**This chapter may contain content not suitable for younger audiences**
Chapter Eleven: Together
Iliana agreed to meet Maxson for her report on the Institute. She didn't know how she could tell him about Shaun, Father, the man responsible for the spread of the synth scourge throughout the Commonwealth. She didn't even know if she should tell him. The unnerving possibilities of their meeting swam about her mind making her wildly perturbed. Surely he would understand that she had no idea, she was unsure, but tried to convince herself none the less. After depositing her badly beaten power armor for repair she made her way to Maxson's quarters.
Holding her head high, trying to stay positive and hopeful, she knocked at his door. Here goes nothing, she thought, as he greeted her with a genuine smile, beckoning her to enter.
Iliana walked in, and slumped her worn body into her favorite spot. She took a deep breath, preparing to try and explain everything to him.
"Before I tell you anything I want you to know that my loyalty to the Brotherhood, to you, is unwavering and-"
He abruptly cut her off "before we get to that there is something else I need to discuss with you."
Just breath, Arthur thought to himself. He felt nervous, worried even. Of all pressures in his life as Elder, this was by far the worst he had ever grappled with. His feelings, he laughed inwardly, of course they would be the hardest thing to deal with.
She looked eagerly at him, her blue eyes shining brilliantly in the soft amber light of his room. Her legs tucked under her petite frame on the couch. She wasn't sure what could possibly be more important than infiltrating the Institute.
"There is something I need to say, Iliana. Something that feels almost foreign to me, something I've never said to anyone."
Her heart raced, while his felt like it was in his throat. There was a strange tangible kind of electricity filling the room.
"I'm shattering every boundary in the book. You see... somehow you've manage to get under my skin... in the best possible way. Truthfully, I've always noticed that there was something about you, something different, something enchanting. But it wasn't until that nightmare after Fort Strong that I realized I couldn't lose you. Not just as a Knight or an asset to the Brotherhood, but as-" he hesitated, finding the right words. "As someone I care about. Deeply, in fact."
He began pacing the small room, "and then that damned kiss. I thought I'd blown it, crossed some line that would leave you running from me. Every second you were gone at the Institute was too long. It was an eternity to me. And I realize your feelings for your husband are paramount to anything else, but I can't just keep going on pretending that this is nothing anymore."
"Arthur-" she tried to interject.
He put his hand up, stopping her, "please, I need to finish. I've been playing over these words in my head, unsure exactly how to tell you, hell, unsure how to tell myself. But honestly I can't seem to find the right words. I guess what I'm trying to say is I think I've fallen in love with you, Iliana. I love you more than I've ever loved anything. You've managed to posses me and I can't-"
He stopped, and looking at her she had stood from her perch on the couch. Her cheeks visibly red, her hand twisting the curls on the side of her face. He had made her uncomfortable, he was certain.
"I'm sorry, I just had to get that off my chest." He sighed.
Iliana walked towards him, her expression nearly unreadable. But when she gingerly placed her hand on the side of his face, a kind of peace settled over her, he guessed his words were well received to some degree.
She kissed him, with a kind of desperate longing that he hadn't expected. Her tongue, warm and moist, urging his mouth to surrender to her. He gave in, pulling her closer, placing his hands on her hips, those bewitching curves. He needed her and his body hardened and ached in response.
Arthur lifted her up, cradling her in his arms. Their kiss, gentle but urgent, continued as he moved towards his bed.
Her kisses fluttered, feather soft across his cheek, landing on his ear lobe. She gently sucked on the soft skin there. Shivers shooting down his spine, he laid her gently on the bed, on his bed.
She pulled back, whispering softly, her warm breath tickling his ear, "make love to me, Arthur."
With that single sentence his body seemed to ignite, ready to bury himself inside her. He slowly pulled the zipper of her flight suit down, nothing but soft silken skin underneath. His hands grazed every inch of her as he pulled the suit away, leaving her gloriously naked atop his bed.
