Disclaimer: I do not own The Seven Deadly Sins. I'm merely borrowing the characters and having some fun with them.

DESTINY

Chapter 21

He hops off the bed, heading towards the bathroom. I watch his form saunter away. I simply can't stop. What is wrong with me? Why is him walking around shirtless so distracting? "You coming?" He asks cheekily over his shoulder, a bright grin on his face.

I snap out of my daze… again. I groan internally. I really need to stop doing that. I really should listen when he's talking to me. I really need to figure out a way to tell him I didn't mean to say that I would shower with him.

"Elizabeth?" He turns around to face me fully, tilting his head to the side as he eyes me curiously.

"Uh, well, um," I stutter out, my face reddening as my heart begins to race. I do my best to avoid eye contact with him, staring at my hands fiddling with the sheets instead. I hear him make his way back to me and a weight pushes down on the bed.

"You okay?" His voice reaches my ears and I look up to find his face inches from mine, eyes bright with amusement. "Change your mind?" A smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"I, uh, well…" I trail off unable to find any proper words with him so close. My heart continues to hammer in my chest. I wonder if he can hear it. The sound of it is practically drowning out all outside noise besides his voice.

"Tell ya what," he starts, his smile spreading across his face. "I'll shower and you can join me if ya want." His eyes twinkle with mischief.

If possible I feel my face get even hotter as he looks at me with those eyes. My heart is officially attempting to make an escape now. I don't get to chance to say anything before he's gone, once again heading back to the bathroom. He gives me one last, uh, tempting look before he pulls the door mostly shut.

The shower turns on and I flop down onto the bed, exhaustion taking over from the exchange. How could he possibly think that I would shower with him? We haven't known each other that long! My face heats at the thought. That's not the issue here Elizabeth! We do NOT have a relationship like that! We should never have one…. I shouldn't even be getting this close to him… I throw a hand over my eyes and sigh loudly. The thudding in my chest is finally starting to calm down.

I roll over onto my side, eyeing the bathroom door warily. Why did he have to leave the damn thing open? I sit up, putting a hand over my heart. Is he really waiting for me in there? I flush at the thought. My mind begins to wander back to the night Ban joined us and I frown. Ban is the whole reason I'm in this damn situation to begin with! Being here in Meliodas' room, while he showers, with no Hawk to save me, is totally his fault! The undead man is probably laughing his ass off as I speak.

He seems to be a master at breaking and making moods between Meliodas and me.

When the two of us were alone in the bar, the way Meliodas looked at me before Ban ruined the moment. I gulp as I think of what he may have possibly been about to do before the Sin of Greed was discovered in the window. The things Meliodas makes me feel are so foreign to me. I have nothing to compare it to.

Well, that's not entirely true.

I did have a crush on Hendrickson after all. Truthfully I haven't thought much about him this entire trip. Not since meeting Meliodas. Huh, well that's an interesting thought. I shake my head, thinking back to my sister's, er, my suitor ball, my last dance with Hendrickson. But even that feeling of heated cheeks can't compare to the heat Meliodas causes in me. When I danced with Hendrickson it was nothing like when I moved across the dancefloor with Meliodas.

I smile at the memory; our first night here in Dalmary, our third day knowing each other. When we danced, I felt… I don't know. Giddy? I couldn't stop smiling. A single smile from him sets my heart a flutter and I can't help but smile back at him. Maybe… I swing my feet onto the floor. I think that I… my feet are gliding across the room.

I think that I…

My hand reaches for the door. I feel the cool knob under my hand and flush, the reality of the situation crashing down on me like a cold bucket of water. What in the world am I doing? I can't go in there! Meliodas is showering! He's… naked! The heat rushes across my cheeks. I withdraw my hand like the handle has physically shocked me and back pedal away from the offending object. I place a hand on my cheek while the other goes to rest over my pounding heart.

Was I seriously going to go in there just because I figured out that I –

The bathroom door opens to reveal a wet Meliodas. A towel hangs low around his waist as his hands work another towel over his wet hair. Upon noticing me, his hands stop their task of drying his hair and his eyes widen ever so slightly. My gaze drops to the ground. My eyes trail over his legs, up to the bottom of the towel, across his, er, privates, back over the edge of the towel, up his toned stomach and end the journey at his face. His lips are in a tight line that contradicts the pleasure I find in his eyes.

He raises an eyebrow at me. "Were you coming in?" A hint of disbelief barely noticeable in his otherwise merry tone.

"Uh…" I drop my hands to fidget with the hem of my uniform skirt. "I, uh…" I have no idea what I was actually planning on doing. I was in front of the door. I even had my hand on the doorknob! Was I really going to open it?

"Darn," he huffs as his hands leave their hold on the towel and cross in front of his chest. "Didn't actually think you were coming so I got out," he frowns. "Could always just go back in with you?" He grins gleefully, thinking he found the perfect solution.

