Here's the next chapter! Enjoy!
Many thanks to PurseMonger for her amazing help!
*NOTE* This is where the rating kicks in.
AtLA is not mine...sadly.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Heated Chase
Two days later found the young Fire Lord and the waterbender walking carefully along a narrow path, their left hands tightly grasping the rough rock wall to their side in order to keep them from falling over the precipice to their right. Katara took another glance, to the plunging deeps below, before she quickly directed her eyes forward when her stomach made a queasy flip. It wasn't that she was afraid of heights. She had ridden on Appa's back while he flew in the sky high above the earth, after all. It was just the knowledge that if her footing faltered there would be nothing to save her from plummeting to the many thick trees and sharp rocks below.
The young Water Tribeswoman glanced at Zuko's tensed back as he walked before her and a soft smile spread across her face as she remembered what had happened a few minutes ago. They had been walking along the edge for a while and she had taken the time to admire the beautiful scenery to their right when her right foot stepped upon a crumbling piece of the path, sending her almost careening over the side. Before she could even let out a scream, Zuko had whirled around, grabbed her arm, and pulled her back. She had been about to thank him when he had crushed her to his tall frame and began to berate her for not being more careful and then demanded that she paid more attention. At first, she had been indignant at his words, but then she understood that he had just been frightened when he began to press kisses on her lips and face while muttering his thanks to Agni that he was able to get to her before she had fallen to her death. Katara had reassured him that she was going to be more careful and then they had resumed their walk, albeit a bit more slowly.
Katara's eyes became soft and loving as she continued to stare at Zuko's strong back as he continued picking his way on the narrow path. She did not like Zuko to worry so much, but she had to admit that it made her feel all warm and happy when he became so concerned for her safety and care. She wondered what she could do to show him how much she appreciated everything he did for her and to show him how much she loved him.
The memory of the heated kiss they had shared a few nights ago flitted across her mind as she recalled the way his tongue had caressed her mouth so thoroughly while his hand boldly explored her body. A shiver went through her as she remembered the feeling of his hand on her breast and a small blush appeared on her cheeks when she felt her body responding to the memory. A now familiar heat flared in her lower belly, her breasts tingled and warmed, and moisture gathered between her thighs. Such new feelings unnerved her and she didn't know how to react to them properly.
Katara noticed Zuko turn to her and she resisted the urge to cross her arms over her breasts self-consciously as she returned his concerned look with a small smile.
Zuko glanced over his shoulder for the twentieth time since Katara had almost plummeted to the trees below and he let out a relieved breath when his eyes landed on her soft face. He caught her reassuring smile before he turned his head forward again. His heart had felt like it jumped to his throat when he had heard the ground crumble behind him and heard Katara's shocked gasp. He had instinctively turned around to catch her. He could not describe the fear that had resurfaced within him at the thought that he could have lost her again. She meant so much to him. He loved her so much. And he would be damned before he allowed anything to take her away from him. He hoped that they could return to the Fire Nation soon where he would be more reassured that she would be safe.
The cry of a bird drew Zuko's attention away from his thoughts and his eyes followed the eagle-hawk's flight as it spread its long wings wide and soared across the orange-reddish sky. It reminded Zuko that night would settle soon and it would not be good for them to be stuck where they were in the darkness. Hopefully, the narrow path would end soon so they could find a place to rest.
In the last few days, they had been able to cover more ground since Katara had regained her strength and had insisted that she was feeling better and could walk longer distances. They would head out as soon as the first rays of the sun touched the sky, rest for an hour or two at noon, and continue late into the night until they found a place to sleep and rest. They were running out of dried meat, but fortunately, the forest had an abundance of fruits and nuts that would be able to sustain them for a while. Zuko was sure that they were many miles ahead of Jianguo and his men, allowing him to breathe a bit easier at the knowledge that they would not be caught and Katara would be safe until they found help or his uncle somehow found them.
Zuko hoped that Iroh was all right and nothing had happened to him and his crew during the storm, but he was confident his wise uncle had managed to evade any disaster. Zuko again found himself worrying about what his mother was going through. He frowned at the thought that she might think she had lost her son so soon after being reunited and after so many years of separation, but he vowed that once he returned home he would find a way to make it up to her.
It was a couple of hours later when the narrow path began to make a deep slope and they breathed a sigh of relief when they again found themselves on even ground. The trees were smaller in this area and there were less of them clustered together, allowing both weary travelers to see the sky above their heads. A few birds darted from tree branch to tree branch and did not seem to notice the two humans that walked below as they continued to chirp and squawk, nor did they noticed the calculating gleam the tall male sent their way.
Zuko looked away from the birds—or better said, the prospect of meat—and instead turned his attention to Katara who was now walking beside him. Though she did not complain much, Zuko saw that their continuous walk and the lack of food was taking a toll on her and he knew that he needed to find a way to gather more food before they starved. He had never in his life hunted an animal for food before, he was, after all, born a prince and had people who did that for him. Not even when he had run across the Earth Kingdom with his uncle when they were fugitives years before. And when he had joined the gang it had always been Sokka who hunted for meat and Zuko had just helped him carry it back to the group for Katara to clean and cook it. He had never set up a trap for an animal or hunted it down so he was not sure how he was going to go about it.
But then again, he was a skilled tracker, one of the reasons why he had always been able to come upon Aang and the group when he was hunting them, so maybe it would not be that hard to track one animal down so he could present it to Katara. There was this strange, almost primitive, urge inside him that demanded he provide for his woman, by feeding her and making sure she was taken care of, and it confounded him.
Shaking such thoughts and feelings away for the moment, Zuko reached out a hand to brush it tenderly along the small of Katara's back. He felt her shiver against him and he smiled when she turned to look at him with bright blue eyes. Ever since they had kissed so passionately two nights ago, he found it hard to keep his hands away from her lovely body, and curb his desire to make love to her.
"We should start looking for a place to rest," he told her in his usual cool tone.
Katara smiled and nodded at him. "Yeah, and then we could…"
Zuko raised an eyebrow when she paused mid-sentence before a large smile appeared on her lips and her eyes brightened.
"What is it?" he asked curiously.
"I can feel a large body of water calling to me," Katara spoke up. "It's probably a river or a lake."
Katara closed her eyes for a moment as she savored the pull of her element after being blocked from her bending those two weeks they were held as hostages. She concentrated on the pull for a moment, letting it wash over her, before her eyes snapped opened to her right.
"I can feel it coming from that way," Katara told him excitedly as she pointed through the trees. "Come on!"
Without waiting for Zuko to reply, Katara grabbed his hand and pulled him after her as she began to race toward the call of water. Zuko allowed the waterbender to drag him after her and he watched as her brown tresses flew behind her as they went around trees and through bushes at a fast run.
It was a few minutes later when the sound of rushing water reached their ears before they burst from the trees and skidded along the edge of a narrow river. Katara squealed happily, as she dropped her bag to the ground before she let go of Zuko's hand and raced toward the water, eagerly stepping into it with boots and all. She enjoyed the feeling of the cool liquid against her legs and a deep sigh left her lips.
Zuko watched as Katara wound a thin water whip around her form and happily twirled in the river, the water reaching to her knees. A fond smile spread across his face at the obvious joy he saw on her beautiful features. Zuko waited for a moment as his beloved was once again reacquainted with her element before he dropped his own bag to the ground, laying the small sword on top of it before he finally stepped forward so he could stand right on the edge of the river.
