"You're late."

Zuko stopped at the doorway of his bedroom, swallowing hard as he took in the sight before him. A breath left him like a punch to the guts and he squished the stack of scrolls in his hands in an involuntary motion. His eyebrow lifted as a smirk played along his slightly bruised lips.

He swallowed as the memory of their sparring match that morning came back to him with a hard flash of pain, fire, the hot press of her sensual mouth, her body beneath his on the cobblestones and the bruising dig of a pebble in his knee.

In truth, he hadn't been able to think of much else the whole day. That was nothing unusual. Suki had crawled into his thoughts months ago, and now that they were…doing whatever it was they were doing…it had only gotten worse.

"Have a good meeting, Fire Lord?" Suki said from her lazy sprawl on his wide, silk-draped bed. She was wearing a green silk robe, her short hair lightly curled around her face. She had forgone her Kyoshi paint, but there was a red tint to her cheeks and her skin sparkled in the soft flicker of the candlelight and the dying red tint of the sunset beyond his windows.

"Not really. I was a bit distracted the whole time," he said in what he hoped was casual voice, placing the squished scrolls on a table beside the door.

"I wonder why that is," she mused, propping herself up on her elbow. Her toes flexed on the covers and he found himself staring at them, a tug in his guts as he tried to steady his breathing. His gaze slowly crawled up her supple warrior's body, from her muscular legs, to the devastating dip of her hips and the flat of her stomach, to the gentle upheaval of her breasts and finally, her beautiful face.

"Yes, I wonder…" he said, chewing on his lower lip as he stood rooted to the spot. Suki's pink lips curved into a sly smile. "You look comfortable."

Her blue eyes twinkled with mischief. "I am. Satin sheets and a down mattress… Mmmm. I may never leave."

The thought of waking up beside her every morning was a heady one. He hated that their trysts were always so brief and secretive. She was always gone in the morning, long before his servants could discover them. They'd never discussed the alternative and he'd wondered more than once what exactly was happening between them.

Over the years a mutual respect, friendship and, eventually, attraction had built between them to the point where it couldn't be ignored any longer. He'd always hesitated to act on his feelings, but Suki's long-standing with relationship with Sokka had fallen apart a few months before and things had just happened naturally after that.

She was surprising and playful, quick to laugh, with a mischievous streak in her that excited him. He never knew what she'd do next. There was no such thing as boredom with Suki in his life. It had been her idea to play what they would eventually call The Game, to see how long they could hold out against each other in the practice ring. It had only taken a few heated sparring matches before the attraction between them had exploded into a knock-down, drag-out duel with swords…that had somehow ended up in his bedroom.

The very memory of that night was enough to scorch his mind and leave his skin hot and tight. It wasn't just the sex. He'd loved the no holds barred fight and the feeling of letting go when he was around her. Everyone in the palace treated him with kid gloves, bowing and scraping and getting on his nerves.

But not Suki.

The worry and weight of holding the Fire Nation on his shoulders seemed to melt away in the rare moments that they were together. His life had always been a struggle, from one conflict to the other, but being with Suki was easy. It was like breathing and laughing and dreaming.

"I may not let you leave," he admitted as she got off of his bed and walked toward him, her robe loosely falling down one naked shoulder.

His body shook with want as her hands smoothed down his chest. The smell of her perfume, earthy and warm, some exotic flower he couldn't name, filled him up and he breathed her in, relaxing into the warmth of her body. His hands landed on her waist and he tugged her against his length. His forehead rested against hers. "What did you tell the other Kyoshi warriors?"

"I gave them the night off. Told them I would take the night watch alone again. I think they're on to us," she said as she reached up, slid the golden crown from the crest of his ponytail and set it down on the table next to his scrolls. Then she tugged his ponytail free and his hair cascaded in a thick black fall to his shoulders. She dug her fingers through it and the sensation sent goosebumps down his spine.

He loved it when she did that.

"They're not stupid. Ty Lee's been giving me all kinds of looks lately. She definitely knows."

"You don't mind?" she asked in a light voice. He noticed the way she worried her lip between her teeth, apprehension just touching her brow.

"I'd scream it off the rooftops if you'd let me."

Suki tilted her head back with a smile. "And scandalize your people by letting them know you're sleeping with an Earth Kingdom peasant?"

"You're not a peasant," he murmured, incensed by the idea. "You're a warrior."

"And don't you forget it," she said, as her fingers massaged the back of his neck in a light caress that made his whole body shiver. "And speaking of forgetting…I believe you promised to…uh…what was the phrase? 'Fuck my brains out?'"

He had the decency to blush crimson red, remembering all too well the way their game had devolved that afternoon. He'd been obsessively replaying it ever since. "I…er…got a bit carried away…"

Her arms tightened around his neck as she lifted herself up on tiptoe. Her mouth hovered over his as she pulled a sensual smile. "I know. I loved it."

