*WARNING*

This chapter has SPOILERS of things yet to come in the anime, so please, be patient if you haven't read the manga and don't read this story until at least episode 20 will be aired (I think! "^^ XD).

Also, it will begin to get steamy..! ;D 3

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( /RoryWild4)

And Bertaz too! (She draws Escalin sooooo well! She's an inspiration and a huge help every time!)

( /BertazHead)

CHAPTER 2: Opening

Slowly her eyes fluttered open, she had rested surprisingly well but for a moment didn't remember where she was, until she turned her head to the side and saw his face, and a gentle smile brew on her lips, unconsciously, at the sight. He seemed to have drifted off to sleep too, but he hadn't loosen his embrace on her.

Instinctively she nuzzled her face on his neck, inhaling his scent that she liked so much, cuddling more onto him.

Her movements woke him up slightly, he too seemed a little out of it until he realized where he was, with whom and in which situation. He froze for a moment, but feeling her cuddle more into him, instinctively he tightened his hold on her, and was very surprised when her hands began caressing his arms, brushing her body against his.

He swallowed and tried to calm down again.

"M-merlin? How are you feeling?"

He felt her smile on his skin.

"I must admit that I have never slept so well, I feel well rested."

The Lion moved one arm to caress her hair and rubbed his cheek on her head.

"I am very glad to hear that."

He whispered with a loving smile on his lips.

They had slept just for a couple of hours, and stayed cuddling for some time more, until the Mage gave him a quick kiss on the neck.

"I think I am ready for that massage now."

She whispered suggestively against his skin, and he shivered and tried to rein himself in, even if it was almost a lost cause.

She distanced herself from him just enough to look in his eyes, so that he could see her mischievous grin, he was relieved to see her act more like her usual self but that also meant that he was in for a lot of trouble.

"O-ok."

He managed to say only that while swallowing hard, receiving a light chuckle from her that lifted his heart. She slowly sat up, her back to him, staying between his legs still. He swallowed and took in a deep breath, trying to turn back to a more professional mentality, even if the situation was anything but.

He gently put his hands on her shoulders and began massaging there with just the right amount of strength. Her resulting moans were only aggravating his situation.

He dragged his hands all over her back, from her neck to just a touch away from her behind, she was enjoying his careful ministrations, but his touch was also exciting her, her heart was beating hard in her chest and her breaths were faster. She gradually repositioned herself, lifting her arms to the edge of the tub, this left her sides completely open, it was almost an invitation. Escanor gulped, raptured by the sight, and decided to test the waters with her, to understand where their relationship was going. Slowly he dragged his hands to her sides, caressing and massaging from her hips to just under her breasts, never touching but gradually suggesting something more.

The Mage was under his spell, the air around them was charged with tension, this couldn't go on for much longer, but he seemed to be waiting for her permission to finally take that last step forward.

She turned her head slightly to the side, so that she could see him behind her.

"I don't mind if you are more forward with me."

She whispered suddenly, his eyes immediately found hers, half lidded and full of desire, and the mix from her words and that gaze helped him make up his mind.

With a quick movement his mouth was at her neck, making her gasp in surprise and delight. He covered the elegant column with kisses, sucking here and there, resulting in more delicious moans and other sounds of approval to get out of her mouth. His hands caressed her all over but never touching directly her breasts, and she was beginning to feel frustrated.

Unconsciously she arched her back, almost begging him to touch her, offering her chest to his exploring hands that had been neglecting that area. He couldn't make the both of them wait for a second longer.

Suddenly his hands left her body completely, to appear right after exactly where she wanted them, making her gasp and moan in delight. He groaned against her neck, the feel of her full breasts in his hands was marvellous, they were big and soft, and when he pinched her already erected nipples it made her almost writhe against him, moan louder, and one of her hands reached back to grasp his hair.

She wanted more, wanted to feel and experience more.

Suddenly the Boar turned around, attacking his mouth with hers, circling his neck with her arms and pressing their upper body together. He pressed her against him, one hand on her back, the other in her hair.

They kissed with fervor, their tongues battling one another, invading each other's mouths, swallowing the other moans with their own.

They stopped only when they needed oxygen, their foreheads touching, both breathing hard.

Merlin wanted more, she needed more, but before that she had something to do.

"I… before we go any further I need to talk to you."

She said a little nervous. Escanor looked at her, worried, had he done something wrong?

As if she had read his thoughts she chuckled lightly and shook her head, caressing his cheek.

"I want… need to tell you something that concerns me."

Her smile fell a little and was sad, and now he was worried about her.

"But first, we really need to wash ourselves."

She smiled up again, snapped her fingers and changed the water in the bathtub, summoning a bar of soap and started gently to wash him. He was a little embarrassed, but let her do as she pleased, she was being so gentle, he had never seen her like this before.

