The need to experience life and gather memories to treasure was instilled in most humans from birth. Perhaps it was even an instinct thanks to how short their lives were in the grand scheme of things. They didn’t have hundreds or thousands of years to gather memories; most humans were lucky if they made it the better part of a single century. When life was so fleeting, it was only natural to want to collect as many good memories as you could, and to hold on to them as tightly as you could.<br/><br/>Aria was certainly no exception to this rule. She recalled the words of a woman she had once known—a vampire—who had told her that she should try to lead a life with no regrets, filled with memories that she could hold onto even as time passed her by. “If you have to regret something, don’t let it be that you never tried or that you were too afraid; let it be the consequences of things that you did, that you enjoyed, the moments you savored. That would be the mark of a life well lived.”<br/><br/>Those words had gone over her head at the time, as a child, the concept of life, death, even time seemed so abstract. But now, she finally truly understood those words. Even if her actions had consequences, even if she would regret having to deal with those consequences, it was worth it. It was worth the price to do that which she wanted to do, to enjoy this moment, to make a memory that she surely would not forget.<br/><br/>It seemed that Valor was, unsurprisingly, pleased with her answer, as he offered a smile that drove her just a little crazy, although perhaps not in a bad way, before he kissed her in return. He was impressively deft at removing his breeches as he kissed her; a feat she hadn’t the courage to attempt to imitate. Only a few precious moments had passed before he broke the kiss, giving her the chance to suck in a breath of air before she was panting just as he was.<br/><br/>He didn’t leave her waiting long, though, as he was soon playfully tugging at her lower lip with his teeth before he trailed kisses down her neck and to her collarbone. She hadn’t the self-control or the desire to fight back the soft moan that escaped her lips when his lips trailed kisses down her breast before taking the nipple into his mouth. Rather than fighting the pleasant feelings that he elicited, both with his mouth and his hands, she decided instead to enjoy them, to savor it.<br/><br/>A somewhat sheepish smile tugged at the corners of her mouth when he looked up at her, holding her gaze with a playful glint in his eyes as his lips tugged playfully at the nipple of her right breast before he moved to the left. She was almost tempted to break the eye contact, to close her eyes and hide the feelings of embarrassment that crept up as she made another soft sound. She didn’t, though, instead keeping her own gaze on his as he softly sucked on the tender flesh. Even as began to trail kisses down her abdomen, though, he gave her no reprieve during which she might hide her undoubtedly flushed face.<br/><br/>She had never had any real experience that she could recall during which she might have learned that she was, in fact, very ticklish. Instead, it came as a surprise when he wiggled his tongue into her belly button, earning a very unintentional fit of giggles. Her body moved on its own, squirming beneath him, as if to escape from the tickling sensation.<br/><br/>“Stoooooop!” she insisted, although her light tone and bright laughter did nothing to support the strength of this protest. She lightly pushed his shoulders as she spoke, but much like her words, the half-hearted gesture did little to provide convincing support to her apparent protest. It probably didn’t help that for what was likely the first time in her life—or at least in a very long time—she was grinning like a fool.