Hi my lovely readers!

I hope everyone has had a good few days rest, I certainly have!

This piece is a continuation of the very first chapter in this book, called 'Risks' and I would recommended reading this before this one, but again, do as you like :)

It was a request from Namine17 on , and I really hope you enjoy it.

One thing to note is that I used to write in first perspective, and the first chapter is written in that style, however, I now much prefer third person so there is a bit of a difference between the two. Maybe I should rewrite the first chapter, any thoughts?

I am going to add some trigger warnings below as this story has been a little more extreme than I have produced to date, but it was where the story took me. Also, I make Sting an absolute dick in this story, I like him as a character so this is most definitely OOC, please do not come at me if you are a Sting lover, request a piece for him and I'll show him a much better time! ;)

Requests are open, but may be temporarily suspended shortly as I look to establish a new one shot lemons book specifically for Naruto Shippuden characters in the coming weeks. Get your requests in now, but be aware that it might take a little longer until I get to them (all requests will be fulfilled, I promise!). Let me write your kinks ;)

Much love smut lovers! :P

tw: violence, fighting, blood, sexual threat, attempted rape

~.~

It felt much too warm, with her head burrowed under the heavy grey sheets, Lucy wriggled like a butterfly trying to emerge from it's chrysalis. Her head finally broke the surface, the cool air of the ceiling fan like a welcoming breath of fresh air.

The other side of the bed was empty and cool as a hand ran over the slightly dipped mattress; Lucy groaned as she groggily thought of where Natsu could be.

It had been almost three weeks since their infamous first meeting; the gig at Nirvana's that had changed her life forever.

Lucy had chosen to reach out and place her shaking hand into Natsu's outstretched one, and he had whisked her off into the unknown of the night. She had made the correct decision, the man was loving, funny and so downright sexy, it almost hurt her damn teeth.

He had been quick to alleviate her concerns; he had an innate way of knowing exactly how she was feeling at any given moment, as if she were an open book that he read at his leisure. Wrapping her tightly into his strong body, his black leather jacket already draped around her shoulders to keep the chill from her bare shoulders, he made jokes and asked Lucy questions about her life.

It seemed crazy how at ease she felt with him, after knowing him for all of an evening. Lucy had never considered herself a hopeless romantic, she was more realistic than that, she was no Juvia with dreams of love at first sight and happily ever afters. Yet, it was hard to deny the instant attraction she felt for the guitarist, both physically, mentally and emotionally.

Natsu was everything that she needed at this point in her life. He had burst in with his casual wit, enigmatic personality and dazzling smile that left her breathless. Lucy had been left reeling from the break up with Sting, it had come from nowhere in her eyes, and it hurt.

The hurt she could deal with, it was the ringing last words that had left a mark on the blonde; "You are so boring Lucy; I can't be with someone that refuses to take a risk every now and then!"

So yeah she was careful in her life, never missed a lecture, studied diligently and had refused to take a sick day from her part time job even when she had to literally drag her ass in during a horrendous flu season.

Sting had been her boyfriend since high school, the ever popular non jock. He had the right level of bad boy attitude that kept his friends and the girls hanging on his every word without the need to involve himself in any athletic clubs, not that he would ever have the motivation to maintain any kind of discipline.

It was only now that Lucy could see him for what he truly was, a flake, a player that planned on riding through life on someone else's coattails. She was finally glad that it wasn't her that would pull him along behind her.

Shaking herself from the wayward thoughts, she heard a grunt of exertion and decided to go investigate. Lucy was getting used to staying in Natsu's apartment, it was small but had a cosy feeling that was hard to describe. In the past three weeks they had spent most nights together here, the occasional night at her own apartment, and only one night alone when Natsu had been out of town at a gig.

Padding softly towards the bedroom door, Lucy pulled his band's top lower on her body, the hem resting just above her knees. She peeked her head around the corner and bit her lower lip at the sight before her. Natsu lay close to the floor, his hands in a push up position as his body moved up and down in a rhythmic motion. He was bare chested, sweat sticking to his skin as the muscles on display bunched and rippled from the exercise, little grunts floated towards her as she watched on hungrily.

Lucy's eyes swept his length as he continued to work himself ragged, she bit down on her tongue as she detailed the way his workout shorts clung to his tight ass and highlighted the strength in his thighs and calves. The man was a fucking delicious treat, one that she had enjoyed more times than she could count.

