"Love isn't soft, like the poets say. Love has teeth which bite and the wounds never close."

— Stephen King, The Body

"It's a shame you didn't come to my room." Nami's eyes flickered before she squinted at the vision of the Lord Conqueror over her. He stroked her cheek, drinking her in while Nami awakened. When their eyes met, he smiled and bowed his head to kiss her.

She gasped to his lips, stirring before she darkened when he pulled back with a chuckle.

"That won't do. You're too noisy."

For a moment, she didn't understand, frowning when he put a finger to his lips. She turned her head when he glanced over only to blush when she saw Tama passed out beside them. Tama no longer clung to Nami in her sleep, but Nami still eased from the bed on the other side with Luffy, careful.

Only to realize why he had woken her when he threw her over his shoulder. Nami squawked and covered her mouth, but Tama didn't stir as he carried her to the foyer. When he shut the door, Nami squirmed her way down to her own feet, but the Lord Conqueror backed onto a chair with a grin, opening his trousers.

"Come sit here," he said, and she tried to scowl.

But Nami inched ever closer to his lap. "What do you think I'll do there?"

He grinned wider, and Nami shivered as he said, "Please me."

Her gut dropped. Face flushing hotter, she eased over to straddle his lap, hands in her lap, and he grasped her hips tenderly. For a long moment, Nami wondered what she was doing.

"Why don't you try to make me cum before you again? I'll do whatever you want if you can." She blinked, her face dark before she pursed her lips in thought.

"Whatever I want?"

Luffy smiled.

Nami opened her mouth before she bit the words back. Would he release her if she told him to? Yet she needed to make him cum before her, and her jaw wanted to lock up from the mere thought of her last attempt.

So she grasped him with both hands, and he arched to her with a sigh. Nami pumped slowly as he shifted and thrust to her. One of his eyes closed while he peered out and licked his lips. When he moaned, she quickened her hands only to make herself lessen the pace. She had a long way to go after all, and her arms growing tired was not part of the plan.

His head fell back, eyelashes lowering before their eyes crossed, and his smile had her crackling with warmth once again.

All he needs to do is look at me, and I'm a mess, she thought with no minor annoyance. Just the memory of him touching her was enough that she sometimes believed all he needed to do was bend her over to take her, and she would be ready for it. How could she make him feel the same?

She peeked at him, searching. What else was there for her to try? But her face burned brighter the more she tried to concentrate on her task.

His seed dripped so that she could spread it across his length. He moaned to her.

Sometimes, she wondered if he needed to teach her. Shifting around, Nami gently stroked fingertips across his balls, peeking at him for the reaction. Her own response was clear enough to her. His scent filled her still after all. Heady spice that tickled her throat. His muscles clenched only a short distance away. She only needed to lean forward and bite him for a change.

He pushed her chemise up her thighs, and Nami tensed, shivering when he pulled her hips closer.

It was happening all over again.

But Nami took his wrists so she could angle herself. His eyes widened before he grunted as she ground wet lips against his cockhead. When he tried to tug down though, Nami turned her hips so he wouldn't thrust into her. Luffy growled, but she pressed his cock to her pussy, rubbing until he released a sharp hiss.

"I want in you," he snarled, and Nami blinked, gazing at his figure splayed back on the chair. His thick chest heaved before she smiled slowly.

"Just that?"

His eyes brightened as she pressed a finger to his lips, and her hips glided to tease his tip. Luffy arched, abs rippling as he tried to catch his cockhead in past her entrance, but Nami pulled back, remembering old restraint.

I used to drive men wild, she thought. Just what did it though?

What drove him wild?

She stroked over his tip, spreading seed through his slit before her finger teased over the edge of his glans where it flared. He raised a curious brow until she hooked him into her, his lips parting before he cried out as her hips slapped down hard, and Nami impaled herself.

