Richard Weston's POV

Aria was actually shaking with the intense emotions I could read on her face, pulling her close to me, I glared at him, and Gabriel had the good grace to leave the suite of rooms.

She wasn't used to feeling so much like this, I could tell by the way she clung to me. Scooping her up in my arms I laid her down on the bed and climbed into it with her, spooning her small frame against mine.

"They have to go Richard, or I do." Her voice was small and wavered. She held on even more tightly to my arm. "You too. I couldn't bear it if something happened to you, and he'll be looking to use you against me. But, I promise you this, if he wipes you into oblivion, I'll destroy him for it."

Raising up on my elbow, I rolled her onto her back and stared her in the eyes. "Damn it Aria, I am not leaving you to face him alone and that's final! Now, as for the others, we'll see what we can do. But for once, I wish you'd stop acting like a martyr, and look at it like this. This is our planet and has been all our lives. You just got here. We have every right to defend it, and ourselves from one such as Xavier, just as you do. As Gabriel said, this is bigger than just you know, Aria. It affects all of us." Turning in toward my chest, Aria cried for a long time.

When she finally raised her head, she offered a small smile as she spoke softly. "So much for thinking I have learned just about all there is to know about humans. God, I love you so much right now..."

Without thinking twice, my lips brushed across her feathery light, then came to rest upon her soft lips with gentle pressure, my arms gathering her to me with a quiet strength. It was one of the most erotic moments I have ever known, and I didn't want it to end.

Though we did have to breathe soon. But for some reason, neither of us cared.

The kiss deepened as she surrendered her mouth to my probing tongue. Our tongues intertwined and slid as we gasped for air from the corners of our mouths, passion rising hotly. We were about to be consumed by it when Aria broke the kiss, her chest heaving for glorious air like mine. We stared into each other's eyes for the longest time. Neither of us daring to move. From the wide-eyed expression and smile of awe, I could see she had felt it was a special moment too. I bent my head down and placed my forehead against hers and whispered, "I still can't believe that you're all mine... I must've done something really good in this lifetime to deserve you... You are my everything, Aria."

Tears of joy ran from the corners of her eyes and I wiped them away with my thumbs. Her big, soft brown eyes gazed up as I lifted my head from hers a little. "In all the worlds I have seen, and all the species I have known, you are the one and only person that has touched my core, making it spin out of control. I love you Richard, and I love who I have become with your infinite patience." She paused as she reached up to caress my cheek.

"If there were anyone in all the known universes that I could spend eternity with, I would want it to be you. You are my universe, Richard. Despite things like quantum realities, I would still gravitate toward you." Her words touched my heart and soul, even though we were different in how we were constructed, Aria and I were the same.

Grinning, I kissed her softly on her nose. "Oh, God!" I exclaimed, "I don't know what to say to all that, now..."

This set her off into a fit of giggles that became infectious. "You know what? Neither would I!"

Laughing together, I moved to the side, bringing her with me.

Almost lazily, her leg fell over mine and her left arm came to rest on me, her hand in the center of my chest. Cuddling up to my side, she laid her head on my shoulder and sighed with a bright smile on her face. "We should get some rest. It's been a long day."

Nodding, Aria closed her eyes and I rested my head against her beautiful sun-kissed hair. Closing my eyes, my last thoughts were that this was how I wanted to live my new Immortal life. With Aria at my side, and in my arms as we slept.

________________________

Nine hours later...

Aria's POV

I'm sure that by now, Richard was about to start calling out to see if I'm okay. I think I must have been in the bathroom for about a good hour. Poor guy was already showered, dressed, and ready to go.

The shower had felt wonderful with the water sliding down my body as it helped wash away the soap and shampoo I had on me. Relaxing me with its warmth as I took my time...

Though now, I'm putting on some black stretch pants and a white button-up shirt which I leave strategically unbuttoned at the top to give him a glimpse of cleavage at times. Picking up the lower ends of the silky material, I knotted it just above my navel. Tucking the ends in, while I stepped into a pair of bright red stiletto heels.

Pulling the towel off my hair I tossed it into the clothes bin under the sink, then proceeded to finger-comb my hair and scrunch it up so I could let it air dry.

Turning to the side, I opened up the bathroom door, and Richard was sitting on the bed letting out a long low whistle. "Damn, you look good enough to eat." He wiggled his eyebrows and I laughed, knowing exactly what he'd meant.

Sainte ring over to him, I bent slightly giving him a view while I fiddled with the collar of his navy blue shirt with rolled-up sleeves, that he'd tucked into his new pair of black jeans. "Maybe so... Though I thought I might ask you a question first..." His eyes were still glued to my breasts.

"Uh...yeah? What is it?" He finally met my eyes.

Smiling widely, I shook my chest at him. "A choice really. One, we make love..." His head snapped up. That got his attention. I grinned inside. "...or Two, we go flying and see how big of a problem we may be facing with all the different species out there." His eyes were as wide as saucers.

"We can make love anytime. Not that I don't want to, mind you. It's just that... We, humans, dream about flying... Now that I have an idea of what it can be like... Aww he'll, this is coming out all wrong..." He paused as he took a deep breath. When his eyes met mine, they were filled with the little boy inside of him. So wide, curious and almost pleading. "Aria, can we fly?"  Taking him by the hand, he stood up and I led him toward the door.

"Yes, Richard. Let's go fly." I promised him with a grin as we opened the door and stepped outside, closing the door behind us with a click.