I'm glad you guys liked chapter one! Like I said last time, this does get a bit M near the end but I don't feel like it's explicit enough for the rating.

Enjoy!

"Like a river flows surely to the sea,
Darling, so it goes, some things are meant to be.
Take my hand, take my whole life, too,
for I can't help falling in love with you."

Aria's POV

I giggled to myself as I hit send on my text to Ezra, knowing all-too-well that he had a very active imagination and was probably already on his way over. I hoped he wouldn't be too long as already there was uneasiness settling in my stomach at his absence. Tossing my cell onto the bed, I looked around my hotel room once more.

It wasn't anything fancy, just a bed, couch, dresser and bathroom. The view, however, was something else. Nothing can beat New York in the snow, especially not New York in the snow on New Years Eve. I circled the room slowly, feeling the fabric of the couch and looking in the drawers of the dresser. I found a short, white robe in the bottom one and grinned. This was going to drive Ezra crazy.

I slipped off my dress and heels, and tied the sash loosely around my waist, glad that I had worn the matching purple underwear that Hanna had gotten me for Christmas. My heart was beating wildly in my chest as I thought about the events of the coming night. I was finally going to lose my virginity to the man I loved.

The seconds slipped by slowly as I waited for him to arrive. The snow outside was falling thicker and faster, I hoped he'd get here okay. I was about to ring him to make sure he was okay when there was a knock on the door.

My heart picked up pace again. However, instead of bouncing to the door like I had planned, I stood frozen. I couldn't do this. Does he even want to make love to me? What if he was only coming to talk? What if he ended it with me again? What if -

The knocking sounded again and I started to breathe quickly, my chest rising and falling rapidly. I was shaking. Stage fright, this is what it felt like.

My phone started ringing in my palm. Glancing at the caller ID I saw his face smiling up at me. My Ezra.

Shaking my head, I expelled all of the stupid thoughts that had frozen me. It didn't matter what happened tonight. Tonight we were together and that's all that matters, for who knew when we'd next get a chance like this.

I ignored the call and skipped to the door, ruffling my hair and tightening the sash on my robe. Grinning form ear to ear, I pulled open it open.

"Hey," I breathed as Ezra Fitz was revealed from behind the door. He was so perfect. He didn't say anything; his eyes were slowly making their way up and down my body. Ezra swallowed before meeting my gaze. "Are you going to come in?"

"Is everything okay? What took you so long?" He asked, stepping into the room. There as an overnight bag on his shoulder and I suddenly felt very foolish for thinking that he didn't want to be here.

"Nothing important," I said with a smile, leaning up to place a small kiss on his lips. He tried to deepen it but I pulled back, deciding to tease him a little. Ezra dropped his bag on the ground and shrugged off his jacket. My heart was still pounding in my chest.

I walked over to the window, hoping that the calmness of the snow would help soothe my nerves. Ezra came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, leaning his head on mine. Together we watched the pieces of white flutter through the air, the serenity overcoming and enveloping us.

"I'm so happy to have you back," Ezra whispered into my ear after a few moments, making me shiver. With a turn of my head, I was staring over my shoulder and into his endless blue eyes. I could have never seen those eyes again. I'll never forgive myself for letting him go.

"I love you," I told him, before leaning up to capture his lips with mine, my hand coming up to tangle in the hair at the back of his head. This time, however, it was Ezra who pulled away.

When I looked at him questioningly he only smiled his playful grin and pulled me by the hand, sitting me next to him on the bed.

"I have something for you," he said, reaching for his bag. He must have noticed my confused face because he chuckled, "I got it before we broke up." He pulled out a long velvet box and handed it over to me. "I'm sorry it's not wrapped. I, uh, was showing it to my mom over Christmas."

I smiled at him, at a loss of what to say, before opening the box. Inside was a delicate, antique gold locket. It had two hearts engraved on the front and I traced them lightly.

"Ezra," I gasped, my eyes filling up with tears, "It's beautiful!"

"It reminded me of you."

I blushed and opened the locket. Inside was a black and white, worn picture of an old couple embracing and on the other side, the word 'Happiness' was engraved.

