Chapter 28

It was about a week later when Mark escorted Princess back to her quarters at Center Neptune, gently leading her down the hallways of the underwater complex.

"So, Medical says that you have completely recovered?" he asked, obviously concerned.

As they reached Princess' quarters she pressed her hand against the wall panel, opening the door.

"Completely." she smiled, as they lingered in the doorway. "Apparently my cerebonics cut my healing time by seventy-five percent Amazing things, those implants."

She paused suddenly, an expression of intense regret crossing her face.

"If only they could have also saved our child." she whispered, her palm pressing against her flat stomach.

"I'll never forget this baby," Mark told her, his arms encircling her from behind to surround her with the emotional support she required, "but we will have other children, once the war is over. I promise you that, Princess."

"I want that too, Mark." she sighed, leaning her head on his shoulder.

"I'm just glad you're okay." Mark continued, squeezing her waist. "The entire time you were gone, I was living a nightmare, especially when we thought you had…" His voice trailed off, and now it was the Eagle who needed emotional reassurance, as the unpleasant memory stirred up the terrible days he had had to endure without the Swan.

"I'm just sorry I can't say the same about our baby." Princess said quietly. "I feel like I lost our child before I even had a chance to get used to the idea of being a mother. "

"We'll get through this, Princess." Mark said, turning her around and taking her hands in his. "Together."

Princess nodded and then embraced him happily, snuggling into the strong arms she had always trusted to keep her safe. In combat, she was a match for any man, but emotionally, she was in desperate need of the support only Mark could give her.

The Commander smiled at her for a moment, then shuffled his feet nervously.

"Well, uh, I guess I should be going."

"Why?" Princess asked, surprised. "I'd like you to stay, Mark."

"Well, uh…" the Eagle was clearly ill at ease. "I wouldn't want to hurt you… after what you've been through…"

"Mark," Princess laughed softly, gathering the Commander's Number One shirt in her fist and pulling his face down to hers. "Didn't I just say that I was completely recovered?"

A look of understanding dawned in the Commander's eyes.

"Completely?"

"Clearance obtained from the Chief Medical Officer himself." the Swan smiled.

"Then why didn't you say so before?" Mark grinned, sweeping Princess into his arms and carrying her inside the darkened room. The door closed with a soft hiss behind them.

"It's been torture, being close to you, but not being able to touch you." he whispered, feeling her tremble with excitement.

"For me too." she replied softly. "I was able to hold back, but only just. It's been far too long…"

Mark leaned his head down, kissing her gently. The contact was lingering and sweet, as if they were kissing her for the first time. They were committing to each other in an entirely new way, starting a life together that would be something of their making, and nobody else's.

Mark carefully laid Princess down on the bed, swiftly removing his own clothes before divesting her of her garments, until she lay naked before his hungry gaze.

Her peaches and cream perfection nearly blinded him, and he was completely overcome by his emotions for her; that such an incredible woman could love him with all of her heart and soul.

Princess studied Mark through heavy-lidded eyes, marveling at the way in which her fantasies had come to life. She wanted nothing to come between them ever again.

"Princess, you're so beautiful." he murmured, running his hands lightly over her soft skin. His actions apologized for his clumsy words, the contact creating an electric sensation that lit up her body, causing her to practically glow wherever he had touched her.

"I'm lucky to have such a wonderful lover." she sighed. "Any beauty I have is only my happiness showing through."

"You'll always be beautiful, Princess." Mark said. It was both a compliment, and a promise.

The Swan reached up, grasping the Eagle's face in her hands and bringing it to hers. This kiss was demanding and needy, as she sought for the intense pleasure that only he could offer her. He gladly joined with her in that search, moaning as her fingers began to tease at his bare, muscled flesh.

"Let me show you how much I missed you." he whispered, massaging her body with long, hard strokes, smoothing her satin skin beneath his calloused palms, until she was writhing with excitement.

"Oh, Mark, please… now…" she begged prettily.

"Not until I have finished, my Princess." he smiled. It was only his delight at her response to his touch that kept him from taking her right then.

But that would be much too soon. The Commander wanted to prolong this intimacy as long as possible.

The Eagle paused for a moment, seeing the amused impatience flashing in the Swan's emerald eyes.

"You are the one who has been through an ordeal." he determined. "You are the one who needs special treatment, without concern for anyone else."

Casually, Mark bent down, picking up Princess' red and white-striped pants from the floor. She watched him with curious anticipation, not knowing what was about to happen.

"Turn around, my little Swan." Mark grinned, quickly rotating Princess so that her head lay at the bottom of the bed and her feet lay on her pillow. Before the surprised Swan could react, the Eagle bound her wrists with her own pants, then secured them to the footboard of the bed.

