Taking Things Slow

Chapter 2

Turn and Injure

Charlie was lying on the couch. His right arm was draped over his eyes and he was taking in slow, steady breaths in his deep sleep. His shirt was thrown, forgotten in the corner. Sporting a new shiny scar across his torso; he'd been sent to the hut after his 'accident'. Now he was resting, dreaming happily in a world far away.

Liz having only just walked in, smiled slightly, glad to see him resting. He'd had a rather nasty encounter with the Ironbelly earlier that day and had been really worried about him. She had wanted to go to him earlier, when she'd first heard about it, but had her own duties to complete. Now, however, her duties done, she wanted nothing more then to coddle Charlie Weasley.

Walking across the room she picked up the white shirt that had been discarded. It was badly ripped and stained with the blood he'd lost. Grimacing at it, she pulled her wand out of her back pocket and waved it; 'Evanesco!' and the shirt disappeared. Heading over to the sleeping redhead; for a few moments she watched him as he dozed.

Liz once again got to admire a half-naked Charlie with his tanned bared flesh gleaming back at her. He looked a bit tense, even though he was sleeping so deeply. Wondering if he was having a bad dream, Liz kneeled down next to the couch rubbing her hand over his forehead. It was a little warm, but no fever. He probably just had some stress left over from the attack. She looked down at his torso to see the shiny scar that was marring his skin. With a gentle air she traced the jagged scar, but did not touch it. It was then she noticed how many scars he really had.

There were a multiple number on his arms, a particular vicious one on his left arm that went from mid-bicep to about his wrist. Another one donned his right that circled around his forearm. It looked as though a young dragon had tried to slice off half his arm, and done a messy and inefficient job of it. There was another one on his side that also did not look as if it had been comfortable. She wondered how many others there were that she couldn't see.

With a pitiful sigh, she gently took the hand that covered his face and pulled it towards her. The light hitting his uncovered eyes began to awake him, and Charlie tried to pull his hand up to once more cover his face while grunting. Liz smiled but did not give him back his hand. Not being able to screen out the light he began to turn over, facing the back of the couch. Surprised by this action, having not expected it, Liz was dragged with him. Thus she found her upper body wrapped around the dragon-boy's and her hand being cuddled up against him.

For a moment she didn't move, not wanting to wake him. However, her hand quickly began to fall asleep. With a tug she tried to get away. Only when she pulled he pulled back. With a large smile, she realized what was going on and tried to get away once more. As she did there was suddenly a force towards the couch and Charlie tugged her onto him.

With a laugh she fell upon him. Her face was right under his and her body was atop his. "Charlie!" She squealed, wiggling to get off. Still with his eyes closed he moved an arm to wrap around her waist keeping her right where she was. "Charles Weasley! I know you're awake." She huffed—though continued to smile. In response he made a snoring noise and turned so she was correctly lying above him.

Blowing a raspberry at him, she shook her now free hand trying to dispel the tingly feeling. He opened up one brown eye to look at her, his face beginning to burst into a smile. "You shouldn't wake an injured man…" He said in a low tone. Liz looked at him, her face more serious.

"Charlie, you got attacked by our largest dragon, I was worried. You could have died." She was looking at him totally serious now; she really had been worried, she'd already lost one lover to death…she didn't want to lose another.

"Lizzie, love, I wasn't that badly injured…and anyway, Galen is an amazing Healer. He could bring someone back from death if he tried. Plus the Ironbelly is actually a big softy…he rarely attacks with intent to kill—"

"Then what was with the escape earlier this month! He looked bloody pissed off to me!"

He put a finger against her lips. "Shhh, love, half the females on this compound are in heat right now…how do you think he was going to react? We don't let him in with them because the last time he tried to breed he almost crushed the female. It's all right…I'm fine, alive. See?" He let go of her and outstretched his arms. "Unless you've somehow learned to sit atop a ghost…" He smiled at her, and Liz, not able to help herself began to smile back. He was absolutely contagious when he smiled.

"Alright, fine…you win…but still, be careful…"

"Of course." His eyes twinkled and his face beamed with a smile. The knowledge that she worried about him was so wonderful. With his rough, callused hands he gentle took her face and pulled her to him.

Feeling drunk with emotion, Liz was filled with passion when his full lips touched hers. A gentle stirring was roused in her and she wiggled slightly in hopes to wash it away. When she did this her hips ground against his and Charlie moaned aloud. He moved his hands from her face to wrap one round her waist, the other the back of her head. He gently began to pull her closer while his tongue teased her mouth open.

Liz shuddered, his mouth was intoxicating. Slowly she moved her hands to the soft downy hair at the back of his neck. As she softly tugged on the hairs he groaned and his hand worked its way under her shirt, grazing the skin there.

With an almost reluctant sigh Liz pulled away, taking her hand from the back of his neck; Charlie's hand removing from under her shirt. Charlie opened his bright brown eyes in confusion. "Lizzie?" He said, his voice husky. Internally Liz moaned, his voice was so sexy like that.

"We're taking things slow Charlie; this is a little to fast for me." Charlie nodded sitting up, Liz falling out of his lap.

"Sorry, Lizzie, didn't mean to make you uncomfortable." He mumbled. Liz stared at him for a moment, wanting to rebut that statement, but changed her mind and with a slightly exasperated sigh she shook her head. Then she leaned over and lightly kiss his cheek.

"No fault of yours, Charlie, I'm just not ready to rush into things yet." He didn't look at her. "But Charlie…I-I love you" his head jerked up to her face, she hadn't said those words to him yet, it was the first time he'd heard them leave her mouth to him. But she continued, "just…just know that, I'm not ready yet…but I love you and someday, I will be…just not yet." He looked at her, her eyes lifted to look at his. He was smiling.

Slowly her lips lifted to a smile as well. Charlie softly leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. "I love you to Lizzie." Then he got up and walked towards the little hallway to his room.