HAPPY VALENTINES DAY PEOPLE! here's the last part to this chapter as my valentines day gift to you from me! ENJOY!
Chapter 4: part 3
Over the following weeks Levy kept herself busy, among avoiding Cobra as much as possible and giving him the slip when she could, visiting the King in his bed chambers, the privet conversations with Lucy about Dragons, Gajeel, and the stories he had told her the night or so before, and their fast approaching future. Her nights were spent waiting until the castle went to sleep, then getting out of bed and into the Dragons arms. She still wasn't allowed out of the grounds, so Gajeel came to her and not just for educating her on Dragons, but inevitably courting her. Soon the guards set up to patrol the Black Forest's edge became nothing to the Dragon, he simply had to create a diversion that attracted everyone's attention then waltz by unnoticed.
They were becoming close, dangerously so. Levy would be waiting for the Dragon's form to land on her balcony after the last lights went out in the castle, her eyes scanning the sky for the mass of black that was the Dragon. Some nights his feet wouldn't have even touched down when she would be at his side or in his arms. She was always there to meet him, flashing her biggest and brightest smile for him every time, her arms and body welcoming his with a fiery warmth he couldn't get enough of, and her soft sweet words that told him how happy she was he was there, that he came back. Gajeel would pull her close and growl in her ear before nipping at it as he flirted his way to her bed where he would set her down and seduce her body to his. They would whisper things to the other in between kisses and caresses, rolling around on her bed. After settling down some she would ask something about Dragons and they would talk for hours.
Yes, they were close, way too close. When Lucy would get Levy to admit and talk about the more intimate parts of her encounters with the Dragon she would warn her about falling in love… It just wasn't possible, a human and a Dragon, besides she had a prince to marry, not a Dragon.
Levy would wave her friend off saying they were just playing around and it was nothing serious, like the Commander's relationship with Lady Juvia. Lucy would give her friend a look and let it go, even if both girls knew Levy was lying. Each were intrigued with Gajeel's stories and accounts of the world outside of what they had been educated about from the palace philosopher, Freed Justine. Neither would deny that Freed's lessons had always been exciting and enjoyable, but Gajeels encounters and stories painted a whole new world for Levy and Lucy, a world beyond the castle walls, past the outskirts of Magnolia, even out of Fiore. Levy would often fall asleep to Gajeels stories, and she loved it.
It was in one of Gajeels stories that Levy made a sudden revelation. The time period he was talking about was centuries before the present time, how could he have firsthand knowledge? Voicing her question the Dragon just laughed. Poking her cheek affectionately he playfully scolded her for thinking that Dragons lived the same as humans. Pouting she glared at him and he grinned, explaining that Dragons live for centuries and that his father, Metalicana, was nearly a thousand years old and he himself was in his mid-four hundreds… Levy had gaped at him for a long time as the numbers settled in her mind. He was going to greatly outlive her great-great-grandchildren! This had saddened her, thinking about a time when she would be gone and he would still be there living on for such a length without her. Being well attuned to her moods and emotions at that point, Gajeel and lifted her face to his and told her not to think about it before he kissed her. Levy agreed and they moved on.
Levy had asked before, but she still wondered how many other dragons there were in the world, where were they and what were they like? Were all dragons human-like as Gajeel was or were they Dragon-like as in the stories and human accounts of them? Levy asked about mates and breeding, what little Dragons were like. This topic had a special place in Levy's heart because Gajeel's face would soften in a way that she had never seen, it made her warm inside. His voice changed and his eyes softened when he talked about hatchlings. She had gotten it out of him that he had wanted hatchlings of his own for a long, long time… He would stop there and stare off into the night and Levy would watch him with focus beyond any she had before. Her mind wandered about if Dragon's or humans for that matter could cross-breed… but she didn't ask. That was too much, where the line was drawn. She wouldn't let herself think about things like that because she knew they could never happen. Sensing her mood change once again, Gajeel would snap out of it and distract her from her thoughts.
