I swear, I'm always apologizing for taking so long updating this story, but I guess here we go again. So, without further ado, I'm so sorry this took me nearly two weeks to update. Anyway, here we are finally, the next chapter! So thanks for waiting so patiently, for following, for favoriting (I realize that's not an actual word), and reviewing! Thanks for XxShyxX for wading through the rough patches with me, and thanks to LittleWonderland for being the voice of reason to my writing insecurities. You da' best!

Remember my peeps, Hiro Mashima owns Fairy Tail. Thankfully, we have Fanfiction, where anything we imagine can be true, like a delicious blonde dragon slayer falling for an equally blonde Celestial Spirit Mage.

CHAPTER 11: JUST THE TWO OF US

Lucy's POV

I leaned against the suite door, trying to catch my breath. I looked at the envelope in my hands and didn't know whether to curse the damn thing or be thankful for the interruption. I hadn't intended for things to get so out of hand. Honestly, it had happened so fast, and it had been absolutely amazing. I felt like every nerve in my body was standing at attention, as if Laxus had zapped me with a low-powered strike of his lightning. Oh, but it didn't hurt; it felt so...fucking...good. My body was fairly humming right now. Shit, what am I going to do? Even now, with the space to clear my mind, I wanted to go in there and push him back onto the bed. I still wanted to feel his hands all over my body; I still wanted to see that look in his eyes, that look that pierced right to the heart of me and promised unimaginable pleasure. I knocked my head against the door; this isn't helping.

I knew we needed to slow things down; I knew that was the smart thing to do. I wasn't sure of his intentions yet, and as much as I wanted him, as much as I burned for him, I needed more of a reason than that. I wanted to argue with myself, but I couldn't escape who I was. I was a girl who needed that extra strand of connection, before giving my body away. I knew that I was beginning to truly care for him, but I wasn't sure if he felt the same way. Hell, I didn't even know if things would change after we got back home. Is he like this, just because we're away from everyone else? Would he still be interested when we went home? I needed those questions answered before we went that far, before he took a piece of me that I could never get back.

I had let myself get too wrapped up in Laxus, too overwhelmed with what I felt for him. I hadn't intended to initiate sex. I had just wanted him to stop doubting himself. I wanted him to know without any doubt that he'd been forgiven and that someone really did want him, not for his power or his standing in the guild, but for simply being him. I needed him to know that I wanted him exactly the way he was, with his past, with his faults, with all the pain he tried to keep hidden. I cared about all those parts of him, and I wanted to show him how to let it all go and forgive himself.

I released a breath, and closed my eyes, as I listened to the sound of the shower. My mind immediately began imagining Laxus's head flung back, his fingers raking through his hair, the water tracking down his toned body. I shook my head, trying to dislodge the arousing images. What the hell do I do now? It was obviously not a good idea for us to be alone in this suite; I had no doubt we'd end up right where we were before. We needed to get out and do something.

I glanced at the envelope again and realized that I had yet to find out why we'd been disturbed. I ripped the flap open to find a message from the hotel manager. He was advising us to meet with his Head of Security at 3pm. I had to laugh; we'd been interrupted to inform us of something we had already planned to do. Ironic, I suppose. I braced myself as I glanced down the hallway; I couldn't stay by the door all day. I'd have to see him again and find a way to resist him at some point. It was going to be hard. He was so unbelievably sexy, and I was drawn to him like a moth to a flame.

I walked back into the room and plopped down on the bed, trying to avoid what had happened there a short time ago. I just needed to distance myself from him, or I wouldn't be able to ignore everything I wanted to do to him. I told myself firmly: no kissing, no touching. I can do this. I can resist! Then he walked out of the bathroom, in nothing but shorts and all I could think was, I am so screwed.

Laxus's POV

I stepped into the bedroom and saw Lucy sitting on the bed. I came to an abrupt stop; her eyes were flitting over my still damp chest, and I swear I could almost feel her touching everywhere she looked. I nearly retreated to the bathroom again for another hand job. Damn, what was I, a fucking teenager? I sighed, dragging a hand through my wet hair, rasping, "Lucy...you gotta stop looking at me like that." Her eyes finally rose to meet mine and she unconsciously licked her lips. "Damn, it's like your fucking me with your eyes," I growled.

Feeling frustration crawl up my throat, I turned away as she quietly murmured, "Sorry." I leaned against the wall and looked over at her, sighing, "We need to get outta here for a while."

She sighed deeply, "I know. If we don't, we'll end up..." She stopped there, her face flushing as she realized what she had almost said.

I chuckled, the tension slowly fading; she really was so fucking cute. I dug through my bag, then pulling on a shirt, I asked, "So, what'd they want at the door?"

