We started kissing and I let my hands wander, familiarizing myself with her body that despite looking as if a sculptor had carved it out of the finest marble was extraordinarily soft. Was it magic or was it just Alex? Though, I couldn't separate Alex from magic in my mind. Everything about her, even when she didn't have her Queen facade on, was too extraordinary to be natural. It didn't bother me the slightest.

Alex who initially seemed to enjoy my exploring of her started growing impatient, moving and arching trying to get my hands where she wanted them. "Come on, Pipes." Hearing her whine sent shivers down my spine. How had I managed to reduce a woman like her to this needy mess? I sincerely didn't know what I could be doing that was affecting her so much. I knew she was very experienced -a fact I didn't like to dwell on- so what I was doing or more accurately trying to do was probably terrible compared to what she was used to. "Piper." She said, more urgently this time, snapping me back to reality.

"Tell me what to do." I whispered. Part of me required the guidance but mostly I found the thought of her commanding me by telling me every dirty little detail of what she wanted me to do to her extremely erotic.

"I don't want to make you feel like you have to do something you aren't comfortable with." She said, sobering up. "This is about you as much as it is about me. It might not be your first time having sex, but it still is your first sexual experience. I don't want to scare you by going too fast."

"Alex." I said, using the same tone she had used to make her understand that I was just as serious as she was about this. "I want this. I want you. All of you. And as much as I appreciate you being all sweet and taking care of me, please stop treating me like a child."

She considered my words for a moment before nodding and saying more quietly than usual, "Suck on my breasts."

With a mischievous smile, I said, "Yes, my Queen," before doing exactly what she had asked.

She groaned, letting her head fall back. "Gods, you are going to kill me one of these days."

After giving what I felt like was enough attention to her breasts -and getting reassurance that I was doing great by Alex's breathy moans- I looked up, waiting for my instructions. "What now, mistress?" I asked, remembering how calling her queen had made her shiver.

"Shit, Pipes."

"What?" I asked, suddenly self-conscious. "Too much?"

"No." Alex quickly replied, seeing the worry on my face and wanting to reassure me. "Just-" She took a deep breath, trying to work out what she wanted to say. Alex being speechless was a rare occurrence. I would have enjoyed it more if I wasn't anxious about hearing what she was going to say. "I would prefer it if you called me Alex." She sighed. "I don't want you to think I enjoy you being my inferior and serving me, Piper."

I gave her my best loving and tender kiss before leaning in and whispering into her ear with my best seductive voice, "I like serving you. Watching you fall apart under my ministrations is the best thing I've ever seen. But, if you don't like it-"

Alex let out a breath. "Oh, trust me, Pipes, I do enjoy it. More than I should. I just- I want our first time to be sweet and soft and perfect. We have all the time in the world for me to teach you dirty and wonderful things that are going to make you lose your mind."

"Okay." I agreed, seeing the reason behind her argument. To be completely honest, I was a bit nervous about this, but I didn't want to look like an idiot, so I might have overdone it with my false confidence.

I started kissing her neck, softly sucking at it's most tender spots making Alex feel dizzy with pleasure, while at the same time snaking my right hand down Alex's stomach. Upon reaching the point right before her lady parts I stopped and looked up at her hesitantly, sucking my lips in between my teeth. This is happening.

Alex smiled at me lovingly and it felt as she if she was seeing me for the first time. Capturing my lips she guiding my hand with hers to the spot where she wanted them. It was incredibly soft and wet. "Wow." I breathed, making her let out a shaky laugh.

"Same here, Pipes."

She moved my hand so that my fingers entered her. The moan that escaped her lips was the most exquisite sound I've ever heard and was pretty sure that nothing could ever beat it. Alex started riding my fingers, her face contorting in what I hoped was pleasure. Not knowing what to do with the hand she was using and not wanting to ruin the moment by doing something wrong, I decided that the best thing to do was kiss her. It made her moan louder and made her moves jerkier and faster. "You are so perfect." I didn't realize I had said it out loud until her up to this point unfocused eyes met mine. A tear slid down her face and panic immediately overtook me. Did I mess this up? Before I could ask, Alex tensed and started shaking. "Alex-" A deep moan, unlike any of the others, interrupted me. I couldn't determine if it was caused by pain or pleasure. I sincerely hoped the latter.

When she calmed down, she collapsed in my arms, snuggling with me. "Are you okay?" I asked sheepishly.

"No." She rasped. "I'm perfect."

I was almost too scared to ask, but I knew that if I didn't, the uncertainty would bother me forever. "Then why did you cry?" My voice felt incredibly small.

"Because I've never felt like this in my insufferably long years of existence." Alex turned so she could look me in the eyes. "I've never had sex with someone... like you."

"What do you mean?" I asked her, unsure if I wanted to hear the answer.

Instead of answering my question she said, "I love you, Piper."

The declaration sucked the air out of my lungs. "What?" I asked weakly.

"I love you." She reacted, this time with more certainty and a smile. "I don't know where you came from and why out of all the people in the world you chose to be with me, but I will thank the Gods until the day I die for bringing you into my life."

"Alex-"

"Please, let me finish." Fighting back the tears, I nodded. "I've experienced many things in my long life, more than you can imagine. Nothing has made me even remotely as happy as you have. You make me want to be alive, Piper."

Forgetting my promise about not interrupting her, I kissed her, feeling my tears wetting her cheek. "I love you, Alex. Growing up I was taught that there was no place for love in my life, just duty. You've taught me that there is more to life than doing what you have to. You've shown me a light in you so bright I'm surprised that nobody else can see."

"That's because you brought out that light. You've made me want to be better, to be worthy of you. That's why I was so terrified of letting you awaken your powers. By losing you I would also lose the part about me I like the best."

"You won't." I knew I was in no position to make a promise like that, but seeing Alex so broken and open I felt an instinctive need to protect her. "That's why I have to get my powers. So we can live a very long life together. I can't lose you either, Alex."

Alex looked at me with such grief in her eyes that sucked the air out of my lungs. "But what if you are not you anymore?" Her voice broke several times, breaking my heart along with it.

"I don't know what's going to happen to me, but I am certain about one thing."

"And what is that?" She asked, devoid any emotion.

"I will never stop loving you, Alex. This I can promise you."

She didn't look like she believed me, but she didn't say anything. "We should head back." She looked exhausted. I didn't know what had drained her more; the sex or the confessions of love. I leaned towards the latter. I was, too, feeling strange, knowing that after opening up nothing could ever be the same. Would it be better or worse, we were bound to find out.

A/N: I'm glad so many of you enjoyed the previous chapter. Since a lot of you asked for smut and nobody was against it I decided to include it. The next chapter will be more plot-involved. I just felt like writing emotional Vauseman. Let me know what you thought about it and what you think should happen in later chapters.