The first time was quick; heady, needy, hot.

Burning desire igniting in panted breaths and clawing fingers, interspaced by cries of the other's name as they clung to one another, both afraid that if they let go then it might not be real.

And like that they'd lain together. Fingers entangled, wrapped up in tangled sheets, whispering and smiling, kissing and touching. Sleep was forgotten: that was for those who needed the escape from consciousness. But all they needed was each other.

Gradually, though, as dawn broke, they'd fallen quiet. She lay with her head on his chest and he brushed his fingers through her love-tangled hair as they breathed in unison, just happy in the intimacy of skin touching skin and souls bared.

It was the sounds of the town waking that broke the silence. She yawned, stretching her body against his, brushing her lips upon his jaw until their mouths met in a kiss. A sweet, light kiss of greeting that soon turned hotter and darker, until he was pressing her back into the mattress as she fell the well of heat grow inside her.

Running her hands around his back, she hooked her feet around his thighs, bringing him close, feeling his hardness slide against her until she was biting his lip and the fingers of his hand were raking over her body - her hips, her breasts…

Wordlessly he sank into her, watching her as he pushed as far as she could until her mouth fell open and her eyelids fluttered closed.

"Yes."

Slowly he took her, consuming her body with pleasure as she let him make love to her, encouraging him with her rocking hips and gentle moans.

She dug in her fingernails. "Killian," she whispered.

He trembled, circling his hips as he moved above her, alternating kisses with loving looks.

"My love," he replied.

And so they made love this way, lazily, adoringly, until the bud of need in both could wait no longer.

The slow peal of her dawning peak flooded her body with heat and light until breathlessly he collapsed, nestled beside her; forehead damp, cheeks pink, lips kiss swollen.

She felt the loss of him, felt the need for him again. And she knew it would always be there.

But as she watched him finally fall asleep, she knew he would always be too.