Chapter 11

Sunlight shining in his eyes is what woke Gajeel. He was just glad it wasn't a 2 a.m. call from his old man telling him to go disappear someone. With a lazy yawn, he stretched in bed, but found his ability to do so hampered by something keeping his arm from moving. Looking down at the offending appendage, he smirked at what he saw. The shrimp was cuddling his arm in her sleep. She held onto it firmly, using his shoulder as her pillow, as she slept deeply for the first time since the hospital incident. That was over a week ago, and the shrimp had been plagued by nightmares ever since.

They'd found out quickly that she couldn't sleep alone, or she'd end up with night terrors. Gajeel somehow convinced her to start sleeping with him and, while she still had nightmares, they weren't nearly as bad. Truth be told, Gajeel was quite happy to have her in his bed. He wasn't happy about the nightmares, of course, and he honestly wished he could have done more than just kill Jose. That bastard deserved torture.

But he was quite pleased with the view he got every morning. This morning her tank top had risen up to show off her naval piercing again, and his hand just happened to be right by it, seeing as the shrimp was holding his arm captive. He grinned and lightly tugged at the piercing. Words could not describe how hot he thought it was that the shrimp had a fucking belly button piercing. Not only that, but she seemed to enjoy having it, seeing as she had switched it out for a different one. This one was a barbell with one of the tips shaped into a dragon's head. He figured she got it to match the necklace he gave her. That thought alone made him grin.

The shrimp was really trying with this relationship, which made him happy. He knew she wasn't used to dating anyone, so she was clueless about a lot of things, but she was making an effort and seemed to really enjoy being his girl. Even after seeing him kill someone right in front of her, she just took it in stride and resumed those cute blushes and sweet kisses that she gave him.

He was glad she was finally getting over that hospital incident. Despite the nightmares, she hadn't really let the incident get to her since that first day after. The first day had been bad. She'd stayed in bed and cried and held onto him for dear life. She just needed to get it out, honestly, seeing as she hadn't let herself break down while everything was going on. He understood that, and just held her and gave her everything she needed until she finally cried herself back to sleep. She slept the rest of the day, only waking when the nightmares came. Since then, she'd been able to talk about the incident calmly, and she resumed her normal life. After three days she even went back to work, though she went with a new body guard.

Surprisingly, it had been someone she knew. Gray Fullbuster, a member of Fairy Tail... whose baby girl she helped deliver three days after she met Gajeel. When they 'met' Levy had been so happy about there being someone she knew, even if it was in a doctor to patient sense. And it didn't take long for her to start asking about how Juvia and the baby were doing. Now Gray accompanied her at work as her official body guard, though he was not allowed into patient rooms or the operating room. He stood out in the hall by the door, keeping an eye and ear out for anything suspicious. The hospital had no qualms about him being there, given light to the incident a few days ago, but the cops were slightly suspicious as to why Levy would need a guard if the threat to her had passed... unless she knew it hadn't. In which case, why hadn't she told the cops? Alas, they couldn't question her about anything not relating to the incident itself, and having a body guard was certainly not illegal... so she was left alone.

"Gajeel?" Levy's sleepy voice came, pulling him from his thoughts. He looked at the shrimp to find her rubbing her eyes, finally releasing his arm. He didn't move, however, deciding to play with her piercing just a bit longer. It took Levy a minute to realize what he was doing, and then she blushed ten shades of red. "W-what are you doing?"

"You didn't tell me you had a piercing, shrimp." Gajeel grinned lazily at her. He rolled over so that he was caging her between his body and the bed. "That's hot, Levy." He grinned wider as her blush deepened, and then he stole a kiss from her. He was pleased when she returned it, wrapping her arms around his neck. He chuckled at her soft mewl as he deepened the kiss. Fuck, she was so cute and so sexy and he just wanted to take her and never let her leave his bed. Had she been anyone else he would have done just that. But he actually cared about Levy, and they'd only been dating for two weeks... and he was certain Levy was still a virgin. He knew that no matter what he did, he needed to take it at her pace or he'd scare her away from him for good. Honestly, she wouldn't let it go faster than she was ready for, anyways. More than once he'd been smacked by an angry shrimp for simply copping a feel. And, damn, did that just make him want her more. He loved that fiery spirit she had in her.

Gajeel backed off on their little impromptu make out session as he felt the urge to do things he knew she wasn't ready for. He made the mistake of looking down at her. Her hair was messed up from sleep and her shirt had risen further up during their kissing, so now he had a peek at some under boob. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes were at half mast, and her lips were pouty and slightly swollen from all the kissing. She was panting for breath and looked thoroughly ravaged, and all they'd done was kiss. And that only made Gajeel want her more. If she looked this way after making out, he wondered how she would look after making love. Damn, he needed a cold shower, and now.

