AN ~ Spoilers for Lifeboat.

Chapter Four - Together

"Hello?" Daniel called closing the front door behind him.

He got no response, but heard ruffling coming from the living room. He deposited his shopping bags by the door and followed the sound. He found her sitting crossed legged on the floor completely surrounded in books. Every book he owned by the looks of it. She was completely focused and didn't look up as he entered the room. He moved a small stack off the end of the sofa nearest to her and sat down.

"What are you doing?" he asked her softly. She flicked through the pages her eyes flitting back and forth.

"Learning." she replied simply, finally looking at him. A smile broke across her face and he couldn't help but return it with one of his own. Her smile seemed to be contagious to him, it lit up her whole face making her eyes dance.

She attentively traced his lips with her fingertip, before she returned to the book. A minute or two later she finished, closed the book and balanced it on top of a teetering pile.

"Do you have anymore?" she asked him.

He glanced around the jumbled room, at the sheer mass of volumes around them. "You can't have looked through all these, I wasn't away that long."

"You went on a mission." It wasn't a question. "You were gone for longer than expected and you did not call." she didn't sound annoyed, just curious.

He rubbed the back of his neck roughly. "Yeah, um, there where some…complications."

She heard the stress in his voice and was immediately alarmed. Raising up to her knees, she moved herself between his thighs. She reached up to touch his face, her palm holding his cheek. Her eyes searched his face. "What happened? Are you all right?"

"Yes, yes, I'm fine. It was just a bit traumatic." He quickly explained about SG-1's most resent mission to P2A-347. How 12 minds, from the Stromos had been downloaded into his brain. "I don't actually remember it, just counting the crew in their stasis chambers, then I was back at the SGC with Janet in an isolation room and then I woke up back on the ship again with a server headache."

"That does sound traumatic." she agreed.

"Painful to, but apparently you've been on a mission of your own." He smiled, eyeing the books once again. "Anything in particular you were looking for?"

"No. Simply learning about your people, your planet. Once I learnt to read your language it was-"

"Wait! You taught yourself to read and read all these while I was gone?" He was amazed. She had the physique of a woman in her late twenties the mannerisms of someone much younger, innocent, yet clearly her mind was much, much older and more advanced.

She gazed into his astounded expression. "Have I done something wrong? There was not much in these books about what is considered correct behaviour, not current demeanour anyway. Although with this amount of data I believe I would be quit sufficient in your ancient Egypt."

He chuckled. "Some things we can't learn through books. And no you've done nothing wrong. I'm just surprised. The average person would take years to read all these." he waved his arm across the room, indicating all the books piled around her like a nest. "Not hours."

"I wished to absorb as much as possible as I did not know how much time I would have once you informed your people that I was human."

"Yeah, about that…I didn't tell them."

She tilted her head, questionably, at him. She didn't have to speak for him to see the 'why' being asked. He was going to say that he was worried that they would think he had cracked after everything he had been through on the last mission, but he knew that would only be a half truth, so he opted to tell her the main reason for his silence.

"I wanted to keep you for myself…for the time being at least." he said taking her hand.

"But I am yours and yours alone and ever shall be. Revealing my existence will not make me less so. Nothing can alter that."

'His', he liked the sound of that. He smiled warmly down at her as he gazed into the depth of her brown eyes. She brought her lips to his. Instinctually he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him. Standing he swept her up off the floor and carefully stepped over the dubiously piled books he carried her to his bedroom.

"I have been ordered to go straight to bed when I got home and I intended to follow the instructions to the letter. But they never said anything about having some company." He just wanted to hold her, maybe kiss her but more importantly he just wanted to know she was there. He wasn't alone anymore. For the brief few moments when he had regained consciousness in the isolation room with Janet he had been terrified that he was in fact losing his mind and he had imagined Leesia's whole return. The fear had only lasted for seconds, but it had been enough to make his heart hammer so hard against his ribs it caused him to black out again. When he had come to back on the ship his fear had abated some, but until he touched her it hadn't completely eased. He needed to hold her, feel her in his embrace so he could silence his panic.

He lowered her down onto the beds soft surface and laid next to her on his side, propped up on his elbow, his other hand on her abdomen. Her hands slipped under his shirt, feeling his chest as she had done the other night.

