Author's Note: Thank you for coming along on this journey. Aria and James were fun to explore, and with this chapter we have the conclusion; for now, at least. I reserve the right to continue their story at a future date.

Vorcha Girl - this was for you, and I hope you enjoy this ending; though, it's really a beginning. You've helped me grow as a writer, and this is in no way enough for me to thank you, but it is a start.

Thank you to those who left comments on the previous chapters. I appreciate each and every one of you, and I apologize if I didn't reply to you directly. Know that that doesn't mean it wasn't read and adored. Thank you for the reviews.

All that being said ... Enjoy. - TLC

Chapter Five

James wanted to look away from her, the heat of the embarrassment rising from his collar as her intense, bright green eyes held him captive. He reached up and ran a hand over the top of his head, before dropping his hand to the back of his neck. He tore his eyes from her and turned his gaze to his feet for a moment, before lifting just his eyes to her. When his eyes met hers again, he swallowed and gave a shrug. "I thought it was pretty obvious," he answered quietly. His anxiety was doing interesting things to the enchiladas he ate. He could feel it twisting in his stomach as he waited for her to respond.

Her face held no real reaction; she just stared at him. After what felt like forever, she held her hand out to him, palm up. He stepped closer to her and took her hand. She twisted their fingers together, pulling him in closer and he went willingly. She wrapped his arm around her and buried her face in his chest, breathing deeply. He was confused, but he would take it. It wasn't a negative reaction, but if he was honest, it wasn't the reaction he was hoping for. He cleared his throat.

She pulled back and when he found her eyes, his heart raced instantly. "I'm not good at this," she admitted, her voice rough. "I've never been in love before."

There was a strange detachment between his mind and his self. He felt like he was outside looking in, and yet, simultaneously felt each of his body's systems working to keep him standing. Maybe he just wanted to be outside looking in on this moment; that would mean it wasn't happening to him. Of course she didn't feel the same way. How could she? It had been foolish of him to declare his feelings the way he did. He couldn't take it back. Everything would be different now, and it was all his fault. He stifled a sigh as his chest constricted painfully. He blamed it on the enchiladas. He cleared his throat. "You don't have to say anything. In fact, let's just pretend I didn't say anything," he snapped at her as he started to pull away. He knew his tone was sharp, and cruel, but he couldn't help himself.

She reached out and grabbed his shirt, fisting her hand in the soft fabric. He allowed her turn him back towards her. His traitorous hands moving to her hips on their own.

"Let me finish." Her voice was quiet, and thick. She kept her left hand tangled in his shirt at his waist as the other reached up and touched the side of his face lightly. His eyes slid closed and he couldn't stop himself from leaning into her touch. He always wanted more; more of her touch, her smell, her taste, more of her. "I didn't say anything sooner because I wasn't sure what this was." He opened his eyes and met her gaze. Her hand slid from his face and rested on his chest, her eyes darted down to where her fingers traced what the open buttons allowed her to see of his collarbone. A shiver of pleasure raced down his spine, and he wasn't sure if it was from her touch or her words. Hope bloomed in his chest and warmed him like real, Earthly sunshine. Her nail skipped along the chain that held his dogtags. She twisted her hand in the chain and pulled him closer, as her eyes met his. The words were a whisper. "I love you, too," she finally replied, and he couldn't stop himself – not that he wanted to – as he leaned forward and kissed her.

The intensity of his kiss, the way he eagerly moved his mouth against hers, elicited a surprised squeal from her lips as she responded to him. Her mouth opening and allowing him to deepen their kiss. His hands slid up her sides and cupped her face as he broke the kiss reluctantly. He licked his lips as his eyes searched hers. "Really?" The hope in his voice was plain in his own ears, and her smile lit up her face.

"Yes, James, really," she promised, and he pressed his lips to hers again. He felt like he was going to burst apart at a molecular level. Like the atoms that composed him were moving too fast and he would burst into flames as the energy and excitement raced through him. His heart beat like eagle's wings against his chest, strong and fast. Soaring. He smiled against her mouth. She pulled away slightly, breaking their kiss. "You told my mom."

He dropped his hands and wrapped his arms firmly around her waist as he shrugged. He turned his eyes away from her, teasing. "It was no big deal," he said and she slapped his chest with an open hand. He chuckled, and turned his face back to hers. "I want to tell the world." She was grinning, and he loved how open her eyes were and how relaxed her face was. She looked content and he leaned forward and kissed her again, pressing his hips into hers as he did.

She gasped and went on her toes to rest herself on the table as her arms wound around his neck. His hand slid up her shirt and she trembled as he slid her sweater up. He leaned back and she lifted her hands over her head. He tossed her sweater to the floor, and she grinned at him and her nimble fingers made quick work of the buttons on his shirt. She spread the shirt open, her hands roamed over his warm, firm chest. He leaned forward and kissed her as she pushed his shirt down his arms. His shirt hit the floor and his hands dropped to the back of her knees and he lifted, pushing her back on the table.

She gasped into his kiss and he stepped between her legs. His kiss was insistent, demanding, and he moved his kiss from her lips to her jaw and neck. A moan slipped form her as he ran his tongue along her neck. As he moved his lips lower, she arched her back. Her hand shot out to brace herself on the table and she bumped the tray with the sopaipillas and the chocolate sauce.

