I know I said I was gonna slow down on this series, but I really wanted this to be up in time for Valentine's Day. Just made it!

I probably could have made this a one-shot, considering how short the second part is going to be, but again, Valentine's Day. :)

He Loves Her…to Death!

"I love you no matter what you do, but do you have to do so much of it?" - Jean Illsley Clarke

My girlfriend is spending the night at my lair.

This is big. This is huge. Mira and I have been dating for almost a year, and this is the first time we've spent a night together. Tomorrow's Saturday, so I don't have to worry about school. Mira is a legal adult and graduated before she died. My parents think I'm spending the night with Tucker, who's covering for me. Valerie, for her part, promised to keep watch and let me know if she needs back-up.

I have nowhere to be but curled up on the couch with my girlfriend. We are in our sweat clothes and watching the English dub of one of those old Godzilla movies where "Godzilla" is just some guy in a costume. My lair is basically a rehash of my house on Earth with a few added touches like a flatscreen TV and the ceiling being an exact replica of Earth's night sky. Tonight, however, it also features a plump nineteen-year-old woman with long, tangled dark green, lighter green skin, and human-like red eyes that are currently focused more on me than on the movie. Which is fair, because my own actually human eyes are mostly on her.

"You keep looking at me," Mira says.

"You keep looking at me," I retort.

We are such dorks.

We watch the movie and watch each other, but I can't totally relax. I'm exhilarated at the idea that she won't go home when I go to bed. Since I'm half-human, I still need sleep, albeit not as much, and my fully-dead girlfriend doesn't. What will she do while I'm sound asleep? She can sleep if she wants to, so would it be too much to ask her to curl up in bed with me?

Of course, as excited as I am at the prospect of Mira Katherine Scott in my bed, I'm also nervous.

We've talked about sex in the past, and we decided that we're ready to take that step. I always told myself I would wait until marriage to lose my virginity, but after a serious make-out session led to me masturbating in the bathroom at home, I was a goner.

Last month, Mira and I talked to Frostbite because we weren't sure if my human-half would allow us to have sex safely. After way too much information, Frostbite assured us that we could.

He also informed me that, until my human body dies and I become a ghost full-time, I am unable to sire children, ghost or human. I'm not happy about that, but Mira doesn't hold it against me. She and I both know it isn't my fault, nor is it something anyone can control, but it still bothers me a little.

At least I have Bub, an undead baby who imprinted on me. I love him like he was mine from the start, but it would have been nice to give him a brother or sister while they could still be relatively close in age.

I recall the conversation Mira and I had after Frostbite told us the bad news.

"Mira, I hate to ask this of you, but…if we're gonna have sex, would you mind going on birth control? I know what Frostbite said, but with my luck I'll end up being the first halfa to procreate. And, I'm worried condoms won't work for me since ghost stuff phases through human things and human things phase through ghost stuff."

"You do have some interesting luck. Honestly, I was looking into birth control options anyway."

She chose an IUD so she wouldn't have to worry about forgetting to take a pill. Which is good because, while we never set a date for our first time, I have a feeling it will be tonight.

That's why I'm nervous. Not only because I'm a virgin, but because Mira is not. What if I do everything wrong? What if Mira compares her time with me to her time with the other two guys she's had sex with? What if I don't fulfill her expectations and she walks out of it disappointed? I want to take this step, but I'm afraid of letting her down.

When the movie ends, we turn off the TV and talk about nothing and everything. It spirals from there. I place a kiss on her head. Mira touches her lips to my cheek. Then suddenly, her soft, cold lips are trailing down my jawline and sending shivers over me.

"Mira," I whisper.

"Should I stop?" she asks.

I respond by pressing my lips to hers and clamping my hands on her hips. She moans against me, and her hands grab fistfuls of my shirt, pulling me closer. I sneak my tongue into her mouth. She welcomes it, pushing me back on the couch. My hands slide under her shirt of their own free will. I'm so hard and she tastes so good that I'm operating on instinct alone.

When my fingers trace the edge of her bra, she pulls back and I worry I've gone too far.

But, her gaze speaks of raw want. "Can we go upstairs?"

