AN: Edited from the original version to be consistent with an M rating. The version here will diverge somewhat from what will be posted on Ao3 just due to what's allowed ratings-wise. I won't post the more explicit content on FFN - in compliance with the site's requirements.

That said, it is still M rated. So, be aware - nakedness abounds.

Thank you to all those who will read it!

Love, ~Rose

Chapter 8

"Undone."

Heero slung his arm around Relena's shoulder, steering her towards his apartment as they reached the top of the stairs. They'd spent a random evening at the indoor batting cages. Surprisingly, his princess knew how to hit softballs. Even softballs thrown for speed.

She still let him help with her stance. Hands steadying her hips, slipping over her thighs to her knees. A surreptitious kiss against the back of her neck - earning him a glare and accusation that he was distracting her on purpose.

The best part of the evening. So far.

They reached his door; Relena pulled on his arm, and kissed his earlobe. Her breath puffed against his ear as two soft, silken lips caressed a surprisingly sensitive part of his body. As she started to pull away, her teeth bit down - sending a shockwave through his system.

He threw his shoulder into the door as he grabbed her, swinging his girlfriend around his body to deposit her in his apartment. "You're starting something," he said in a rough voice. He shut his door and turned the deadbolt.

Her eyes wide, she gave him an innocent smile. "Am I?"

"You know you are." He brought his hands up to cup her face and settled his mouth over hers. She kissed back with a fervor that began his undoing. He pushed her against the door, and bit kisses into the flesh of her neck.

"Mmmmmmm." Her arms hooked under his shoulders and held him in place.

He paused. His lips hovered above her mouth. They'd had this conversation, more than a few times, over the past couple of months. He promised to take their relationship slow, let her dictate the speed of their commitment - physical, emotional, and the place where the two intersected. He just asked her to be clear about her expectations. "Honest answer."

She met his gaze; her mouth turned down, her eyebrows pinched. "Not yet? I-I just-"

He swallowed the sigh; he promised her understanding and patience. His body had waited out worse.

"Proceeding with alternate mission objective." He hauled her against him, and picked her feet up off the floor; Heero carried her into his bedroom and set her down.

That hand on her hip. The sassy purse of her lips. His princess exuded attitude like she commanded an entire battalion. "This doesn't feel like—"

He caught her free hand and pulled it to his mouth. He pressed a kiss to each of her fingertips. "I won't cross the line."

"Then what's this alternate mission objective?"

He leaned forward and spoke next to her ear. "Reconnaissance." He toyed with the hem of her blouse.

One eyebrow arched.

"Stripping you naked." Heero yanked the shirt over her head - revealing her bra and the tan skin of her abdomen.

She crossed her arms against her chest. "What? B-but!" She took a step back, but had nowhere to go but his bed. Her skin pricked into goosebumps along her forearms.

"I need to determine my primary position." He placed his hands on her hips and met her gaze.

"Primary position?"

"Angle of attack. For when you are ready."

"I'm not the enemy."

He kissed her cheek. Her earlobe. Licked the sensitive spot right behind her ear that made her shiver. "Can't I see? All of you, Relena?"

Her complexion changed color; she looked down and away. Relena trembled in his loose embrace.

He tipped her head to look at him. She narrowed her eyes as she slid her arms around his neck. "Only if you're going to take it all off, Mr. Marine."

Heero grinned. He pulled her hands away from his neck. "Be careful what you ask for." He ripped his t-shirt over his head. Relena returned her hands to his chest; running them over his abdomen and up to his shoulders. Her touch thrilled through his veins, and aroused the ardor of interested parts of his body. But, she was throwing gasoline on a fire she wasn't going to let live and burn.

He kicked off his shoes and unbuttoned his pants. Shedding his jeans, his arousal tented the fabric of his boxers.

Relena, in her bra, skirt, and shoes, backed away.

"Where are you going?" He grabbed her around the waist. "You did ask."

"I did." She nodded. "And I stand by. My request." Her teeth bit her bottom lip.

"I think I turn you on."

Sparkling eyes. Flushed cheeks. "Not in the slightest. Whatever gave you that idea?"

"The way you're looking at me."

"And how. Am I looking at you?"

He moved pieces of her hair over her shoulder. "Hungrier than I look at that IPA you bring over. Worse than the steak."

"I promise," her gaze met his. A flash of heat roiled through him. He tamped it down.

"You're more than a piece of meat to me, Heero."

"I might be ok with it either way," he whispered against her lips.

"I thought you wanted commitment?"

"You can start with using me. I'll win you over in the end."

She rolled her eyes. "You're terr—"

He cut her off with a kiss. She moved her mouth against his for a brief moment before breaking away. Her chest heaved.

"You're still wearing too much." Heero pulled her against him. A short, audible breath left her lips. He unhooked her bra, slipping the straps from her shoulders and tossing it aside. He seized her mouth into a kiss.

Heero maneuvered her onto the bed, then pulled off her shoes before settling beside her. She lay there, her hair pooled above her head, drenching his pillow; the moonlight from his bedroom window painted silver streaks with its glow.

Her bared breasts formed full, pink-tipped mounds. Relena had been generous about letting him touch and tease - and even taste. But, the bra had never come all the way off. And, the more sensitive and heated part of her body had been almost completely off limits. Eventually, he wanted to know every inch of her; but tonight, he'd be satisfied to look at her.

Heero ran a finger along the waistband of her skirt.

Aqua eyes met his. "You're still wearing clothes."

"If I take off my boxers, the rest of your clothing comes off."