The noise startled them both, and Shepard watched as a mischievous smile spread on James' face. He turned his eyes to hers, and she watched as they moved back to the bowl of chocolate sauce. She set her hands on the table behind her, bracing herself as James reached out with his left hand and dipped a finger in the chocolate. He brought his hand to her mouth, and she leaned forward. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips before she ran it up his index finger, tasting the chocolate before taking his finger in her mouth. He let out a low groan as he watched her suck the dessert from his fingers.

She pulled back, letting his finger fall from her lips. She took some of the chocolate on her finger and reached out. She ran her finger along his lips. His tongue snuck out, and touched the tip of her finger. She chewed her lip before she leaned forward. She ran her tongue along his lips, cleaning the chocolate, before slipping inside his mouth. She whimpered, breaking the kiss and leaning back again. Their eyes moved back to the chocolate, and she reached out before he did. He raised an eyebrow at her, as she dipped her finger in before she let her coated finger trail down her own neck. His eyes followed as she left a trail over her breasts before she lifted her hand and licked the rest off her finger.

He growled lightly before leaning forward and cleaning the sauce from her skin. He lapped at her. She reached up behind herself and unhooked her bra, he pulled back and scooped up more chocolate. She tossed her bra to the floor and he drizzled the chocolate over her breasts and abdomen. She laid back on the table. He followed the trail he created, cleaning her. He took a breast in his mouth, and she moaned as her back arched. As his mouth worked her flesh, his hands slid down to the button on her jeans.

He moved down her body, cleaning the mess he made. The soft, mewling sounds that slipped form her made him twitch in his pants. He dropped to his knees and slid her jeans off. She propped herself up on her elbows and watched as he reached up and dipped his fingers in the sauce. He trailed his finger from her belly button and lower. He glanced up and met her eyes as he skipped over her core and moved to her thighs. She whimpered his name and he smirked.

He moved and continued his path down her body. She laid back on the table. She reached up and grasped the opposite end, bracing herself. He loved the way she moved, whimpering, and begging for him. His lips, tongue, and teeth worked the soft flesh of her thighs. He hooked her legs over his shoulders and placed his lips on her core. She let out an inelegant string of curse words, and he smiled against her as he explored her folds. She hooked her ankles behind him and he groaned into her.

She tasted better than the chocolate.

His fingers slipped inside her, curling forward and stroking her in just the right spot as he sucked lightly her most sensitive spot. She called out his name as she came, her hips bucked against his face and he pulled back to watch her as she rode out her climax. He slipped his fingers from her and unhooked her legs from behind him before standing. She was nearly panting. "James, please, fuck me."

He undid his pants. She sat up and moved closer to him. Her legs wrapped around him and he guided himself into her. Her head fell back and she called out as he filled her. His mouth moved to her neck and he gently sucked on her pulse point. She was boneless in his arms, pliable, and willing. He climbed onto the table with her, her legs hooking over his hips and he thrust into her. He reached up and entwined their fingers. Her eyes met his, and he kissed her as he continued moving inside her.

He could tell she was close again. Her body tensed beneath him and she clung to him, moving her hips to meet his. He dropped his head slightly, his forehead resting on hers. Her face was twisted in pleasure and need. She was perfection and she loved him. He kissed her, his tongue dancing with hers briefly before she broke. He head falling back and his name in her voice at this moment was his favorite. Her body stilled for a moment at her climax, and he continued to thrust into her as her body pulsed around him. She melted beneath him satisfied, and she wrapped her arms around him, pulling her lips to his hear. "James," she moaned is name before her tongue flicked out and teased his ear lobe. "I love you."

He came. It was unexpected, and he shouted in surprise. Her words took him over the edge and she gasped, then giggled as he moved erratically before allowing himself to rest on top of her after he filled her. He didn't want to move from her embrace. He buried his face in her neck. Her legs and arms still wrapped around him, holding him. It was heaven, and he could lie here for eternity and never feel like he missed out on anything.

Silence filled the room as they lay together on the dining room table. Chocolate and sopaipillas forgotten on the table beside them. It was a while before either of them found their voice again. James lifted his face and kissed her slowly, almost lazily, like they had all the time in the world. He pulled back after a long moment. "I'm all sticky." Shepard whispered, and James chuckled as he looked down between their bodies. Chocolate stained both of them.

"Let's get you cleaned up," James said pulling away from her, and loving the disappointed sound that left her as he stood. He held his hand out for her, and when she took it, he hauled her up and easily lifted her over his shoulder. She squealed, and laughed as he carried her to the bathroom.

They took their time with each other. They cleaned the dessert from their skin. The easy caresses stoked the fire between them. They stayed in the shower until the water ran cold, the contrast between the stream of water and the temperature of their bodies caused them to steam as they moved together. Her hands pressed against the wall as he took her from behind. He held her hips tight, for a moment, he thought he'd leave a mark. Part of him wished he could. Mark her as his.

Later, they lay tangled together between the soft sheets in James' bed. Her body pressed against his and she rested, sated, with her head on his chest. His hand moved easily through her hair, and her hand traced lazy patterns around his belly button. Her hand moved lower, and danced through the trail of hair that led beneath the sheet. He cleared his throat, almost surprised he was reacting to her, already. She let her hand fall flat on his stomach before she could really start anything again. She turned her head and kissed his chest.

She let her head rest back down, and James sighed in the silence as he felt sleep tugging at his consciousness. He wanted to stay awake and stay in this moment. He felt the instant she slipped to sleep. Once she was out, Khan jumped up and curled in a ball at the foot of the bed. James sighed, content, and allowed himself to drift off with the knowledge that Aria would be there when he woke up. That was all he needed.

The End . . . for now.