This is the second and final installment of this story. It contains sexual content, which I tried to make sensual, yet not graphic. I also tried to make it somewhat realistic, as losing one's virginity never goes as smoothly as the movies would have one believe!

Thank you very much to those that reviewed and followed this story.

Arkarian has agreed. I almost can't believe it, but his mouth on mine, moving in a way that I am unaccustomed to, is all the proof I need.

In my elation at my victory, I get a sudden possessive urge over this man who, against all odds, has chosen to spend his nights, and his life, with me. I channel this emotion through a bite on his lower lip. My reward comes as he groans against my mouth. I make a note of this reaction, as it may be useful later.

My hands renew their previously interrupted exploration of his body. As I move lower, however, he grabs my wrists and whispers in my ear, "Please, don't. I want to make tonight about you."

A noticeable shiver runs through my body at his words, and his eyes meet mine. He then glances down at my shirt, and I sense he is asking permission. Although this bit is not new territory, he is nothing if not a gentlemen. I stifle a laugh, and nod my consent. He reaches for the hem of my shirt, and he slowly begins to lift it. I rise up from my position on the bed, and lift my arms over my head to help him along. When he is finished, I guide his hands to my pajama shorts. He grips my hips gently before slowly sliding the shorts down my legs, taking his time to caress every inch of skin along the way. I sink back into the bed with a sigh, marveling at how he can make any task so intimate.

It is now my turn, and I run my hands down his sides until I reach the top of his pants. Just as I make to remove them, however, I feel unanticipated nervousness settle in my stomach, knowing that I can't pull off Arkarian's grace and smoothness. Suddenly, my movements feel stiff and awkward by comparison. I shake my head slightly and try to cast off these thoughts. I concentrate on steadying my breathing, and I pull Arkarian's waistband down, while he lifts his legs off the bed to help me.

My relief at having completed my task is short lived, as I quickly become aware of how little separates our bodies. For my part, I am in nothing but a pair of black underwear, while he is in his boxers. Although he may be able to see very little in the darkness of the room, Lady Arabella's gift makes it so that I can see every detail. I can't help but feel that tonight, this gift is a disadvantage.

Arkarian must sense my apprehension, because he leans his forehead against mine, and wraps his arms around me. He moves us back down towards the mattress, and says "You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. You have nothing to be insecure about."

I take a shaky breath, and back away from him slightly. My eyes flick to his boxers, and my hands twitch towards them, but I find that I am unexpectedly frozen in place, my earlier anxieties creeping back into my mind.

Arkarian looks at me, his brows furrowing. "Would you like to stop? We can always sleep, my love."

I have to wait a minute before I respond, the tiniest glimmer of fear starting to surface. I consider his offer of sleep, and wonder if this is not the better option. But then I look up at him, and see pure caring and love etched into his features. I think about how safe I feel in his arms, and how he would never ask me to do anything I don't want to do. I cannot deny that this is an intimidating step to take, but seeing his concern for me only enforces my decision that this is the right thing. "No Arkarian, I want this. I really, truly want this."

He nods his head just a little too quickly, and I realize that I am not the only one who is anxious. With movements that are less steady than I am used to, he takes my hands in his, and guides them over to his boxers. He wants me to remove them, and I realize that he is making sure that I have a choice every step of the way. I grip the fabric, and begin to pull it down, as he shifts his legs to assist me. Once they are off, I'm not sure where to look, and I can feel myself blushing. A small smile crosses his lips, and I can tell that part of him is amused by my reaction. I suppose everyone, even someone as ageless and wise as Arkarian, likes to feel appreciated. He laughs softly, and I know that he has heard my thoughts. Mercifully, he makes no other indication of this.

After a moment, I become aware that the last step is going to have to be mine. With a deep breath, I hook a finger into my underwear, and slowly slide them down my legs. He takes me in with blazing eyes, and while this is a look a girl could get used to, it is a little much for the butterflies currently residing in my stomach.

It is then that I remember the pack that I brought with me tonight. I surprise him by moving suddenly to the edge of the bed, and retrieving it from the small bedside table. I unzip the outermost pocket, and extract a box of condoms. "I… I have… I brought…" He doesn't make me say it, as words do not seems to be making their way out of my mouth at the moment.

"You planned this for tonight, didn't you?"

"I may have."

"I approve."

And with that, he reaches for the box, and takes out a wrapped condom. He carefully tears open the foil, and removes the rolled up bit of latex. For a moment, I am overwhelmed at the reality of what it about to happen, and I shut my eyes. When I open them again, he has finished his task, and is sitting up, his gaze on me, gauging my reaction. "Are you ready, my Isabel?"

I nod my head, eyes wide, and I'm sure I look like a fool. Arkarian lowers himself until he is hovering over me, my back against the mattress. "You look nothing but beautiful, my soul mate. As long as I am here, there is nothing to be afraid of. I promise, Isabel."

