AS AN ADDED BONUS FOR THIS CHAPTER: Here is the link to one of my drawings… its what I think Kartik should look like… hehe. I'll probably do Gemma soon… but I can't decide what color to make her hair… I know its red, but what shade? Any ideas? (And please, you can critique the writing… but don't mess with the artwork… haha! JK Say what you really think about it…)

http/i33. 8: Perils of the Heart

Summary: Well, now that Felicity and Ann have found love, Gemma sets out to nourish her own budding romance… hehe

Suggested Music:

Paragraphs all: Someone to Love by Erin Bohem

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I feel as though I could fly to Kartik's campsite and I still could not get there fast enough. I have hiked up my skirt in the most unladylike fashion, determined not to trip over the frills and mess up my face… if only Miss Nightwing could see me now...

Finally, I've reached the site. I take in deep gulps of air and hug a nearby tree in order to maintain my balance. What would Kartik think if he saw me in such a state?

What? You missed me that much? Such a child… he would say in that wonderfully sarcastic tone of his, smiling a wickedly handsome smile… I would pretend to pout, but unable to contain myself, I would laugh and jump into his arms…

No… I must be an adult… a mature, calm… sultry adult. The girl… woman a man would desire. Normally I wouldn't care about such things… but I want him to see how special he is to me… how he has changed my life.

I release the tree, smooth out my dress, and push the wisps of hair that fell from my bun behind my ears. Inhaling deeply, I finally make my way to the entrance of his tent. As I approach, I attempt to… slink as I walk, just as I had seen… "professional" women do in London. I look down at my dress one last time to make sure I'm presentable… but then I realize I have the collar buttoned all the way up to the top. Why today of all days I chose to wear a dress with a collar? Not wanting to be a prude, I unbutton the first three buttons. Kartik will get a nice view of my neck, and I'll leave the rest to his imagination. I begin to take my hair down, but he would probably like it if I take it down in front of him… or if he takes it down himself for that matter. Just the thought of his fingers in my hair, his lips caressing my neck, the warmth of his body against mine… its enough to make my heart leap out of my chest. Finally satisfied with my appearance, I throw back the flap to his tent with dramatic flair.

"Hello Kartik…" I purr as I enter the cramped space.

I am completely unprepared for what I see.

There… in the middle of the tent… is Kartik… stark naked… getting changed to go to sleep.

"Gemma!" Kartik exclaims, eyes wide with embarrassment as he frantically grabs for the pants at his feet.

I spin around and run out of the tent, desperately yelling apologies. "Oh Kartik! I'm so sorry! I… I mean… umm… oh bloody hell! I can't believe I did that! Kartik I'm so sorry I didn't mean to…" My face is hot with shame. He's probably going to tell me to leave and never come back! How embarrassing… yet… thrilling. The image of Kartik's naked body is burned into my brain… his tone chest muscles, his powerful legs, his… perfect buttocks… WHY AM I THINKING OF THIS! YOU WERE THE ONE WHO WANTED TO WAIT GEMMA! But no matter how much I yell at myself… the horrifyingly wonderful image remains.

I hear Kartik's footsteps behind me. "Gemma! What on earth are you doing here?"

"Well, you see, I was trying to help Felicity get back together with Ithal, and the gypsy camp is right near here, so I decided that after I was done, I'd come and see you, because I've missed you terrib- I mean… because I was here anyway… but I'm so sorry! I should have knocked! Wait… I couldn't have knocked…"

All of a sudden I hear soft chuckles behind me. I sheepishly turn around to see Kartik trying desperately to control his fits of laughter… adding to my torment by only wearing his pants…

"Kartik! Why are you laughing?" My embarrassment has tripled, and my face must look like a giant tomato.

Kartik is doubled over, tears streaming down his face as he lets out a roar of laughter. "Just… just the look on your face… it was priceless!" I've never seen him laugh so hard in my life. I don't know whether to be attracted by this, or furious.

"Well… you shouldn't be laughing! This was… traumatizing for me… I've never seen a naked man before! Fortunately, you had your back to me! Wait… that didn't sound right… Oh never-mind!"

I turn on my heel and cross my arms. "Oh Gemma, here I'm sorry." He comes up behind me and wraps his arms around me. The warmth of his skin is exhilarating. "Why didn't you tell me you were here? I would have come out."

"Oh… umm… well… I just didn't think of it… that's all."

"Gemma…" he says slyly as he fingers the unbuttoned buttons of my collar. "Tell me the truth."

As if this night couldn't get any worse… he's figured out my motive. "Oh fine! I wanted to surprise you! I missed you so much… and I know I just saw you yesterday, so don't even try to tease me about that! But I wanted to act more… mature for you to show you that I care… so I wanted to make a… special entrance… oh you must think I've lost my marbles!"

He chuckles softly as he hugs me tighter. "Gemma, Gemma… don't you know that what I desire most about you is your innocence? You don't have to act 'mature' for me. Just knowing you love me is enough."

"I know… but… I don't want to be a child anymore either! I want to grow up! I know I said I wanted to wait to make love… and I still do. But… I want to become a woman. I want you to desire me… not my innocence." Kartik's eyes grow wide at the implications of my last statement. "Oh… my that must sound terrible." I say sheepishly. "I should go…"

"No! Gemma! Don't! Its okay! I understand what you're saying!" He grabs my hand lightly as he calls me back, playfully wrapping his fingers between mine. "If you want to… act seductively… who am I to stop you?" A devilish grin is splashed across his face. "Would you like me to go back into the tent and we could start over?"

Now I know my face has probably turned from red to purple. "No! I mean… well, I did practice… but the element of surprise is gone… oh what am I talking about! Of course not! You'll just laugh at me!"

