A/N: Things are beginning to heat up here…

Disclaimer: All things associated with Dragon Ball Z belong solely to Akira Toriyama.

Chapter 7: Moonlight Sonata

"Hey guys, what's goin' on?" Goku trilled with his trademark goofy smile.

Bulma blinked dumbly as she gripped Vegeta's arm like a fainting woman. "Goku? What…"

"Yamcha!" the jolly Saiyan exclaimed as he leaned around the unwitting couple to stare at his friend on the ground, "What are you doing down there?"

As he struggled to his feet, the scarred man grimaced and scathingly replied, "Oh, you know, just defending Bulma's honor and such."

"What's wrong with your honor, Bulma?" Goku asked in concern.

"Nothing," she hissed in irritation, still keeping her hold on Vegeta as she turned her face to his. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Vegeta looked down at her, his eyes aflame and chest still heaving from his pumping adrenalin. "He…" he began, suddenly unable to justify his burst of anger. Why had he lost control? Yamcha's words rang through his head. "I don't want him at your throat, Bulma." Ah, there it was… Vegeta could see himself dipping his head to caress her pulse with his lips, nipping and kissing down her slender column – giving her the ultimate symbol of Saiyan loyalty and mating. Somehow that boy's offhanded derision had struck a chord with the Prince and had unleashed his fury and desire for the woman.

Seeing flickers of emotion and thought on his face, Bulma softened her expression and gently squeezed his unyielding biceps with her slender fingers. Vegeta suddenly looked so… defeated, and his eyes danced across her face as if memorizing her features. Then without warning he jerked his head to the offending human standing at the railing and a snarl erupted from his chest as his nose wrinkled in distaste. "He has no business speaking about the Prince of All Saiyans in such an insulting manner."

"Hey buddy, YOU have no business being around Bulma like that!" Yamcha retorted, pushing off the railing to stand beside Goku.

A devious smirk flashed across Vegeta's face as he abruptly twirled Bulma into his arms and lowered his mouth to breathe against her ear. "What? Like this?" he taunted as he flexed one hand against her jutting hip and the other at her ribs beneath her breast. Bulma's mouth popped open in a little 'o' of surprise, her eyes widening and twinkling in the light of the dance.

"Oooooh I wondered when you two would get together!" Goku blurted out gleefully as he threw an arm around Yamcha's slumping shoulders and pulled him to his chest in a bone-crunching hug.

Everyone else froze in a mixture of mortification, surprise, and anger. "She's still mine, Goku," Yamcha snapped, shoving away from his gentle friend as Bulma disentangled herself from Vegeta's now-loose arms.

"Hey – I'm no one's possession, sir," Bulma interjected, jabbing a finger his way, "And if I'm not mistaken, you already broke up with me!"

"I did not!"

"Yeah you did – somewhere between attacking Vegeta and telling me you'd not be around any more!"

Meanwhile, Vegeta began to back away from the scene, his mind tumultuous and clouded with the sudden thought of the woman and him being… together. Catching Vegeta's movement, Goku bounded over to the other Saiyan and clasped his hand on his shoulder. "Aw, Vegeta, don't get discouraged! You just have to try a little harder and I'm sure you guys can get together!"

Vegeta blanched in utter horror and embarrassment. "I need no advice from third-class buffoons!" he snarled, shoving his offending arm away, "And I most CERTAINLY don't need advice about females from the man mated to the least-desirable harpy on the planet! I am the PRINCE OF ALL SAIYANS! I can have my pick of any female in the universe!"

Bulma rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well title aside you might want to brush up on your social skills if you're planning on wooing a woman anytime soon," she commented snidely.

Slowly gliding his gaze to hers, Vegeta's eyes darkened maliciously. "If you had lived anywhere else other than this mudball, Bulma," he said softly, caressing her with his smooth tone and heated stare to send shivers up her spine, "You would know that I am known throughout the universe for talents other than my strength and unique charm." Suddenly, Bulma was very aware of Vegeta's proximity and his complete… maleness as his dark eyes bored into hers with the promise of something more sinful than death. Again, unbidden visions of Vegeta scraping his teeth across her soft stomach as her hands twisted in his hair flashed before her eyes and her mouth went dry.

"Well then," she replied as she attempted to steady her voice, "I guess you could have any whore in the universe you wanted." Her contemptuous eyes glared back at him, and everyone else (well, maybe not Goku…) understood and heard the silent statement that came after. Any whore, but not ME. Her tacit challenge hung in the air, stinging both Yamcha and Vegeta.

Bulma was up for grabs.

