Darken and Phoenix flew for many many hours. Their shadows flew over the land, over green and over water, over mountains and over sandhills. After some time, Darken pointed to her to followed him down. Darken made a slow turn to bleed off his speed and landed like a crouching cat.

Phoenix followed him, her aura slowing her down, bringing her to rest right next to him. The aura of fire dispersed, causing long brown hair to blow back. She looked at Darken. He was standing next to something; some sort of building that looked about half-finished.

He looked a little sad. Phoenix came up beside him and put her arm around his waist. "What's wrong?"

"Well," Darken said quietly. "The trip to Skycity's a two-day one, and I need to rest. I figured we could rest here. I guess . . ." His voice trailed off into a sigh.

"Where are we?" Phoenix said. "I don't think I've ever seen this place before."

"You weren't meant to," Darken said, a little sad. "Not until it was finished, anyway. This is our house, Romanova. And I so wanted you to see it finished. Then this came up, just like it always seems to."

Phoenix held him a bit tighter. "It's all right."

"No it isn't," Darken said. "I'm so tired of being on the end of destiny's string. I don't want to save the world. I just want to stay here, in my house, with you."

Phoenix held him close. Darken stroked her hair, looking into her eyes.

"If it makes you feel any better," Phoenix said, smiling up at him. "It looks like it was going to be something."

"Well," Darken said. "I hope it will be, Phoenix. I worked so hard, trying to get it ready for us, when you returned. It helped when I started to miss you too much--It helped to think I was building our future."

Phoenix walked around the edge of the house. A round column in the floor, one of six, had caught her eye. She took off one of her white gloves and placed her hand in. She looked at it, now soaked in water.

"How'd you do this?" Phoenix asked.

"I didn't," Darken said, walking over to where she was. "I was owed a favor from a water angel. Her name was Cyan."

"She?" Phoenix said, cocking an eyebrow. She continued to trace lines in the water. "Darken . . .is there anything you want to tell me about?"

"About Cyan?" Darken said, blushing a little bit. "Er . . .there's . . .not much to say, really. She owed me something from a long time ago. But it wasn't exactly a debt, you know. She . . .well . . .I . . ."

Phoenix smiled at him and flicked water at him. "Silly," she said, a broad smile on his face. "I was just kidding, you silly angel, you."

"Oh," Darken said. "Thank heaven for that. And even though you didn't really want to know, I'll tell you. Cyan was the first woman I ever kissed. When I asked her for the water springs, she reminded that I was a good kisser. "By the book," I think, is how she put it. "

Phoenix giggled. "Well," she smiled a bit, going over to him. "She is right."

"You think so?" Darken asked, not exactly anticipating that.

"Yes, you silly bird, now come here."

Phoenix pulled him close and kissed him, very passionately. Darken held her tight to him, running his fingers through her hair. Feeling the nearness of her made Darken feel so alive inside, so aware of how acutely he'd missed her.

"I love you, sweet Romanova," he said, softly.

"I love you too," she said, holding him so tight his ribs hurt.

Darken began kissing down her neck, behind her ear, just barely letting his lips glide over her warm, glowing skin. His hands moved up her waist, his fingers spread out over her back. He kissed where her neck met her shoulder so elegantly, breathing in the sweet scent of her hair.

Phoenix held him very close to him. She loved the nearness of him; she loved his attention to every part of her. She reached her hands down, down to the clasp on her orange sash. It came loose with a gentle snap, and fell to the ground. Her black silk jacket fell open, and Darken gently pushed it off of her shoulders.

"Ohhhh," Phoenix said, her lips exhaling softly like the full petals of a flower. Darken kissed her bare shoulders and stroked his fingertips down the smooth indentation of her back. He held her close to him, and soon after, he felt her hands on him, in his jacket.

"Romanova," he breathed. He reached for the jewel around her neck, undoing both it, and her white shirt. It fell across her, skin, very gently. Darken let the tip of his wings run down her back, enveloping her in his wings. Phoenix pulled close to him. She loved being held under his wings, they were so soft and warm and they made her come alive with every touch.

Darken could feel her, it felt like she was in every atom of his body He was so close to her, wanted to be even closer. He took off her shirt, running his hands back up to touch her soft, full breasts. Phoenix arched her back, wanting to feel his touch, wanting to feel him even closer.

