*Author's Note: Just wanted to thank everyone who made it through the first three chapters! Hope you're all enjoying so far. This being my first fanfic I'd appreciate any comments/feedback.*
Lucy stretched out on the bed in her dressing room leafing slowly through an old magazine. She stopped at the centerfold. Mirajane, she was easily the most popular model in the industry. She'd started out in the same kind of work as Lucy, and that's what Lucy wanted for herself. To be out from under the cruel thumb of Ivan and his underworld higher-ups. To be free of the undesirable contract that came with her position.
There was a quiet tap at her door.
"Lucy?" A light voice trilled through the wood.
Lucy jumped up, leaving the magazine spread out on the bed, and threw the lock before returning to her perch.
A tall, slender girl with blue wavy hair slipped quietly into the room and pressed the door shut. Slender, Lucy thought, except for her giant rack and ass. Her curves were in all the right places, and of course that's why Juvia was hired to the Blue Kitten six months ago.
"Lucy, you have to tell me what's going on, everyone's talking about it." Juvia's words were eager and hurried.
"Talking about what?" Lucy said at a loss.
"You!" Juvia nearly burst. She took a seat across from Lucy on the setae, her long royal blue satin robe draped glamorously around her. She pressed her tiny fists into her knees in anticipation. "And that guy, Mr Dragneel."
"Natsu?" Lucy was still confused. "What about him?"
"Don't you know?" Juvia's giant blue eyes were wide in surprise. Lucy shook her head mutely.
"Cana saw him in Ivan's office, she said it looked like they were making a deal."
"What kind of a deal?" Lucy shifted her weight uncomfortably. Natsu had been visiting her every night for nearly a week. She had seen him leave with Ivan during the beginning of her set tonight. It made her stomach tighten.
The problem was, she'd enjoyed Natsu's visits. She didn't understand him, or what he was after. But it seemed like... well... it didn't seem like he was after anything, like he just wanted to spend time with her. It made no sense, and it must have been costing him a fortune, but he hadn't made a single pass towards her since she met him. Not one.
But knowing that he was dealing with Ivan was unsettling. Was it about her? Or did it have something to do with Ivan's side business? Lucy was blissfully in the dark about what Ivan was up to, but she knew he had gotten involved in something shady. He had introduced her to a potential new business partner, Maud Geer, a few months back, but she hadn't seen him since.
She was glad of that, too. Something about that guy was off. The relief she had felt when she found out he wouldn't be joining her for a night was immense. Lucy had taken a hot shower after the dinner, washing away the sensation of her skin crawling caused by the scrutiny of that man's gaze.
It was just a matter of time, Lucy told herself. There was no way Natsu was just looking for conversation. He had to have some sort of underlying motivation. Maybe now she'd find out what it was.
"I don't know what the men were saying exactly," Juvia reported. "But Cana said Ivan gave him a set of keys."
"Keys to what? To the club?"
"One looked like a key to the club. The other... well, it had your room number on it."
Lucy's mouth dropped in shock.
"Why would he do that?"
Juvia shrugged. "That's what everyone is talking about. Cana thinks they struck up some kind of deal to make you exclusive."
"Exclusive?" Lucy repeated, but the implication was clear. Ivan had agreed to some amount of money that would give Natsu exclusive rights to her. Her mind swam in confusion. It would make sense if Natsu was like any other customer, but he wasn't. Or at least he didn't seem to be. Lucy didn't know whether to be relieved or even more concerned. This had to mean an end to Natsu's pleasant meetings. He was after something. Her. And apparently he was a man who knew how to get what he wanted.
There was a familiar wrap of knuckles at her door.
Juvia jumped up in surprise. She tightened her long robe around her svelte frame, its thick collar of white fur hugging her neck.
"Come in," Lucy trilled sweetly. Juvia hurried toward the door as it swung open.
Natsu's muscular frame appeared.
"Sorry," Juvia squeaked as she hurriedly slipped past him, disappearing down the hall.
