Tierney abandoned all thoughts other than the man in her arms. Tausson was hers again. He loved her. The fact alone was enough to make her heart flutter. And when she remembered they were going to be together, free to love each other on Lota, her heart swelled with such love and happiness that she could hardly breathe.

His hands slid over her shoulders, her arms, her back, craving her as much as she craved him. He tugged on her hair, and Tierney obediently set it free of its braid. He moaned against her lips, running his hands through her thick locks.

Her whole body shuddered, every inch of her skin wanting his touch. But instead of ripping off his clothes like her swelling core demanded, she gently pulled away and gave him a sly smile.

She didn't go far -- hardly six inches, but the space between them felt cavernous. Reaching down for the hem of her skirt, she deftly pulled it up and over her head.

His lips were on hers before her dress was even on the floor. Cool and smooth, his hands flew over her skin, frantically trying to satisfy their hunger.

Tierney wanted him just as much, but she was determined to savor every moment they spent together from now on. Putting her hands on his, she gripped them tightly, forcing them to slow, and eventually stop on her hips. Pulling back just enough to make sure he was watching, she reached up and undid the clasp of her bra, but didn't take it off.

Understanding brightened his eyes. Tierney's skin tingled as his hands slid up her back. The lace straps brushed off her shoulders, and soon her bra had joined her dress on the floor.

A moan escaped Tierney's lips as Tausson's hands found her breasts. Her stiff nipples dug into his palms, and a liquid heat roiled between her thighs.

Still she didn't give in to her need. Instead, she again brought his hands to her hips, but this time hooked his fingers into her panties. Tausson didn't hesitate, continuing the motion until she stood naked before him. His gaze traveled up her body, burning her skin, as hot and intense as the beam of light that had dried her in the Medic Lab.

"Now you," she said, clothed in nothing but air, her skin shivering for his touch.

His chest was heaving as hard as her own as she slid her hands beneath his shirt and lifted it. Because he was so tall she needed to move close to get it over his head. She gasped when she felt his hard, metallic cock pushing into her just above her clit, while at the same time her breasts pressed against the steely ripples of his bare chest. Pleasure rocketed through her, causing the exquisite pressure between her thighs to build even further.

She tossed his shirt on the floor with the rest of their clothes. Sliding her hands down the firm, smooth skin of his glittering arms, she slipped her fingers into the waist of his pants and tugged them down, revealing his erect, silver rod. She hadn't seen it since she'd arrived on the Irral, and had almost forgotten how beautiful it was. While the rest of his body was a shimmering silver, his arms and cock were covered in a web of thin metallic ribbons. A shudder ran through her as she remembered the feeling of those lines -- smooth on his arms, but raised on his cock -- rubbing her from the inside.

She smiled up at him, her lips close to his shining sword. He was the sexiest, strongest, most perfect man she'd ever met, and he was all hers.

"Kiss me?" Tausson asked.

It took her a moment to realize he'd said it in English. His translator lay on the cushion of their clothes on the floor, and he was looking down at her with the same mixture of adoration, vulnerability, and possessiveness that she had been gazing up at him with. She grinned and started to stand, but he put a hand on her shoulder and gently held her where she was.

"Kiss me," he said with a smirk, glancing at his cock, then back at her.

"Oh," she said. Putting her hands on his hips, she settled on her knees in front of him. "Is that the only English you know?" she asked playfully. Without waiting for an answer, she pressed her tongue to his balls and licked all the way up to the tip of his long sword.

His cock straightened even more at her touch, and Tausson groaned, his eyelids fluttering closed. Sliding one hand around to grip his firm, round ass, she took his steely, rippled rod in the other hand and let it slip between her lips.

His legs shuddered as she gently sucked on him, his faint metallic taste filling her mouth. He was too big to take entirely, but like last time, she found herself completely relaxed and even welcoming the feel of his hard crown at the back of her throat.

Massaging what she couldn't suck, she reveled in the pleasure she was giving. Tausson's hands found her hair, pulling it away from her face and neck until he had it all in his fist. His hips rocked in time with her motions, and she wondered if he wanted to come this way. She couldn't help a little disappointment at the thought, her own body aching to be pleasured, but the desire to give him what he wanted outweighed her own needs.

Gripping him tighter, she changed her motion from a soft massage to a more vigorous rub. His cock, already unyieldingly stiff, hardened further. He gasped and his entire body seized as a a hot, salty spray poured into her throat. Because he was clutching her hair, Tausson inadvertently held Tierney's head in place, preventing her from pulling away. But she had no intention of doing so anyway. She drank him in, savoring his flavor, sucking until she'd drained him dry.

His softening rod still in her mouth, she looked up at him. His mouth hung open in rapturous shock, and his cheeks were flushed dark gray. He opened his eyes and saw her watching him, his chest still heaving. She nudged her head back against his hand, and he loosened his grip, enabling her to slide her mouth off of him.

With a smirk, Tierney stood and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "You can owe me one," she said.

But a moment later, he'd wrapped his arms around her and lifted her onto the bed. He pressed his mouth to hers, and even though she tried to keep her lips closed so he wouldn't have to taste himself if he didn't want to, his tongue forced its way through. The heat in her core that had begun to ebb, once again flared as his body pressed down on hers. He squeezed her breasts, sending sparks of burning pleasure straight through to her toes. Then she felt his fingers between her thighs, slipping between her other lips. It was nowhere near as satisfying as his cock, but she spread her legs and welcomed him just the same.