She sat up. "And then what?"

"Just sleep. Beside me. That's enough for now. If you're ok with it."

"Won't that be har—"

He arched an eyebrow.

"Difficult?"

Heero took a deep breath. Exhaled. "Yes."

"And you still. Are all right with that?"

"Yes."

"Can I," she tilted her head, "touch you? Him?"

"If you want. But, I still want to see, how beautiful you are."

She rose to a kneeling position on the bed; her face crimson even in the muted lighting. Relena hooked her thumbs in the elastic beneath her navel, and then moved them to her hips. She pulled the last of her clothing from her body, and tossed it to the floor. She held his gaze for a moment. He gave her a small smile, and she stretched out beside him - completely nude.

The moonlight caressed her neck and her ample, pert breasts; her nipples puckered into little oval-shaped pebbles. The windowpane cast a diagonal shadow across her stomach. Silver light illuminated the skin of her long, well-shaped thighs.

He wanted to memorize every detail. Wished she'd let him touch her, taste her, help her enjoy the physical act of joining their bodies.

Heero rolled onto his side. Propped his head up on one hand. Her legs shifted and she squirmed.

"Are you uncomfortable?"

She turned her head and met his gaze. "A little cold."

"So I see." He pressed a kiss to her shoulder to hide his grin.

"Ha ha."

"You look like you might bolt for the door."

An arm drifted up to cover her chest.

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about, Relena." He skimmed his knuckles over the curve of her hip. "Your body; you seem comfortable enough most of the time. Why is this different?" He brushed his thumb against the gooseflesh at her waist.

"Because you can see, everything. The imperfections—" Her toes contracted and released; one foot covered the other.

"You're beautiful. Relena."

"So," she lifted off the mattress and placed her hand on his cheek. "So are you."

His breath hitched.

"But, you're cheating." Her fingers danced along the waistband of his shorts. "Your boxers need to come off."

Heero struggled to take a breath. He needed to breathe. She tugged on his shorts, pulling them down his legs. He tensed all over. Gasped for air.

And then her fingers brushed his length. Heero about leapt off the bed. "Relenaaaaa…."

"Is-is it too much? I don't want to. Torture you. I just, well, I think he likes me."

Her touch electrified his entire body, binding his lungs and starving his brain of oxygen. He maneuvered her hand and demonstrated the motion he wanted. Once, twice, then he released her.

Relena worked her hand up and down in a slow, sliding motion. Heero sucked in rasping breaths; his control crumbling like it had already burnt to ash. His girlfriend increased the speed of her strokes; he groaned and moved with her.

He opened his eyes and reached for her, pulling her down for a kiss. Her tongue darted into his mouth and teased against his. Raw. Fevered. She broke away, still maintaining her pace.

"What. Are you doing." He gritted out between clenched teeth. His body surged and fell to her rhythm.

"Is it not good?"

"Uhhhhhhhn," Heero moaned and choked - trying to breathe. Every muscle in his body tightened. Hardened.

"Be here. In the moment, with me." Her voice seared through him. Her hot breath curled into his ear.

'If she bites, again, I'm going to cum.'

"What will it take? To get you to let go?"

He closed his eyes. All of him focused in one space. Hazy. Blurred. He couldn't fight it. "You're. One. To. Talk."

"But, I'm trying to help. It has to hurt. To wait. But, you do. And I want—" Her breath against his lower abdomen alerted him to her intentions.

Heero's eyes shot open and his body snapped in half. Dear God, she was going to kill him. He had to grab her, pull her away.

Heero sat up, turned his back to her. His body released.

Air, beautiful air, filled his lungs again. Bent forward, he heaved, gulping large breaths. Her hands found his shoulders; his skin felt as though several layers had peeled off.

"Are you ok?"

No. She almost caused him to lose his breath. His control. And he'd promised her….

"Good," he lied. Heero used his discarded t-shirt to clean up.

"Just good?"

He clenched his eyelids shut. "You like to live dangerously."

"Are you dangerous to me?"

"When you do that." He turned to face her. "Yeah."

Warm, tender eyes met his. "Did it help, though? Can I stay? Without tempting you? Torturing you?"

"I told you I'd be fine."

"But. You hold so much back. Away from me. I want." She wrapped her arms around him. "I want all of you, too, Heero." She nuzzled the back of his neck.

"To be here with me. Not somewhere else."

He took a deep, calming breath before moving back onto the bed. Heero folded her against him; his skin simmered every place she touched. Her arm draped across his ribcage and one calf slid over his shin.

She lifted her head and looked at him through lowered lashes. "Tell me. Tell me something you feel."

His mouth opened and closed. Feel? How did he feel? People didn't ask him that. Feelings, in his experience, were volatile. Detrimental. Something to be pushed aside. Managed. Contained. Ignored.

And that was the problem. With this. Her. Anyone who wanted to be - close.

...

"I wonder if survival is enough."

"It's not. Anymore."

...

Heero pressed his eyes closed. What could he say that would make her want to stay? He let out the breath he'd been holding. "I feel like. I don't want to let you go."

Relena smiled; she rose from her position nestled into his body. She dropped a soft kiss on his lips. He lifted his eyes to meet hers; she brushed pieces of hair from his forehead. The affectionate gesture seemed. So strange.

"I don't think anyone is asking you to."

"Good."

Through the layers of fatigue that weighted his body and fogged his mind, he thought he heard her say:

"I believe I'm beginning to understand."

He started to drift. 'Don't go. Stay. For a night. Forever. Just. Don't leave….'