"No Gemma! I swear I won't! And as to the surprise… I'll just temporarily forget you are here…" His teeth look beautiful tonight…

"Oh… alright… but you better play along! Otherwise it won't be convincing!"

"Of course, of course!" He says as he backs away towards his tent. Just as he opens the flap, he turns around mischievously and asks, "So… did you like what you saw?"

"JUST GET IN THE TENT!"

He leaps inside the tent with added flare, laughing all the while. Why am I doing this? He's going to know I'm uncomfortable anyway… No… it's not for him… now it's for me. I have to grow up. I have to prove to myself that I am a woman and that… well that I'm desirable!

Having found new resolve, make a few more adjustments to my appearance, slink back to his tent, throw back the flaps, and strut inside.

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"Hello Kartik." I say in a deep, sultry voice.

Kartik turns around, trying to keep a straight face. But all of a sudden, it seems as if he is truly surprised to see me. I have taken off my shoes and socks, given myself a messy bun, and unbuttoned a few more buttons. And rather than standing with my proper English Rose posture, I take on a powerful seductive stance. Clearly, I am channeling the aura of… well I'm not really sure what, but it seems to be affecting Kartik immensely.

"Gemma… what are you doing here?"

"I've come for you, Kartik. Aren't you happy to see me?" I ask breathily. Reaching up to my bun, I take out the few pins I had left in and let my hair tumble down.

He draws in his breath quickly. "Of course Gemma. But… its dangerous coming out here all by yourself."

I resume my slinky walk. "I know… but I had to see you Kartik. I can't get you out of my thoughts. My fingers in your hair, your skin against mine…" I am standing so close to him that I can feel the heat radiating from his perfect body. I raise my hand to his chest, and my fingers make walking motions all the way up to his chin and lips. "I can't get enough of you Kartik. Do you feel that way about me?"

Kartik drinks in the moment like an elixir, awed by this change and desperately trying to keep his lust in check.

"Gemma…" He says breathlessly. "You haven't left my mind since last night." His hands caress my arms. "Finally I can have you… all to myself."

I bring my face so close to his that we are merely centimeters apart. "My body is only for you Kartik," I whisper, provocatively biting my lip as I stare longingly at his beautiful full mouth.

That seems to have sent him over the edge. He grabs me forcefully and kisses me, both of us shoving our tongues in each other's mouths. His hands are tangled in my hair, tugging at it lightly. My hands travel from his shoulder blades all the way down to his lower back, sending shivers down his spine. He begins to turn me around to lay me on his makeshift bed, but I push him down on the blanket and straddle him. Shock is splashed across his face, but is immediately erased as I begin to suck on his lower lip. His eyes flutter in ecstasy, which drives me further into madness. I begin kissing him feverishly, our tongues writhing together. His hands travel down my neck and my chest, stopping just above my breasts. He breaks from the kiss to catch his breath, but my lips journey down his neck… then his chest… and his stomach. He lets out a load moan. "Ohhhhhh Gemma…!" I return to his mouth and start kissing him passionately again. This feeling is sensational! Knowing you have such power over a man… it's almost intoxicating. Kartik has seemed to have had reached his limit. He grabs me, flips me onto my back, and presses his full weight on top of me, never breaking the kiss. His lips then travel the length of my jaw line until he reaches my ear. I feel his warm breath as he whispers in my ear, "I love you Gemma." He then bites my earlobe lightly. I arch my back with pleasure, pressing myself even more against his body. "Kartik! Oh Kartik! You're amazing!" I say in a high-pitched moan.

"Oh God…" he says in desperation. "Gemma… we have to stop."

"Why?" I ask nervously. "Did I do something wrong? Whatever it is I'm sorry!"

"No! You didn't do anything wrong… you were doing everything right. That's the problem. If we keep going like this… I don't know whether I will be able to control myself. You… still want to wait… don't you?"

I stare into his beautiful honey eyes, full of desire, love, and pain. I know he wants to make love to me… and I want to make love to him… but not now. Maybe I'll still be a child, but it doesn't seem like the right time… for either of us.

"Yes… I'm sorry Kartik. Can you wait a little longer?"

A small smile creeps onto his face. "Gemma, I'd wait until the end of time for you. You know… it's my first time too… so… I want it to be special for both me and you."

My heart skipped a beat. Its Kartik's first time too? I always thought… since he was older… that he had already had the experience. Just hearing that he had waited and is willing to keep waiting for me brought tears to my eyes.

"Thank you Kartik. I'd wait until the end of time for you too."

Kartik smiles a sweet smile and brushes a strand of hair out of my eyes. As our eyes meet, he pauses and stares for what seems like an eternity. He leans in one last time…

"GEMMA! KARTIK! IT'S FELICITY AND ITHAL! WE SHOULD BE HEADING BACK!"

Kartik and I jump up. As I clumsily try to make myself presentable, he frantically searches for his kurta.

"Are you two in there?" Ithal says teasingly. "Being naughty I presume…"

I burst out of the tent, completely disheveled. "Of course not! We were… merely discussing… India! How much Kartik would like to go back. Yes, that's it."

"That's exactly it!" Kartik shouts as he jumps out of the tent, cloak fluttering in the breeze.

"Right…" giggles Felicity. "Well, we better get back Gemma… oh and Kartik, you might want to tie that cloak around you more tightly… you'll catch a cold without a shirt on."

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Haha! Well, what do you think? Am I getting better with the lovey dovey crap? Remember, I know nothing of sex… so if you have any advice lay it on me. Thanks to all of my lovely reviewers! Make sure you take a look at the drawing! I worked hard on it!