Chapter 25- What the Hell?

Natsu POV:

I'm lying in my bed staring at my closed door with my hard-on in my hand. Wondering what the hell just happened?

Well I know what happened, but my question is why was Lucy in my bed and why didn't she stay? Both myself and my erection would like an answer.

I consider getting up going to see if she's okay but I'm still achingly hard.

And based on her rushed exit, I'd say she was embarrassed. I suppose I'll wait till morning.

As I lie here, I assess what I thought was a dream. And I wonder how much was real? I I remember some boob grabbing and nipple tweaking, some cock to ass rubbing.

Now that I think about it, everything about it was extremely vivid. From her breathy whimpers to her intoxicating smell and her tantalizing body pressed perfectly against mine. I wish I could do more, this time conscious.

After five minutes of lying in my bed thinking of Lucy. I give up on her reappearing and rub one out. This time with a somewhat realistic experience. The only thing that would've made this better was if the lovely Lucy helped me out instead.

When I woke up with my hand almost in her panties I figured we were about to get over this whole awkward reintroduction phase. But she bolted and left me and my dick to fend for ourselves.

Thinking back on the way my arrival was received and the way I expected it to be. Did not match at all.

I can't seem to fall asleep, next thing I know my alarm goes off. I pull on a pair of boxers and shorts before I leave my room and head to the kitchen.

I put coffee on and survey the contents of the fridge and decide for pancakes.

Once the coffee is finished, I knock on her door and met with silence. A knot forming in my stomach.

"Lucy?" I'm met with more silence.

I try the knob but it's locked. Shit did she think I was going to try and get into her bed last night?

I've talked to her almost every single day since I left. It felt like long-distance dating. I've had weeks to get to know Lucy. Weeks to appreciate her sense of humor. Time to get to know her every facial expression. Time to discover what her likes and dislikes are. Her insecurities, what makes her tick. How independent and strong she is, and most of all how much she loves my pets.

Unless I've been reading things wrong, my expectation when I came home was for our two-dimensional flirting to turn into three-dimensional, with nudity.

I give up on trying to wake up Lucy. I take my time getting ready for work hoping she'll come out before I leave. But she doesn't..

My whole day is spent on meetings. My hope is that the Edolas trip will be my last for a while and that I've done enough to be able to ask to manage a few Magnolia properties we have here.

When the meeting is over my dad pulls me aside.

"Good work in Edolas."

I really should be able to ask for what I want but I'll have to put feelers out first.

"Thanks. It was a good learning experience. I feel like I'm getting a good handle on things."

"Once you're settled in I think it would be a good idea for you to work with the design team in Alvarez."

This means another trip overseas, possibly working with Gajeel again. Which is not what I want.

"What about local renovations? It would be good to work on some projects following you."

He smiles and taps his pens. "That will happen in the future once you've had sufficient training."

The best way to appease my father is through his ego.

"You don't think by your side I'll get the best."

"Natsu, I will still oversee all of the projects you work on. But you still need a good year of experience."

"When does the project start for Alvarez?"

"Late fall, possibly. There are other projects in Tenrou, and Galuna Island."

More travel... I'll also need someone to take care of my pets again. Unless I prolong Lucy's stay. I need to talk to her.

"So what about the Magnolia renovations?"

"You're interested?"

"Of course! Magnolia has so much potential for growth. I'd love to be involved!"

"It's ways off, we can talk about it later."

It's not a no. I'll take it!

By noon I still haven't heard from Lucy. I either need a drink or punch someone out, preferably talk to Lucy.

I actually have decent reason to contact her that will get a response: Happy's feeding schedule.

Now that I'm home we have to communicate about these kinds of things. We don't want to over feed him.

I send her a message that's complicated enough that she would need me to decipher it to understand what I'm talking about.

It works! Her response, several question marks. It makes me laugh.

I close my office door, turn the lock and hit video call.

"Hey." Her voice low

"Did I wake you?" I'm looking at the ceiling of her bedroom.

"Yeah but it's fine. What's up? Your text was worse than your handwriting! It made no sense." I snicker

"Sorry, I realized being back. Happy's feeding schedule might be a little off. I thought it would be better to talk about it."

"I never thought about that, I've just been feeding him like usual. Do you want to do instead?"

"Why don't we keep it the way it is until we have a chance to sit down and talk?"

