Hi all!
Wow, well, I guess the last chapter raised a few eyebrows. I wasn't going to post this one so quickly, but after those great reviews, I decided to. But, I don't think this chapter is going to go the way some of you think it will.

Anony - Thanks for the great review and don't apologize. First of all, I know about posting long after my bedtime. I do it regularly, which explains the stupid little mistakes you sometimes see in my stories. But I am not at all upset about your mistake, I take it as a compliment that you mistook me for RL2 :-)

Queen Merla - If only I could draw...

C-Town Chica, RL2, MustangAce, Lillehafrue, AnimeLoverVS- Thank you so much for your awesome reviews, they really do make my day and motivate me. Now, I can't really answer your questions, I can just ask you to hang tight and stick with the story :-)

Thank you all so much!

WARNING! This turned into a very fluffy, R rated chapter...so reader beware!

Enjoy!

Failte


Tristan stared at Cady with his mouth hanging open in disbelief. He was more than a little annoyed that she went out shopping with Alexis and returned home a totally different person, almost a clone of his former girlfriend. Keeping in mind what Erik had just told him, he knew he had to tread carefully.

"You look nice," he said, knowing he sounded a little forced.

Chewing on her bottom lip, her cheeks darkened as she bent to pick up the bags Sky had brought in, "You, uh, you don't like it?"

Tristan caught her arm before she could go upstairs, "Cady, you are beautiful, no matter what you do, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever known."

She looked up at him, her eyes wet, "Then what's wrong?"

"Why did you do it?" He asked softly.

"I…I wanted to do something special for you. I thought…"

"Cady, darling, you look wonderful!" Josie exclaimed as she swept in from the hallway. "I just love what you've done with your hair! You look older, but be careful, dear, in a few years you're going to want to start looking younger. Now you kids have fun tonight, your father and I are meeting the Thackerys for dinner. Good bye." She kissed them each on the cheek and left, pulling the door shut behind her.

The two of them stood awkwardly, Cady looking up the stairs while Tristan stared at the door his mother had just closed.

She cleared her throat, "I'm…I'm going to go put my stuff away."

"Here," he took the bags from her hands. "Let me."

"Tristan."

"Come with me, Cady, we need to talk," he led her up the stairs but turned right instead of left.

Wordlessly, she followed, feeling foolish and embarrassed.

Tristan was trying to figure out how to handle this situation. He was feeling frustrated and more than a little pissed off, but this wasn't about him. This was about Cady. How could he get through to her? How could he make her understand that Alexis didn't mean anything to him anymore? Out of habit, he walked to his room and set the bags on the floor beside his desk. Not really knowing what he was going to say, or do, he walked around Cady and shut the door.

Cady stood beside the door, twisting her hands nervously as she looked around Tristan's room. It was a huge bedroom. When he had first brought her here earlier in the week on a tour, he had explained that his parents had left it much as it had been when he left after high school. The double bed was covered with a beige plaid comforter with matching curtains hanging on the windows. Two large bookshelves weighed down with books and a stereo system surrounded his desk which held a large computer system. A television set and video game system sat on a stand beside his dresser. On the wall to the right were two doors, one led to a large walk in closet and the other to his private bathroom.

Tristan watched her as her eyes swept around his room, taking it all in and avoiding him. "Cady?"

She looked up at him sheepishly, "Yes?"

"Honey, what happened today?"

"Well, Sky and I met Alexis and her friend and we went shopping. Alexis decided I needed a Terran makeover and so I went for it."

"You didn't need to be made-over."

She smiled softly, "You're so sweet. But I wanted to do something different."

"I guess, if it makes you feel better, then that's what important."

"You don't like it?"

"Cady, you could shave your head and paint it orange and I would still find you beautiful. I just…well, you had your own beauty, now you look like all the others."

"I thought you would like that."

"Why?"

"Because…I thought you would."

"I liked you the way you were."

