Maybe it was the fact that she was still wrapped in his arms or the fact that they'd spent god knows how many hours the night before indulging in sexually explicit activities but my, that smile and that low, sleepy timbre of his voice were a delightful combination that made everything south of Relena's navel clench.
"Good morning, " she murmured in return, nodding with a tight smile.
Her somewhat stiff greeting did nothing to deter Duo however for his smile grew wider and his teeth flashed white against the pink of his lips. "Now, princess, dontchu think all that formality is a tad silly given our position?" he admonished, finally releasing his hold around her waist and stretching leisurely. "Man, I slept like the dead!" he exclaimed appreciatively.
Relena could feel herself relaxing. After all, Duo's carefree attitude was always catching. "Yes, I suppose it is a bit silly, forgive me," she smiled, "I suppose I'm still a little..surprised this morning."
A pout on his lips, Duo regarded her for a minute before shrugging. "Well I guess I would be surprised too if I found myself stark naked with one of my bodyguards" he confessed with a chuckle. "Tell you what, princess, why don't I leave you to get dressed and we can talk about this over some breakfast" Duo suggested, "I seem to have worked up quite the appetite." With a wink and not even a smidgen of embarrassment he was out of her bed and dragging his trousers up over his, rather nicely sculpted, backside.
Despite the blush she felt creeping up over her face Relena did not, could not, look away from the half naked man in front of her as he bent and scooped up his shirt from off the floor. Over his head it went and stretched snugly across his shoulders before falling over his chest and toned stomach. Not before she had time to notice the faint happy trail that disappeared below his belt line, though. Swallowing the lump that formed in her throat Relena nodded, more to herself than to give him any indication she'd heard, and sat up slowly while keeping a firm hand on the sheets that covered what was left of her modesty.
Duo was buckling his belt when he stopped suddenly and met her gaze. "Relena-" he began, his face suddenly alight with honesty.
A sharp knock on her bedroom door startled them both, "Miss Relena, I hate to trouble you but Lady Une is calling for you," came Pagan's muffled voice, "she has expressed her concern that neither you nor master Maxwell checked in as per protocol" he explained, his tone apologetic.
Relena raised questioning eyes to Duo who was frantically gesturing to the door in what she took to mean that she should answer. "Yes, Pagan, I'm so sorry! Could you please tell Une that I will return her call post haste" she called back, "I'm afraid I had fell asleep while Agent Maxwell was doing a sweep of the perimeter."
She glanced quickly at Duo and was relieved to see that he at least looked like he approved of her lie. He pantomimed drinking and eating so she added, "I'm afraid Agent Maxwell spent the night out on the balcony, keeping watch but went out not long ago to procure some breakfast for us. You know how he is, always thinking of his stomach!"
This was met from a look of mock hurt from Duo but then he wordlessly crossed over to her side of bed, kneeling across to where she still clutched her sheets to her chest and touched his forehead to hers. "I'll go out the window. We'll hash this out when I get back" he promised. "Now, speaking of my stomach, I'm off to 'procure' us some grub."
With a wink and a wave he slipped soundlessly out the glass door leading to the balcony and was gone, leaving Relena staring after him. Somewhere in the back of her mind she realized how crazy it all was that Duo Maxwell of all people had just snuck out her window after a scandalous night spent together.
"Miss Relena?" Pagan questioned. Giving herself a mental slap she threw the bedclothes from her still too warm body and made a mad dash to the adjoining bathroom. "I'll be down directly, dear Pagan!" she shouted while hastily twisting the hot/cold knobs for the shower.
Once the water was lukewarm enough to suit her Relena stepped into the shower and met the harsh spray head on. It felt heavenly.
She knew she was expected to give Une a call back asap but honestly it was the last thing on her mind. She was in no hurry to be scolded, she was a grown woman for petes sake and besides, she NEEDED this time in the shower to sort herself out. As she scrubbed a dollop of her favorite shampoo into her hair and allowed the water to pour down over her body she was made aware of every tender spot on her body, courtesy of Duo. Most noticeable was the dull ache located between her legs.
'Whoah, buddy, he'd gone to town alright' she noted wryly, 'of course it would be my dumb luck that I'd done the deed with a former Gundam Pilot, lived to tell the tale but couldn't remember it!'
