The next time Zoë woke up, she was no longer in Levi's arms but on some soft, wide bed. She felt like shit. There was a taste in her mouth like a mixture of ash and dung. Her stomach burnt with acid, her limbs were heavy and shaking from weakness and her thoughts were jumbled and sluggish.

And she was goddamn thirsty, like she could empty an entire pond.

When she turned her head, she noticed a glass of water next to her on a small bedside table but even though the urge was great she would rather die of thirst than touch that. Being poisoned once was enough for the remainder of their sojourn here, if not for life.

The only thing of importance in this room seemed to be the bed. There was a large mirror above her on the ceiling, showing her the reflection of a pale-faced woman with messy hair in a bed with dark red linens. It looked like she was lying in a pool of her own blood.

Where was she?

There were voices nearby. Women, chattering away excitedly in the adjacent room, with lots of pearly giggles in between. Women among themselves, around four to five of them? It had been a very long time since Zoë had experienced being with women only. In the military, gender played no role as all squads were mixed. But she missed having female friends, she suddenly realized.

"... and then he scowled like so…"

Giggles.

"... and looked at me like I'm vermin and still my fanny went to mush."

More giggles and a few exclamations. Zoë grinned. What else should they be discussing but men?

"You're just a sucker for pain!"

"Ah, no! I hear he's very gentle."

"From whom!" The excitement in the room next door seemed to surge. Zoë heard that porcelain cups were set into saucers, clang-clang-clang, as if everyone present wanted their full attention on the speaker and even holding a teacup was too much of a diversion.

"Clara said so."

"How would she know?" someone shouted. "I call bullshit!"

"Well, I guess she slept with him?"

"She's a liar! I know for a fact he has a very strict rule to stay away from us!"

"He thinks he's better, that's why. He looks down at everyone!" Ah, the man in question had a critic too. Good.

"No. It's because of his mother! She was one of us but died when he was a little boy. He blames the customers. He swore never to be like them."

There was cooing and awwing now. Zoë added some coos and awws in her head. It sounded like they were discussing a very nice man. He was also smart if he made himself scarce, it made his desirability increase tenfold.

Outside, she heard that a door was opened and the cooing, awwing, giggling and chattering stopped so abruptly, Zoë thought the women had all left the room together. But no. A disapproving voice she happened to know very well snapped: "What are all of you doing here?"

"Just talking," one of the women answered innocently.

"You have nothing better to do?"

"Depends… are you offering to entertain us? We're all very keen."

An explosion of laughter followed Levi as he entered the room she was in with one of his trademark scowls. He slammed the door shut so hard that Zoë yelped.

"You're awake?" he asked sourly.

"Obviously," she smiled and pushed herself into an upright position with a bit of effort. It was good to see him and his eternally displeased face.

"Here," he held a bottle towards her. "Something to drink. It's safe, I made sure of it."

Somehow, he avoided looking at her scarcely covered bosom. Maybe he had already looked enough when he had undressed her last night? She had not only lost her dress but also her corset somewhere between the gambling den and this place. And…

Oh shit! Her hand flew to her neck. The necklace!

"It's with me," he said, patting one of his pockets. "I took it off you because it looked uncomfortable."

Relieved and thankful, she took the bottle from him and downed the contents in one go. It was cold herbal tea. Camomile? How very thoughtful. Even more thoughtful: He had brought a second bottle that he handed to her as well, putting the empty one next to the glass of water.

"Where are we?" she asked, after she had downed the second bottle almost as quickly as the first.

He shrugged. "A brothel."

"Oh."

That explained a few things. The mirror, the color of the linens, the lack of furnishing. Then the women outside were... ? Whores. Zoë could hear the buzz of their low voices through the door. Clearly not bothered by any of it, Levi pulled up a chair and sat down next to the bed. She noticed that he had changed his clothes. His hair seemed a little damp, as if he had just taken a bath. Which he probably had. She breathed in deeply to get a good dose of Levi soap-smell.

"You weren't affected by the poison?" she asked. He looked like he hadn't slept a wink for days, but what was new?

A shake of his head. "I only got a headache from the smoke. I guess the poison was in the drinks."

"What about Annika then? Was she poisoned too?"

"Annika?!" Levi glared at her like that question was an offense.

"Yes, Annika. Do you think she was arrested?"

"Why would you think I care about that?"

Pffft. Why even pretend he wasn't? "Well, she clearly is your possessive ex-girlfriend that you care about. It's normal to be attached to former lovers, no need to be embarrassed about it."