His head flopped back, his throat bobbing as he gulped, and Nami dove for his neck, biting while he grunted. Luffy took her hips, grabbing control of her thrusts. She couldn't break the skin — didn't really want to when his cock felt so delightful — but Nami tried to sink her teeth into his flesh without piercing despite that. When he growled under her teeth, Nami flushed deeply, wondering if he ever felt like this. This sense of control inside her even though he moved her hips for her.

Her fingers threaded through his hair to angle his neck so she could nip just above the lump of his throat.

"Wicked little …" The Lord Conqueror ground into her, and Nami's breath caught as his hand ghosted along her curve to her shoulder. His thumb grazed her neck. "I already fed last night. You're making me so hungry."

Nami squeaked, growing darker when her body's immediate response was to clench around him.

When he stroked her throat, Nami quavered, releasing his neck with a gasp. She realized with no small amount of mortification that she could move on her own again, but she couldn't stop bouncing on his lap. He smiled, a flash of fangs in his mouth, and …

She cried out. Her hips quickened. Nami leaned back and lifted her chin, moaning as she offered her neck.

Yet he closed his hand around her throat. Not squeezing, but she burned hotter as she tightened, mouth hanging open in rapture. She was losing again.

Tears squeezed from the corners of her eyes, but Nami couldn't tell if the ecstasy or shame caused them.

He grinned with a moan. "Are you trying to tempt me?"

When she watched his face though, so concentrated on her form, his hips rolling to meet her, Nami attempted to trembled under him. Was there sweat on his brow at last? Did he seem at least out of breath? Wanton?

Nami clutched at his chest for support, releasing a relieved sob as his other hand squeezed her breast. He found her teat to suckle, and she writhed, making fists in his hair next.

Holding on. She lost, gloriously, shaking and sighing into his hair until he spun her back onto the chair. Her legs spread over his shoulders, unfettered and twitching while he rutted. Nami peered into dark eyes as he lifted his head, his lips curled back as he gritted fangs.

"I shouldn't … bite …" Her eyes widened, gasping when he slammed inside hard enough that the chair creaked dangerously. "Wicked. Little. Tease."

Her jaw unhinged, gasping out as her hands sprung to her throat to block the sight for him. He had grasped her hips to keep the steady, hard pace inside, and he ground his fangs over her head, salivating before he quivered.

Her heart hammered, pussy tightening as he imprinted himself inside only for him to spray her womb. Nami whimpered when he didn't stop though, and her toes curled until her body shuddered. Short, quick, Nami moaned as she twitched beneath him. Luffy slowed finally, grinding to a stop before his face planted into her chest with a long groan.

"Tease," he whispered until he grunted as she squeezed him. "This body is such a tease."

Nami shivered when he pulled out, but his lips wrapped around her teat. "No, that's — not fair!"

He smiled at her from around her nipple, and she huffed at him, trying not to be aroused by the suction and pull of his mouth. Of how he curled his tongue around her. So she gritted her teeth, whimpering through his torture which only made him suck harder. Nami bucked, gazing into enraptured, contented eyes. Her hazy mind turned back to only moments before, and she licked her lips. She had to distract him!

"Why — why shouldn't you bite?"

She realized belatedly that she had asked him while his fangs were close enough to do real damage, but when he stopped to lick his lips, she could see his fangs had retracted.

He said, "I fed last night. Though not in the way I would have liked."

Nami frowned, shifting as she glanced at the door, but it hadn't budged. "But you could have just now …"

Her brow furrowed as he shifted closer, kissing her chin before his lips met hers. She melted slowly in the chair, telling herself it was only because it felt so nice. He just made her feel amazing. "If I fed from you all I wanted, it really would kill you like you imagine."

Swallowing nothing, she blushed when he smiled, close enough against her to feel her body clench. What is wrong with me?

"You — you are killing me though. Just slowly." But she bit her tongue when his smile deepened.

"Really?"

"You killed the last wife the same way, just quicker!"

His eyes widened.

She squeezed her eyes shut, curling away. That was it. This would do it. Nami couldn't figure out how to kill him and save Bellemere and Nojiko anyway, but at least, she wouldn't stay with a man that drove her wild while he slowly killed her!

When he chuckled, Nami froze. "Do you really believe that?"