Phoenix began working at his clothes frantically. His gloves, his jacket, the armor he wore under it, all of it feel by the wayside. Phoenix pulled him closer to her, not wanting the closeness to ever end. With his wings around her, she could feel like the rest of the world didn't exist, except for the two of them.

Darken lightly traced the shape of her breasts with the tips of his fingers, barely touching her. Phoenix sighed hotly, arching her back, pushing her breasts closer to his fingers. He splayed his finger out, his fingers fanning over her smooth golden skin, cupping her soft full bosom in his hands.

"Ahhhhhh . . ." Phoenix breathed. Darken pulled her close, holding her breasts against his chest, massaging them gently but firmly. He pressed his mouth to hers and they kissed, with love and passion. Phoenix stood on tiptoe, reaching up to his face and looking deep into his pale blue eyes.

"Romanova," he said, still massaging her breasts. "Do you like this, my sweet angel?"

"Mmm . . .yes . . ." Phoenix said.

"I love you, Romanova."

"Love you too . . ."

Darken bowed his head and lifted one of his breasts to her lips. He traced the circumference of her nipple with his lips, breathing softly over it. He could feel it harden, feel her blood and breath quicken with the excitement of his kiss. Her hands ran through his hair, holding him close against her. He let the tip of his tongue trace around her nipple before finally settling on the nipple itself. He feathered it lightly with his tongue. Phoenix cried out softly, wanting him to do more, but at the time not wanting him to stop for anything.
He got down on his knees, beckoning her to do the same. She lay down, as he gently caressed her naked chest. He cupped a bit of water from the spring, and gently let it spill onto her skin. Phoenix almost jumped, until she saw what Darken was planning.

Darken began to lap the water off of her, off of her breasts, off of her stomach. She felt as if she might lose her mind, he seemed to be all over her. Her chest was heaving, and she wanted him closer.

He closed his mouth over one of her nipples, fluttering his tongue over her like a butterfly's wings. Phoenix was feeling wild; her heart seemed to want to leap out of her chest. She was arching her back so hard against his tongue that it was starting to hurt. But she couldn't stop.

Neither could he.

He suckled on her breast even more, bringing it up between his teeth. He rested his tongue against the very tip of her nipple. Her breast and trilled his tongue against it.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

She pulled him hard against her body, between her breasts. "Darken," she panted, holding him close. "Please . . .please . . ."

Darken pulled back, and stroked her face with the palm of her hand. Phoenix put her hand on his and kissed his palm. Her violet eyes seemed so full and deep, and her lips were like the petals of a flower.

"I love you, shiroibara-chan." he said, very softly.

"I love you too," she said.

Darken let the tips of his wings run over her breasts. He began to work on her boots and her pants, undoing clasp and wrap, armor, and fabric, until she was naked before him. He sheltered her nakedness with his wings, and Phoenix relaxed, feeling the warm silkiness of his wings against her skin. She didn't know what she was going to do, but she could trust him, and she was willing.

As was he.

He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. His tongue went deep on her, not insistently, but more and more it was as though they were drawing into one another, drawing themselves together as one.

He broke the kiss, his eyes betraying a reluctance to break it. He kissed a line down her body, down her neck, down between her breasts, down her stomach, down to her thighs. He kissed along the soft inner part of her thighs, brushing his lips up and down the smooth and tender flesh there. He could feel her thigh muscles tense as he grew close to the folds of her sweet shrouded flower.

Phoenix wanted to say so much, but she couldn't do much more than sigh and moan. She was so focused on him, on what his doing, on how she was making her feel.

He let the tip of his tongue trace around the shape of her folds, like a florist opening a flower with the tips of his fingers. He was so focused on her, so focused on pleasing her. He drew his tongue down her folds, separating her with the tip of his tongue, drawing a line higher and higher, until he was touching, just barely touching, her center.

Phoenix screamed so loud, she could hear the echo of her cry for miles around. And now--Oh God, she thought. What is he doing to me now?

Darken was feathering and circling her center now, very gently now. He was coaxing her center, making her rise to him. Phoenix raised her hips higher and higher, every time he would pull away from her. She felt as though she was on fire.

"Darken . . .Darken" She panted. "Please . . .don't stop . . .please."

"I won't, Romanova," Darken said, blowing very softly against her. He let his tongue rest against her and trilled it against her center. She almost screamed, bucking her hips against him three times against him.