"I don't want you interrupting me, just when things are getting good." he grinned cheekily.

Princess sputtered in amused outrage, but her feeble protests were quickly drowned out as Mark began to thoroughly kiss her, eliciting a pleasant longing inside of her that spread down all of the way to her toes.

"I don't think this is a mandated use for Birdstyle, Commander." she flirted.

"I guess we'll have to keep quiet about this, then." Mark murmured. "Now be still. I have to concentrate."

The thought of exactly what Mark wanted to concentrate on sent shivers down Princess' spine. She pouted prettily, silently urging him to begin.

She didn't have long to wait.

Slowly, Mark began moving his mouth over her body, her creamy softness melting on his tongue as he moved his body to reach every part of her. His leisured pace teased her as he slid his head from her neck to her stomach, straddling her so that her soft breasts were pressed against his abdomen, while his tongue flicked out to brush the core of her femininity.

Princess cried out, all awareness of reality gone, but for the delightful sensations Mark was creating in her most private self. Unconsciously she struggled against her bonds, but was unable to work her hands free to touch him. Instead, she moaned her frustrations loudly, encouraging the Eagle onward in his passionate pursuits.

He shifted, and suddenly Princess realized how Mark was lying on top of her. His backside rose up and…

Princess knew what she could do to get her own back.

The Eagle was greedily tasting the Swan's honeyed flesh when he suddenly felt a warm wetness enclosing his length. He groaned, his lusts burgeoning immediately, glancing back to see a still-bound Swan taking full advantage of the opportunity her unwitting Commander had presented to her.

"Princess, stop…" he gasped, "I can't hold on…"

But the naughty Swan only increased her attentions, and the Eagle felt powerless to move away, despite his lack of physical restraint.

Yet… he looked back to see her rosy femininity teasingly covered with dew. He immediately decided that if she could distract him, then he could certainly do the same for her.

He lowered his mouth again, drinking deeply, causing her soft flesh to quiver even as she suckled on his masculinity, leading him to the brink and encouraging him onward.

The two lovers reached the pinnacle of their passions together, their lusts culminating in an explosion of sweetness and desire.

Mark collapsed on top of Princess, shaking from the aftermath of the powerful moment they had just experienced together, Slowly, he slid off of her body, crumpling next to her, completely drained by their passionate encounter.

The only sound was of Princess' ragged breathing as she too recovered from something she could never have imagined.

"Mark…" she gasped, unable to put words to the intense emotions that were taking over her body.

"I feel the same way." he smiled, reaching up to kiss her eagerly. "I love you, Princess."

"I love you, Mark." she replied, eagerly submitting to this new assault his lips were beginning upon hers.

"Now that I've had a moment to recover, I think it's time to teach you a lesson." he grinned, a wicked gleam in his eye. "I told you that you weren't supposed to worry about me."

"Damn you and your stupid rules, Commander!" Princess replied, winking saucily at him before she pulled her body upward so that her head was next to her wrist.

"Transmute!" she cried, nearly causing the startled Commander to fall to the floor.

Princess' nearby clothes glowed and transformed to her Birdstyle. Her helmet materialized next to where her t-shirt had been, gloves appearing alongside it, even as her shoes were replaced by her thigh-high white boots. The Swan's arms shimmered, and she easily pulled her hands from the short pink minidress that was loosely wrapped around them.

Before the Eagle could react, she threw the dress around his neck, pulling him close to her as she sat up.

"I enjoy games." she lectured, "but I always want to play on fair terms. Understood?"

"Understood!" Mark gasped, excited to witness this previously unseen side of Princess. "Your wish is my command!"

"Exactly what I hoped you would say." she purred, tossing her dress to the floor and pushing his chest with both palms flat, so that he collapsed back onto the bed.

"Now, it is our turn to achieve our pleasure together." she informed him, rising up to straddle the Commander before she slowly impaled herself upon his raging masculinity.

The Eagle closed his eyes, soaring through the sky as the Swan led him high above the clouds, drifting inside of their whirlwind tornado of desire as their movements became increasingly frenzied and wild.

The haunting cry of the Fiery Phoenix escaped from the Swan's lips, mingling with the Eagle's shout of exultation as they simultaneously peaked, vulnerable to each other, yet drawing great strength from their shared closeness.

As they lay together in the aftermath of their intimacy, a tangled mass of intertwined limbs and heaving chests, they were grateful for the chance they had been given to live their lives together as one, bonded together for life. Their relationship had evolved beyond friendship, into something so much more.

Something they would always cherish.