Natsu hadn't been lying when he had told her he wanted to see her naked beneath him, squirming from his touch. The second they had crashed through his apartment door on the night of their meeting, they had been swept into a heated embrace. A trail of clothes leading to the bedroom where Lucy had been spread out on his bed like she were his own personal feast, and he was a starving man.

He had learned every inch of her, slowly. It had been torturous at times; the way he had stroked her, tasted her, teased her until she begged him to take her, to end her torment and finally feel him deep inside.

Lucy had orgasmed time and again at Natsu's skilled hands and mouth, but when he at last sunk into her, slow and firm she had lost her mind. The sanity seemingly pouring out her ears as he made her his over and over until they were both sated and so exhausted that sleep washed over them before they could even move to clean the mess they had made.

A soft purr vibrated up her throat as she watched Natsu, and the noise met his ears. His head lifted to fix his gaze with hers, yet he never stopped the movement of his arms. His lips stretched into a knowing smile as Lucy squirmed against the door frame, not even aware of the hand that was caressing the wall almost lovingly.

With a final grunt, Natsu sat back on his thighs and pushed his damp hair out his eyes.

"Is there something you need babe?" he asked, despite the exertion he had pushed himself through, his voice did not show that he was tired in the slightest. Lucy should know by now that he had a seemingly endless supply of stamina, and she was going to have to start going back to the gym if she planned on keeping up with him!

"Just admiring the view," she purred, before walking past him to the small kitchen for a glass of cold water. She sipped the drink as Natsu turned over and started a series of sit ups, her eyes drawn to the ripple of his abs with each curl of his sun-kissed body.

Lucy moved to sit on the small kitchen counter, knowing that his t-shirt would ride up until her ass was almost on display. She also knew that Natsu could see this, there was a small falter in his rhythm but he pressed on diligently.

An idea struck her, Natsu was most definitely rubbing off on her as she would never have dared a move like this before meeting him. She leapt from the counter, light on her feet as she padded closer, "think I'll have a shower," she murmured when she was next to his position on the floor.

Natsu looked up, his eyes trained on Lucy as she moved to cross over his prone body to reach his small bathroom. Lucy smiled, the lazy smile of a smug cat as she stepped over him, knowing full well that she wore no panties and that he would have a perfect view of her pussy as she ever so casually moved to 'shower'.

A strong hand wrapped around her ankle one step from the bathroom door, she gasped and threw her head over her shoulder. Natsu's eyes burned with the same intensity as the first night they met, the desire shining through so strongly that it almost felt like a tangible heat on her skin.

"Don't lock the door," he growled, releasing Lucy and beginning to curl his abdomen once more. As Lucy swept her gaze down his body, there was definite hard lump beneath his shorts and she silently praised herself for being so bold.

It only took minutes; stripping out of the t-shirt and turning the water on to almost scalding hot as she stepped into the enclosed shower cube. The steam rose quickly and Lucy wasn't even fully covered by the water when Natsu's hands closed around her body and pulled her into him.

His grip was tight on her wet skin, fingers digging in as he rubbed his erection against Lucy's ass. She couldn't help but play the game a little longer, "I thought you were exercising?" she asked innocently, yet her body betrayed that innocence by grinding against him wantonly.

"Who said I wasn't?" was the answer before Lucy was quickly spun to face him. The cunning smile making Lucy's stomach twist and writhe as he lifted her with ease. She wasn't a stick; something she was proud of, having curves in all the places that most girls wished for, but she always felt utterly weightless in his arms. Her legs wrapped around his waist, arms wound around his neck as she anchored herself on him.

A slight shiver raised the flesh on her skin as Lucy was pressed against the tiled wall. Lips met in teasing kisses until Natsu growled and pressed his mouth to hers with such intensity that he stole her breath. Lucy had grown bold these past weeks, as they kissed she pressed a hand between their bodies and sought out his cock. Slick from the shower and his arousal she stroked him a few times, he grunted and rocked his hips with the movement of her hand before she guided him to where she needed him the most.

Natsu was more often than not impatient, and today was no different as he swung his hips in a smooth motion to impale Lucy fully. She cried out, one hand curling into his wet hair, nails raking his scalp in such a delicious way, and the other hand scratching at his muscled back. He grunted at the feel of those dainty nails making marks on him, her way of claiming him as hers, and he fucking loved it.

The water pooled between their chests as Natsu rocked into Lucy with furious need, his adrenaline spiking from the exercise, but most importantly from the downright confidence that she had exuded since she appeared from his bedroom.

