Ch. 16, in which there is man-sex and coconuts. Yes, coconuts. You'll find out soon enough.

Disclaimer: "Ohh, that's so sweet! I'm going to go vomit, now!"

Gan Ning led a somewhat shaken Zhang He by the hand as they walked backed into their room. "Zhang He…you're trembling…" Indeed he was. He looked down at Gan Ning, eyes wide and overwhelmed. "I'm sorry, I… I feel so stupid about this. It's not like I've never seen someone killed before, and I've certainly killed more than my fair share, but…but that was murder, back there. And that's different. I know how silly that sounds, but…" He trailed off, unable to finish. The scene they had just witnessed had not at all affected Gan Ning, having seen quite a few murders during his time as a pirate, and it hadn't occurred to him that it would bother Zhang He. It surprised and worried him, and at the same time, he found it unspeakably adorable that Zhang He could be such a fearsome warrior and still be so damn innocent. Taking the other man's hands, he planted a chaste kiss on those soft, luscious lips, and eased him slowly into a chair. "Shh, Zhang He, it's alright. Try not to think about it, okay? You'll just upset yourself. And I'd hate to see my butterfly upset." Zhang He pressed his head against Gan Ning's chest, while the ex-pirate lovingly stroked his hair, reassuring him. Gods, he loved Zhang He's hair. "How can I help you feel better? Tell me how. Anything you want, I'll do. Just don't look so sad, okay, butterfly?" Zhang He looked up at him and gave a small smile. "Just love me," he whispered. "That's all you have to do. Just love me." Gan Ning knelt down and kissed him tenderly. "I can do that." He said.

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Zhang He wasn't quite sure how they ended up on the bed. The last thing he had been aware of was sitting in a chair, and then Gan Ning's lips. Now they were kissing, touching, petting, and Zhang He hadn't even noticed getting up. Gan Ning seemed to have that effect on him. He moaned as Gan Ning attacked his neck with his teeth and lips and tongue while running his hand lightly up his thigh. He really shouldn't have been in the mood for this, not after what he had just seen, but apparently, this was another one of Gan Ning's side effects. Not that Gan Ning was forcing himself on him. Zhang He knew that he could have stopped it anytime, he only had to say the word, but truth be told, he didn't want it to stop. He never did. It thrilled him that Gan Ning wanted him so much, and he loved the way that Gan Ning made him feel, both physically and emotionally. The rough, calloused hands had now managed to get Zhang He's shirt off, and were currently making their way down to his pants, though not before touching every inch of exposed skin. As his hands fiddled with the pants, Gan Ning's tongue left Zhang He's neck and licked a long, wet line up his stomach and chest, ending at the hollow of his throat and directly over his pulse, causing Zhang He to shiver with desire. "I love the way you taste," he growled, getting rid of the last of Zhang He's clothing. "Oh? And what do I taste like?" The Butterfly General asked. "…Like coconut, strangely enough. Why the hell is that?" Zhang He laughed. "Coconut milk is supposed to be good for your hair and skin. They make a special body lotion and shampoo out of it, which I use religiously." Gan Ning nodded. "Ah. That makes a lot more sense and is much less scary than you randomly being fruit flavored." This brought a giggle out of Zhang He.

"So what about me? What do I taste like, butterfly?" "Hmm…let me see…" Zhang He sat up and nibbled at Gan Ning's ear, gradually working his way down his neck and biting gently on his shoulder. Gan Ning moaned and pressed the other man close, rubbing his arousal against his partner's leg. Finally, Zhang He decided he'd pinpointed the taste. "Mmm…salty. Like the ocean." Gan Ning chuckled. "Yeah, sixteen years of living at sea will do that to you." Zhang He laid a hand on his chest, pushing him down on the bed. "I like it." He said, before pushing his tongue through Gan Ning's teeth in a deep, passionate kiss. Now it was his turn to work Gan Ning out of his clothing. Kissing and nipping his way down the tanned, muscular chest, he stopped just above the line of Gan Ning's pants. Licking his lips, he pulled them off, revealing Gan Ning hard and ready to go. Impulsively, he ran his tongue up the length, pausing to suck on the tip. The pirate moaned and buried his hands in Zhang He's hair. Zhang He smiled, and took all of him in his mouth, sucking and licking so that the pirate moaned louder, and wound his hands tighter in the unbound hair. Just as suddenly as he'd started the procedure, he stopped. "Hey---!" "Shh. Just wait a minute."

