From the moment they arrived at the resort, Vic landing in a discrete, hidden area, Shannon was speechless. The setting was exquisite. Their suite, an open-air platform with living room, bedroom, small kitchen, and bathroom areas, was elegant and inviting. The view out into the rainforest was spectacular.

Shannon stood on the edge, looking out, taking it all in, listening to the forest sounds as she enjoyed the heat sinking into her bones. Ben wrapped himself around her from behind, bringing both peace and tingling anticipation, and they stood quietly for several minutes. There was no one near them; the privacy of their location was complete. He gestured at their small tiled pool below them.

"Want to go for a swim while we wait?" he asked, his breath tickling her ear.

Shannon was puzzled. "Wait?"

"You said you needed food. I ordered lunch to be delivered after we settled. Some sandwiches and fresh fruit to tide us over until dinner."

She turned in his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck with a grin. "I think you just want me out of my clothes."

The lust she had seen earlier returned to his eyes. "Yes, Shannon. I do. Enough to nearly beg for you. But, I don't want to rush you."

His need sparked a desire in her, and the thrill of a budding relationship blossomed. She kissed him, tentatively at first, but deepening it when his searching tongue found hers. She faltered, however, when Tonya's nagging voice in her head echoed sentiments of, "Too fast!" She drew back.

"What is it?" Ben asked, pressing his forehead to hers. Their breath was shallow, and the air around them charged.

"I want you, I do..." she began.

"But?"

She decided to put all her cards on the table. "But, I don't know how to reconcile my growing feelings for you with my mission."

"To get me to say yes to being War," he stated, letting out a sigh, withdrawing enough to look at her but still have her in his arms.

"Yes. I just don't understand..."

"There's more to it than you realize, Shannon. It's not something I can share, though. Just trust me; it's not that I don't care for humanity, I swear."

She dropped her arms and stepped out of his. "But, Ben, that's what it ends up looking like, no matter what the reasons. I get that you want to retire, but I—"

"You don't understand, Shannon," he interjected.

The light jingling of a bell interrupted them. Ben stared for a heartbeat more, eyes pleading for understanding in the face of such a lack of information. Seeing none, he slid out of her arms, crossed the floor to the stairs, and pulled a cord to ring an answering bell. "Lunch is here," he explained. "Why don't you change into something lighter? You've got to be getting hot in your sweater."

Shannon wiped a small line of sweat from her upper lip. "Good idea."

As the staff cleared the low table in the living area, Shannon retreated behind the bedroom screen to don a loose cotton dress. It was colorful, with large blue splashes which matched her eyes, a simple garment, but she knew its effect.

She sat on the bed, pausing to gather herself before going back to the other side of the suite. What am I doing here? Really? She asked herself, trying to make sense of her feelings. Can I do this? Am I running a mission where I pretend to care... or do I really care? Her stomach growled. Finding no answers, she put on a smile and headed toward the food and the man—No, the Immortal—waiting for her.

Her heart skipped a beat when she saw him. He was sitting on a cushion, leaning back on the edge of the couch, one wrist on a raised knee, eating grapes and lost in thought. It was a completely casual pose, yet it was full of confidence and... something... which thrilled her. Her disingenuous smile became real as he turned to her, and his eyes lit for her.

"Wow! That's a stunning dress on you, Shannon."

She flushed and dipped her head. "Thank you." Her stomach growled again, and he chuckled.

"Come here. Let's eat. It's simple fare, but, like I said, the fruit here is amazing."

They sat and ate for a while in the quiet. Shannon didn't know if he just wanted to be silent or if he was as tongue-tied as she.

Eventually, he spoke. "Shannon, what happens if I say yes, and then I'm instructed to take the war in a direction that isn't... optimal for humans?"

Her eyes widened, stomach suddenly sour. "Do you think it would?"

He sighed, "I don't think so, honestly, but I'm not sure. I can tell you He's pretty angry with humans right now. He feels abandoned since the Immortals and their demigod children have, in his mind, stolen his followers."

"God would punish us because He feels abandoned? That seems... a little childish."

Ben leaned back against the couch again, unconsciously taking up the same position as before, sandwich half-eaten on his plate. "Of all the things He's said and promised, He's never once Himself claimed to be perfect. In fact, He's told us He's a jealous and vain God."

Shannon blinked, pausing with a grape of her own halfway to her mouth before letting her hand rest in her lap. "Huh. Yes, from what I remember reading, I believe you are right. It has always been others who proclaim Him to have perfect love and grace."

"Right."

She shifted, moving to sit beside him. He moved his arm to put it around her as she settled back. "But, what about grace? Don't we have access to that?"

"Of course. But, a person has to ask for it to be given. People aren't asking; they are not remorseful for their choices."

"So, He'd punish us with enslavement at Their hand?"

"Again, I don't know."

