Not quite as expected

by Bobo-is-tha-bomb

In which Wufei discovers there are quite some interesting layers to a certain Foreign Minister. A small smile came to play over his lips as he remembered Trowa on Peacemillion, telling him to be kind to Relena because it was so easy to hurt a woman's feelings. Trowa had been wrong. Relena would accept no bullshit from him. 05xR

So when I started writing this I didn't intent for this to turn into such a monster of a story. LOL. I hope you will enjoy it!

This story is written for Gundam Wing Lemony Shenanigans. Thanks to JenJenGundamFan for hosting this super fun event! It's an honor to write for it! :)

Disclaimer: You know the drill. I don't own anything! :)

Not quite as expected

He kept staring straight ahead as the land, a deep green from the trees that covered it, began to rise and fall around him, confirming he was leaving the city behind and entering the part of the country that was covered in woods and mountains. The sun was peeking out from behind some innocent clouds, bravely trying to add cheer to what had been a dreary morning. But no amount of sunshine could kill the amount of dread Wufei felt.

The assignment was meant to appease him, something for him to focus on while his body still recovered. Something to keep him occupied. No amount of arguing had changed his commander's mind. She had been utterly determined and had even seemed amused about the arguments he had thrown at her to make her see differently. Remembering that unfortunate event made his lips press together to form a thin line.

He was not pleased.

In fact, he was flaming pissed. But in the end orders were orders, and so he found himself driving to the Peacecraft family summer estate, located along one of the Sanc Kingdom's many lakes in the northern part of the country, all the while thoroughly cursing the situation. They had assigned him to bodyguard Relena Darlian during her vacation. As if he had nothing better to do than babysit some spoiled princess.

He should be in his office, reviewing the long overdue pile of folders on his desk, or monitoring some of the rookies at the base in Leopoldsburg. Sally Po had giving him the sweetest smile while telling him he could review the reports in a lounge chair by the pool. Wufei snarled as he steered his car onto the highway's exit. He'd get back at Sally for that remark.

The woman could be a pain in the ass sometimes and he had been tempted to strangle her when she had declared him unfit for active duty. It was all her fault.

The landscape changed even more as he drove through a rural village. The mountains became craggy, their grey tops peeking out from beyond the trees to reach towards the sky. This area of the country was much more peaceful and quiet than the busy streets of its capital New Port City. And that was a relief.

If he was to be idle, he'd best do it in an environment such as this.

It wasn't before long that he had to take the turn to leave the main road. The woods became denser and streaks of sunlight broke through the canopy of leaves to pool on the ground. The narrow road wound through the trees and started to climb. At least he broke free of the trees and slowed the car to a crawl as the lake came into view.

The water was a deep, deep blue and glittered like a diamond under the sun. Boats floated on its surface, and along the shore some people, tourists and locals alike, milled about. It wasn't as crowded as he had expected. The road twisted down and along the lake, and on towards the private properties that were build along the shore further ahead. His stomach contracted with the prospect of what he would find once he reached his destination.

Relena Darlian and he were like water and fire. There were no two people that could be more opposites than they were. Wufei didn't even particularly like her. Spending three weeks in her company held zero appeal to him.

But orders were orders, he reminded himself, and resigned himself to his fate.

He stepped on the gas and drove down the hillside, the only comfort being the stack of folders he had in the trunk. He could always tune her out and pretend he was working on them.

A quick glance at the screen of the navigation system told him he was exactly on time. He'd have two hours to settle in before Darlian arrived. She'd be flown in by helicopter, as she was still on her way back from a summit in Rome. Wufei had been given the option to wait for her at the airport and drive her to the estate himself, but he had declined. He hadn't felt like making small talk during the drive and had opted to go ahead, supposedly to make sure the estate was secure.

It had been a lame excuse at best. He damn well knew her estate had state of the art security. He just couldn't bring himself to spend hours in her vicinity in the cramped space of a vehicle. He turned off the road and stopped in front of the gate, lowering the window to press his Preventer badge against the scanner. The gate swung open smoothly and revealed the property behind it.

His eyes widened slightly in admiration as he drove his car down the drive way. The house was large, all wood and angles, lots of windows, and surrounded by sprawling gardens that stretched on all the way to the lake. The roof slanted to one side and was covered in moss, so that the house blended with its surroundings. He parked his car under the carport and got out, biting back a grunt as his movements strained his shoulder and still healing ribs.

He stood for a moment, breathing in the crisp, clean air. It still held a little bite, telling him the evenings and nights would be cold. He walked to the back of his car and opened the trunk, pulling out his duffle bag. He grunted for real this time as he settled the strap onto his shoulder. The wound had healed, but the muscles were still sore, the skin still tender. He took the stack of folders as well and started on his way to the front door. The butler had opened the door upon his arrival and waited for him in the foyer, offering to take his bag, which Wufei gladly handed over to the man.

"It's nice to meet you Agent Chang. You may call me Davies. If you'd be so kind to follow me, I will show you to your room." The butler was a tall man, and Wufei estimated him to be in his early fifties by the graying hair and lines on his face.

The butler went ahead and up the staircase. Wufei followed in a leisured pace, taking in the welcoming ambiance of the house. The walls were painted a crisp white, offset by wooden panels in a deep burgundy shade. There were paintings on the wall, landscapes in warm tones that made him stop for a moment. With a start he realized the paintings depicted views of the surrounding area, the lake, the woods, the village.

"Miss Relena purchased the artwork from a local artist," the butler supplied when he noticed Wufei's interest.

"Hmm…" Wufei turned away from the painting and moved to catch up with the butler, who had opened a door in the spacious hallway on the first floor.

The room was cozy and inviting, with the same wood paneling and white walls. The bed looked comfortable enough, which would be a relief to his aching body. The butler placed his duffle on the foot of the bed and discretely retreated from the room and shut the door behind him. Wufei checked his watch. Two hours… He'd talk to the security staff later. He was exhausted from the long drive and his body demanded rest. He'd need his wits about him when Relena arrived. He locked the door, set the alarm on his phone, and all but collapsed face forward onto the bed, succumbing to sleep almost immediately.

-x-x-x-

"Please, don't tell me you are going to be holed up in there for the entire duration of your stay!"

Relena resisted the urge to roll her eyes at her friend's exasperated tone, because she was pretty sure that if she actually did that, Dorothy would have her head. "I'm going there to rest and relax."

"Sure you are," Dorothy drawled, while leaning back in her seat. "And would there, pray tell, be any time to spare for little, old me?"

"Dorothy…" An amused smile came to play over Relena's face as she gazed at the VID-phone screen. "If you want to see me, just say so."

Dorothy sniffed, but her eyes flashed. "I was thinking we could go into New Port and check that new lounge club."

"And you think my bodyguard will agree to that?"

Dorothy threw back her head and cackled. "Oh, wouldn't that be rich? Well, he won't have much choice, will he?"

Relena thought of Wufei Chang and, for the life of her, couldn't imagine him in a lounge club. If her memory served her right, he wasn't the social type and avoided even the littlest of office parties, information which had been helpfully supplied to her by Sally Po some time ago over lunch. She didn't think he'd particularly enjoy being forced to accompany her to such an establishment. But Dorothy was right. He wouldn't have much of a choice.

"We'll see," she said.

She was, in fact, very much looking forward to being holed up in her summer estate. The idea that she'd have three weeks of absolute peace after the crazy work filled year she'd been through was almost enough to make her weep in gratitude. She looked forward to the books she'd get to read, the walks she could take in the woods, the quiet, cool evenings.

When she had been told that Wufei Chang would guard her, she hadn't actually minded the idea. She knew he didn't hold her in very high regard, so she had imagined him leaving her alone for the duration of her vacation. It suited her just fine. It sounded perfect actually.

"Minister Darlian, we're about to prepare for landing."