He closes the space between our bodies further still, until he is mere centimeters away from me. He kisses my cheek tenderly as he closes the gap completely, and I can feel him pressed against me. He pauses for a moment, giving me time to react, before slowly easing himself inside me. I wince in pain, but his worried look has me determined that I will not let it show. After another pause, he moves further still, and despite myself, I cannot help but call out in pain at this foreign feeling. In a small voice, I ask "Is it… are you… done?"

He makes no mention of my lame choice of words, but his jaw clenches, and he looks straight into my eyes. He then gives one final thrust, and the sharp pain lets me know that he is completely inside me. He does not move a muscle, but says in a tense voice, "Isabel, now is the time to heal yourself."

I make a little squeak in response, the best that I can do at the moment, and wonder how I did not think of this sooner. I shut my eyes, and focus on concentrating through the multitude of emotions running through my mind. I somehow manage to achieve a sufficient level of calm, and after a few seconds of visualization, the pain is gone, although feeling Arkarian inside me is more than enough to keep my senses occupied. When he begins to move again, slowly pulling further away from me, I gasp at the sensation, which has turned from pain to an unfamiliar sort of pleasure. He freezes again, and looks at me in askance.

"No," I tell him. "It doesn't hurt. It's just different."

"Is 'different' and good or a bad thing?"

"Definitely good."

He is encouraged by my words, and continues his slow movement forward and back, in and out. I begin to instinctively move with him, and I hear him let out a low groan. I look up towards his face, and I see his eyes shut tightly. I have to wonder why. This cannot be new to him after six hundred years. Hearing my thoughts, he opens his eyes, and says, "Physical pleasure is not new, but this is unlike anything I've felt before. Being close to you in this way, being inside you, this is so much more than physical."

He leans in close to kiss me, and I gladly comply, leaning up to meet him. With my senses already overloaded, feeling his lips against mine is almost too much. Everything is heightened as I feel him pick up the pace of his thrusting, his lips moving roughly against mine all the while. I find that I have to pull away to lie back completely against the bed. I cease the movement of my hips for a moment, clutch the sheets in my hands, and try to focus completely on the pleasure I am feeling.

Arkarian looks down at me, then lifts himself slightly, and shifts his position upward, increasing the friction in a way that feels incredible. My hand flies from the sheets to my forehead, and I gasp at this new feeling, almost too much to take. Taking my reaction as approval, he speeds up his movements. I feel the pressure build, causing the muscles in my lower abdomen to clench. My teeth grind together, and I adjust my timing to match his.

After what could be seconds, or minutes, or days, Arkarian lowers himself down as close to me as he can. He brings his lips to my ear, and says in a tight voice, "Isabel, I can't hold on much longer."

His words send a new wave of desire through me, and I suddenly want to please him more than anything. Going on intuition, and hoping that I get this right, I tighten my muscles around him, just as I tangle my hands in his hair to pull him in for a desperate kiss. Within seconds, I feel a sort of pulsing inside me, and I know that he has reached his peak. He thrusts a few final times, and then collapses on top of me, breathing heavily.

After a few moments, he gets up and extracts himself from me. He breaks our contact only momentarily as he disposes of the condom in a bin by the bed. Then, without delay, he is by my side, bringing the blankets up around us, and pulling me to his chest. "Isabel, that was amazing." He then thinks for a moment and continues, "But I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. You have always excelled at all things physical."

Still trying to regulate my breathing, I let out a choked laugh. I touch his chest to feel his own rapid heartbeat. I plant a kiss there, and I feel him touch his lips to the top of my head. I giggle, a sound I do not normally make, and hug my arms around his waist, my face pressed against his chest. I sigh into him, and I feel him smile into my hair. We lay like this for a few minutes, just enjoying each other's presence. After a while, though, I feel a tiny spark of guilt niggling at my mind. "I'm sorry I didn't… have an orgasm."

He looks at me in disbelief, and his violet eyes go wide. "Isabel, never feel like you have to apologize to me over something like that. If anyone should be doing the apologizing, it should be me. I believe that particular responsibility was mine, was it not?"

I can feel my cheeks start to burn, and look down, unable to meet his eyes. "I was just afraid that you might think I didn't enjoy it as much as you did."

He pulls back from me slightly, and puts his fingers under my chin, asking me to meet him eyes. I comply, and I see him smiling gently at me.

"I don't want to give you the impression that I'm in the habit of deflowering every young woman I happen upon," he pauses as I give a less than ladylike snort, "but I do hear tell that it is often difficult for women to achieve orgasm their first time. It isn't unusual, and it's certainly nothing to be ashamed of."

Even through my embarrassment at revealing my inexperience, I heave a relieved sigh, which quickly turns into a yawn, and I realize that my lack of sleep has finally caught up with me. I settle into the blankets, ready to drift off, until I hear Arkarian say in a silky smooth voice, "Although if you really wanted to, if you told me you felt deprived, we could always keep trying."

My eyes snap open, and I give my best effort at a seductive smile. No doubt this is something I will have plenty of time to improve upon. "Arkarian, I'm feeling awfully deprived. Cheated, even. Would you possibly be able to help me with this little problem?"

He grins widely, and brings his lips to my neck, sliding them up to my earlobe before softly saying, "It would be your pleasure."

I decide that sleep can most definitely wait.