to a nipple. Gently, he reached out and cupped my breasts in his palms.

I couldn't help the pink that colored my cheeks, when I realized that I was literally in Mark's hands now.

My knees began to buckle, as I was overcome with the sensations coursing through my body, but Mark caught me and lovingly laid me down on the bed. I stared at his face, which radiated a strange mixture of concentration and awe.

Slowly, with increasing confidence, his hands caressed my body, sliding up and down my curves, but always lingering at my breasts. I wanted to tell him that it was okay… in fact it was more than okay… it felt wonderful lying there, having his fingers stroking my skin. But it was all I could do to breathe. I was lost in the sensations he was evoking in me.

"Princess…" said Mark, concerned, "You're trembling…" I felt him pull back from me a bit.

"I just can't believe this is actually happening…" I whispered. "It feels incredible…"

"I can't believe it either." He smiled at me, lying down by my side. I snuggled next to him, enjoying the feel of his lean, muscled body against the full length of mine. I felt as if my insides had been filled with a heavy, warm liquid… like I was floating next to Mark on a sea of desire.

I could barely put it into words.

"I don't want this to end." was all I could say.

Mark's face stretched into a slow, sexy grin.

"I'll see what I can do…" he promised.

I giggled, then lifted my head slightly to kiss him. I closed my eyes and felt my body tingling with the physical contact.

Mark's lips left my mouth, but before my disappointment could register, I felt them again, on my right breast. The intense pleasure of this sensation was a shock, and unconsciously I arched my back, soft moans escaping my throat.

The Eagle continued tasting my skin, exploring my nipples with his mouth, and I felt a tingling deep inside my body. While on some level I was simply letting these sensations wash over me like an incoming tide, on another level I was analyzing them, saving them… storing them… making memories.

Because I knew that this would never happen again. This would be all I had to sustain me for the rest of my life. I knew that I never wanted to forget how I felt at this moment.

My skin felt cool where Mark had scorched it with his lips, and his tongue. Despite that, I was aflame inside, and when he returned for another kiss I eagerly returned it. His hands continued their exploration of my body, moving lower and lower, until… I felt a finger slide under the waistband of my panties, sliding gently over my lower abdomen.

Mark pulled his face back and looked at me, an unspoken question in his eyes.

I knew my answer immediately. Placing my hands on Mark's cheeks, I drew his face down to mine for a passionate kiss. He slowly slipped his hands inside my underwear, and I lifted myself off of the bed to allow him to slide them down my legs.

When I was completely naked, Mark pulled back and looked at me. He was so quiet, and unmoving, that I began to get embarrassed. I squirmed under his intense scrutiny.

"No, Princess…" he said softly, understanding my emotions. "I just… can't get enough of looking at you…"

That made me turn an even deeper shade of red, but I did manage to stop squirming.

"You truly are a Swan…" he whispered, his hand tracing my form. "So graceful, and beautiful… I can't believe you're giving yourself to me…"

My heart went out to him.

"I love you, Mark." I said simply.

Suddenly, a wicked idea popped into my head, and impulsively I decided to act upon it.

"Your turn, Commander." I grinned, as I wrapped my thighs around his waist and flipped him over onto the bed, so that he was on his back and now I was above him. My hair fell down, past my shoulders and onto his face, before I brushed it away. The look of surprise on his face was priceless.

I kissed his mouth, and then, before I could lose my nerve, I moved away, trailing kisses down his jaw, his neck, and onto his chest. My fingertips brushed over his hard, shapely muscles. I was enjoying the feel of his skin under my palms.

My kisses wound their way across and back, left and right, over Mark's chest, but always moving down. My hair trailed out behind me, whispering over the skin my lips had just left behind. Inch by inch, I moved over his body, sliding myself along, until finally my mouth reached his navel.

Briefly dipping my tongue inside, I quickly moved away, and found myself with a 'bird's eye view' of his briefs. It was hard not to stare, and my eyes widened. Almost unconsciously, I licked my lips.

It was obvious that his passion was straining against its cotton boundaries. Mark's breathing was harsh and guttural, almost like an animal's. Hearing this, and seeing the results of our love play in front of my face, filled me with confidence.

Lowering my face, I placed a long, wet kiss in the center of the bulge in his briefs. I was startled when it began to twitch violently.

"Princess…" growled Mark, winding his fingers through my hair and gripping tightly, "I don't know how much more of this I can take."

"I thought you'd never ask." I grinned flirtatiously.

I hooked my fingers in the sides of his underwear and pulled it down, over his legs and off of his feet. Returning to my previous position, I was met with the full enormity of the Eagle's maleness.

I couldn't stop staring. It was so…. huge…

I gulped nervously. What had I gotten myself into?

"Princess?" Mark asked gently, sitting up, "Are you okay? Should we…" he sighed reluctantly, "…stop?"