Relena sighed and gave Dorothy a smile. "I've got to go. I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"

"Sure, sure…" Dorothy grinned at her. "Be a good darling and tell me all about Wufei Chang then, yes?"

Relena rolled her eyes for real this time. "Dorothy."

"He is a fine looking man."

"I'm just gonna pretend I didn't hear that," Relena said dryly.

Dorothy gave her a sly smile. "Imagine him, doing laps in the swimming pool. Now, I wouldn't mind joining him."

"Dorothy!" Relena exclaimed, to which the blonde socialite cackled. "Stop it! He doesn't even like me."

Dorothy's smile turned utterly wicked. "Lena, Dear, you do have three weeks to change that."

Relena felt her cheeks heat up with a blush and sputtered. "You're out of your mind!"

"Ha!" Dorothy looked utterly haughty and pleased with herself. "Don't tell me the notion didn't cross your mind the last few weeks."

Relena shook her head. "He is just my bodyguard."

"Hmmm…" Dorothy inspected her nails, her mouth pulled up into a pouty smile. "We'll see if you still think the same way in three weeks."

"Bye Dorothy."

She laughed. "Bye Lena."

Relena broke the connection and chuckled quietly to herself at her friend's antics. Dorothy was just a little desperate for Relena to have a man in her life. Relena didn't mind her meddling all that much because she herself was pretty done with her lack of a love life. But for Dorothy to suggest she'd hook up with Wufei… Relena shook her head. Wufei was a world away from the men Dorothy liked to introduce her to at the gatherings she threw on a monthly basis.

Had Dorothy gotten desperate with her lack of progress?

The idea had Relena's shoulders shaking with mirth. Oh my, that would certainly explain it!

She shook her head, fastened her seat belt and prepared for the shuttle's landing. From the airport there would be a helicopter flight to the estate, and then it was three weeks of utter quiet. Heaven…

But as the shuttle began its descent, Relena couldn't help but wonder about Wufei Chang. It had been years since she had last seen him, looking utterly uncomfortable at Preventer's Christmas gathering. He hadn't even spared her a glance then, and had left the party as soon as he had been able to.

What would he be like now?

-x-x-x-

Wufei was waiting for her on the lawn as the helicopter descended to the ground. The force of the rotor blades made wisps of hair dance wildly around his face. He had let it grow longer, and the black locks surrounded a wildly handsome face. His dark eyes were as sharp as ever as he approached the helicopter to assist her, but as he moved she noticed the stiff way he walked.

Relena stepped out of the chopper and he drew up short for a moment. The startled expression on his face made her wonder if she had dirt on hers. But then the mask slipped in place and he continued on his way.

"Minister Darlian," Wufei managed through clenched teeth.

She send him a warm smile and tried to keep her hair out of her eyes as she raised her voice to be overheard over the sound of the helicopter. "There is no need to be so formal, Wufei."

His lips pressed together in a thin line for a moment, then he gave a curt nod. "Alright."

He reached for her trolley, but she beat him to it. "I've got it."

"Alright," he said again, then stepped back and turned back towards the house, obviously expecting her to follow him.

Wufei kept his pace slow, because he knew his ribs would be in agony if he forced himself to walk too fast after sleeping on his stomach in the way he had. He was still trying to get over the fact that he had been stupefied like a schoolboy at her appearance. And then he had realized his mistake. In his mind Relena Darlian had always remained the idealistic girl that he had so harshly criticized in a mobile suit battle against Heero Yuy. The same Heero Yuy she had chased after, until Heero had cracked and disappeared off the grid. He'd heard she'd been devastated over his abrupt departure, and he had brushed it off. Relena's troubles had not been any concern of his.

But the image of her, the young girl who had preached for total pacifism, had been stuck in his mind. And she definitely wasn't a girl anymore. No, this was definitely a woman, and a beautiful one at that. The first he had seen of her as she had emerged from the chopper were her shapely legs, encased in pristine white trousers. And then the rest of her had followed, turning his damn brain into mush.

Relena hoisted her bag onto her shoulder and dragged her trolley along with her. She hadn't brought much with her, because she kept more than enough clothes at the house. The helicopter rose up again, and she breathed a sigh of relief as the sounds of it died away, leaving only the peaceful quiet and sounds of nature.

"It's good to be here," she mused as she stepped into the house. She directed a warm smile at her butler. "Hello Davies."

"It's a delight to see you again, Miss Relena." The butler bowed. "Shall I take your luggage up to your room?"

"Please."

Davies retrieved her trolley and bag from her. "I have refreshments waiting for you in the dining room."

"Thank you, Davies." She was famished. And thirsty. She directed a look at Wufei. "Join me?"

He gave another curt nod, but looked rather uncomfortable.

As they walked towards the dining room, Relena tried to keep the one-sided conversation going. "This is not what you normally do, right?"

"No," he said, and his gruff tone indicated he wasn't very happy with the idea of being here.

Relena smiled and poured two glasses of cold lemonade from one of the pitchers on the dining table and handed him one. "So how did you end up here?"

"I'm still recuperating from an injury."

"Oh…" A frown formed between her eyebrows as she saw her little fantasy of walks in the woods disappear in thin air. "Was it bad?"

"Bad enough." He gave a shrug. "Not bad enough to sit idle any longer."

"I'm glad to hear that. I take it you have already spoken to the team of security stationed here."

He nodded. "I have. I foresee no trouble."

The conversation had him nearly grinding his teeth in frustration. Wufei hated small talk, but it was obvious the woman was intent on keeping him in the room with her.

"I don't have much plans for my stay here," she said. "I had hoped to take some walks in the woods, but only if you are up to it."

"I'll be fine."

"Great. Then I guess we'll get along just fine for the next three weeks." Relena turned back to the table and took a plate and began selecting some of the delicate snacks the cook had prepared.

"I'll leave you to get settled in," he said and turned on his heel to leave the room.

Once in the safety of the hallway, he took a deep breath but the scent of her perfume was still embedded in his nostrils it seemed. Thoroughly annoyed, he stalked back into the living room, where he had been preparing to dive into a report when she had arrived. He had not been prepared for the tight feeling in his gut. Not prepared at all for her, really.

Get a grip, he told himself, unwilling to analyze the feeling just yet. You don't like her.

And he planned for it to remain that way. He had no business with the Foreign Minister, other than this ridiculous assignment. He picked up the report from the coffee table and settled on the comfortable couch, preparing to get a few hours of work done.

He was halfway through the report when footsteps alerted him to her presence again. Relena came walking into the living room, and when he looked up, he nearly did a double take for the second time that day. He had never seen her dressed so casual before, in jeans and a loose coral colored cotton blouse that was comfortably tucked into the waistband of her pants. She was barefoot, and her hair was loosely braided back from her face.

"Davies said I might find you here," she said as she approached the sitting area. "Has the staff shown you around the house yet?"

"They did," he said, and felt a flash of amusement when he remembered the staff's utter determination in making sure he knew his way around the house before the Minister arrived.

"Aah, good." She settled on the other couch, and he eyed the book in her hands a little curiously. He couldn't read the title, because she kept the cover clutched against her front.

He grunted and turned his gaze back to his report.

"I won't bother you for the first week, I think." Relena said the words on a little sigh. She felt the fatigue catching up on her, now that she was allowed to relax. "I'll need to gather my wits about me before I venture out into the woods."

She felt him gazing at her over the top of the report, and there was curiosity in the dark depths. But as it was, she didn't feel like elaborating. Instead, she allowed her tired body to sink into the comfy cushions and opened her first book of her vacation. She had painstakingly hidden the cover from him, because it was a silly romance novel that Dorothy had tossed in her direction last week. The idea that she was going to read it while sitting across from Wufei was almost enough to make her break out in laughter. But she needed reading material that required few brain cells the first few days. She'd get to the heavier and more serious stuff later, when she had rested and felt like she could think again.