It was the end of June when Gajeel stopped showing up for their near-nightly visits. The first night Levy didn't think much of it, the second she was confused, and by the third night with still nothing, she was worried. It began to rain early the next morning as it had been on and off again the past few days. The sky was a dark grey and a heavy mist hung over the area while the rain continued. Levy hadn't slept that night as she tossed and turned all night thinking what could have happened to Gajeel. It didn't help that the deaths of Jet and Droy had been leaked to the townspeople and everyone was on edge now more than ever. People were becoming skittish and jumpy, concerned that the Princess would really be cast out of the Royal Family and the thrown would be up for anyone to take advantage of. On top of that, Laxus was becoming more persistent, and making stronger advances for her to marry him.
The fourth night since Gajeel's last appearance the storm worsened and the constant rain became like needles plummeting from the heavens. Levy was sure that Gajeel wouldn't be coming that night as the rain was so thick and relentless it could almost cut the flesh. She had been awake until nearly midnight before falling into a restless sleep and just as she was starting to relax, the sudden "BANG!" of the balcony doors bursting open accompanied by a crash of thunder and a flash of lightening had her wide awake again. Levy screamed at the sudden noise, sitting straight up in bed before a hand was clapped over her mouth and she felt something hard and wet pressed against her back.
"Hussshh Shrimp. Be quiet now..."
Levy's eyes widened with shock as the voice of the missing Dragon registered in her mind. After a few seconds, he released her and shut the balcony doors. Levy watched him shake off the water from his body as he turned round. She could feel her eyes filling with tears and was just about to speak when there was knocking at her door and her expression of relief turned to that of panic as she whipped around to face the door to her room.
"Levy! Levy? Are you ok? I heard you scream!" It was Lucy.
Sighing with relief Levy placed a hand over her heart and relaxed before answering, "L-lucy! Yes – yes I'm fine… the thunder just, startled me! Sorry for making you worry! I'm alright now…" there was a pause then, "Ok Lev, try and sleep some!"
"I will!"
Once Lucy's footsteps faded, Levy scrambled against her blankets and off the bed. She dashed across the room to where the Dragon had moved to warm himself by the fire place. A few strides away she called out to him and launched herself in the air. Turning at his name, Gajeel reacted instinctually as the Princess went airborne, daftly twisting around and catching her in his arms quickly. The force of her made him take a step to balance himself then pulled her tight to his body as her limbs wrapped themselves around him like a spider monkey.
Hugging her tightly he started to pull away but her grip on him tightened, "Hey Shrimp… Yer' gonna' get all wet!"
But she didn't move, and held on to him even tighter, burying her face into his shoulder breathing deep the smell of wet Dragon, something a little more pleasant yet reminiscent of wet dog. With a sigh he returned her embrace with equal force. Levy let herself cry into his shoulder for a few minutes, then leaned back and began kissing him like she would never see him again, squeezing him so tightly he couldn't breathe. Grumbling about needing breath Gajeel held her to him and let her cry as she kissed him, stroking her back and hair, whispering soft words in his husky growl of a voice in between her sobs. Eventually she let him set her down and he convinced her to go back to bed. She opened her mouth to protest but he kissed her soundly and she said nothing after that. Climbing into bed she glanced over her shoulder at the dragon, then quickly turned away blushing.
It was not the first time she had seen the Dragon naked, nor would it be the last she would bet, but every time it happened she would blush and turn away. Gajeel then spent the next several minutes convincing her to look at him. He had stayed with her in her bed a few times before, and each time he would be naked, soundly amused with her stuttering and inability to focus or keep up a conversation. She would be blushing and looking anywhere but at him, even if he sat with himself covered with a blanket or pillow. Levy would eventually warm to his nakedness and be able to look the Dragon in the face by the second or so hour of conversation, at which point he would press his luck and become physically intimate with her. Usually it was just kissing and maybe a hand wondering through her hair or down her back, but lately he had become more handsy and sooner in the night too; coming to sit on her bed in the nude instead of one of the couches or chairs that adorn her room, and sometimes pulling her into his lap, with a pillow or blanket separating their bodies.
