The fire mage jumped through his partner's window as always. He immediately noticed a change in the air.

Lucy was in the bathroom, he knew. But something was… different.

"Lucy?" he called to her inquisitively through the door.

He was so confused.

Why couldn't he smell anything? There was nothing. Just the scent of Lucy and the new plants he could see around the room.

He couldn't help but wonder why those were the only things he could smell. She loved smelling nice. Sure, it caused him problems but she was happy so he would be too.

This was one of those times that she would want to take extra care of herself. So why hadn't she?

"You're back!" she answered him through the door. "I'll be right out!"

"Ok," he said warily. He was still concerned so he asked, "Are you ok?"

The door opened to reveal the blonde herself.

"Of course," she smiled brightly at him, "Why do you ask?"

But he was speechless as his jaw dropped slightly.

There she was. Gorgeous as always. Her golden blonde hair fell in waves and curls down to the center of her back and framed her face beautifully. Her skin almost glowed with how well she took care of it and looked so incredibly soft. It also shimmered slightly due to the remaining oil on it.

The outfit she'd chosen to sleep in didn't help him stop staring either. The thigh length gown was red. That was really all he could get out of it as she walked passed him to the kitchen. The strappy thing just barely covered her glorious curves.

She was feeling strong, beautiful, and sexy and she didn't care who knew it. He really loved it when she got this confident.

Best of all, even though he could see the oils and remaining lotion as it continued to soak in, he couldn't smell anything but her.

"I'm – I'm g-good—good—Great! I'm fine!" he managed to stutter, embarrassed as he wondered what the hell was wrong with himself.

Get yourself together, you idiot! he thought bitterly.

Lucy giggled as she came back to him holding a plate that she'd saved for him in the oven.

"Dinner?" she offered.

He was practically drooling, and not just because of the food, but he was grateful as he was definitely starving.

"You're a goddess!" he cheered as he accepted the meal.

She laughed again at his outburst. "Thank you," she continued to giggle as she sat on the couch.

He joined her and savored it all. Lucy, her scent, the atmosphere, her amazing cooking skills, Lucy, the way her hair fell across her forehead or shoulder as they talked about the trip… wait… he stopped himself from reaching to push her hair back.

What is wrong with you?! He scolded himself again. She's your partner!

Oh, he was in trouble. He need to leave before he did something insanely stupid.

She took his plate from him and returned it to the kitchen. "Are you going to spend the night here?" she inquired.

"Yes," waitDammit!

"Ok," she told him with a smile. She really didn't know what was going on in his mind, but she knew she didn't have his full attention which was rare.

Lucy leaned against the doorway with her elbow and began fiddling with her hair as she watched him struggle with whatever he was thinking about. The action raised her already short nightgown up just slightly.

"Are you sure you're alright, Natsu?" she jolted him from his thoughts, making him look at her again.

His tongue felt too big for his mouth. Yeah, he was going to do something stupid. He just knew it.

Her scent had been calling to him all night! He loved the way she smelled but the perfumes always kept him at a safe distance. Now, he didn't have a barrier and she was standing in front of him checking him for a fever.

When did she cross the room? He didn't know.

"I'm fine," he managed, nearly whimpering at how close she was.

Warning! WARNING! Leave!

He was going to go insane! This struggle was real. It was the hardest fight he'd ever been in.

Just don't touch her!

"Well, it's time for bed," she informed him as she turned away. "Let's go."

I'm a dead man! He thought helplessly as he watched her hips sway to the bed.

Lucy always slept on the outside as she was an early riser, so he had to climb onto the other side of the bed, near the wall. Only one problem with that: she was already sitting on the bed and he had to move around her.

Please! Don't do anything stupid! He begged himself desperately.

As luck would have it, he successfully got to the other side without pouncing on her. But now he had another problem: he always, ALWAYS, cuddled with her. It would be suspicious if he didn't.

Don't be a creep! Please, don't be a creep! He repeated his mantra as Lucy laid down beside him and pulled the covers up.

He got situated, allowing her to use his arm as a pillow, and wrapped himself around her as usual.

Yeah, we're just partners! He thought in bitter irony as he mistakenly took a deep breath.

Unconscious of his actions, his grip on her became more possessive. Her scent drove him mad. After only a few moments, he'd nuzzled into her neck with a low growl.

Lucy immediately knew something was off and gently pushed him back slightly so she could look at him. Well, at least, she tried to.

He pulled her right back to him a little harder than necessary and continued bathing in her scent. He didn't even realize that his hands weren't where they belonged. They were stroking her back over the straps holding her gown closed and pulling her hair out of the way so he could get closer.

If it had been anyone else, Lucy would've kicked them into the next city by now.

She'd wondered how he'd act without something bothering his nose and she couldn't bring herself to complain. Sure, he was being a little rough with her and, WOW!, did he have a possessive streak.

She knew if she told him to stop he would and would probably be too terrified to touch her again. She really didn't want him to stop.

His hot breath fanned against her neck and back where he'd finally gotten to bare skin raising goosebumps along her arms and making her shiver.

She bit back a noise in her throat as she arched into him. It only spurred him on.

