I'm really sorry for the delay - we literally had to move so I've been sort of in-flux. Enjoy this since we're almost done. Also, **sexual content** because, well, it's time.

Maka opened the bathroom door and took one step into the hallway. She was listening, trying to find him in the apartment but getting only silence. It wasn't just that either and she knew it. It was stalling, plain and simple, as she toyed with the edge of her towel. Courageous, especially since there's no reason to worry. This is Soul, still the same Soul. Each one of those words came with a step, bringing her directly to his doorway to find him sitting on the edge of his bed, head in his hands. "Hey."

Soul raised his head, eyes widening momentarily as he had to pick up his jaw. "Hey."

She took another step and Soul sat frozen, watching her every movement as his eyes lingered over her. It wasn't until she stood right between his knees that his hands moved, resting softly on her hips. That was where her motion stopped, hesitating again as she was faced with the dominoes slowly falling into place. Those hands pulled her closer, his face pressing into the towel at her stomach, sending surprise tingling through her. Maka placed a hand on his head and let her fingers travel through his hair. "I thought you were excited for 'not so slow'?"

"I am, but I want to take the 'not so slow' part slow," the words scratched against the back of his throat hoarsely. "I…" A trembling breath drifted across her stomach. "I need to remember every second of it. I need to feel it, all of it, because… this is you, Maka. It's you."

A laugh, full of relief fluttered from her throat. "Not just me, us." Her hand in his hair tilted his head back, saving the stretch of her grin for when his eyes finally met hers. "But thank you, I think I needed to hear that."

He closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath before opening them again. "Tell me you love me."

"I love you." She brushed the hair from his eyes. "I feel like I always have and I always will."

"You think so?" His fingers were trembling against the towel.

Maka let her hands drop to his, steadying them against her hips. "I know."

His hands slipped out from underneath hers as he stood, as his arms wrapped around her waist to lift her. Soul gave her a spin for good measure, getting her back to the bed before he leaned in to kiss her. He was true to his word, not rushed and needy but soft and searching as he picked apart every detail of her lips. They lingered there together, wrapped in a steady embrace until one of his hands dipped between the folds of the towel in search of delicate skin. As his hand reached the curve of her waist the tenuous tie final lost its hold, forcing the fabric to the floor. Soul stopped his motion, letting their lips part to whisper, "Maka…"

She pecked at his lips before answering back, "I think you should get undressed, too."

"You telling me to strip?"

Maka opened her eyes to see the smirk she already knew was there and finally eating away the nervousness she'd seen on his face. "I didn't think I had to give a formal order. I'm naked, don't you think you should be?" She slipped from his fingers just like the towel and tumbled to the bed, her eyes shooting to the ceiling since she was sure she couldn't bear the look on his face. There was neither a quick comeback or the rustling of clothes so she bit at her lip before whispering, "Well?"

"Give me a second to enjoy the view," he murmured back.

Her face lit up as she dropped her chin, meeting eyes with him. She didn't know what she had been afraid to see there since all other thoughts were lost as that warm glow in his eyes hit her, the way he was looking but not to pick apart or lust over but to cherish. "How much longer?"

"Don't know, what's my limit?" A chuckle broke from his lips and it made her heart skip a beat. Each second he seemed to be coming back to himself, reminding her why she was there in the first place. His nervousness, his genuine love, the way he teased, all of it part of him.

"Well, I'm getting cold." She reached for the sheet and started to pull it over her.

"No, no, no," he groaned.

"Then come here and keep me warm."

"That sounds like an order," he laughed again as he pulled off his shirt. Maka couldn't deny that she wasn't enjoying the opportunity to look as well, something she'd mostly kept herself from in the years they were together but not. She wasn't waiting patiently as he unzipped his pants and brought his hands to his waistband. He paused for a second, eyes locking with hers as his smirk tempered to a soft smile, one that only came to his face with her. "You know I love you, too, right?"

"I definitely know that." Maka reached for him, coaxing him to drop his pants and boxers before easing down next to her on the bed. Her arms slipped around his neck, one hand resting on his shoulders while the other played in his hair.

Soul dipped his head, resting his forehead to hers, "And you should know that all the waiting, all the bullshit, I know this is worth it, and I hope you're gonna feel the same way."

"Already do," she murmured. "One last order, kiss me."

He was instantly back to lingering kisses, his hand sinking into her hair to play between the tresses as he took time and effort to set a whole new standard. His skin felt like fire against hers, especially the palm of his hand as it slipped from her hair, down her neck, and onto an achingly slow trail over her breast. The classroom now felt like nothing more than a tease in comparison to the way his calloused fingertips burned over the delicate swell. While his movements were slow, they were calculated thanks to that relief of her, the idea that he no longer had to get through these moments but could enjoy each one.

