Get out the pitcher and sugar for lemonade, I'm about to hand you a whole lot of lemon… If you're underage and reading anyway, don't blame me for not warning you.

Disclaimer: Tamora Pierce owns Daine and Numair, and her intended target age range should be nowhere near this story. Luckily I get to play with our favourite black robe and Wildmage, or rather let them play with each other, sometimes. ;)

Moments later, or maybe hours, Daine returned to full awareness to find Numair lying beside her again, smiling softly though his eyes still burned darkly. She leaned over and kissed him, trying to express without word some of the feelings still coursing through her body. Soon both of them were breathing raggedly through kisses that tasted of her, and Daine's hands were grasping at Numair's hips, frustrated by the barrier she found there.

Pulling away, Numair quickly removed his loincloth, then moved to cover Daine's smaller form with his long body. He lowered his head to her breasts, kissing and sucking as she arched against him impatiently, her hips questing for his. She had glimpsed his powerful organ as he moved over her, but any renewed feeling of nervousness was rapidly dissolving into wanton desire. Suddenly, Numair stilled, and Daine realised he was poised to enter her.

"Last chance to ask me to stop," he breathed raggedly, and she could see how much control it was taking him to pause.

Daine answer by arching even further upward, feeling him slip just inside her. As he continued to thrust slowly in, she relaxed against the bed, losing herself in the pleasure-pain of stretching inner muscles. She reached up and ran her hands down Numair's back as he eased himself in, feeling the tension in his muscles. She bit her lower lip, and he paused, worry in his eyes. Daine thrust her hips sharply upward, unable to entirely suppress a small cry of pain as her body took Numair in fully.

"Oh, magelet," he whispered, "if I could spare you the pain…"

She stroked the side of his face, feeling a rush of love for this amazing man, who even now was trying to protect her from herself. "I know," she replied, her voice brimming with that love.

Gently, Numair shifted the angle of his hips and pulled most of the way out of her body, the dragging of his skin against her sensitive flesh sending sparks of pleasure outward from where they were joined. Then he thrust slowly back in, shuddering with the effort of maintaining his gentle pace.

Daine whimpered slightly and shifted, trying to bring their bodies fully into contact sooner.

"I won't break, you know," she reminded the man poised above her.

Suddenly, as if he had only been waiting for permission, Numair thrust into her sharply. She gasped at the feeling of his hard length sheathed fully in her heated flesh, and the sharp contact against the sensitive spot above where their bodies joined. Bringing her mouth to his, she urged him on as he began to thrust into her with a fast, even pace. She ignored the slight pain as waves of pleasure began to build again, less intense than before but still drowning the discomfort. He broke off the kiss to bury his face in the curve of her shoulder, his thrusts becoming erratic. She ran her hands down his back, throwing her head back as the intensity of sensation built until, with one final thrust, he stiffened against her, emptying himself into her willing body as she held him close.

Numair's face was still pressed into her neck, and she turned and kissed his head, nuzzling his thick hair as his breathing slowed and her racing heart returned to normal. A sheen of sweat was rapidly cooling their bodies, but Daine decided she didn't care, certainly not enough to move first to retrieve the blankets. She was sure Numair's body resting on hers would become too heavy soon, but for now she felt more secure than ever before, basking in the afterglow of their love.

Then Numair shifted, recovering enough to lift his head and meet her gaze, looking a bit dazed but smiling. She shifted, tensing, and he groaned, the dazed look intensifying.

"Don't do that, love," he groaned.

Daine giggled wickedly, enjoying her new discovery.

"Do what?" she asked lightly, feeling a slight ache as she tensed her inner muscles around him.

Numair groaned again, and dropped his head to her shoulder again. "That," came his muffled reply.

Daine giggled again, but remained still, enjoying the feeling of their bodies joined together. Then she kissed Numair's head again, whispering into his hair, "Thank you."

He raised himself up above her, kissing her gently on the lips. "My pleasure," he replied, raising his eyebrows as his eyes raked down her body.

She chuckled, and then stopped as she felt him begin to slip out of her. He smiled ruefully, and reached for his discarded loincloth, using it to deal with the worst of the mess as he pulled out fully. Then he lay down beside her, gathering her close to his side as he stretch one long arm out and pulled the blankets over them both.

Daine sighed contentedly, and snuggled closer into Numair's warmth, curling around the arm he was using to hold her against him. Never before had she felt so completely relaxed, or so full of love for the man beside her, and she knew that there was no way she would ever let him regret this night.

She turned her head slightly so she could kiss his arm where it was stretched under her neck and around her shoulders. "Love you, Numair," she whispered.

His arm tightened around her briefly, and he mumbled a reply, "Love you too, Daine…ever and always."

As they both relaxed into sleep, he must have sent his power to douse the magelights on the walls, as the room was plunged into darkness.