Disappointment coursed through her with shame close on its heels. She'd just narrowly escaped being found in bed with Duo, drank so much that she couldn't remember it all going down, or if she had for that matter, and here she was in the shower daydreaming about the situation for Pete's sake! The press would have a field day with this juicy bit of gossip and her life would be dissected in every tabloid from Earth to the Colonies. Front page too, no doubt.
Relena couldn't help the groan that escaped her at the mere thought.
Figuring she had spent enough time prolonging the inevitable she exited the shower, grabbed the fluffiest towel she owned and wrapped her slender body in it before walking back into the bedroom to assemble her wardrobe for the day.
"I hope black coffee and egg croissants are alright, princess."
She'd been rifling through her drawers for a matching bra and panty set and whirled when she heard his voice from behind her. "Jesus, Duo!" she exclaimed, clutching her towel to her chest while trying to calm her thumping heart. "Warn a girl next time you go sneaking around" she scolded him as she narrowed her eyes at his grinning form where it languished in her vanity chair. She had gathered her wits about her enough at this point to be vaguely thankful he'd stayed away from the bed.
"Whoops, sorry" Duo apologized. "I figured you woulda heard the door. Had to do some damage control on the way in" he explained as he began to rifle through contents of the grease stained bag he held. He removed a wad of napkins and two hastily wrapped egg croissants and held one up for her. It was rather endearing, Relena would give him that. "Coffee is still piping hot" he added as he bit into his breakfast.
Relena couldn't help but smile despite herself. It was just so sweet and so comical. She was standing in the middle of her bedroom in nothing but a towel and there he was, bringing her breakfast after what she had surmised was a night of unbridled passion and seeming blissfully unaware of her state of undress.
"Thank you, Duo. I'm just going to get dressed first" she told him kindly and was amused when he froze mid-bite and finally let his eyes settle on her towel-clad body. "Well, would you look at that" he muttered. Relena frowned, "look at what?" she questioned warily, watching him as he, voluntarily, set down his breakfast and got to his feet to make his way to her.
He was in front of her before she could beat a hasty retreat to the bathroom and she flushed when his fingertips settled on her collarbone. "Duo-" she warned.
"Shh, Relena" he interrupted, dragging one finger softly from her collarbone and up against the curve of her neck. "These won't be easy to hide" he whispered, eyes darkening. "I guess I overdid things a bit."
Hickeys. Relena knew he meant hickeys and judging from the various sore spots she'd noticed on her person in the shower there were a lot of them. She'd have to go a little heavy on the makeup today..maybe even don a scarf for the day.
The pad of his thumb brushed against the heartbeat that was beginning to beat furiously against her skin at their close proximity.
Relena sucked in an unsteady breath and she knew it was now or never. Despite the sensuality he was stirring in her and the hungry look that had slid onto his face, she knew she needed to do some damage control of her own before the situation became any more complicated.
"Duo, we need to talk about this. Before things escalate" she announced, trying to make her voice sound firm. The fingertips that had been moving across her skin froze and Duo's violet eyes swung back to meet hers.
"So, let's talk."
Relena nodded solemnly while cinching her towel closer to herself.
"I don't remember much of what happened from last night" she began quietly, "and quite frankly I think it might benefit us both if the events weren't revisited" she explained even as Duo's boyish face fell. She shook her head and made herself go on, "It's not that I wish to hurt you but there are so many reasons why we should put this behind us and remain good friends as we have been."
To his credit Relena thought Duo took it well. His face was a mask of seriousness. He even nodded in agreement with nary an argument on his lips. It was possible he knew the wisdom behind her words and feelings. Before anything else he was her employee, her friend second. There were too many variables involved to even consider the idea of the two becoming lovers. Still, it bothered her that he'd looked disappointed before..
"As always you have made your points well, princess" he told her, "we'll put this behind us and pretend it never happened. Enjoy your breakfast."
With an albeit less enthusiastic smile than before Duo bowed and moved to the door. He didn't stop, he didn't glance back. He slipped through the door as quietly as he'd come, leaving Relena almost wishing he'd stayed and his breakfast long forgotten.
"It's no use feeling down about it" she told herself sternly. "Letting anything develop out of our drunken indiscretion would have been a mistake...it had to be done."