Her head turned — twitched to look at him. All that greeted her was his smile while he stroked her hair.

"She died."

The Lord Conqueror winced. "You all do. But if I …"

Nami's lips parted to ask, but his teeth dug into his bottom lip. Instead, she said, "They died so young though. You — you killed them."

"Not … them. I never fed from her once," he whispered, shaking his head. "She was sick before we ever met. Even on our wedding night, I was so careful. I don't think she ever knew. If she did, she didn't show it."

Nami peeked out at him, curious as he laid his head on her bosom. Not them? Then who? But his eyes lifted to meet hers, and thought evaporated in the heat inside.

"When I made love to her, I held her hand." Nami shivered when he slipped his hand to hers, fingers lacing. When she squeezed him tight, his wan smile warmed. "Yes, like that."

He slipped higher onto the chair, her legs around him as Nami trembled. Inside again, she gasped as he started a soft, slow roll.

"And this."

Her body ached, tired, but so willing.

"You — you are killing me," she whispered, and he smiled. "It feels like I'm dying."

"You're all dying." As he thrust deeper, Luffy whispered in her ear, "I want you with me for as long as possible. I'd do anything to keep you." He clutched her hand tighter, and Nami sobbed. It was torture so slow, and yet she could hang on the edge like this. She writhed, gasping when he ran his tongue up her throat. "You twitched so much. Loved every little bit. Every bite made you moan. Do you like it that much? Want it?" His hips quickened, and Nami squeezed his hand, the other slinging to his back to scratch gouges.

For a long moment, suspended to his touch, Nami thought she could imagine the woman he had loved before. Weak and trembling when he touched her, gasping for breath when he nuzzled her neck, wanting.

"I love you so. I want you forever."

Nami snapped, tumbling into pieces below him as he filled her again, stuffing her.

She was so full and could eat no more.

###

Tama pulled at the ribbon on the front of her new dress with a pout. No matter what Nami had offered, she had liked none of the fashion plates that the seamsters had brought along. In the end, Nami had picked out the ones Tama had scowled at the least, but now that she wore one, she wondered why Tama drooped like a sad lily.

Nami was still not quite sure what to make of herself as a mother. She hardly felt like one.

Lord Conqueror, she's young enough to be my little sister, not my own baby! But Nami pushed that aside. She was her mother now — she just had to believe that. Nami just wished she had an answer for why Tama acted as she did. Tama had even refused to try new hairstyles. Her little fingers had done her own hair into her old bun, but with sloppy practice, and Nami had to beg to help. She had pouted through that too.

Now though, Nami offered her hand. "Come, try the steps with me. It's easy."

Tama tugged at the ribbon — was she trying to remove it? "Why're we dancing?"

"Because it's fun." Nami smiled, and that might have been enough because Tama reached for her hand with that little frown, but at least she did. Lifting her skirt and petticoats a bit, Nami showed Tama her tapping foot. "One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four."

Her violet eyes widened before she stamped her foot along, though it matched fairly close to the beat.

"Very good!" Nami stepped to one side. "One."

She put her other foot next to it.

"Two."

Taking a step to the other side with the same foot, her other foot joined it on the next beat.

"Three, four."

Tama gaped, but a hint of a smile perked a corner of her lips.

It wasn't a full waltz or really any kind of dance, more of a sway, but it should get her to match with the beat well enough. Nami beamed when Tama hopped from one foot to the other for a while before she slowed enough to match when Nami made her steps. She had brought her to the East Hall, the smallest of the five that the palace had. A pair of musicians played softly in the hall, and it echoed almost eerily from the flute and lyre.

Nami and Tama danced alone in the hall, but Usopp stood by the door with a pen and some clipboard to make notes, working on something, or waiting on her? He had asked her to come join the Lord Conqueror, though today, Usopp had only caught up to her here in the East Hall with Tama. Zoro still stood guard by the door, leaning against the wall with a straight expression that only meant he was bored. Since they had taken the hint to leave her alone with Tama, Nami had to wonder why Usopp had stayed. Why would anyone need Nami to come anyway?

