Hal and Greyla left the celebrations early and went back to their quarters on the Lady Devora.

“I’m not apologizing. Widhbo just came right out and told me,” Hal said. “I was hoping it wasn’t true.”

He ran his hand through a slightly tangled head of sandy hair in frustration. He had let it grow longer while at the mining colony in addition to growing a short beard which he kept neatly trimmed.

“The little bastard!” Greyla said, tossing her bags on the bed.

“So it is true?”

“Yes, but there was no reason for you to find out.”

“Apparently I was the last to know.”

“It's not common knowledge, Hal."

“Let’s see… Nova knew, so Tajlon probably does and I'm pretty sure Anakron knows. Widbho told me Bethon set the whole thing up with Sag. I'm not sure about Cratus but, probably... “

“Okay, I get your point, but you're still keeping secrets from me.”

“That’s different. I’m sworn to secrecy. This was a conspiracy of silence.”

“Get over it," Greyla said. Her face was flushed with emotion.

“Were you just using me as a finance of convenience, or are we really engaged again?” Hal asked

“It just came out. I don’t know why I even said that.”

“Yep, you were using me.”

“Well, you called me sweetheart,” Greyla countered.

“The difference being I meant what I said.”

“Oh, you’re impossible.”

“No. I’m available. You’re impossible.”

“Halston Medantos, you make me so mad sometimes!”

“It’s my one talent apparently.”

“You could try just being sweet once in a while.”

“I thought I did a sweet job of handling Leggan back there," Hal stopped and looked hurt. "What? I'm always sweet where you're concerned."

“You're cocky and you take me for granted. And for your information Sag let you get past him. You don't handle someone like him. Did you know he’s oldest living elder god in this galaxy.”

"I guess not or I'd have just laid down at his feet like a puppy dog and let him have you.. again."

Greyla took a swing at Hal. He dodged and caught her wrist with his other hand.

She twisted free and grabbed both his shoulders.

“There you go again. Pushing me away.”

“I'm pushing you to the bed, mister.”

“Not until you agree to marry me. I come with a big price tag," Hal teased.

"Yes. I'll marry you someday. Can we just stop arguing?”

Hal laughed and nibbled the side of her neck and felt her skin prickling in little goose bumps under his lips.

Greyla reached to kiss him. Their lips met and he passionately took her mouth, smothering her kiss with his own before dropping down to one knee.

“Not someday. Marry me now, Greyla.”

“Hal, I… I’m about to leave. Who knows how long I’ll be staying on Erizza.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“Tajlon will need you on the new Sora.”

“Then I’ll stay until he’s ready to leave, but I won’t go anywhere until we're wed.”

“I don’t know when... ”

“I’ve been waiting years for you. Look at all we’ve been through. I’ve lost count of how many times we've nearly died. We need to do this deed before the demon catches up to us. Why is it so hard for you?”

Greyla sighed. “I love you Hal. If we were married, I don't think I could ever stand to lose you."

"That's the worst excuse I've heard," Hal stood and wrapped his arms around her, savoring her full sensual lips with another kiss. "Next you'll say there's no priest."

"There isn't."

"Any elder can marry us. Hell, even Widhbo could do it as captain of his magiton body."

"I simply couldn't imagine Bethon or worse, Munaci, being at our wedding."

Hal laughed and buried his face in Greyla's bosom.

"What?"

"Inside joke. But if would be so special if Munaci could be our flower girl."

"Munaci and flowers don't even fit in the same sentence. If you can get them in the same room without wilting the flowers, I will marry you."

"It would easier to slay the demon, but I'll do anything to get seal this deal."

***

Hal picked Greyla up and laid her on the bed, pushing the luggage to the floor. He covered her in feather light kisses and nibbled at her nipples through the thin material of her blouse. She caught a double handful of his hair and pulled him closer, enjoying the warmth of his body. The firmness of his erection pressed against her thigh through the silky skirt she had worn. Hal slid a hand under her blouse and caressed her breasts gently, eliciting a soft gasp of pleasure.

Unbuttoning the blouse, he covered her mouth again and thrust his tongue deep inside while stimulating her breasts and teasing her nipples to hard peaks. Her tongue met his as Greyla finally abandoned herself to pleasure. Hal raised the skirt to her slim waist exposing her lower body. Never leaving her mouth with his lips, one hand on her breasts, he let the other play up and down between her warm thighs.

Greyla reached around to squeeze his firm buttocks that were pressing her into the mattress. Hal slid his fingers between her labia and fondled her intimately, coaxing her to a frenzy of pleasure. Greyla struggled out of her clothes, Hal's kisses sliding down from her breasts to her waist. She pulled at his shirt to try to undress him as well, but he moved beyond her reach, closing his lips on her vulva.

"See if this is sweet enough for you." he said rubbing his soft beard across her vulva, licking and sucking her delicate tissues. He plunged his tongue down inside her wetness causing Greyla to cry out in pleasure.

"God you taste good!" Hal continued playing with her and teasing her with his fingers until she came. After her orgasm and release, he stripped off his own clothes while she lay panting before him, revealing well muscled arms and powerful thighs. He carried a golden tan from his life on the islands.

"I forgot how good you look naked," Greyla said between heavy breaths.

Hal grinned. "Not my fault. I've been trying to get naked with you since we left Beldora."

He sank back to the bed and locked her into his embrace as she eagerly reached for his body. "Sweetheart?"

"Yes."

"Nothing. I just wanted to see if you'll answer to that now." Hal said and laughed.

Lost in one another's arms they forgot their troubles for a while and indulged in all of the pent up pleasures which had been denied for so long. Moans of pleasure followed by ripples of gratification, repeated over and again until they were both satiated and fully spent.

"Sweet mercy... " Hal murmured.

"It's not on the menu here," Greyla said. "I checked."