His lips traveled down her throat as the heel of his hand pressed against her mound, and his finger rubbed her from within. She moaned in delight as he lightly bit down on her burning nipples. Another finger slipped easily into her wet pussy, then another. It still wasn't his incredible cock, but between his lips and his skin and his hands, it was almost enough.

He slid his hand back and forth, in and out, fanning the flames of her desire but not completely easing the pressure building in her core. She reached down and began to rub her clit. A moment later his fingers disappeared. She gave a small sound of disappointment and opened her eyes to see what was going on, but then she felt his chest on hers, and his glorious, full, hard cock slipped into her.

She cried out, forgetting the need for discretion, forgetting where they were, forgetting everything except the feeling of him inside of her, on top of her, around her. He filled her utterly. She wrapped her legs and arms tightly around him, wanting to fuse their bodies into one, wanting no boundaries between their souls. Her entire being called out for him, and he answered with every rock of his hips.

"I love you, Tausson Corwin," she whispered.

Without pausing his hammering thrusts, he reached up and took her hands, pressing them back against the bed so he could lace his fingers through hers. His silver eyes stared down on her, filled with such love and gratitude and desire that Tierney couldn't believe they'd ever doubted each other.

"I love you, Tierney Dawson." His low, rumbling voice saying her name pushed her over the edge. She spasmed with a blinding, scorching pleasure. Every part of her seized tightly around every part of him, capturing the wave of ecstasy. This was the perfect moment: their souls and bodies entwined, giving each other all they could give. She wanted to always be this close to this steel god of a man. And the fact that he felt the same way about her brought her rapture to staggering heights.

His unyielding, rigid sword slammed once more into her, and then his body shuddered for the second time. She stared into his eyes as they came together, his bliss mingling with hers until they were left gasping for breath.

Tausson shifted his body, his soft cock tickling her core and sending an aftershock of pleasure rippling through her. She gasped in surprise, and locked him in place with her legs. He smiled and kissed her, and when she relaxed again he lay on his side on the bed next to her.

Even this closeness was too far for Tierney. She snuggled against his cool skin, felt his sculpted muscles against her back, and imagined waking up like this every day on Lota.

She couldn't believe her luck. She'd found the man of her dreams -- no, scratch that, she'd never dreamt that she'd end up with a man as perfect as Tausson. But he was hers, and she was his, and they were going to be together for the rest of their lives. No hiding, no guilt, just in love, just the two of them.

A single dark ribbon of thought entered her mind, but the more she tried to unravel it, the tighter it wound around her. Finally, even though Tausson's breathing was growing steadier and his arm heavier on her, she couldn't go another moment without telling him.

"Tausson?" she whispered, tracing his palm with her fingers.

His breath hitched, and his arm tightened around her. "Hmm?" he murmured dreamily.

"There's something I need to tell you, before we go to Lota."

He got off the bed for a moment, and even though his skin was cool, she felt colder without him near. She reached down and slid under the blanket as he put his translator back on.

"How are you able to understand me without your mechasuit?" she asked.

Slipping into the narrow bed and propping up his head, he answered, "Aspri adjusted my implant so it's autonomous now." Kissing her forehead, he gazed down at her. "What do you need to tell me?"

She already regretted saying anything. What if he changed his mind about coming with her? What if it was just too far off base from his Relican upbringing?

His silver eyes darkened with concern. "Tierney, what is it?"

Unable to stand seeing him worried, she blurted it out as fast as she could.

"I can't have children."

Her heart began to pound as she watched her words sink in. Before he could ask, she said, "I won't get into details, but it's a medical issue, and irreversible. I actually always thought of it as a good thing, because I wouldn't ever have to worry about accidentally getting pregnant, and I've been too busy with work to even consider starting a family. But now that I've found you, all I can think about is how important having children is to Relicans, and how I can't give that to you."

Blinking back tears, she tried to read his expression, but he was clearly still processing the information. She couldn't stand the silence.

"If you can't imagine a life without children, then you'll never be happy with me. I should have told you before you agreed to leave the Squad, I'm sorry." She covered her eyes and focused on keeping her breath even.

After a moment, she felt his fingers on her wrist. He gently pulled her hand away. She kept her eyes closed, afraid to look at him, afraid to see his rejection.

His lips grazed her eyelids, and he whispered, "I love you, Tierney Dawson. I want to be with you, not your uterus."

She couldn't help but smile, remembering when she'd accused him of that very thing back in her apartment on Earth. He kissed her upturned lips, and she opened her eyes to see his stunning face close to hers. Even though they'd just made love, her core began to throb at his nearness. Her heart fluttered, and Tierney was again staggered by the effect this man had on her.

"Are you sure?" she asked. "You're not mad at me for not telling you sooner?"

He brushed the hair from her shoulder and kissed the crook of her neck. A shock of heat pulsed inside of her, raising goosebumps on the back of her neck and down to her breasts.

"I'm mad for you, not at you," he said, nibbling on her ear as his hand slid down her neck and pinched her hard nipples. A taut cord of pleasure strummed inside her, sending a rush of warm wetness between her thighs.

"Don't start something you can't finish," Tierney teased, her voice thick with desire.

Still lying beside her, Tausson shifted until he hovered above her. Spreading her legs with his own, he plunged his stiff erection deep into her.

Crying out in surprised rapture, Tierney smiled up at him. "Do all Relican men bounce back so quickly?" she asked, gasping for breath as he brought her once again to the edge of ecstasy. "Not that I'm complaining."

Playfully nipping at her lips as he pounded into her, he said, "Why don't we put your sexy mouth to better use than talking about other men?"