/+\/+\
Lucretia enters her bathing chambers, frantic in her thoughts. How confused she feels, fore how can this one warrior, this one woman, cause her to feel so … completely dismantled?
"Domina, are you alright?"
She turns sharply towards the voice. Xena stands in her leathers, never before seen by Lucretia, in all her grandeur, completely unaware of her affects on the woman in front of her.
"Y-yes," she comes closer, fazed and momentarily uninhibited in the warrior's presence, smelling the scent of battle leathers diffused through the air, so aroused she can't possibly stop her instinct to reach out and touch the gladiator. Xena allows it. Her Domina runs her hands up her arms, feeling and kneading her muscles, tracing the brass of her armbands till they stand breath to breath. Those same dazzling blue eyes, as deep as the sea, lock with her own, intense without even trying, "Where did you get these?"
"Dominous let me have the leathers I arrived in upon request."
"They're … amazing," realizing how close they were, Lucretia startles back to the edge of the bath. She starts to topple over but Xena catches her. The warrior grabs her Domina's arm and pulls her into a strong embrace. To all, the leather, the strength, the bold eyes and bronze skin, she falls. They are lost in one another as time stops. Xena caresses Lucretia's fair cheeks of the most exquisite design: sleek and compact, noting her winter blue eyes, then her lips, slightly drawn open in awe. She tilts her Domina's head, drawing her hand over and gently around her neck, leans in and brushes their lips together. Fire races under skin and all breath leaves them. Gasping after long moments of exploring each other, that heavy heart residing in the warrior's chest cries out in pain for betraying her lost love.
"It's ok," the voice that haunts her, Gabrielle's, screaming for answers, now soothes, "Let yourself be loved and love again yourself." Xena stops and backs away from a dazed Domina, now with a look of loss and confusion directed at the Greek Goddess that has embraced her so passionately.
"Oh Gods! I didn't mean to offend you, please forgive me."
"No, no it was my fault. Actually … before now, before the moment when you freed my heart, my past has haunted me to torture. I believed I was never to love again … until you, Lucretia."
"I …"
"A fine spectacle!" Dominous Quintus walks into the chambers to congratulate his new show case, "The Dark Night, not even marked, beats our champion in one afternoon!" Taking Xena's hand in a warrior's grip, he feels her strength, "Magnificent." Without shame, and much pride, he walks towards the bath stripping. "Too bad it will not rank … Ahh," he dips into the bath, "The crowd will determine that by your bloodshed in the arena. No worries, you'll compete soon enough."
"Pardon me, Dominous, I … I'm going to … lie down," Lucretia makes her exit towards the bed chambers after Quintus bows his head in consent. Before she leaves, she gives the warrior a beckoning glance, wanton, lust-filled, and of which would have made the mighty gladiator fall to her knees if not for the company. She quickly finds an excuse herself,
"I am to return to the grounds for training, Dominous."
"Not today. I want the men to cool down before you return to them. No, go to Lucretia. If she finds herself ill, take care of her. I have to go talk with Bartaneous about your part in the games and will not be present."
"Yes, Dominous."
/+\/+\
Xena enters to see the same room that started her reign as a gladiator. Lucretia sits on the bed, head in her hands. The ex-warlord makes her footsteps heavier to make her presence evident. As she approaches, Domina jumps and immediately stands.
"Domina," Xena takes a deep bow in reverence. Lucretia says nothing, just looks at the warrior disheveled, "Dominous has requested I not train for the remainder of the day. Instead he says I should look after you." Still she says nothing. Xena sighs and walks towards the balcony, giving her mistress space. After what seems like an eternity, the warrior can't stand the silence, "Look …" suddenly Lucretia captures her lips. Desperate kisses take her breath again and again. Lost in her Domina, Xena wraps her arms under and around her, lifting her into the air. Lucretia instinctively uses her legs to hold around the warrior's waist, to have Xena moan in holding her mistress this way. She takes her to the bed and lays them both down. Lucretia speedily reaches for the hooks and belts that confine her gladiator to have her hands, one in each of Xena's, restrained gently above her head, "Shh . . . slow down." Xena grins lovingly, leisurely bends down, and kisses her Domina adoringly.