Natsu dragged his open mouth along her neck, shoulder, and under her chin forcing her to arch further against him. The hand that she'd draped over him gripped his back, her nails gently digging into his skin. The hand that had been trapped between them now pulled on outer thigh of his pants' leg.

His longer than normal canines brushed against a sensitive spot on her neck causing her to jolt against him roughly while gasping his name.

Both her hands gripped what they held more tightly. The pain in his back from her nails pulled him closer to her forcing him to roll them over. Now he had her pinned to the bed and was moving to latch his mouth onto that wonderful spot he'd just found.

WHAT AM I DOING?!

"Lucy!" he bolted upright leaving her slightly disheveled and very confused. "Are you ok? I didn't hurt you, did I? I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! I don't know what came over me!"

He continued to ramble for several more minutes. The most she got out of his muttering was that he definitely wanted to absolutely ravish her right then and there, but he didn't want to ruin what they had.

Natsu knew he'd never hurt her. If she wanted him to leave, he would. He could and would behave himself. He loved just being near her but it had been the perfumes that had always held him back.

He only lost control because he'd never dealt with just her scent before. It was intoxicating and he was damn near drunk on it.

It wasn't an excuse for his behavior, but it was all he had. He felt horrible for betraying her trust and faith in him.

"Natsu, it's ok," she assured him as she sat up and placed her hands on the sides of his face. "I'm fine. You didn't hurt me, and you never would. I knew that if I asked you to stop you would in an instant."

"I don't want you to be scared of me," he lamented, "I should've behaved myself and I didn't."

"I wasn't exactly behaving either," she reminded him flirtatiously.

He looked at her curiously trying to figure out what she meant.

"I didn't tell you to stop, did I?" she argued with a smile. He had to agree with that.

"I don't like that my bathing habits make you uncomfortable," she told him as she let him go. "I hated that the products I was using made you sick. So, I started looking for an alternative."

"But I like that they make you feel great," he hated that she felt the need to change her routine for him.

"As do I," she smiled. "When we were in Crocus last time, I found the new products I've been using."

He tilted his head in confusion.

"They're just as high quality and still leave me feeling great but they're all unscented."

He blinked. What?

"I wanted to know how you were going to act without a bunch of perfumes driving you crazy," Lucy mumbled in embarrassment, her earlier confidence wearing off.

I didn't think you'd act like that, but I can't say I didn't like it, she thought while looking at the blankets, honestly wishing he'd push her back on to the bed and do what he'd wanted to before he'd panicked.

What he was getting out of the conversation was that she'd purposely purchased items without a scent of their own so being around her wouldn't send him into a sneezing fit anymore. What he'd gotten out of her actions once he'd gotten ahold of her was that she didn't mind and seemed to enjoy the attention he'd given her without the perfumes getting in his way. Especially, if the new scent she was giving off was anything to go on.

I'm in love with you, he thought dreamily as he got riled up again.

Lucy suddenly squeaked, turned red, and looked at him with wide eyes as she covered her mouth with her hands.

"Did I say that out loud?"

She nodded, her blush spreading from her cheeks all the way to her chest.

Now, it was his turn to blush and look at the blankets. He tried many times to speak but the only sounds he was capable of making were pathetic and mouse like.

Why do I have to act like such a loser around her? It must be Lucy's weirdness rubbing off on me, he decided.

"Luc-," he began before a deliciously soft pair of lips landed on his.

The beauty quickly jumped back and stared at her hands as they fidgeted in her lap; her face was a completely new shade of embarrassed he'd never seen before. He could hear her poor heart hammering furiously in her rib cage.

She tried to speak but no sound came out.

Natsu again fought with his self-control. He wanted her… BAD! but he wanted her forever and he wasn't going to ruin a possible forever just because he was a stupid guy.

So, instead of pouncing on her like he so desperately wanted to, he crept forward and kissed her back. It was longer than the one Lucy had given him as he lingered a for a moment.

Content for now, he slowly pulled away from her and smiled. Her eyes were closed, still lost in his brief kiss. As she finally looked at him again, she gave him a shy smile of her own.

Natsu laid back down on the bed and held his arms open to her. She sighed happily as she snuggled back into her normal place at his side. He placed a kiss on her forehead as they laid together.

Both were still too buzzed with energy to fall asleep immediately, so they just cuddled and smiled like two fools in love.

Morning finally peaked through the window and Natsu still hadn't fallen asleep. Lucy had dozed off a few hours ago. He just watched her wondering how in all creation he'd gotten this lucky. He'd had to have done something right in a past life.

After she woke up and started going about her day, she still couldn't stop blushing every time she looked at him. He couldn't stop kissing her every chance he was given, each one longer than the previous. Occasionally, he would just wrap his arms around her soaking her in and enjoying not having to share her at the moment.

She couldn't stop the tears in her eyes as she told him with a smile, "I'm in love with you, too."

I'm going to have to thank that company the next time we're in Crocus.

***Greetings Y'all! I hope y'all enjoyed this one. I've struggled with it for a while. I've had it written for months but it was never right. I finally think it's good enough. Let me know what y'all think!

Be careful out there and have a wonderful day!