Her kiss was soft, slow, filled with a million promises and just a touch of mischief. He responded immediately, desperate to ease the ache in his loins. Walking away from her that afternoon had been hard and painful, something she no doubt knew. As her tongue flicked his and retreated, he felt her hand smooth down his chest and mold around the hard bulge of his cock. Even through the layers of his robes, the heat and pressure of her hand made him moan. He broke the kiss, breathing hard as her hand rubbed in a slow circle.

"Suki…"

"Someone's awfully excited."

"Can't get you out of my head," he murmured, his nose nuzzling hers as he sought another kiss. She pulled back though.

"I know the feeling," she said and pushed out of his arms, walking backward a few steps.

He let out a shaky breath and hung his head, his cock throbbing in time to his racing heartbeat. He knew the look in her eyes, the mischief. "You're gonna make me pay, aren't you?"

"You cheated."

"The Game doesn't have any rules," he pointed out.

"You left me half-naked on the ground," she said as she crossed her arms over her chest.

A smile quirked his lips. "I still won."

A smile tried to break through the mocking scowl on her lips, but she held her ground. "Well, now I'm mad at you."

"You're not mad at me."

"Yes I am."

"No you're not," he said, walking toward her. She glanced at him and then away, lifting her chin. "If you were mad at me you wouldn't be in my room…sans clothing…"

He slid his hands around her waist, pulling her toward him. His mouth hovered over hers teasingly, and then moved to her neck. He scraped his bottom lip along her pulse point, delighting in the little strawberry red flush that formed behind her ears at the contact.

"I'm not naked," she pointed out breathless, her hand in his hair again as mouth drew on her neck, tongue flicking in soft little circles. "Yet."

"Damn this robe," he mumbled, his hand sliding up to gently mold the underside of her breast. Her nipple poked through the thin silk and his thumb grazed it ever-so-slightly. Suki tensed and made a soft noise in her throat.

"You're the one wearing too many damned clothes right now," she said as he ducked his head, dragging his mouth down her collarbone and into the sweet valley of her breasts. She moaned and leaned her head back. His arms wrapped around her middle, holding her tight against him as he kissed at her through the robe. When he drew one peak into his mouth, wetting the silk with a deep, wet pull, her whole body quivered against his.

His teeth gently closed over her silk-enshrouded and he tugged on it, maybe a little harder than he'd meant, but she didn't seem to mind. She grasped his head and pulled him back to her mouth. Her kiss was hot, hard, her tongue flicking against his in little waves. When he lifted her off of her feet, she didn't protest, her legs wrapping around his middle.

"Thought you were mad at me?" he said in a raspy voice when they broke the kiss.

"Shut up and fuck me," she said with a flash of her eyes and a flash of a smile that ignited him. Her mouth slammed down over his, kissing him hard, hungrily. He moved them toward the bed and when his knees hit the edge of his mattress, he unceremoniously dumped her there.

Suki landed with a bounce, laughing breathlessly. "Come here."

He didn't need any prompting though, as she grasped him by the belt and pulled him toward her. His hand landed in her hair as she rolled her tongue up the bulge of his cock. He felt the heat of her mouth through the layers of his clothing and the sensation combined with the sight of her lips closing around the hard line of him made him groan. Her teeth scraped at him through his pants, making him twitch, the pressure unbearable.

Suki glanced up at him and grinned, then grasped his belt and unclasped it with deft fingers. Her hand pushed his pants open and then dipped inside. He bit down on the inside of his lip as her fingers closed around his cock, and then pulled it free.

He watched in quivering anticipation as she softly kissed the blunt tip, her tongue flicking and flitting over the satiny skin. She slowly drew the tip into her mouth, her bottom teeth gently rubbing the hard ridge, eliciting little shivers from him. The sensation was enough to make him draw blood from his lip.

When she sucked him deeper into her mouth, it was all he could do to stop himself from thrusting into her throat. The wet suction made his head tilt back, his hand in her hair as her head bobbed. Her hand followed her mouth, tugging at the base of his shaft.

"Suki…"

She hummed a little in her throat, and the vibration made his stomach muscles tighten, pleasure swirling in him like a whirlpool. Her mouth moved faster, deeper, her tongue flicking, lips shaping him tightly. She let go of him and grasped his unruly, bucking hips, keeping him still as he watched her.

He finally couldn't take it any longer and when she pulled off of him, he bent, slamming a rough, wet kiss to her mouth. Her arms wrapped around him as he got down on his knees in front of her. Her pushed her legs open and released her with a drag of his teeth along her bottom lip.

He parted her robe, revealing her naked, wet sex. He kissed her inner thigh, drawing his name with the tip of his tongue, marking her as his. He lifted his hand, parting her with two fingers. Her clit was distended and as he blew air gently across it, she quivered and he heard her moan. Her fingers found his hair, tugging at the scalp, pulling him forward.