He had also taken to undressing her as often as he could get his claws on her clothes, which was nearly every night. As he had expected, she was shy at first, but a fortnight or so into their little routine and she hadn't protested when he had stripped himself, or removed her clothing as well. She was modest, which he understood, often covering herself with her arms or hugging a pillow to hide behind. And so it was not so unusual for the Dragon to do as he was and removed his shorts and place them by the fire to dry, and she knew her clothes were next, but something about him being gone for so many days in a row had raised her modesty once more.
"Oi, Shrimp? What's the matter? Aint ya' used ta' this by now?" Peering down at her, he leaned on the bed and brushed her cheek with the back of his hand. Shyly she turned away and covered her face.
"You're… Naked!"
He blinked at her. Then raised his eyebrows slowly, "So? Ain't ya' seen me before? Gihihi"
Her silence and red tinged ears was all the answer he needed. Chuckling, he climbed on to the bed and wrapped his arms around her pulling her into his lap. She protested but became very still when he set her down. Looking down at her with amusement, Gajeel laughed. He gently pulled at her wrists and eventually got her to lower her hands, but her eyes remained firmly closed. He accepted her challenge and nibbled her ear. She gasped in surprise at the sensation but kept her eyes shut. Smirking he continued down her neck with his tongue sending shivers throughout her body. Lightly kissing his way back up to her ear he whispered sweet, intoxicating things to her, occasionally pausing to lick and nibble.
Slowly she eased into his coaxing and relaxed against him, if only a little. He was being very flirty quite quickly this evening. Maybe he had missed her? Still, Levy was feeling torn down the middle, half of her wanted to pull away and make him put something on, that this was too far and too much, while the other half argued that this had been happening for weeks now. He was very sexy after all and she hadn't been so shy about it the last time she saw him naked. Levy sighed in frustration and the Dragon's coaxing stopped.
"Levy."
She slowly opened her eyes and gazed down at the bed sheets pooled around their legs, her seemingly small, smooth and pale legs next to his long, thick, and scaled ones. They were so different, and yet so much the same. She reached out and tentatively drew the back of her hand over his clave. Gajeel exhaled hard against her ear, she shuddered and turned her head towards him as her hand grazed up over his knee then back down as she arched her neck and met his mouth in a soft light kiss. His arms around her middle tightened and a large hand rested on her hip as she took her hand form his leg and gripped his hair. It wasn't long before Gajeel adjusted their position so that she was laying on her back and he was over her, their lips never parting, the kiss never breaking. The new position gave the Dragon more of an advantage over her and he deepened the kiss, pressing his body lightly against hers, supporting his full weight on his knees and forearms.
Levy let her hands slide over his bulging biceps and taught shoulder muscles to weave into his mane. This was something new, this sort of kiss and touch, their movements against and with each other. Their intimacy had always been more playful and light hearted, flirty kisses accompanied with laughter; her sweet innocence and his rough and crude sense of humor. But now, now their kiss held so much more, it was the difference between a flowing river and oozing molasses. She could only remember it being this way once before, and things had gotted a little out of control then. The air was so heavy, his body so warm, his lips and mouth and tongue so hot, she could feel something in her stomach twisting and turning pleasantly with ever motion of their lips, just as it had done that other time. Levy didn't understand what this was, and for the moment she didn't really care. This was Gajeel, the Dragon.
Her Dragon.
Yes, her Dragon. it wasn't that he belonged to her, but more that they belonged together, he her fabled "knight in shining armor" who had come to sweep her off her feet and ride off into the sunset with her in his arms. It wasn't exactly the Fairy Tale ending she had dreamed of, but she really couldn't think of anything better. Yes, he was her Dragon, and she was just fine with that.
She hadn't seen a man naked before Gajeel, much less kissed one, or so passionately, and she definitely wasn't supposed to sleep with a man – she had broken that rule the first night Gajeel had stayed with her all those days ago – much less a naked man that was not only not a royal or noble, but the enemy of her entire race. But none of it mattered. There was a warm tingling feeling starting where his mouth met hers, traveling down her throat and filling her heart, continuing still even when they finally parted with a gasp.