"It seems like your wish to take a bath just came true," Zuko spoke up with amusement lacing his voice.
Katara turned to smile at him as she bent the water whip into a small ball that hovered above her hands before her eyes narrowed at the gleam that reached Zuko's golden eyes. She dropped the ball of water until it rained back down into the river and she crossed her arms below her breasts as she narrowed her eyes at him.
"I'm not going to bathe in front of you," she told him firmly.
Zuko just smirked at her as he crossed his own arms over his broad chest.
"It's not like it will be the first time I saw you in a swimming suit or your underclothes, you know," he replied in a casual tone.
Katara gaped at him for a moment as a blush spread on her cheeks.
"W-what?!" she shrieked.
"You used to practice your waterbending in them in our travels during the war," Zuko reminded her, smirk still in place on his lips. "You used to prance around in them."
"I did not prance around!" Katara gasped in indignation before she pointed an accusing finger at him. "You're the one with the perverted mind!"
Zuko felt his face flush at her words since he could not deny that he had enjoyed the sight of her, he had been, after all, a teenage boy. He couldn't help himself noticing and enjoying the view, he wasn't blind, for Agni's sake!
"You're the one who came into my room when I finished bathing and gaped at me while I only had a towel wrapped around my waist," Zuko said instead.
Katara blushed before she raised an eyebrow at him.
"Oh, yeah? Well, you're the one who walked in on me while I bathed at the lake a few months ago!" Katara countered.
"How could I forget that…?" Zuko breathed out wistfully.
Katara sputtered at him for a second before she shook her fist at him. "Why you…"
"It's not like I come across a beautiful woman in her bath every day," Zuko interrupted her with a smile.
Katara lowered her hand and she looked down at her feet submerged in the water as she blushed deeply at his words before she looked back up to his face with a suspicious look in her eyes.
"You told me before that you hadn't been spying on me," Katara began in an even tone. "Did you lie?"
"No," Zuko answered truthfully. "I was telling you the truth when I said I didn't know you were there. But…when you surfaced above the water with your hair and skin gleaming with droplets under the moonlight…I just couldn't look away," he admitted softly. "I knew I should have left you alone as soon as I realized you were there, but it was like my body refused to obey me."
The gold in his eyes darkened slightly as he let his eyes roam her body in a slow caress that caused Katara's skin to heat up.
"I would be lying if I said that I had not wished that you would have stepped out of the water so I could have seen all of you," he told her, his voice turning deep.
He paused briefly when Katara's eyes widened and her blush deepened. He loved it that he was able to bring the rich hue to her cheeks so easily.
"So perhaps you were right when you called me a pervert and attacked me," he continued, "but it hurt me when you accused me of having dishonorable intentions towards you."
Katara glanced away from his eyes before she again lifted her head to smile at him.
"I know you aren't a dishonorable man, Zuko. It's just that you startled me and I lashed out like any indignant woman would at having her privacy invaded," Katara told him sincerely before she looked away from him shyly. "Besides, I can't be mad at you for having such thoughts because…I…I also wondered what you would have looked like without…the t-towel wrapped around your waist."
Zuko chuckled at her blush and bashful admittance before he leaned forward a bit, his eyes gleaming under the setting sun.
"Very soon you will get your wish, Katara," he promised in a whisper. "And I will also have my fondest wish to see you naked before me realized."
He chuckled deeply at her shocked expression and he turned around before she could say a word.
"You should hurry up and bathe before the sun goes down," he prompted her.
Katara closed her gaping mouth and huffed at him. Her lips lifted in a smirk, and with a flick of her hand, a small wave of water rose from the river and drenched the unsuspecting firebender's back. Zuko jumped and hissed as the cold water met him and he whirled around with an angry glare.
"What was that for?" he demanded indignantly.
Katara laughed at him as the water clung to his hair and clothes, and it was a while before she calmed down enough to answer him.
"You need a bath too, after having such dirty thoughts," she wheezed out before she broke out into giggles.
Zuko glowered at her through his wet bangs and he swiped his dark hair away from his eyes since it had grown longer during the past few weeks. He opened his mouth to shout at her to stop her laughter, but instead he closed it and his scowling lips were replaced by a devious smirk.
Ah, if only you knew of the many 'dirty' things I have dreamed about doing to you and the many 'dirty' things we have done in my dreams, Katara, he mused in his mind.
"You know what? You're absolutely right," he finally spoke up.
Katara stopped giggling to raise a questioning eyebrow at him.
"I am?" she asked suspiciously.
"Yes, I do need a bath," the young lord said in a nonchalant tone.
He bent down to remove his black boots before tossing them to the side. He then raised his head to keep eye contact with Katara as he casually began to remove his red tunic, making sure to keep his face as smooth as a stone, though his eyes were burning with an intense fire. His tunic was tossed to the side and it landed right beside his dirty boots. Without a hint of emotion on his face, Zuko stepped into the water and made his way toward the frozen waterbender.
"What are you doing?!" Katara shrieked as she took a step back.
Zuko stopped and cocked his head to side, giving her an innocent look, which did not fool her at all.
"Why, I am going to take a bath just like you said I should," he replied with a small shrug.
Katara opened her mouth to scream at him to leave, but she found that she could not get any words out when her eyes landed on his muscular torso and stomach. Her brain seemed to have shut down when Zuko reached down to cup some water from the fresh river before letting it run down his smooth, alabaster skin in slow trickles. Her cheeks burned and her breathing picked up a little more than normal as her eyes followed the path the water drops made down his upper body, down gleaming pale skin and hard muscles, until they disappeared on the hem of his dark pants. Realizing that she was staring, Katara snapped her eyes away to look back at Zuko and she scowled when she saw that he had a smug smirk on his face.
Oh, yeah? Two can play at this game, Katara thought with an inward smirk as she wadded her way toward the edge of the river and stepped onto the grassy ground.
When Zuko looked up to frown at her, Katara gave him a wide and innocent smile before she turned away from him. Once she knew she had his attention, Katara reached for the sash around her waist and pulled one of the ends until it slowly unraveled away from her. She dropped the black material to the floor at her feet.
Zuko froze in his movements as he stared at Katara with wide eyes as she slowly began to undress before him.
What is she doing? he groaned in his head. She's not really going to…Is she really going to…?
He could not continue that thought as the idea of Katara willingly standing before him nude as the day she was born made his head a bit foggy. He had actually expected her to have run away or frozen him to a tree the moment he took off his tunic.
His heart almost jumped from his chest when she bent down in front of him to unlace her boots and his eyes swept appreciatively over her firm backside until she straightened once she had rolled the bottom hem of her dark pants above her knees. Zuko felt himself beginning to pant as her smooth and tanned legs were revealed and he swallowed when he imagined those wonderful appendages wrapped around his waist. His eyes darkened slightly when more of Katara's skin was revealed to him as she finally reached for her blue tunic and he groaned inwardly when she dropped it to the floor beside her boots. He cursed under his breath at the white wrappings on her chest that were hiding what he had been dying to see for so long. He just knew Katara would not actually undress fully; it was still too early for that.