"By the Gods," Lucretia's senses like a firestorm, the warrior lets go of one hand to outline her features again, causing the finest goose bumps to rise under her skin.
"I have learned so much over the years. Pain, anger, revenge … love, gentleness, and a part of myself that could be anything with you by my side," Lucretia strokes Xena's cheek, "Gabrielle." Now her mistress is extremely confused, "She gave me hope and had the patience to teach me all she knew about love … how to love someone with all my heart; be willing to stay alive and fight for what is right." The Roman noble-woman's face shows her heart's breaking, into tinnier pieces with each acclaim to this Gabrielle. "For the longest time I blamed myself for her death … though I know her to be reborn." This confuses Lucretia even more, but she decides not to interrupt with questions, or her rising tears. "But among other things I know she has forgiven me and gives her blessing, fore she will always be with me … isn't that right … Gabrielle?"
"Yes, my love," Lucretia speaks, but not her words.
"Don't you see? She is within you. Her will to continue our lives together brought her to this time, not the next."
"But how can that be?"
"I care for nothing, but that you are with me again."
"But this is my body … my life! You cannot tell me that these feelings are hers."
"They are the combination of both of you. Only a soul as full of light as hers could reincarnate Gabrielle, but you are you, and everything you feel you share with her."
"So …"
"So when I say I love you, and your heart swells with happiness, it is because you love me just as deeply as Gabrielle did, only this time it is your love that makes me whole."
"Wow."
"I see her in your eyes...every time you look at me. After I bashed those guys' mindless skulls together, that emerald-green flared and mixed with your blue, for nothing but to set me on fire," her mistress tilts her head up to feel those same lips on hers again, eyes heavy with desire by such words, but Xena moves away from the bed, never breaking their gazes. As Lucretia rises, she takes Xena's offered hand. The warrior twirls her 'round, then pulls them closer, her love's head resting on Greek shoulder. They dance, softly swaying to the beats of their hearts as Xena leads them to the balcony, now showered by the light of thousands of stars. Xena stops at the rail of the balcony, to stare into her eyes again, a smoldering and wanton stare. She lifts Lucretia by the waist with ease and places her atop the stone railing Putting her mistress' view above her, the warrior steps in between her now parted legs and encircles her within solid arms. Domina tucks raven black tresses behind her warrior's ear, and then caresses a bronze tinted cheek. Xena leans into her Domina's touch and turns her head slightly to kiss her love's wrist tenderly. She follows one kiss with another, none too hastily, prolonging every glorious stimulation of her senses. Up to her shoulder, across to her neck, licking lightly, Lucretia's head falls back, steadily exposing more of her skin at all the attention it was receiving. She lets a moan slip as Xena ceases movement in order to get her mistress' attention. Her Domina looks down, a now confidant and coy smile gracing her lips before leaning in only inches at a time, teasing her warrior into action, and the gladiator takes her kiss forcefully, dazing her to a point of obliviousness, unaware even now that the only thing between her and the fall below is Xena's arms holding her tight. When they finally come up from the depths of passion to retain life again, gasping, the warrior lets her head rest upon her Domina's chest.
"I love you, Xena."
"I love you too … Lucretia."
"You said my name!"
"Yes, and why not?"
"Well, isn't it Gabrielle you love?"
"I am devoted to my Domina. She holds the key to my heart in this life, even if it has half of the old. And you would have me in the next, fore that is how it's meant to be, my love … my light … my reason for living." Suddenly a flash from the past hits Lucretia, unsure whether or not it is hers.
"Even if I'm not your Amazon princess … can fight with the staff, or if my hair's not blonde? Even if … I don't look the same?"
"Of course. Your heart is what I love; your soul … though I can't say you're hard on the eyes."
"Xena … you are as adorable as ever."
"Really? You miss me?"
"So much."
"Quintus is out for the night."
"And what should I do about that?"
"Love me," she unclips her breast plate in two strokes, and moves it out of the way as she grabs Gabrielle's hand and puts it over her heart, beating as fast as if she just ran up the shores of the Nile and back, "This is you. It's always been you." Gabrielle reaches up with her hand and traces tortuously the sinews of her neck, gliding her fingers over her skin so lightly, Xena has to catch her breath. She feels the bare flesh of her back, that space before it meets the leather of her war-dress, so exquisite it causes her to shakily sigh, and then kiss the top of her warrior's shoulder.
