It's our last day in Thailand.

I asked Jane what she wanted to do before our departure tomorrow morning. I was surprised when she said she just wanted to go to a beach and enjoy the sun. I wasn't going to argue, though. We packed a picnic, loaded a bag with sunscreen and towels, and threw on our swimsuits.

We are now happily laying on our backs beside one another, eyes closed, listening to the waves wash onto the shore. The beach is made of the softest, whitest sand I have ever encountered and the water beyond looks like liquified sapphires. The sun is shining down on us through billowy white clouds and a gentle breeze stirs the air, keeping us at a comfortable temperature.

As a scientist, I'm quite skeptical about the concept of perfection.

But in my professional opinion, this day is perfect.

This has been such an amazing trip. I've watched Jane come back into her own. I have watched as she's summoned and battled daemons from her past and emerged the victor. It makes me love her just that much more.

She is strong. She is resilient. She is caring and protective.

She is a fighter.

And now, she is mine.

As if to prove this fact, I open my eyes and discreetly move to hover over her. I give her a soft, brief kiss.

Her eyes flutter open.

The smile she gives me puts the sun's warmth and radiance to shame.

"What was that for?"

I settle the top half of my body on her's and rest my head on her chest.

"I love you."

Her arm wraps around my back and she begins to lightly trail her fingers from the top of my shoulder to my elbow and back.

"I love you, too"

We stay like this for an immeasurable amount of time. The tranquility of the day, combined with the consistent caress of her fingers against my skin, begins to lull me to sleep. However, her voice rouses me from my imminent nap.

"I don't want to go back yet."

I open my eyes and place my hand on her abdomen. I watch, mesmerized, as the toned muscles contract and relax under my touch.

"It's not that I'm not ready to...I am. It's just..."

She pauses for a moment before tenderly rolling me onto my back to take her turn hovering above me. She leans down and kisses me with a gentle but desperate kind of passion.

When she pulls back and meets my gaze, her eyes are smoldering.

"...I haven't had enough of this...of just us."

I lift a hand to cup her face and stroke her cheek bone with my thumb.

"Does that make me selfish?"

She suddenly looks a little guilty. Like she really believes she should feel bad about wanting more time for herself...for us.

I smile up at her as I answer.

"If it does, I'm just as selfish as you. That's why we're not going home right away."

Her expression changes to a mixture of excitement and curiosity.

"No?"

"No."

She looks at me expectantly. When I offer nothing further...

"...and, where exactly will we be going next?"

In response, I press my lips tightly together and quirk a challenging eyebrow.

She sits up and begins to whine like a petulant child.

"Maauuraa! Come on. You've kept me guessing about locations this entire trip!"

"Yes, I have. So, why break the pattern now?"

She scowls down at me. It's one of the most adorable things I've ever seen.

Then, her look turns a little devious.

I don't have time to ponder the scheme behind the change in her features. In one swift motion, she throws a leg over my hips and straddles me. She places her fingers at my sides and hold them still.

Her voice is playfully menacing, laced with just a hint of amusement. She articulates her inquiry very deliberately.

"Last chance, Maur. Where are we going next?"

She's trying to be intimidating...and she's succeeding, just not in the way I'm sure she's intending. I can't think of much apart from the fact that her pelvis is providing a delicious pressure to my own. I can't seem to formulate a response.

When I fail to acknowledge her question, she begins to move her fingers over my body in an attempt to tickle the answer from me.

It tickles alright. Again, not where I'm sure she means for it to.

Instead of laughing, giggling, and begging her to stop...my head falls back, my eyes close, and a full bodied moan escapes me.

She immediately halts her assault.

I lift my head back up to look at her.

I can practically see the proverbial light bulb flicker on above her head as she takes a moment to evaluate our position. Her eyes become impossibly dark as she rakes her gaze over my scantily clad form. I feel arousal coming off her in waves.

Just when I think she's on the verge of ravishing me, she shakes her head and smirks.

"Nice try. No changing the subject, Doctor."

Well...if my reaction had indeed been a ploy to distract her from the matter at hand, the yes, it would have been a nice try.

"C'mon Maur. Please? What are we doing after we leave the island?"

She uncharacteristically lets her bottom lip jut out in a pout and I fight the urge to sit up and pull it between my teeth.

After making a show of contemplating, I eventually do sit up and bring my lips to whisper in her ear.

"We're taking the long way home."

I pull back to find her lip is jutted out even further.

I don't fight it this time. I pull it between my own.

A/N: Hey everyone! Hope you liked the chapter. Sorry it's a little on the short side...I have a big geology test tomorrow. *sigh* The last several chapters should be lengthier. Where could Maura be taking Jane next? What other adventures could they possibly embark on? When the hell did my geology professor cover 'mineral resources and society'?! All will be revealed in time. As always, thank you so much for reading and for your lovely comments! Take care. -SJR