"N-no!" I say all too quickly, waving my hands frantically in front of me and he pouts. "I mean uh, thank you but you are already dry!" I explain in a rush returning my hands to my side. "I wouldn't want all that work to be undone," I continue with my lame excuse.

He raises an eyebrow at me. "Pretty sure it would be worth it."

I flush at his words. "S-Sir Meliodas!" I protest pathetically. The more he talks the more I find myself thinking that – NO! No, no, no, no! Stop that horrid thinking Elizabeth! I squeeze my eyes shut and slap my cheeks with both hands hoping to force the thought out of my head.

A soft chuckle brings me from my musings. I peek open one eye to stare at the man who causes me so much grief. The corners of his lips are turned up a tiny bit and his eyes are showing delight maybe? as he watches my struggle.

I don't know what to do with myself when he looks at me like that. Deciding what to do with my hands seems like the biggest issue. I settle with returning them to my sides and then shift them uneasily in front of me, lacing my fingers together.

"Maybe next time," he hums absentmindedly as he continues to study me, the smile slowly spreading across his face. The hum of his voice and that smile are doing funny things to my stomach.

"M-maybe," I give in. Mostly I think that I just can't stand saying no to the man. No matter how much that possibility drives me insane.

His almost tender smile takes a wicked turn. "That's three times now you've agreed to shower with me," he states casually.

"W-What?!" I shrill, my eyes snapping to his.

"Mhmm," he purrs, rolling onto the balls of his feet and then shifting back to his heels. His hands hooking together behind his towel covered head lazily. "Twice today and once a few days ago."

"You've been keeping track?!" I squeak in disbelief, mouth hanging open. No way has he actually been paying attention to what I've said about that! I haven't even been paying attention!

"Sure I have," he chirps happily, his eyes dancing joyfully as he elaborates. "I wouldn't want to forget something important like that." He steps closer and closes my mouth for me.

My face is on fire. Important? Really? How does showering with me fall on the list of important things for this man? We were just attacked earlier for goddesses sake! Doesn't he have more pressing matters to remember and/or deal with than me and a shower?

"I believe you need to rethink the meaning of important," I mumble in a rare occasion of not filtering myself. My eyes widen at my own boldness while his only shine brighter.

"Think so?" He inclines his head slightly as he looks up at me expectantly.

I nod, not trusting myself to speak after what just slipped past my lips.

"Huh," he places a finger on his chin, tilting it up to look over my head. "Well, it is imperative that I remember such things?" He tries again, phrasing it like a question even though I can see he is trying to fight back a smile.

"That's the same thing," I grumble, crossing my arms under my chest.

"Really?" He sighs skeptically. "How about, vital? Significant? Essential?" He drops his gaze to mine and I can tell he is teasing me again.

I frown slightly. "Fine," I relent, throwing my hands out to the sides. "It's crucial that you remember that."

"Oh! That's a good one!" He smiles. "So we are both in agreement then?" He loops an arm around my waist and pulls me close. His chest pushes against mine as his hands begin to trail down my back.

"Sir M-Meliodas!" I squeak as I flush hotly, his hands pause in their journey. "You're n-n-naked!" I squeeze my eyes shut.

"So I am," his merry tone filters though my embarrassed bubble. Yeah, like he ever forgot he was. His hands continue on their track and when they find their destination, they give my butt a good squeeze causing me to yelp and become hot.

Meliodas' hands roam freely over my backside, his movements flowing easily even as I sputter nonsense from his touches. My own hands grip on the loose edges of the towel hanging from his head. He seemed to have had enough of the skirt I wear as he drops his hands below it and pushes it up out of the way.

His fingers play leisurely with my panty line, much like when we were doing the dishes. It's torture. I bite my lip to keep from groaning. My eyes find his and notice the darker color as they narrow at the sight of my lips.

"I see I need to be more thorough in our lessons," he comments slyly as a hand removes itself from my backside, the other hand reaching over to replace it. Looping around to my front and trailing up to my breast at an excruciatingly slow pace, he stops, just letting his hand rest there. For a moment only before he continues to grope it as well.

I moan quietly, freeing my lip from its trap.

"There we go," he encourages quietly as he continues his teasing. I clench my thighs together at the sound of his voice, hoping to relieve some of the pressure that has been slowly building. "Maybe one of these times you'll listen to me," he purrs as he leans forward. His breath fanning over my neck as he speaks. "Or maybe you like your punishment?" He asks huskily.

I moan loudly. "S-Sir Meliodas!" I cry, unsure of whether I'm objecting to or pleading for his actions.

His hand on my rear releases its current prize to return back to its original place on the other cheek. The hand on my breast begins caressing a little rougher now. I continue my quiet whimpers as the heat between my legs continues to grow. My panties beginning to become damp.