Darken took the opportunity to press the advantage. He slid his tongue inside her, deeper, past her opening deep inside her. She ground her hips against him, as he flicked inside the deepest part of her. Darken could feel her thigh muscles tensing and releasing and muscles deeper than that tried to capture him and hold him.

Darken parted her thighs with her wings, rubbing the tips of them against her inner thighs. Phoenix screamed as he worked deeper. She had felt his tongue against her center, but now he was somewhere else, somewhere where every flick of his tongue was a shock to her. Phoenix grit her teeth, tears spilling out of her eyes. She arched her back up, feeling every touch of him setting her on fire.

Darken rubbed her center in time with the strokes of his tongue. Phoenix was gasping now. Darken could feel her inner muscles clutching at him, faster and faster. Whereas before she could only say his name, she couldn't anymore, her breathing was ragged, and she was rolling her head from side to side. Her hair was sticking to her face but she didn't care. She felt the heat rising in her and the familiar rush had her. It built up so feverishly that she could barely restrain herself.

Her climax ripped through her like a solar flare. She grit her teeth and wrapped her legs around him. Darken let it happen, feeling her sweet honey flow into his mouth. He slowed down, very gently feathering her, letting her wind down.

He encircled her in his wings, leaning back. She moved astride him, her hands working on him now. His white boots slid off, followed by his kneepads. She had his pants off before he was conscious of it. He felt like he was flying, like everything was a dream.

He wished he could live in it forever.

Phoenix began to touch him, and was a little surprised to find that he was already excited. She gently encircled him with her fingers, gently stroking him, squeezing him a bit. He had been so bad, she figured she was owed some time in control.

Darken ran his wings up and down her back, tracing her shoulder blades as she rubbed him. "Romanova," he breathed. She worked a bit faster in response to his sighs.

"Do you like this, Darken?" She asked. Her eyes seemed a darker shade of violet now. They held no malice, none that he could, see, only desire deeper than he had ever known. There was exhilaration and comfort in it, to know that he was so totally hers, and that was how they both wanted it. Darken leaned backward. She was trying something new, he realized. She was using her powers to warm her hands, just a little. The heat made him even more excited.

"Yes, Romanova," he breathed, pulling her closer with his wings. "Please . . . don't stop."

"I won't," she said, working on him. Every now and again she would squeeze him gently. She didn't want him to finish, not like this, but she wanted him to get a bit more excited yet. It was strange, she thought, she had so recently done this with him, in fact, he had been her first. It had been so odd, so peculiarly awkward, but at the same time wonderful, in it's own strange way. Now it seemed to come so natural, it all seemed so right.

Darken shut his eyes and bit his bottom lip. "Ohhhhh . . .oh God, Phoenix, I-I'm going . . . to . . . "

"I know," she said, slowing down a bit. "But I don't want you to. Not yet. Not like this."

"Then . . .what?

Phoenix smiled and kissed him very tenderly. She stroked his jet-black hair very gently. "I want to . . .Darken, will you . . .I mean . . ."

Darken covered her hands in his. "Yes?" Darken kissed her hands very softly.

"Make love to me," she breathed. "Please . . ."

He kissed gently behind her ear. "Yes," he said softly. "I will. I love you so much, Romanova."

"Love you too," Phoenix said. She could feel her heart pounding, and it was so hard to think. All there was her and Darken, and all she wanted was there to just be one where there were two.

Darken moved himself between her thighs, letting the tip of himself rub against her center. It sent shockwaves of pleasure through Phoenix, who dug her fingernails into his shoulders. He moved into her a bit more, holding her very gently. She would move over him, and he would let her sink a bit deeper on him. She was half-mad with desire for him, and she couldn't take this for very much longer. Her muscles clenched at him, her thighs were tensed, and she wanted him. All of him. Now.

"Darken . . . please," she said huskily. "Don't do this. I want . . .I need . . .all of you. N-now."

Darken didn't have to be told twice. He eased her all the way down on him. She clamped tight around him, throwing her head back, the look on her face that of relief as much as desire. It had hurt her, just a little, the first time, but now it was easier to focus on what he was doing.

She started the rhythm, slow and steady. Darken began kissing and suckling on her nipples and massaging her breasts. Darken moved himself in and out of her. It was difficult, but he was very flexible and wanted her to feel everything.

The slow deliberation didn't last long at all. They both wanted it too much. They began to go a little faster, her hips moving on him very insistently, and Darken, for his part was all over her.