She threw her arms in the air, "Fine! I'm sorry! I screwed up! I tried to do something nice for you. Alexis said that…"

"That's where you screwed up," Tristan interrupted. "Listening to Alexis."

"But she told me…"

"I don't care what she said. You're smarter than that, Cady, I don't know why you even went shopping with Alexis. If I had my way, you two wouldn't have even met."

"Why?" She exploded. "Do I embarrass you? The unsophisticated, back woods girl! I just don't fit in with your friends. Why did you even bring me here?"

"Because I love you," he said simply. "You are the most beautiful, classy, intelligent woman I know. And I wouldn't exactly call Alexis my friend."

"She said you were old friends."

"She's delusional."

"What's going on, Tristan?"

He paced the floor a few moments before stopping in front of her again. "Okay, as you know, Alexis and I used to date, but I am going to assume you don't know the whole story. She and I dated for four years. The first year I was in awe that Alexis Wellington was dating me, by the second year we were convinced we were madly in love and had planned to get married some day. By the third year we had fallen into a routine of just being together. We were together more because everyone expected it of us than because we wanted to be together, at least on my side."

"What happened?" She asked quietly.

"I heard a Garrison recruiter speak and something told me that was what I needed to do. It was like a light went off in my head and I knew what I was meant to do. I…"

"You what?"

Tristan ran his hands through his hair, looking conflicted. He took both her hands in his and raised his gaze to hers, "At the time I thought I was crazy, Cady. Then…then I went to Arus and I knew it was where I belonged. I had…I had received a calling, of sorts. It was like this voice in the back of my head telling me I had to go. I had dreams that are only now making sense. But it was just always assumed that I would go into law like everyone else in my family to the point to where I thought that was the only option for me. But the pull towards the Garrison and being a pilot was too much. So I researched it and the more I learned, the more I wanted to do it, I needed to do it. So, against my parent's wishes, I signed up and joined the Garrison. I knew from the start it was where I was meant to be. I came home after basic and took Alexis out. We both knew it was over, it wasn't worth wasting our time pretending otherwise. Our breakup was mutual, but to save face she told everyone she turned down my proposal. It made her feel better and I really didn't care what others thought."

"Weren't you upset?"

He shrugged, "I knew it was coming, I knew we didn't have a future together. I had hoped we could remain friends, but we just drifted apart. I threw myself into my work and made my way up to First Lieutenant quickly and found that flying was the best thing to ever happen to me. When the assignment in Arus came up, that same voice that told me to join the Garrison told me to try and get in on that assignment. I thought I was nuts and I never told anyone about 'the callings', as I called them. I just went with my instinct. I now think I was being called to Arus from the beginning. I never believed in magic before, but when I came to Arus and learned about all the magic there, I knew I was where I was meant to be. With you. I love you, Cady, I see a future with you, on Arus. What Alexis and I had was a childhood romance, what you and I have is real. I am so sorry if you have felt left out or embarrassed, that was never my intention. I am proud of you and all that you do. I brought you here to show you off, to let everyone know that I have truly found where I want to be in my life."

Cady studied him, trying to read the emotion in his eyes, they were dark and intense. She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug.

Feeling relieved, Tristan pulled her close and laid his cheek on top of her head. Her silky, soft hair felt almost straw-like. He lifted his head and whispered, "What did I ever do or say that made you doubt what I felt for you?"

She didn't move or speak.

"Cady," he tilted her chin up, surprised to see her red face and tear filled eyes. "What is it?"

"Nothing, I just…it was stupid. Nothing, really."

"Cady, I wish you would tell me. I don't ever want you to feel this way again. What is it?"

"Well," she stared at his chest, unable to meet his eyes. "I just thought, I mean, after New Years and…well, I mean, I've heard the way boys think and…well, Sky said that she and Erik, and…oh, geez."

"Cady."

"Why haven't you tried to, you know, have…make…make love to me?"

Tristan just about fell backwards when he heard her question. The shock struck him dumb for a moment, unable to answer.