"Maka," he murmured against her jaw as he took his lips on a different journey. Soul littered kisses along her neck, nibbling where it met her shoulder and basking in the sounds of her delight as he pressed into her breast again. It was beautiful, a chorus he couldn't get enough of and was sure would loop on repeat for the rest of their lives because at that moment this felt endless. He toyed with her nipple as he trailed back up to her ear to tease the lobe between his teeth. Somewhere along the way, he'd whispered her name again, sinking it into her skin.

Even in the delirious joy of his hands and mouth exploring her, Maka couldn't help but latch onto it, her hand coming into his hair to soothe him. "I'm here, Soul. You don't have to keep asking for me."

A soft chuckle buzzed next to her ear before his voice and words sent a shiver down her spine, "Not asking for you. Reminding you it's only you in my head. No one else is ever gonna matter."

Maka let out a long, sweet sigh as he replied with more kisses down her neck to meet her collarbone. She was sure he was going to come back to kiss her especially as his head raised but instead he repositioned so his lips could continue lower, planting softly at her sternum. "Soul…" she played through his hair again but found it hard to find what else to do with her hands as he drifted lower, lips grazing along her breast.

"Hm?" he hummed the question against her skin.

"I want to touch you, too." It felt lame on her lips but the smile that appeared to replace those kissing lips on his face shooed that feeling away.

"I know," he laughed against her skin. "And I want you to. Just… hold that thought, OK? Relax and let me." Those red orbs glowed, taking a few more blinks to study her face before closing. His lips closed over her nipple, sucking lightly as his hand squeezed at the rest.

That brought a trembling sigh from her lips, her back arching involuntarily as if he needed the help. Each movement of his lips and his hands sent another aching wave through her and as his teeth grazed against her skin on the next revolution she let out a low moan. She couldn't help it just as much as she couldn't help the laugh that came next.

Soul paused from his work, "Something funny?"

Maka slapped a hand over her mouth, calming the next wave of giggles that wanted to escape. As her amused eyes met his, she let the hand slip away, showing off a smile that momentarily stunned him. "It's just relief. Not funny, but happy."

"Good…" Soul pressed a cheek against her skin and let an exhale drift out. The hand that had been cupping her breast relaxed as his fingers started to drift down her stomach instead. The goosebumps followed his movements especially as he rounded her hip bone and paused dangerously at the crease. The only encouragement Maka could give was to bend her knees, bringing the rest of her leg into his reach as he continued the line up her thigh. As he started back, his hand dipped along the inside of her thigh, and Maka held her breath as he reached where her legs met, fingers tentatively pausing over her slit.

"Slow," his breath was hot against her breast.

Maka was overwhelmed as all feelings hit her at once: his hairs tickling her chest as he moved his head, his mouth captured her breast again with a sucking that was much more intent, and his pointer and index started a slow glide back and forth just teasing without penetrating her lips. She was fairly sure she'd never begged him for anything in her life, her requests usually only coming in the form of orders, but the desperate call eased from her throat, "Please."

It was his turn to laugh, a dangerous chuckle as he unlatched from her breast. "Maka Albarn, are you begging?"

"Soul Evans-" she tried to start out a grumbling reply but the pressure of his fingers cut her off because they were no longer playing but gliding over her clit and straight inside of her, forcing her hips to jut. A low moan fazed out any other words from her mouth.

"Don't beg," he murmured as he readjusted so he could bring his face back to hovers, a smirk spreading across his lips. "Tell me what you want, open and truthful." Those words came with another stroke of his fingers, this time angling to rub against a spot inside her that sent a lightning strike up her spine.

"That," shot out sharply with her breath.

Soul captured her lips as he obliged, catching all her little gasps and moans with his tongue. While he was usually always one to follow orders, he deviated, easing out of her so that he could concentrate on circling her clit. Maka had no complaints or at least none that could overpower the ecstasy that bubbled from her throat. Her fingers were digging into his hair, crushing his mouth against hers and her other hand clutched for dear life at his shoulder. "I'll give you anything you want," he murmured as he pressed his fingers firmly into her. Small moans hiccuped from her throat and Soul brought his head up to watch the complete loss of sense on her face. Besides a hard hit in battle, it was the first time he'd seen her so dazed, her eyes half shut as her head rolled back.

It was then that her hips locked, her nails digging into the flesh of his shoulder as the last groan elongated from her lips. Maka's eyes fluttered open as the breaths sputtered from her mouth, her hand easing from his shoulder down his arm to stop the motions of his hand. "Anything?" finally eased from her throat.

All other thoughts as he watched her orgasm had fluttered away, even his promise. "Huh?"

"You'll give me anything I want?" she smiled.

Soul tried to keep his eyebrows in check as that grin bordered on dangerous. "I did say that."

"Now you don't sound so sure," but the amusement didn't leave her face.