"I… Ezra, I don't even…" I struggled, not for the first time, to find words to tell him how much I loved him. He smiled and took the locket from me, removing it from the box and holding it out in front of me. I sighed when I felt the cool metal hit my already over-heated skin. He reached around and latched behind my neck.

He went to move away but I grabbed his arm, stopping him. He met my gaze as he let one of his hands cup the back of my neck, bringing our lips softly together. We kissed languidly for a while, relearning the curves of each other's lips and the taste of the other's mouth. After a while, however, our slow pace wasn't enough.

I pressed myself closer to him, shifting so that I was raised up on my knees as I straddled his legs. He moved his hands to my waist, pressing me closer to him, causing me to brush against his crotch. I gasped and broke the kiss when I felt him beneath me, shocked that I'd done that to him.

Ezra immediately flushed and tried to pull away completely. My stomach plummeted as I realised that he had misinterpreted my shock.

I pulled his lips forcedly back to mine and all but shoved my tongue into his mouth, immediately tangling it with his. This kiss was very different to our previous kisses; it said, "No pulling away, we're doing this." My hands moved to his shirt and I started to flick the tiny buttons out of their holes. Ezra kissed me back with equal vigour, his hands playing and tangling with my hair.

With a triumphant grin, I popped the last button free and pulled away from the kiss. He shed the shirt, flinging it somewhere across the room and out of sight. Placing a hand on the middle of his chest, I pushed him back so that he was lying on the bed with me still kneeling over him.

"I have a Christmas present for you, too," I told him, my voice husky and seductive. Slowly, locking my eyes on his, I pulled the sash on my robe, letting it fall off my shoulders and onto the ground behind us. Ezra's eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw my purple satin and black lace underwear.

"Happy fucking Christmas," he whispered in a deeply sexy and raspy voice, pulling me down on top of him and flipping us over. His lips found my neck and he began to kiss and suck his way down it – somewhere in the back of my mind I realised that he really shouldn't be leaving evidence of tonight's endeavours, but as Ezra reached my clavicle and ran his tongue along it all coherent thought fled my brain at once.

He kissed down my chest and trailed his tongue up the swells of my breasts, making my pant for air. I leaned up and reached behind me to undo the clasp, throwing the bra off the bed once it was free. Ezra eyed the new flesh hungrily and I blushed under his scrutinising gaze.

"Beautiful," he whispered as if he was in awe. I blushed again and pulled him up for a kiss. As our tongues tangled once more, I felt his hand move to one of my breasts. He cupped it with his hand, his thumb fanning across the nipple before he began to tweak it. I moaned into the kiss, hoping to God that the walls of this hotel weren't thin and silently thanking the receptionist for putting me on a different floor to my parents if they were.

He pulled away a moment later and stood up, removing his clothes so that he was left in a pair of dark blue boxers with little snow men on them. I couldn't stop the giggle that rose and burst through my lips at the sight of the smiling white figures. I clutched my sides as I fell into hysterics.

Ezra blushed and shook his head, "Not the reaction a guy wants, Aria."

I stopped laughing - well, as much as I could - and stood up off the bed, stopping in front of him and placing a hand on his cheek.

"You know I wasn't laughing at you, honey, it's the snowmen." I looked down between us at his tented boxers and laughed again. This time Ezra joined in, too.

"Well, I guess they'll just have to go then," he supposed once the laughter trailed off to light giggles, his voice was low and seductive as he looked me in the eye, seemingly trying to gauge my reaction. Suddenly, there was no laughter in the room. We just stood, staring deep into each other's eyes like neither of us could believe that we were actually doing this, that we'd pushed and pulled and split and reunited and split again only to end up back together once more.

The nerves that had taken over earlier were now a thing of the past as I looked into the eyes of the man I was meant to be with. Sure, our love was unconventional and unethical and, in some ways, immoral but that's what was so perfect about it. We loved each other in spite of what the whole world saw and believed. We spend so much time pretending to be just student and teacher, like we should be, or pretending that we can stay apart because it's what society says we should do, but right now we're just a man and a woman, a boy and a girl, Ezra and Aria; two human beings desperately in love and wanting to show one another how much.

Without breaking our intense gaze I hooked my fingers into the waistband of his boxers and tugged them down. I didn't see them fall to the ground, my eyes still focused on Ezra's never-ending blue orbs, but he moved slightly to kick them away. Next I felt his fingers hook into mine. I drew in a deep breath and his eyes turned questioning.