It had been truly mesmerising to watch the nervous and far too conservative blonde, blossom into the sexy and confident girl that she was today, and he was proud of her. If it happened because of him, all the better, he was delighted that she even gave him the time of day. In his eyes he wasn't worthy of her, and he would do everything in his power to make her happy and to keep her from realising that.

Lucy moaned, and Natsu was quick to cover her mouth with his own, wanting to swallow those noises greedily as he slammed into her. His tempo was slipping, so close to the edge yet he hung on until Lucy broke apart in his arms. Her walls tightening almost painfully as she screamed his name and clawed like a feral animal at his body.

Natsu took every little hit of pain from her nails, delighting in it as he released into her heat. His head fell to her shoulder, planting loving kisses to her collarbone as he panted from the exertion of holding her all this time, and from his release.

As her feet touched the shower floor, her legs quivered briefly until her equilibrium returned. Natsu smiled down at her with such warmth and affection that her heart ached from the abundance of love she felt, yet that was a problem on its own…

"Thanks for the help babe," he teased, winking and reaching for the bottles of body wash. The pair helped each other get clean before they exited the shower to start the day properly.

~.~

Did she love him? What were they to each other?

Lucy's brain was frazzled as she took her cart down the endless aisles of bookshelves, stopping here and there to return books to their rightful homes. Sometimes she hated this job, the book store that she worked in was so quiet most of the time that it could be deadly dull.

The quiet did allow for her mind to wander, gave her time to study for tests and edit essays on the fly. Today she was not so pleased to be accompanied by only her thoughts; these were not new thoughts, they plagued her often enough that she was sick of playing out all the different scenarios.

Despite the fact that she and Natsu had only spent one night apart since their meeting, they had never had the official 'chat'. The one where they gave each other the labels that she craved so badly, boyfriend and girlfriend. Maybe he didn't want an official girlfriend? Lucy could merely be the latest distraction…

Levy thought she was nuts; she had spilled her dark thoughts on the last girls night, where she had been practically tortured for information about the hunky Natsu by a bloodthirsty Levy, Cana and Juvia.

She had clung to the words of her best friend, "trust me Luce, he is not the playing around type of guy. I grilled Gajeel for all the information on him the second you jumped his bones that night.

Practically twisted his arm behind his back, and Gajeel swears that Natsu has never shown interest in a fan or any other girl, for that matter.

Apparently the boys were quite taken aback when you two hit it off so quickly. Loke had started to think that Natsu might have been gay…" Levy whispered the last part, and Lucy felt the unstoppable bubble of laughter rising in her at that thought.

They do not know Natsu!

Her wandering mind was grounded by the unmistakeable trill of the door bell, she turned to smile politely at the customer, but her face fell when she saw who it was.

Sting.

Panic raced through her veins, this was no chance encounter. Sting had never finished a book in his life, not willingly anyway, and he knew this was where she worked; what did he want?

The cocky smile slipped into place on his face with ease, and Lucy shuddered at what she had once thought of as kinda cute. Now she could only see it for what it was, cruel and uncaring.

Hands shoved deep in his pockets he strolled towards Lucy like a predator circling it's prey, but Lucy knew the difference now. Sting's confidence only came across as misplaced arrogance, it sickened her when she compared it to the predatory gait of Natsu, who simply oozed sensual promise and warmth.

"Hey Luce." Sting drawled, Lucy wanted to scratch her skin off at the sound of the familiar nickname on his lips. A hand lifted to run through his dirty blonde hair, sweeping his bangs out of his eyes, and her eyes noticed the new earring that dangled from his left ear.

Lucy was in no mood for his bullshit, she needed to shut this down quickly.

"What do you want Sting?" she asked, turning to continue putting the books away from her cart, not wanting to give him any more attention than absolutely necessary.

He grunted and stepped a little closer, she could feel his presence behind her back and she despised it. The smell of his overpowering cologne clung to her nostrils and made her want to retch as she recalled how liberally he would coat himself in that scent. His clothes looked a little neater than normal, t-shirt tucked into tight fitted jeans and a pair of heavy black boots on his feet.

"Can't a guy admit when he's made a mistake?" he crooned.

With book mid air, she froze. What the fuck?

Lucy turned slowly, her eyes narrowed as Sting shuffled his feet and did his damnedest to look contrite. "Are you serious?" she hissed through her teeth, taking a step forward. Her confidence grew as he took a step back at her intimidating look and voice.