She took a deep breath and dove into the first chapter.

-x-x-x-

It was during dinner that they head butted for the first time. Wufei had expected it would happen at some point, but he hadn't expected it to be this early. And about such an inconsequential subject too. It was just that he had not been prepared for her casual announcement that she was planning to hang out with her friend Dorothy Catalonia at some lounge club in New Port City.

He had given her a calm look. "Out of the question."

"Why?" she had demanded, astounded that he would refuse such a harmless divergence.

Wufei could think of a million reasons why he would not allow her to go there. The biggest one being that he thought Dorothy Catalonia was a meddling snake with a foot deep into Preventer's board of directors. After the Mariemaia rebellion, she had stepped in, donating a considerable amount of her large fortune to make sure Preventer wouldn't fail a second time were another rebellion to occur.

Wufei wouldn't ever say he hated someone, but Dorothy Catalonia came close.

"Dorothy is my friend, and I would like to see her during my vacation."

"So invite her here," he deadpanned.

"My vacation, Wufei." There was a gleam to her eyes, defiance burning just behind her calm front. It was oddly intriguing to watch. "I get to do what I want, and you will accompany me."

She sounded like a spoiled brat that way.

"A lounge club is not a safe place for you to be."

"Nonsense." She dismissed his argument with a wave of her hand. "I've had other bodyguards accompany me to a variety of establishments and none of them complained about it."

"They weren't me," he ground out.

Her lips curled up in a belittling smile. "No, they were not. But you will still accompany me to the lounge club."

His nostrils flared, anger boiling in his stomach at her superior little act. Too late he realized he had fallen into her trap. Relena Darlian was a politician, and as such, a master at the art of debate. She had driven him in a corner, and he had to options. Give in or lash out. And Wufei Chang never went down without a fight.

"Out of the question. You're not going to New Port City."

He was out of his seat and halfway across the room when her voice made him freeze.

"So the reason must be Dorothy then."

He snarled and turned back towards her with eyes blazing with anger. "Don't make ridiculous assumptions."

She pursed her lips and leaned back in her seat, amusement flashing in her eyes. "Your vehement denial states otherwise."

He fought the urge to grind his teeth in frustration. How did the woman manage to get him so worked up over nothing? She had not even raised her voice.

"I don't give a damn about her," he snapped. "I said it was fine for you to invite her over here."

"Yes, because then you are not required to watch over me like a hawk and can make yourself scarce."

"You will not insult me."

"I hardly did so."

"I will endure this ridiculous assignment, but only under certain conditions. One of them being that we remain here."

"Yet you had no qualms about me wanting to take walks in the woods."

He had walked right into that one, didn't he? Frustration made him edgy. "The woods," he ground out. "Are close by and most certainly quiet and with few people. A lounge club is not. There are too many aspects we have to consider."

She stubbornly crossed her arms. "That should be no problem for you."

"Are you doubting my ability to guard you?" The very idea insulted him to the bone.

"It's just that there were others who managed to keep me safe before you."

"Well forgive me for not being Heero Yuy."

He regretted the words as soon as they were out. The stricken look on her face made guilt settle like a stone in his stomach. Backpedaling was useless. He couldn't take his words back.

With a frustrated huff, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the dining room.

-x-x-x-

Relena awoke with a pounding headache, brought on by too much wine and restless sleep. She'd been too worked up to sleep peacefully, mulling over the strange argument in the dining room and the look of guilt on Wufei's face as the weight of his scathing words settled in. He had not apologized, and she didn't want him to. She had brought it upon herself, riling him up as she had done. But his words, carelessly said, had been like salt into old wounds. And it was ridiculous. She was over Heero, wasn't she?

And yet Wufei's words had touched that raw place inside her. He had hurt her. Did he truly think she measured everyone that came along in her life to the impossible standard that Heero had upheld? Heero had had his faults too.

And that line of thinking made anger flare. By the time she had dressed, she had worked up enough steam to chew Wufei's head right off. She didn't walk downstairs as she normally did. Instead, she stormed. Only to stop dead in her tracks when she found Wufei in the dining room. It was obvious he had been waiting for her, standing in front of the window as he was. He had not even touched his breakfast yet.

Wufei had heard her come barging down the stairs, and somehow, the idea that she was angry with him had amused him. Yet he had not forgotten that look on her face, and knew he'd have to apologize. But judging by the sound of her angry footsteps, a simple apology would not suffice. She'd probably expect him to grovel.

He slowly turned away from the window and nearly did a double take. Once again. Her face was bare of any make-up, her hair pulled away from her face in a simple ponytail. She was casually dressed, in loose cotton shorts and a tank top. He'd never seen her like this before, without the polish and the glam. And she stole the breath right out of his lungs.

"I want to apologize for last night," he said, and did his best to sound sincere. He had a feeling that if he didn't put effort into it, she wouldn't buy it for a minute. "The way I acted was uncalled for."

Her nostrils flared and her eyes blazed. It was intriguing to see. But what was even more intriguing was her absolute self control as she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and willfully relaxed her shoulders. When her eyes opened again, the blue depths were calm.

"I accept your apology." Her tone was distant, very formal.

"You were right. This is your vacation and you should get to spend it in the way you want to. So if you wish to go to New Port City, I'll join you."

"Good."

The cool look she directed at him told him he'd better make himself scarce while she had her breakfast. And he was willing to respect that. He moved around the table as she approached it. He made a grab for her arm when she moved to sit down.

"What I said about Heero… I'm sorry about that too."

Her gaze shot up to meet his, and the vulnerability was very clear in her eyes. "Do you actually think that way about me?"

"What? No." His tone turned gruff. "You've been doing okay without him, haven't you?"

She tore her gaze away from his and stood staring straight ahead of her. At last she gave a curt nod. "I have."

He stepped back from her and released her arm. "Well then…"

He started on his way to the door, but she called him back. "Wufei, where are you going?"

"I'll leave you so you can have your breakfast." He turned back to look at her.

Her expression warmed slightly, a small smile coming to play over her lips. "You haven't had breakfast yet. Join me?"

"Do you want me to?"

Her smile widened and reached her eyes. "Yes."

"Fine then." He walked back to the table and sat down.

Relena sat down as well and tried to ignore the way the skin on her arm still tingled where he had touched her. The way her anger had deflated at his apology was a bit of a relief. Telling him to have breakfast with her was a peace offer to put them both at ease. For a moment she had worried about having to spend her three weeks here in uncomfortable silence. But Wufei had been man enough to recognize his faults himself. She was not going to hold what happened against him.

"I want to sit outside today," she said as he reached for the coffee pot. "The weather is going to be nice."

"Sure."

Her casual chattering seemed to relax him and for that she was glad.

"I'll check with Dorothy for next week," she murmured. "I need some peace and quiet before I meet up with her."

"Oh?" he inquired.

She chuckled. "You have no idea what a whirlwind she can be when she starts on the wine."

He snorted. "What about you?"

"Well…" She grinned at him. "You will find out, won't you?"

-x-x-x-

They settled at the pool in comfortable silence, Relena in a lounge chair with her book, while Wufei sat at the table and worked through his folders. The weather was nice, the temperature pleasant, and the sunlight warm on their faces.

Wufei found it easy to concentrate. The sounds of nature were all around him, the rustling of leaves, the song of birds, and occasionally, deep in the woods, the call of a deer. He relaxed and forgot about the persistent ache in his shoulder. Sally had told him to take up swimming again in a few days, to strenghten the muscles. He eyed the pool for a moment. It was large enough to pose a challenge if he chose to put some effort into it.

A soft, dreamy sigh reached his ears, and he looked up to find Relena deeply emerged in her book. From where he sat he could catch a glimpse of the cover, and his face contorted in disgust when he realized she was reading a romance novel. One of those cheap and brainless ones. That was not something he had expected of her. He shook his head and concentrated on his report again.

