Notes:

Hello everyone, glad to see you're back for more. As I said last chapter, this is different from the ao3 version, again, nothing too bad but do pick your poison. And please, while it does flatter me if you're reading both... just pick one ^^'

Talking about explicitness, if you're missing intensity and detail in the scenes, there's a reason for that. Just stick with it.

I was asked about my update schedule, the next 3 chapters are already more or less done and some further down the line. I hope I can keep my creativity up between semesters. usually it takes a hit once the stress is gone, but I will definitely finish this. As of now there are enough ideas to bring me up to chapter S.

Also, with all my free time I want to get working on my original piece again. I've got that story around for ages and my ties with my own characters are stronger than with Zoro and Robin, so if at some point they change for no apparent reason I probably mixed them up, please do call me out on that!

Now if everything works out the way I want it'll be as follows, if chapters go together like this and the last one, they'll be one week apart. If they are not explicitly tied together, it'll be two weeks. So not exactly regular, but regular enough. If I feel like it I'll treat you one extra for my birthday, just because I like the attention;-p

Consider subscribing so you don't miss any.

Last time the two finally had sex, just didn't go quite as planned. Robin fainted, now it's time to wake up and deal with it.

11.

She woke up, cloaked in the calming smell of cloves and green tea, her body sore but not uncomfortably so like it had been in her past, her muscles permeated by a dull ache. There was a certain slickness between her legs that should alarm her but didn't, the heavy green fabric draped over her naked body grounding her in a reality where she didn't have to fear anything. Her eyes took more time to focus than she would have liked, but when they did, they landed on a shock of green hair and a heavily muscled back. Scars on the back are a swordsman's shame. He did not feel shame for any of those scars, she knew. Most of them were from his deal with Kuma back on Thriller Bark. He had obtained each and every one of the numerous blemishes by protecting them, keeping them safe. He always did that. Just like he did now, keeping watch over them, over her. He was meditating, his three trusted swords before him. Sometimes she wondered if he could communicate with them; it was said that great swords had a soul after all.

For how long had she been out? It was still dark outside, just as dark as when she had tiptoed across the deck in nothing but stockings and a pair of heels that made entirely too much noise. She had tried to use her Haki, to assure herself that everyone was fast asleep, but the fear of getting caught had crushed her concentration to bits. What would they have thought of her? Walking around shamefully exposed? What would they think if they'd found out that the thrill had made her throb? How … how very lewd of her. What would they think of her if they'd known of her shameful begging for more abuse? Oh god, had they heard? Her throat burned, she must have been quite vocal, oh no, please… and still, as much as she feared the possibility, it had her tingling all over again. Oh, what would become of her? There was no going back now. She no longer had to fantasize how it could be to completely relinquish control to someone trusted. Now, she knew how utterly invigorating, how liberating it felt. Now, she knew that she wanted it again.

Someone trusted. That's what it all came down to, really. She put her life in his hands, and she knew no harm would come to her. No matter what he would do to her, what he would make her do, he would keep her safe. When she had streaked across deck, she had not been alone; he had been with her every step of the way, keeping watch. She knew that, had known, and yet it had not made the experience any less exciting. It warmed her heart, made it throb in a way quite unfamiliar.

They had agreed on the middle ground between friends with benefits and relationship. They couldn't go on with their hormones running haywire, but at the same time, she was not ready for the commitment, the attachment, which was ridiculous seeing how they already were family. He hadn't ridiculed her for it, had accepted her inhibitions without even batting an eye, but had assured her with a wide grin that she'd be getting there. In this very moment, she honestly believed him. She should trust him with her feelings just as much as with her body, he had proven over and over again that he deserved her trust. In reality, she couldn't, couldn't risk feeling more for him than she already did. He wouldn't betray her, he was loyal to a fault but... at some point, he'd have to realise just how damaged she was. He'd been perfectly patient with her so far, but at some point he had to realise that she was more trouble than she was worth.

"You worried me there for a moment, passing out like that." he interrupted her musings, the dark husk from before gone from his voice, replaced by a strain she couldn't quite place.

She winced as she sat up, her bottom quite raw. She pulled his robe tight around her shoulders for unnecessary modesty or comfort, she didn't know. "I'm sorry, it was… intense." An understatement. Though her mind was foggy on the details, she was fairly certain that she had never felt anything even remotely similar nor had she ever thought it possible. Foggy? Actually, she had no memory whatsoever after her orgasm. She must have fainted then. That explained the strain, didn't it, if he was anywhere near as pent up as she had been …

"You didn't... finish, did you?"

"No."