Utterly humiliated, Cady turned away from him and bent to pick up her bags, hoping to make a quick break for it.

He grabbed her hand and turned her to face him, "You thought I didn't want to make love to you?"

She stared at her shoes, concentrating on how the pointed toes pinched her feet.

"Cady, I wanted you from the moment I saw you, when you stormed into Castle Control looking for your father. But I didn't want to force you or make you feel forced. I wanted to do it on your terms, let you decide when we…took that step. God, Cady, if you want to, I will start now and make love to you every day for the rest of our lives."

"But New Years…"

"I thought I had frightened you. I didn't want to push you. I was more afraid of upsetting you than anything else."

Biting her lip, she looked up at him, feeling foolish and very inexperienced. She stepped closer, "You can't upset me."

"Cady…"

"You just said that if I wanted to, you would start now."

Tristan raised his eyebrows in surprise. He was torn between being afraid she was still trying to prove something she didn't need to prove and his wanting to throw her onto the bed. He fisted his hands at his sides and watched as she stepped even closer, "Cady…"

"If…if you don't like my outfit, you can just take it off," she whispered, hoping she sounded sexy, but worried that she sounded like an idiot.

Licking his lips, he brought his hand up to touch her hair, "What happened to your curls?"

"They put a relaxer on my hair."

"Will they come back?"

"When I wash my hair."

A grin spread across his face as an idea struck. He took her hands and pulled her to the door behind him. "Well then, let's take care of that."

Her heart racing, Cady allowed him to lead her into his bathroom.

The size of his bathroom rivaled his bedroom. A glass shower stall was in the corner, big enough for three people to stand in, with a built in bench. A huge bay window of frosted glass dominated the wall opposite them and beneath that was a large whirlpool tub. To the right was a counter with a built-in sink and a narrow door.

"Wow," she whispered.

"Originally, my bathroom was smaller," Tristan explained as he turned the taps on the bathtub. "When I was injured in high school they had the tub installed and the shower built with a bench."

"What injury?"

He turned back to her, "I never told you about that?"

She shook her head.

"I played football for years, starting in the pee-wee league through my junior year of high school. We made it to the state championships that year when I was hurt, twisted my knee. I was out of commission for about a month and I had trouble standing for long periods of time, so they built the shower with the bench and installed the tub."

"There is still so much I don't know about you," she said as he crossed the room to her. "The Garrison accepted you after that injury?"

He shrugged, "They operated and I underwent physical therapy, I'm as good as new. I can run a three minute mile, less on a good day."

"Oh yeah?" She raised an eyebrow. "What else can you do?"

"I can show you."

Cady laid her hands on his chest as she stood on her toes and kissed him. Tristan gripped her small waist in his hands, pulling her closer as he deepened the kiss. Her hands slid down his stomach to grip the hem of his heavy, Irish knit sweater. They separated long enough for them to pull it up over his head and she tossed it aside. His hands roamed her back as he captured her lips in another passionate, drawn out kiss. Her fingers fumbled with the buttons of his shirt, finally giving up and tugging it apart, popping three buttons.

They broke apart, Cady giggling as the buttons bounced on the tile floor.

"Impatient, are we?" He asked.

"Um, I didn't mean to, it was an accident. I'll…"

"Don't worry about it," he whispered, silencing her with a kiss. "I never liked that shirt any way."

She giggled nervously, her eyes wandering over his bare chest. Nerves and excitement fought within her as she tried to figure out the next step.

Tristan slid his hands down her arms and took her hands in his, "Are you sure about this?"

Cady nodded.

"If…if you want to stop at any time, just say so and we can."

Cady pulled her hands from his and slid his shirt off his shoulders, letting her hands caress his chest. "I don't want to stop."

Tristan unbuttoned the three large buttons on the front of her jacket, slowly exposing more of her flesh. He noticed how her skin turned an appealing pink as she fought the urge to cover herself. His fingers skimmed over the cool, smooth flesh of her shoulders as he slipped the jacket off. His eyes widened at the sight of the black, lace trimmed bra she wore.