She gazed into his half-lidded smoldering red eyes. From what she could tell he was feeling something very similar to what she was right then. A bead of saliva connected to each of them broke and it was like a pin falling in a silent room. Gajeel's eyes widened for a split second, then he was crashing down upon her, ravishing her mouth and grabbing onto her body and hair. She returned the kiss with the same vigor, her nails digging into his shoulder blades and her legs wrapping around his waist pulling her body closer to his. Both were surprised at her relaxed eagerness and Gajeel, taking advantage of the moment, lifted her hips from the mattress with his hands and pressed her shoulders deeper into it. His claw like nails puckering the flesh of her backside through her night dress, each hand able to encompass each hip and cheek. Levy could feel his muscles rippling between her thighs and it sent strange waves of pleasure and desire throughout her body; so much so that she tore away from the Dragon's sinful lips and let a foreign moan slide passed her own.
It seemed to encourage him as he attached to her neck and worked his way down with soft yet burning kisses as his hand tightened on her hip and pressed her core against his lower abdominals and ground her shoulders into the mattress through his hips. New waves of pleasure much stronger than before ripped through her body and her voice rose as she moaned in foreign pleasure her nails digging deeper into his back. Hissing Gajeel tore his teeth from the spot he had been working on at the base of her neck and hushed her with his mouth in a searing kiss that had her opening her mouth for more. He gladly complied, slipping his tongue down her throat his hips grinding against hers once more.
Practically crying from the strange but so pleasuring feelings radiating through her body from where their hips met, Levy grabbed the Dragon by fistfuls of hair and yanked his head away so she could through back her head let out a half scream half moan just as an enormous clap of thunder sounded that drowned out her cry and shook the very foundation of the Castle.
Gajeel stared down at the squirming Princess below him, the lust and desire and need slowly draining from his vision as Levy panted, open mouthed, her eyes half closed as she tried to regain her breath. He had to stop. He needed to stop. If things continued like this he was going to do things he would regret later. His mind understood and told his body to move but the action was not what he had intended. His hips quietly bucked forward once, twice, a third time. Another clap of thunder masked Levy's moans and cries as he thrust against her again and harder.
NO!
Snapping from his lust filled stupor, Gajeel sat back quickly, letting her hips fall to the mattress, his hands supporting his weight as he leaned back and took in huge gulps of air. Eyes closed his body shook. He could feel his erection against his thigh, and it scared him some. Quickly, he grabbed handfuls of the twisted sheets and covered himself with shaking hands. This was new for him too, the feelings, emotions, the desires and lust filled kisses, her moans that were driving him crazy, the actions his body was doing of its own accord, he was losing control like he never had before, and all in the span of a few short moments.
He flinched when he felt hands on his chest. Opening his eyes and looking down quickly he met Levy's gaze. Relief washed over him when he saw the same confusion, surprise and worry reflected back at him in her bright honey-brown eyes. Levy was panting still as he leaned forward and raised a shaking hand to her face, cupping her cheek. She placed her hand over his as they stared at each other in wonderment and confusion. Slowly their breaths returned to normal and with a final sigh Gajeel regained control of himself and tugged her little body tight against his. She buried her face into his chest and gripped him tightly. After a moment Gajeel laid them down on the bed and with a single yank, covered them with the blankets, never letting go of the woman clinging to him as though her life depended on it.
Laying on his stomach, her on her back, he buried his face into her hair and breathed deeply, her intoxicating scent filling his senses and calming him instantly as his eyes fluttered back in there sockets. With a sigh he finally relaxed. Levy squirmed in his arms and he loosened his grip so she could move. Popping her head up she lightly held his jaw on either side with both hands as she placed feather light kisses on his lips. Closing his eyes he breathed deeply as she kissed him. His eyes snapped open seconds later when he felt something wet and warm on her cheek. Pulling away he looked down his nose at her and saw she was crying.