"Okay, I can do that."

I hear a drawer open, and patter of feet then a rustling sound.

"What're you doing?" I'm still looking at the ceiling.

"Getting dressed."

"Did you answer the phone naked?"

There's motion and I'm suddenly looking at Lucy's arched brow.

"Are you really asking me that?"

"What? It's a legitimate question." I say fighting a grin spreading across my face.

"You know you didn't have to video call me, you could've just called like normal people."

"It's a habit and I like seeing you." She flushes.

"Yes, because I look great half asleep."

"Speaking of being half asleep, do you want to talk about what happened?"

"What do you mean what happened?" Her gaze shifts

"Are we pretending it didn't happen?"

"Pretending what didn't happen?" She's not making any eye contact.

"You. In my bed."

Her brow furrows.

"You mean while you were away? I already told you I fell asleep there a couple times. You should have said something if it was a big deal."

"I'm talking about you in my bed, with me in it."

She blinks a couple times giving nothing away. A sly smile spreads across her face. She drags a finger down the side of her neck and her voice drops to a sultry whisper.

"Have you been dreaming about me Natsu." I follow the movement hoping she'll go lower.

My eyes snap up to her face. The answer to that question is yes. For the past several weeks I've been dreaming about her nonstop.

"You were in my bed." I state

"Was I now?" She laughs

There's no way I dreamed that. It was far to real. A knock at the door prevents me from asking more questions and verifying whether or not I'm losing my mind over this.

Checking the time I see I have another meeting in five minutes.

"Shit I have to go."

"Do I feed Happy?"

"I did it this morning. He just needs playtime."

"I love playtime!"

Her grin is purely sexually evil right before the screen goes blank.

It looks like the video flirting is still on. I have to do some rearranging before I get out of my chair.

I grab my laptop and notepad keeping them at waist level. It's been a long time since I've had to shield an issue in my pants.

The next day I decide to work from home. I get up early unable of sleeping in. The only sign I know Lucy is here are her shoes by the door.

I pull up research files drinking some coffee. This past week has been mentally exhausting. But I'm beginning to get used to my job, it was a big adjustment.

It's noon when I hear movement in the kitchen. It's followed by muttering and the sound of the fridge opening. I stay where I am eavesdropping.

I debate whether I should let her know I'm here. But that's when I hear a big yawn and a patter of feet moving across the floor.

"Morning Sally!" She says followed by "Morning Hotness!"

I think she's talking to me, except when I turn in my chair I see she's standing in front of the oversized picture on my wall of me scoring a goal for last year's championship game. The photo was taken about ten minutes before I blew out my knee.

Lucy's staring at the image. She takes a sip from her glass.

"Why aren't you shirtless?"

"Well, if I was shirtless no one would know what number I am." I answer

Lucy startles with a gasp and her glass slips from her fingers. It hits the floor and shatters at her feet, orange juice and shards forming a moat around her.

I push out my chair.

"Shit, sorry. Don't move."

Her face the color of my rugby jersey in the the picture. She nods and stays where she is.

"Let's get you out of the danger zone." I wrap my hands around her waist and lift her up. She grabs my shoulders and leans into me and her chest pressing against mine.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

I set her down not wanting to let her go.

"I didn't realize you were there." Her hands slide down my chest and she pushes back.

"Let me clean this up."

"No, I'll get it. You don't have shoes on."

"Can you grab my flip flops please?"

I pass them to her and we tackle the mess together.

"I'm so sorry about this, I thought I was alone." She mumbles embarrassed.

"I figured that out, when you started talking to my poster like it was going to answer." I chuckle

"Thanks for letting it go." She gives me a look.

"Would you feel better if I took my shirt off?" I wink

"Ugh I'm going back to bed."

She turns to leave but I grab her wrist stopping her. I don't know what's happened since I've come back but we're finally making progress from that awkwardness between us.

"Wait! Don't go, I'll stop. Come eat something with me."

"I have to get ready for rehearsal."

"What time? I'll drive you, Just come sit with me. You have to eat something, right?we can have lunch!"

Shit. I sound really fucking desperate right now. Well, I am fucking desperate.

"Come on Lucy, I haven't seen you since I got back. It's like you're avoiding me."

Her eyes drop

"Are you?"

She fidgets nervously. This isn't the Lucy I know.

"We've both been working."