Sting's mouth opened, but she threw up a warning finger to silence him as she continued, "you think that you can dump me, call me boring and sneer in my face then waltz back into my life when you realise what you're missing?"

"Don't be like that babe, I was – I was just in a bad place. Yeah that's it." he whined, daring to step closer as his arrogance sat firmly around his broad shoulders.

Lucy raked him with a sneer, where this side of her came from, she had no idea but she wasn't backing down now. "Don't you dare 'babe' me! I'm not interested, so get out," she stated with an air of absolute finality.

The ire was fast to surface, Sting was always quick tempered and Lucy knew it, had witnessed it first hand on more occasions than she cared to remember. The red flush of rage stained his neck and cheeks, dark blue eyes sharpening as the pupils dilated upon her. Hands tightened into fists, and for the first time ever, Lucy was truly scared of Sting.

"Fine!" he yelled, marching towards the door and Lucy released the breath she had been holding. However, he wasn't finished, Sting rounded as he held the door open in a death grip, "just tell me who the guy is that you've been fucking?"

It felt like a physical slap as Lucy gasped and placed a steadying hand on her cart, her legs shook from the adrenaline coursing through her and she wanted to hurt him so badly for those course words. Sting smiled, cruel and twisted as his head cocked to the side. "Rogue tells me you've been seen with some pink haired asshole a lot lately, and I want to know who he is so I can go beat his ass."

From the depths of her soul she pulled all her remaining courage as her shoulders lifted, spine straight, she looked Sting dead in the eye, "none of your fucking business. Leave." She turned from the blonde that was practically vibrating with anger, desperate to look strong and not let him see the tears that were forming in her eyes.

The door slammed and the force of it sent a ripple through the small store, Lucy gasped and clapped a hand over her mouth. Minutes passed until she dared move, slipping into a shadowed corner and slowly slumping to her knees as she sobbed openly.

It took longer than she would have liked to compose herself, for once thankful of the lack of customers as she slowly pulled herself back together. Sting was a hothead, but he was not the type to pick fights. It had merely been threats to get Lucy to react and nothing more. She would think nothing of it, he deserved none of her time.

~.~

Lucy told no one of her encounter with Sting, not even Levy.

Despite her best efforts to act natural, that evening when Natsu had knocked on her door after his latest gig had finished, he knew something was up. He did his best to pull it from her, but what she adored the most was the way that he did not pry further when she told him that she simply did not want to talk about it. Instead he wrapped her up in sweet kisses, gentle touches and tender love-making that made her toes curl and her heart slip further into Natsu's strong grip.

It had been almost two weeks since that visit, Sting had not returned and Lucy had started to forget about the words he had said on his exit.

An evening out was much needed after a stressful week with deadlines and long working hours when she was not studying. Natsu had asked her to come to the band's next gig, it was in a smaller bar than Nirvana's and unbeknown to her, he desperately wanted to make things official. He had been thinking for weeks now on how to go about it, and he was still drawing a blank. Surely she knew how he felt about her?

Lucy lost herself in the music; she sat with the girls and felt the tension melt away as she let her gaze wander to the stage. Natsu exuded his usual confidence, strutting around the stage, never missing a beat, his soft pink hair falling into his eyes. Why is he so damn gorgeous?

She couldn't help but look at the girls crowding round the edge of the stage, all clamouring for attention from the four handsome men. A twist of jealousy pierced her heart, she wished to have to the calm assurance that Levy held, knowing that Gajeel was hers and hers alone. Lucy didn't feel she had that same right to claim Natsu, it was ridiculous given how much time they spent together, but without any nod from him she would not assume anything.

Levy grabbed her attention, head nodding towards the restroom to give Lucy the silent hint. The pair walked around the edge of the fans, she peeked up at Natsu and found him watching her, a small smile played on his lips as she drifted away.

As the door swung shut, Levy hoisted herself on to the counter and gave Lucy a hard stare that had the blonde twisting awkwardly under the gaze. "Talk." she stated, crossing her arms over her small chest, knee bouncing as she patiently waited.

Lucy let out a deep sigh, she stared at her reflection and thought on what to say. It was true that she had become a little more daring in all aspects of her life, including fashion. The last time she had been out like this with the girls they had forced her into a skimpy outfit that she would simply have never chosen for herself.

