Lucy stared, eyes wide and mouth slightly parted. She had heard the words clearly enough, but she couldn't quite believe them. Perhaps someone put him up to this, though Lucy couldn't picture Natsu being part of such a cruel prank. Maybe she was just dreaming? No, the warmth of Natsu's hand, and the way his thumb was gliding across her skin felt too real for it to be a dream.

Meanwhile, Natsu waited as patiently as he could for any reaction from Lucy aside from the look of shock on her face. That look alone let him know that she heard his words, but the lack of reply weighed heavy on his heart. Every second that passed them by, his heart cracked just a little, and he did his best to not allow it to break, afraid Lucy would not want to be near him anymore. In one fell swoop, he would lose his partner, his best friend, and the woman he loved so much. Closing his eyes, he bit hard onto his bottom lip to keep his emotions in check, but it wasn't enough to keep a tear from slipping down his cheek.

Sudden dampness against her thumb brought Lucy back from her thoughts and snapped her out of her shock. Her index finger slid a gentle line across his cheek, wiping away the tear as she noticed the pained expression on Natsu's face.

"Natsu, why…?" She wanted to know why he was crying, but he cut her off.

"I'm sorry, Lucy." Natsu's voice trembled in a way she wasn't used to. Rarely did he let anyone see his vulnerable side. "I shouldn't have said anything, and now I ruined everything. I didn't mean to fall in love with you, I swear! It just snuck up on me 'cause you're so kind and caring and smart, but you're also strong and brave and can kick ass when you need to, and you do whatever you can to help people even when your own life is on the line. And I have no idea how it started, but you're in every part of my heart and my soul and my life and I don't know if I can ever stop loving you, but I can't lose my best friend."

More tears fell as the words tumbled out of his mouth, but Natsu didn't care. He felt his knees tremble slightly, and instead of fighting it, allowed himself to drop to the floor, landing with a hard thump that did nothing to distract from the ache in his chest.

"Natsu," Lucy said softly as she knelt in front of him. "Natsu, look at me."

Blatant refusal to do more than attempt to calm his breathing and rein in his sniffles irritated Lucy just slightly, but she didn't let that sway her from her goal.

"Do you think I value our friendship so little that I would just throw it away at a moment's notice?" That brought Natsu's full attention back to Lucy; it took a second for his gaze to settle on hers, but when it did, she continued. "You've been my best friend for so long, you know me better than anyone… what on Earthland is going on in your head to make you think there would ever be a possibility that I don't love you just as much?"

The look he gave her - one that likely mirrored the one she wore only minutes ago - told her what she had suspected. It really hadn't occurred to Natsu that she was in love with him, too.

"Really?" She gave him a smile that instantly fused his breaking heart back together. "So…you love me. As more than a friend?"

"Yeah."

"I didn't really have a plan for what would happen next." Natsu slid a hand through his hair. "Any suggestions?"

"Well…" Lucy looked down shyly, her tongue tracing over her lips. "You could kiss me, you know, if you want to."

While many people - both in and out of the guild - saw Natsu as they type to jump in head-first without thinking when it came to trying new things, that was not really true. He usually just decided that the risk of not knowing what he was doing was outweighed by the benefits of doing it anyway. This time, however, he hesitated. Natsu had never kissed anyone, and even though Lucy's lips looked soft and he really wanted to find out what they felt like, he didn't want to ruin it by messing up. Honesty had gotten him this far, so he decided to give that a try.

"I've never kissed anyone," he mumbled.

"What?" Lucy leaned closer, trying to hear him.

"I said I've never kissed anyone before. Don't wanna mess it up."

The softest of giggles left Lucy before she had a chance to stop it, earning her a glare.

"Sorry." She tried to stifle another giggle at how cute Natsu was when he was shy and uncertain like this. "It's just a little unusual for you not to at least try something before you give up on it. I'm not going to force anything you're not ready for, it was just a suggestion, not a demand. Okay?"

"So, you won't be mad if I don't do it right?"

"No, Natsu, I won't be mad."

"Okay," he whispered, raising one hand up to cup her cheek and leaning forward until their lips were almost touching. "Are you sure?"

His eyes searched hers for any hesitation; any indication at all that she was being anything other than genuine. There was nothing of the sort to be found, and he berated himself for even considering that Lucy would deceive him in such a way.

"Yes, Natsu, I'm sure," she breathed out against his lips before closing the distance between them.

The kiss was little more than a tense press of lips, though Lucy was slightly more relaxed than Natsu. When it ended, Natsu ran his tongue over his lips, enjoying the sweet flavor left behind from Lucy's lip balm.

"Can we try again?"

"Not just yet," Lucy answered, placing a hand on Natsu's chest, since he had leaned towards her again, and getting a pout in return. "My knees are hurting from the floor, and I'd like to be a little more comfortable."

"You could've said something sooner, Weirdo." He ducked when Lucy swiped at him, then stood up as he scooped her off the floor.

"I'm not a weirdo!"

