A/N: The same content warning as the previous chapter applies.

The smolder in Daphne's eyes was mesmerizing as she stared down at me, playfully smirking as I suddenly found myself on my back.

"So, are you up to another round?" she flirted.

I gave her a look that said do you think I'd pass this up? She hadn't worn me out yet, especially after refreshing myself with champagne and strawberries. It was a beautiful night, and if my wife insisted on "repaying" me, as she put it...who was I to protest?

Wife. I relished the word. Only in my many fantasies and dreams about her had I ever thought it possible. Yet here we were, Daphne and I, on the night after our wedding. To use an old cliche, I truly felt like the luckiest man on earth. I cherished every moment. Watching her walking down the aisle toward me, seeing her smile when I called her 'Mrs. Crane' for the first time (I had told her she didn't need to change her name, but she insisted), our first kiss as husband and wife while everyone and everything around us faded away. I'd never thought we'd reach that point after my own cowardice in a fruitless (and admittedly unfair toward Mel) attempt to stop loving her.

"Niles?"

Daphne snapped me out of my reverie.

"If you're not interested," she said suggestively, "we can leave."

"I'm 'interested'! I was just pondering my good fortune. I never thought we'd be here."

"But we are," Daphne smiled gently, stroking my cheek. "I was just asking you what you'd like me to do to you."

"Anything you want, Daphne," I told her with a wink. "You know what I like by now, right?"

Daphne laughed in that warm, carefree way I loved.

"Yes, I think I'm an expert in taking care of you."

Here was another thing I'd never thought I'd ever have. Us making love whenever the desire struck us. Feeling her touch and pleasing her in another thing I had thought would only happen in my fantasies.

But the reality was so, so much better. From our very first time with each other onward, these fantasies had paled in comparison. Tonight would be no different.

I shivered as Daphne raked her fingers through my chest. A rather odd thing to turn me on, but there was something about her tracing her fingers possessively down my torso as they tangled with the mat of hair that was erotic. This was followed by a passionate series of kisses, first on my lips and my neck, down to my shoulders. I wanted her to go lower, but I knew there was plenty of time for that-and the delay would be worth it.

Her hands continued to explore my body, lingering at the sweet spots, growing slightly deeper, more caressing. Her touch was so attentive, yet so tender. Due in part to her skills as a masseuse, perhaps.

Despite her hands being all over me, her eyes never left my own. Those beautiful, captivating brown eyes. So warm and full of life, especially at this moment. Even in the soft light of the candles and the moon I could see the intensity and love in them.

She pulled gently at my hips until I raised them; she skimmed her hands along my backside before squeezing playfully. This was the spark that made it impossible to wait any longer for release.

"Daphne, I need you," I managed to say as my arousal grew.

With a playful, self-satisfied grin as her only answer to my plea, she lowered herself onto me. Once again, I was inside her. I would never get used to that feeling, nor would I want to. She moved against me beautifully, and we kissed all the while; I had to grip her waist for support as every sensation left me trembling.

She finished by kissing me again, much lower on my body this time and climaxed together, finally spent.

"That was indescribable," I said when I could finally speak coherently.

"I'm glad you liked it," Daphne said through a yawn.

"Ready to head back?"

She nodded sleepily; after blowing out the candles we headed back to our room. I made a mental note to tip the staff very, very generously for helping set up for this beautiful night with the woman I truly loved. If only I'd known she'd come into my life someday. I would've waited, however long it took.

I was still thinking of this was we fell asleep in each other's arms back in our suite. I nuzzled into her hair, inhaling the familiar scent of her; she still had the adorable habit of spraying perfume (this time, 'Forbidden') onto her hairbrush.

Surrounded by her warmth, her scent, her love, I fell into a blissful sleep,

smiling as I remembered that I'd be waking up next to her for the rest of my life.