Natsu growled his pleasure. Watching Lucy had been wonderful. Her scent flooded his nose. Aftershocks of bliss rippled outward from low in his belly, cascading through his body.
Lucy's legs trembled and she collapsed onto Natsu's rock hard chest. She burrowed her head into the crook of his neck and giggled. "So what would you like to discuss?"
Natsu began running his fingers through Lucy's hair as he collected his thoughts. "I guess firstly, I'm kinda glad you didn't slow down. Watching you touch yourself was very provocative. Secondly; seriously, your eyes have glowed a couple of times tonight and it's a bit freaky. Thirdly; you definitely had fangs when you bit the shit out of my hip. Fourthly; this is not a complaint, but I for sure felt what you felt when you came. Your eyes glowed and then my eyes rolled back in my head from orgasm overload. That ain't normal."
The blonde continued to giggle. "I thought you might want to discuss being my boyfriend. Now that I've marked you, there's no escaping my clutches."
"So you do want to date me?" Natsu pulled his shirt off of Lucy and began stroking her back slowly. "You like me and want to date me. Say it."
"You're being such girl, but okay. I, Lucy, like you, Natsu. I want to date you." Natsu sighed and grinned even wider. Lucy let her fingers play over the hard ridges of his chest, stroking and swirling random patterns. "Just so you know, I'm going to expect you to put out on a regular basis. I have needs, and if they're not met, I could possibly suffer horribly and die."
Natsu snorted. "Really? Suffer horribly and die?"
"I figured it was worth a shot." Lucy pinched Natsu's nipple lightly. "I'm willing to wait until you're ready for mating. But I want kisses and hugs and hand-holding and recreational body groping when I need it."
"So far that seems acceptable." Natsu nodded, "I don't want to rush and ruin what we're building together."
Lucy yawned. "We can talk about this more in the morning."
"Yes, sweet dreams Luce." As Natsu placed a gentle kiss on Lucy's temple he murmured, "You're mine." The blonde smiled angelically.
Scant minutes later and the two mages were deeply asleep tangled in each other's limbs. An other-worldly glow was emanating from Lucy's body. Fizzing sparks of magic energy swirled and danced over the occupants of the bed.
Like the previous night's dream, the sky over the hot spring was filled with thousands of twinkling stars. The moon was full and glowed faintly pink. The clearing was carpeted in soft grass and the trees were all summer clad with full leaves. Fireflies danced in and out of the trees.
Two figures stood facing each other with hands clasped. The fireflies swarmed around their bodies, then suddenly dispersed as a golden glow rose from the female and painted the male with gold light. One moment later, Natsu and Lucy were fully in Dreamland.
"I thought we'd end up here." Natsu smiled at Lucy and leaned over to give her a sweet kiss on the lips.
Lucy squeezed her partner's hands. "Maybe dreams can be more than dreams. Let's go find that cabin from last night."
Natsu shook his head, "No, I think we don't have to find it, we can call what we need into our dream. All the bits and pieces I learned from Caleb and our experiences are starting to fit together." He closed his eyes and concentrated, upon opening, there was a new gravel path heading off the clearing they stood in.
The blonde flashed Natsu a mischievous smile. "I like your style. Last one to the cabin is on the bottom!" She sprinted away and laughed. Her hot dragon boy chased after her, playfully reaching out to grab her swinging arms as she ran. Shrieking with laughter, Lucy dodged Natsu's grasping hands. "Ha! Try and catch me!" Lucy taunted.
"You can't outrun your dragon!" Natsu laughed. He allowed Lucy to pull slightly ahead, then put on a burst of speed when the cabin came in sight. "Gotcha!" He trapped Lucy in his arms and lifted her off the ground. "You're mine."
Lucy wriggled against his strong arms. "You keep saying that, but what do you mean, exactly?"
The dragon slayer swung Lucy around then allowed her to regain her footing. Patting her ass he continued to walk to the cabin. "Let's sit down for this portion of our discussion, Luce. I think we need to understand what the magic of the hot spring has done for us."