"You are my night … Just as you say I am your day, your light, you are what's beautiful and mysterious and exciting in mine. And without you, I couldn't go on."
"Neither could I."
"Come to bed, warrior." Xena lifts her Domina into her arms again and carries her to one of the pallets. Lucretia yawns as she feels the cool sheets.
"I'll get you a night shift."
"No need," she kisses the warrior and leads her hands to the ties of her robes. Xena gets lost in her. She leans on her hand for kiss after kiss and uses her other to massage every bit of newly exposed flesh as she undoes the ties and pushes the cloth down her arms. Her top soon to be exposed, Gabrielle did not desist, her only goal to disrupt any motor skill the warrior had, encouraging Xena with lavish caresses, wet supple lips meeting the skin of her neck, the strength in her shoulders, the peak of her cleavage, blinding her gladiator's movements with exquisite stimulation; a thrill causing such weakness in the mighty Warrior Princess. But soon the fire is too great, and the darkness awakens. Xena, confined and overheated, pulls the dagger from her boot and stands. She rips the more difficult, bottom part of the dress away and hands the dagger to the Bard. Lucretia knows exactly what she wants when she sees these heated motions. She slices the leather twine binding her love and savagely pulls it away. The warrior moans at the roughness and goes to reach for her Domina, but stops as she feels gentle kisses travel from the dip of her back, up each parting in her spine, instant warmth shooting to every place caressed by soft, pink lips. Lucretia turns her gladiator about and captures the view of her beautiful mate. Two fingertips trace an invisible pattern on the warrior's chest as Gabrielle closes her eyes.
"You remember, back in India, I drew on practically every part of your body? Each was a little more cloth away till you were virtually naked in front of me. And then you learned the pattern, traced it over my skin with your fingertips. I was on fire every place you touched. Oh, how I wanted you to never stop touching me … and more … for you do all the things I've ever fantasized about to me … and I to you … to share your body, over and over and over …" Xena leaned in to each flame filled word her love sang to her until she could stand the heat no longer. She cuts off Lucretia in mid-sentence with more kisses, sucking on her bottom lip till she sticks out her tongue to taste, and then immediately penetrating her with her own. A desperate battle follows, wrestling for dominance, trying to take all they can from one another. Wasting no time, Xena uses her hands, one to hold her mistress' lips against hers and the other to cup and massage her center. Lucretia moans and wraps her arms around the warrior's neck to help pull herself up and back down with her caresses. Unexpectedly, but not at all unwelcome, she feels two fingers glide into her. Domina gasps, "By the Gods, yess … Oh, Xena."
"Tell me, what else did you fantasize about?" Relentless, Xena makes it nearly impossible for Gabrielle to answer, pounding into her at such a delicious angel and sucking hard the sinews of her neck.
"How … how do you expect … me to … ahh! Oh Gods, please don't stop!"
"Come on baby, you can do it."
"Mmmmm."
"Come on," Gabrielle kisses Xena hard, bemusing her for the few seconds she needs to regain herself.
"I … always wanted … please, don't laugh at me?" The warrior kisses her shoulder, "I won't, I promise, just tell me."
"When Perdicus asked me to marry him … that night we had to consummate it, which I never wanted …"
"He didn't force you did he?"
"No, but I felt like I had to do it. I'd never done it before and he was nice enough so I did, but it didn't work … that is until …"
"What?"
"Well, I was lying there, and he was trying really hard, but … not until I heard you call my name … and soon enough you were above me … not until then did I grab your neck and take comfort in allowing you take me."
"Gabrielle …"
"It was amazing … but when I woke up it wasn't you there beside me."
"I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have let him …"
"None of it matters now," she kisses Xena tenderly, "the point is it was you that my heart wanted …" she puts her breath near the warrior's ear, "… you that I wanted inside me."
"Oh, Gabrielle … you drive me wild."
"I hope so," she reaches for the necklace around her neck, a red jewel on a golden chain, "this is the key to the box you tried to get into earlier," she sees the cool-shock on the Greek's face and chuckles, "go open it." Handing her the necklace she tugged off her neck, Lucretia points to the jewel covered box, all too forgotten till now. The warrior's heart races with excitement as she places the missing gem in its cavity and presses. It clicks and the tumblers roll. Unlocked, she brings the box to Gabrielle.