Now she stood in a black dress that was so tight on her chest that it gave her an even more dramatic cleavage than usual. The cut was tight on her slender yet curvy body, and it was shorter than she had ever dared in her life. One wrong move and her panties would be on display for all to see. Levy had dared her to pair it with some fishnet tights and heels that would kill her if she weren't careful.

The risk to her safety had been worth it for the look of utter shock and desire on Natsu's face as he made his way on stage. He had been so entranced by Lucy's daring outfit that he stopped mid step onto the stage and caused Loke to walk straight into his back. His face had flushed as he stumbled over his feet and hastily apologised.

"I saw Sting a few weeks ago," Lucy murmured, twisting a finger through the tendril of hair framing her face. Levy hissed through her teeth, but Lucy continued; "he said he had made a mistake and wanted me back. Yeah yeah, I know!" she said holding up a placating hand as Levy opened her mouth to yell.

"That arrogant prick!" the blue haired girl cried, her hand curling into a tight fist as she fumed.

Rolling her eyes, but internally grateful for her friend's continued support and absolute loyalty to her, she pressed on. "He asked me who I had been fucking, cause he was gonna beat his ass. Apparently Rogue has seen us together and like the good little boy he is, turned tail and reported back to Sting."

Levy roared in the enclosed bathroom, someone in a stall squeaked at the sudden angry noise from her teeny friend. "Sorry!" she called out before turning back to Lucy, "that fucker is an idiot if he is gonna pick a fight with Natsu."

A deep knot of worry burrowed into Lucy's chest at that very thought, the idea of someone trying to hurt Natsu made her physically sick to her stomach, but there was no way Sting was going to be stupid enough to actually go through with the threat.

Waving a hand of dismissal she walked to the door, "Sting is all talk, he won't do a thing cause it won't be worth the effort in his eyes," and on those final words she left Levy to head to the bar and order another drink, she needed it after finally revealing what had been on her mind for so long.

~.~

From the shadows a tall dark haired man lent against the wall; he weighed his options carefully. Did he call Sting and tell him that Lucy was here and that the guy she had been seen with was clearly in the band that was playing, or did he mind his own business and leave Lucy to her new life?

He sighed, letting his eyes slide shut as he deliberated. Yet he knew what the outcome would be, he was indebted to Sting, and as much as he wanted Lucy to be happy, Sting wanted her back. The decision was made as he pulled the phone from his pocket and stepped outside to make the call…

~.~

Lucy was having such a good time, she found herself in the middle of the dance floor revelling with her friends. She was spun around and around, the alcohol in her veins making her head spin even faster than Cana was doing to her body, how she stayed upright she didn't know.

The confidence boost of alcohol and the memory of Natsu's reaction to her outfit emboldened the blonde, and when she caught the attention of the gorgeous pink haired guitarist she blew a flirty kiss at him. She giggled as he deftly mimed catching it between chords, a blush creeping out from the fitted grey tee that he wore on his muscular body.

Lucy dragged Juvia away from the edge of the stage, she had been staring longingly up at Gray and it was clear he was becoming unnerved by this display. The girls had no idea what the situation was with these two, the smitten blue haired girl was surprisingly tight-lipped when it came to the drummer, although her infatuation was still definitely in full flow.

The foursome danced, cheered and catcalled at the band; they were making more noise than anyone else in the audience and it was obvious that the men appreciated their own little performance from the smug smiles and knowing looks shared between them as the gig slowly started to wind up.

Lucy desperately needed a tall glass of water pronto, her mouth was parched from the singing and laughing and most of all the alcohol. She swayed to the bar, a little unstable but not toppling over which she declared as a small victory.

As she sipped the cooling water, she felt a large hand slip around her waist and rest on her hip. Her skin tingled in warning as she turned her head with a snap to come face to face with the towering form of Sting. His face already set into a smug grin and his eyes glittered with malice.

She tried to smack his hand away from her hip, nails curling into the skin on the back of his hand as his grip only tightened on her. Panic was rising quickly, she did her best to leave his clutches, but he had her caged in against the bar with his body, she was hidden from her friends by his tall frame and she was scared.

Sting's other hand grabbed the wrist that was clawing at him, pulling her harshly as he wound her into his steely grip. Lucy could sob, the bartender had his back turned so was not aware that she was in such a dangerous and unwelcome situation, and as Sting began to drag her off she shrieked before a hand clapped over her mouth.

His grasp on her body hurt, the skin of her wrist turning a nasty scarlet shade and he had definitely bruised her hip as Sting forced her towards the exit, her feet skittering in the high heels that she now wished she had not worn!