"I find your skin very alluring. It's soft and hard simultaneously. I may become addicted to your feel." she teased with a smile.

"I may let you." He dropped his head back, exposing his throat for her wondering fingers to explore the new terrain. He sighed deeply as she stroked down towards his collar bone and back up to the sensitive spot behind his ear.

"It feels good?" she asked.

"Incredible." he told her.

She beamed that smile that made her eyes dance with delight and repeated the same path her fingers had made but this time with her lips, causing him to moan. As she passed his jaw on the third him he turned his head and quickly caught her lips with his own, and it was her turn to moan.

"I want this." she told him simply. "I read about it: intimacy, sexual intercourse. I understand how the act happens now."

"You can't understand it through reading, it's something you have to experience to understand."

"Then let me experience it." she said, bringing her lips back to his exposed flesh. The tingles were back and just as merciless in taxing his restraint.

"I feel like I'd be taking advantage of you." he said as she started unbuttoning the shirt she was wearing. He took hold of her wrist gently stopping her.

"I can't do that." he told her gently. It took a lot of will to not drop his head to her skin she had managed to expose before he had stopped her. He wanted to taste her the same way she had just been doing to him, but her closeness and the tingles that were jumping between them were already taxing his control. If he started something now he doubted he would be able to stop.

"I read about that too 'to take advantage of someone: To use somebody in a selfish way in order to achieve a personal benefit, usually by exploiting a weakness' I do not comprehend how that applies in this situation. It can not be selfish if it's something we both desire. It's an act we can both take pleasure in so it will not be solely to your benefit. Are you planning to exploit any of my weaknesses?"

"No, never!"

"Then by definition you would not be taking advantage of me."

She had done her homework and had all the facts, but he was not about to lose this argument. "That's neither here nor there. It's not logical, it a feeling. You seem so innocent to me and I just want to protect that…can you understand that?"

She sighed and nodded. "I understand, but you have to know that your feelings are erroneous. I am more than mildly disappointed that you feel this way, but I will abide by your wishes."

Despite his best efforts he had once again hurt her feelings, he could hear it in her voice. "My point is it'll be better for us to wait. Usually people build up their relationship before taking that step, but believe me it is nothing to do with my wishes." he swallowed hard, as he ran a finger down her slender neck.

"Then I am confused again. You were correct: it really is not logical at all. Will you always feel this way for me?"

"Oh no, it's not like that." He cursed himself. He wasn't making her feel any better. "It's not about how I feel. Believe me I want to, it's…like I said it's something you build up to in a relationship."

"How?"

"By getting to know each other, learning to trust each other… falling in love."

"I know, trust and love you already. Are your feeling towards me not the same?" her eyes sparkled and he saw hurt there.

"Oh no, I mean, yes they are. Of course I…" he sighed heavily. Only she could make him, the linguist, struggle for words. He couldn't believe that he's once again made her feel rejected, all he seemed to be doing was making things worse with everything he said

That was it, argument over. "I know, trust and love you too." he echoed back to her.

Her confused puppy look was back, replacing the pained on of rejection, but before she could speak he locked his lips on hers.

Resting his forehead on hers he told her. "If you start to feel uncomfortable with anything, you will tell me?"

"Yes." she breathed eagerly.

"Right away?" he looked her straight in the eye.

"Yes." she repeated, meeting his gaze.

He took a second to absorb her words before grazing her lower lip with his thumb, his own lips following close behind it.

His hand moved to her hip bone, sliding his shirt up over her stomach, it was only now that he remembered that she would have nothing on underneath it. He moaned onto her mouth.

He parted his lips, encouraging her to do the same. She did, and he quickly used his tongue to stroke hers.

A gasp caught in her throat. She hadn't been expecting that, but before he could ask if she was okay, she copied him, stroking his right back.

He felt the coolness of the air on his skin as her hands caressing his chest again. He hadn't even noticed her undo the buttons of his shirt. He pulled his arms out of the sleeves and tossed it to the floor, without moving his lips from hers. As he leaned back, pulling her with him, he felt the warmth of her body against his chest. She had stripped out of the shirt she was wearing without him being aware if it either, he was not usually so unobservant.

He slipped his arm around to the small of her back and pulled her as tight as he dared to him. Her pelvis pulsed to his causing another moan to escape him.