As if sensing this, Meliodas' other hand ventures around to the front. His fingers trailing just underneath the hem of my skirt as they make their way between my inner thighs. A low growl sounds in the back of his throat causing my thighs to once again tighten, this time on his hand.

"You need to shower," he breathes against my neck, chills running up my spine. I nod dumbly.

He releases his grip on my breast, slowly pulling his hand out from between my legs. I hear his footsteps leading away realizing that at some point I must have closed my eyes.

"I'm changing. If you want to keep some mystery to our relationship yet, you may wanna go into the bathroom," his mischievous tone playfully suggests.

My eyes snap over to him by the closet. "Relationship?" I squawk in a horribly unlady like manner still trying to wrap my head around all of what just happened between us. The towel on his head is now around his shoulders, his hands resting on the one spun around his hips.

"That's what you got out of that?" He raises an eyebrow in enjoyment as his hands begin to tug at the towel around his lower region.

"Eep!" I shriek and hightail it to the bathroom. I can hear his entertained chuckle drift through the door after I slam it shut. I frown at the door, as if it were the one who was laughing at me and my awkwardness. I'm half tempted to kick something to let out some of my frustrations! I most definitely do not like that man! My face flushes… That's the first time I've admitted it to myself, in words anyway.

Deciding I may as well actually shower while I'm in here, I begin to strip down. Hopefully it will clear my head and help me forget about what just transpired. I sigh and shake my head in doubt. Am I even in the right state of mind right now? Maybe the weird start to this day is just throwing me off.

As I'm about to step in the shower, a knock sounds at the door. I freeze, my hand gripping the towel on the nearby hook tightly. Just in case the person decides to come in, I can quickly cover.

"I'll be downstairs, Elizabeth," Meliodas' voice drifts through the door. I smile slightly at the thought of him knocking instead of just barging in. He really hasn't pushed any further than I've allowed him too.

I shiver.

How far would he go if I gave him free reign?

"Elizabeth?" His voice calls again.

"O-okay Sir Meliodas," I call back, swallowing the lump in my throat.

"See ya down there!" His jovial reply reaches my ears.

I enter the shower and turn on the taps. I do my best to go through the motions without having to think about Meliodas. About how he looked shirtless. How he looked hovering over me. Meliodas in a towel. What would have happened if I would have showered with him. What would have happened if I watched him take off his towel…

A heat begins to course through me.

Well enough of that.

I turn the taps cold, almost screaming at the fast temperature change. It does the trick though and I'm no longer hot or thinking of a shirtless Meliodas. I finish wrapping a towel around myself and wander out of the room to find some new undergarments. After selecting some I walk back to the bathroom to put them and my uniform on. I'm assuming we will still open up the bar later today, even with the threat of the Weird Fangs hanging over us.

I frown. Hanging over me I suppose I should say. The thought of anyone from the castle sending them after me just seems so farfetched. Too drastic a measure to take when they are unsure of my reasons for leaving. There was no sign of struggle; they really shouldn't have suspected I was taken.

Exiting the bathroom, I sigh. For not wanting to cause much trouble for anyone I seem to be doing just that. First Twigo attacking the bar, apparently worrying my family and now the Weird Fangs are threatening us.

"You really shouldn't look so sad." A voice interrupts my thoughts. "It really is unbecoming of a future queen." It sneers.

My eyes widen and I whip my head around the empty room. "Who's there?" I demand, my voice showing more bravery than I'm feeling. The door is closed and nothing appears to be out of order in the room.

"Did you forget me already, princess?"

"Golgius," I spit out. I open my mouth to scream when a metal hand suddenly covers it, letting my voice have no escape to call for help. Another arm comes around to seal my arms to my body and force my struggling to a minimum.

"Now, now princess," he mocks haughtily. "There's no need to shout. Your companions are busy at the moment anyway. Come quietly and we will leave them be."

I freeze in my struggle. What did he do with the others?

A/N: Damn.. Golgius sure is a sneaky fellow ain't he? ;) I luv you Stormie and Dom! Don't kill me! I know you wanted that shower scene and have been wanting it since I mentioned it the first time back in chapter 13? But I already had this general idea ready to go! Don't worry though, Meliodas is keeping track for you. He'll find a way to make it happen I'm sure ;)

Huge shout out to Jenarla for looking over this chapter for me!

Now enjoy your sneak peak!

"Right," I bite out as he leads me through the kitchen. A door is ajar that I never really noticed before. Getting closer, I see that it leads outside. Huh. Didn't even know the bar had more than one entrance.

Once outside I rush to do a scope of the area, hoping desperately to see a spec of blonde hair. Well of course white or pink would be acceptable as well. My eyes scan the horizon and have no such luck.

Only a single horse awaits us.