Lucy shrugged and allowed herself to be escorted. The dream cabin was filled with a soft golden light. In addition to a dragon-size bed, there were large cushiony chairs flanking a fireplace and a dining table laden with food.
"Seriously, you've got a willing woman, privacy, a playground of a bed and you want to talk?" Lucy settled into her chair, crossed her legs and smirked.
"Um, don't distract me Luce! What I mean when I say you're mine should be self explanatory - but when a dragon, or dragon slayer gets certain urges, they are only and ever for the person destined to be their mate. This person has a chance or choice to be with the dragon or cut them out of their existence and lead a normal life." Natsu bit his lip and gazed at Lucy with down-turned lips.
Lucy could see emotions warring in Natsu's eyes, the slow hesitancy of his speech was difficult to witness. Lucy wrapped her arms around herself, curling in on herself. She was reminded of how Natsu had hugged her in the private hot spring pool, not more than two hours ago - almost begging her not to hate him. A tight knot was forming in her stomach, anxiousness forming out of random fear. Her eyes lowered and shut themselves tightly. Three heartbeats later, Lucy opened her eyes and lifted her chin. A resolute glow shone in the depths of her chocolate brown orbs.
"You can tell me anything Natsu, and I'll still love you." Fierce pride and devotion chased the fear from the pit of her stomach out into the open. "I've loved you for years and don't want to stop. If you can't say the same, it won't change how I feel."
"I don't want to take advantage of you. You're kind, thoughtful, smart and beautiful. You could be with anyone - someone more worthy, smarter and doesn't cause destruction wherever he goes."
"Do you or do you not want me as your mate?" Lucy leaned forward in her chair. "You're kind, you are thoughtful, I know you're not stupid - it's just an act to shelter your heart. Any woman would want you as theirs, no matter if you destroy property."
"I want and need you Luce...but I refuse to hold you back from achieving the best life you can have."
Lucy sat alone in her chair with her chin cupped in her hand and listened to Natsu's honest words dredged from the depths of his soul. The misery in thought of never being his mate left a sour taste in her mouth. Tears leaked slowly and slipped down her cheeks and dropped onto her hand. Unconsciously she wiped the back of her hand against her cheek and then rubbed the moisture onto her shoulder.
Suddenly Lucy sprang out of her chair and captured Natsu by the shoulders. Blinking back fresh tears, Lucy glared at Natsu. "Damnit! What makes you think a life without you in it is worth having?"
Natsu met Lucy's glare with compassion. "I can't make that decision for you. Right now you're suffering with a mix of my dragon slayer feelings and the magic from the Love Hot Spring."
"The same can be said for you too! If I'm sharing your feelings on mating and marking, then you must be 'suffering' how I feel about needing a confession of love and not rushing physicality. This explains so much, why I couldn't restrain myself and you've been holding back."
The dragon slayer nodded and pulled Lucy into his arms for a long hug. He kissed her temple and stroked her hair. "I know I love you, but we can't go any further until we are sure what we feel is from our hearts and not a deception of the Love Spring."
The blonde allowed her hands to rest on Natsu's backside. She gave one butt cheek a furious pinch. "I think any magic involved in the Love Spring is merely complimentary and not intrusive. It doesn't force, but opens your awareness to doors that were always there. Our magic is what fuels this dream. I can understand your views on mating and marking, now that I've experienced directly the needs you've been feeling. You must have a better knowledge of my wants regarding a love confession before intimacy, now that you've felt my own desires in that regard!"
A small smile bloomed on Natsu's face as Lucy discussed her theory. It grew into the smile Lucy loved best - the wide fang-tipped grin. "You're absolutely right!" He pulled Lucy over to the bed and fell onto it, with her.
Lucy yelped. "Are you putting a move on me? I'll have you know, I am that kind of girl!" She giggled and trapped Natsu's wrists above his head. "Submit, or be tickled!"
"Kiss me Luce, kiss me and never let me go."