"Why, are you attached to that Treibel guy?"

"What!?" now Zoë glared too. "No! I don't even know him that well."

"Good."

Huh? Levi looked smug. Did he think he had just won an argument?

"But you and Annika clearly had a very close relationship."

"Clearly?"

"She was all over you. Pawing you at every opportunity for all to see."

"Then we two must have a very close relationship too judging from your recent behavior," he scoffed and if she didn't know better, she'd have thought there was a trace of a smile on those sultry lips.

That made her remember a half-promise, probably said on a whim and immediately forgotten. "Are we out of danger yet?" she asked with fake indifference.

Oh. He seemed to actually remember what he had said, the way his eyes lit up at her tease.

"No. We're right in the middle of it," he answered, his heated gaze affecting her body temperature.

"How bad is the situation?" she managed to sound all business-like even though her heart was beating way too fast. Little shithead. He was doing it again.

"You'll obviously live."

"No, I meant for you."

He shrugged. "Nothing I can't handle."

"What's your plan?" she asked to take her mind off other things.

"Kill everyone, of course," he said smoothly. "Once I know what kind of poison they gave you."

"How many doses of the antidote do I need?"

"Three a day."

"For how long?"

"They didn't say."

"That's quite clever. We'll think twice about running away."

He cursed at her statement, making her smile.

"I fail to see what's amusing," he huffed.

Ah, but how to explain it? It was him. The whole package. She could have hugged him, just for existing and being here with her. Maybe she should just to see how he'd react, the Mr. "Don't touch me". And she would ruffle his hair too, just to make him angry. Because she liked him all worked up.

But before she could make any of these things happen, her stomach growled so loudly she froze in mortification.

"I see," he said with a bemused look and got up. "Wait here."

"I'm not going anywhere, be assured," she retorted, but he had already left the room, caused considerable agitation when he passed the flock hovering out there, and slammed the next door with such force on his way out that Zoë yelped again.

One of the women mentioned that Levi had an exceptionally tight, fine ass. Zoë couldn't disagree, though she felt she needed to confirm it first hand when he returned.

"The things I'd like to do to him…," another one said.

Zoë perked up. Murder? She needed to warn him! But no... her ears started burning. Edged on by the others, the woman began detailing what she would do to Levi if he were at her mercy, i.e. be tied up in front of her. Removing his clothes with his own knife was the most harmless of the suggestions. Suddenly Zoë realized they had been talking about him all along. The gentle man who did not sleep with prostitutes because of his mother. Oh boy. What a dummy she was.

Her cheeks were aflame when another sudden silence out there marked Levi's return.

"Still here chattering the day away?" he asked.

"There are no customers," the woman with the sweet voice said, "what can we do?"

"Tell the owner of this bordello to stop her stupid war, that'll help," Levi grumbled and came into Zoë's room, swiveling around to kick the door shut with his foot. He was carrying a steaming bowl of something. When he turned around and looked at her, he frowned.

"What happened to you?"

"Well," she coughed self-consciously. He did have a fine ass, but that was not the problem. The problem was that the shameless fantasies of the women out there had not only set her cheeks on fire.

"Was it them?" his frown deepened. "Were they rude to you? I'll make sure to chase them away and…"

"N… no!" she shook her head vehemently, stalling him before he could storm back out. "They were not rude to me. They haven't even acknowledged my presence."

"Hm," he said and came back to the bed. "Here, you must eat something."

A soup. It smelled quite lovely. She took the bowl from his hands, trying not to think about where the women had wished those hands to go once they untied him, but those places tingled eagerly on her own body.

"What is this?" she asked to mask her continuing embarrassment.

"Clearly, it's soup."

"What are these round white things?"

"Flour balls. If you spot something that looks like meat, don't eat it. Meat down here is either, dog, cat, or rat."

"Thanks," she poked the spoon into the thick liquid, almost expecting something to be alive in there.

"Do I need to spoon-feed you?"

She shook her head, extremely flustered. He was too close, watching her intently. Why. She continued to burn.

"Are you feeling unwell?" he asked her. "You're very red in the face."

"No, I'm fine, don't worry," she blurted out and began to dip the spoon into the soup. It tasted alright but her stomach was not exactly stable. It was aflutter. All thanks to him.

"You have to eat all of it," he ordered when she slowed down.

"Yes, I'm trying," she mumbled, throwing him a look over the rim of the bowl.