She rolled her eyes, her face still pink, "To tell us to meet the Head of Security at 3. As if we didn't know to meet up with them early before the money drop."

I shook my head; what dumb ass thing to disturb us about. "Morons," I said, irritably, "Anyway, why don't we check out the beach. I think we could use some fun. Well, a different kind of fun." I couldn't help adding that last part. Things may not have ended the way I wanted it to, but it had still been damn fun.

Her eyes widened at that, but then, noticing my smirk, her lips quirked and she laughed. "You're such a perv," she muttered as she passed me, "I'll go get in my bathing suit."

I had a sudden picture of jet black stretched across smooth skin. "God, not that one from last night..." I groaned, as if in pain. I didn't think I could handle that one again just yet.

She giggled at my reaction, musing "So you're saying you didn't like it?" She cocked her hip out, her arms tucked under her luscious breasts, and pursed her lips.

Sassy wench... "No, I liked it too damn much!" I bellowed, scowling at her brazen attitude. She was deliberately trying to get a rise out of me.

A smile tugged at her lips, and I felt mine begin to respond likewise. Then she opened her mouth to taunt me again, "Then why don't you want me to wear it?"

My eyes narrowed. "I would suggest you wear something else if you don't want to be stripped bare the moment you walk out of that bathroom," I growled wickedly.

Her eyes flared with worry and a large amount of excitement, and my breath hissed out. "Lucy, get your ass in there and change into a better bathing suit! And stop looking at me like that!" I turned her around and smacked her ass towards the bathroom, grinning widely when she eeped at the contact.

She spun around, sticking her tongue out at me before shutting the door. I held in my laughter, and reached into my bag to pull on a black t-shirt. I walked into the kitchen to grab an apple from the fruit bowl. As I munched on my quick breakfast, I thought back over the morning and decided that all in all, it had been a good morning. In spite of the abrupt halt to our...whatever you want to call it, and my consequent foray in the shower, I felt incredibly satisfied.

I had never held myself back from a woman like this; granted Lucy wasn't exactly making it easy, and I wasn't exactly against her provoking me into it. I found that I was enjoying this...shit, I didn't know what to call it. It was like we were toying with each other, but not in a bad way. She was fun, and smart, and sexy; I never knew what she was going to do next. She'd be aggressive and sexy, then she'd slow down and be comforting and gentle. She was a total contradiction, sassy and sweet, bold and innocent. I was beginning to suspect that I would never get bored with Lucy around.

My eyes caught sight of the girl I'd been thinking of, heading toward me in a sundress and sandals. She grinned sweetly, causing my eyes to meet hers in suspicion. She's up to something. She tilted her head as if to question, What? I shook my head at her and smiled, reaching out to snag another apple and throwing it to her. She caught it with both hands, before chirping, "Thanks!"

As we made our way downstairs, Lucy edged closer to me, and using her arm, gave me a little shove, giggling as I stumbled to the side. We walked all the way out to the beach, constantly bumping each other in the side, our earlier awkwardness gone as we relaxed in our stupid little game. I hadn't acted this ridiculous in such a long time, and oddly enough, it felt good, which made no sense at all. Why would I like acting like a dumbass? I didn't know the answer to that question, so I pushed it aside and just welcomed the time with this silly, sexy girl.

Still laughing, we broke out onto the beach, and found ourselves a quiet section of sand away from the other hotel patrons. We flopped our stuff down, and I watched as Lucy was bent over securing the edges of her towel from the slight wind. I smiled at the fact that she was giving me an uninhibited view of her backside; I could feel my hand itching to make contact again. I must have made some sound, because she abruptly stood up and whipped around to point a slender finger at me, proclaiming me to be a "Perv."

She rolled her eyes at me and crossed her arms under her generous chest, causing my eyes to stray downwards. I nodded, pointing out what she'd done and shrugged my shoulders, quipping, "I'm only a perv cause you're a tease."

She pouted cutely, and I had to chuckle; it was so fun to mess with her. In more ways than one, I thought wickedly to myself. I snagged the hem of my shirt, pulling it over my head, and threw it at her. It nailed her right in the face, and she flung it back at me, once again sticking out her tongue. She slipped the straps of her sundress down her arms, shimmying the item over her breasts and hips, before dropping it to her feet. My eyes followed its progress in rapt attention, and as her bathing suit was ever so slowly revealed, I felt like someone had suddenly turned up the sun. I was burning up.

It took a moment for my heart to start again, and with it came my mouth. "What the hell is that?!" I demanded, eyeing the bright yellow thing she was wearing. It looked like a one-piece, but it had holes everywhere like a damn afghan blanket. The only thing that was actually covered were her tits and her...Oh shit...my favorite color had never looked so damn good.