"Please remove the rest of your clothes." she said sitting back, her breathy tone was heavy with desire.

The irony was not lost on him that it was he, and not her, that felt uncomfortable as he lifted his hips and stripping off his jeans and boxers under her intense gaze. She took in every inch of him, hungrily eating him up with her eyes.

He watched in fascination as she began exploring this area of his body that she hadn't been able to touch before. She grazed her finger tips along the muscles of his thighs up to circle his hip. She slowly graced over his public bone, but he saw the hesitation as she moved her touch closer to his erection. Was she finally feeling uncomfortable? She certainly hadn't seemed that way mere moments ago. He suspected he knew what was bothering her. She had been learning, about touch and his body and when she had touched his private region before, his reaction had not been a positive one. It was possible that she now thought that area was not to be touched.

"Are you okay?"

Mutely she nodded.

"If you want to you can." he said, he wanted her to know it was all right, but he also feared pushing her into something she wasn't ready for. He placed her hands on his outer hips. He took another deep breath and let it go in a long slow exhalation. It was all the encouragement she needed. She smiled widely as she began to trace his shape with renewed confidence. He gasped at the touch, letting out a low moan as she began to stroke him. Her fingers setting the tingles free over his engorged flesh.

"You are very sensitive in this area." she observed as his breathing became erratic.

"Huh, yeah." he tried to smile, but it came out more of a series of facial twitches. Her hand felt so wonderfully warm and soft as she caressed him. The sensation of her touch penetrating him deeply, tightening his already tensed muscles. It was torture and ecstasy in equal measures. Already he could feel the tightening of his orgasm building in the pit of his stomach and heat radiating up his spine. He needed her to stop or this would be over before it started.

"I'm… not going to…mmm… last much longer… if you keep…urgh… doing that." He just about managed to get out.

She instantly stopped, jerking her hand away looking completely terrified. "It is harmful to you?"

He chuckled. Sitting up he took hold of her. "That's not what I mean." He kissed her deeply as he shifted himself so he was able to lean her back. He lay along side her. It was now her turn to experience touch.

"Leesia, open your eyes." He needed to be sure he wasn't doing anything that made her uncomfortable and he was concerned she might try to hide it from him. She did as he asked and her eyes found his.

"Are you okay?" He had lost count of how many times he had asked her that and yet knew there were many more to come this evening. She nodded and he zoned his eyes, locking onto hers, as he gently moved his hand and began to spread her legs apart. She smiled up at him, and he saw pure love and trust in her eyes. He held her gaze as he caressed her thigh, slowly, gently moving toward where her legs met. Now confident that she was comfortable with his touch, he leaned down and kissed her slowly, as he carefully began to massage her she gasped against his mouth and jerked her hips forward slightly. She was not feeling at all anxious with his hand touching her, preparing her for him. Her hips thrust, involuntarily against his hand in small spasms. That she had not read in his books, or learnt from him, 'that was instinct' he thought and it was so deliciously sensual. Her hands found his waist and pulled him closer to her. When her arousal started to peak and he felt her getting wetter he stopped.

She gazed up at him and the expression of total disappointment and anger on her face nearly caused him to laugh out loud, but he caught himself. "Please, I feel as if I will implode." she panted.

"It's okay, it's not over." he told her. He moved himself over her, holding his weight on his forearms. Parting her thighs further with his knee, he settled himself between them.

She gasped as she felt him at her entrance. He searched her eyes for any sign that he should pull away. Found none, as he knew he wouldn't. She wanted him as much he wanted her. It was just new to her. Her little hands stroked up his arms, over his shoulders and laced together behind his neck. He lowered his head and kissed her.

Slowly, gently he nudged forward and slipped partially into her. Felt resistance and froze. "Christ." he breathed. He scolded himself mentally. He should have realised that she was still a virgin. Her human body at least was new to this world. He pulled away from her.

"Daniel? What is wrong?" she asked, tightening her hold on him, trying to keep him close.

"You're not ready for this." he told her, gently pricing her grip off his neck and sitting back on his heals.

She sat up, looking confused. "We have already discussed this."

"I know, I know but I was thinking of being emotionally, mentally ready. I didn't think of physically."

She frowned questionably, her head tilted.

"The first time for a woman it can be uh…painful."