"Pfft…of course you are." His grip on her was firm, but not too tight as he carried Lucy to the couch, sitting carefully with her across his lap. "Who other than a weirdo would fall in love with someone like me?"

"You do have a point, there." Lucy reached up and slid her fingers through his hair, pulling him closer and kissing him again. And again. And again.

Their second kiss lasted slightly longer than the first, each subsequent meeting of lips becoming a little more relaxed, lingering a little longer. Natsu's hands slid around Lucy's waist, holding her closer to him and constantly feeling like she was still too far away.

When they separated for a moment to breathe, Lucy took the time to shift into a more comfortable position. She turned to fully face Natsu, one knee on either side of his hips and sank down until her weight was resting on his thighs.

"I thought you didn't want to be on your knees anymore," Natsu said, giving her a smug grin and sliding his hands up her back until he was grazing the bare skin above the top of her dress.

"Oh, shut up," she said with a smile, both hands cupping his face to pull him to her again, a course of action with which he was eager to comply.

Soon their kisses turned from soft and unsure to something deeper, a little more heated and just shy of desperate. Lucy - having 'more experience' by virtue of reading so many romance novels - took the lead, and Natsu followed with everything he had. When she parted her lips and shifted to get a better angle, he did the same; and when she slid her tongue into his mouth to caress his, he let out a whimpered moan before mimicking her actions.

Natsu's noises lit an unfamiliar fire inside of Lucy, kindling a burning passion she did not know she would ever possess. It drove her to press closer to Natsu, pushing him back against the couch cushions in the process. His hands wandered almost lazily down her back, resting a moment on her hips before simultaneously lifting her weight off him and sliding into a more comfortable position, then pulling her flush against him.

The stuttered moan that came from Lucy's kiss-plumped lips was music to his ears, and he wanted to hear more. As they caught their breath, Natsu raised his hips up to press himself against the heat between Lucy's legs; instead of another moan, she breathily called out his name. Thinking he may have done something wrong, Natsu stilled beneath her.

"You alright, Lucy? Do you want me to stop?" Concern laced his voice. He wanted more - so much more - but he did not want to hurt Lucy to satisfy his desires; he would only willingly take what she would freely give, even if that meant going home with what was fast becoming a rather uncomfortable erection.

"I'm good," she panted above him, resting her forehead against his and looking into his eyes. There was a desire there that matched her own, but Lucy could also sense his hesitation. "Sorry if this has been too much too soon."

"No," he chuckled. "This has been beyond perfect, more than I could have ever hoped for. I just… I want to know where the stopping point is."

"Where do you want it to be?" Lucy ended her question by relaxing her thighs, allowing herself to sink down against the bulge she had felt mere moments ago. The pressure seemed to quell the desire raging through her, even if it was only temporary.

"Fuck… Lucy," Natsu almost lost control. Almost. Everything about her was driving him further and further from sanity, but he refused to give in until she gave him a proper answer. The humor was gone from his voice when he spoke, replaced with a desperate plea. "I don't want to take more than you want to give. It would kill me to hurt you. Please, I need to know."

Though she'd taken the lead up to this point, she hadn't really considered where she wanted to lead him to. It was quite obvious that - at the very least - Natsu's body wanted hers, and that her body was more than willing to give in. But was that what was right for her? For them? Was this all too soon? She thought about all the things she'd read about and heard from others on the subject, the generalization suggesting that two people should at least be together long enough to know each other before bringing sex into the equation.

Lucy's hands were not entirely idle while she was deep in thought; the fingers of her left hand twirled lazily in his hair, while her other one slid down to his, their fingers lacing together. All her musing led to the same place, no matter which scenario she posed: without a care for labels and what-ifs of the future, she wanted Natsu in every way she could have him. It was more than just raging hormones - though that did play a part - her emotions ran deep, and she wanted to give every part of herself to this man she loved so much.

"I…" Lucy bit her lip, considering her words once more before sharing them. "I don't want to stop. Everything that I have and all that I am is already yours. I want to share it all with you."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Even the stash of chocolate you keep hidden behind the spices in your cupboard?" Natsu gave her a cheeky grin.

"Don't push it," she grumbled, pinching the back of his neck and eliciting a yelp from her dragon slayer. The smile she tried to hide gave away her lack of ire.

"I'm yours, too." Natsu sat up straighter, keeping hold of Lucy so she didn't fall backwards onto the floor, and left a gentle kiss on the tip of her nose. "So…" He drew the word out as Lucy's hands reached for his tie, tugging just enough to loosen the knot and pulling it from around his neck. "No set stopping point?"

"Unless you have one?" Natsu shook his head in answer.

For as awkward as the conversations had been, there was no more doubt in either of them. Their lips met in another deep kiss, keeping an unhurried pace. Lucy reached between them to unbutton Natsu's coat, helping him slide it from his shoulders before starting on the buttons of his shirt.