When it was his turn to wash her he almost had a heart attack, and had to rein himself in strongly, they would have time for more lewd things after this, he thought, but washing her breasts had both of them moan slightly. Luckily, for their bottom parts they washed alone, their backs towards each other, he was sure he wouldn't have been able to sustain that kind of situation in an innocent way otherwise.

Once finished the Mage stood up, swaying only a little, the Lion was prepared to help her if she had needed it, and summoned two towels, giving one to him and wrapping the other around herself, both stepping out from the bathtub.

She was trying to maintain a neutral and happy expression, but her thoughts were getting the best of her: she was being assaulted by regrets and remorses, she wanted to stop, but everything was already in motion, it was too late, and she was fearing the outcome of everything that was to be.

Suddenly she felt a warm hand on her shoulders, she hadn't noticed that she was shivering.

"Merlin? What is it?"

His tone and eyes so gentle, she was almost unable to look at him, feeling ashamed for all the things she did.

Because of her schemes she could lose so much more…

"I…"

She tried to talk, but it was difficult to get out the words with her throat constricting from so many feelings. She hugged herself and was so grateful for his solid presence when he lessened their distance and began caressing her arms up and down, trying to warm up and comfort her.

She took a deep breath and went for it.

"I don't want to deceive you, you deserve the truth, you deserve to know what a terrible person I am, before you decide what is to be of us."

He was watching her with a confused look, but understood that it was something very, very important to her, so he just nodded, never moving from his position, always trying to comfort her and giving her strength.

"...but… I am scared."

Escanor was totally surprised at her words, but stayed silent, giving her time, it seemed strangely difficult for her to find the words she wanted to say, maybe the fear was a great factor for that.

She continued trembling, her gaze down, unable to look him in the eyes; what she was about to do, to say, opening herself so much, confessing her sins, she had never done that before, with anyone else. She was comfortable enough with him to think to do this, and she cared about him enough to effectively do this, but that was also the reason why she was so scared, so unsure.

"I fear.. I know.. that you will hate me. I have done so many reproachful and terrible things."

She would lose him, he would want nothing to do with her, and only thinking about that made her sick, to think that he wouldn't look at her with those gentle eyes, or that he wouldn't recite sweet poems at her, that he wouldn't care about her anymore... When had he become someone so important to her? Had she been so blind, so preoccupied with her schemes to not even realize what an important person he was for her?!

"I know I don't deserve your gentleness and care, I don't deserve your warmth and affection."

She was very aware of that, she didn't deserve him.

"...but I want them anyway, I long for them, I long for you.. but I don't want you to think I am a person that I am not."

She respected him, more than she showed, he was a remarkable man in many aspects, and she didn't want her egoistical side to take advantage of him, he was a good man, he deserved at least her best, if there was still something good in her.

"You should know all the despicable things I did, the despicable person that I really am, and I will tell you, you're the only one I-"

She was interrupted by soft but firm lips on her own, the contact was so unexpected that she couldn't stop a single tear from dropping from her eye, his lips were so gentle and warm, and were stirring something inside her that she couldn't explain.

He was shocked to his core by her words and faith in him, he was grateful that she felt safe enough with him to open herself so much, but he had to stop her.

After a few seconds he got back from her so that he could look at her, their bodies almost touching.

"Merlin.."

One of his hands moved under her chin, lifting her head so that they could look in each other's eyes.

"I know."

That shocked her completely, her eyes widening in surprise.

"I always knew that you carried a very heavy burden inside you. I do not need to know all the details, it is okay, I see you, I know that you made mistakes and that you regret them, I have those too."

His eyes were gentle but serious, he was telling the truth, she knew, she could feel it, but she couldn't comprehend why then he loved someone so broken like her.

"...how…"

She managed to choke out only that, her throat was too constricted by unsheathed tears and silent feelings.

"Your eyes. You always had such a sad look in your eyes."

Her eyes had always told him everything about her, more than anything else.

"I will always be on your side, no matter all the terrible things you did, and I want to relieve you of at least some of that sadness, that burden."

This time it was him who lowered his eyes, both his hands on her upper arms.

"But I fear that I could add some instead."

Merlin looked at him confused, she didn't understand what he could do to add to her burden of regrets and wrong decisions and actions.

"What do you mean?"

He sighed, reflexively tightening his grasp on her arms, she moved her crossed ones to reach for him and placed her hands on his chest, an ominous feeling was beginning to take root in her, she needed the contact with him.

"To tell you the truth, I didn't think it was possible, that Ludociel and Mael were right, but I fear that I overestimated myself."

He was worrying her, she could feel a sudden cold sensation spreading inside her body, running towards her heart.

He looked up at her, a serious and sad look in his eyes.

"I am dying Merlin. I do not think I have much time left."

Zan-zan-zaaaaan! °_°

Yeah, I love a good cliffhanger! U.U XD

The more comments and kudos I'll have, the quicker I'll post the next chapter! U.U ;P (I'm joking!..partially! XD but I really like to know what you all think and it fuels my inspiration to write more! ^^ 3)

I hope you liked this!