"Ed! What on EARTH has gotten into you?"

Winry was being tugged -- pulled with an inexplicable energy and urgency, that she had not seen out of Edward in a long time. Perhaps he had not been so heatedly determined since before The promised day and the return of Al's body from the gate due to the sacrifice of his once hated, but now revered father.

He was leading her through the maze of tatami and endless walls with dragons, swords, and warriors painted on long horizontal scrolls in watery inks that Winry had never quite seen before. Two weeks in Xing had peaked her interest in Eastern Art, despite her usual mechanic and scientific interest. She had been admiring one particular room full of paintings of former ladies of Xing, noble women with long, flowing, purple robes that were very beautiful but strange to Winry's eyes, when Ed had come barging in with a set jaw and fiery eyes.

Now, they were all but jogging towards an unknown destination.

"Alone time" he had mumbled, which, immediately illicit butterflies in Winry's stomach. What did that mean? She had one clue.

Over the past few days, Winry had noticed that while they were touring the capital city, the palace, or having meetings with important people in Xing, Edward could not keep his eyes or his hands off of her. It seemed like something had happened overnight. In the 3 years that they had been an item, and the two years of progressing physical contact, Edward had always been very attentive and sweet, but stand offish, slow, and unsure. Winry often had to initiate or maintain private sessions alone, and since time was always limited in the busy schedules, she was frustrated in the lack of physical contact they had been able to manage after years of dating.

But overnight, it seems, this had all changed. Edward was aggressively seeking meetings with Winry and using their "holiday" slash "business" trip in Xing as a venue. He was pulling her into deserted corners, sneaking into her room at night, and being all together different.

She loved it, it was erotic, and finally she had been able to progress in the steps towards finally consummating there relationship -- but what spurred such a sudden boost in Edwards confidence?

They came to a strange door, and Edward pulled them inside. It took winry a moment to register where they were exactly -- there was so much green and gold. Plants, tiles, taps, and towels were bright as a meadow of cool summer grass, and the gold shimmered in the morning light.

Only after taking in the color, could Winry distinguish shapes, round, bubbling shapes. This was a bath -- a huge bath room full of tubs and stations of luxurious indulgence. It was unlike anything she had ever seen before.

Her heart started pounding, especially when she looked at Ed who was watching her with the utmost rapt attention.

"Undress" he said quietly. It was nearly a command, something that would have usually sparked a feeling of aggression in Winry. But, his eyes were burning. They were going to set the entire palace on fire with their gold lava and swirling depth. Winry locked onto those eyes, and half afraid, half aroused, began to unbutton her dress and slip out of her underwear.

The satisfaction on his face was obvious -- he looked dark, like he was reliving a memory. Winry unclasped the pin holding her hair back, and let the yellow curtain fall around her face. She was a little cold in the large, wide room, and wondered to herself, what could possibly happen next. She had never been fully naked before, in front of Ed. Yet, she had longed for him to see her like this....and she had longed to see him.

"You next" she whispered, too afraid to make more than a soft sound in the serious environment of the moment. She was realizing now, why he had brought her here.

He complied. He unbuttoned the top buttons of his black pants and untucked his tank top. His muscles rippled ever so slightly as he flung the shirt over his head and rid himself of any fabric or material. He was all lean muscle, slightly browned skin, and automail. His grey limbs a stark contrast the the surrounding skin. Winry thought it was the most unbelievably beautiful sight she had ever seen.

He turned away from her and stepped into the closes tub, the water rippling at the disturbance of his feet. She watched him as he submerged up to his waist.

He turned to her, and pulled the band from his own long hair and let it cascade around his broad shoulders. The gold met blue and beckoned her to follow. She was aware of the soft pad of her feet against the tile.

Trembling, she dipped her toes in. The water was comforting.

And Ed's lips were already searching hers.

What on Earth had gotten into him....and where.....oh, where, did he learn to touch, tickle, and tease like that?