Her stomach was in knots, or was it butterflies, she wasn't sure. But she wasn't going to stop, not this time. Her hands made quick work of the buckles and straps of his coat and shirt, tossing them in a heap somewhere on the floor. Her hand ran across his chest, and over his shoulders. Iliana's nails gently sliding over his back, tracing delicate trails as they went. Her fingers raced along the muscles there, memorizing, savoring, until she made her way to the buckle of his pants. She could feel the fabric pulled taut with his arousal.
He wasn't going to let her move on easily, he wanted her wet and ready for him. His hand snaked between her thighs, parting the hot flesh there and sinking deftly, skillfully into her core. He had imagined this so many times it was as if he already knew every curve of her body.
She moaned softly, arching in to his hand as he worked it in and out. She still stubbornly fumbled with his pants, trying but failing. Arthur quickened his pace, leaning over her, chest to chest, as she began to tighten around his fingers.
"Come for me." He whispered in her ear, knowing she was getting close. She cried out, falling over the edge, her body tensed and shook. Her breath becoming raspy and quick as the crest built and then crashed over her.
Arthur stood, dropping his pants to the floor. He returned to his position on top of her. Running his hands over her thighs, pausing a moment at the scar from Fort Strong, before spreading her legs open. She glistened in the soft glow of the room, beckoning for him to take her. He dipped his fingers between her legs again, savoring the welcoming moisture he found there.
She had ridden out her aftershocks and was ready for him, so ready. She wrapped a leg around his waist, trying to pull him into her, "please..." she sighed.
He slowly pushed himself into her, agonizing heat all around him. She was slick and soft and ready, and oh god did he love it. She moaned when the full length of him was inside her. He filled her perfectly, making her body hum and her heart pound.
He pumped his hips slowly. Felling every stroke, in and out. Her hands skimmed his back, tracing with her nails again. He leaned down, running kisses along the bottom of breasts, before taking a perfectly pink nipple into his mouth. He sucked softly, swirling his tongue about the round bud as her nails bit into the flesh of his back.
He moved into her faster, knowing that soon he would be unable to fight back his mounting orgasm. Sweat began to gather on his brow.
"Don't stop." She whispered pushing her hips into him. Arthur kissed her, urging her lips to part, his tongue diving in, savoring the taste and heat of her mouth. She bit his lip, tugging lightly, her breathing becoming quicker.
He moved with more urgency as they both climbed higher and higher. She tightened around him, all slick hot skin. Iliana wrapped her arms tightly around him, calling out his name, pushing against him. His breathing stopped, caught in his throat as he pushed in deeper, before spilling into her. He collapsed on her, their breathing in sync, their hearts beating as one.
Iliana gingerly kissed the side of his face, his beard rough against her skin. And they lay there a moment, in some kind of post-coital glow. The room warm, hot even from their love making. He kissed her forehead, breathing her in. Perfect, he thought, his breath finally slowing. He could stay like this forever.
It's very possible they could have stayed like that forever if it wasn't for a powerful knock on the door.
"Shit." Maxson muttered, pulling himself off of his lover. "Hold on!" He yelled.
Iliana thought quick, trying to figure out what to do. What would happen if someone saw her like this, naked in the Elder's bed. What would her brothers and sisters say? Another urgent knock echoed through the small room. So she did the only thing she could think of. She rolled off the bed, fitting herself between the bed and the wall.
No time for clothes Arthur wrapped himself in a sheet and ran for the door, seeing Iliana had hid herself he assumed everything would be fine.
He opened the door, slowly, calculatingly; trying not the let whoever the hell it was see more than they needed to.
It was Danse. "I'm sorry to bother you, Maxson. I heard Anderson's back, but I can't seem to find her anywhere. I was anxious to hear about the..." he trailed off, noticing a balled up flight suit on the floor.
Maxson quickly realized what had Danse distracted, "she was to report to me for debriefing after getting settled and dropping her gear off for repair. I'll let her know you are looking for her...um, when I see her.
Danse continued awkwardly, "debriefing, I see... well thank you for passing along the message."
"Of course, Paladin." Arthur responded then closed the door.
Iliana peaked up from the edge of the bed, "I guess that's my cue to leave."
Arthur smiled, staring at her, staring at the beautiful woman who stole his heart, "as much as I hate the idea, you're probably right."