"It's a crocheted bathing suit. Isn't it cute?" she inquired brightly, seemingly unaware of my inability to breathe.

I sputtered, "You think that thing is what I meant by better swimsuit?!" My mind was trapped, trying to decide if I desperately loved or infinitely hated the offending bit of clothing. Is she trying to kill me?

She arched her eyebrow and asked, "What? You don't like this one either?"

I thought she was serious for a split second, until a look into her eyes revealed her merriment. Suddenly, her sweet smile from earlier made perfect sense. The little minx hadn't chosen this modern torture device by accident. She'd done it on purpose to taunt me, probably to pay me back for smacking her ass before. I was contemplating now whether it had been worth it. I raked my eyes over her lithe body again, and decided most emphatically...hell yes. I smirked evilly at her and her breathing picked up, her eyes wide with equal parts apprehension and enthusiasm. "Oh you are going to pay for that," I informed her, as I began walking around all the stuff to get to her.

I lunged at her, my arms outstretched, and with a squeal, she was off, running down the beach as if the hounds of hell were at her back. I took off after her, racing to capture her and exact my revenge. My feet pounded on the sand, and further ahead, Lucy turned her head, and seeing me not far behind, she poured on more speed, her golden hair twirling wildly behind her. A smile burst onto my face as her laughter wafted back to me, and I pushed even harder to overtake her.

It took only a few moments before I was steps behind, but I didn't stop. I reached out and grasped her, swinging her around to face me. We were both breathing hard as I wrapped both arms around her waist, and spun us around in a circle, sending her legs flying out behind her. Her hands gripped my shoulders, and she slung her head back and laughed, as if she hadn't a care in the world. My heart skipped a beat before my own laughter poured out, and for the first time in a long time, it felt as if my own cares didn't exist anymore. As I slowed our spinning, Lucy tipped her head back down and our eyes met, and as her hands slid up to cup my cheeks, she leaned in a caught my lips in a gentle kiss.

We stood there for a time, wrapped in each other's arms, and I completely forgot that a world existed outside of the two of us. I reveled in the feel of her lips on mine, and wondered at how this woman could tear me up inside one minute and then sooth it all away the next. One moment, playful and teasing, the next passionate and soulful. I tightened my arms around her, pressing her fully into my body, and delved deeper into the kiss. I felt like a man in the desert, and everything I needed could be found there in her arms. I didn't know what she was doing to me, but I wanted more of it, more of her.

She pulled away sooner than I wanted, but she remained in my arms, smiling serenely up at me, and I could feel an answering smile on my face. Is this what it feels like to be completely happy? It had been so long since I felt the sensation, I wasn't sure if I was even capable of recognizing it. She studied me for a moment, then stroking her thumb across my cheek, asked softly, "What are you thinking about?"

Before I could contemplate what I wanted to say, the words slipped from my mouth, "I'm happy." Hearing the wonder in my voice, I wanted to curse myself for my lapse in control, but her smile grew more radiant as she leaned in again, her eyes on mine, and whispered against my lips, "Me too."

Her simple words wiped the worry from my mind, and I answered by kissing first her bottom lip, then the top one. Her hands slid down my chest to wrap around my body, as I brought mine up to hold her face. I leaned down, kissing her forehead lightly, and pulled her in, tucking her head under my chin. With one hand tangled in her hair and the other around her shoulders, I felt full, or complete, or something I was at a loss to name. All I knew was it was real, and I'd never known anything so solid and strong. I was in a place where nothing could touch me, not my past, not my mistakes, not even the fears I kept hidden away. There was just this beautiful woman who looked at me as if I hadn't sold my soul a long time ago. I knew I didn't deserve to even touch a woman such as Lucy, but like a starving man offered a feast, I couldn't deny myself.

She pulled back till her hands rested on my hips, and seeing the look on my face, said, "Why so serious, Laxus?"

I trailed my hands down her arms before threading our fingers together and brought one hand up to my lips briefly. I smiled down at her, answering, "No reason. Come on, let's head back." I kept one of her hands in mine as we strolled down the beach toward the casino. I looked up to see that we had gone quite a distance from where we'd parked our things, but I wasn't in any rush; I was enjoying the weight of her hand in mine, the way our arms swayed between us. It was a good way to spend the day.

A/N: Two things here: First, I realize that there isn't much in the way of Lucy's POV, but Laxus just had to much to say this time. There will be more Lucy next time :) Secondly, if you'd like to see the suit that inspired Lucy's beach attire, then go to www . dollswimwear . com (don't forget to erase the spaces) and search for 10476-YLW. Thanks for reading and see you next time!