4: Happy

For Sanji those past few weeks were beyond amazing.

It wasn't like they met each and every day to sleep with each other. With their schedules it was nearly impossible to do so. Yet they managed to meet at least three or four times a week, spending their evenings and night together. Sometimes they would just leave to get back to their separated apartments. That's when they were reminded themselves, that they weren't in a relationship and that they needed to keep some space between them.

Sometimes they were just to tired. Sanji enjoyed these times very much, since he was able to hold Nami close, while sleeping peacefully next to each other. When they awoke at the morning they both tried to play it of, as if it was normal for friends with benefits, too. But Nami didn't even seem to deny her liking in these acts. So this never stopped this little gleam of hope for more than friends in Sanji.

On this particular day it was during his break, when Sanji wondered, when they would meet again.

The night before was just breathtaking with him taking over the dominant part. Holding her wrists and with that forbidding her to touch him in any way possible wasn't something he normally did. But by the reactions he gained from Nami, Sanji knew that she liked it. And he did, too.

He would never do something that Nami would not approve. Their intimacy was for them both for pleasure. As a big gentleman as Sanji was, he always wanted to be absolutely sure that she received most of it. It always payed out for them both in the end.

Sanji was smoking to calm his nerves during his break, when he checked his phone, noticing that he hadn't received a message from her, yet. But he knew perfectly well, that they both had free during the late evening hours, unless she was working on a strange project again.

So Sanji just asked if everything was alright. It didn't take her long to answer.

Reading the words on the display Sanji knew that he needed to smoke just another cigarette. Nami clearly demanded to meet this night and as she wrote: "Be sure to have enough stamina for me."

That sounded like a rough day for her. And an even tougher night for him – not that he minded.

Something had probably happened at her work and Sanji would bet that it had to do with this shitty moron of Arlong. He never met him but only hearing Nami's stories of him made him go angry. He hated this man for treating Nami like he did. The only thing that stood in his way of kicking that shitty asshole's butt was Nami herself.

Yes, her drawing skills were on a divine level, but she wasn't happy to work for that guy. She could do better in any other job. But she insisted to stay.

Ever since she started to work for this Mister Arlong guy, it made Sanji sad. He knew Nami well. Knew her tragic past: How her parents died when she was very young and being adopted by this lovely woman Bell-mere and her husband Genzo together with her sister Nojiko. And then Bell-mere died. Was killed by some crazy guy with a gun on the street, right in front of her adoptive daughters.

Nami was only five years old, back then.

They met years later during school. She has always been very charming and lovable. But also very clever and smart, talented and funny. And she also could get annoyed fast, especially when their friends Luffy, Usopp and Chopper were doing some stupid things. Or when Zoro got lost again, since he had the orientation of a dead pile of moss. She could also get annoyed by him, when he was acting like a pervert or when he was too flirty with other women.

But it didn't bother Sanji in any way. He liked all of her traits and all he ever wanted her to have, was absolute happiness. And he always wished to be a part of it.

Sanji wanted her to change her job. He always thought how she would be perfect in working with children. She had this natural aura to her that made every child she ever met like her instantly. But she declined all his efforts in telling her so.

Sanji sighed and looked up in the sky. The smoke of his cigarette vanished in to thin air.

He just hoped that they made the right decision.

It was nearly eleven in the evening when Sanji finally arrived home. He always chose to walk, since it only took him around 20 minutes. But since he knew that somebody was already waiting for him, he tried to hurry as much as possible, even sometimes ignoring the traffic lights. So on this evening he needed just half of the time.

While he was standing outside of his apartment he even tried to suppress this sudden urge to smoke.

Nami never told him if she accepted his habit or if it disgusted her. But he didn't want to bother her in any way with smelly clothes or a bad breath. So he always tried to have at least an hour between his last cigarette and their meetings. He wasn't a chain smoker but he was sure, that his doctors where thanking him for that.

As fast as Sanji could he ran up the stairs to his apartment.

He always had a spare key hiding beneath his door mattress, but he never had any use of it. Until now, since Nami used this opportunity to enter his flat, whenever she arrived earlier.

Checking the key he noticed that it laid different this time.

He couldn't help the smirk that emerged, feeling the temperature rise around him. Sanji knew that he was now mere moments away from feeling her beautiful body against his.

Entering his home he looked around and listened carefully.

"Nami-swan, are you already here?" Sanji asked, getting rid of his shoes and his jacket, noticing noises from his kitchen. Yet, she wasn't answering.

"Nami-swan? Is everything alright?" He demanded to know, not knowing why she was staying quiet.

A strange feeling began to rise in his stomach, following the noise of rustling paper and a desperate sigh to his kitchen.