Once she had removed everything except her under wrappings and her pants to cover her most private areas, Katara slowly stepped back into the water without even looking at the silent firebender already in it. Katara turned away from him so she could hide her blushing face. She could not believe she was doing this! What in the world had seized control of her to make her be so bold? She felt embarrassed and self-conscience, but she wanted to tease Zuko as he had been doing to her recently. So she swallowed down her embarrassment and the urge to run back to shore to put her clothes back on while she water-whipped Zuko across his face for staring and teasing her in the first place. Commanding her arms to stop trembling, Katara bent a ribbon of water above her head and allowed it to sprinkle down on her. A soft sigh escaped her at the feeling of the clean water caressing her skin like refreshing drops of rain.
Zuko's eyes became slightly hooded and he licked his lips as he watched Katara bathe before him. His eyes followed her graceful movements as she bent the clean water around her tempting form, leaving a wet trail on her lovely, caramel skin while her long hair clung to her back. Zuko felt his cock straining against the confinement of his trousers as he saw Katara's white wrappings become almost transparent as the water touched them, and he knew that if he continued watching her he would not be able to stop himself from taking her. It had been a bad idea teasing her, he should have known she was going to find a way to get back at him. Zuko turned away from the delicious sight and hastily finished bathing before he pounced on her.
Once his skin and hair were free of the dirt and grime that had accumulated on him, Zuko cleared his throat lightly and averted his eyes when the waterbending woman turned to him.
"I'm going to start a fire. You should hurry before the sun sets completely," he began before he turned narrowed eyes at the distant dark trees. "I don't want anyone to come upon you and see you…in such a state," he growled out before he flicked his eyes toward her. "I don't want anyone to see what only I am supposed to see."
"Uh…o-okay," Katara stuttered, her heart racing at the possessiveness in his voice.
Zuko nodded at her before he stepped onto the shore. He raised his body temperature, and steamed rose from his body until his hair, skin and pants were completely dry. Once he was completely dressed, he turned to smile briefly at Katara before he turned away to get the small camp ready.
Once he had placed the blankets on the ground and had a nice fire blazing, Zuko sat down to watch over Katara and make sure no one came around as she continued to waterbend in the small river. He looked briefly at the darkening sky before he returned his attention to his future bride; the thought brought a smile to his face.
He noticed that Katara was no longer bathing but was now playing with the water. He watched as she would send balls or ribbons of water into the air before freezing them until they plopped down back into the river where they dissolved, and he knew she was trying to get reacquainted with her graceful element after having their bending abilities suppressed for so long.
Zuko glanced at the burning fire before him and he propped his chin over his interlaced fingers as a deep frown appeared on his shadowed face. It brought up a new question about how easy it was for someone's chi to be blocked. He had hated the horrible feeling of not being able to feel his inner fire, and if he had not regained it so soon, Zuko was positive he would probably have gone mad. He wondered absently if that was how his father had felt when Aang had stripped him of his firebending. Is that why Ozai was the way he was now?
'This is not over, Ursa…I will reclaim you and the throne one way or the other. Mark my words.' Ozai's words rebounded in his head.
Zuko narrowed his eyes and he began to wonder how Ozai could be so confident in his threat. Did his sire perhaps have a way to the outside world? Was he perhaps giving out orders? But how could that be? The disgraced Fire Lord was well guarded and Zuko had given his guards strict orders not to let anyone visit Ozai, orders that if not met were punishable by death.
He was brought out of his thoughts when he heard a splash and he looked up from staring at the red flames to see Katara waterbending waves from the bluish river until they reached great heights. Then she swirled them over her head in a small water tornado before letting them splash back into the running river, shiny droplets sprinkling her smooth skin and her chocolate tresses. Zuko watched as she lifted her lean arms before her and bent thin droplets of water into the air, and with a deep exhale, froze them into sharp icicles that she then, with a flick of her wrist, sent in fast succession toward some trees where they were embedded deeply into the thick bark.
A smile replaced his previous pensive frown and Zuko straightened in his spot so he could see his love better. He felt so proud and smug that it was he who was going to have the privilege of having such a strong woman as his wife. He marveled at how powerful yet graceful and beautiful she was, and she was all his.
His and no one else's.
Zuko's golden eyes widened slightly. He was a bit surprised at how possessive he felt over Katara, but he could not deny he would—as Sokka would say—'beat the crap' of any man that tried to take her away from him or so much as snuck a glance her way. She was all his and he would not share.
The amber in his eyes darkened as he once again took notice of Katara's scantily clad form, though her back was still turned toward him. His eyes traced every dip and curve of her feminine body from her long legs, to her flared hips, to her narrow waist. His breathing became a bit labored, the hand that rested on his thigh twitched, as he watched droplets sliding down her smooth skin. He found himself envying them since he wanted it to be his tongue that took such a delightful voyage. Zuko wanted so much to spring to his feet, snatch the enticing woman in his arms, lay her on the grass and have his way with her in order to quench the fire that raged in his loins. After all, he had gone more than a year in abstinence; more than a year not knowing the touch of a woman. But the desire for intimacy had never been so strong until Katara once again came back into his life and he had realized he was deeply in love with her.
Katara absentmindedly turned a bit in his direction and Zuko's breath hitched roughly in his throat as he took noticed of her generous breasts. They were bounded tightly with the white wrapping—perhaps so she could fight better and would not be distracted—but he could just make out their peaks straining against the fabric, the sight making the blood rush to his loins. A low groan escaped him when he brought his hand down on the big bulge visible on the front of his pants, trying to find some relief from his torment. He was about to rise to his feet so he could go to her, but he was able to stop himself before he did something that disgraced them both. He had promised that he was not going to do anything to her that she was not ready for and dammit he was going to keep that promise even if it killed him!
Zuko bit his lip as his hand gave a last squeeze to his covered erection before he moved it away to lay it on the cool grass beside him. He took a couple of deep breaths in order to cool down his ardor and mentally willed the evidence of his arousal to disappear.
Katara had a large smile on her face as she finally relaxed in her waterbending stance as the last rays of the sun touched her skin. She made her way back to shore where she quickly bent the water off her. She glanced briefly in the direction where Zuko was sitting and she blushed when she realized he was staring at her, and so intensely, over the glow of the fire. Katara quickly put on her clothes and boots before she made her way toward Zuko and the small campfire he had created.
Zuko lifted his head to look at the darkening sky as he realized Katara was walking towards him and he felt a moment of panic since he had been unable to completely cool his heated blood. He conjured up a memory from when he had accidently stumbled upon his uncle submerged in a hot spring during their time in the Earth Kingdom and a shudder of disgust went through him. That image was enough to wilt his arousal and he breathed a mental sigh of relief. He smiled when Katara plopped down next to him with a large smile on her face and thanked him when he gave her the last of their dried meat.
"Even though we have no soap, I feel much better," Katara told him with a soft sigh as she ran her fingers through her hair. Now, if only she had a brush and another set of clothes.
Zuko smiled at the happiness that surrounded her and he wondered if she would be just as happy or more so when he told her about his future plans for them. He cleared his throat softly and when she looked up from eating, he reached a hand to brush it tenderly against her cheek. Tenderness was not something he was used to feeling or displaying, but with Katara, he could not stop himself from showing such affectionate emotions and actions.
"There's something important that we need to discuss," he said coolly.
Katara brought down the piece of dried meat from her mouth as she frowned at him.
"Discuss? About what?" Katara asked quietly.
"About us," he responded softly as his fingers touched her lips.
Katara stiffened slightly at his words.
"Us?" she whispered.
Zuko nodded as he moved his fingers away from her lips to trace them down her cheek and then down her neck.