Tears were streaming from her eyes as she desperately searched for someone to help her, yet the area was empty as the gig was coming to end and everyone was likely enjoying the last of the music. She thought of her friends, and of Natsu, which only made her cry harder.

They were almost at the door, it was wedged open and Lucy could feel the cool evening air hitting her flushed face and she panicked even more. This was not going to happen, she was not going to let this happen without more of a fight. She pressed backwards into Sting with all of her weight and took him off balance enough that the hand slipped from her mouth. His shoulder hit against the wall and he hissed, rounding on her as she twisted her arm to the point that she was likely to break it, but he didn't release her.

Sting pushed with enough force to knock Lucy against the opposite wall, her head made a sickening crack against the exposed brickwork before he had her caged again, his heavy ragged breath in her ear, "you fucking bitch! You think you can just walk away from me?"

Her eyes swam, stomach writhing as she fought the nausea that was quickly rising in her throat. His hands had moved to the hem of her dress and he was trying to push under the tight fabric as she continued to fight him off, her strength slipping due to the knock to her head.

"Let me show you what you've been missing huh? Walking around like a god damn slut, I bet you are already wet for me aren't you?" he hissed, the overpowering smell of strong alcohol on his breath and it made her nausea increase tenfold.

She fought against his hands that tried to force their way between her legs, and then it happened. Sting was forcibly removed from Lucy as she slumped down the wall until she was on her butt.

A deafening angry growl sounded but she could not lift her head to look, it hurt too much and she didn't want to pass out or throw up.

"Get your damn hands off her you asshole!"

~.~

Natsu had noticed Lucy's absence almost immediately.

One minute she had been walking towards the bar, a little off balance but not falling down at least. She had sipped what looked like water, her position just within the limit of where he could comfortably see from the stage. He was glad that she was taking a break from the drinks, she was going to have one hell of a headache tomorrow at this rate.

The next minute he had turned his eyes back to check on her and she was no longer there. His gaze quickly scanned the crowd, he spotted her friends; Levy, Cana and Juvia as they jumped and cheered at the final song, and she was not anywhere that he could see. A sense of dread settled on his shoulders, shaking him slightly as he finished up the performance with less enthusiasm than normal.

Nothing seemed out of place, but he couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in his gut. He frowned as he packed his guitar away, wandering over to Gray who was pulling his top back on his sweat soaked body.

"Hey man, did you see where Lucy went to?" he asked, trying to sound casual.

Gray shrugged, his head lifting to do a quick scan of the room as if Natsu hadn't already thought to do this. "Sorry man, last I saw she was at the bar."

The pair were interrupted by a small ball of energy and worry; Levy had pulled herself on to the stage, crawling straight past a shocked Gajeel as she threw herself at Natsu.

"You have to hurry, it's Lucy!" she screamed, pulling Natsu by the arm as her head swung wildly between him and somewhere by the exit.

Natsu gripped her hand, turning her until she looked at him and he shivered from the fear that shone in her hazel eyes, "what's happened?" he demanded, a strong bite to his voice.

"It's Sting, he's trying to force Lucy out of the bar! I don't know what he is doing, he's a fucking moron but he isn't usually dangerous!" she whimpered, lip trembling as Gajeel made his way to them.

Natsu eyed Gajeel as he pulled his girlfriend into a tight hug. "Ex." was all he needed to say as Natsu hurtled in the direction Levy had been looking towards.

He leapt from the stage, ignoring the squeals of the fans that still excitedly crowded around. Head snapping around to see Lucy pressed against a wall, some tall blonde jerk caging her in and trying to press his fucking hands between her legs.

A rage descended over the male like never before. He was not a fighter by nature, but he could handle himself if necessary, now he wanted to smash this guy's face in for trying to overpower Lucy. Not only because she was his fucking girl, but for even trying it with a female in the first place, the man repulsed him.

He reached them before he had even realised his feet were moving, both hands curling over the blonde's shoulders as he wrenched him away from Lucy. He took note that she slumped to the floor, but he had to deal with this fucker before he could make sure she was ok.

"Get your damn hands off her you asshole!" he roared, his body vibrated with his anger. Hands curling into tight fists, the veins standing in stark contrast on his muscled arms as he watched the blonde asshole take him in with a sneer.