There she was sitting, with her back turned to him. She was looking through some of her drafts, while holding a pencil with one hand. One of her feet bounced nervously up and down, being a clear sign that she was stressed or annoyed.

Sanji had seen her often in a state like this, finding it interesting and sexy how she concentrated on her task. But he had the feeling that this time her behavior was more intense, sensing that she had a really though day.

Still she hadn't shown any reaction, so he decided to take the lead and he approached her.

Carefully he laid his hands on her shoulders, rubbing with his thumps her soft skin. She jolted in surprise and when she turned around he grinned at her.

"You are already here?" Nami asked in surprise, while stretching her back. "You came home early, did you?"

His grin grew wider, before laying his hands this time in her tights, stroking them, spreading her legs slightly in the progress to stand between them.

"No, it's exactly eleven o'clock, just as I told you."

"Wait – what? It's already that late?" She turned her head to see the clock above the doorway. "I didn't notice how fast the time flee. I sank too deep in my work I suppose."

"If you still need some time, then it's fine." Sanji told her truthfully. "And we don't need to-"

"No!" Nami interrupted imedetially, rising her eyebrow in a sexy manner and leaning against him "You read the message, so you know what is awaiting you tonight."

Sanji rolled off her body, lying on his back next to her. Both were still trying to catch their breaths, while Namis hand was still grasping the pillow beneath her head. Her eyes were opened wide, while small drops of sweat were glistering on her naked skin.

He studied her in the dim light of his night lamp, while she was staring to the ceiling. Her chest was raising and lowering slower this time and again she had this concentrated look on her face.

Something was clearly bothering her.

He carefully moved closer again, until he pressed himself against her site. She didn't even twitch when he laid an arm around her hip, slowly kissing her exposed shoulder.

"What's going on in your mind? You didn't seem to be enjoying it." Sanji said with a low voice.

She shook her head, before turning towards him, laying face to face and impossible close.

"I did enjoy it!" Nami stated, pouting in a cute way. "I am always enjoying it. I am not faking it, if you were thinking that."

"I wasn't thinking that!" Sanji reeled back, starting to caress her hip, while he propped up his head on the other hand. He wanted to see her better, still making sure he was very close to her. "You just didn't seem to be happy at all. And you where a little bit zoomed out. It took me twice the time to get you to scream for god and to moan my name. What's wrong, Nami? I feel that there is something bothering you."

She made an annoyed little noise, especially when he mentioned 'god'. Sanji knew he had figured something out and she sighed.

"I am not sure if we should talk about it right now."

"Why? Because we are laying naked next to each other? We are still friends, remember. And as such we should speak about our problems. I want to help you." More silently he whispered: "Let me help you...Nami-swan."

Quiet unsure she looked up in his eyes, murmuring something to herself.

Sighing she started to tell him: "It's just my new project. Arlong gave this casino-thing to Chew to complete, telling me he needed the best architect for this new building. He wants something celestial. Heaven-like. The client is somebody who likes to dress like an actual god. And it needs to be in 3 weeks. It just stresses me out! He is expecting something worth work of 3 months. And I have not a clue where to start."

Sanji listened to her every word. Changing his hand from her hip to her cheek to caress there tenderly.

"It just annoys me...Mister Arlong is always expecting so much. And I am afraid that he will give this project again to somebody else. Although he promised me a bonus, if I finish it in time."

"And I know that you will complete it. And it will be wonderful! But I am concerned about your health, Nami. I don't want the stress to be too much for you."

"That's why we are here, doing this. To relax. I know what you are thinking. Please, don't tell me again that I should leave my job. It will work out one day."

Sanji nodded, looking directly into her eyes.

"I only want to help you, Nami. You know that."

She leaned in his touch, letting out a deep breath.

"I know and it's really nice of you, Sanji-kun. I appreciate it. Really, I do."

Sanji's gaze was now on her lips, which were dangerously close to his. He needed to hold himself back. He didn't want to anger her and if she was against lip contact, then he would not work against their agreement. Yet it was too tempting.

Suddenly he had an idea, while sharing this moment of intimacy of a different kind. He began to smile.

"I have a clue of how I will help you."

"Really? How?"

"Let me surprise you tomorrow with it. Alright?"

"You know that I am not the biggest fan of surprises. Sanji, please tell me!" Nami demanded to know.

"No. Just wait until tomorrow. But I promise, that you will like it."

Nami looked at him with her big brown eyes, pleading for him silently to tell her. But he won't do and she knew that.

"You are so mean, Sanji-kun!" Nami growled angry, before hitting him playfully against his chest.

"Patience, my dear Nami-swan." Sanji smirked before he pulled her even closer, pressing himself against her. She giggled, as Sanji nuzzled her neck playfully, before biting the flesh there carefully, making her moan.

"And I know something that will help us to pass the time quickly."