He saw the realisation and fear flash briefly in her warm brown eyes. Her hands trailed back down his arms and she swallowed audibly loud. "I have not yet experienced pain."

"I'm sorry, I should have warned you." he interrupted.

"If I am to experience it I think I would prefer to be in your arms at the time. I feel safe when you hold me."

"I don't want to hurt you."

She folded her arms across her breasts and pouted. "You are being most irksome!"

He had to bite his lip to stop from laughing at her expression. She looked so innocent it was hard to take her anger seriously. "I only wish to protect you."

"Will the pain be lessened given more time?"

He nodded slowly once. "No…"

"Do you still desire me?"

"No, I mean, yes I do."

She cocked her head. "Then why are you hesitating?"

He paused, thinking. Then laughed and shock his head. "I have no idea."

She giggle and lent forward to kiss him, her hands once again locking behind his neck.

"Where were we?" he whispered into her mouth as she pulled him back on top of her.

He felt that resistance again, steadied himself and pushed slowly until he felt her barrier break. Her intake of breath was hard and sharp. It hurt her, he knew it did. He could see it in her face. Even if he was moving as carefully as he did, so slowly, so gently, until he was fully sheathed in the warmth of her centre. She felt so small, so tight around him.

"Are you okay?" he asked. Her eyes were closed again. She made only a small gasp in response. He started to pull out, but she held him tighter to her. She blindly found his lips with hers.

He froze in place, to give her some time to get used to his presence within her. But it was not easy. "Eurgh." he groaned. His body compelling him to move, craving the friction, but he forced himself to remain still. He refused to move until he knew that she was ready for him, she would have to make the first move. His body quivered with the effort.

Several agonizing moments later she shifted slightly underneath him. Rolling her hips to met tighter with his. He sighed out deep breath and ran tender kisses along her jaw and down her throat as he began slowly, gently moving inside her. She purred out a long moan.

After only a few tender thrust she started moving her hips, pushing up to met his each time. He reached down and hocked her leg over his hip, then repeated the action with the other side. They fell into a unhurried rhythm.

He trailed passionate open-mouthed kisses along her jaw, throat and shoulder. As he started repeating the journey he felt her lips matching his. He swallowed hard as her hot mouth grazed his throat and his Adam's apple bobbed against her lips, making her smile. She wrapped her arms around him and her hands explored every inch of his back. Surrounding him in tingles. He wanted to be linked with her like this forever.

With her arms around his shoulders and her legs around his waste the sparks intensified creating a pleasure was so sharp it made him breathless. "Ego deserde… Ego deserde…comdo!" she panted, slipping back into Ancient as the feelings grew to greater heights of pleasure. "Mia indeeo tua!…Daniel…comdo!" He found it incredibly erotic. He grasped her more tightly, his thrusts going even deeper and that was all it took for her to reach her peak. She began to shudder in his arms, contracting around him as she reached climax. His hips pressed tightly into hers one long, last time as he releasing into her in a powerful rush that overwhelmed his senses. He dropped his head onto her shoulder and had to take several deep breaths to keep himself from passing out.

They remained silent in the warm embrace of each others arms, clinging to each other as their breathing slowed and their pounding hearts calmed.

Slowly he raised his head from her shoulder and his cool blue eyes met her warm brown. "Are you okay?" he asked her yet again.

"No. I have far surpassed merely okay. I now know what your meaning was when you said you have to experience the act to understand it. That was amazing." She smiled up at him and pulled his head closer to lock their lips together. "Is it always like that for humans?" she asked, the look of innocence still apparent in her.

Daniel smiled at her and answered honestly, "No. It's never been like that before."

Slowly, he extricated himself from her and rolled to the side, keeping her in his arms. "I love you." he whispered as he kissed her on top of her head.

"I love you also." she replied.

As they cooled Daniel pulled the comforter over them both. Even though he had been nearly exhausted before their coupling, not sleeping the previous night and having a challenging mission to deal with as well, now he had the opportunity to sleep, he couldn't face closing his eyes. He didn't want to miss a second of the total tranquillity and bliss he was now feeling. Leesia, curled herself along side him, her eyes closed, her fingers tracing patterns over his heart. He wrapped his arms tighter around her, unwilling to let the smallest gap come between them

AN ~ Next chapter is nearly complete, but wont be up until I get at least two reviews. Mwahaha! J