When Tama squeezed her hand, Nami looked back only to almost skip a step when Tama beamed with all her teeth. Her heart certainly missed its beat, and Nami placed her free hand to her breast. "Are you having fun?"

"Yeah!"

Relief mixed with joy flooded through her, and Nami smiled back. "Do you want to try another step?"

Tama gaped. "There's five!?"

Giggling, Nami brought her through the basic waltz, and thanks to the previous steps, Tama had an easy time following her lead. There were not five steps, but six.

As the music changed from this song to the next — all easy to follow for the waltz — Tama glowed with delight while Nami spun them through the hall. She smiled for longer than Nami had remembered.

"Do you like dancing?" Tama asked.

"I do. And you?"

Tama hopped mid-step. "Dancing's fun!"

On her next turn, Nami skipped a step, staring as she halted. Tama tried to take another few steps, but pouted only to look where she did. With a frown, she clutched Nami's skirt, but didn't hide, in fact, she spun around to splay her arms over her skirt. She only went up to Nami's waist at the most though.

The Lord Conqueror smiled, but Nami didn't move, putting her hand on her hip. "You're interrupting."

His grin teased her even from so far away, but he strode across the dance floor to approach — she wouldn't keep coming to him after all. She couldn't and maintain sanity.

"So you're enjoying yourself without me?"

Nami sniffed. "All the time."

But he chuckled, and Nami took his hand with a sigh when he held it out. He kissed her fingertips while Tama glowered at him from below. Luffy grinned down at her. "I'm gonna steal your dance partner."

Tama scowled so fiercely, but she ran around him toward Usopp, and Nami frowned herself.

"I'm trying to spend time with my daughter."

He kissed the fingertips of her other hand, and Nami pursed her lips before she cleared her throat. "And I'm trying to seduce you."

That shocked a puff of laughter from her. "Do you think you didn't succeed already?"

Luffy smiled. "Oh, you're seduced?"

Nami darkened as he pulled her closer, and, at a gesture from him, the musicians who had gone silent at his approach began another song. She tried to avert her eyes from the face mere inches from her while he led her into dancing, but his dark gaze tugged from the corner of her eyes. He couldn't know, but Nami thought that he always did. Always knew.

"I was having a very innocent dance with Tama, you know, and you're barging in like a ruffian. Do you want to feed again? Is that it?"

He quirked a brow. "I heard she doesn't like her dresses."

Nami started. "Uh, no, she keeps pulling at it." Even during the dance, Tama would pause to tug at this or that part of the dress with a pout.

"You put her hair up nice though. I take it she's from Wano?"

Her eyes widened, confusion stirring in her. What was this? He'd come to talk about Tama?

"Wano? But that's halfway across the world and oceans and …"

"And part of my kingdom still. She might be used to a kimono. Not all these frills and laces."

Indeed, the little dress Tama wore seemed a little big, so she hadn't pulled on it so much. But what was a kimono? Nami frowned. "So I should … ask for a seamster from Wano to come? Or someone that knows the style at least."

"She could wear a silk kimono for the first time." His smile softened. "I'd like to see that. Maybe you could get one to wear too. It might be fun."

But the glitter in his eyes made her think he'd like something else about it. Nami wondered how scandalous these kimono might be, but could not fathom it. Besides, a little girl would wear one. It would be nothing sordid. When she squinted at him though, the Lord Conqueror laughed.

"Do you think I'm up to no good?"

"You're always up to no good," she whispered, shivering as he pressed her tighter to his chest. The dance slowed to its end, and she flushed as he leaned in close enough to touch lips to hers, but he took her hand to kiss her fingertips instead.

"Thank you for the dance."

Her lips itched, but Nami sniffed as she fought with the pink in her cheeks. It was becoming a bad habit. Really.

As he guided her to where Usopp distracted Tama who now hid behind him, Nami realized that several people stood with him. Watching them. She wondered only until the Lord Conqueror nodded to her. "Sorry for the wait. I had to have a dance though."