"I didn't mean to interrupt," Natsu said as he hovered in the doorway.
"No it's fine, come in." Lucy tossed her magazine into her side table drawer and closed it gently.
Natsu shut the door quietly and moved to take a seat next to Lucy on the bed. His nearness set Lucy's skin on fire. Her heart thudded harder as his knee brushed against hers.
No, she thought to herself. She needed to put her guard up. She needed to treat him like everyone else.
"What was that?" He asked casually, nodding toward the drawer. He slipped off his hat, tossing it over to the setae, and loosened his tie.
"Nothing important," Lucy smiled, batting her eyelashes.
Natsu narrowed his eyes as he surveyed her. "What's wrong?"
Lucy nearly choked. "Nothing," she smiled, trying to regain her composure. How could he see through her so easily?
"Come on Luce," he said, his eyes softening. An easy smile creased his lips. "I know we haven't known each other long, but I know you well enough to tell when you're upset."
Lucy tried to hold her tongue, but her frustration and confusion was getting the best of her.
"That's the problem," she said, her smile flickering. "You shouldn't know me that well," she whispered, looking away.
She felt Natsu's weight shift on the mattress as he leaned his elbows on his knees. He sat silently for a moment before he spoke.
"You heard I had a talk with Ivan," Natsu stated. It wasn't a question.
Lucy simply nodded.
"Hey," he said gently. His hand swept up and took her by the chin, guiding her gaze back to him. She shuttered at the heat of his skin against hers. It reminded her of the first night, when he'd kissed her hand.
"I'm not expecting anything from you, nothing more than this."
The genuine emotion in Natsu's voice made her feel at ease, but the sensation was fleeting. Lucy felt her expression fall. She was finding it impossible to keep up the act.
"What is this, Natsu?" She called him by name, an intimacy she'd avoid with any other man.
"I like you, Luce," he said with a shrug, as if it were no big deal. "I like spending time with you."
"And this is the way you choose to do it?"
At that Natsu frowned, his hand fell away.
"You're barely allowed to leave the club, you live here full time, and you're not allowed to have suitors or to seem unavailable to your audience. Ivan basically keeps you under lock and key, right?"
He was right.
"How do you know all that?"
"I'm perceptive," he said with a sly grin. "Kinda leaves a guy without any options to get to know you. So, I rigged the game." Natsu pulled something from his pocket.
He held the key out before her, took her hand, and pressed it into her palm.
"I won't use this unless you want me to." His voice dropped to a whisper. He wrapped her fingers closed around the key.
"I..." Lucy hesitated. "I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything," he said. "I only want to hear what you want to say, not what you think you have to."
Suddenly Lucy leaned toward Natsu, placing a gentle kiss on his cheek before pulling away.
Natsu's eyes widened in surprise.
"What was that for?"
Lucy shrugged and gave him a coy smile. "I just wanted to thank you."
"Thank me? For what?"
Lucy titled her head thoughtfully.
"For treating me like a lady, and not an object."
Natsu flashed her a toothy grin.
"See you tomorrow then?"
"You're leaving?" Lucy asked in surprise.
Natsu stood and grabbed his hat. "I've got some business to take care of."
"Business you won't talk about." She said before she could stop herself. It was the only thing Natsu had been withholding about since they'd met. It gave Lucy an uneasy feeling in her gut.
"I'd rather not," he said matter-of-factly. "But to put your mind at ease, I'll tell you this. Whatever it is you're thinking I do," he paused and took her hand. "I guarantee you it's not." He brushed his lips against the back of her hand and then let it fall away as he made for the door.
"Night Luce," He called behind him.
"Goodnight, Natsu," Lucy said quietly as he shut the door.
She unraveled her fingers and stared at the key in her palm. None of it may have made any sense. But the fact was, she trusted him. Against her better judgment she'd let him in. Not into her bed, but her heart.
A looming sense of disaster ate away at the corners of her mind as she laid back into her pillows and turned her thoughts to the sensation of his lips against her bare skin.