Zhang He lay back on the bed, legs spread, taking Gan Ning by the hands and drawing him on top. "Now," He whispered, wrapping his arms around Gan Ning's neck. "Take me now."

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Gan Ning was more than happy to comply. Positioning himself carefully, he thrust inside Zhang He, sheathing himself completely. They both gasped, relishing the sensation. Zhang He was unbelievably tight, his body squeezing around Gan Ning maddeningly. Slowly, he drew himself out, then pushed all the way in again, making Zhang He cry out as he hit his sweet spot. Music to his ears. He did it again, faster, harder this time, and Zhang He writhed beneath him, moving his hips in rhythm. Their bodies moved together, pumping and bucking, working in tandem to reach gold. Gan Ning held the other man's hips and helped him move, pounding into him while Zhang He screamed his name over and over again. Gan Ning himself was unable to form coherent speech, wordless moans and shouts being the best of his capability. He dug his fingers into creamy pale flesh and muscle of Zhang He's sides, and Zhang He raked his fingers down Gan Ning's back, cutting into his shoulders and dragging their way down. Gan Ning felt himself lose control of his body, and bit into Zhang He's shoulder, marking him as his for all to see. Zhang He dug his nails in harder in response, and neither of them noticed the pain, or blood, that was now trickling down Gan Ning's back and filling his mouth, teeth still sinking into his lover's shoulder. Too caught up in the pleasure, were they, neither aware of the damage they were inflicting and receiving. Gan Ning was pumping as hard and fast as he could now, and feeling himself draw near the end, removed one of his hands from Zhang he's waist, and wrapped around his hardness, stroking Zhang He towards completion. When they both came, it was virtually at the same time.

Gan Ning collapsed on top of Zhang He, burying his face in the soft hair and breathing in the sweet scent of coconut. He groaned as the pain in his back made itself known for the first time, and brushed the torn skin gingerly, looking critically at the blood that came back with his hand. "Damn, you really did a number on my back. I didn't know butterflies could do that. Tell me, why is it that these things never hurt while you're doing them?" Zhang He shrugged, not at all bothered by his bloodied shoulder and bruised hips. "Having to much fun, I guess. Besides, you big baby, they're just scratches. You bit me." He pointed out. Gan Ning grinned. "Yeah, but you enjoy that sort of thing. Me, not so much." Zhang He rolled his eyes and pouted. "That is entirely beside the point." Gan Ning rolled off of him and flopped on his back, grabbing Zhang He by the waist and pressing him close against his side, Zhang He happily snuggling against him before muttering good naturedly; "You're making a bloody mess all over my sheets, you know." Gan Ning scoffed at this. "As opposed to the other mess I made all over your sheets? Besides, it's your fault. If you hadn't tried to separate the flesh from my spine…" Zhang He giggled and snuggled closer. "You're such a baby." He said, and both drifted off to sleep.

Bwahaha! Killer butterflies! …OK, maybe not. But still, that would be pretty darn cool, wouldn't it? Next Chapter: Plot development, and Ling Yi being insane! But sadly, no killer butterflies. Funfact: Butterflies are drawn to salt, and are often drawn to saltwater as much as sugar-water. Another funfact: Coconut really is good for your hair and skin. Yet another funfact: An empty coconut shell cut into halves can be used to make the most marvelous sound effects. Still another funfact: I have no idea if they actually had shampoo in ancient China, but I'm pretty sure they must have.