It took every ounce of self-control for Cady to stop herself from grabbing the jacket and putting back on. She wanted to be with him, desperately, but was nervous about letting him see her. Curiosity overtook embarrassment and she raised her eyes to his, seeing the emotion and desire as he drank her in.

"You, uh, you like this part of the makeover, huh?" She teased quietly.

He nodded, "Yes, I do. I really do."

Throwing caution to the wind, Cady reached behind her and slid down the zipper on her skirt and let it slide down to the floor, revealing the matching panties.

Tristan sucked in a sharp breath, "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life."

She blushed under his scrutiny, but felt pleased at his reaction. A small part of her had been terrified that he would be disappointed in her.

"Come," he took her hands and led her over to the tub, which was half full of warm water. He sat her on the edge of the tub and knelt down to pull her shoes off, unceremoniously tossing them over his shoulders.

She laughed as he stood again, taking her hands and pulling her too her feet.

"You don't want to get that lovely ensemble wet, now do you?" He whispered, huskily.

Cady leaned in and kissed him gently before pulling back and reaching behind her back to unclip the bra. She turned away from him as she slipped it off, laying it on the wide windowsill of the bay window beside a pile of folded towels. Biting her lip, she quickly slipped off the panties, hearing him take a shaky breath behind her. She placed them beside the bra and slid into the warm, relaxing water.

Tristan knelt beside the tub, stroking her cheek as he turned her to face him and gently caressing her lips with his own.

"Aren't you going to join me?" She asked when they broke apart. "There is plenty of room."

"Not yet," he replied, getting to his feet.

Cady leaned back and closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth of the water as it surrounded her. She listened as he turned off the faucet and then crossed the room. He came back a moment later.

"Cady?"

"Hm?"

"I love you."

She opened her eyes and smiled at him, "I love you, too."

"And what I'm about to do, I do because I love you."

"What?"

"Take a breath."

"What?" She repeated, confused.

Without another word, he placed his hand on the top of her head and shoved her under the water, soaking her hair.

She came back up, sputtering and gasping, "What the hell was that?"

Tristan ducked his head, laughing.

"That was not funny!"

"I know," he laughed. "But, well, I had to do it."

She grabbed his hand, catching him off-guard as she tugged sharply and he fell into the tub with her. Water splashed over the sides, flooding the floor as he landed on top of her, still wearing his jeans and loafers.

"Dammit, Cady, do you have any idea what happens when your jeans get wet?" He asked, trying to sit up.

"They get really heavy," she replied innocently.

"And tight," he muttered, trying to adjust himself.

She framed his face with her hands and kissed his wet lips, "Then I guess you better lose them."

Tristan grabbed the edge of the tub and hauled himself out. Cady bit her lip nervously as he stepped behind her and she heard the zipper of his jeans being drawn down.

"Move up," he whispered behind her.

She slid forward in the tub and felt the water slosh as he slid in behind her. Cady started to move back, but stopped when she felt his hand on her back.

"Not yet," he said, picking up the bottle of shampoo he had retrieved from the shower stall. "We have something to take care of first."

Cady closed her eyes as he pored the shampoo over her hair. Every nerve in her body was on fire and she felt herself trembling slightly as he massaged it into her scalp and into her hair. She swallowed hard as desire swept through her.

"Lean back," he breathed, caressing her neck with his breath.

Her eyes closed, Cady leaned back, giving into every sensation she was feeling as he rinsed her hair in the water. She surrendered completely to his touch, even though his fingers never went further than her neck, she felt him throughout her body.

"Sit up."

Slowly, she raised her head, feeling the weight of her wet hair. She opened her eyes to see the sudsy water surrounding them.

"Come here." He pulled her against him, her back against his chest and her head on his shoulder.

"Tristan?"

"Hm?"

"You said you had dreams that only now made sense. What did you mean?"

