A/N: 3rd day with no sleep, so if anyone feels that my work is starting to suffer, then please feel free to slap me. Hard. I would never want poor Veggie or Bulma to suffer from a bad writer. And to those of you who know the Dark Jewels, if you catch anything I've overlooked let me know okay? Other than that, enjoy.
Chapter 4-The Deal
Bulma ducked her head after blurting out her question to hide her flaming cheeks. When Vegeta didn't respond she risked another quick glance at him. He was staring at her, his Ebony eyes looking into hers with an unreadable expression. He said nothing, allowing the silence to stretch. Bulma dropped her eyes to the tabletop again. There was a really pretty design in the wood, it's shape looked rather like a cat, a little kitten curled up in a ball. Lucivar, I'll name it Lucivar. She jerked in surprise when he finally spoke.
"Why me?"
She hauled her gaze up from the table, and spoke to his chest. He has such a nice chest, so muscular and wide. "Um, I already explained to you, I need to have my Virgin Night tonight or else I won't have it at all ever."
"Let's try this again, Woman," Vegeta said silkily, dangerously. "Look me in the eye when you answer. Why me?"
She managed to drag her gaze up to his throat. Her eyes fixed on his pulse. She could see it beating beneath his skin, a strong rhythm. She vaguely wondered what it would be like to take a sip of his hot blood directly from his vein. Surely it would be strong, with his hi ki level. Would having a high energy level be anything like having a dark jewel? She shuddered lightly at the course her thoughts were taking. She couldn't take his blood. A small mocking voice in the back of her head reminded her that she also couldn't ask him to perform her Virgin Night. A thought that reminded her that Vegeta was still waiting for a response from her. Now what was the question? Oh yeah.
"Because I can't make the Offering until I have had my Virgin Night." She mentally kicked herself when the statement came out sounding more like a question, as if she were wishing that he would accept her statement as enough. A half formed hope that died with his next words.
"Not good enough. You've yet to reach my eyes, Woman." The mood in the room shifted, now pulsed with a subtle suggestion that she couldn't quite define. Whatever this new mood coming off Vegeta was, it was making her more nervous than any snide remark he could have chosen to make at that moment.
Slowly her eyes trailed up to his lips. They looked so soft. And they look so much more inviting when he isn't scowling. Much more inviting with that little half formed smirk you can tell is just waiting around the edges of his lips. What would it feel like to have those lips on mine, on me? She blinked, shook her head slightly. "Because, even though Yamcha didn't have the power to break through my inner barriers, he definitely didn't have the strength to keep the chalice of my mind intact if I got scared. Whereas you have the strength to keep me from ripping through my own webs, even if it is painful."
"Higher Bulma." Her eyes flew to his in shock. Did he actually just call her by her name? No... did he actually just purr my name? She stared at him disbelievingly, no coherent thought beyond that point. That mocking little voice chose that moment to drip words into the silence of her mind. Well, looks like he finally figured out how to shut you up. 'Why do you want him to do it?' It was a simple question; all it takes is a simple, honest answer. Just say it. Almost against her will the words formed in the back of her of her throat and spilled from her tongue before she could think to take them back.
"Because I want you to be the one to do it."
Satisfaction flared in his eyes as he slowly stood up. Without taking his eyes off her he started around the table toward her, moving with the catlike grace she had been admiring earlier that evening. Now Bulma stood up in response and was seriously considering bolting from the room. Her breath became shallow as she watched him get closer. Vegeta seemed to notice her response and watched with narrow eyed amusement. Bulma shifted to the side. Vegeta's arm shot out, blocking her. When she shifted the other way, his other arm was already in position, trapping her between him and the table. She stared up at him, wondering if she had made a huge mistake, asking this saiyan to be her first lover.
"Very well. I will perform this 'Virgin Night' of yours on one condition."
Bulma suddenly realized that he wasn't human and she knew nothing about any mating rituals that might be unique to the saiyans. She licked her lips nervously. She looked into his dark eyes and forced herself to ask the question.
"What condition is that?"
A sharp, feral smile spread across Vegeta's wonderfully shaped lips, and he leaned toward her.
Oooh don't you just hate me? Sorry but I opted to do this one in two parts, first Bulma's POV and then Vegeta's, so you won't find out the condition until at least the next chapter *runs away and hides from angry crowd waving sharp pointy sticks*
devl's lil imp: Thanks, I hope the chapters are living up to your expectations.
Mushi-azn: I'm glad you appreciate my attempts at cliffhanging. Thanks for the review.
Raksha: As always your input is valued. Of course yamcha should suffer as is right and proper. I'm rather inclined to think you'd appreciate the justice of what is in store for him, yet no one else has declared that he should suffer, merely expressing an interest in what would be in store for him if he did. *sigh* Thanks for the review dark sister. Lol.
Silverstar: Thanks(x2) Yeah, I know that it seemed way weird to have Vegeta do her Virgin Night but I really thought it would be appropriate. Every fic I read where she was with Yamcha first had her comparing him to Yamcha, or something so I thought he should have a chance with her where Yamcha hasn't been part of the equation. Besides trust is also a major factor, and let's face it, can you honestly imagine Yamcha being strong enough or trustworthy enough? @_@
kapies: Thanks for reviewing. knowing that my efforts are being well recieved by lovers of Anne Bishop's work and DBZ just gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling all over. Lol.
Special note: The cat thingy at the beginning popped up because my cat was curled up in an adorable widdle ball with his paw over his nose. You know that thing they do when they're just oozing cuteness? Well my cat's name is Lucivar in honor of the fact that I had just finished reading the second noevl and when I got my baby, Lucivar had gold eyes and an attitude, kind of like Lucivar, who had gold eyes and an attitude. So in case you like cared... or something, the tabletop thing was a direct reference to my cat and an indirect reference to the Warlord Prince. Did that make sense? ...Nevermind.
