As the couple walked through the tropical forest, Juvia couldn't help but feel colder because instead of being in the sun, they were now in the shade.
And she had to watch her step because there were a lot of roots that someone could trip on and poisonous bugs that you could step on. Which wasn't a good idea when you're barefoot.
Gray hears Juvia scream behind him and immediately turns around and freezes a strange looking beetle that almost bit her.
"Are you okay?" He asks her.
"Yes, Juvia is fine. She's just unsure of where it's safest to walk." Juvia explains.
Gray thinks the situation over for a bit before opening his arms up for her.
"Let me carry you?" Gray offers.
She didn't hesitate to accept the offer. Practically jumping into his arms she wraps her arms around his shoulders and holds on tight.
"You're so romantic Gray-sama." Juvia says and rests her head on his shoulder.
He laughs at the thought of him being romantic. He certainly didn't consider himself a romantic person. But he would try for Juvia.
As he carried her towards their destination he couldn't help but notice how warm she felt. Being an ice wizard, he always felt cold. And he didn't mind, that's what he was used to. But after feeling the warmth of her body against his, he couldn't help but yearn for it. To think this is what he was missing out on for all those years he pushed her away? He certainly wouldn't be making that mistake again.
When they reach their destination, Juvia gasps and takes in the scenery.
Gray had brought her to a little lagoon. It had a beach and a lake that was fed from the ocean. And behind them was a small little bungalow.
"Where did Gray-sama find this place?" Juvia asks.
"I found it this morning when I was taking a walk." Gray explains as he sets her back down on the ground.
A harsh breeze blows past them, making Juvia shiver.
Gray goes up the steps to the bungalow and comes back to her with a blanket she can use as a cover up since she left hers back with their guild on the beach.
"No one's using it right now, so I figured we could spend the night here and get some alone time. Just the two of us." Gray explains.
"Juvia likes that idea." She replies.
"Here, take this to keep warm." Gray says and wraps blanket around her. "Because of the trees it's a bit colder here than it is on the beach."
Once the blanket is set on her shoulders, he places a gentle kiss to her forehead.
That kiss warmed Juvia more than the blanket ever could. And she blushes and tugs it tighter to herself as Gray uses his ice make magic to create a fishing rod.
"What are you doing?" She asks.
"I'm gonna catch us some dinner from this lagoon." Gray explains.
"You know Juvia could just use her magic to bring some fish out of the water for you Gray-sama." She reminds him.
"I know, but I want to do this for you. At least just this time." Gray says.
"Why?" Juvia asks.
"So I can prove that I can provide for you and take care of you." Gray says.
Juvia smiles and comes over to Gray and hugs him.
"Gray-sama you have nothing to prove to Juvia. She loves you."
After a long pause Gray says. "I love you too."
Juvia gasps in surprise before grabbing his face in her hands and kissing him in happiness. And he kisses her back.
They could have spent all afternoon kissing in each other's arms. Enjoying each other's warmth. But they were getting hungry and needed food.
Thankfully Gray caught two decent sized fish for each of them to eat and Juvia found some fruit to go with it and they had a nice little meal together.
But while their hunger for food may have been satisfied, there was another hunger for each other that they had discovered earlier that was still very much present as the sun set and the fire dimmed down.
Gray and Juvia keep their eyes locked as Juvia makes her way over to him and sits on his lap, just as she had done earlier in the day. And this time when she reaches up to undo the knot tying her top together, Gray doesn't stop her. So she pulls it loose and exposes herself to him, gently dropping her top on the sand beside them.
Gray stares at her chest and when he meets Juvia's gaze again his pupils are blown wide with lust. So he wraps his arm around her waist and flips them around to lay her on her back on the towel, pulling her bottoms off along the way and discarding them with her top so she was now completely naked underneath him, and it didn't take long for him to get naked too.
He searches her face, looking for one last confirmation that she really wanted this. And when looks down at his stiff member then back up at him and spreads her legs open. Gray leaned over her and took what she was offering him. Both of them embraced in each other's warmth.