"Would you do the honors?" Slowly she lifts the chest open and gazes inside. Xena sees lust again flooded through those emerald green eyes as they swirl and seem to turn over every shade, then back to their normal December blue. The gladiator takes out the mysterious object and knows exactly what it is when she lays eyes upon it herself, "Shall I? I mean we can try it if you want."
"Yes." Needing not another voice of consent, she straps the phallus to her hips and adjusts to the feel of the foreign appendage, "not bad."
"Not bad at all," Lucretia moves in on her gladiator and takes the phallus in her hand, stroking it, making sure the other end is positioned just right so Xena can feel anything she does to the toy. Each stroke helps to push into her and soon she is as drenched as her Domina.
"Gods … you don't realize … how good … ummm … that feels."
"Yeah, Perdicus seemed to like it too." Anger flares in Xena's sapphire blues.
"After tonight he will cease to be a memory," Xena kisses her with as much dominating force as she can, causing her love to make the most delicious sounds. Not having to wait, Lucretia guide's Xena's new man-hood to her swollen lips and pushes it in.
"Ohh … Xena."
"By the Gods, I love it when you say my name."
"Xenaa … Xenaa," Suddenly Xena presses her up against the pillar behind them and her legs go up and around the warrior, opening her up even more. The warrior drives deep into Lucretia, steadily, causing the overflow to meet her bare skin, the feel and scent of it arousing her even further. She went in and out several times, each thrust seeming slower than the last, but all the more intense.
"I can feel it … look …" Gabrielle looks down , her breathing already uneven, and watches as Xena pulls completely out, the phallus a good ten inches long, and one and a half inches wide, "look how much I can fit into you." Pushing back in she is shocked herself, "Oh … Lucretia." Without warning she picks up the pace dramatically, seeming to only want to see it go in over and over.
"Xena … Gods baby … harder," Gabrielle coos. Then the Bard brings her hands to Xena's hips, helping her to pound into her repetitively. The sound of lips smacking, the smell of their juices, hot and mixing together, sends Lucretia over the edge. Her muscles twitch and clench, holding the toy in place as she uses her hips to ram onto Xena, till those last few seconds. She stills herself and leans her head back, eyes closed, and the gladiator goes even faster; cries of pleasure escape, from whom neither can determine, as they become one in this single moment of release, sweat, and bliss. Xena butterfly-kisses her lover's salty-sweet, slightly moist skin; her chest, in-between, and up across both shoulders; her neck, jaw, and then her lips tenderly; once, twice, then for one big, tongue merging, devouring embrace of mouth, heart, and soul.
/+\/+\
Domina removes the harness from her love and tosses it to the side. A hand goes down to rub over the warrior's Godly attributes soothingly.
"Now that's definitely something I missed." Xena kisses Lucretia's neck and lays her back. Her head to her chest and an arm possessively wrapped around her waist, her Domina cradles the gladiator, and brushes her dark hair back, just feeling its softness, the heat escaping from underneath.
"This body is a lot like mine," Lucretia gives the gladiator a quizzical look, "no, really … the length, the muscles, the curves and dips … it's like looking in a mirror."
"Or masturbation." The Warrior Princess chuckles,
"Yeah."
"Of course you still have the crystal eyes … the skin of a Greek Goddess … you're way stronger than me …"
"That's what a life-time of pillaging and plundering will do for ya'." Gabrielle slaps her arm playfully to no effect.
"Oww! Your muscles are bigger, and the leather you wear … Oh, you don't even know what it does to me."
"I think I gotta pretty clear idea."
"I just wish I looked a little like I used to."
"Don't worry with all that."
"I'm beginning to think you like this body better." Xena stares hard into Lucretia's eyes to see the deepest sea-foam green.
"Your eyes … are what I look forward to … seeing my love as she awakens in those gems."
"I guess I could always dye my hair," a whisper, soon extinguished by the Warrior Princess. All those kisses, so full of tension from pint-up passion, together, in one love asserting caress. A perfect balance of savoring and devouring one another graces Amazon lips, and at that moment they embraced their destinies, each the other's salvation.