He looked up when she laughed. She tried to muffle the sound behind her hand, but she could barely contain her mirth.

"I wouldn't think such a brainless book to be funny," he said dryly.

She turned her head to look at him, laughter in her eyes. "What?" Then seemed to realize she was sitting with the cover turned towards him and her eyes widened comically. "Oh!"

She looked horrified, and that caused him to chuckle. "I would have found out eventually what you are reading."

She gave another laugh. "Right. Well, trust me, I would have tried to hide it from you for as long as possible."

"Why is that?"

"Can't have anyone knowing that the Foreign Minister likes to read silly romance novels." Relena tried for a conspiratory look and saw the amusement flash in his eyes.

He was devastatingly handsome when he didn't glare at her, she discovered. The line of his mouth had softened in a somewhat charming smile, and the amusement made his eyes warm and open. This was a far cry from the sullen boy he had been when she had met him for the first time. Her heart jumped in her chest. Good heavens, this was not something she had expected when she had been told Wufei would guard her during her vacation.

"Do you read them often?" he questioned.

"Every now and then," she admitted. "When I want to read something that requires no brain activity."

He chuckled. "Right."

"I do enjoy heavier books too," she felt compelled to say. "It's just that my mind is overflowing from work most of the time, so I can barely bring up the amount of concentration needed to read such books."

"So you settle for…" he squinted and tried to read the title of her book from the distance. "The dashing Duke?"

His incredulous tone made laughter bubble in her throat. "Why yes. And he is rather dashing. After this I will probably pick up one of the detectives I brought along with me."

Wufei found that bit of information intriguing. He loved to read himself, although he preferred to bury is nose in ancient classics and books on philosophy. And like her, when he felt like his mind was overflowing, he preferred something lighter, which - in his case - was poetry.

"You read a lot too, right?" she asked him.

He held up the file folder. "Reports at the moment."

She laughed again. "But when you're not working…"

"I did bring a few books with me. Maybe I'll be nice and let you borrow them."

She batted her eyelashes at him and turned her attention back to the page she had been reading. "I might keep you to that if you have anything interesting."

He chuckled. "I won't mind."

-x-x-x-

Wufei wandered downstairs early in the morning. He felt rested, and since his shoulder didn't feel so bad anymore, he was going to give the swimming pool a try. The past few days, he and Relena had spent most of their time outside. She had divided her time between reading and gardening, which he had found interesting to witness.

She had certainly known what she was doing and cared for the plants and flowerbeds diligently. Almost in the same way he cared for the plants he kept in his apartment. She had told him she found it soothing, and the effect the flowers and plants had on her had showed on her face. The strain and fatigue were gone. She had looked… content, happy.

The house was quiet at this time of day, but he could heard the staff moving about in the kitchen. He passed through the living room and opened the double doors to the patio. The sun was already trying to chase away the chill of the night, but the air still had a bite to it. He took a deep gulp of the cool air and stood at the edge of the pool for a moment, basking in the quiet.

It wasn't so bad being here, he mused. He and Relena got along surprisingly well. Not quite what he had been expecting.

He stepped back and stripped off his shirt, dropping it on one of the lounge chairs. Without giving himself a chance to think about the temperature of the water, he charged forward and dove in.

Relena caught the movements outside from the corner of her eyes and wandered over to her bedroom window. Her eyes widened at the sight that greeted her. Wufei was doing laps in the pool! She swallowed thickly when her heartbeat sped up at the sight of him. He had tied his hair back in a loose bun, and easily treaded through the water, the sunlight catching and reflecting on glistening skin.

Her breath clogged in her throat as he reached the far end of the pool and disappeared under water to effortlessly execute a turn, muscles moving sleekly under his skin. And she found herself wondering. What would it be like? To be in those beautifully strong arms? To kiss him? To feel his hands on her skin? Heat settled in her belly and her hands clasped around the edge of the windowsill until her knuckles turned white. Her body's violent reaction told her one thing. She'd been way too long without a man. And she found herself longing. And for Wufei no less.

An amused smile came to play over her face. Fancy that.

She stepped back from the window, before he caught her staring, and made a dash for her closet to dig up a swim suit. There was one way to find out if the attraction was mutual.

She quickly changed and slipped on a fancy satin robe. She grabbed a towel and left her room, braiding back her hair as she went. She tied the braid with the scrunchy she had on her wrist as she padded through the living room. The double doors were open and the splashing sounds that greeted her told her Wufei was still in the pool.

She dropped her towel next to his shirt on the lounge chair and shrugged out of her robe. She didn't give herself time to think and took a running leap. And realized her mistake a millisecond before she hit the water.

Wufei broke out of his concentration when he heard the splash, followed by a high pitched shriek. He surfaced abruptly, eyes narrowed dangerously as he took in the situation. They widened, however, at the sight that greeted him.

"It's freezing!" Relena exclaimed pitifully as she pushed her wet bangs out of her eyes and tried to catch her breath.

"What did you expect?" he deadpanned, while trying to – desperately – ignore the way his body reacted to her close proximity. Through the water he caught a glimpse of the skimpy bathing suit she was wearing and that didn't help matters any. He found it very hard to tear his gaze away from all that skin she was displaying. "The nights are still cold."

She was still gasping. "Oh… Why did I think this was a good idea?"

Amusement warmed his eyes. "Just breathe through it."

"Easy for you to say." She grimaced and pushed forward, hoping her movements would keep her warm.

He easily caught up with her, a small smirk on his face. "There. You're already doing much better."

She tried to keep her teeth from chattering. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

The smirk widened. "More than I should."

She splashed water in his direction, then dove underwater to turn as she reached the end of the pool. Wufei didn't disappoint and gave chase, and she shrieked with laughter when he caught up with her and made a grab for her ankle underwater. She completely forgot about the cold as he chased her through the pool, his movements sleek, his dark eyes flashing with amusement.

Relena wasn't the fastest swimmer, and all too soon he did manage to catch her. She gasped when his hand shackled around her ankle.

"Got you now." His tone was low, husky, and it kindled the fire in her belly that had yet to diminish.

She turned in the water, and he saw the heat flash in her eyes. His hold on his control cracked. Desire roared through his blood like a lion, as he used his hold on her ankle to drag her towards him, and grabbed her arms when she was close enough. She met his mouth halfway. Her lips were soft, pliant underneath his, but there was no surrender in the way she kissed him back. Her arms slid around his neck and she arched into him, and it nearly made his mind go blank. A soft moan tore from her throat when he cupped the back of her head and deepened the kiss. The sound wrapped around him and left him unable to surface.

Relena gasped when he started backing her up towards the shallow end of the pool, and he didn't stop until he had her pressed against the tiles. The taste of him did all sorts of wicked things to her body. She was shivering, but it wasn't from the cold anymore. His body was like a magnet, pulling her in, and she eagerly pressed into him, into all those muscles, into the heat of him. Her hands wouldn't stay still, couldn't really, and slid over strong shoulders and down, towards his chest. God, how could he be so perfect? Muscles jumped under his skin at her wandering touch, and he made a sound in the back of his throat. The kiss intensified until she thought she'd go mad with need. She surged up and wrapped her legs around his waist, and she nearly whimpered when one of his hands slid down her back to grab her bottom, keeping her snuggly pressed against him. To be so close to him, to feel the effect she had on him… it was almost enough to make her shatter on the spot. From one single kiss. It was almost embarrassing, if not for the fact that she was pretty desperate for that to happen.

Wufei tore his mouth away from her and dragged some much needed air into his lungs. His head was spinning wildly, sensations and thoughts mingling together until he couldn't tell them apart anymore and felt like he was going mad. He slid his mouth down her throat, reveling in the soft feeling of her skin and the scent of her. The chlorine from the pool couldn't erase that sweet smell. Her breath was just as out of control as his, and she rolled her head back to give him better access.

