Author's Note: Don't own Slayers, and no $ for this story. Anyways, sorry this took so long, I been quite busy, and had a case of writer's block to top it all off. But now I'm back to work. This chapter is kinda limey, but not much, I decided that too much lime/lemon would detract from the plot, but I did want to further the romance part of the story. ^_^ Anyways, I hope you agree with me on that.
Lina stretched her arms and burrowed closer to the warmth. Her mind was always foggy in the morning, awarness slowly trickled in. First, she remembered Xellos saying "I love you, Lina" in her dream. "That's strange," Lina thought, "What on Earth made me think that?" Her mind was still muddled so she didn't try to analyze her dream any further, prefering to wait until she was fully awake to tackle mental tasks.
Lina remembered moving around alot last night, trying to get comfortable on the ropes. She was puzzled as to why should couldn't feel them any more. They had been replaced by something warm and solid. Xell's smell was surrounding her, so she assumed his cloak was now the barrier. She inhaled deeply, loving his scent. "If there is ever a smell called 'Mystery,' then this is what it should smell like," Lina thought with a giggle as she remembered Xellos's favorite line, "That's a secret."
Lina was startled awake when she felt the hammock jerk a little. She sat up and yawned, opening her bleary eyes. She blinked a few times to try to see better, and was promptly shocked at what she saw. Xellos was staring up at her with that know it all grin on his face. "At last, you're awake! Sleep well?"
Whatever fury Lina had felt at finding herself in such a position disappeared as the dream came back. She quickly closed her eyes knowing they would reveal her inner turmoil and vulnerability. Xellos cursed softly and wrapped his arms tightly around her. "I'm sorry, Lina."
Lina's anger returned with interest when she heard this. "The only thing you should be sorry for is taking advantage of me in my sleep!" She began struggling fiercely against Xellos's hold. "Let me go, damn you!" Lina's struggling was causing the hammock to sway, threatening to dump them out. She brought up her arms to punch him, but he quickly caught her wrists. "Let me go right this minute or I'll-"
Lina's threat was interrupted as Xellos abruptly sat up and kissed her. Her brain couldn't seem to function beyond processing what was happening. Xellos's lips were gently caressing hers, making Lina's eyes drift closed in pleasure. He grew bold with her small surrender and began to nibble lightly on her lower lip. Lina's mind was running around in circles, first angry, then confused, then excited, then back to angry. When she felt Xellos's tongue gliding across her lips, all thoughts flew from her head. She moaned a little, feeling a new kind of hunger awakening within her. Her lips parted slightly when she moaned, allowing Xellos access to the sweet recess within.
Xellos's tongue began a lazy exploration of her mouth, taking his time and enjoying every second. Their tongues met, tasting and caressing, then fiercly battling for dominance, leaving them both breathless with need. Lina broke the kiss and asked, "What's happening between us Xellos?"
Xellos looked deep into her eyes and was startled to see fear there. He forced his hormones into the back of his mind and realized what she had just relived in her dream. "Slow down, give her time," Xellos chided himself in his mind. "I'm not sure," Xellos said, "but I liked it." He barely stopped himself from kissing her again. "Oh gods, she looks so sexy with that vulnerable look and those swollen lips from my kisses," Xellos forced himself to turn his thoughts elsewhere before he embarrassed himself.
"I don't think I'm ready to do that," Lina whispered, lost in too many emotions to understand what she wanted. Xellos sighed and let go of her wrists, wrapping his arms around her. Lina realized his hold on her wrists had been so slack, she could have gotten away if she'd really wanted to. "Put it out of your mind, and get back to the problems at hand," Lina forced herself to concentrate on what she wanted to do next. "I am ready to go after Gourry and Zel now. I know they did it, but I don't see why." It was hard for her to admit they did it, even after her dream. Her mind continually asked, "Why Gourry, why Zel?!"
"I don't know why they did it, they're the only ones who know that," Xellos paused thoughtfully before continuing. "They're probably going to attack us when we see them. Are you sure you're ready for that? I don't want you to be unprepared," Xellos rubbed her back in small circles. Lina nodded and nuzzled his chest, enjoying the feeling of being safe and protected. "And loved?" Lina forced that thought away.
"I don't really want them dead, I just want to understand why they did that, and why they didn't kill me when they had the chance." Lina paused before stating matter of factly, "And make them pay for it of course." Xellos felt a twinge of pity for Gourry and Zel, Lina was known for her temper and what she would do when riled up.
"Well, I guess there's no time like the present," Xellos said and hugged her close before releasing her. Lina blushed as she realized he was still under her and she was in a most improper position. She carefully got out of the hammock without falling on her face.
"Xellos, could I take a bath first?" Lina asked as she realized she hadn't had a decent bath in quite some time. At Xellos's glance she quickly added, "Alone?"