"Levy… Hey, hey, it's ok. Ya' don't have ta' cry, what's wrong?" His voice was so soft and warm, that a few more tears slipped out of her eyes. He stroked them away with the pads of his fingers, his brow wrinkling as he frowned.
"Oh, G-ga-gajel. I – I didn't know if you were coming back. I was scared Gajeel. I was so scared, I thought I would never see you again. Please, please don't ever leave me!" She managed to keep her tears back until the last few words before she broke down.
Gajeel stared at her softly, then pulled her against him, stroking her hair and hushing her. She cried softly into his chest for a while as he held her, the storm outside starting to lessen as the night wore on. Finally she was reduced to sniffles, then silence as she drifted into sleep. When her breaths evened out he arched his neck and kissed her forehead for a long time.
"I won't… I won't." It was barely a whisper, and with a final kiss he too allowed sleep to take him.
When the sun rose that morning the Dragon still lay in bed with the Princess. Warm yellow beams of light burst through the cloud layer and greeted the earth below with dazzling brilliantness. Tender fingers of sun trickled through the glass doors and windows of the room, filling the space with a sort of golden glow. Gajeel sensed the lightness through his eyelids and snuggled deeper into the pillow, pulling Levy closer to him with a contented sigh. Seconds later he opened his eyes and stared at the shadows on the wall directly opposite him. Shadows!? It's that late already!? Turning over his shoulder he snarled, putting his arm up to block the brilliance as it literally stabbed at him. Grunting in the beginnings of pain, he untangled himself quickly from the blankets and snapped the curtains shut.
Moving quickly to the smoldering fireplace, he dressed.
"Mmmmm… Gajeel?"
He turned around at the sleepy voice that called his name from the bed. His eyes fell on Levy who was sitting up and rubbing her eyes. Blankets pooled around her stomach and her perky little breast greeted him. She was still naked from the night before. Blue locks a mess she stretched and looked at the drawn curtains for a moment while Gajeel took her in. Her night dress was falling off one of her shoulders exposing several a dark marks on her neck and shoulder. Something rose in his chest and he paced over to her, sitting on the side of the bed he had just vacated. She reached out for him and laid in his lap. Smirking a little he brushed some hair from her face.
"Good morning Gajeel." She greeted him with a lazy yawn, "G'morin' Shrimp, ya' better cover up ta'day…"
She gave him a puzzled look and he traced his fingers over the love bites on her neck, "Yer' a little, uh… marked up." She touched the marks herself and winced. Gajeel expected her to be upset, so when she giggled and threw her arms around his neck, he was surprised.
Their gazes met and held. Frowning at her less than expected response, he kissed her lightly before standing once more. Levy kneeled on the bed and grabbed a handful of his mane as it fell over his shoulder, "The sun's up, what are you gonna do now?" Smirking the light returned to his eyes and he pulled her to him using a finger to lift her chin, "Was that an invitation to say Princess?"
"Maybe." She answered with a giggle.
"Yer' gonna' be the death of me. Shrimp. Gihihi!"And he kissed her hard.
Finally he pulled back and with a smile turned for the balcony, wincing when he pulled the curtain back. Quickly he disappeared, and left Levy scrambling after him. She ripped the shade back and threw open the doors dashing across the warm stone and jumping up to hoist herself over the top of the wall as she looked for Gajeel. She spotted him easily, a giant black mass flying through the air just above the tree tops. He was staying in the shadow of the mountains and it appeared to Levy that he was going to halve to take the long way home. Smiling she waved knowing that he couldn't see her, but not caring. She stayed there until she couldn't see him any longer, which wasn't very long at all. Grinning she twirled around and pranced back into her room to wash up and dress for the day, which she could tell it was going to be good.
