Blueeyddevil06, thank you for being my beta!

Zuko and Sokka had just finished their run and were walking and stretching to cool off. Zuko appreciated that Sokka could keep up with the eight-mile pace he liked to run. They were well matched in that.

However, Sokka still complained, "Shit. I'm exhausted. I actually have to try when I run with you."

"And that's a problem?"

"I guess not here. The only girl I'm going to run into looking like this is my sister." Sokka then smirked wide at Zuko. "Although, that's a problem for you. Isn't it?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Zuko said, feigning innocence. He was frustrated that Sokka had set him up for that, and he walked right into it.

"Bullshit." Sokka punched him in the arm. He then let it drop for now.

They walked into the house to clean up, and Zuko started to follow Sokka up the stairs. Suddenly he felt something hit the back of his head.

He turned, and Katara was there glaring at him. "You're such a jerk!"

Sokka bent down and picked up the cookie she had thrown at Zuko, took a bite, and said, "I told you she's a great sister. Thanks for making more cookies, Katara." He then continued up the stairs to take a shower. He knew he'd hear what Zuko did later.

Zuko walked towards Katara but stopped before he got too close. He didn't want her to smell him too much. "What did I do?" He was utterly clueless.

She rolled her eyes, "I wasted four hours researching Ozai Oil. Come to find out it's a company that you are now in control of."

"Did they contact you about the donation… wait, why did you spend so much time researching them?"

"Because of the donation!" She sighed out in frustration. "You could have just told me you were going to donate an obscene amount of money."

"Why is that a problem?!" He looked at her in confusion.

"It's not!" She deflated. "It wouldn't be if I wasn't worried that a petroleum company was using us to clean up their image. I thought I had to make sure we weren't involved in a publicity stunt by some horrible company."

He gave her an annoyed look, "So, because of what the company deals in, we're evil?!" He crossed his arms and glared at her.

"You're too self-righteous, and you're acting like they haven't before. It just wasn't under your leadership." She huffed. "Once I realized you were in control, I accepted the money. I'm not upset because of the type of company. You just could have saved me time if you had said something."

He gave her a big smile, "You're welcome, Katara."

"It's a lot of money."

"And I had someone research your father's work. He may be an absentee father, but he does wonderful things for endangered species. I thought it was a good place to invest our money for charity." He took a step towards her, forgetting that he'd just been running. He stopped and blushed. "I'm sorry, I smell."

She chuckled, "Yes, you do." She wrinkled her nose.

He stepped back, "Maybe it will free up time for you to do what you want a bit more too."

"So you're my fairy godmother?"

"Definitely not. What gave you that idea?!"

"They come along and free the girl to do what they really want in all of the stories."

"I'm the hot version of that," he teased.

She smirked, "I can go along with that. Thank you, Zuko. It's… I really wasn't upset. I just don't know how to owe someone for their help."

"You don't owe me anything, Katara. Well, only some of your amazing cookies." He stepped forward and grabbed two off the plate. "There, now we're even."

"I don't think it really works that way."

"No?" He shrugged. "How about a kiss?" He decided it didn't hurt to try.

She smirked and shook her head, "Maybe after you shower."

"I can accept that." He took a bite of one of the cookies. "This will do, for now." He winked at her then headed up the stairs to clean up.

Zuko thought about her when he showered. He hoped Sokka didn't realize how long he was in there thinking of Katara.

Later that night when Zuko heard Katara downstairs, he joined her again. This time, he found her in the living room sitting on the couch. "No cookies tonight?"

"No. I didn't have a nightmare, so I didn't need one."

He smiled and sat next to her. "Then why are you up so late?"

"I was hoping you'd come down and join me." He could still see her blush in the low lighting. "I like our late-night talks."

"You do?" He cursed himself for not being able to come up with a better response than that. He was even more upset when he realized how much that made her uncomfortable.

He swallowed hard and added, "I meant to say that I'm glad. I like these times with you too." He looked her in the eyes attempting to convey the truth of that statement.

She fidgeted and said, "I owe you something too."

"You do?"

She nodded. "You said I owed you a kiss."

Katara then leaned forward and kissed him tentatively on the lips. Once he felt her lips touch him, he reacted viscerally. He ran his fingers through her hair, held her there, and coaxed her mouth open. He then plundered her mouth. She tasted like toothpaste. His other hand slid under her pajama top and rested on the center of her back. Her skin was incredibly soft and warm. He groaned into the kiss.

When they parted, she stood up quickly and walked to the other side of the room. "I…" She looked at him with shock in her eyes. "You want me?"

He rolled his eyes at her in exasperation. "You just figured that out?"

She was breathing hard, and she nodded. "Yes."

"And you, Katara? What do you want?" He tried to hide his trembling hands.

"It's not because of the money! I'm not some whore."

He was livid. "I would NEVER imply! -"

She cut him off. "Me! Not you! I don't want you because of the money. That wasn't when I started to get feelings for you. I didn't want you to think -"

"NEVER, Katara. I know you're better than that. You're amazing." He stared at her. He thought, come on, Katara. Tell me how you feel about me, really.

She swallowed hard. "Is this just physical for you?"

"No. Katara. I'm falling in love with you." He gave her a searing look. "It's physical too, though."

"Good." She smirked. "On all of that. I'm falling for you too. It's incredibly fast, but you're kinda perfect."