"Ever since we confessed what we feel for each other we have not discussed anything about our new relationship and what it will lead to," he explained slowly as if choosing his words carefully.
Katara fidgeted under his touch, not only because it made her skin feel like it was on fire, but because of the direction their conversation might lead to was making her uneasy.
"I…I have been thinking about talking to you about that," she spoke up softly.
Zuko paused in his light caresses and frowned at her obvious discomfort. A small ache formed in his chest as fear gripped him at the thought that maybe he was the only one who was ready for their relationship to take such a serious step as marriage.
"Alright," he began hesitantly. "What do you want to tell me?"
Katara looked down at her lap where her hands were fiddling together in worry. She needed to get her insecurities out in the open and Zuko had to hear what she had to say. She took a deep breath before she looked up to stare him in the eye.
"Zuko, I love you," Katara began seriously. "I love you more than anything in the world, but I will not allow myself to be treated as anything less than what I am."
Zuko leaned back in bewilderment and brought his hand down from her cheek to rest it on his knee as he wondered at her words. A light frown marked his brow, betraying his confusion.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
Katara looked away from his hypnotizing, golden eyes for a second before she returned her gaze with a determined resolve.
"I won't become…your mistress or concubine and live with you while you take a wealthy Fire Nation noblewoman as your wife and Fire Lady," she told him firmly.
Zuko's mouth fell open as he gaped at her in disbelief. Did she just say what he thought she just said? He felt his temper flare.
"Where the hell did you get such a ridiculous thought from, Katara?!" he exclaimed angrily.
"Ridiculous?!" Katara shouted resentfully.
"Yes, ridiculous!" Zuko shouted back as he practically loomed over her. "I do not want you as my concubine! I want you as my wife!"
Katara gasped and she reeled back in shock as she stared at Zuko for a few speechless seconds until she finally was able to stutter out, "W-wife?"
"Yes, wife," Zuko repeated, this time more gently as he drew her to his side before he leaned down to place a soft kiss to her lips.
Katara did not immediately respond to the kiss as her mind was still whirling with different kinds of emotions raging from shock, confusion, to delight, but a second later she relaxed against him and returned his kiss with soft presses of her lips. Zuko pulled away a short moment later to frown at her as he once again continued to caress the side of her face.
"Do you really think I would disrespect you in such a way as to take you as a concubine?" he asked, slightly offended.
Katara blushed in mortification and looked away from his hurt expression. She felt guilty that she had again accused Zuko of something he would never do, even after she told herself that she would do anything to make him happy.
"I'm sorry," she said softly. "I didn't really believe you'd do such a thing, I know you would never really hurt me, but I really had no idea that you wanted me as your wife."
Another frown crossed Zuko's features at her words. He placed a finger under her chin and lifted her face so he could see her blue eyes. He saw the swirl of emotions in their depths and he wondered at them.
"Why wouldn't you think that?" he asked.
Katara removed herself from his grasp and stood up. She frowned at him for a moment before she began to frantically pace the ground before him with an agitated sigh.
"How could you want me as a wife?" she exclaimed. "I'm just the daughter of a chief from a country that just finished rebuilding! I am a waterbender, the exact opposite of a firebender! I am not a noblewoman, I'm not wealthy, nor was I brought up to know the proper etiquette of court life! And above all, I am not a demure and submissive woman!"
Zuko swiftly rose to his feet, and within two long strides, he was upon her before she could step back. Her eyes widened in surprise when Zuko grabbed hold of her arm and tugged, causing her to bump into his chest. She opened her mouth to yell at him, but he silenced her with a firm kiss that stole the air from her lungs. Katara immediately surrendered to his embrace and caressing mouth, and she wrapped her arms around his neck to bring him closer to her, but she groaned in disappointment when he pulled back. They stared into each other's eyes for a moment as each tried to figure out the other's thoughts. Zuko leaned down and brushed his lips against hers as he stared deeply into her bright, sapphire orbs.
"Those are some of the many reasons why I love you and why I want you as my wife," Zuko told her truthfully.
"W-what?" Katara stuttered. Her heart was beating fast as she basked in the soft touch of Zuko's lips and his warm breath that coasted along her skin.
"The fact that you are not like one of those noblewomen is why I want you," he began. "I admire your ability to defend yourself and your determination and kind heart to help those in need even if perhaps they do not deserve it. I love your defiance and your fiery spirit," Zuko continued huskily as he groaned against her plump lips as his breathing increased. "You are a great waterbender, a great fighter, and I love the fact that despite this, you still radiate a feminine aura that makes me want to protect and cherish you."
The young Fire Lord pulled away from her soft and wonderful mouth only to slide his lips against her cheek, across her nose to the other side of her face, and then down her neck. He heard Katara's breath hitch as he flicked the tip of his tongue out to taste the skin there and he groaned deep in his throat at the clean and fresh flavor of her. He could feel his own breathing quicken, so he retreated when he knew he still had control of himself. He still found it hard to believe that this slip of a woman could affect him so much that it caused him to falter in the tight control he had on his emotions.
Katara's eyes had closed in bliss at his words and touch, but she fluttered them open when Zuko leaned back. As she focused her vision, she found herself staring at warm amber eyes gazing at her from such a handsome face, and she felt her heart swell at the thought that this man loved her, truly loved her as much as she did him. She wanted to tell him just that, but she stopped herself so she could listen to him when he continued to speak.
"I'm glad you aren't the same as most of the haughty and snobbish noblewoman from my Royal Court because then I would be bored out of my mind." He grinned at her.
"I can barely tolerate Court life and my courtiers, so why would I want be tied to one for the rest of my life? Besides, if I really wanted to tie myself to one of those silly noblewomen I would have done so by now. And if I was really looking for one of the women from my Court as wife I would not have hesitated to…marry Mai."
Katara felt a flare of jealousy at the thought that Zuko could have married the regal and silent noblewoman, since she could not deny that Mai would have been one of the best candidates for Fire Lady. Katara remembered the hurt behind the determination in Mai's eyes as the young noblewoman vowed to take Zuko back and, aside from the jealousy, Katara felt a bit bad for her.
"Even though the fact that you broke up with Mai makes me happy because it gave me the chance to be with you," Katara began with a small frown, "I kind of feel bad for her."
"Why?" Zuko asked with a confused expression as he raised an eyebrow at her.
"Because she loves you and she lost you," Katara spoke up quietly.
"I did not mean for her to get hurt," Zuko said. "But just like you did not want to continue lying and hurting Aang, I didn't want to do the same to Mai."
Katara frowned for a moment before she nodded at his logic. Zuko caressed her cheek as he smiled down at her.
"You're the one who made me realize that I did not love Mai and was not happy," he told her. "And because of you, I had the courage to end that relationship that was going nowhere. Nothing good would have come out of it in the end.
"But with you it's different," he continued softly. "Because of you I was able to see that life did not have to be full of strife and gloom, but that I could find fun and happiness in it too. You love me for who I am and for what I have become. You have shown me how to truly love and it is you that I want in my life."
Katara smiled at him tenderly for his words brought a comfort to her heart. It was rare to hear Zuko talk so much and also hear him speak about his feelings with such sweet and fervent words. She brought her hand up to rest it over his hand that was caressing her cheek.
"And you are the man that has shown me what true love is," she told him sincerely. "It was because of you that I realized that what I felt for Aang was not the love I sought in a partner, in a lover, in a husband. You are the only one who has shown me enough respect about my fighting skills despite the fact that I'm a woman."