What now? Would they continue where they'd let off? Come to think of it, he hadn't allowed her release when it had overcome her, so, should she apologize? For all they had talked about this, neither had thought to discuss this particular outcome… She got up, wobbly legs almost giving out beneath her, to… to do what exactly? While he had obviously known well enough how to pleasure her, she had absolutely no idea how to return the favour. Well, she did have a general idea, but how to actually do it? Before, she would have just done whatever he signaled her to do, not worrying about her performance and how it would make her look. It was frightening really. In her past, fear alone had made her comply. She would do whatever disgusting things they expected of her because she had known her punishment to be infinitely worse. Sometimes they would punish her because she hadn't understood what they'd wanted from her, but with Zoro… As quiet as he usually was, his behaviour had been oddly communicative. With just a furrow of his brows, he had made her forget her shame at her own nudity. The slightest inclination of his head had told her where and how to be; the dark rumble in his voice had turned her brain and all her reservations to mush. Terrifying, if she didn't trust him as much as she did.

Now the mood was gone, her mind back in working condition, and she stood there self-consciously and increasingly worried that she had disappointed him. She reached out, hesitant. It felt right going to him, but what would she do then?

"If you touch me now, woman, I'll pound you through the fucking floor." The raw need in his voice reverberated all the way to the juncture of her legs, and for all the insecurity she had felt mere moments ago, she knew with absolute certainty that, "I wouldn't mind that."

She wove her fingers into the short hair on the back of his head as she walked around him. He sighed, let his head roll back on his neck, his eye finding hers instantly, scrutinizing. She wasn't quite sure what he expected to see, what he was searching for—hesitation? He wouldn't be able to find that, no matter how hard he searched. He grinned at her with what she assumed to be genuine happiness, a look she had not been expecting. He didn't give her time to try and interpret it, or to get insecure again. He raised his arm towards her, and she could have seen it as an invitation to take his hand and let herself be led towards him, or she could have seen it as a request to help him up. Instead, she fell to her knees next to him, the exposed side of her neck resting against the calloused palm of his hand. Just when had she become this submissive? He hummed his approval, and she didn't resist when he pulled her towards him to crush his lips against hers. It was a searing kiss, a hungry one, all passion and teeth. When she felt the hard floor against her back, he let go of her, hand trailing over her collarbone before he opened his robe to lay her bare.

The grin was gone and the predatory glint back again. Briefly, she wondered if she would ever again be able to watch him fight without getting aroused. Had she ever been able to?

When he touched her between her legs this time, he didn't do it to tease or to make her beg but to assure himself that she was ready for him. His rough palm pressed against her clitoris as two fingers curled to part her labia. She broke her gaze away from his, looked down to where his hand emerged and felt her cheeks redden in embarrassment at the single translucent string still connecting his fingers to her core. She gasped, more in surprise than pain when his wet hand slapped her between the legs.

Her eyes snapped back to him; she wasn't supposed to look away like that. "Forgive me, Zoro-sama," she breathed as his slick fingers left trails of her own wetness up her body to cool on the air.

"You seemed plenty interested, taste yourself."

Her lips parted to let his fingers in, eyes furrowed in confusing irritation when they never came. One of his eyebrows rose, and she knew it wouldn't be that easy. She'd have to work for it. Lifting herself up on her elbows, she inched closer to his waiting hand. Warily, she darted her tongue out, giving an experimental lick before taking his digits into her mouth to suck her own tartness off them, eyes never leaving his hungry gaze.

She could see what he wanted her to do. What he didn't dare ask of her. She let his fingers plop free from her mouth. Could she? Could she without remembering, without conjuring? The stench, taste… wouldn't he taste the same? Roughly?

"May I taste you, now?" She wouldn't know unless she tried, right?

Again, he cocked his eyebrow at her

"May I suck your cock, Zoro-sama?"

His expression turned solemn after that. Had it not been what he'd wanted to hear? He wanted her to use the embarrassing language, didn't he?

His hand fell to rest against her hip, and when the pleasant darkness left his gaze, she saw that he wasn't put off by what she'd asked for but that worry kept him cautious.

"You sure about that, woman?"

When had he started calling her woman like that? It wasn't degrading, on the contrary, it seemed like an odd form of endearment coming from him. Skypia maybe. He wasn't the type to differentiate between men and women, and it had struck her as odd that he would condemn Enel's attack because she was just a woman. But if he'd seen her as his woman... quite pretentious of her, wasn't it? He had barely even tolerated her presence on the Merry back then... maybe she was reading too much into this, a good sign really; the spell he had on her momentarily broken, and while still aroused, she could actually think this through. Was it just the situation, the scene that had compelled her to overthrow her negotiated hard limit, or did she actually want to try?

She had always hated this practice in particular. Men shoving their unwashed members in her mouth, whipping her twice for every tooth they thought they felt… forcing her to drink their bitter semen from a bowl on the floor. Crocodile had been the worst, and she was sure that it was because of the cigars.

It's not like she hadn't thought about this. She had, a lot in fact, ever since they'd finalised their negotiations a week ago. It was odd really. Now that she'd had it in writing that it wouldn't happen, she'd become peculiarly interested. Intrigued even. She stood firm with the pet names; even though she knew that he respected her no matter what he'd call her, the idea made her skin crawl with disgust. She was sure she wouldn't budge on the whipping either. Some nights she could still feel her skin ripping from her back, hear the wet slap when the tight leather would make contact with bloodied flesh. No, that wouldn't change. But this? Maybe she'd been a bit hasty declaring it a hard limit. Months ago, he had declared that he wanted all of her, and really it was the same for her. Wouldn't she miss out if she didn't actually try all of him? He wouldn't force her to continue if she became overwhelmed, if it turned out to be too much, she could always tap out. He would probably stop her before she knew herself that she couldn't go on.