He gently stroked her arms, "I would dream at night of a huge metallic castle, which I now know is the Castle of Lions. I saw Arus and…"

"And what?" Cady whispered.

"I saw this man. I tall man with a beard and a deep voice. His was the voice I had heard all along."

"Grandfather Alfor."

"Yes."

Cady closed her eyes. She had heard her parents' stories, she knew that her grandfather was looking out for all of them but she never knew he had had a part in bringing her and Tristan together. "Why didn't you ever tell me this before?"

"I wasn't sure how to tell you. It…it sounded kind of far-fetched."

"But you'll tell me everything from now on, right? You'll be honest with me?"

"Of course. As long as you do the same."

"You really didn't like the straight hair, did you?" She asked quietly as he wrapped his arms around her.

"It wasn't you," he replied.

"Maybe I really liked it."

"Did you?"

She shrugged, "I wasn't quite used to it yet."

"Why did you get it cut?"

"I thought you would like it."

"If you like it, then I like it. I was just afraid that that you had done it for the wrong reasons."

"And they would be?"

"Because you listened to someone you shouldn't have listened to."

Cady didn't respond.

He pressed his lips to her neck, just below her ear. "Do you really like it?"

"It…it made me feel more sophisticated."

"Really? I always thought you looked sophisticated, classy."

"My long hair didn't make me look young?"

"I never thought so. But if you like it, then I like it. Just promise me that every so often you will not use the stuff in your hair that straightens it."

"You really like my curls?"

Tristan touched her wet hair that was starting to curl as it dried, "Yes I do. And I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings. You really are beautiful no matter what you wear or how you do your hair."

"Don't apologize," she tilted her head back to look at him. "I want you always be honest with me. Let's not play those games."

"I will always be honest with you, I just don't ever want to hurt your feelings."

"Don't worry, if you ever hurt my feelings, you'll know."

He felt her shiver, "Are you cold?"

"A little, yeah."

"Sit up." Tristan slid out from behind her and stood, grabbing a towel off the windowsill and wrapping it around his waist.

Cady pushed down the lever that drained the water and took the hand Tristan offered her. He had picked up a large towel and slowly wrapped it around her, enjoying the view as he did.

"I'm still cold," she muttered, grabbing the edge of the towel and securing it around her.

"I have just what you need," he said, rubbing another towel over his chest. "Hold on a sec."

Cady grabbed another towel and rubbed it over her hair as he walked over to a narrow door beside the sink. She looked up and smiled as she saw his strong muscular back and the towel that hung low on hips. Her eyes swept up and down his body, her imagination wandering about what was beneath the towel when something else caught her attention. The towel she had been using to dry her hair slipped from her fingers and landed with a plop in one of the puddles they had made.

Two thin scars crossed his back, one diagonally from his waist to his left shoulder and the other straight across his shoulders. The remnants of when he rescued her on Christmas Eve. He had been whipped twice while protecting her from the man who had kidnapped her.

Tears blurred her vision as she was overcome with love for him and shame over her behavior. Of course he loved her, not only had he told her time and time again, he had also shown her in so many ways. How could she allow Alexis to talk her into the stupid makeover?

Tristan turned around with two bathrobes in his hands, an old brown on, worn thin in spots, and a thick green one. "You can have the green one, it's warmer and…what is it? What's wrong?" He saw her tears and rushed back to her side.

Cady threw her arms around him, pressing her lips to his as tears spilled down her cheeks.

He pulled back and looked down at her, wrapping the warm, green robe around her shoulders. "Tell me what's wrong, Cady."

"Nothing," she whispered, slipping her arms into the huge sleeves. The robe was so big on her it brushed the floor and her hands were lost in the sleeves.

"Then why are you crying?"

"Because I'm sorry. I love you, Tristan, and I am sorry for ever doubting you."

"Good, don't ever do it again," he said, cupping her cheek with his hand.