She paused and a small blush coated her cheeks as she flicked her eyes briefly away from his.
"You are the only man who has shown me the pleasures one can find in simple intimacy."
Zuko smirked smugly at her confession, but his humor passed and his expression once again became serious and tender as he ran his fingers down her face. He wanted to reassure her of his feelings for her, wanted her to know how much she meant to him. He wanted her to know that she was the only woman he ever wanted and had ever loved.
"And you are such a wonderful and beautiful woman, Katara," Zuko breathed out softly as his fingers left her skin in order to twirl them around a thick lock of her chocolate hair that had fallen across her breast.
Katara blushed deeply at his compliment and she felt as if at any moment her heart was about to explode at the happiness and relief she was feeling. She could not take her eyes away from his intense, golden ones, as he played with her hair while his voice turned softer, almost contemplative, as if he were speaking more to himself than to her.
"You are so beautiful, so gorgeous," she heard him say, "that I still find it hard to believe you could love someone like me…a scarred man."
Katara's serene face turned into a frown at his last words. Why would he say such a thing about himself? Couldn't he see he was such an attractive and striking man despite the scar? Didn't he see all the adoring and hungry looks women drew at him when he walked past them? Didn't he see how flustered she would get just by looking at him? She hated it when he talked about himself in such a way.
Zuko tensed slightly when he saw Katara reach for the left side of his face. He did not mean to, it was just a reflex after his father had burnt him all those years ago, but he immediately relaxed against her touch when her fingers rested over his injured eye. The skin had been damaged so much that he lost some sense of feeling, but not that much that he could not feel her fingers running along the creases of his scar in a soothing caress.
"What is there that I wouldn't love about you, Zuko?" Katara asked gently. "You are so strong, and smart, and such a remarkable leader to your people. Your firebending skills are so great that you're the only one who can pose a challenge to me. And then you are so attentive and caring toward me," she sighed softly.
"You say that I am beautiful," she continued, "and I say that you are handsome. To me, your scar does not detract from your splendor, but enhances it. Just like I told you before on that night in your garden, your scar is a symbol of how brave you are and the justice you hold in your heart, Zuko." She paused as she let her eyes roam over his features in a caress, much like her fingers were to his rough skin, before she breathed out, "There's just no way I could describe how stunning you are to me."
Katara leaned up on her toes so she could reach his face and she touched her lips against the skin of his right cheek just as he had done to her a few moments before. She watched as Zuko stared intently into her eyes before she brushed her lips along his strong jaw. She felt him swallow, and with a tiny inward smile, she again looked up at his eyes while her hand continued to run soothingly along the scarred skin of his face. She wound her arms around his neck and he immediately wrapped his arms around her.
"I have come to love this scar as much as I have come to love the man," Katara whispered to him fervently.
Zuko drew in a ragged breath at her words since it caused him so much joy, but he was unable to stop the loud gasp that escaped him when Katara pressed a soft kiss to his scarred cheek. He felt an overwhelming stir of emotions inside him at the gesture that it almost brought him to his knees. Besides Katara, no one had ever touched his scar much less kissed it in such a loving manner, and for a moment he felt lightheaded. Ever since the age of thirteen, the mark on his face had haunted him until he learned to partially accept it as the war came to a close, and when Katara had touched it that night in his private garden the hurt had lessened further. And now he felt like the lingering piece of emotional wound had suddenly been lifted from his shoulders at Katara's acceptance and tender gesture, and he knew that never again would he see his scar as a horrible mistake he had brought upon himself.
For a long moment, he reveled in something he could not remember any other woman offering to him before at any time of his life. Understanding, support, safety, comfort—given unfalteringly and without reserve. He felt like the immense love he held for Katara grew more than he thought was even possible.
When Katara pressed another soft kiss to his scarred eye and pulled back, Zuko smiled so affectionately at her that it completely stunned her. She had never seen such a look on his face, ever. The firebender wound his arms around her waist more tightly and drew her to his chest while he buried his face in the crook of her neck, breathing in the sweet scent of her skin, before he placed his lips close to her ear.
"Thank you, Katara," he whispered sincerely in her ear and he knew that he did not need to elaborate in order for her to understand. "This is why I know you are the perfect woman for me. This is why I want you as my wife."
Katara smiled radiantly at him when he pulled away before her smile turned small and sad.
"Your Royal Court will never accept me," Katara told him sadly. "Some like me, others tolerate my presence, but most don't bother to mask the aversion they hold for me."
Zuko narrowed his eyes and he clenched his jaw as his hold on her tightened possessively.
"I dare anyone to take you away from me and defy my wishes," he growled out, causing Katara's heart to skip a beat at his declaration. "I have done everything in my power for my country, even sacrificing myself, but now is the time to do something that, for once, will finally bring me happiness. And I know I will find such happiness with you at my side."
"Oh, Zuko," Katara sighed softly.
She beamed at him, causing her beautiful features to become even more enthralling that it caused Zuko's breath to hitch in his throat. He looked away from her to examine their surroundings for a brief moment before he returned his gaze to her shinning eyes.
"I know that the setting isn't romantic or anything," he began hesitantly. "And I don't have a flowery speech or a betrothal necklace with me, but…" He swallowed nervously. "It would really make me happy if you agreed to marry me, Katara."
Katara let out a joyful cry as she lunged herself at him so fast that it almost toppled them over had Zuko not reacted quickly enough and caught her. She could not believe it! Zuko had asked her to marry him! True, the proposal was not what she had visualized it was going to be like, but she wasn't about to complain. All that mattered was that she was going to be Zuko's wife and he her husband, and if the spirits allowed it, they would live happily together for the rest of their lives. The happiness she felt was almost too overwhelming to bear.
Zuko was taken aback at Katara's reaction as he caught her before they tumbled to the forest floor, but the feeling of having her in his arms was gratifying. The kiss that she bestowed on him before he could say anything created a hazy and pleasant feeling in his head, having the same effect as several cups of red wine. Zuko's amber eyes had widened in shock since it had always been him to initiate their kisses so far, but he was pleased to have Katara kiss him—and oh, so passionately.
His strong arms tightened around her narrow waist as he savored fully of her warmth and ardor. He was ecstatic that she had accepted! Mere words could not describe what he was feeling at the moment. He had experience so many emotions so quickly and in such a short time he was surprised he had not blacked out yet. Zuko could feel her soft breasts pressed tightly against his hard chest as his hand slid down her back and he groaned softly.
They finally pulled their lips apart and panted hard against each other's mouths. A small smirk appeared on Zuko's face as he stared down at her flushed features.
"I'll take that as a yes," he said smugly.
Katara grinned at him as she rubbed her hand on his chest.
"Actually, I was aiming for a definite maybe," she teased.
She laughed softly when Zuko scowled at her before she gave him a small kiss and then a large smile.
"Of course it's a yes, silly," the waterbender laughed.
Another smirk curled Zuko's lips before he crushed her small body to his hard frame.
"Good, otherwise I would have employed everything in my power to have made you accept," he growled out.
Katara was about to asked him to elaborate, but Zuko had again claimed her lips in a fiery kiss that sent a current of electricity to her stomach and left her speechless. When he finally pulled away, Katara was sure her face was a deep red color since she had a feeling she knew what he had meant. But then she smirked.
"I'm curious to know what you would have done," she said innocently.