Her hands slid up to his neck, yanked on his hair, and then her mouth was on his again. He could practically taste the desperation on her tongue, and unable to resist, he had some more of her.

"Miss Relena?" Davies's voice broke through the haze. "I have your brother on the phone in your office."

Relena broke away from the kiss, a regretful look on her face. Wufei opened heavy lidded eyes to look at her, and she was nearly tempted to ignore Davies and kiss Wufei again. His fingers came up to trace along her cheekbone, memorizing the shape of it.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, heartfelt. "I have to answer that."

He slid his fingers down her cheek and outlined the shape of her bottom lip with his thump. "It's okay."

The hoarse sound of his voice made her shiver. She slid her fingers around his wrist and nipped on his thump. "Later?"

He gave her a hint of a smile and nodded. She leaned in, desperate for an emphasis on that promise, and sighed as he took her mouth in an achingly gentle kiss. Relena sighed with regret as she slid out of his arms and turned to hoist herself out of the pool. She padded over to the lounge chair and retrieved her towel, wrapping it around herself. She glanced back at him and found him watching her. His arms were folded on the pool's edge, his chin resting on top of them. Those dark eyes gazed at her with so much heat, she let out a slightly nervous chuckle.

"Don't look at me like that," she told him. "I won't be able to concentrate."

His lips titled into a smirk. "Think of me then."

Her cheeks, still flushed from his assault on her senses, deepened in color even more. Wufei chuckled as she quickly grabbed her robe, and hastened back into the house.

He remained where he was, still slightly perturbed about the interruption, but also glad. What had he been thinking? he scolded himself. If they hadn't been interrupted he would have taken her right there in the water, right there for the servants to see. Frustration made him growl, and he whirled around and hit the water, angry at his lack of self-control. And there was that other thing, something he had tried to ignore but could no longer.

She was Yuy's woman.

And as such, he could not have her, as much as his traitorous body was telling him otherwise. He'd have to find a way to keep his distance from her.

-x-x-x-

When she sought him out some time later, he felt much calmer. He was back in his professional mode, and the kiss in the pool seemed like a surreal memory. She was dressed in jeans and a long sleeved cotton shirt in a blue shade that brought out her eyes.

"I was thinking we could go for that walk in the woods."

"Sure," he said.

She gave him a smile, and pivoted on her heels. "Great! I'll ask Davies to prepare us some food and drinks for on the way."

"How long are you planning to be out there?" he asked curiously.

"We can do one of the shorter trails for now. It will take us about three hours."

Huh. His eyebrows rose in surprise. She made it sound like she made a habit of hiking through the woods. He closed his report and got up to dig up his combat boots and gun. By the time he came back down, Relena was waiting for him in the foyer, with two backpacks by her feet. She grabbed one and held it out to him.

"The weather is perfect for this," she said conversationally while slipping on sunglasses.

Truth to be told, he looked forward to being in the woods, even if it meant being alone with her for the duration of the hike. Nature calmed him and so it was always something he actively sought out. Maybe it would calm his mind now too.

They left the property through the back gate and walked along the shore of the lake towards the edge of the forest.

"I always love these walks," Relena said. "I've been doing this ever since Milliardo and I bought the house."

"So it hasn't been in the family for that long then," he said, trying to ignore how Zechs' birth name jarred him. Another reason not to get involved.

"No. I wanted something in this part of the country. As much as I love New Port City, I need the quiet as well."

"Nature calms me too," he found himself saying.

She smiled at him. "I find the sounds of it very soothing. The smells too."

He was silent for some time as they tracked on, following a path that wound through the trees and uphill. It was a good exercise, he mused. Less strain on his body than his usual rigorous work-out regime. He was looking forward to being able to pick it up again, but for now hiking and swimming did suffice.

"I spoke with Dorothy," she said suddenly. "We're planning to meet up next Friday. She'll arrange for a table in the VIP lounge. It's less crowded there."

He grunted in reply. "Alright."

"We could spend the night at my place in the city. It will save you the drive back during the night."

He grunted again.

"You're really okay with going, aren't you?" she felt compelled to ask. He seemed a bit distant, and it was a stark contrast to the way he had been that morning.

"I said as much, didn't I?" His tone sharpened.

"Yeah," she said quickly, deciding for the diplomatic road to avoid another argument. "I'm just checking."

They continued on in silence, until Relena drew to a halt on top of a hill. It provided a beautiful view of the surrounding area, and she clambered up onto a large rock formation and sat down. Wufei followed her example a little reluctantly, partially because he would end up sitting next to her. The rock's surface was smoothed down, a clear sign they weren't the first ones to sit down on it. Relena sat facing the open space between the trees, a serene expression on her face. She had dug out her water bottle and sipped from it occasionally.

"Did I do something wrong?" she suddenly asked.

"Huh? What?" he turned his head to look at her in surprise. "What are you talking about?"

She shrugged and took off her sunglasses, so she could look him in the eyes. "You seem a little distant in comparison to this morning."

So she had figured it out. He felt tension creep into his shoulders.

"Is it something I did?" her tone was completely neutral and her eyes were clear.

He couldn't do anything but admire her composure. But as he sat looking at her, he realized it was the politician's mask. She was hiding from him what she was really feeling.

"There are things I have taken into consideration."

"Oh?" she casually inquired.

He took a deep breath. "I shouldn't get involved with you."

She snorted humorlessly. "It's a little late for that."

"But still…"

"And why not?"

"Because of Heero."

She sat gaping at him in shocked silence. When she found her voice again, she sounded eerily calm. As if she was reprimanding him like a damn child. "What does Heero have to do with us getting involved?"

"Everything."

She shook her head. "Nonsense."

"What if he decided to come back?"

"What? Is he planning to do so?" she asked, and her tone turned mocking.

"No. Not that I know of. But what if he did?" It took effort to get the next question out. "Would you take him back?"

"No." Her answer was immediate and very sure. "I would not."

He tore his gaze away from hers and sat staring out into the distance for some time.

Relena didn't know what to make of his sudden change of mind. What an infuriating man he was! Did he really think she'd fall at Heero's feet if he ever turned up in front of her. Just like that?

"It shows how little you think of me," she said. "I knew before that you didn't hold me in very high regard, but I didn't realize it was this bad."

His head whipped back around, his eyes narrowed into a glare. "I-"

"Shut up, Wufei," she interrupted him. "I don't like it that you seem to think Heero is better than you are."

That stunned him into silence. Good. She launched into the next part of her tirade with vigor. "Or that you think I'm frivolous and fickle. You think I'll take Heero back? Why would I even want to?"

"I thought he was the love of your life?"

She threw back her head and laughed, but the sound of it was bitter. "A lot of people think that. For a while I thought it myself as well. But no… our relationship wasn't healthy and too much based on ideals."

His breath escaped his lungs in a rush. In relief? He wasn't sure.

"He was… very controlling. He treated me like a porcelain doll that could break at any given opportunity. He wouldn't even allow me to do half of the stuff we've done the past few days."

Wufei's eyes narrowed. "We barely left the estate."

"Which is exactly my point." She gave him a small smile. "I couldn't even sit outside, because he was afraid something might happen to me. It was… suffocating."

"I'm sorry," he said, feeling like an ass. "I didn't realize…"

She smiled and reached for his hand, resting hers on top of his for a moment. "I want to be seen as a woman, not some fragile blossom that can't take a little blow every now and then. I wouldn't be where I am today if I couldn't stand a little hardship."

She was so strong, he thought. She knew exactly what she wanted and blatantly stated that. With a start, he realized she reminded him of Meilan. The same kind of fiery spirit, both warriors in their own way. A small smile came to play over his lips as he remembered Trowa on Peacemillion, telling him to be kind to Relena because it was so easy to hurt a woman's feelings. Trowa had been wrong. Relena would accept no bullshit from him.

