CHAPTER 8:
The week had passed slowly for Katara on the ship. She was worried almost sick about Gran-Gran and just wanted to get to her destination.
The ship was moving as fast as it could and she knew Zuko was making that happen and she was thankful. The rocky waters had made parts of the journey more difficult. Including the oncoming storm on the horizon that just happened to be in the path to the South Pole.
She had watched as Zuko made sure the helm was manned at all times and that his crew also had the opportunity to rest. The kindness that she saw never ceased to amaze her.
The small ship was swaying a little harder than it had the last few days as well. They had been at sea for six days now. And, Zuko had not missed an opportunity to chat with Katara or have tea with her whenever he could. In fact, he had sought her company more times than she could count.
"I know that you're worried about your grandmother. We will be there soon and I just know you will be able to help her." Zuko spoke as they both stared over the ship's railing.
"Yeah...I am." She sighed, "I just hope that storm doesn't slow us down too much."
"I don't think it will. I have the best men in the Fire Nation fleet on this ship. They will make sure we get there in time."
She smiled lightly as she continued to watch the dark clouds in the sky mix with the bright oranges and purples of the sunset.
"Are you hungry?" He asked without looking at her, "I can have my men get a table prepared for us?"
Katara sighed. She was hungry, but felt like she couldn't eat due to worry and anxiety.
"I don't know if I even can…" She spoke honestly.
"I understand that. I will have them get something small ready for when you are. You have to keep up your strength so you can help her." He smiled lightly.
Her heart fluttered a bit. His compassion for her gave her butterflies.
"Thank you." She whispered.
"Let me know when you're ready and I will join you, if you wish." He pushed off the railing and began to walk toward the entrance to the lower decks.
She turned and watched him as his feet clumped against the cold steel of the ship's deck.
He was regal. Beautiful as the setting sun cast a light on his crown that reflected brightly and shadowed his form that made her wish he was hers. He was majestic and powerful. She finally frowned as the Fire Lord made his way down the metal steps and as the last bit of him disappeared from her view.
The waves hit the strong ship as the time passed, rocking it back and forth. Enough to make even the most experienced seaman nauseous.
"Katara…" He leaned against the door frame staring at her.
His golden eyes illuminated by the candle lit room, making them sparkle with naughty intent. Zuko had knocked just moments earlier and let himself into her room.
"Zuko, what are you doing here?" She blushed as his eyes roamed her curves. Only clad in her sleep attire which consisted of a nightgown that barely touched the middle of her thighs.
"This storm is keeping me awake. I figured maybe you could use some company. May I come in?" His voice rasped.
She looked around the sparsely decorated steel room and her eyes landed instinctively on the bed in the center. Covered in blankets and furs. She couldn't stop thinking about what would happen if they ended up there. The thought deepening the already pink shade on her face.
"Y-yes, of course…" She stammered as she turned back to him and watched a smirk appear on his face.
Her eyes drifted to the large "V" section of his chest that was exposed due to his robe that was loosely tied around his waist.
'So fit…' She thought as he stepped toward her, causing her feet to freeze in their spot.
"Zuko," She whispered as he closed the gap between them.
Placing his large hand on her hip and pulled her flush. Their bodies closer than they had been in years. She felt her breath catch in her throat as he placed his other hand under her chin. Zuko gently lifted her face upward to meet his eyes.
"You're beautiful, Katara." He stated as he inched his face closer to hers.
His hot breath tickled her face as she watched him coming to her, wide eyed but reveling.
"Can I kiss you? I promise you I am not Aang. I will never hurt you the way that he did. And, I will not force you to do anything that you don't want to." He whispered huskily, causing her to nearly melt into his hold.
"Kiss me." She commanded in a whisper wrapping her arms around his neck and pulled him closer than she thought he could ever be to her again.
His strong lips came crashing down hard on hers. She saw stars. Her world exploded in that single moment.
The candles that were lit in the room roared higher than they had when he first entered.
'He is enjoying it too.'
She glanced to the silhouette cast on the wall by the new found fire he showed and smiled into the kiss. Granting entrance, she allowed him to deepen the kiss.
He groaned into her mouth as he took her up into his arms and carried her to the fur covered bed and pressed her into it softly and gently.
"Tell me to stop if you're uncomfortable." He stated as she looked deep into his eyes. All she saw was love and compassion.
"No. I am ready." She smiled and in one swift movement, untied the knot at the base of her stomach, to which he discarded the offending robe.
It was then that he swooped to her neck and began his smooth work. She felt his tongue trail from her ear to the seam of her night dress that was still covering her chest.
"You can take it off." She whispered tightly as her breath was once again caught.
"Not yet. I am taking my time." He moaned into her cleavage.
It was then that she felt the soft touch of his rough hands trailing up her thigh. She moaned as he went higher and higher.
She sucked in a sharp breath and felt him stiffen and pause.
"What's wrong?" She whispered in a husky and lust filled voice.
"Have you never been touched before?" He pulled back and eyed her, taking some of his weight off her as well.
"Not like this." She replied as her senses started coming back to her.
She felt his whole weight lift off her and was left with nothing but a ghost of him over her satin laden body.
"Wait. What are you doing?" She questioned.
He stood at the end of the bed as he re-tied his royal robe.
"We have plenty of time, Katara." Zuko spoke with kindness in his voice.