"I think it would be best that you don't know what I had in mind," Zuko spoke up quickly.
Katara blushed again and opened her mouth to insist, but Zuko just shook his head at her.
"It's getting late. We should sleep so we could set out at dawn," the firebender interrupted.
Katara wanted to pout, but she shook the idea away, and with a sigh, nodded that she understood.
After another hot kiss, Zuko pulled away to fix their bedding as images passed through his head. A part of him wished that Katara had hesitated in accepting him, that way he could have done many varied and very interesting things to her to have changed her mind. With a mental shake of his head, Zuko glanced at Katara and he gulped when she flashed him a smile. He wondered if he would be able to end this new journey without going insane with his desire for the waterbender.
The couple continued to make their way through the forest a few days later. Their food supply had run out and they were living on fruits and a few wild vegetables they had come across, but after so many days without a proper meal, it was not enough. They had a run-in with an angry armadillo-lion, whom they later found out was just trying to protect its litter, but other than that, nothing eventful had happened.
The sun was bright and hot as its rays beat down upon their heads, but a cool breeze would occasionally pass by to give them comfort. They found shelter beneath the large shadows the trees provided with their large branches cradling many green leaves. A few insects would buzz by while birds took flight into the sky with gleeful chirps. Katara watched the peaceful nature that surrounded them and inhaled deeply in order to breathe in the flowery scent of spring. She could not help but compare the flourishing season to the blossoming relationship between Zuko and her.
Katara's eyes again wandered to Zuko's face as he strode calmly beside her and she was unable to stop the giddy grin that appeared on her face. She still could not believe Zuko had asked her to marry him after she told herself that maybe he never would. But now here she was, betrothed to Zuko, the Fire Lord no less! Who would have thought?
Suppressing a giggle, the young woman again looked forward to where they were walking. She felt much like a little girl since all she wanted to do was skip in happiness and sing with merriment, but she controlled herself lest Zuko began to think something was wrong with her and decided he had made a mistake in proposing to her. Katara chuckled mentally at that before she sobered up as another thought came to her mind.
Would it really be so easy for Zuko's Royal Court to accept a Water Tribe woman as their new Fire Lady? Was she even ready for such a task as becoming a wife to a powerful lord? What would her family think? Would they accept her marriage to Zuko, a firebender and Fire Lord to the country that had brought so much hardship to their people?
And what about Aang? The news would surely devastate him since Aang considered Zuko his friend and Aang was in love with her. How would he take the news that she had agreed to become Zuko's wife while she had rejected Aang's proposal not that long ago? Guilt again formed in her stomach so strongly that it made her cringe.
Katara glanced at Zuko's face again and the cool and tranquil expression on his features brought a sense of calm to her emotions. She shouldn't worry so much for all that mattered was that Zuko loved her enough to ask her to marry him and she loved him enough to wish to be by his side for her entire life. Lovingly, Katara reached for Zuko's hand, lacing their fingers together, and she smiled when Zuko turned to look at her with warm eyes.
Zuko smiled when Katara squeezed his hand and he squeezed her smaller hand back before she grinned and returned her gaze to their path as they walked in comfortable silence. Zuko continued to watch her and a sense of warmth settled in him at the happiness he could clearly see on his betrothed's face. Zuko looked away to stare at the peaceful scenery before them and a smile appeared on his lips.
His betrothed. He liked the sound of that, but not as much as he would love to finally call Katara his wife.
He was beyond pleased that Katara had accepted to marry him, to be his forever. He could not explain the sudden fear he had experience at the thought that she would reject him, but that negative emotion was swiftly replaced with immense relief and joy when she had accepted him, and in a very intense way. He could not wait to return to the Fire Nation and announce the news to everyone. He was positive that his mother and his uncle would be ecstatic with the news since he knew that they had been trying to push him to admit his feelings for the lovely waterbender.
The young lord again glanced at the young woman's face when she began to hum a soft tune. He knew the way he had proposed was not that great, or romantic, or even memorable, and although Katara had not said anything, he just knew that deep down she would have wanted it to be something special, so he promised himself to make it up to her some way or another, because she deserved it and so much more.
Zuko almost chuckled at his thoughts. He was not the most romantic guy out there, but for Katara, he would try. He was brought out of his thoughts when Katara tugged at his hand.
"Let's take a break over at those rocks, yeah?" Katara asked as she moved her shoulders to shift the bag she was carrying into a more comfortable position.
Zuko spotted the rocks she was pointing at and the shade that the trees provided over the large rocks did look inviting.
"Alright," he agreed with a nod.
They quickly made their way toward the cool stones, and once they reached them, the two benders plopped themselves down with relieved sighs. Katara unceremoniously dropped her pack to the ground and arched her back to get rid of the crick on her lower back while she watched Zuko lower his bag more carefully before he began to rotate his left shoulder. The rusty sword he had found at Jianguo's camp was still strapped to his back and it brought memories to Katara's mind of Zuko standing regally before her with his dual broadswords drawn. The image brought a small smile to her lips since she could not deny how striking Zuko looked in such a way. Shaking her head, Katara brought the water canteen to her lips to take a long drink before she offered it to Zuko.
"Thanks," Zuko murmured as he took the canteen to sedate his thirst.
"We've been walking for days now," Katara began with a tired sigh, "and we haven't come across one village! And what are we going to do once we find one?"
Zuko took another deep drink of the water before he let out a sigh.
"I had first planned for us to find a village and have someone send a message to the Fire Nation or to Uncle," he began with a pensive frown, "But now I'm not sure that's a good idea."
"Why not?" Katara asked.
"Not only could there be a possibility that Jianguo could find out where we are, but there's also the problem that there are still some people who mistrust the Fire Nation. And I'm sure they will not be hospitable if they find the Fire Lord among them," Zuko responded with a morose sigh.
Katara laid a comforting hand on his arm and leaned her head on his shoulder. Zuko wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close to him.
"You'll see that in a couple of years they will change their view of you, Zuko," Katara reassure him.
"Perhaps," Zuko replied quietly.
"So what are we going to do now?" she asked.
"I was thinking that it would be best if we made our way to Omashu," he told her. "King Bumi will provide us some protection until we can contact the Fire Nation."
"You're right," Katara acknowledge with a nod. "All we need to do is find a village and ask how we can get to Omashu. Of course, we'll need to find some way to disguise ourselves so they won't recognize us."
Zuko smiled and kissed her temple before he lowered his head so he could whisper in her ear.
"I can't wait for us to return home so I can finally announce to everyone that you are mine," he growled out in a low tone.
Katara smiled as she raised her head so she could look at him, but whatever she was about to say was drowned out when Zuko swooped down to kiss her. A small moan escaped her when Zuko easily parted her lips with his tongue and wasted no time to plunge it into her hot mouth. Katara wrapped her arms around his neck to bring him closer to her while she brought out her own tongue to battle with his.
Zuko growled his approval at her fervent response while he pressed her closer to him that she was practically sitting on his lap. When the need for air became too great, they pulled apart, but Zuko did not move away from her and instead began to place hot kisses down her throat while his hand roamed down her back. He paused when his lips touched the silky material of the necklace that was always present around her neck and he pulled away to stare at it.
Breathing heavily, Katara opened her eyes to see why Zuko had stopped. She saw that he was staring with a frown at her neck and she wondered what he was thinking about.
"What is it?" she asked breathlessly.