Cady smiled shyly at him and stepped away. She wrapped her arms around herself, completely enveloping herself in the robe and walked across the bathroom, hesitating in the doorway, she glanced over her shoulder at him before disappearing into his bedroom.

Tristan hesitated a moment. Was she doing what he really thought she was doing? He dropped his robe and all but ran across the room, sliding a few times in puddles. When he reached the doorway, he first saw the robe in a heap on the floor, followed by the towel. Cady was curled up under his comforter. Seeing her there and knowing that the only thing that separated him from the one thing he desired most in the world was the comforter he had had since he was sixteen was enough to make him fall to his knees.

One delicate hand came up from beneath the blankets and beckoned him closer.

His towel joined hers on the floor as he accepted her invitation.


"I cannot believe that bitch," Sky muttered as she set her shopping bags on her bed.

"What didja get?" Erik asked, poking in her bags. "Anything for me?"

"Maybe."

He looked up at her, "So, what happened?"

"What happened? I'll tell you what happened. That…that bitch…"

"You're talking about Alexis right?"

"Yes, I'm talking about…her!" Sky threw her arms in the air with a groan of frustration. "I'm so angry I can't even say her name!"

Erik knew something good was coming, so he pushed the bags aside and stretched out on her bed. "So, what happened?"

"Okay, so we meet her and her friend, Julie at this clothing store," Sky started, pacing the floor and poking at the air with her hands. "And she starts acting all sweet, but you know it's fake. She totally ignores me and then makes these condescending remarks to Cady. Well, Cady, being the sweet, naïve person that she is, continued to smile and put up with it. Well, the bitch was saying things like 'Oh, Cady, what a sweet sweater, I had one just like that when I fourteen' and 'Cady, I just love how you haven't allowed your age to dictate your hairstyle.'. And Cady, just pretended she didn't hear it, but she wouldn't let me say anything. Then the bitch and her friend decided that Cady needed a makeover, I told her she didn't, but they convinced her it would be fun. What do I know? I've just been her best friend for nineteen years! Did you see her hair? This is Cady's hair, she loved her long hair, she never liked getting it cut."

"Maybe she was ready for a change," Erik suggested weakly.

"A change? Maybe. But a cloning? I don't think so. Oh, but it gets better."

"Do tell."

She scowled at him as she continued to pace the floor, "We were doing some clothing shopping and ended up in a lingerie store."

"Oh? Did you get anything?"

"Maybe, but if you keep interrupting, you'll never get to see it. So, we're looking at lingerie and, of course, the topic turns to sex. As you may or may not know, Cady and Tristan have not slept together yet. But apparently, Tristan and Alexis did."

"Uh oh."

"Yeah, uh oh. That bitch felt the need to talk about it. A lot. Now, Cady is already sensitive about that because he hasn't made any move on her since New Years and she thinks he doesn't want to sleep with her. So she hears about how he had sex with the bitch and that only makes Cady feel worse. She ends up buying into all this crap the bitch is feeding her and, well, you saw the end result. That…that bitch is such a manipulative…bitch!"

"Do you realize that you have used the word 'bitch' more in the last two minutes than I have ever heard you say it in your life?"

"Erik," she sighed.

"Sunny, this is between Tristan and Cady, they need to work this out on their own. And hair grows back."

"But that…that," she fumbled for another way to describe Alexis. "That wench is trying her hardest to come between the two of them."

"But she won't."

"She's persistent."

"Come here, Sky." Erik held his hand out to her.

She settled in beside him, leaning against him with her head on his shoulder.

"Tristan filled me in on what happened between him and Alexis." Erik went on to tell her everything Tristan had told him earlier.

"It was a mutual breakup?" Sky asked when he finished.

"That's what he said."

"If it was, then why is she causing all this trouble now?"

"I don't know, he doesn't know. But I can guarantee to you that he loves Cady, very much. If I had thought otherwise, if I thought for one second that he was using Cady in some way or about to hurt her, you and I would be out back digging a shallow grave."