"So that's it then," Yamcha said softly, his shoulders slumping, "You've made your choice."

"I've done no such thing," Bulma snapped as she turned away from the three. "You've just been too weak to take what you wanted." There was ambiguity to whom she was referring, and Vegeta and Yamcha each took her words to heart as a statement of challenge and encouragement, respectively. "Goku?"

The happy Saiyan perked up at finally being included in whatever was going on around him.

"We're going to dance now."

Blithely, Goku answered, "Alright!" and moved to her side to escort her back into the fray. Without another word, Bulma left her two men behind.

***

Cramming tiny quiches, shrimps in cocktail sauce, and cheesecake in his mouth, Goku happily amused himself while Bulma stood to the side in distaste, examining her manicure. As much as she loved her oldest friend, she sometimes forgot what a pain it was to deal with his insatiable hunger and complete obliviousness. I think I even miss Vegeta, she thought shrewdly as she glanced through the twirling crowd. She had seen neither hide nor hair of either Yamcha or Vegeta, and she wondered vaguely if they had killed each other. Well, that would take care of my problem, I suppose…

"Too bad Chi didn't want to come," Goku commented through a full mouth as he joined her, "She would have LOVED the food!"

"More likely she would have criticized it," Bulma replied indifferently, eyeing his finally-empty hands.

"And for good reason, too," Vegeta remarked behind them, causing Bulma to jump as her heart ballooned happily, "This is the most droll party I have ever attended, and I grew up with Frieza." Bulma's smile faltered at his statement and his dark countenance.

"Aw no way, Vegeta!" Goku exclaimed, "This party's great! Bulma's a wonderful dancer, and this food is amazing!" Now she could remember why she loved Goku…

Vegeta frowned and crossed his arms. He didn't like the idea of that third-class man holding the blue-haired woman. "You have always been a complete moron," he grumbled crossly.

"Goku's a great dancer too," she added haughtily, "In fact, I think it's time for another spin. What do you think?" Turning away from Vegeta, she threw her shoulders back confidently and her ample chest heaved against the dusky pink tulle of her dress.

Eyeing Vegeta curiously, Goku replied sheepishly, "Sure, Bulma, but wouldn't you like to dance with Vegeta now?"

With a blush Bulma glanced sideways over her shoulder, saying, "He hasn't asked me, Goku."

Vegeta growled in warning as strange emotions swirled inside of him – jealousy seethed, and the urge to conquer and hold rose in his chest. Though she could only peer at him out of the corner of her eye, Bulma could see this internal warring play across his face as he wrestled with his pride and his desire. Now or never, Vegeta… After a moment of silence, Bulma dejectedly turned back to Goku. "Alright then –"

"Don't," Vegeta suddenly said, unwittingly stretching his arm towards her. Bulma twirled around to stare into his eyes intently, scarcely breathing in her expectation. He looked down to his hand and withdrew it slowly. "You will dance with me," he said gruffly, his gaze flickering to Goku.

"Great!" Goku said with a goofy smile, "I really wanted to get back to the food table, anyway."

Ignoring her friend and narrowing her eyes, Bulma observed Vegeta carefully as she raised a hand to her nape to toy with a loose curl. While she really wanted to deny his demand out of spite, his bare admittance of his desire for her fanned a flame in her chest that burned only for him. Instead of answering, she merely nodded and extended her slender hand to rest in the air before him. Gravely, Vegeta reached out to grasp hers, sending a jolt of energy through her fingertips, and led her to the dance floor as a slow, beautiful piece struck up.

Without speaking the two came together gently, his hand sliding to her waist and her hand clasping his shoulder as they entwined their other hands in the air, and their eyes met heatedly when they began to gracefully sweep across the floor. He held her away from him like the princes in movies she had seen as a little girl, and despite the distance she suddenly felt cherished and breakable all at the same time, like a delicate china doll. Blushing at his intense gaze, Bulma looked away to the crowd and spotted Yamcha in the corner. He appeared neither upset nor agitated, but simply cool and calculated – a rarely-seen stance from him – and Bulma abruptly felt disconcerted.

Vegeta knew the moment she saw the Weakling: her hand tightened in his while the other slid further across his shoulder like she needed protection. Barely containing his possessive growl, Vegeta pulled her against himself as the music slowed even further to a swelling, heart-breaking tune. Bulma could barely breathe from her sudden elation. Finally, he's letting me near him… With a small, contented sigh, she let him twirl her and then came to rest against his chest again, nuzzling his neck affectionately, her nose brushing against the line of his jaw. "Vegeta…" she whispered, barely conscious of her speech as she inhaled his unique, spicy scent mixed with the light sheen of sweat on his neck.