Shannon didn't know what to say, so she walked back to her previous vantage point, listening to the newly falling rain in the canopy. She hadn't thought of the problem Ben brought up, and her stomach soured thinking about it. When the welling emotions got to be too much, she wrapped her arms around herself as tears began to silently slip down her face. It wasn't until the first sob escaped her that she felt Ben handing her a napkin.

She took it and tried not to cry, but it was useless. Surrendering, she turned to Ben and buried herself against him. He hesitated for a moment before embracing her.

"I'm terrified, Ben," she said between gasps.

Ben held her, stroking her hair, as she wept. It took several minutes for her to calm. She tried to step away, mumbling an apology, but he stopped her, reaching for her.

"Don't go." His voice cracked with need. "Let me love you."

She gazed into his mismatched eyes... and gave in.

Shannon woke when the rain ceased, and the noises of the jungle changed. She turned her head to find Ben asleep beside her, snoring softly. Knowing she'd not be able to sleep anymore, she rolled out of bed gently and dressed.

She padded to the kitchen area and found a bottle of water in the fridge. Soon, she was back at the rail, overlooking the jungle, contemplating what had happened between the two of them.

Was this a mistake? Remembering how it felt to be in his arms, being made love to, then returning the sentiment, she couldn't muster up feelings of remorse.

"Shannon?" Ben called.

"I'm here." She returned to the bedroom area.

Smiling, he pointed out, "You have on too many clothes."

Mirroring his grin, she set her water down, deftly removed the cotton sheath again, and climbed into bed with him.

"Are you okay?" he asked, reaching for her.

She snuggled into his arms and realized it felt right to be there. "Yeah, I'm okay. Are you?"

"Yeah."

He trailed fingers down her skin, raising goosebumps. "Do you still tingle when I touch you?"

"Yes. Though the tingle from my 'spidey-sense' is less and the sensation of you touching me is more."

He smirked. "I'll take it."

She reached out and cupped his cheek. "I..." she paused, not sure how to really express herself.

He echoed her touch. "It's okay, Shannon. Say what's on your mind."

Her eyes filled again. "I could come to love you, Ben."

He stopped. "Really?"

"Yeah."

He kissed her and rolled over her, supporting himself with his arms as he gazed down. "Let me love you again?"

She smiled. "Yes." She reached for him and was rewarded with a kiss, but it was short-lived as he started to work his way down. She gasped when he began, and she allowed the world to fade.

As Shannon took a shower, Ben had the staff remove the remains of lunch, forgotten some time ago. He chatted to someone on the phone as they worked, but she couldn't hear what he said over the sounds of the water. She finished as he ended the call, and the staff left.

Joining her, he began to undress for the shower as she got out; it was a nice one, but not big enough for two. "I thought I'd take you somewhere special for dinner. Put your winter stuff back on."

Her eyebrows raised as she dried off with a soft towel. "Oh? Where are we going?"

"Do you want to know, or do you want it to be a surprise?"

She cocked her head and contemplated. "A surprise!" she decided.

"Okay. We'll be taking Vic to my private hangar at the airport, then a car will pick us up. I'll lend you my phone to call your office; yours won't work unless we get another SIM card."

"So, not in the US then? And cold? Good hints..." she laughed.

They finished up their routine, jumped on Vic, and were waiting on the car within the hour.

He pulled her into a snuggle when they climbed into the back, chauffeur closing the door behind them. "I'll lend you my phone as soon as you guess where we are."

She watched the city around them, then gasped when she saw the familiar outline of the Eiffel Tower lit up against the early evening sky.

"Paris? Really!"

He grinned at her and handed over his phone. She called in to dispatch and was routed through to ISD. To her surprise, Tonya picked up.

"Dispatch says you're in Paris?" she asked. Shannon could tell she was miffed by her tone, but a work call was not the appropriate venue to hash things out.

"Yeah. For dinner. Then we'll go back," Shannon explained as she wondered how Tonya would feel about how their afternoon time had been spent. She surprised herself by choosing not to care.

"Okay, understood. But, we suggest getting a phone of your own that works," Tonya said, making it clear it really wasn't a 'suggestion.'

"Yeah. Okay," Shannon replied, aggravated again, "I'll do that."

"Sure you will." Tonya's voice was bitter.

"I'm not even going to ask what that's about."

"You know what it's about."

"Well, okay then. See ya," Shannon spat, then hung up.

Ben looked at her with raised eyebrows, silently questioning the exchange.

Shannon shrugged. "I think she's jealous or something."

"Is that all?"

She scowled. "Who knows, Ben? She just started acting weird. I don't get it."

He took her hand in his and squeezed. "I didn't mean to come between you and your friend, Shannon."

"Well, if she lets this create an issue, then the fault is hers." She turned to him, and her face softened. "I'd rather focus on the evening with you, in Paris, than worry about her."

He grinned and kissed her.