She waited under the water until her prey was in sight. Awaiting just the right moment she struck out, pulling her target under the water and spinning around before surfacing.
When Gabrielle caught her breath she looked over at her lover and glared. "What is it with you? Every time you're in water that's more than waist deep you just have to do that don't you."
Xena just laughed at the expression on Gabrielle's face. "Oh come on Bri, I gotta have some fun."
Gabrielle relented and smiled at the warrior, "Alright, fine. I guess it's ok. It's not much of a surprise any more, I started to expect it after the first 6 months we were together."
Xena ducked back under the water and Gabrielle shook her head, "Not again," she muttered.
The bard decided to try and get away before her warrior decided to drag her under again. She got a few steps when she was pulled under once more.
She came up spluttering and gasping for air.
"Y'know, once is alright, but after that…" she sent a splash of water at the other woman and from that an all out water fight started.
Some time later the two women lay on the shore of the secluded river drying off.
Gabrielle moved closer to the warrior and lay her head down on Xena's shoulder.
Xena looked at her and smiled. "You right there?"
The bard snuggled in a little more before replying. "Now I am."
Xena stroked her partner's hair back and just lay in the sun relaxing.
Eventually Gabrielle drifted off to sleep and Xena let her sleep until she had to go and find their dinner.
"Come on Bri, time to wake up."
Gabrielle shook her head and buried he face in the crook of the warrior's neck.
"If you want to eat tonight, I have to get up, and you have to go and get ready to cook."
Finally the bard groaned and sat up, "Happy now? I'm up. Go on then, go and get the food. I suppose I'll go and get ready to cook your catch."
Xena laughed to herself at the grumbling bard. After three years on the road Gabrielle still didn't like having to sacrifice sleep, and she wasn't a morning person at all usually. Even though it wasn't actually morning, the same rules applied any time Gabrielle had been sleeping. Like now. 'Oh well,' Xena thought, 'once I get the food she'll be right.'
Gabrielle stood and headed back to their campsite to prepare to cook the meal and Xena went back into the water to catch the meal.
8
The pair had finished eating and it was now dark. Xena lay back against a log and Gabrielle sat between the warrior's legs leaning against Xena's chest.
"It looks like a bear," Gabrielle said firmly.
Xena sighed, "I still don't see where you get a bear from but I don't feel like arguing tonight so, it's a bear."
Gabrielle's face lit up in a smile and she turned to face Xena. "I told you it was a bear. Glad that you finally see it my way."
"Actually I do-"
"Xena, honey, I know you agree, I know that you know I'm right."
"But…" She gave up but quickly got over her defeat when Gabrielle softy kissed her. The usually strong, proud warrior princess melted under Gabrielle's gentle touch. The kiss made her feel a warmth she had never felt with any of her past lovers. It was the same every time.
The bard knew how her warrior would react to her kiss and after a few minutes of exploring every well known nook of the warrior's mouth Gabrielle let her kisses trail down to the other woman's collarbone. She felt Xena relax even more and she slowly began to unlace the warrior's leathers as she continued with her kisses.
Xena moaned at the feel of the bard's warm mouth caressing her sensitive skin.
Once Gabrielle had unlaced the leather bodice of her partner she slowly pulled it off Xena and once more kissed her way to a new body part. She kissed and licked the warriors' breast, never once touching her hard nipple. Finally when Xena thought she could take the exquisite torture no longer, Gabrielle took her nipple into her hot mouth making the warrior cry out in desire and pleasure.
Gabrielle began to move her hand against the warrior's sex and Xena's moans increased in both frequency and volume. Finally Gabrielle slipped two fingers inside her lover and Xena began to rock in time with the motion of Gabrielle's hand. The bard felt the warrior's muscles begin to tighten around her hand and, knowing that her partner was close to the edge, she quickened her pace and rubbed the warriors clit with her thumb.
Xena cried out Gabrielle's name and then her body convulsed and she came, Gabrielle continued to rock her hand in and out of her lover's body until the shudders came to a complete stop and then she slowly removed her fingers. She then lay her head back down on Xena's shoulder.
8
The next morning the pair went through their usual routine and packed up camp heading out onto the road once more.