An unfamiliar feeling of warmth burst in his chest, and Vegeta responded ardently by crushing her waist to his and turning his face into her hair with closed eyes, breathing in her perfume and sweet scent while feeling the softness of her blue tresses with his nose and cheek. His name on her lips brought about a new feeling of possession in him – one that needed to hold, keep, and cherish her – but also a burst of lust in his loins that seared through his abdomen, crawling up the back of his neck to the roots of his hair and flooding his cheeks. He wanted to hear her say his name again in the throes of passion – he wanted her to moan his name from the depths of her soul.

Hearing his breath hitch, Bulma pulled back and peered up into his ebony eyes again, amazed at the fire burning in their depths. For a moment their breaths mingled in the air, and Bulma marveled at the closeness she had finally achieved with the Prince, but was suddenly stunned at her reaction to it. His eyes bored into hers and blazed a path through her legs and pelvis, igniting a feeling she had long thought locked away. Not since she had first met Yamcha had Bulma felt so feverish and lustful – and even then she had never felt this crippling need for a man like she did for Vegeta. She feared she couldn't last much longer.

"I'm ready to go now, Vegeta," she breathed, eyes landing on his smooth lips.

With a smirk beginning to crawl its way to the corners of his mouth, he twirled her one last time before escorting her from the ballroom. From the corner of his eye he could see Yamcha lurking in the shadows, slowly following their progress. Let him come then, he thought wickedly as they moved silently through the hallways, It's high time he learned some respect for me – and to whom the woman truly belongs.

Bulma glanced up at him as they entered the glass-covered atrium at the back of the building off-limits to the guests. No lights lit the room, but the moonlight streamed from overhead and through the far glass wall that faced the vast meadow beyond, and Bulma's pale skin glowed ethereally while Vegeta's bronze tones deepened and flashed in the starlight. He sniffed regally at the assortment of huge plants placed strategically throughout the space and wondered idly why humans went through such lengths to make their homes look like the natural world.

With a contented and excited smile, she pulled him by the hand to a large chez lounge that sat away from the barrier of exotic plants against the glass wall. This was her chance. Vegeta stood royally at the edge of the lounge, seeming to gauge his surroundings and her demeanor, while she slid onto the lounge against the raised shoulder, propping herself up to stare at him with the challenge to join her. Eyes darkening with expectancy, Vegeta leaned over and swept her legs up onto the lounge so he could straddle her like the predator he was. He clutched the couch behind her head in one hand and kept a hold of her tulle-covered thigh in the other, and an indecipherable rumble tore through his chest as he bent towards her surprised face. She had obviously not been expecting his demanding advances, and her breath hiccupped in her chest as her eyes widened with her heightened senses.

"Hungry, girl?" he taunted wickedly, his canines glinting in the moonlight as his insinuations thickened the air around them.

"Not after hanging out with Goku," she replied shakily as she felt his hand tighten on her thigh to send shockwaves through her belly. "Vegeta…" she whispered, defensively raising a hand to his chest at his disconcerting closeness.

Ignoring her faint plea and lowering his nose to her neck, Vegeta inhaled her scent once more and felt her shiver under his scrutiny. "You are intoxicating – for a weak human," he murmured, looking over her once more to stare into her sapphire orbs. She wanted desperately to have the will to push him away and regain her senses, but instead her hand clenched onto his tuxedo jacket, and her movement brought an evil smirk to his face. Leaning in closer to her face, his eyes planted on her lips, he mumbled, "I can hear your heart, if I choose to. Whenever you near me…" he paused as he glanced back to her eyes, "It races like mad, and every little beat draws me to you." Slowly, achingly slowly, his lips began to descend to hers. "The little enchantress must be hungry – what else could she possibly desire?" he hissed to himself as he focused once more on her cherry petals.

Bulma began to pant with nervousness and anticipation as she watched his lips hover above hers tauntingly – she could take no more as his hand slid up to grasp her slender hip and pin her down. "Please," she gasped, her tongue darting out to the edge of her lower lip. "Vegeta – "

With a growl his lips crashed down upon hers in a fury, and his other hand left the couch to grasp her back and crush her tiny body to his. Fire raced from their lips down their spines, and Bulma slammed her hand through his hair to entangle her fingers in his ebony tresses. His mouth covered hers possessively, and she arched her back into the kiss to meld with him. MORE, her mind screamed as their teeth clashed and her nose bumped against his as they writhed back and forth. Her heart bloomed forth painfully and she feared that she just might explode with butterflies and flames.