Yes.

She squeals as I roll off the couch and lift her in my arms in one solid motion. (Thank you, ghost powers.) "Human- or ghost-form?" I ask as I carry her up to my bedroom.

She has her arms around me and is nuzzling my neck. "Whatever works."

I swallow thickly because I was hoping for an actual answer. I'm already in human-form, so maybe I'll stick with that? Her last boyfriend, Levi, was a ghost disguised as a human, which Mira wasn't aware of until he killed her in hopes that she would be a ghost alongside him. Obviously, his plan worked aside from the fact that Mira wanted nothing to do with him afterwards. (Enter duh here.) God, did she have sex with Levi? Would it be better if I'm in human-form, or will the fact that I'm half-ghost turn her off? That's probably ridiculous since Mira is all ghost and has come this far with me, but the thought lingers.

All I know is that I love Mira with everything in me, and I want to make her happy.

My bedroom in my lair is identical to my bedroom on Earth, though this one is roomier and has a bigger bed, which is about to come in handy.

Not knowing what else to do, I lay Mira on the bed. "You're gonna have to guide me through this," I say sheepishly.

Mira grins and climbs off the bed so that we are almost chest to chest. She barely comes up to my chin, so she has to tilt her head all the way back to speak to me. "I like it when my partner undresses me."

Holy shit, she wants me to undress her.

I fight to keep my hands steady as I grab the bottom of her shirt. She lifts her arms up as I carefully pull her shirt over her head and toss it on the floor. She is wearing a pinkish purple bra, and I want to tear it off with my teeth.

Don't screw this up.

"Like what you see?" Mira teases.

"Yes," I pant.

I want to caress every inch of flawless green skin, but this stupid fabric is in the way! I can't stop myself from shaking as I bring her close and reach for the clasp at the back of her bra.

"You're trembling," Mira comments before I can remove the offending garment. "We can stop if you want."

What if I'm not good enough? I push the ugly thought away and say to Mira, "I don't want to stop." It's the truth.

I grow even hotter as I undo the clasp and slowly pull her bra away. Her bare breasts are driving me mad.

"You're so beautiful," I praise.

I'm not that special. I'm a shrimp. What if she hates my body?

I swallow hard and focus on my task. Mira wants me to undress her. She wants me to make her feel special, wanted, loved. I hope I can worship her the way she deserves.

I drop to my knees, and my pulse picks up when undo the drawstring and pull down her sweatpants. Her panties are the same solid color as her bra.

And, they're wet. She's wet. For me.

"What are you doing to me?" I pant.

She giggles in response.

My fingers pause at the elastic around her waist. Jesus Christ, I'm stripping the most beautiful girl I've ever known. Because she told me to. Because she wants to bare herself to me of all people.

I do it. I actually pull down her panties. She's… Oh my god.

"Danny?"

I rip my eyes away and gaze at her face. Her sweet, gorgeous face that is flushed with longing.

She licks her lips. She licks her fucking lips. "Can I undress you now?"

She's going to hate my body.

Deep breath in. Deep breath out. "Not yet. I want to try something."

I stand up and lightly push her back on the bed. She doesn't fight it when I have my hands on her cold bare skin. My eyes are drawn to the horizontal black oval on her side. Her death mark, the spot where Levi rammed her with someone else's car. I want to slaughter him every time I think about it.

I am careful to avoid that spot as I trail kisses up Mira's body, starting from just below her navel and working my way up. Mira gasps out my name and breathes heavily despite no longer needing to do so.

I cherish her, and I want to prove it. I spread featherlight kisses over her stomach, her breasts, chest, throat, before finally cupping her face in my hands and landing my lips on hers.

She moans louder than before. "I need you," she begs when I come up for air.

My voice is low, husky. "You have me."

"Can I undress you now?"

What did the other guys look like?

I chuckle to cover my nerves. "So impatient."

I take her hands and pull her off the bed. She wastes no time pulling my shirt off me. I tense up as she takes in my upper half. I'm less than impressive. No muscles and too skinny despite a teenhood spent playing video games and eating corn chips and fighting evil.

