Chapter 28

"Do You Adore Him"

Disclaimer: I do not own the Airbender series. I am but a fan…

Zuko and Katara have finally kissed and explored just a bit of passion.

I.

Zuko didn't know what was happening between him and Katara, but it sure was happening and now. This was hotter than being with Mai-no surprise there.

But this small woman, with the blue eyes and swaying hips…which she ground against him, urging him on to a that great explosion which could happen any moment if she-did not-stop…

"Katara." He put a little distance between them. Her face was flushed and lips kiss swollen.

"Huh?" Her leg slithered up his thigh, an intoxicating feeling rushed to his nether parts and he growled. He saw her eyes widen once her leg touched him there.

She had to leave now. This was getting dangerous, but her lips…

He sucked on them once more, hearing her mew and call his name as he kissed her roughly then tenderly and snaked his tongue around. She was not a cold water bender.

Nope. No way.

This was a hot blooded woman ready for big things.

He put his hands between them and laid them on either side of her head, against the rock.

"We can't do this," he said. Then mentally whipping himself for such tasteless words.

"I know," she said deep. She traced her hand down the side of his scarred face. He winced. Not from pain, because that area no longer hurt, but from shame. She never let her hand drop, just left it there.

"Do you think I'm ugly?"

Katara looked stunned and snatched her hand away. I knew she would do that. I am that hideous! My father…!

"You. Are. The. Most. Beautiful specimen on the planet- did you know that?" Her eyes narrowed at him, like a teacher trying to see if he truly understood that stars predict seasons and that 1+1 Really is 2.

"You think that?" He wanted to kiss her again. "What about Aang?"

Katara slid away from him, about a few centimeters; walked further out from beneath the cove. She wrapped arms about her.

"He is a wonderful, beautiful…boy."She sighed. There was so much to this Waterbender. He wanted to know her depths, her secrets, what pleases her.

"Tell me, Katara. Do you adore him?"

She whipped around to him, determination in her face, eyes wet. "Of course I adore him, Zuko! I can't help but admire him and adore him. I think I loved him since he broke from the ice eons ago." She cupped a hand to her mouth. Realizing too late what she had said.

She loved Aang?

"He is but a boy," she said.

But Zuko had stalked off already. His back to the shadows, breaking even the darkness Katara seemed to create everywhere she walked.

II

Katara let her hair down, slid down easily into the hot tub. A few maidens carefully soaped her hair and others went to work on her feet. There were silk partitions everywhere, billowing in the night air. She and Suki relaxed in some bubbles, sipped on colorful, fruity drinks.

"That Zuko looked mighty handsome tonight, Miss." Suki teased while getting her short hair rinsed. Katara think maybe she cut it more. Sokka loved short hair now it seems.

"Yep." Katara said noncommittally.

"You mean, you hadn't noticed he was built? My goodness, Mai better marry him quick."

Katara sucked her teeth, a muscle in her jaw worked overtime while Suki talked a bit more about Mai and then she smoothly went into safe terrain: Her soon to be married life.

"I want all the best food served there and we will have the best gowns, Katara. Oh!" She was about to burst. Katara smiled. Her mind kept swinging back and forth between Suki's nonstop chatter and Zuko's warm hands and hard body.

Bad places to think.

"Hello? Katara?" Suki snapped her fingers in front of Katara's face.

"Whoa, did I zone out on you?"

Suki rolled her eyes, then they stopped on Katara's lips. "Did you like, plump your lips or bite them really hard?"

"What?" Katara tucked her lips in. "I bit them earlier. No big deal." It was hard to talk with tucked lips.

"Oh." Then, "I know the look of passion when I see it, Katara. Aang must be a great kisser." Suki then had a hot rag placed upon her face while Katara felt like crying a river.

A/N: Trying to weave this one right. I love for you all to R/R. Thanks!