Vegeta had never felt such a thrill of desire before – such satisfaction in the hunt – and a sudden keening noise that erupted in the back of her throat obliterated all his sense of mind. He greedily thrust his tongue into her mouth and visciously lapped at her warm cavern. Bulma fought back with a vengeance and her tongue clashed with his in a brutal dance. With every intention to claim her, Vegeta laid Bulma against the slanted side and covered her body with his, grinding his jutting erection against her core.

Bulma's eyes popped open.

"No!" she said into his mouth, yanking her face away from his with her chest heaving and breaths slipping from her lips. White-hot rejection slashed through his chest and Vegeta snarled dangerously, already slipping away into his animalistic side as his mouth descended fiercely on hers once more. "NO!" she cried out again as she shoved weakly against his chest and flailed beneath him defensively. "Vegeta –" she gasped as his hand slipped from her waist to her hair to yank her head back and expose her pearly neck, "Stop!" The blinding fire began to seep from before his eyes at her entreating words, and he stilled himself as he glared down at her throbbing pulse. "I'm a virgin," she panted, trying to look over her nose at his darkening countenance.

Vegeta blinked in surprise, shaking his head to clear it. He had heard her say it before, but he just never believed it… her voluptuous curves and tantalizing apparel screamed sex from the rooftops. "You lie," he hissed, bringing his teeth to nip at her chin none-too-gently. She was rejecting him – him, the Prince of All Saiyans!

"No Vegeta, I'm not lying! Would you let go of my hair?" she moaned, feeling the pins of her updo digging into her scalp. Hesitating for a moment, Vegeta relinquished his hold on her shining tresses and sat up with a disgusted scowl, moving to stand to the side of the lounge. As she patted her hair with a wince, Bulma could feel his anger and embarrassment emanating from his back, and she felt guilt settle into her stomach. "Vegeta," she said softly, standing and adjusting her dress with a sigh, "I am a virgin. I don't know what everyone else in the galaxy does, but people like me… We don't just go around having sex with whomever we want – especially after having just gotten out of a ten-year relationship." She paused, watching his back as it stiffened in rejection, and she was suddenly drawn to him. "It doesn't matter… how sexy or desirable he is," she said huskily, reaching out to trail a hand down his back, "You've got to hold back. The waiting makes everything…" she brushed her lips across the back of his neck, "…worth it."

The hairs of his neck standing on end as her lips passed over, Vegeta felt that strange melting feeling slide down his spine once more to meld with the burning pit of his loins. Her words inspired the most sinful visions in his head, and everything in him willed himself to corrupt her – body and soul – but he refused to move and meet her eyes.

"Vegeta," she wheedled softly, letting her lips rest against the side of his neck as she wrapped her arms about his steely chest, "I really, really want this. Please don't go away…"

He could feel his resolve fading as her little arms embraced him and her pleas wrapped around his once-impenetrable heart. "I'm not going anywhere," he growled stubbornly, pushing her arms away from him so that he could turn around to glare at her properly. "You have everything I need to train to the best of my abilities."

Eyes widening in shock, Bulma recoiled like he had hit her and stepped away. She felt like her heart was rending in two as his penetrating eyes coldly stared her down without remorse – mocking her precious feelings and humanity – and it was her turn to feel the slashing pain of rejection. "Is that all you want, Vegeta?" she whispered as tears gathered and threatened to drip down her lashes, "The assurance that everything you need is yours?" Unbidden, a tear splashed down her cheek, and Vegeta had to clench his fists to keep from grabbing her to crush her to him. Her voice wavered as she spoke: "I would never keep your destiny from you, no matter if I liked you or not. I would have given you the moon if you'd wanted it, Vegeta." Her lip trembled and more tears coursed down her face. "I hate to be weak in front of you because I know you despise it… but you make me weak," she added in a barely-audible voice. Vegeta's cheek twitched as he struggled to control his urge to comfort the pitiful creature before him, and Bulma turned away. "I would have given you more than a stupid gravity room, Geta. I would have given you the world – not because you need it, but because you deserve it," she murmured as she walked away to the door and paused. "I'm no fool, Vegeta. I don't expect a declaration of ardent love from you, but I do deserve a little respect," she hissed before she gently drew the door open and left him brooding there in the slanting moonlight.

Vegeta felt a dead weight settle in his chest, constricting his breathing and some other organ that he had long thought dead. He was amazed to find that he truly despised what he had become.


A/N: Sorry that took so long! I've been pretty ill for a week… Hopefully I'll update sooner this time. Please review!