What is Mira thinking about? Is she picturing the other guys and wishing I had a body like one of theirs? Or worse…is she wishing I was one of them?

My face must say it all, because Mira says to me with masked disappointment, "Danny, if you're not ready, we can stop."

Last night, I dreamt that she burned off my clothes with her electric powers and teased my dick in her hand until I screamed for her to let me inside her. "I'm ready," I tell her. "I love you."

"I love you, too," Mira says.

She hesitates but kneels down and moves to undo the drawstring of my pants.

And, it all crashes over me.

I clamp my fingers around my waistband and squeeze my eyes shut, too ashamed to look at her.

"Danny-"

"I want this!" I promise, forcing my eyes open. "Mira, I swear, I want this! It's just…" I shake my head and wish she would stop looking at me like that. "I am so goddamn in love with you and I have so much respect for you and…" I sigh. "It's my first time, but-but I know it's not yours and… I don't want you to be disappointed if I'm no good at this."

Mira stands up and shows off that sweet smile. She takes my hands in hers. "Danny, I'm not asking you to be some sex god."

"I know. But…" I groan and look away for a moment, gathering myself. "The whole truth is that I keep thinking about how you've been with other guys. And, I'm not…I'm not handsome and I'm scrawny and my dick is just as scrawny as the rest of me. I don't know who else you've had sex with, but I know they were probably way more appealing than me-"

"Danny." Mira releases one of my hands to caress my cheek. I savor her touch. "Is that really what this is about?"

Oh, great. Now my throat is getting tight. If I cry now, I'll have really blown this. "You deserve the best, Mira. I just worry that I'm not that."

I'd looked away but lock eyes with her when she says a gentle, "Hey." There's so much love in that single word that I nearly break. "The other boys don't matter. I'm with you now, Danny. And, I find you very attractive."

"You do?" I ask tentatively.

Mira laughs. "Would I be here if I didn't?"

I lower my gaze again. "I don't know."

Mira sighs. "Danny, no one's body is perfect. Look at me!" She stands back and holds out her arms, offering a full view of her perfect- "I'm fat and I'm short. Most guys wouldn't take a second glance at this."

"I think you're beautiful," I say with a small smile.

Mira grins back. "Exactly! You're attracted to me even though my body isn't perfect. Well," she moves forward and rests her hands behind my neck, "I'm attracted to you. Not for your body, which is not as bad as you think it is, by the way. I find you attractive, because you're you, okay?"

A single teardrop falls down my cheek. My smile widens when Mira wipes it away. "Okay. I really am ready now."

"Are you sure? I won't be mad if-"

"Mira, I am a straight seventeen-year-old boy, and you are ass-naked in my bedroom."

She giggles. "Can't argue with that logic!"

I brush a stray hair from her face. "I'm sorry for making this weird."

She tilts her head. "When are you ever not weird?"

More logic that can't be argued with.

Mira kneels before me, eye level with my crotch. I watch with a reawakened desire as she undoes the drawstring and pulls my pants down. Her eyes linger on the boner hidden under my briefs. She licks her lips again and fingers my waistband.

"Last chance to back out," she warns.

"I want you, Mira," I promise.

As soon as I'm bared to her, all thoughts leave my head. There is only room for this wonderful, precious spirit who loves me despite my flaws, despite the pain and drama that follows me wherever I go.

I lift her up and practically throw her on my bed. She laughs and asks, "Now who's impatient?"

I crouch over her on the bed. We're so close. So tantalizingly close. "You've got your IUD?" Probably should have asked that sooner.

She nods eagerly then, to my surprise, flies up and flips us over. Now my head is on the pillow while Mira is crouched over me.

"It's your first time," Mira explains. "Let me show you the ropes."

I'm almost shaking with need. "Teach me."

She lowers her body and…

Bliss.

We make love twice. The first time, I'm in human-form and on the bottom. When we do it again, I'm in ghost-form and Mira is happy to undress me a second time. I'm also the one on top that time.