With a little more freedom of movement, Natsu traced his right hand up Lucy's back, toying with the zipper before slowly sliding it down, his fingers tracing down her spine to feel every inch of newly-exposed skin, enjoying how soft she was and wanting to touch more of her. Remembering the flash of lightly-tanned flesh he glimpsed throughout the evening, he placed his left hand on her right knee, parting the slit in her dress and marveling at the gasp she released into his mouth as he felt his way up her thigh.

Feeling a little brave, Lucy pulled away from Natsu, gave him a quick kiss, then held one arm across her breasts to keep her dress from falling as she stood. She took a couple steps back, then dropped her arm to her side, the beautiful red fabric cascading off her to puddle at her feet, revealing a matched bra and panty set of black satin with red lace overlay. A hint of pink colored her cheeks and down her neck as she watched Natsu watch her; his eyes met hers and she crooked a finger at him, beckoning him closer.

He stripped his shirt off as he stood, tossing it aside as he closed the distance between them. Though he did his best to look into her beautiful brown eyes, he couldn't help taking in every inch of flesh she had bared to him.

"If I didn't want you to look, I would have left the dress on," she giggled as he stood in front of her. With a deep breath, Lucy reached out to place her hands on Natsu's chest; he tensed for just a moment before relaxing and allowing her to touch him however she wanted. Her hands explored, tracing his muscles down until she reached the waistband of his pants.

Taking the hint, Natsu rid himself of the offending item, nearly knocking them both to the floor when it caught on the shoes he'd forgotten he was wearing.

"Who knew this could be such a dangerous activity?" Both of them laughed at Natsu's question, which helped to alleviate their nerves, if only a little bit. Lucy took Natsu's hand once he was set free from the tripping hazard of his pants and shoes, leading him to her bed.

She reached behind her back as she pushed him down, unclasping her bra and letting it fall to the floor.

"I'm not getting a Lucy-Kick to the face if I touch you, am I?" His cocky smirk was reassuring, letting her know at least some of his confidence had returned.

"No," she answered. "But you might get one if you don't touch me."

Moving to the middle of her bed, Natsu pulled Lucy onto his lap again - this time with her legs wrapped around his waist. His hands started at her hips, following the curve of her waist up until they reached their destination. Her breasts were soft and pliable, and Lucy arched her back when his fingertips brushed against her puckered nipples.

She leaned back on her hands, giving Natsu plenty of room to explore, and he spent several minutes teasing her before missing her heat pressed against him. Pushing her onto her back, he hovered over her this time, worshiping her body with his hands and mouth. For every kiss, every caress, every gentle scrape of his teeth, Lucy gifted him with a gasp, or a moan, or a soft calling of his name.

Eventually, Natsu found his way back to Lucy's lips. With his hips situated between her thighs, Lucy could feel every inch of him against her. Wanting more, she hooked one leg around his waist, raising her hips to get that friction that she had felt when they were on the couch. Their lips separated as she ground herself against him, both letting out deep moans; instead of easing the ache, Lucy's actions had fanned the flames even higher.

"Natsu, please," Lucy whispered. "I need you."

Natsu was loath to pull himself away from her, but did it anyway after pressing one more soft kiss to Lucy's lips. He made quick work of removing the last two pieces of clothing remaining between them. His left hand slid into her right, their fingers twining together next to her head.

It took several awkward tries and more giggles and soft kisses between them before they got the positioning just right for him to slowly push into her. There was none of the intense pain Lucy had read about, merely some mild discomfort before she felt blissfully full.

For all their desperate need, they set a languid pace as they moved together. Kisses, moans, and breathy whispers accompanied each thrust and every roll of their hips, pressure slowly building inside each of them until it reached a breaking point.

Lucy fell over the edge first, squeezing Natsu's hand and wrapping her legs around the backs of his thighs to pull him deeper as she shuddered beneath him. It didn't take long for Natsu to follow, his head falling to the crook of her neck as his steady rhythm was broken by waves of pleasure, giving a few more deep thrusts before all of his energy drained from him.

They stayed locked in place for several minutes as they came down from their high. Natsu was the first to move, planting a gentle kiss on Lucy's shoulder before pulling out of her. His arms trembled slightly from exertion and he lowered himself to rest his head in the valley between Lucy's breasts.

"That was amazing," Natsu whispered as he looked up at Lucy, giving her a drowsy smile.

"Agreed," she replied, reaching down to run her fingers through his hair. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

"We should probably get cleaned up," Lucy mentioned, though she was too comfortable to leave her current position.

"Probably." Natsu's reply was sleepy, and he nuzzled against her breasts before stilling again.

Lucy smiled and wrapped her arms around him, not minding staying this way just a little longer.

The new lovers fell asleep where they were, staying that way until late morning. When they woke, it was with the knowledge that they would have many more days adventuring together and many more nights to spend in each other's arms.

Hello, lovely readers! I hope you enjoyed this story; thank you for taking the time to read it.

Please be gentle with the comments, this was my first time writing anything close to smut. And it was so, so HARD.

TTFN