As an answer, I stepped forward and kissed him, wrapping my arms around his neck and crushing my breasts to his bare chest. I moaned slightly at the erotic sensation and Ezra obviously took that as an encouragement. I felt the underwear fall onto my feet and I stepped out of them, naked with a man for the first time.

His arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me as close as possible to him. I could feel every inch of him pressed against me and smiled into our kiss.

We walked slowly back to the bed, him walking me forward and me trusting that he wouldn't let me fall. Ezra lifted me up, allowing me to wrap my legs around his waist and we landed on the soft sheets.

He pulled away for a moment, leaning over the bed to search for something. It gave me a chance to fully admire his body, the toned muscles and flawless skin that stretched over his lean shape. He returned to me with a foil wrapper in his hand.

I watched in wonder as he rolled the condom on, never having seen one on anything other than a banana in health class. Once he had it in place he took his position between my legs.

My breathing increased pace and I desperately tried to calm it. My legs started to quiver with nerves. Would I enjoy it? Will he enjoy it? Will he think less of me? What if I do it wrong?

"Aria," Ezra whispered, stroking my face, "Calm down, it's going to be okay. Do you want to stop?" I met his concerned and loving gaze, and shook my head. "I'll go slow, okay? Just tell me if you want me to stop." I couldn't help falling a little bit more in love with him as he spoke.

I felt him at my entrance and drew in a breath. This was it. He pressed into me slowly, filling me inch by inch. I winced, squeezing my eyes shut as he pushed through my barrier, officially making me his. He stopped moving once the tears filled my eyes.

"Are you okay?" He asked, wiping them away with his thumb.

I nodded slightly, "Just keep going."

He moved again, the stinging intensifying as he filled me completely. Once he was buried inside me, I let out the breath I'd been holding. I waited for the stinging to ease and it did, but only slightly. I'd have to try not let my mom see me walk the next day, no doubt she'd notice the waddle I was bound to have.

Ezra began to move inside me when I gave him the okay nod, pulling back only to slide in again. It was sore but there was pleasure, too, and it was building. After a minute or two, it had replaced the pain nearly completely.

I began to meet Ezra's thrusts, rolling my hips beneath him and making him groan. He kissed wherever he could reach, my shoulder, my neck, my face and hairline, my eyelids and finally my lips. Our tongues danced along with our bodies until we both pulled away, panting.

I looked up at him and saw that beads of sweat were forming on his brow. I knew he was getting close; his eyes were desperate as if he didn't want to go without me. He should know by now that anywhere he goes, I follow.

As his thrusts got harder and deeper, I reached down between us and stroked myself softly. Ezra watched as my hand snaked its way down and I saw his eyes widen. The stimulation he was giving me and the sensations from my self-stimulation sent me over the age and I felt myself reach my peak, contracting my muscles around him.

I moaned loudly as I flew into oblivion, barely aware of Ezra bucking into me as he joined me there.

We both lay in silent awe of what had just passed, our breathing erratic and our skin glistening with sweat. He eventually rolled off me and disposed of the condom. The ache returned between my thighs and I winced as I closed them. Ezra returned to the bed and we manoeuvred ourselves under the covers. He pulled me back against his chest and for a while we just lay there spooning as we basked in the afterglow.

"Are you okay?" He whispered into my hair, stroking my stomach softly. I nodded sleepily, ignoring the tenderness between my thighs. "I'm going to have to leave in a few hours." That made me wake up.

I flipped over so that I was facing him. He pulled me towards him once more as I wrapped my arms around him.

"I don't want to be apart again," I told him, "It's not fair. Why can't we just be together?" I felt the tears begin to fill my eyes and shut them tight, burying my head into his warm chest.

"Hey, hey, hey," he muttered softly, "Aria, don't cry, please. We'll be together in a few months. We're going to get a place in the city and you're going to go to college and in a few years we'll get married, maybe have a kid or two and a cat, and you'll get mad at me for not looking after it and I'll say we should have gotten a dog." He kissed my forehead and I snuggled further into him. "And we'll be together forever, I promise."