He released her instead, grasping her legs and hooking them over his shoulders. Then he took both of her hands and laced their fingers.

"Zuko…" Suki started, but her head went back a moment later, a moan ripping out of her throat as his tongue flicked down and across her clit. The taste of her was incredible. His tongue dipped inside of her in quick strokes. Her hips lifted off of the edge of the bed, thighs tightening on his head as she rose to meet his mouth. Her fingers clenched his hard enough to bruise.

His tongue flicked back against her clit, over and over until she was writhing. He let go of her hands, wrapped his arms around her hips and dragged her forward until she was nearly off of the bed. Suki clutched the bed sheets, little gasps leaving her in a breathless rush.

He brought her to the edge, leaving her teetering there. Suki made a little noise in the back of her throat, one he knew well. She was close. So was he. Just hearing her moan was enough to make his cock throb.

Suki sat up on her elbows as he lifted his head from between her thighs. They were both breathing hard.

"Need you. Now," Suki managed, swinging her legs off of his shoulders and grasped him by the collar of his robes. She yanked him down onto the bed and he landed clumsily on his back. Suki pushed his pants down his hips a little and then straddled him.

"Shouldn't we take off our clothes?"

"Don't care," she said and then he was inside of her. She settled over him, taking him into her hot, tight wetness inch by inch. He groaned, clutching her hips as she stilled over top of him. "Feels so good…"

He mumbled something incoherent, his hips moving in tiny tremors. Suki had no patience for that. She rode him with short snaps of her hips, the friction and pleasure roaring between them. She grasped the collar of his red robes, twisting it in her fingers as she held on. Her hair was in her face, her tongue bitten at the corner of her smudged lips. Her green silk robe had fallen open on one side, the tip of her breast poking through the gap.

Just the sight of her so inflamed was enough to undo him. He rolled them in place, readjusted and thrust back inside of her as she lay on her back before him.

"Ohhhh…"

Her head was back, her auburn hair tumbled on his red and gold duvet as he plunged in and out of her at a rapid pace he knew he wouldn't be able to keep up for long. She didn't seem to mind, as he grasped one of her legs and lifted it against his shoulder. He leaned in to her and kissed her, opening her to him even more.

He thrust into her deep and hard, taking her the way he had in the training ring that morning. Pleasure rose, cresting, swelling like an unstoppable force. Every thought flew out of his head, everything but the feel of supple, scorching hot body, the sound of her moans, the taste of her kiss as he bent over her.

"Make me come…" Suki moaned as she clutched the back of his neck. She lifted her chin, sliding her tongue along his scar and sucking his burned and mangled ear into her mouth. He trembled, clutched the covers and increased his speed as sweat broke over his back.

His clothing was too hot, too tight. He wanted to feel her naked skin against his. Wanted to breathe her in, to feel her nails raking down his back, her mouth on his chest.

Too late. His fingers pressed against her clit, rubbing roughly. Suki gasped until no sound came out of her. Her mouth was open, brow creased, head back. Her muscles tightened around him, milking him hard, so tightly that he couldn't take it any longer.

She came with a clench so hard he bent double, the feel of her body spasming around his too much. He came inside of her with a hot spurt, the explosion rocking up his spine and knocking every thought of his head.

Their bodies moved together, coming down in tiny increments. She let out a breath that sounded as if she hadn't taken one in a while. He rested his sweaty forehead in the crook of her neck.

"We're still dressed," Suki mumbled against his ear, one hand still wrapped in his collar.

"Huh," he said dumbly and lifted his head to stare at her. He glanced down at her bared breasts peeking through the gap of her green silk robe. "Some of us more than others."

"I'm still mad at you for this morning, you know."

"No, you're not."

"No, I'm really not," she purred in agreement and then dragged his mouth back to hers and kissed him slowly as he softened within her. He shifted his hips, pulling out of her with one slick motion. She groaned against his mouth at the sensation. He broke the kiss and stared into her eyes.

"Stay the whole night this time."

"What?"

"Please. I want to sleep beside you."

"I shouldn't… The servants will talk…"

"The servants already know we're sleeping together. I don't care."

"Are you sure? It'll get around that you're having a torrid, sweaty affair with your peasant bodyguard." Her eyes gleamed with mischief and some other emotion he had trouble naming. He stared into her eyes and felt himself smiling.

"Good. I want to make everyone jealous," he said as she pursed her lips, thoughtfully stroking a strand of his hair through her fingers.

"Well… I suppose I'd better then. Besides…you promised you were going to fuck my brains out…"

"Didn't I just?"

"It's a good start…"

"A Fire Lord's work is never done…" he sighed dramatically and then kissed her hard and deep. He could feel her capitulation in the way her body melted against his. Their kisses grew wilder, deeper and he knew with a certainty that they definitely weren't through yet.

As Suki unbuttoned his clothing, and tugged it off, he smiled against her mouth and thought, This is the best game ever.

(end)