"Is it because of what happened the other night? You ending up in my bed?"

"I was half- asleep!"

"So you admit it!"

Thank fucking Christ. I thought I was losing my damn mind.

"Are you serious right now?" She glares at me annoyed, at least she's not nervous anymore.

"What? You had me questioning whether or not I was imagining things! But I knew it was way too real to be a dream!" I'm grinning like I won the gold ticket.

"You're going to get on me about this too, It was an accident!" She huffs

"Well you're more than welcome to have more accidents like that any time you want." I wink

Lucy's mouth drops open. I want to close the space between us. Slip my thumb into her mouth and feel her lips close around it. I want to know if she'll suck or bite.

"Well if you were smart enough to lock your door, it wouldn't have happened!" She fires back.

"Like you've been locking yours?" I raise a brow.

"Why are you trying to get into my room!?"

"Because you were avoiding me."

"I have not!" She stomps her left foot.

"Have too." I retort

Planting her hands on her hips. "Is this a kindergarten fight? Are going to stick your tongue out next? Pull my ponytail? Huh?"

I let out a boisterous laughter! I can see her try to contain hers from coming out, but failing. Gosh I missed her smile.

"I missed you this week." I take her hand and tug her toward the kitchen.

"Come and hang out with me before you leave."

Her fingers wrap around mine and squeeze for a second.

"Okay!" She beams.

The following week Friday, Lucy's going to be out until who knows what time. I decided it's been a long time since I've had any friends over to watch a game. And I'm not sure how long it's going to to last with all this bickering. Rogue and a business buddy of his, Dan, I've never met before and now wished I hadn't. My cousin Gajeel and my brother Zeref follow me down the hall to my condo.

I hear the sound of bass. It vibrates through my feet and my hand as I turn the knob. Maybe Lucy left the TV or stereo on?

Neither assumption is correct. I see it as soon as I open the door.

The sight I'm greeted with is immediately stored in my "Jerk it" vault.

In the middle of my living room are five women wearing heels, with their asses facing the floor.

I can pick Lucy's out immediately. She's on the far right, closest to me. And she's wearing my favorite fucking shorts!

"Is this a surprise bachelor party? Did you buy strippers?" Rogue looks far too excited about this.

"No! And they're not strippers!" I snap

Except the way these women are moving, is making me question that.

They do some kind of dirty, thrusty spin until they're facing the door. They're all so caught up in the routine and following the steps of the middle one shouting directions. That they fail to notice us right away.

But my focus is solely on Lucy and the way her leg does this pinwheeling thing, followed by a kick in which she catches her ankle, while it's beside her ear.

That level of flexibility will be fantastic in bed. Well, the day I get her back into mine. Although my dick would prefer that to be right now.

"Hey, I know the one on the end." Dan points at Lucy.

As she releases her leg she notices me, and the rest of the guys standing in the doorway.

Her perfect, pointy mouth forms the words oh shit. She stumbles a little, eyes going wide. She runs across the room and stops the music.

"What're you doing? We're in the mid—" The woman in the center yells.

Lucy cuts her off, eyes on me.

"I thought you were out tonight."

"I thought you said you were out." My voice gravely low

"You said you were watching the game with the guys."

"I am, you said you had rehearsal."

"I do, we are. I'm sorry. When you said you were watching the game with the guys, I thought you meant at a bar, not here."

Lucy's cheeks are flushed, her bangs are damp and sticking to her forehead. There's a sheen of sweat to her skin. It's very similar to how I imagine she might look when I'm making her come, hard and repeatedly.

She's also wearing so little that's it's easy to imagine it vividly. She paired her tiny shorts with a sports bra. Her abs look incredible.

"Lucy?" Dan's voice drags our eyes off each other?

"Dan?" She pales

"You two know each other?" I ask, actually, it's more of a growl.

Her gaze flickers back to me and then away again.

"Wow, it's been a while." Dan's eyes slide over her body in a way that seems entirely too familiar.

"How do you two know each other?" I ask again, definitely full-on growl.

"We went out a couple years ago." He replies, still staring at Lucy with a look on his face, the kind that makes me wonder if he knows what she looks like naked.

The uncomfortable way she looks, makes me think that might actually be the unfortunate truth.

"We went out once, that hardly counts." She rolls her eyes.

"We should go out again." Dan suggests

Lucy's lip curls with disgust.