"So you are the fucker that has been messing with my property?" he snarled, the pair circled each other as the other bar patrons started to realise that something was wrong. He knew instinctively that Gajeel, Gray and Loke would jump in to help, but he didn't need it, this guy was his to deal with and he looked forward to wiping that smirk off his face.

Natsu spat, knuckles cracking as his eyes blazed his fury. "Property? What the hell are you talking about, Lucy isn't anyone's property you scumbag!" he threw his fist at the man's jaw, but he was quick despite the evident alcohol in his system.

Sting dodged to the side and swung his own fist towards Natsu's stomach. He took the hit, a slight grunt puffing from him as he felt the impact ripple through his torso, but he didn't move. The blonde's brows rose into his hairline as Natsu let out a dark laugh, wrapping his hand around the man's wrist before he yanked him closer and headbutted him with deadly precision.

The sound of the skulls connecting thundered in the too quiet space. Natsu watched as Sting staggered back, but remained on his feet. His attention was momentarily diverted by the sound of struggling behind him, he turned to find Gajeel with a raven haired male in a headlock. The man spouted profanities as he aimlessly tried to escape his friend's grip, all the while Gajeel merely chuckled and smirked.

That small lapse cost Natsu, he didn't notice in time that Sting had lowered himself to charge at him. Grabbing him around the middle and collapsing to the floor, the men wrangled for dominance, elbows and fists flying as they twisted in their anger.

Natsu had a cut to his eyebrow, the blood steadily trickling towards his eye as he eventually overpowered Sting. Sitting astride his wildly thrashing body, arms pinned to his sides, Natsu gripped his collar forward as he pulled his arm back and dealt the final blow. One solid punch to the nose, blood spurted like a fountain as his head fell back against the floor and likely cracking his skull from the sound of the impact.

With his enemy knocked out, Natsu scrambled off him and hastily looked for Lucy. She was still slumped against the wall where he had left her, Levy and Juvia sat on either side of her whispering quickly. Lucy was pale, her eyes unfocused and slow tears continued to track down her cheeks.

He knelt before her, his hand trembling as he cupped her cheek and gently lifted her face to look at him, "please tell me you are ok?" he whispered, stroking her damp cheek with his thumb. He could hear the loud fiery voice of Cana, shouting into her phone as she called for the police. This was one hell of a mess, but he would pay whatever price, no one messed with his girl.

~.~

The night seemed never ending; Lucy wanted to go to bed and pretend it wasn't all real. After the police had arrived, things had moved quickly.

Sting had been arrested, along with Natsu. She had begged and pleaded with the officers to release him, but it wasn't until she had given an official statement down at the police station that Natsu had been released with no charges.

She had been in a daze ever since Natsu rescued her. Even as he sat in front of her, caressing her cheek with blood pouring down his face she could not comprehend what had happened. Lucy had been aware of Levy heatedly telling her that Natsu was fighting Sting, and remembered the yell of triumph from her best friend as Natsu knocked her ex out cold.

It wasn't until much later that the worry and guilt washed over her, freezing her body as she was looked over by paramedics. They wanted to take her to hospital for further checks, but she refused. There were no signs of concussion so reluctantly she was allowed to head straight to the police station.

Levy had gripped her hand all the way there, and Lucy would have to thank her properly when this was all over.

When Natsu walked through the door, she dissolved into tears at the sight of him. A small paper stitch had been placed over his cut brow, but the dried blood still clung to his skin, and she hated the sight of it. This was all her fault.

She was glad of the private room they were in, Natsu seemed unsure of how much physical contact she would want after what she had been through, but as Lucy threw herself into his arms, he relaxed and hugged her tight.

His patience knew no bounds, he held her and stroked soothingly down her back as she cried it all out. She may have sobbed up to this point, but this was now the weight of her ordeal leaving her body, and almost being sexually assaulted was not an easy thing to deal with.

"Natsu, I'm so sorry," she murmured once her tears had finally stopped and she felt the first wave of calm to wash over her since before the night had started. Lucy felt safe in his strong arms, held tightly on his lap as he rocked ever so gently back and forth.

At her words, he paused and tilted her chin upwards to look at him. She whimpered from the black fires that danced in his eyes, the 'v' between his brow so prominent and caked in dried blood.

"What the hell are you apologising for?" he said lowly, pulling her gently away from his chest so he could see her face properly.

Lucy sighed, squirming under his intense stare, "this is all my fault. You got hurt," she started, her shaking fingers tracing the very edge of his cut brow, "and almost arrested all because of me."