With no warning, Levi lifted his hand and brushed a stray lock of hair that had almost gotten into her mouth from her cheek. He tucked it securely behind her right ear, looking satisfied. She forgot to breathe for a moment and then coughed violently when soup went down the wrong way.

"I knew I should have spoon-fed you," he chided her, taking the bowl from her fingers. "Lie on your back again and get some more sleep."

He seemed a little surprised when she complied with no protest. Bending over her, he tucked the blanket down around her. So he was gentle. And fussy. And handsome... And there were a bunch of women just outside the door who wanted to tie him up and do very naughty things to him. She blushed very deeply again at the images that popped up in her head. Of course he noticed.

"Out with it," he demanded, lowering his face to peer into her eyes. "What did they do to you while I was gone?"

"Just… talk," she looked at his lips, feeling a desire so intense that a weird little sound escaped her throat.

"Talk?" he narrowed his eyes. "About what?"

"You," she blurted out, "they talked about you."

"I see," he said and dropped down on his chair again. "What about it got you so worked up? You already know most people can't stand me."

A strangled laugh was her reaction. Completely oblivious. He had no idea how many women lusted after him, had he? It just made him even hotter.

"You're wrong," she moaned, "so wrong."

"Tell me."

She couldn't possibly say these things out loud.

"Fine," he said with a shrug, "I'll go out and ask them."

"No!" Zoë grabbed his hand to stop him. "Don't go."

"I am getting too curious," he bent forward. "What could it possibly be?"

"They said you have this rule about prostitutes," she blurted out, "but then they went on and on about... things they would want to do to you if you couldn't… move and fight them off."

"I see," Levi said, a dangerous gleam entering his eyes. "Tell me all about it or I'll go ask them."

Scumbag. That was blackmail!

"But I already know you won't repeat any of it," he chuckled, "because you're sheltered and prudish. While they will be more than happy to shamelessly repeat everything to my face while getting a kick out of it."

He probably didn't know that she could not leave a challenge or dare alone.

"Oh, I can tell you," she whispered, "but I'm not sure you'll like it."

"Something tells me I will," he whispered back, bending even closer. "Don't leave out any details."

The part about cutting his clothes away with a knife was no problem to repeat, so she lingered there a little, even going into details she made up herself. Touching his chest - easy, she had done that, though she left out what they wanted to do with his nipples, not sure anyone would like those painful, rough things.

"Then they want to touch and suck and lick your…," she faltered. Prudish? She wasn't prudish. Or was she?

"Dick?" he suggested.

"Yes," she breathed, "your dick. Your dick and your balls and your…"

"I'm guessing asshole?" he helped when she faltered again.

"You're enjoying this, are you?" she asked breathlessly.

"You can't imagine," he said and smiled wolfishly. Levi fucking smiled and the sight of that hit her right in the stomach, like she needed any additional disturbances there. He stared at her mouth, continuing to smile. Like he wanted to devour her.

"You want to hear more?" she whispered. By the gods, it was so hot to say these things to his face.

"Oh yes," he agreed hoarsely.

"After sucking you until you're rock hard, they want to ride you until you pass out."

"Pass out? Huh. there have to be more details."

"They want you to fill... all their holes."

"Aha. Any favorite positions?"

Should she admit she knew exactly two positions herself and had not understood half of what they talked about? Mike was someone with a very proper upbringing. There had never been any mention of holes other than the usual one. Surely, his religious mother was to blame.

"I...," she squirmed under Levi's burning gaze. "Atop you, facing forward, then turning around so that you can finger… Oh god, I can't say these things..."

"You're so goddamn hot," he growled, "we better stop."

She was hot. So hot she felt like she was going to burst into flames any second. And she craved… she craved his hands on her, there, between her legs, where she was burning the worst, throbbing with a longing that could only be driven away by one thing. Stop? She didn't want this to stop. She wanted much, much more.

"They said you are gentle," she gulped. "Is that true?"

"Would you like it if I were?" he asked, his eyes roaming over her well hidden body now, making the tingling and throbbing so much worse.

"I… I think I'd prefer it a little… rough," she admitted, breathing heavily. "Fuck, Levi, I…"

"Say my name again," he urged her throatily. "Tell me what you want."

"Levi, please touch me," she begged, arching her back. He groaned in response.

"You're not wearing a lot under this blanket, are you."

She shook her head.

"Do you want to show me?"

She nodded and began pushing down the blanket. Her nipples were hard but hardened even further when the cool air and his gaze met them. She pushed the blankets further down, kicked them away - and thought she was going to die when he took a good look at the dripping place between her legs that was barely covered by her pantalettes. She grew even wetter if that was even possible.