"Uh, no thanks. I remember how the last date ended, and I assure you I'm definitely not interested in a repeat of those three lackluster minutes."

"You tell em, Lucy!" One of the girls says. The others start giggling.

I, on the other hand, want to rip Dan's head off and put it on the roof of my building.

"I see your winning personality hasn't changed." Dan shoots back

"I see your hair hated you enough to start migrating down your body." Ruby fires back.

I have to admit it's a good comeback. It even has Gajeel laughing. That's my girl.

Dan runs a self-conscious hand through his hair.

"Slutty and Bitchy. Now I remember why I didn't call again."

Lucy launches herself at Dan. I catch her around the waist and she kicks out at him barely missing his nuts. I wish she hit the mark.

I point a finger right in Dan's face.

"Watch your fucking mouth if you want your teeth to stay where they are."

"Oh sh-shit. Is she your girlfriend?" He pales

Lucy puts her hand on my chest and pushes trying to get free.

"Put me down Tarzan!"

"I'm sorry I called her .. those things." He looks ill. Possibly because it's not an empty threat. And thanks to my rugby career, my rugged appearance comes in handy.

I set Lucy down and she gets right up in his face, propping one fist in her hip.

"I'm right here asshole, so if you're going to apologize to anyone it better be me."

He looks at then her. "Sorry.." he whispers and looks away.

Her shorts are all wonky again, one side of her ass cheek on display. I reach out and slide my finger under the fabric, putting it back into place.

She jumps and bats my hand away.

"What're you doing?"

"I gotcha covered, babe." I wink

She glares at me, it's a sexy look on her.

"Maybe we should head to a bar?" Zeref suggests, his expression reflecting his discomfort with the current situation.

"It's fine, we have to go soon anyway."

"You ladies don't have to rush out of here. We're more than happy to share the space." Gajeel adds

I fight an eye roll, they all give him a look as they pull shirts or sweaters over their tight clothing.

"Sorry, just let me grab my things." Lucy says

The tallest of the girls with scarlet hair walks over. Her gaze falls on me.

"You must be Natsu."

"I am."

"I'm Ezra, sorry for the confusion. I just wanted to say thanks for letting us use your space. You guys should come see us later."

She looks at Dan "Except him." She pulls out a card handing it to me.

"We all go on at ten, and Lucy has her solo at eleven. You'll love her solo."

"Thanks." I nod, pocketing the card without looking at it.

I don't know if I want these guys watching Lucy move like that. Especially not this douche Dan, whose apparently already had the pleasure of getting to know Lucy. That Fucker.

Lucy appears a few seconds later wearing an oversized sweatshirt hanging off one shoulder, almost covering her shorts completely. Her heels replaced with flats.

"I'm sorry for the mix up, again." She says to me.

She then turns to Dan.

"I feel like I need to be clear with you. The fact that you didn't call me, did not matter. And if you had called me for another "hookup" there's no way in hell I would've considered it. And that's beside your highly inadequate performance. She shakes her head and brushes past him. All the girls follow giving him a look that could kill, on their way out.

As soon as the door closes Gajeel let's out a guffaw.

"Now I know why you let her move in here in here, she's hot."

"I didn't let her move in here because she's hot. I needed someone to take care of Happy and Sally."

Rogue snorts.

"I call bullshit cousin, I'd let her play with my salamander." He points to his crotch

"Keep your fucking salamander away from her unless you want to lose it." I get in his face

He gives me one of his know-it-all grins.

"Well this explains everything."

"What're you talking about?"

"Edolas, you fool! Turning down women. All the phone calls you couldn't miss. You guys are together right?"

Dan mumbles something I don't hear.

I turn and point in his face.

"You seriously need to shut the fuck up unless you want me the break your face in."

He backs off with his hands in the air.

"Come on Natsu, did you see what she can do with her leg? We're gonna go see their show tonight, right?"

I slide the card out of my back pocket. Zeref looks over my shoulder "I thought you said Lucy was in theater."

"She is."

"But that's —"

I elbow him in the ribs. The card isn't advertising dinner theater. It's a burlesque show.. Fairy Tail.

"Do you want us to go to my place to watch the game and you can go .." Zeref asks

"Yeah, thanks. I'd appreciate that."

There's not a chance in hell anyone is going to see Lucy's show but me.

End of Chapter 25

The jig is up!