Phoenix felt so alive, as did Darken. She could feel his climax building and was trying to delay hers, but it no longer seemed to be within her control to stop. It was like a dam bursting with in her, a fire she had created but could not control.

Darken was pulling her closer and closer, holding her with his wings as he caressed her with his hands, and holding her with his arms while his wings glided over her glowing skin.

"Romanova," he said. He was going harder and faster on her than he ever thought he could with anyone. He hadn't had much more experience than she had, but this . . .this shattered anything he had known. She filled his senses, suffused him with an energy he could not name, only let burn through him. "I . . . "

"Shhhh," she said, putting a finger of his lips. She kissed him deeply. "Don't speak. Just . . .let's . . .together . . ."

"Yes," Darken whispered. Her clenched her tightly, as the climax he had tried to restrain burned in him, and through him. He felt hers flaring too, he felt her muscles working him, faster, and faster.

"Mmmm," Phoenix said, dragging her fingernails against his skin. "AAAAAAAAAAAH! AH! AH! AHHHHHHH!" Her hips bucked out--once, twice, involuntarily. That was it--Darken's climax met with hers, triggering another one in her. She milked the moment for all it was worth, and it seemed to go on forever. Phoenix felt herself run out of breath, and her head go light as she thrust a few more times, before collapsing against him, tears running down her face.

Darken was shaking all over, with the supreme effort. He opened his eyes and found he could see very little save spots. He smiled a bit and held Phoenix close to him, sheltering her in his wings.

"I love you, Romanova," he said, only gasping a little.

"I love you too," she said. She took a few deep breaths, and tried to steady herself, before she spoke again. "It never occurred to me . . .to ask if this place as secluded."

"It is, shiroibara-chan," Darken said. "That's part of the reason I wanted to build the house here. Of course, that was before Liandra told everyone where it is."

"I'm kind of glad she didn't come after us, considering."

"Me too," Darken said, a shy smile playing across his face. "I don't know if she's really ready to know this much about her big brother."

Phoenix laughed. She kept laughing as Darken rose to his feet, picking her up. She slowly stopped laughing and looked around. "Uhm, Darken," she began, "What are you doing?"

Darken took her to one of the springs and gently lowered her inside. Phoenix was prepared for the shock of the cold water against her skin, but was even more shocked to find that it was . . .warm.

Darken very gently began to wash her off. She sort of liked the feel of the warm water against her, and she definitely liked the attention darken giving her. But something was missing.

"Hey," she said, smiling to him. "Come here, you silly bird."

Before Darken was aware of what was happening, he had been pulled into the water. He was a little shocked, but he soon relaxed when he understood what she was doing. She was very gently bathing him, as he was going to do for her.

They doted on each other for a time, then just sat in the water, holding one another, until the water was still around them. Phoenix gently caressed his cheek, Darken just watched her. He never really got tired of it. There was always something new, something beautiful, to be found when he looked on her.

He looked up. Night was beginning to fall. And if they were going to get to the Skycity, they would have to leave at first light.

She stepped out of the bath first and Darken followed soon after. She dressed, almost reluctantly as Darken tried to shake the water out of his wings. She smiled a bit at the sight. Then he too dressed. He found a soft place for them to lie down and spread his wings over it. Phoenix lay on top of him, snuggling close.

"You know," Darken said. "This is how I want out life to be. This is what I see at the end of this running around we always seem to do. I hate that we never seem to have time for this. Never have time to look up at a sky full of stars and just enjoy being together."

"I know," Phoenix said, wrapping one of her wings around him. "I don't mind it. What's important is that I'm there with you, there for you. That's what's most important."

Darken smiled. "It feels like I should be protecting you, though," he said.

"And I feel the same way about you," Phoenix said. "But I know better. I understand how different we are, all that could happen to us, but it doesn't matter to me. Whatever comes, we'll deal with it."

"You sound awfully sure of yourself," Darken said. He folded the other wings over her. She smiled and nestled against his chest, smiling. "I sometimes wonder why I'm not that confident."

"You are," Phoenix said. "You just don't realize it. Or was it some other Darken Blackangel I saw storm out of that temple?"

"I guess you're right," Darken said. "But I couldn't have done it without you. You give me something, something special something . . ."

He looked down and felt a familiar redness cross his face. She was already asleep. He smiled and snuggles closer to her, and in time made all the sweeter by it being spent in the arms of his beloved, he fell into sleep's embrace.