I moved to look up at him, "Yeah?"

"Yes," he answered, straight away. "I know it's hard now, baby, but just look towards our future, because it's bright, it's so bright, I know it is. Do you know why?"

I shook my head, unable to tear my eyes away from his.

"Because I'm not going to let it be anything else. Our future is bright because no matter what, I know we'll be together." He kissed my lips softly as more tears slipped from my eyes. I lay my head back on his chest, sighing in contentment.

"I wish my parents could see this," I said, sadly.

"What? You naked in bed with your ex-English teacher?" Ezra asked teasingly, making me poke him in the rib.

"No. I wish they could see how much we love each other. They're never going to accept us, Ezra. I don't want to have to choose between you and them, because I'll choose you."

I felt him breathe deeply beneath my head, his chest rising higher than usual and then falling quickly. He stroked my hair with one hand, the other pulling me up so that I was lying on his body, facing him with my chin on his chest.

"We'll figure it out, Aria. I'm not going to lose you. I swore to myself that I wouldn't do it again, and I won't. I refuse to."

"I love you so much," I whispered, scooting further up his body and leaning down to press our lips firmly together. He flipped us over and began to kiss down my neck.

This time when we made love, it was beautiful and slow and passionate. We took our time and explored every inch of each other's bodies, until no freckle was left unloved and no birthmark ungiggled at.

Ezra's alarm went off at 6a.m. My parents had told me the night before that we'd be leaving for Rosewood around 9 a.m. so this gave us time to have an hour together in my room before he had to leave.

I wouldn't see him again for weeks.

We spent our time talking about the time we spent apart and our hopes for the future. We agreed that our cat should be called Scout.

Ezra decided that he could come and visit me every few weeks in Augusta once he got settled in at his new job here in the city. It would be a lot more demanding than his old job but he assured me that our relationship would always come above it.

"I'll miss you," I confessed as the time neared 6.45a.m. We were lying on the bed, entangled in the sheets after making love for the last time for God knows how long.

"I'll miss you, too," he said, placing a kiss on my lips before moving to get dressed. I watched him as he hid his perfect body beneath a Guns n' Roses tee and dark denim jeans. He pulled on his old battered cons and I smiled as his sock poked out of a hole in the toe.

"I can't believe I'm in love with a hobo," I teased, giggling into the sheets as he jumped onto the bed and tickled me.

"The cheek!" He cried over my laughter.

"Stop!" I half cried half laughed, "Ezra! I can't breath! Stop!"

"Holler uncle!" He laughed, grabbing my two hands in both of his and pinning them either side of my head.

"Un-uncle," I hiccupped, a bubble of laughter escaping my lips. He stayed perched above me, both of us grinning like loons.

After a few moments, I freed my hands and pulled him down on top of me. Kissing him with force and sliding my tongue into his mouth. He groaned as he reciprocated my kiss, grabbing my face and tilting it to give himself a better angle.

We pulled apart breathless and Ezra placed a final soft kiss on my lips. He checked his watch and with heavy hearts we realised that it was time for him to leave.

"I love you," he told me as he pulled me into his chest.

"You, too," I said softly, inhaling the smell of him and trying to commit it to memory.

He stood up and I watched from the bed as he gathered his things. When he was ready to leave, I kneeled up on the edge of the mattress, the sheet wrapped around my still bare body.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered, as if it were a secret, coming to a stop in front of me, his over night bag slung on his shoulder. "I wish I could stay, but I'd rather not get arrested today, if I can help it."

I reached out and caressed his face, an action I often did to remind him that it was just him and I that mattered.

"We'll see each other soon?" I asked, my voice wavering slightly.

"Before you can count to ten," he said with a smile, leaning forward to kiss me softly.

We pulled apart and with a sigh he headed to the door and let himself out, stopping to giving me one last look, "I love you."

"I love you, too," I replied, with a watery smile. He grinned his cheeky grin back and shut the door behind him.

"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten," I counted quietly to myself.

The room stayed empty and my heart felt heavy. I missed him already.

I hope you liked it and that you all had a brilliant Valentine's Day yesterday. I got drunk with other single friends...it was awesome.

Anyway, review please! If you don't, Byron will cockblock every single romantic encounter you have in your life.

-K