"So now you know," she said, while putting her water bottle back into her bag. She slung it onto her shoulder and hopped off the rock. "It's up to you now."

He got up as well and made a grab for her wrist when she moved to walk away. "I don't think you are frivolous or fickle. And you're right. Before, I didn't hold you in very high regard because I didn't agree with your policies. But that was years ago. I was a fool then and didn't know what to do with myself."

She turned back towards him and heat flashed in his blood when her gaze came to rest on his mouth. It would be so easy to take what he wanted from her, he mused. But he'd give her something to think about too.

"I don't do flings," he told her bluntly. "You have to be very sure of what you want from me, because I won't let you walk away so easily. Understood?"

She blinked up at him, and for a moment her eyes were all he could see. They were large and filled with wonder, framed by thick lashes. She hadn't bothered with make-up and he liked that she felt comfortable enough in his presence to go without it.

"So…" He trailed a finger along her jawline, and watched as her eyelids fluttered. "Think about that, will you?"

She drew in a shaky breath, and nodded. A flush rose to her cheeks, turning her delicate skin rosy. "Okay."

Her voice was husky and made his gut tighten. But he would not act on his desire. Not yet. He prided himself for his self-control. She'd have to decide for herself if she wanted what he had laid out for her. She had thought to put him in his place, but he could do that to her too. He had no idea why he had made the offer. Just moments ago he had been telling himself not to get involved, but here he was, breaking his own rules. What had he been thinking just now, about self-control? She had taken all of it away with her words.

"We should get going," she murmured. "We still have two hours to go."

"Right."

She stepped back and continued up the trail. He fell in step beside her. They didn't speak much the rest of the way, but the silence was comfortable. The crisp air cleared his head, and the sounds of the forest around him calmed him. Her presence calmed him. He would almost dare to say he was content, and it had been some time since he had felt like this. She made sure to stay next to him, never walking in front or behind him, where it would be harder for him to protect her if the need arose.

But the forest was quiet, and they didn't encounter anyone on their way. It made him relax more and more, and he could actually take the time to appreciate the scenery. And her. Her expression was serene, telling him she was enjoying herself as much as he was. They had found something they had in common, he mused. They weren't that different, were they?

-x-x-x-

Relena hummed to herself as she expertly applied mascara to her lashes. After two weeks of going mostly bare faced, it felt almost strange to wear make-up again. But tonight, she wanted to look her best. She had opted for a more daring look than she usually would go for. On work days she preferred nude shades. But not tonight. She smiled to herself and fluffed her hair a little. Her eyes seemed large and mysterious with the smokey eye look. She had combined it with a nice shimmery lipgloss. If her plans worked out, she hated to think she'd smear lipstick all over Wufei. At least most of the lipgloss would be gone by the end of the evening.

She rose and examined the little black dress in the mirror. It emphasized her curves just right, she thought as she turned, grinning to herself as her black pumps glittered in the lamp light. She had prepared and dressed with care, almost in the same fashion as she would for an important debate or television appearance. Except now she rather looked like a seductress instead of the prim and proper Foreign Minister. And that was exactly what she wanted.

The past week, Wufei had kept his distance from her. He'd talked to her, but he had not made any move to kiss her again. She supposed it was to give her time to think about what he had said. And truth to be told, she was a little glad for it. It had given her the opportunity to get to know him. She found him endlessly fascinating. She loved his wit, dry humor, and the vast knowledge that made him an excellent partner in conversations. There had been quiet evenings in front of the hearth during which he had read to her from his poetry collection. She had been lulled into a state of utter content by the sound of his voice. She had been tempted to run some of her proposals for work by him, but she couldn't bring herself to think about work, let alone talk about it. Not yet. Maybe in a few days. She was interested in his thoughts on them and she was sure he wouldn't hesitate to give his opinion.

But first…

She grinned and grabbed her purse on her way out of the room. Her home in New Port was a stately town house, that she had bought in her own name when reaching the age of eighteen. She was proud of it and had poured all the time and energy she could spare in the renovation. Now, almost ten years later, it was cozy and felt like home. It was the place she would return to during her weekends. She had liked the look of awe on Wufei's face when they had stepped into the foyer.

As she descended the stairs, she heard him moving about in the living room. He was already ready to go then. She checked the slim golden watch on her wrist. Exactly on time.

"I'm ready to go," she announced as she walked into the living room.

Wufei had been standing in front of the window, looking out into the garden, and turned around at the sound of her footsteps. And felt his mouth run dry and his gut tighten at her appearance. She was dressed in an elegant black cocktail dress, and her hair was styled to hang sleekly over her shoulders. She looked stunning. He had to swallow thickly before he managed to find his voice.

"You look beautiful."

He could see the compliment pleased her immensely, and she gave him a beguiling little smile. "Thanks. You don't look so bad yourself."

He hadn't come prepared for a night out in the city, so he had just settled for a pair of dark jeans and a white shirt. He gave her a small smirk. "I'm ready to go if you are."

She nodded. "Let's go then."

As he moved passed her to lead the way to the garage, she caught a whiff of his cologne and had to bite her lip. He looked and smelled so good. She could just gobble him up. His hair hung loose over his shoulders and he had rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, and the toned forearms he was displaying were enough to send her mind into overdrive. She was very tempted to seduce him right there, but she knew that Dorothy would never let her live it down if she didn't show up on time.

Wufei drove his car out of the garage, and turned it onto the street. He'd memorized the route to the club in the center, and had spend several hours the past week to prepare for this outing. He'd contacted the local Preventer office to stand by, and had been in touch with the lounge club's manager to go over their security details. He didn't have much to worry about as the club catered to the rich and famous, and their security was adequate. But Wufei liked to come prepared.

"How often do you see Dorothy?" he asked, and tried his best to keep his distaste for the woman in question from sounding through.

She laughed. "Usually every other week. She's not so bad, you know."

Wufei could barely keep from snorting. "Right."

He caught her grinning at him from the corner of his eyes. "Once you get to know her, you'll discover she's a lot of fun actually."

"Well," he said as he turned into the underground parking garage of the lounge club. "I'm about to find out, right?"

Relena casually slipped her arm through his as they walked towards the entrance. There was a smile on her face and her eyes sparkled up at him when he turned his head to look at her. He felt very tempted to kiss that smiling mouth. But, he thought to himself, she'd have to ask for it.

The lounge club was tastefully decorated in a modern industrial style, with plush couches in warm tones, and lots of plants and greenery. The largest plants shielded some of the sitting areas in the VIP area from view, giving them an intimate and inviting appearance. The music was urban, but the volume not overwhelming. Relena was busy looking around, trying to spot her friend in the room.

She turned to the right with a laugh and drew Wufei with her to where Dorothy Catalonia was waving them over. She had chosen one of the more secluded corners, and was casually draped over her male companion's lap.

Wufei drew to an abrupt halt at the table and his eyes widened in shock. "Trowa?"

"Hi." Trowa Barton gave him a rare grin from his place on one of the comfortable looking couches that made up their corner. "Long time no see."

Wufei was absolutely stupefied, all the more so, because Trowa looked more relaxed than Wufei had ever seen him. He looked… content. Maybe even happy. Dorothy Catalonia rose gracefully from her seat on Trowa's lap and darted forward to wrap her arms around Relena.

"Lena, Darling! It's so good to see you!"

The sound of her voice shook Wufei out of his stupor and he cleared his throat. "Miss Catalonia."

"Oh, there is no need to be so formal… Wufei." She batted her eyelashes at him, but her blue eyes regarded him slyly from underneath them. "Come! Come, have a seat."

Dorothy dragged Relena with her to the other couch, and Wufei noticed how she moved so that Relena had to sit on the far end of it, closest to the wall, with Dorothy blocking the way out. Or in, he realized. She send him a little smile, but her look told him something as well. If the need came for it, Dorothy would protect her friend.