Xellos chuckled and nodded, teleporting away before Lina could blink. She hoped he was gone to get her something with which to bathe. Lina sighed and wished she had time to wash her clothes too, but just having clean skin would have to do. Just then, Xellos appeared again wearing a wide grin. He had a hand on a large tub filled with steaming water, and had something tucked under his other arm. Lina was surprised he had been so quick, but just smiled back at Xellos. "Thank you, Xellos," She said as he handed her a bar of soap and a towel. Inside she was jumping up and down with happiness about having the luxury of a bath, and the extreme luxury of using what looked like lavendar scented soap.
She pulled the chair over close to the tub and laid it over the back of it. When she looked up, Xellos was gone. She quickly took off her remaining clothes and laid them in the chair. She used her headband to put up her hair thinking to herself, "I'd better hurry or he'll be back, and who knows what would happen then?" She touched a finger to the water, smiling because it was just the right temperature. She stepped into the tub and sat down, sighing in satisfaction. The tub was large enough for her to stretch her legs out fully when she was sitting up. She allowed herself a few moments to just relax and soak away all the tension in her muscles. Then she proceeded to quickly scrub every inch of her body, smiling because the soap was indeed lavendar scented. After she finished that, she stood up and stepped out of the tub. She thought she'd heard a noise, but dismissed it as just the spashing of the water. She used the towel to dry her body and then wrapped it around herself. She leaned over the tub and let her hair down, using the soap to also wash her hair. After that she towel dryed her hair and began to put her clothes back on.
Right as she slid her boots back on, having sat down to do so, Xellos appeared. "Ready, Lina?" Xellos's voice sounded strained. Lina looked up at him and saw a strange look on his face. At her puzzled look, Xellos repeated his question. She nodded, thinking to herself that he was just nervous about the confrontation, and quickly stood up. Xellos put out a hand toward her and she hesitantly took it. Xellos smiled at her reassuringly before teleporting them to where Zel and Gourry were.
In the back of Xellos's mind, he realized that he'd never be able to look at Lina the same way again. Everytime he looked at her, he remembered what she'd looked like stepping out of that tub, the water sliding over her skin, making her glisten everywhere. He hoped his throbbing need didn't show, or he'd have some explaining to do. He promised himself he would take the secret of spying on her bath to his grave, which if she found out he'd been sitting on top of one of the bookshelves the whole time, he knew she wouldn't let him live long. "Ah, it would have been worth it," he thought to himself with a smile. Then he realized where they were.
"This is no time to be thinking about such pleasant thoughts," Xellos thought grimly. He and Lina were in front of the inn where Gourry and Zel were staying. Lina grasped his hand tightly, and he gave her hand a comforting squeeze before they stepped inside.
A/N: w00t! The confrontation is next! ^_^ It'll probably be sometime next week before I get it out, but I'll do my best to get it up as soon as possible.
Lina stretched her arms and burrowed closer to the warmth. Her mind was always foggy in the morning, awarness slowly trickled in. First, she remembered Xellos saying "I love you, Lina" in her dream. "That's strange," Lina thought, "What on Earth made me think that?" Her mind was still muddled so she didn't try to analyze her dream any further, prefering to wait until she was fully awake to tackle mental tasks.
Lina remembered moving around alot last night, trying to get comfortable on the ropes. She was puzzled as to why should couldn't feel them any more. They had been replaced by something warm and solid. Xell's smell was surrounding her, so she assumed his cloak was now the barrier. She inhaled deeply, loving his scent. "If there is ever a smell called 'Mystery,' then this is what it should smell like," Lina thought with a giggle as she remembered Xellos's favorite line, "That's a secret."
Lina was startled awake when she felt the hammock jerk a little. She sat up and yawned, opening her bleary eyes. She blinked a few times to try to see better, and was promptly shocked at what she saw. Xellos was staring up at her with that know it all grin on his face. "At last, you're awake! Sleep well?"
Whatever fury Lina had felt at finding herself in such a position disappeared as the dream came back. She quickly closed her eyes knowing they would reveal her inner turmoil and vulnerability. Xellos cursed softly and wrapped his arms tightly around her. "I'm sorry, Lina."
Lina's anger returned with interest when she heard this. "The only thing you should be sorry for is taking advantage of me in my sleep!" She began struggling fiercely against Xellos's hold. "Let me go, damn you!" Lina's struggling was causing the hammock to sway, threatening to dump them out. She brought up her arms to punch him, but he quickly caught her wrists. "Let me go right this minute or I'll-"
Lina's threat was interrupted as Xellos abruptly sat up and kissed her. Her brain couldn't seem to function beyond processing what was happening. Xellos's lips were gently caressing hers, making Lina's eyes drift closed in pleasure. He grew bold with her small surrender and began to nibble lightly on her lower lip. Lina's mind was running around in circles, first angry, then confused, then excited, then back to angry. When she felt Xellos's tongue gliding across her lips, all thoughts flew from her head. She moaned a little, feeling a new kind of hunger awakening within her. Her lips parted slightly when she moaned, allowing Xellos access to the sweet recess within.