Usopp offered names and titles to her while Nami realized that the men and women here were the delegation from Alabasta — the ones for whom they had prepared the ball. Nami nodded to each of them. No one really curtsied here, it seemed except for perhaps a little bob at the waist. The women's garb flowed about them — robes of white rather than the huge bell-shape of her gown.

"And Princess Vivi of Alabasta," Usopp said in a final ringing tone in the hall. The most prominent was apparently shared for last. Nami watched a graceful young woman nod her head, blue hair swaying loose around her head.

"It's a pleasure to meet you at last, Lady Conqueror," Vivi said, glancing at Tama whose brows pinched in such confusion at them all. "And I've heard rumors of this little one."

"Tama," Nami said in answer to give a name, but she must have taken it as a call because Tama burst from behind Usopp to run for Nami's skirts, shoving between her and the Lord Conqueror. Distracted by the others though, she only shot a frown at Luffy.

"We only adopted her this week," the Lord Conqueror said, and Vivi nodded as if that were something expected. Something droll.

"I see."

Nami frowned, but she scooped Tama into her arms. "Well, since someone interrupted my time with Tama, we'll be going to the library now to hide."

He raised a brow. "How can you hide there if you tell me where you are?"

"Because I'm lying about where we'll be," she said, sticking out her tongue at him. Tama glanced at her before she brightened and followed suit. The Lord Conqueror chuckled, poked Tama's nose and leaned into kiss Nami.

"I'll see you for dinner then."

She pouted after him, sighing while Tama continued to try different ways of sticking her tongue out at his back. When Princess Vivi glanced back, Tama blushed crimson and hid her face in Nami's bosom. Their eyes met, but Nami only tilted her head at the wondering expression reflected in her blue eyes.

Nami realized they had stared at him again, but Vivi had shared the bewildered look between her and the Lord Conqueror.

Just what was so confusing?

###

Tama hopped from toe to toe in the bathtub while Nami sighed in the hot water. It did not burn like the Lord Conqueror seemed to prefer, but that was for the better for the little girl anyway. She sank into the water all the same, hair loose and wild in the water. Apparently, Tama expected to bathe like this with her. When Nami had tried to bathe her in the much more practical clawfoot tub in Tama's chambers, she had begged Nami to join her which had made quite the mess, so Nami had brought her here instead.

The enormous tub was rather more relaxing though. It still seemed more like a fountain than anything, but Nami could see what Tama had meant about whatever an onsen was. Tama had even called it an onsen once the water had filled it.

But entire families bathing in it at once? With their neighbors? Together? She blushed at the thought. What kind of place was Wano? Now she couldn't stop thinking about whatever a kimono was.

He wants to see me in one? Nami frowned, watching Tama climb onto the seat beside her to mimic Nami's relaxed state. She glanced between them both while Nami fidgeted until Tama finally settled back with an overstated sigh though as if she were some adult tired at the end of her day in the fields.

Nami smiled and let her head back too. She said, "I heard from someone that you might get a new kimono soon."

Tama sloshed the water as she sat upright with a start. "Really?"

"Since you don't like your other dresses so much." Nami pouted at that. Tama was precious in those little gowns despite how unhappy she looked in them.

"Oh, well, they're not that bad," Tama said, poking at the water's surface as her shoulders hunched.

Raising a brow, Nami said, "You keep yanking on the bows and ribbons."

"You looked really pretty dancing though." Nami blinked as Tama pouted. "The skirt kept bouncing like it was happy."

Nami tilted her head. What was this? "You don't sound happy about it though."

"Because you were dancing with him."

Her eyes widened, staring at Tama before she covered her mouth and turned away. "That's just because it was a nice song. Skirts can't be happy anyway."

"You were," Tama said, and when Nami glanced at her, Tama pouted accusingly.

"He's my—" Nami licked her lips "—my husband, Tama." Had she really never said it before?

Tama drooped though, a lily wilting once more.

Nami sighed before she reached over to pat her head. "When you're older, you'll be happy dancing with other people too."