Zuko raised his hand and gently touched the cool blue pendant before he raised his eyes to stare at the sapphire orbs of the woman in his arms.
"It shames me to remember that I used your mother's necklace against you when I tied you to that tree in exchange for information of Aang's whereabouts," he confessed quietly.
Katara pressed her finger against his furrowed brow to smooth it as she gave him a gentle smile.
"That was a long time ago, Zuko," Katara told him softly. "And back then you didn't know it was my mother's and that it meant so much to me."
Zuko kissed her gratefully for her understanding and he gently stroked the smooth stone with his thumb. He mentally vowed that he would give her a necklace of her own, one to show her how much she meant to him, but that also showed that she belonged only to him.
Katara sighed blissfully when he pulled away, but she quirked an eyebrow when the corner of his lips lifted in a small smirk.
"I did enjoy the sight of you tied up against that tree and in my mercy, though," he told her huskily. "And I hope that maybe one day you'll let me do it again, but of course this time you will only gain your freedom by giving me something much more…pleasant."
Katara stared at him with wide eyes while a blush began to creep to her cheeks since she found the thought to be so scandalous yet arousing at the same time. Her heart began to beat a bit faster in her chest as she tried to come up with something to say.
She looked over Zuko's shoulder and a shocked expression settled across her face. She gasped loudly, causing him to tense.
"Zuko!" she cried out as she pointed somewhere behind him.
Zuko swiftly jumped to his feet to stand protectively in front of her with sword drawn and a snarl on his face as he waited for Jianguo's attack, but instead, a confused frown appeared on his brow as he was met with nothing but trees. His bewilderment increased when Katara's giggles reached his ears and he turned around just in time to see her running away while she threw a grin at him over her shoulder.
"I can't believe you actually fell for that!" Katara laughed as she raced away.
"Katara!" Zuko growled out as he picked up his bag, as well as hers, and chased after her. "Just wait until I catch you!" he threatened after her as he increased his pace. He growled angrily when Katara's laughter became louder.
"If you catch me, then I'll let you kiss me," Katara promised as she dodged a cluster of thorny bushes. "If not, then you'll become my servant for a day!"
As if I'll become the servant of anyone, me, Fire Lord Zuko, he thought with a huff before a large smirk appeared on his face. Though, I wouldn't mind servicing Katara. But for now, I will catch her and the kiss I will give her will teach her to mess around with me!
Birds flew from their nests with protesting squawks while small animals scurried away as the two racing humans streaked past them. They ran for a while, and though Zuko knew he could have easily caught up to her since he had longer legs and was swifter, he allowed Katara to get away from him in order to build up the anticipation and the fun. However, she did not make it so easy either, for she would nimbly twist away from his grasp whenever he got too close. Katara's delighted laughter surrounded them and Zuko again found himself enjoying something that he normally wouldn't, such as when he played with her at the beach or had a snow fight with her and the children back in the Southern Water Tribe. He knew it was only because of Katara. He was grateful that she had brought such a change to his once miserable and lonely life.
The sun was descending closer to the horizon as they continued in the chase and Zuko began to get anxious, the playfulness was running its course. He wanted to catch her already, wanted to devour her as a hungry hunter would its delicious prey—only in a different sense. Such thoughts made his blood pump faster, and with a growl, Zuko increased his speed.
Katara ducked under a tree branch and panted as she continued running. She knew Zuko had been letting her get ahead of him, but now she could feel that something had change and that Zuko was getting more serious. She could feel him upon her heels and could almost feel his warm breath on the skin of her neck. Her heart started to pound faster at the thought of being caught like prey when it knew it had no chance to escape from its relentless persecutor. She just knew Zuko would make good in his threat and she almost stopped just so she could know what he would do to her.
Zuko cried out triumphantly when he reached out to grab Katara around her waist, but he growled out in frustration when she gracefully swerved out of the way and dived through a narrow gap between two trees whose lower trunks seemed to be infused together. Zuko slid to a stop and braced his hands against the trees before he crashed into them since he was too large to be able to pass through as Katara did. With an impressed smirk, Zuko went around the intertwined trees and picked up his speed. Besides powerful and beautiful, he had chosen a clever woman as his future bride.
Katara was starting to tire out. She had detained Zuko for a moment, but she knew that any second he would be upon her. Her legs were burning, her sides ached, and she knew she could not hold on any longer, but she refused to be caught and be bested. She spotted a cluster of thick bushes to her left and without wasting any time, she dove into them. The bushes were thick enough to hide her in their shadows and she waited for Zuko as she tried to catch her breath.
Zuko increased his speed as a worried frown began to appear on his face since he could not find Katara ahead of him. Did she perhaps change course to a different direction? He began to worry that he might have lost her and an ache formed in his chest at the thought.
He was about to turned back around when out of the corner of his eye he spotted Katara diving into some bushes, and he inwardly sighed in relief before a large smirk appeared on his face. He stopped running and watched from a distance as the bushes engulf her form and he knew that he would have passed those bushes without knowing she was there. He silently went around the area until he was standing in the opposite direction from where Katara would be watching out for him. Zuko carefully placed the bags and the sword on the ground. Bringing forth all his stealth skills as the Blue Spirit, Zuko climbed a tree, and without a sound, sat on a thick branch that was directly above the bushes where his beloved was hiding in. He waited anxiously for Katara to appear, like a predator waiting for its prey to think it was safe and come out from its hiding place.
Then he would pounce and claim his prize.
Katara resisted the urge to fidget as worry began to gnaw at her stomach when time passed by and Zuko did not race past the shrubs. What if he went another way? Fear began to creep in her heart at the thought that they could become separated and she began to wonder if it had been so smart to start this game of chase in the first place. She just wanted to make Zuko forget his problems for a little while, but now she had lost him.
I have to find him! she exclaimed in her head as she began to struggle her way out of the thick bushes.
A large smirk curled Zuko's lips and his golden eyes gleamed brightly as he watched the bushes rustle before Katara slowly emerge from her hiding place. He remained silent as she dusted her clothes off before she looked around with a frown on her face. His muscles tensed in anticipation when Katara moved away from the shrubs and passed right beneath the branch he was sitting on.
Katara froze when something dropped behind her and she whirled around, her hand reaching for the water canteen at her hip. She gasped when she was pushed against the tree and her back met the rough bark of the thick trunk as strong hands grabbed hold of her wrists.
"I caught you," Zuko's deep masculine voice growled low in her ear.
A shiver raced down her spine at the heated look Zuko was directing at her. Her eyed widened when Zuko pressed closer to her so that her breasts where crushed to his chest and he raised her hands beside her head. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest and she became a bit dazed as his strong sandalwood scent invaded her senses.
"I won and now I demand my prize," Zuko demanded huskily at her.
Before Katara could say anything, Zuko's firm lips had crashed down onto hers. She melted against him as Zuko devoured her mouth, capturing her lips with such passion that it took her breath away. This kiss was different—more wild than tender—from any they had shared so far. Never had she known such passion, such fire in a kiss. It was feral and deliciously unchaste and it stripped her of the innocence of virginal fantasies while it introduced her to sensual pleasure. Katara could feel her heart pounding a fast tempo against her ribcage and she gasped when her body began to warm up quickly and her breasts began to tingle again. Her nipples began to ache and she unconsciously rubbed them against Zuko's hard chest in order to ease the ache, but instead the sensation caused a spark to flare right to her core. The feeling caused the wetness to increase in her nether regions as a searing heat began to grow in the depths of her body, arousing longings that were completely unfamiliar to her.