Xellos's tongue began a lazy exploration of her mouth, taking his time and enjoying every second. Their tongues met, tasting and caressing, then fiercly battling for dominance, leaving them both breathless with need. Lina broke the kiss and asked, "What's happening between us Xellos?"
Xellos looked deep into her eyes and was startled to see fear there. He forced his hormones into the back of his mind and realized what she had just relived in her dream. "Slow down, give her time," Xellos chided himself in his mind. "I'm not sure," Xellos said, "but I liked it." He barely stopped himself from kissing her again. "Oh gods, she looks so sexy with that vulnerable look and those swollen lips from my kisses," Xellos forced himself to turn his thoughts elsewhere before he embarrassed himself.
"I don't think I'm ready to do that," Lina whispered, lost in too many emotions to understand what she wanted. Xellos sighed and let go of her wrists, wrapping his arms around her. Lina realized his hold on her wrists had been so slack, she could have gotten away if she'd really wanted to. "Put it out of your mind, and get back to the problems at hand," Lina forced herself to concentrate on what she wanted to do next. "I am ready to go after Gourry and Zel now. I know they did it, but I don't see why." It was hard for her to admit they did it, even after her dream. Her mind continually asked, "Why Gourry, why Zel?!"
"I don't know why they did it, they're the only ones who know that," Xellos paused thoughtfully before continuing. "They're probably going to attack us when we see them. Are you sure you're ready for that? I don't want you to be unprepared," Xellos rubbed her back in small circles. Lina nodded and nuzzled his chest, enjoying the feeling of being safe and protected. "And loved?" Lina forced that thought away.
"I don't really want them dead, I just want to understand why they did that, and why they didn't kill me when they had the chance." Lina paused before stating matter of factly, "And make them pay for it of course." Xellos felt a twinge of pity for Gourry and Zel, Lina was known for her temper and what she would do when riled up.
"Well, I guess there's no time like the present," Xellos said and hugged her close before releasing her. Lina blushed as she realized he was still under her and she was in a most improper position. She carefully got out of the hammock without falling on her face.
"Xellos, could I take a bath first?" Lina asked as she realized she hadn't had a decent bath in quite some time. At Xellos's glance she quickly added, "Alone?"
Xellos chuckled and nodded, teleporting away before Lina could blink. She hoped he was gone to get her something with which to bathe. Lina sighed and wished she had time to wash her clothes too, but just having clean skin would have to do. Just then, Xellos appeared again wearing a wide grin. He had a hand on a large tub filled with steaming water, and had something tucked under his other arm. Lina was surprised he had been so quick, but just smiled back at Xellos. "Thank you, Xellos," She said as he handed her a bar of soap and a towel. Inside she was jumping up and down with happiness about having the luxury of a bath, and the extreme luxury of using what looked like lavendar scented soap.
She pulled the chair over close to the tub and laid it over the back of it. When she looked up, Xellos was gone. She quickly took off her remaining clothes and laid them in the chair. She used her headband to put up her hair thinking to herself, "I'd better hurry or he'll be back, and who knows what would happen then?" She touched a finger to the water, smiling because it was just the right temperature. She stepped into the tub and sat down, sighing in satisfaction. The tub was large enough for her to stretch her legs out fully when she was sitting up. She allowed herself a few moments to just relax and soak away all the tension in her muscles. Then she proceeded to quickly scrub every inch of her body, smiling because the soap was indeed lavendar scented. After she finished that, she stood up and stepped out of the tub. She thought she'd heard a noise, but dismissed it as just the spashing of the water. She used the towel to dry her body and then wrapped it around herself. She leaned over the tub and let her hair down, using the soap to also wash her hair. After that she towel dryed her hair and began to put her clothes back on.
Right as she slid her boots back on, having sat down to do so, Xellos appeared. "Ready, Lina?" Xellos's voice sounded strained. Lina looked up at him and saw a strange look on his face. At her puzzled look, Xellos repeated his question. She nodded, thinking to herself that he was just nervous about the confrontation, and quickly stood up. Xellos put out a hand toward her and she hesitantly took it. Xellos smiled at her reassuringly before teleporting them to where Zel and Gourry were.
In the back of Xellos's mind, he realized that he'd never be able to look at Lina the same way again. Everytime he looked at her, he remembered what she'd looked like stepping out of that tub, the water sliding over her skin, making her glisten everywhere. He hoped his throbbing need didn't show, or he'd have some explaining to do. He promised himself he would take the secret of spying on her bath to his grave, which if she found out he'd been sitting on top of one of the bookshelves the whole time, he knew she wouldn't let him live long. "Ah, it would have been worth it," he thought to himself with a smile. Then he realized where they were.
"This is no time to be thinking about such pleasant thoughts," Xellos thought grimly. He and Lina were in front of the inn where Gourry and Zel were staying. Lina grasped his hand tightly, and he gave her hand a comforting squeeze before they stepped inside.
A/N: w00t! The confrontation is next! ^_^ It'll probably be sometime next week before I get it out, but I'll do my best to get it up as soon as possible.