Natsu carefully lifted Lucy until she was seated on the edge of the table before him, he gripped both of her hands in his as he met her eye and with a calm voice he said, "none of this is your fault. That asshole tried to assault you, I would have stopped him even if it had been another girl he was trying to molest.

The fact that he had his fucking hands all over you, well, it certainly made me hit him a hell of a lot harder than I would have otherwise.

I will always protect my girlfriend, no matter what."

Natsu stilled as he realised what he had said, what he had assumed. "I mean, if you – you want to be my girlfriend that is?" his voice seemed smaller, unsure of himself and Lucy could only smile as she imagined a young Natsu, nervous and timid before his exuberant personality had developed fully.

Well she had not expected this conversation to take place in a private room in a police station, but some things could never be planned.

"Yeah, I think I do want to be your girlfriend," she whispered, delighting in the way his eyes shone like polished coals as she spoke. His hand reached out and held the back of her neck lightly, pulling her in closer as he inched forward.

Their lips met in a slow tender kiss; Natsu did not want to push further, knowing what she had been through, but as Lucy slowly slid herself back on to his lap, he was glad that she still welcomed his touch.

~.~

A month had passed since Sting's attack.

The bastard had been charged with sexual assault, attempted kidnap and attempted rape. Lucy had been through the ringer dealing with the fallout of that night, but things were slowly going back to normal.

Lucy had moved into Natsu's apartment, it simply made sense as she spent almost no time in her own. At first it had been down to her fear of being alone; the ugly sensation of having no power and no control in the dark of the night would lead to nightmares and many late night trips for Natsu after she called him and asked him to come over, he never refused.

However, as the time passed and her fear started to subside, thanks to a combination of counselling and self defence lessons that Natsu taught her, they did not wish to be apart.

Lucy awoke with a fluttering feeling in her stomach, she groaned and tried to wriggle herself deeper into the sheets, but she was held fast. One eye opened slowly, her brain waking from its slumber as she felt a large strong hand pressed against her stomach. A pink head was between her parted thighs, lovingly kissing and sucking on her core.

She twisted her fingers into his messy hair, running nails along his scalp until his head finally tilted up. One slow drag of his tongue along her length, and he cooed, "good morning beautiful."

The blonde moaned in response, Natsu had dipped back to swiping his tongue gently over her swollen clit. He had a habit of waking her like this, not everyday, but often enough that she knew she was staying put until he was finished with her.

Her orgasm thundered through her, hands gripping the sheets as she squeezed her thighs around Natsu's head until he chuckled and pried them apart. With a quick flick of his wrists he had turned over and pinned to the mattress, his hard cock slipping immediately between her folds, teasing her.

It had taken some persuading on Lucy's part for Natsu to bring back his natural roughness, his dominant traits that she adored so much. Lucy knew that he was concerned over her well-being, not wanting to be rough and trigger a flashback from her attack, but it was different with him, it always had been.

Even if Natsu were to cage her against a wall, part her thighs with his knee, run his calloused hands up her legs, grasp her firmly, it felt safe and most importantly, reciprocated.

She had tormented him for days, deliberately wearing suggestive outfits, angling her body to highlight her best features, teasing him with lewd words and stolen glances, but pushing him away when he would try to instigate sex.

Natsu had been so tightly wound on the evening that she wear that dress, the one she had worn to the gig, his restraint had finally snapped as he cornered her in the living room, circling her like a predator would his prey.

"Don't you want me?" he had asked, his voice rough with lust that made heat instantly pool between her legs. He hadn't touched her, still unsure of how she would react if he did.

Lucy had grabbed his hand and placed it over her racing heart, "I want you so badly, but I want you, not some tame version of you!"

Those words had broken him, he had spun her with force until her palms pressed against the wall. Parting her legs with a gentle kick to her feet and shoved her dress up over her ass. Panties pressed to the side as he had unzipped himself and thrust into her in one fluid move.

It had been much like he was now, rough and demanding as she lay on the bed under his weight. Natsu raising her pelvis until the head of his cock was pressing into her needy pussy, burrowing himself fully into her as she moaned out his name.

He screwed her to the bed, his own way of letting her know that she was his and he would always be there to look after her. His demanding pace never letting up until she had released several times, only then would he allow himself the same pleasure.

As the couple lay in a panting heap, struggling for breath and skin slick with sweat, Lucy had one resounding thought;

Some risks were very rewarding indeed…