He barked out laughing, "I'm most certainly not. But I'll take whatever gets you to kiss me like that again."

"You've helped me begin to heal. You got me to a therapist and to listen to her."

"So I got you to the person who's helping you heal. I can accept that." He took a step towards her. "Want to kiss again? One you don't use 'owing me' as an excuse?"

"An excuse?"

"You wanted to kiss me, so you made it sound like my idea." He pulled her to him and looked into her eyes. "Ask me to kiss you, Katara."

She gave him an obstinate look. "You did tell me I owed you a kiss." She then smirked.

"Yes, but I figured you'd just kiss me on the cheek," he admitted. "You don't strike me as a woman that does anything she doesn't want to."

"Kiss me, Zuko." Her eyes burned with desire.

He knew she was playing with him, and he wanted her. Zuko's control snapped, and he pushed Katara up against the wall and pinned her there with his hard body. His lips hovered millimeters from hers as he looked her in the eyes, pleading. "Please, tell me you want this. I…" He growled out in frustration. "I burn for you, Katara."

She gave him a desperate look, "I break up with the good guys. You saw that."

He saw the moment the full gravity of what they were talking about dawned on her. "Then it's lucky for me that I'm not a good guy." He gave her a searing look and breathed her in. "Tell me to stop, and I will."

She teared up. "I don't want you to stop."

"Why does that make you upset?"

"I'm scared. I've never felt like this before. I'm used to being able to control my feelings." She breathed in his masculine scent.

"And now? What are you feeling?" He needed her to want him too.

"Just shut up and kiss me, Zuko."

He still had her pinned to the wall, and he moved the scant bit forward to claim her mouth and show her how much he wanted her. He was full of desire, and he wanted her to burn the same way he was.

His whole world narrowed down to the two of them, their bodies melded together. He felt her large breasts pressed up against him, and he moaned as he plundered her mouth. It wasn't a sweet kiss, but one of claiming and possession. He wanted her to be his, and he loved how responsive she was and how passionately she kissed him back.

When he broke for air, he rested his forehead against hers and kept her pinned there. He couldn't make himself stop pressing his body against hers without her telling him to.

"Zuko," she moaned out, and to him, that was bliss.

She looked him in the eyes as she panted for breath. "What is it that you want from me?"

"Everything Katara. Anything you'll let me have. I'm your slave to do with as you please. I would do anything to be with you." He let his eyes fall shut and added, "You're it for me. I could never get enough of you."

She kissed his chin. "That still doesn't explain the more practical side of what I meant. I like to have everything labeled and planned out."

"Would you be my girlfriend then? Is that a label that would work for you?" It broke his heart a bit for her that he could lay it all out and she still didn't get it. Her father had left a deep scar on her heart. He would carefully mend that.

"Does that mean your label would be boyfriend?" she asked playfully.

He was glad she was with him now. He teased, "No, I already told you I'm your slave." He opened his eyes and gave her a heated look. "Sex slave works for me too," he said with a smirk.

She chuckled, "How about we go with girlfriend and boyfriend for now? If you're really good, I can call you my slave in private."

Zuko swallowed hard, "Oh, I'll work on being a very good boy then. I'll call you Master Katara."

She smiled at that. "I'm enrolled in University full-time next semester. I took your advice, and I'm following a boy."

"Me?" He asked hopefully.

She laughed, "Nope, my brother. But, it doesn't hurt that my boyfriend will be there." She gave him a sassy look, and he kissed her for it.

"And what about the family business?"

"Some really hot guy donated a lot of money, and now it's set for the next year or so. My father should be able to drum up the money."

"So, do I know this 'hot guy'?" His lips then found their way to her neck and he kissed her there.

She moaned and still teased back, "Yup. I think it was a bribe to get me to date him. It worked."

He chuckled, "I'm not above bribery. I'll take it if it works."

She gave him a sweet kiss and then said, "I was teasing. I would have dated you no matter what. It's just nice to have the worry of finances taken away."

"I would do anything to help you sleep at night."

"Funny, because it doesn't feel like you have sleeping in mind right now." She rocked against his hard cock.

He swallowed hard, "No, but…" He kissed her passionately and said, "I wouldn't ever push."

"You have me pinned against a wall, Zuko."

He nodded, "Yes, so very true, but I don't have you on your back in my bed screaming out my name in pleasure as I'd prefer."

She playfully rolled her eyes. "Of course, you'd have to be on top in your fantasies."

He whispered in her ear, "Oh, that's not one of my fantasies. I have plenty of those, and they're much more... explicit."

In a breathy voice, she asked, "You do?"

"Katara, I have so many of you, and trust me, you aren't submissive in any of them." He then nibbled on her ear.

She moaned, "I think I want to hear one of them."

"How about the one where you're scratching my back with your nails as I drive myself into you. You're wild with desire and passion demanding I take you harder. Or…" He kissed down her neck. "You, riding me while you have me tied to the bed. Taking exactly what you want from my body. I did say I'm your slave."

"I'm…" Her eyes flicked around the room, and she couldn't look at him. "I'm a virgin. I want you, but…"

"I am too. I was an asshole until recently. I just wasn't a big enough one to use a woman, and I have 'intimacy issues' according to my therapist." He nibbled on her neck. "Suddenly, they don't seem to matter to me. Damn, I could take you against this wall right now." He pressed his hard cock against her.