She smiled and kissed his cheek, "Can I beat up the wench?"

"Only if you do it in bikinis in a large vat of Jell-o."

Sky punched him hard in the arm.

"Ow! Okay, geez, I was kidding." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. "So, did you get anything in the lingerie store?"

"You'll just have to wait and see."

He tugged at the collar of her sweater, trying to peer down it.

Gasping, Sky smacked his hand away. "Not funny."

"Not trying to be funny," he said innocently. "Trying to be cute."

"You were neither."

"I love you," he whispered, nuzzling her neck.

"I know," she pulled out of his arm and crawled to the foot of the bed. "Let's see what I bought."

Erik sat up straight, "Yes, lets."

Sky pulled the large brown bag over and reached inside, "I got a doll for Tori, she's going to love it. See, she's dressed like a nurse from the Revolutionary War. And I got a book for Luke, don't get me wrong, I love my cousin to death, but he is such a nerd and I know he will love this."

"I was hoping you bought something a bit more…fun," Erik said.

"Oh, I did. We found a bulk candy store and filled this," she pulled out a plastic bucket, "with Hershey Kisses and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups for Uncle Hunk. And look what I bought for Figment." She pulled out a red, white, and blue dog sweater. "Isn't it cute? I got one for Greedo too."

Erik rolled his eyes and fell back against the headboard, "Yeah, that's just adorable."

Sky set the sweater on the bed and walked over to answer the knock at the door.

Henry, the Alexander's butler, stood on the other side, "Dinner is to be served in ten minutes."

She smiled and nodded, "Thank you."

"I knocked on the Princess' door, but there was no answer."

Erik joined Sky, "She's probably with Tristan."

"There was no answer at his door either."

"They, uh, they had a lot to talk about, they might not be joining us for dinner," he explained.

Henry nodded and turned to leave.

"Hm, well, I hope Tristan is filling her in on everything," Sky murmured as she shut the door.

"I'm sure he is," Erik replied.


Tristan combed his fingers Cady's thick curls as she lay on his chest, her eyes closed. It was dark out, the afternoon had slipped into evening without them noticing. They had been distracted by other activities.

As far as he was concerned, they could stay right where they were for the next three weeks. For the rest of their lives.

Cady sighed softly and rolled onto her side.

"I thought you were asleep," he said quietly.

"No, just…relaxed."

"How are you?"

"I was just thinking of something Sky said to me," she whispered, resting her head on her hand so she could look down at him.

"And what was that? How lucky you are to have such a hot boyfriend?"

She chuckled, "No. After she and Erik had…well, after they had celebrated his birthday, I asked her what it was like and she told me that she had never felt so loved, so complete. I now know what she meant."

Tristan stroked her cheek with his fingertips before capturing her chin between his thumb and forefinger, pulling her close for a kiss. "So do I," he breathed.

"But…but you've done this before."

He blushed slightly, "Uh, yeah, I have. But never with you. What we just did was…amazing."

"Incredible."

"Astonishing."

"Fantastic."

"Extraordinary."

Cady giggled and kissed him, "I love you."

"Me too," he said, cupping the back of her head and deepening the kiss.

They broke apart at the knock on the door. Cady gasped and pulled the blankets up over her head.

"Who is it?" Tristan called.

"It's Henry, sir."

"What is it, Henry?"

"You missed dinner, sir, I was wondering if you would like something brought up."

Cady whimpered and tried to burrow deeper under the covers.

"That would be fine. We'll need two plates." Tristan called back.

Cady groaned.

"Very good, sir."

Tristan slowly pulled back the covers and looked down at her, a grin on his face, "You okay?"

"He knows we're in here together."

"Yes."

"That is so embarrassing."

"Why?"

"Why? Because…because he's going to know that…that we're in here together."

"Yes, but he doesn't know we just had amazing sex."

Her face burned a brilliant shade of red.

"My God, I love you," he laughed, kissing her hard.