"This isn't a good idea," he murmured, shaking his head like a lost man who wanted to wake up from a dream.

"Who gives a fuck," she moaned, "you scumbag, can't you see how much I want this?"

"Oh yes," he growled, "I can see it and I can smell it and it's driving me insane, but it's still not a good idea. It's going to affect everything we do in the future. It will cloud our judgment. It will…"

"Shut up!" she interrupted him. "It's just like an itch. Scratch it and it will go away. Who is talking about the future? I almost died yesterday. Who knows how much of a future we even have."

He nodded so eagerly despite his dubious face, she almost laughed.

"But not here," he whispered.

"What?!" she was going to die from sexual tension any second.

"I can't let my guard down here," he whispered almost tenderly. "But I want to when I'm with you."

Whatever that meant, it sounded breathtakingly romantic, yet it only infuriated her more.

"I'm going to kill you," she hissed, arching her back again as if that was going to help. "Just lock the fucking door!"

"There are no keys in brothels," he explained darkly, "it's not safe for the women."

The women. Who were right outside the door, lusty and dangerous. That thought cooled her zeal a little, but seeing the hunger in his eyes as he looked at her brought it right back up. Levi wanted her. Her, ugly, dirty Zoë Hange. And she wanted him, the little rude scumbag with the impressive ass.

"I have the worst luck with women," he murmured as he extended his hand.

The moment he touched one of her breasts, she moaned so loudly she expected someone to burst through the door to come to her help. Levi took one nipple between his thumb and index finger and rolled it to an even tighter peek, then switched his attention to the other nipple, all the while murmuring under his breath that she was killing him.

"Come here," she pleaded, patting the bed next to her.

"No," he said. "I will lose control."

"Excellent," she moaned. "Do it."

"No," he repeated, his voice tightly controlled, "I'm going to stay right here. But I tell you what we will do… You touch yourself while I watch and we will see how long I can resist touching myself in turn."

Turned out the answer was not long at all. Levi opened his trousers with a groan mere seconds after Zoë had started to furiously stimulate her clit for the release she craved and began to pump the length of himself just as savagely. She turned her head a little so she could see his hand move up and down his sizable erection but the ache between her legs grew so intense, her eyelids fluttered shut. She came hard and fast with a shout, her entire body shuddering with the force of her orgasm. She heard him grunt and curse when he came shortly after, only catching the merest glimpse of his tense face before her eyelids fluttered shut again.

"Dammit, woman," Levi growled, took her limp hand from her sex, put it to his mouth and licked and sucked her juices off her fingers, swirling his tongue around each digit. She was ready and pulsing again in no time, longing for him to touch her, to feel him close, inside of her.

Served her right for calling it just an itch that would go away. That perfunctory scratching just now? It had only made the itch much, much bigger.

"Levi…," she whispered and opened her eyes to look at him.

"You know what happens when you say my name like this?" he breathed, "it makes me hard."

"Good," she said even though she was still shaking.

But there was no more time. The knock at the door was brisk and very intrusive. "Are you done now?" someone asked snippily. Who else would it be but Maria?

"Mother wants to see her," Maria said, her mouth close to the door crack, "her alone. I suggested she might need more rest, but obviously not."

Mother? Zoë thought Levi's eyes. And almost shrank back from the fury in there.

"There's clothes out here, get dressed quickly," came the order.

"Kill her if you get the chance," Levi's breath was hot at her ear as he helped her up into a sitting position, "they won't let me see her. We will find another way to get the antidote, I swear to you."

"Okay," Zoë said. "I will try."

Levi grabbed her head between his hands and brushed his lips across hers, briefly.

More. She wanted more. She craved his closeness with a hollow ache in her heart. What was happening to her?

He took a deep breath and pressed his lips to hers again with much more fervor and what seemed like desperation and it was the sweetest thing and at the same time so sad because deep down, she agreed with him.

While the part of her that sang with renewed lust thought this was a glorious idea, the more rational part of her knew with cold certainty that whatever happened after this could only end in a calamity. Such were their lives.

But then again - if their lives were inevitably short, why waste a single moment of it?

"Don't go anywhere," she told him.

"I won't," he replied. "Not today."

It killed her a little that she saw in his eyes exactly what she felt. It was a desperation that knew no salvation, a knowledge of the end that was coming. Maybe not today. But soon. Too soon.