Zuko groaned when Katara's tongue wrapped around his while she rubbed her soft breasts against him. He could hear his blood pounding hard in his head, the same blood that had quickly rushed to his groin. His erection was straining painfully against its confinement as he continued to devour Katara's sweet mouth. He wanted more. He wanted to make her feel more. Bringing his right leg forward, he wedged his thigh between Katara's legs and began to roughly rub against her warmth.
Katara gasped and moaned in delight at the new sensation that sent a pulse right through her. Her rationality left her and was replaced by a desire so great that it left her aching. Without her knowing it, she began to move her hips against Zuko's hard thigh. She kissed him eagerly as she tried to get out of his grip so she could touch him while she continued to enjoy the incredible sensation she was experiencing in her untouched core. Her breasts began to beg to be touched and underneath her wrappings and beneath the firmness of his muscular chest her nipples hardened even more.
Zuko was panting hard and the fire in his veins increased at the soft moans and whimpers Katara made as he continued to press against her. He could feel her trying to wriggle her wrists from his grasp and he let go of her hands so he could grant her wish and so he could touch more of her. He tangled one hand in her hair as his golden eyes plunged to the depths of her cobalt orbs. He moved her head to the side so he could slant his mouth against hers, greedily taking what she had to offer, while his other hand moved up from her side to touch a breast, too far gone to stop himself and think about what he was doing. When Katara groaned at his touch, he cupped her covered breast more firmly and began to knead it, causing her to let out a moan into his hot mouth.
He wanted more. He was painfully aroused, he felt like his shaft was about to burst from his trousers, he needed to press it against something to relieve some of his torture. He wrapped his hands around Katara's thighs, and lifting her up slightly and wrapping her legs around him, he pressed his painfully erect cock against her warmth, eliciting a loud gasp from her. Zuko groaned at the pleasurable sensation as he continued to kiss her hungrily. He had never felt so much pleasure at such a simple act and he desperately began to grind himself against her.
Katara could not explain the incredible sensations and the immense heat that were going through her at the feeling of Zuko's hardness grinding against her untouched core as he moved his hips. She could feel herself getting so wet and her stomach began to coil in a tight spring. Katara pried herself from his hot lips and arched her back with a loud moan, shoving her head against the rough bark of the tree behind her and grabbing tightly to Zuko's muscular arms at the massive pleasure she was experiencing. She began to frantically move her hips to press herself closer to the hardness between Zuko's strong thighs as she sought something she still did not understand.
She felt Zuko latch onto the skin below her ear and she hissed in pleasure as he began to kiss his way down her neck. She felt Zuko's lips brush against her mother's necklace and she froze as she came crashing back to reality. She remembered her Gran-Gran's words of caution and she did not know what to do. She did not want to go against her culture's laws and bring shame to her family, but she also did not want Zuko to stop—oh, gods, she didn't want him to stop! The pleasure was too great, and she would not be able to bear the thought of Zuko looking at her in irritation and frustration if she told him to let her go, just like Aang always did. No, the thought of Zuko looking at her in such a way was worse. Tears of indecision escaped from the corner of her eyes as Zuko continued to grind himself against her.
Zuko was lost in his pleasure of being so close to Katara in such a way that he increased his pace. He could feel himself reaching his point of completion and he wanted so much for Katara to join him. He moved his lips away from where there were sucking on her delectable neck and he raised his head so he could see the pleasure written on her beautiful face, but instead he found her eyes screwed shut and her face contorted as if in pain while a few tears slid down her flushed cheeks. His movements immediately stopped and he froze in horror as he realized what he was doing. He had lost complete control over his lust and he had almost…
"Oh, gods, what have I done?" he whispered in abject horror.
His inflamed desire swiftly cooled in his shame and guilt. He eased away from her and gently placed her back on her feet. He cupped her face and he urgently wiped her wet cheeks with his thumbs.
"Katara, Katara, I'm sorry!" he apologized profusely, "I'm so sorry! I lost control, I didn't mean to break my promise, please forgive me! I'm so sorry, Katara! Please say you'll forgive me."
Katara quickly opened her eyes at the anxiety she could hear in his voice and was shocked to see the heavy remorse, anguish, and fear on his face, almost as if he was expecting her to hate him. Katara shook her head as she opened her mouth to speak, but her heart was still beating fast and her body was still trembling at the sensations Zuko had evoked in her. Her heart almost broke at the pain that rippled across Zuko's face as he mistook her response to mean that she would not forgive him. She quickly reached for his face when he made to move away from her and she placed a reassuring kiss on his lips.
"There's nothing to forgive, Zuko," Katara assured him gently. "I'm not mad at you. I know you were caught up in the moment and I was too. If I really didn't want your advances I would have fought you and frozen you to the ground." She paused as she hesitantly tried to give voice to her reasons while she brought one hand to clutch at her necklace. "It's just that I can't…we can't…"
Zuko finally understood what she was trying to say, and with some relief, he gathered her in his arms and gently shushed her.
"You don't need to explain. I understand," he told her softly.
Katara buried her face in his chest as she tried to calm herself down while she found comfort in his arms. Shyly, she leaned away from him a bit until he looked down at her.
"You're… not angry with me…because I couldn't…go further?" she asked tentatively.
"Of course not!" Zuko exclaimed with a deep frown. "I know that is what has been taught to you in the Southern Water Tribe and I respect that. I don't want you to think that you have to do anything to please me when you aren't ready for such intimacy."
Katara wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and he immediately brought her closer to his chest.
"Thank you for understanding, Zuko," she whispered to him gratefully.
Zuko pulled his head back slightly so they could see each other's eyes. His expression was serious and his amber orbs shone with a heated golden fire.
"But you must understand that it will be difficult for me to keep my distance from you. I have wanted you for such a long time, Katara," he told her, his voice becoming deep and husky as he brushed his lips lightly against hers. "It's going to be hard not to touch you when all I want to do is to take you, to make love to you, to make you mine."
A deep blush blossomed across Katara's cheeks and her heart fluttered in her chest at his fervent words. She averted her eyes from his molten orbs, but Zuko gently grabbed hold of her chin and turned her head so she could look at him again.
"But I will try to be patient until that day comes when you will freely give yourself to me," he promised.
The hesitancy in her blue depths dissipated and in its place was a firm resolve.
"And I will too," she promised as well.
Zuko gave her a small smile before he tucked her comfortingly against his chest while Katara wound her arms around his middle. They embraced each other in silence for a moment before Zuko removed his arms and pulled away from her.
"We should continue before night settles in," he said quietly as he turned away.
Katara nodded as she accepted the bag Zuko handed to her before she followed behind him in silence. A few tears pricked her eyes and threatened to fall down her cheeks as a feeling of anxiety and uncertainty gripped her heart. She could not help but feel like perhaps she had pushed Zuko away.
A soft gasp escaped her when Zuko turned to her and wrapped one arm around her waist, bringing her close to his side. She looked into his eyes for a moment and she let out a sigh of relief to see the same loving look in those amber eyes she treasured so much.
There had to be way to keep from pushing Zuko away from her that did not compromise her culture's teachings and the way she was raised, a way she could show him how much he meant to her.
But what?
A/N: Can you feel the sexual tension or what? Haha
Thank you for reading!
~alwaysZutarian