"I like dancing now though!" Tama fidgeted. "And — and my dress will twirl like yours!"

Relieved with the slight change of subject, Nami smiled. "Just like mine! You're going to be beautiful too, and since you'll be dancing all your life, you'll be twice as graceful."

She seemed to awe over that idea, gaping at Nami as her eyes slowly widened. "Really?"

"Of course!"

Nami's heart warmed. Perhaps this Wano idea of bathing with family would give her more of a chance to bond with her new daughter. Tama relaxed more the longer they soaked in the water.

"M'lady Nami? M'lady Tama?" Conis knocked, and her eyes darted to the other door before she relaxed with a smile. "Mistress Robin is here to help M'lady Tama to bed."

Tama pouted. "I'm sleeping here!"

Conis gaped, but Nami smiled. "All right, Tama. You can sleep with me again, but you can ask next time."

She blushed, but climbed out, running for the towel that her new maid, Robin, opened up for her. "Right this way then, Lady Tama."

"I'm getting a kimono!"

"Oh, really? That sounds lovely." The two disappeared, and Nami settled once more with her eyes sliding shut.

When the door opened, it wasn't the one behind her though, and Nami flushed as she sat upright, but the Lord Conqueror smiled at her, glancing about.

Her mouth worked in silence before she could say, "Tama's just in the other room, so …"

"So I have to be quick." He licked his lips. "And you have to be quiet."

Her eyes widened, but as he stepped in to walk across the bath for her, Nami pushed herself onto the edge of the tub, shaking when he kneeled before her and spread her thighs apart. Heart already pounding, Nami squirmed as he leaned in, hand to her breast to stroke and tease her nipple.

He whispered as his other hand tickled up her thigh, "It's very interesting to work around a child again."

Nami blinked. "'Again'?"

"I told you I've adopted before," he said, smiling as he spread her labia open. "I've even had wives come to me already pregnant … those were always delightful."

Her jaw dropped. And she had thought to shock him! "What do you mean?"

Luffy tilted his head before he splayed a hand over her lower belly, smiling when she shivered. "Should I say 'more to love'?"

When he stroked her clitoris, running a rough thumb pad in tight circles, her knees jerked wider apart before she could attempt any control of herself. He thrust fingers inside, and Nami sighed, reveling in the sensation of long, thick fingers caressing along her front wall, her body growing tighter with every stroke. He pressed his face to her bosom with a sigh. Kisses and tongue flecked on her flesh before he curled lips around a teat to suck, and Nami flushed from the image that flashed in her mind.

"Pervert," she whispered, but he smiled around her nipple at her, only to suck more into his mouth as his fingers pumped away. Nami gritted her teeth, whimpering when he crawled over her. She hissed as he extracted his fingers to suck them clean.

"Be good and keep quiet, Nami, or someone might hear."

She tried to listen for the sounds from the other rooms behind her while he glided inside to complete her. However, her ears filled with the drip of the faucet, and the liquid slide of his hands up her body to grasp her breasts. When she arched with a tiny sound stopped up in the back of her throat, he sighed, one eye closed as he rocked his hips.

"Good girl." Luffy pinched her nipples, gritting fangs as she trembled. Tried not to move. Nami squeezed him instead and bucked to every thrust, but his movements quickened so that she eventually had give up on it, twitching under him instead with a cry he swallowed with his lips. As her toes curled behind his back, Luffy nipped at her lips and chin, groaning when she scratched at his shoulders.

"Luffy …" she whispered. Cursing. Sighing.

He grinned as he cupped her cheek. "Nami." She tightened, shocked that a simple word — a name — on his lips had her gasping.

A curse?

"Should I hold your hand again?"

She broke, biting his shoulder again to muffle her sobs. A few strokes later, and he joined her, something sharp grazing her neck, but not sinking in as he moaned into her ear. Nami tried to relax on the tile, closing her eyes to the sight of him sweating over her.

Kisses peppered her chest, and Nami bit her lip harder until he slipped back into the water, still inside of her.

Dragging her in.