Wufei had no choice but to take the couch across from the women, but with Trowa next to him, he didn't mind as much.

"How did you end up here?" he asked.

"I'm with Dorothy," was Trowa's simple reply.

"Uhuh." Wufei gave him an amused look.

"She's… fucking hot." Trowa's lips curled into a semblance of a smirk. "Don't look so disgusted."

Wufei shook his head. "You're a fool to think she'll keep you around for long."

An attentive waiter came to take their order, and after he'd hurried away, Trowa spoke again. "You're a fool to think I'd let her go so easily."

"Huh." Wufei smirked. "So this isn't a fling then?"

He had heard enough whispers about Catalonia's reputation, and had been witness to Trowa's plenty of times in the past.

"Nope," Trowa said easily.

Wufei snorted and took the glass the waiter put down in front of him. By his order, it was only water, but he raised the glass in a mock of a toast. "To sluts losing their wild hairs then."

Trowa grinned and took his own glass of beer and tapped it against Wufei's. "Cheers."

Relena gave Wufei a smile from across the table and relaxed back in her seat when she noticed he seemed at ease. It probably had to do with Trowa being there, and she was rather glad that Dorothy had brought him along. The music and noise around them allowed her to talk to Dorothy without the men overhearing them and for that she was glad. She was dying to know how Dorothy and Trowa had ended up together.

"So…" She sipped from her wine and turned in her seat towards Dorothy, very prepared to grill her. "How did Trowa end up here?"

"Well…" Dorothy gave Trowa a flirty look from the corner of her eyes. "I ran into him three weeks ago in Brussel's center."

Relena nearly chocked on her wine. "Three weeks ago?! So when we were on the phone before my vacation…"

"He wasn't there, silly." Dorothy cackled. "Don't worry. He doesn't know I'm trying to set you up with Wufei."

Relena didn't know if she should be mortified or relieved. "Well… you don't really have to…"

"Oh?" Dorothy cocked her head to the side, and her eyes narrowed. "Are you saying you're interested then?"

Relena leaned in so she could whisper in Dorothy's ear. "We kissed."

"Oh…" A sly smile spread on her friend's face and she threw back her head and laughed. "Oh my. Finally! I'm so proud of you."

Relena rolled her eyes. "Dorothy."

"You've got to let go a little, Lena. Just look at him. He's absolutely yummy and-"

"Keep your eyes on Trowa, please." Relena interrupted her.

"So…" Dorothy batted her eyelashes at her. "Is he a good kisser?""

"Dorothy."

"He is then. You're blushing." She grinned, obviously enjoying herself. "So… when are you jumping into bed with him?"

Ugh… Dorothy was going like a fast train and she had completely turned the conversation away from her and Trowa. But Relena wasn't going down without a fight. "Soon enough, I'd like to think. But… tell me about Trowa."

"Not much to tell." Dorothy winked. "We ran into each other and the chemistry was off charts. Can you imagine? Back then he didn't even spare me a glance and now… boom."

Well, Relena knew all about that. She smiled and reached out to rest her hand on Dorothy's arm. "I'm happy for you."

Dorothy gave her a smile, and it was warm and reached her eyes, telling Relena she was genuinely happy. "So… you tell me when you snag up Wufei for good?"

Relena chuckled. "I'll tell you when it comes to that."

-x-x-x-

It was much, much later when Wufei and Relena returned to her townhouse. Her belly was still aching from laughing so much, and her head was pleasantly buzzing with wine. She kicked off her shoes in the foyer and sighed in bliss at the cool wood beneath her feet.

"That," she said with a grin, "was fun."

Wufei's lips were curled into a small smile. "You enjoyed yourself then?"

"Yes." She flung her purse into the hallway, not caring where it ended up. She'd worry about it in the morning. "Did you?"

He gave a curt nod. "It was nice to see Trowa again."

"I still can't believe those two ended up together." Relena shook her head and gave a little laugh. "Of all the men who tried to tame Dorothy Catalonia, it was Trowa that succeeded."

"Hmm…"

Wufei watched her intently, liking the way her eyes lit up when she spoke of her friend's happiness. She was so selfless. Genuinely happy for Dorothy and Trowa.

She fell silent when she noticed him looking, and her gaze darkened. "Wufei…"

The husky way she said his name made him grab her hair to drag her closer to him. She came to him willingly and her fingers curled around the fabric of his shirt as she rose up on her toes.

"Have you decided yet?" he asked her.

She leaned in, her lips barely brushing his. Her eyes gleamed up at him wickedly. "I've given it a thought or two."

He used his hold on her hair to tilt her head back, and leaned in to nuzzle along her throat. "And?"

She pressed closer and the heat of her seemed to seep into his bones. Her scent filled his nostrils until his mind buzzed, as if he was drunk. Her breath stuttered out, and her hands moved to clasp at his biceps. He could see her heart beating wildly in the little hollow of her throat, and felt it too when his lips skimmed over her pulse point.

"Damn it, woman. Answer me," he demanded hoarsely. He needed to know what she wanted, because just being near her like this drove him crazy. The past week it had taken all of his self restraint not to grab her and get it over with.

She gasped and arched into him even more. "I'm yours."

He scraped his teeth along her pulse point and made her moan. Sensations rushed through her and turned her legs to jelly. She sagged against him and had to rely on him to keep her up. His lips skimmed along her jaw and then his mouth was on hers, devouring her until she thought she'd go mad with need. She buried her hands in his hair, her fingers tangling in the black locks and holding on for dear life. Heat pooled in her belly and shot down to her core, and she felt again like she had felt in the pool. Near desperation. But this time they'd finish what they'd started.

Wufei grabbed her legs and lifted her up, and nearly groaned when she wrapped her legs around his waist. He stumbled up the stairs with her in his arms, his mouth on hers, too far gone for common sense. They made it safely to the top and down the hallway towards her room without incident. Her fingers found the top buttons of his shirt and undid them, and his eyes nearly rolled back in his head when her fingers slipped underneath and her nails teasingly scraped over a nipple. Pleasure shot like a spike of lightning down his spine, and he staggered, ending up tumbling onto the bed with her. She broke the kiss with a gasp and arched under him, her hips molding to his.

"Relena," he groaned, painfully aware that he was grasping at thin threads of control.

Her fingers returned to the buttons of his shirt and pulled it out of his jeans, and he was momentarily forced to let go of her to shrug out of it. And then her hands were on his skin, burning and branding him. He shivered violently under those wandering fingers, especially when they trailed down his stomach to find the fastenings of his jeans. He made a grab for her wrists and pinned them against the mattress above her head.

"Not so fast," he rasped against her ear. "I do plan to take my time."

Her breath hitched and a sob tore from her throat. She was so lost, so lost already. And she was still fully dressed. How did he do that? Turn her brain to mush by just kissing her? His grip on her wrists was strong and secure, pinning her helplessly in place. She was left at his mercy, his to play with, and she had no choice but to surrender.

He took her mouth again and she responded feverishly, trying to communicate how much she wanted him. After the week of anticipation, everything seemed so intense, as if all of her senses zeroed down on to the tiniest pinpricks of sensation. She was burning and each kiss added more fuel to the fire. He kissed her, again and again, until his taste was branded in her memory, until she was drunk with him instead of the wine she had drank.

Wufei let go of her wrists when he felt her go slack beneath him, and slid his hands down her arms and around her to find the zipper of her dress. He sat up to pull the dress down her arms, and his breath left his lungs in a rush when he uncovered the black lace underneath. She lifted her hips so he could drew the dress down entirely, and he dropped it beside the bed. She made quite the vision, with her hair spread around her head like a halo, her glassy eyes and flushed cheeks, and the temptation of the bodysuit that gave him enticing glimpses of creamy skin. He trailed his finger down her front, starting at her collar bone, and down to her breast, which made her arch into his touch, and over her belly. He took his time watching her, watching her every reaction as his hand slipped further down her body, to the fastening of the lace. She felt scorching hot and her hips jolted as he ground his hand against her, a helpless little moan tearing from her throat.