"Yes. I can't promise anything, but I'd like to try."

He was searching again, for cracks in her resolve, she was sure. For any sign that she was not clear-headed enough to make that decision. She could practically feel his Haki sweeping over her. It took him longer than she had expected, given his statement before, but eventually he nodded. He wouldn't help her with this, guide her way like he had before, no, he would let her explore, leaning back on his hands in open invitation.

God, he was magnificent. Without the Haramaki she could see his narrow hips and the green trail of hair that had started all of this. She knelt between his legs, fingers trembling as she unbuttoned his pants. Of course she was nervous. She'd fainted before, and if her past got the better of her now, if she backed out of this, she'd leave him without release again. Would he tire of her? Probably not, he'd been nothing but patient with her so far. Rough hand on her cheek. She looked up at him with what she assumed was an amalgam of childish fear and uncertainty. His face was serious, but even with years of practicing that stony mask of his, he couldn't really hide the raw desire shining in his eye.

He didn't say anything, didn't have to, his face said it all. 'Stop if you're uncomfortable, but I need you, woman.' and probably some 'fucks' strewn in for good measure. She knew their age gap did not matter to him, but to have a young man like him want her with all her emotional baggage and inhibitions, put aside his own needs for her to grow… it charmed her, made her oddly emotional and quite sure.

She popped open the first button and her certainty must have shown in her smile, because when she tugged on his pants, he lifted his hips to help her effort. His penis sprang free, standing tall and proud like it's owner and every bit as magnificent.

A/N: You're missing a blowjob here.

He was salty and nutty, with just a tinge of bitterness, and utterly delicious as he coated her tongue. He pulled back, and she held his gaze as she swallowed, showing off her tongue as proof. He nodded to the floor, "You missed some, Robin." He was right, three tiny milky drops had spilled onto the planks of the crow's nest between his legs. She bowed low before him, eyes searching for his approving gaze before deliberately licking over the hardwood floor.

"Well done, Robin."

Her eyes closed in bliss as his hand found the crown of her head, much gentler this time. He kissed her, not like before, more soft whisper than screaming roar, and pulled her towards him to rest on his chest as she had back on Karni island. She felt his muscles flex under her when he lifted his head to place chapped lips on her forehead, the gesture making her smile like a little girl.

"I'm still sorry for fainting," she murmured, embarrassed by it now that her thoughts were coming through that haze of ecstasy again. He grunted in response, "mh, I'm sorry, should have been more careful… was your first time."

She almost laughed at the phrase, even though she knew what he meant. First time of her own free will, first time with someone she trusted… First time she'd enjoyed herself, too. She hummed as his fingers drew little patterns on the small of her back. First time snuggling up afterwards as well… wanting to stay close, to be held like that… appreciated.

He had discarded his pants and boots at some point, and she only just realised that she hadn't even seen him completely naked until now. Fufufufu, with all the naiveté a 30 year old woman could have, she had always thought seeing each other naked would happen before sex, not after.

Just when she started to feel the cold, he draped his robe over them, obscuring her view of his now flaccid penis. He'd been nice to look at even though not all that different from the disgusting ones she'd seen before. Funny how much emotions could change perceptions, wasn't it? For the longest time, she had been unnerved by the amount of male genitalia around the ship. She'd even gone as far as to confirm Franky's state herself, just so she could not be caught unaware. Ridiculous… In water 7, she had already known that none of the crew meant her any harm, and though Franky's frame was huge and bulky… She'd come a long way since then. When they reunited, she had been so happy, so relieved and content that she hadn't even bat an eye to Luffy's newfound and outspoken fascination with his private parts.

"Ne, Zoro, think our captain can blow up his chinchin with gear third?"

He groaned under her, "For fuck's sake, woman, I'll never get those pictures out of my head again! You have no idea how bad he was when we met up again. He didn't only talk about them, he showed off his kintama every chance he got… as if we don't know what balls are. "

Fufufufu, their captain's time on Amazon Lilly must have been pretty interesting, if not a little unsettling for the ingenious boy. Oh, "He blows up his bones with Gear Third, doesn't he? In that case, there is no need to worry."

He relaxed in something suspiciously close to relief, guard lowered.

"However, for his old Fusen technique, he doesn't need any bones in his Chinchin," she added with a laugh.

"Oh, fuck you, woman!"

So, that's it for now, tell me what you thought of this and maybe consider a kudos if you've come here from ffnet just for this story I think I deserve it (and yes I'm aware that this is shameless fishing for compliments ;-p)

And since you're now out of reading material, go check out my amazing beta Rexica's Disinhibition! Huge thank you goes to her because... this chapter would have been really wrong without her!