Making her cum had been where his coolness laid especially fed by the perfect reactions from her. Now, in the afterglow, in the realization that he was next, he felt all of that seeping away. "No, I mean, yeah, sure, whatever you want." Maka took a last moment to run a hand over herself, enjoying the way her body still tingled with a low hum of electricity before moving to sit up. Soul scrambled without thought, grabbing at her wrist as he tried to catch up with her motion. "Maka-"

"Don't worry." She tossed a grin over her shoulder before going back to moving across the bed. Maka had to wriggle her wrist to get away from him and off the bed, her legs still feeling a little unsure.

"Where are you going?" Soul's voice shot up another octave as he threw his legs over the side of the bed, ready to jump up to join her.

Maka turned, planting her hands calmly on his shoulders to keep him sitting. "Calm down. It's my turn to do what I want."

"I'll be calmer when I know what you want," he muttered.

"Everything," she enunciated joyfully before dropping slowly to her knees.

This was a daydream position, Maka Albarn kneeling between his legs, her hand clutching what had been a fear softened Soul until just the glide of her touch brought the blood pumping right back. He gave into fantasy, using one hand to gather up her hair not necessarily to pull but to keep those tendrils from blocking his view as she opened those delicate lips. There was no cool as they passed over his tip and Soul let out a warbled groan, all the fear and worry forgot the instant her mouth was completely on him. "Oh, shit," he barely got out in between his next moan because she was taking her time and somehow that was all his body wanted.

Slow was the name of the game, the way she toyed and played with her tongue instead of just that boring up and down motion. Really, though, watching her mouth move over him had to be anything other than mundane, those strawberry lips running effortlessly up and down his shaft. He slipped his other hand into her hair, biting at his lip as she took that as an encouragement to speed up. "Maka…" he moaned as the tingling started in his legs. Her eyes opened momentarily, blinking at him just long enough that Soul felt another swoon of emotion, the sweetness of this even amongst the lust.

Her fingers deftly ran up his leg and along his thigh before grasping at his shaft again, that delicate hand adding just the perfect amount of pressure to each stroke. "Maka, I'm about to…" Both the embarrassment of the word and feeling of it coming choked him, leaving nothing but another low moan to escape his throat. He bucked slightly as his legs locked, the shock trailing from toes to gut. The involuntary response was to throw his head back in complete euphoria but he refused it, keeping his eyes locked on her as she moved easily through the last throes of his orgasm.

When her mouth finally released him, Soul used the anchor of his hands in her hair to tilt her head, leaning in to capture her mouth. He set the stage for the words playing around in his mind by giving the most tender kiss he could imagine. "If what you wanted was to make me the happiest guy alive, you did it."

Maka hummed out the affirmative before whispering, "I love you."

"I love you." He moved his hands down, encouraging her to her feet. "Now come here." As soon as she was standing he pulled her back into the bed on top of him, feeling the glorious pressure of her body on his. "That was… just fucking wow." He laughed at himself, the complete lack of cool not even phasing him as he ran his hands down her side.

"You liked it?" The blush blossomed on her cheeks and she hid it against his chest. "Because I… I haven't done that before."

Soul was thankful she missed the way the disgust with himself washed over his face. "You never, not…" Not with the other guys I imagined you with?

Maka sighed, "It was stupid but it always felt kind of like I was cheating on you."

He ran a hand through her hair, clearing it enough that he could kiss her hairline. "I'm sorry."

She let out another withering breath against his chest. "You've done that before."

Honest and truthful, his mind moaned. "Not sex sex, but this stuff, yeah… and I don't even know if this makes it fucking better, but I wanted it to be you. I imagined it was you. It wasn't fair, it was terrible, and it was disgusting but I… that's all I was without you." He kissed the same spot again, smoothing his fingers through the golden tresses. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Maka let a hand drift from his side to his chest, her fingers playing with a few hairs there. "I don't think you should be apologizing to me," she murmured. As she lifted her head she saw his eyes almost swimming with tears, the fear crushing him. "We made mistakes. But I feel sorry for those girls. They thought they were getting this and… they never got you to love them."

"I've never loved anyone but you," he urged back firmly.

"I know," she offered him back a small smile. "And that's what's important to me." Maka moved her hand to his face, clearing the hair from his forehead. "It's really alright, Soul. It's… it's better to hear it. To know for sure and work through it rather than secrets. If you want me to say I forgive you, I will."

"I don't want you to just say it, I want you to actually forgive me." The words barely eked from his throat, hoarsely broken by the tears that were no longer just threatening.

"We wouldn't be like this if I hadn't, Soul." Maka quickly cleared the tears from his cheeks. "I wouldn't have let you touch me if I didn't think you regretted it. If I didn't think I could get over it. And that was… it was wow," she laughed softly. "You made sure I knew you loved me with each touch."

Soul tilted his chin, his trembling lips touching softly to hers. "I'm always going to do that. Always. I swear."