As the weeks passed, Levy and Gajeel still found it hard to meet each night, even more so to separate each dawn. Both were inpatient for darkness to come, but being summer it was late when it was finally safe for the Dragon to travel without being noticed, and then the dawn would come sooner than the day before. It was a struggle she was willing to deal with if it meant seeing her Dragon, even if only for a few hours. In the waning hours of light after dinner and before darkness fully took over, Levy would find a quiet place in the Castle to write more about what she had learned about Dragons, adding to her future book little by little.
Lucy and Levy still met sometimes and would talk about Dragons and what Levy had learned or some new development in Levy's book. Whenever discussing Gajeel however, Levy made sure to keep their blossoming relationship out of the conversation and that they had effectivally given the still watchful eye and ear of Cobra the slip. Instead she would turn the topic to the weather, if the King would recover his strength now that the summer was in full swing, the relationships that were starting to form among their group of friends, Natsu and Lucy's wedding that September, Dragons, and their personal favorite – Laxus-bashing. All the while ignoring the most pressing issue on hand. Levy's own marriage. When the subject of marriage did pop up, the topic would switch from Lucy's wedding to Levy's, the Princess would instantly stop and chew Laxus up one side and down the other, much to Lucy's amusement. The two would then make up plans for Gajeel to dispose of Laxus… This was one of their new favorite topics and they plotted and giggled relentlessly about it when they had the chance.
It was on one of these occasions that the person of their conversation happened to walk by. Lucy and Levy were sitting in one of the many flower gardens, enjoying a pot of tea with Lady Erza, the Commander and Natsu. It was Lucy who noticed the Prince heading there way, his gaze intently focused on Levy. He was on a mission, and Lucy didn't like it.
"Ah there's the Prince now, shame he hasn't the nerve to come speak with us ladies. No, he has to send someone else to keep tabs on us and tell him where we go!" Lucy shot Laxus a withering glare from the far side of Natsu.
The rest of the group looked up at her loud remark and the Prince stopped in his tracks at the assault from the blond. Natsu giggled and received an elbow from Gray to shut him up, a smirk on his own face. Erza hummed and sipped her tea while Levy locked eyes with the Prince foa moment, daring him to speak. Levy had told them al about Cobra following her, not that they hadn't noticed, but Levy confirmed for them that it was Laxus who had sent him to keep an eye on the Princess. Laxus glared at them all in turn, before looking at the Princess as she spoke up.
"At least I don't have to send someone to follow after him to tell me where he is. I can just follow my nose, what with his stinking pride and all. I swear the hounds could smell him miles away!" And with that Levy lead the group in a choirs of giggles and laughter. Laxus fumed. He stood rooted to the spot with his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of the pond, his face slowly turning red with anger. A hard look from the Commander, Erza fingering the sword she always had strapped to her him, and Natsu's daring gin was all it took to tell him that he was not welcome, not in their presence, nor to speak as he would not be heard With a frustrated huff, he turned on his heal and stalked off the direction he had come with a swirl of his robes.
Since then, Laxus hadn't made any more advances, but now he had taken s taken to following Levy himself. It was as if he had nothing better to do than to make her life miserable. To make matters worse, he would follow her into her chambers and sit and simply watch her. Nowhere in the Castle was safe anymore. The only way she could rid herself of Laxus's constant presence was to have Natsu, Gray or Jellal accompany her to her chambers and wish her goodnight. At least then there was someone else to put a buffer between Levy and the Prince so that she might slip into her rooms and lock the door before he was able to enter after her.
Now more than ever before did Levy wish to get out of the Castle and visit Gajeel. It had only taken one night of Laxus staying in her rooms until late, that the Dragon had refused to come visit her, for fear of being caught and because he was unsure of what would happen if he and Laxus were in the same room together. He couldn't guarantee Levy's safety if he and the Prince were to fight. It had taken a full fortnight for Laxus's scent to be cleansed from her room then the Dragon would return. She hopped. He had promised on his last visit that he was going to show her his world, if only she could get out of the Castle. It wasn't safe for them to meet there what with Laxus keeping vigilantly all the time. And so they made the plan that on the following nice day they would meet and he would take her on an adventure, the likes of which she could only read about in her fantasy novels.