"No…" I whispered, wanting to look at him, but unable to tear my gaze away from the evidence of his desire. "I… just didn't realize… how… big…"

"Will it fit?" I looked up at him nervously.

Mark smiled softly at me, relief flooding his eyes.

"I'll take care of you, Princess." he promised, "I'll be gentle."

"I don't want to hurt you." he admitted.

I suddenly remembered a previously useless fact.

Wasn't it supposed to hurt the first time?

My body tensed, but I breathed slowly. I couldn't let such a little thing stop me now. I needed to have my first time with someone, and there was no one I wanted to be with more than Mark.

I smiled at him, and nodded imperceptibly.

He kissed me again, his hands roaming my body.

It wasn't long before I felt the entire length of him lying on top of me. I gradually became aware of a persistent throbbing between my legs. Mark continued to kiss me, and caress me, but didn't push me further.

I understood that he was waiting for me to initiate things.

This was why I loved him: he was always so sensitive, considering my needs before his own.

"It's okay…" I whispered into his ear. "I'm ready."

He seemed to hesitate for a second, then reached down. I felt him fumbling... what was going on? Maybe he needed one last push. We were at the point of no return.

I touched his hand gently, and guided him inside of me.

He had been right to wait for me... this was such an intimate feeling. We truly were together at that moment.

Mark entered me slowly, gently, pushing forward gradually. An unexpected pain tore through me.

I had experienced much worse as the Swan, but this came from deep inside. I bit my lip, and tears rolled down my face, but I resolved not to say anything. I didn't want Mark to think that I regretted my decision.

But I had underestimated my Eagle again.

He kissed away my tears, holding still as I collected myself.

"Do... do you want to go on?" he asked, quietly.

I took a deep breath, and as I exhaled I gave him my answer in a soft hiss.

"Yes..."

Mark began moving again, and the pain receded.

I felt a warm glow suffuse my body.

Before long, Mark's entire body stiffened, and he cried my name.

"Princess!"

As he collapsed on top of me, I felt a sense of wonderment that this had actually happened at all.

At the same time, I also felt a deep sense of regret, because it was over, and would never happen again.

Mark rolled gently to my side, and I snuggled into his chest. I could hear his heart beating underneath my ear. He stroked my head, burying his face in my hair. I was enjoying the closeness we were sharing, but I also knew it couldn't last forever.

"How are you feeling?" he asked quietly.

"I'm... amazed..." I answered, honestly.

"I was afraid that I had hurt you." he said, turning to look into my eyes. "I would never want to do that."

"You were so patient... and gentle..." I smiled. "I couldn't have asked for anything more."

An expression of relief crossed his face. I was touched that he had been so concerned about me.

"I'm so incredibly grateful, Princess..." Mark whispered.

I tried to speak, but Mark placed a finger over my lips.

"I never knew how wonderful this kind of intimacy was... and I'm glad that you were the one I shared it with." he said.

My thoughts were whirling through my mind at the speed of light. Did he just say what I thought he had?

"I'm glad I waited for you, Princess." he finished, his blue eyes staring deep into my soul.

He had... that's exactly what he had said!

"This... this was your first time, too?" I asked in amazement.

"Yes." he admitted, kissing me softly. "I had never wanted to do this... had never been swept away with my feelings like this... before you, Princess. Thank you..."

I took a deep breath.

"So... where do we go from here?" I asked.

Somehow, I wasn't as sure of Mark's answer as I had been a few moments before.

He had waited for me... didn't that mean that he cherished this too?

"Well..." Mark said, an impish gleam in his eye, "If you're not too sore..." His finger trailed down my breast.

I smiled at him. How I wanted to just lose myself in this moment again, but I had to know. I needed to understand what was happening between us.

"I mean... tomorrow... next week..." I said.

"Well, I think we could arrange things then, too..." Mark grinned at me, his hand lightly running down my side.

I hated to break his mood. God, how I was loving his attentions! But the needy girl inside of me had to push on.

I hated myself as I spoke again.

"Mark..." I said seriously, "What about the Chief? What happens tomorrow? Are we...?"

I let the thought linger between us.

Mark bent down and placed his warm mouth on mine, for a long, slow kiss. When he finally pulled away, he looked directly into my eyes as he spoke.

"I've waited a long time to be with a woman," he began, "I waited for you. And now that I've stopped waiting..."

I was holding my breath, every fiber of my being anticipating his next words.

"I don't care what the Chief thinks." he said firmly, "I don't ever want to be apart from you."

A sense of joy washed over me as I embraced him tightly.

"I told you after you rescued me from Zoltar," I replied, "that I'm not going anywhere. I'll always be by your side, Mark."

"That's where I want you to be, Princess." Mark said, "I'm never going to lose you again."

And as we embraced again, I knew he never would.

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A/N If you enjoyed this chapter, please check out this incredible illustration, done by Elizabeth Ayers. She did a fantastic job!

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