Katara stared at him in awe. He was putting her first. Just like he had the first time they had tested the waters of a relationship. Though he had grown up a lot since then. She sat quietly as he sat down once more to place a small kiss on her lips. What she assumed was a goodnight kiss. He began to stand to leave.
In a moment of betrayal of all that was right to her tribe's traditions and rituals that had been in place for generations, she grabbed his hand.
"Wait." She commanded the Fire Lord. Who obeyed her wish and stood. Staring down at her softly, "There has been enough time."
"Are you sure? This isn't something that can be taken back...And, I know that your tribe has traditions and rules about waiting for this." He plead with her.
"Zuko. I am ready." She reassured him and pulled him back down on her.
She felt his delicious weight press down on her once more as he pressed his lips on hers and caressed her hips.
"Oh!" She squealed as he moved to her inner thigh and met her panties.
He lifted his eyes to meet hers and silently asked for permission to which she eagerly gave and he pulled the garment down and used just the tip of his finger to stimulate her most sensitive spot.
She gasped and wrapped her legs around the Fire Lord's torso and arched her back, building the tension on her core.
"Zuko." She hazily moaned as he went back to work on her neck and clit. Flicking his tongue at that same pace as his fingers, preparing her for more.
"So beautiful…. Katara." He moaned into her neck as she gripped his messy hair and tugged, he suddenly plunged his finger into her.
The euphoria that encapsulated her was beautiful. Unlike anything she had ever felt in her life.
"Zuko!" She screamed in pleasure and sat straight up.
Sweat was beaded at her temples despite the dropping temperature in the ship that swayed forcibly back and forth in the raging storm.
'It was just a dream...' She thought as she rubbed the back of her head.
"Katara!" She heard outside of her door.
'It's him!'
She blushed as she stood and made her way to the door. Looking at herself quickly in the mirror as she passed by it. Long night shirt with a pair of loose pants. Nothing that would get her in a tizzy that night.
She opened the door and found him standing on the other side with a fire lit in his hand.
"Are you okay?" He exasperated.
"Yeah, I am fine, why?" She couldn't meet the Fire Lord's eye after what she had just dreamt of. She felt ashamed and her core was heated. She feared that meeting his eyes would be her undoing.
"I heard you yelling. I thought something was wrong!"
"N-no, I am alright! Really. It was just a dream." She stammered and blushed and stared directly at his bare feet as she spoke.
She could feel his eyes on the top of her head as she stayed in her spot and waited for him to leave. Katara couldn't handle him being so close to her.
"Okay, well, if you need anything or need to talk, you know where to find me." His voice sounded hesitant and suspicious of her.
"Goodnight, Zuko." She quickly shut the door in his face and ran back and flopped back into the bed.
"Stupid! Stupid Katara!" She rubbed her temples as she chided herself, "Now you've made it weird! Way to go!"
She made her way over to the wash basin that was in her room and splashed the cold water on her face. Gritting her teeth as the almost too cold water pulled the dirty thoughts from her mind and cooling the hot blush on her cheeks.
After she toweled her face dry, she made her way back to the fur covered bed and threw herself onto it, willing herself back to sleep with no more dreams of the Fire Lord.
Zuko made his way back to his room aboard the ship and closed the door with a little more force than he intended.
Why was she closing off to him all of the sudden? She obviously needed him if she was calling out his name. Why?
As he exhaled a sigh, he watched as the candles that burned in the room glowed just a little bit brighter. He was passionate, he knew that. But, why was it so much lately?
He knew why, he shook his head. It was her. It was always her. The fire in his gut always grew brighter and stronger when she was around. It always had. Even back in the days before they had become friends. He didn't know what it was then, but over time he learned. He learned that it was a passion for her. A passion that she brought out in him that only continued to grow.
He threw himself on the large bed in his quarters and laid flat on his back, staring at the ceiling as if he were trying to decipher a puzzle etched into it. He needed her. He knew that. But he also knew that the heart had been broken by him. He didn't know if there was even another chance with her.
He had tried to keep his distance. Well, the idea of distance. But the moment that she wrapped his arms around him when she arrived in the Fire Nation, he knew in his heart it was only a matter of time before his mind would wander.
And, he didn't want her to ever think that the only reason he came with her on the journey was to woo her affections from Aang to him. He knew better than that. And, he respected her more than that.
He felt his frustration start to flare up the more he thought about it.
'Have I ruined it?' He fumed to himself.
'No! She can't read your mind. And, she has been showing interest herself!'
He continued his thought war until he drifted off to a fitful sleep that was filled with nothing but his own struggles with himself over the beautiful blue-eyed water bending master.
HELLO MY READERS!
I am soooo sorry that it has been so long since I posted! I seriously feel terrible about it! Life has been...well, life! Working A LOT! Some good and some bad and whole lot of it just being 2020! I have actually had this chapter written for a while and just felt like it wasn't ready and I also wasn't in a good spot with some other things! Like it needed more and I do believe that it is finally ready and I am ready to continue this adventure!
Thank you all so very much for your patience and I do hope that you enjoy this chapter!
Also, my lovely best friend and long time BETA is doing some seriously amazing things and has to move on from her BETAing because she's literally learning like five languages, working full time, and going to college! I have seen some comments come through over time of people interested in BETAing for me and I am wondering if anyone is still interested?
Please message me and let me know!
Thank you all so much! You are all amazing!