She was drowning, so fast she knew she was hopelessly lost. And then he began peeling the lace away from her body, and the matching lace thong underneath went along with it. He feasted on her skin, leaving little red marks all over her body. Her head rolled from side to side as he slid further down her body to use that mouth on her. Pleasure rose like a tidal wave and she came with a cry, the orgasm ripping through her with a fury she had not expected. She nearly twisted out of his hold. But he was not done yet, and took her up again.

His name left her lips like a mantra, her fingers clutching at his hair until her grip was almost painful. She was so responsive, more so than he had expected. But it was like this with every layer of her that he had uncovered the past two weeks. She always managed to surprise him. He rose and sat back to undo his jeans, kicking of his boxers and shoes along with them. The fire was raging in his gut and he wasn't strong enough to resist any longer. The urgency was too much, especially after that taste of her.

She reached for him and drew him down, her thighs cradling his hips. He groaned when her hand closed around him and guided him to where she was burning for him.

"Relena." The question was clear in his tone.

She smiled at him and arched up to press her mouth to his.

"Now," she whispered against his lips. "Now, Wufei."

He kept his mouth pressed against hers, swallowing her cry as he slid home in one smooth trust. She wrapped her legs around his waist and held him there, teetering on the edge already. He filled her so perfectly, and she soared when he started rolling his hips. She met each trust eagerly and kept him locked to her with her arms and legs, not wanting to be separated from him for even a second. Her hands slid over slick and burning skin, feeling the muscles working underneath. Later, later she would explore, she vowed, before her mind went blank and need took over.

Wufei broke away from her mouth and buried his face against her throat, shuddering as her walls clamped down on him like a scorching, silky vice. His lungs were burning, his whole body seemed to be consumed by flames, and yet he knew he would never get enough of her. She was in his head, branded right into his soul, into the very essence of him. He grasped her hands and pressed them against the mattress beside her head, intimately entwining his fingers with hers. He pushed up onto his elbows to watch her, wanting to see her as she shattered beneath him.

Her eyes opened and locked on his. "Kiss me…"

He pressed his mouth to hers again, and felt her fingers tighten around his. He felt her arch her back and then she went impossibly tight around him. He swallowed her cry of rapture and picked up his pace, groaning as her undoing triggered his. He buried himself deep inside of her and let her consume him.

-x-x-x-

He was wonderfully warm to cuddle up against. Relena lay pressed into Wufei's side, her head comfortably resting on his chest. Her body still thrummed with aftershocks and that was something she had never experienced before. She slid her hand up from were it was resting against toned abdomen, and trailed her fingers over his chest, noticing with a smile how her touch made him shiver.

He grunted and turned his face into her hair, nuzzling her blond locks tenderly. "Keep that up and you won't be getting sleep any time soon."

Well… wasn't that just her intention? Her smile turned coy, and she lifted her head to look at him. He was gazing at her with heavy lidded eyes, and in the semi darkness of her room they seemed pitch black and bottomless.

"What makes you think I want to sleep?" she questioned while moving in to press a gentle kiss against his lips.

His hand slid into her hair and kept her there, deepening the kiss until she was left sighing in wonder. The lazy quality of it added to the hum in her blood. Now that the urgency had melted away, there was time for savoring. She drew back with a smile and reached up to trail her fingers along his jaw.

"Dorothy mentioned something interesting," she murmured. "I guess it applies to us as well."

He gave her a curious look. "Oh?"

She got comfortable against him again, draping her upper body over his and folding her hands on his chest. She rested her chin on them and her smile turned cheeky. "Something about Trowa not sparing her a glance back in the day and how their chemistry is off charts now."

"Hmm…" He directed his gaze at the ceiling and thought for some time. "I guess so. Although I always thought you were pretty."

"Did you now?" Laughter bubbled in her throat.

"It's hard not to notice you." He wound a lock of her hair around his finger and gently tugged on it. "But yeah… I think it applies to us too."

"Why do you think that is?"

"Because we both needed to grow as individuals."

"Hmm…" She pursed her lips and nodded. "Or grow up."

"Har, har." He tugged on her hair again. "Don't play smart with me, Woman."

She grinned. "I guess it will take effort to outsmart you. But I don't mind a challenge."

He grinned at her, amused by their banter. She looked carefree, and strikingly beautiful with her sparkling eyes and rosy cheeks. And he liked most the way she looked draped over his body as she was. Almost as if she belonged there. He noticed how her gaze strayed and landed on the forming scar on his shoulder. She moved to press a gentle kiss against it. The fact that she didn't shy away from the slightly puckered skin made a warm feeling bloom in his chest.

"This is a bullet wound," she said. "How did you get it?"

"I was about to take out a suspect, but there was one more hiding behind some crates in the room. They got me."

"Does it hurt?"

"Not so much anymore. My ribs were worse, because I was thrown sideways against a pile of rubble from the impact."

She moved, sliding one sticky thigh over his hips until she was straddling him. Her hands wandered over his chest, his ribs, his abdomen. He was so beautiful, and with a start she realized he was hers. She gasped when she felt him stir against her. She hadn't forgotten her vow to herself, and she was more than eager to follow up on it. She rocked her hips against him just once, biting down on her bottom lip as the movement made desire blaze again. His back arched and his head rolled back, and she leaned in to brush feather light kisses against the exposed skin of his throat.

"You laid down your conditions and I agreed to them," she murmured against his skin, enjoying the way how his pulse jumped as her fingers on his belly wandered lower. "I have some of my own."

She slipped down his body, taking her time and enjoying the fact that he let her. The feeling of his skin beneath her mouth, the scent and taste of him were addicting, the sounds she managed to coax from him empowering. She paused until he lifted his head from the pillow to look at her. His eyes were narrowed, as if warning her to stop teasing him. She slipped her fingers around his erection, and a shiver ran down her spine as she remembered how he had felt inside of her. She flicked her tongue over the head, tasting him, as well as herself.

He growled and his voice was strained as he spoke. "Only you would ask me this way."

She laughed and let her lips slide along the protruding vein along the underside of his manhood. As she spoke, her breath caressed over the sensitive head. "Should you have expected anything less?"

He fell back on the bed with a groan. "Fine, what are they?"

She smiled. "Equal partnership."

He chuckled. "As if you were to accept it if I became overbearing."

She chuckled herself. "No," she said coyly. "I wouldn't. And I'm sure I'll figure out a way to remind you."

"Damn you, Woman."

"Language, Wufei." She grinned up at him. "And I have a name, or is my current position turning your brain to mush?"

She took him in her mouth then, enjoying the way his hips jolted, even though he was trying his best to stay still. His fingers tangled in her hair, to encourage, maybe to control her rhythm, but she let him because she trusted him.

His spine felt like it was close to snapping and Wufei could barely contain the sounds that threatened to escape him. She had thrown him another curveball. Equal partnership. But wasn't that what she deserved?

"Relena…" He tried to pour a warning in his tone, but it was difficult to get his mouth and voice to work with the way she was stealing the breath right out of his lungs.

She slowly drew away and crawled her way up to kiss him. "Yes?"

He cupped her cheek and kissed her again. "You've got it."

She smiled and sat up, shifting her hips to take him inside of her again. She moved slowly, her head rolling back and tempting him to sit up and nuzzle along her throat. She was beautiful, and his.

Not quite what he had expected, no. But no less a welcome change. And then he could think no more as need took over.

- End -

Thanks for reading my *cough* little *cough* story! Please, let me know what you think of it! :)