I don't have a preference; it's amazing in both forms and in both positions

Afterwards, we simply cuddle on the bed until I inevitably relax so much that I fall asleep (stupid human-half). I fell asleep in ghost-form, and I awaken now in human-form. To my delight, Mira's cold naked body is still pressed against my warm one. She chose to sleep with me even though she doesn't sleep at all.

I watch with a content smile as she blinks into consciousness, her long green eyelashes fluttering until crimson eyes meet blue.

"Good morning," Mira says through a yawn.

"It is," I say before pressing my lips to her forehead.

Mira snuggles into my bare chest. "Did you have fun?"

I laugh. "Did you not hear the sounds I was making?" She giggles, and I tighten my grip on her. "Did you enjoy it?"

Mira peers up at me. "I'm pretty sure I was making similar sounds."

I could lay here with her all day except… "Mira."

"Yeah?"

"I have to pee."

Mira groans playfully and rolls out of bed. I watch every contort of beautiful skin as she grabs my shirt off the ground-

-and flings it at my face. I guess that means the show's over.

After doing my thing, I meet Mira in the kitchen, where she is hard at work making us breakfast.

To reiterate, she is in my kitchen. Making breakfast for both of us. The morning after we made love twice.

I'm in heaven.

"I hope you're hungry," Mira says as she mixes ingredients in a bowl, "'cause I'm making pancakes. You want anything in them?" She purses her lips. "You got anything I can put in them? Blueberries? Chocolate chips?" She sets the bowl on the counter and floats around to rummage through my embarrassingly empty cupboards. (They didn't seem that embarrassing before she started looking through them…) After a moment, she gives up with a huff and tosses her hands at her sides. "What is it with men and empty kitchens? I'm lucky I could find stuff for basic pancakes."

"In my defense," I say, "I do mostly live with my parents right now. And, I might have bought flour and stuff in case you needed a pick-me-up." Mira's Obsession is food, and while she doesn't have to cook or bake to satiate it, that is her preferred method.

"Aw," Mira coos. "Am I special?"

She returns to her batter, and I watch her for a moment before saying, "Mira…you have no idea how much I appreciate you. I know I'm not an easy person to be around-"

"What?" Mira sets the bowl down again. "Danny, that's not-"

I hold up my hand. "Please. I've been working on not bottling everything up, so can you please let me talk?"

Mira smiles tenderly. "Sorry. Go ahead."

I sigh and put my hands in my sweatpants pockets. "You know what I'm like, how I get in these moods. Depression just plows into me at times, and I probably have PTSD or a guilt complex. Or, all three. And, that's not even getting into all my enemies and the pressures of having a secret identity and the typical high school and family drama. I'm a wreck, but…but you've never judged me or belittled me for it. And…it's nice."

"Everyone has problems, Danny," Mira says. "Some people have more problems than others, but still. When I look at you, I don't see your problems." She throws her arms around me, and I hold her back as she gazes up at me. "I see a sweet, thoughtful, awesome guy. One who's there for everyone and who's gentle when he needs to be and badass when there are butts to be kicked."

Warmth blooms in my chest as I find myself gently swaying her from side to side. "Know what I see when I look at you? A kind, vibrant woman who lights up a room and always makes me smile through my tears. Who's bubbly and is up for anything and isn't exactly a slouch in combat."

Mira grins and blushes but says modestly. "I'm not much of a fighter."

"Yeah, but when you need to be, you aren't half bad."

Marry me.

Thank God I didn't say that out loud. I'm still in high school and I live with my parents and I don't have a ring.

But, I really, really want to say it out loud.

Mira's grin turns mischievous. "You know something I've never done with a boy? Something that can be our first time?"

"What is it?"

"Take a shower."

The mere thought makes me regret getting dressed. "Is that a request or a polite way of telling me I stink?"

Mira grins wider and shrugs. "Sex is pretty sweaty work."

I laugh and press my lips to hers. Yes. I want her. Her mind, body, soul. I want to wake up beside her every morning, naked or otherwise. I want to come home after a hard day at work to the sight and smell of her making dinner. I want to sit on the couch and watch TV with her. I want my son to call her "Mommy."

Someday…

My heart aches with longing when I pull away. "Better hurry up with those pancakes. If we're trying something new, we need to fuel up."