"Go back to sleep, shrimp. Sorry I woke ya." Gajeel breathed as he sat up from her. He turned away from her so she wouldn't see his, er, problem, and he honestly hoped she would just go back to sleep like he suggested. It was still pretty early, after all, and it was her day off. He almost cursed his luck when Levy sat up in bed. He didn't expect it when her small hands were suddenly on his back, and he jumped slightly, but then he grinned when he realized what she was currently tracing with her finger.

"I didn't know you had a dragon tattoo. That's pretty cool." the pure awe in her voice made him chuckle. He realized she'd never seen his bare back before. Just his chest when she patched him up and when they were sleeping. He was usually up and dressed before she was ever awake, even when she had to work. On his back, stretching from his left hip to his right shoulder, was a black steel dragon, soaring through the stormy sky, its mouth opened as it prepared to roar. Each scale was intricately colored, and the detail on the dragon was amazing. "Is this why the necklace you gave me is a dragon?"

"Partially." he chuckled. "Black Dragon used to be my moniker when I was younger. I thought it was pretty bad ass, so I got the tat. Then I started getting all these piercings, so everyone started calling me Black Steel Gajeel, cause it rhymed I guess." he shrugged. "I think Black Steel suits me better, but I feel like my soul is more dragon than human." He let her admire the artwork on his back for a while longer, and then he stood. "I'm gonna take a shower, shrimp. You can, of course, join me." He gave her a pervy grin and a wink, which made her blush deeply. Or maybe she was blushing because she could now clearly see his... problem. At this point, he didn't care. She was going to see it eventually. When she shook her head he just chuckled. "Alright, solo it is. But you'll join me one of these days." He laughed as he turned and walked into the bathroom. He didn't have to look behind him to know she was admiring not just his tat, now, but his ass as well. Seemed his boxers were riding a bit low this morning...

"You seem distraught, Miss Levy." Virgo said as she placed a plate of food in front of her. Levy just sighed, putting her head in her hands. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"I don't know. It's kind of embarrassing." Levy moaned.

"I assure you, whatever you tell me will remain a secret. Consider me your confidant." Virgo gave a small smile. Levy stared at her a moment before sighing and giving in.

"I... w-when Gajeel and I woke up this morning, we kissed a-and it got pretty heavy." Levy said with a growing blush. "I-I felt something... weird, inside me and I don't know how to describe it."

"Miss Levy, could it be, you're a virgin?" Virgo asked, cocking her head. Levy blushed an nodded.

"N-nobody really took an interest in me in high school, and I was too busy during med school to date anyone. E-even though my career is all about the reproductive system... I'm still a virgin." she sighed heavily. "I-I don't know what these feelings are. I know Gajeel wants to go further a-and part of me wants to, too. Especially when I get these feelings. B-but I don't know what to do or if I'm even ready for that step."

"I believe these feelings you have are lust or attraction, Miss." Virgo said bluntly, making Levy blush deeper. "Nobody would deny, Master Gajeel is a very attractive man. One would be insane if they didn't feel a bit of lust when he was kissing them." She set down a freshly poured cup of coffee in front of Levy, who took it with a mumbled thanks. "As for your fears, Miss Levy, I wouldn't be concerned. Master cares for you, and he knows you are not ready for that step. He's been taking your relationship at your pace this whole time."

"He... has?"

"Yes. We wouldn't be having this conversation, otherwise. In fact, the fact he is even officially dating you shows a lot. Master doesn't date, if you know what I mean?" Virgo tilted her head. Levy took a second to realize what she was implying. Gajeel didn't date, he just had sex. The fact that, A, he was dating her, and B, he wasn't pushing her for sex showed an awful lot to Levy. Gajeel... he really did care about her, didn't he? Even though they'd only been dating for two weeks, even though they'd only known each other for three? "Miss Levy, just take things at the pace you feel comfortable. When you're ready for that step, you will know it and master will know it. Until then, just carry on as normal. I believe that would make Master the happiest, rather than you forcing yourself to do something you're not comfortable with."

"Yea... I guess you're right." Levy sighed, giving Virgo a light smile. "Thank you. You're a really big help."

"I try my best." Virgo smiled, but she wasn't smiling at Levy. She was smiling behind her, where Gajeel was standing in the door wearing a smirk. He knew Virgo would get Levy to open up to her, unlike with him. He gave her a small salute in thanks and silently left the room. He was right when he figured the shrimp was a virgin, and he was also right in knowing she was not ready for that stuff. Still, it made him happy to know she was willing to talk about it, even if it wasn't to him.

He sighed to himself as he went back upstairs to finish getting dressed for the day. It would be a long time, he knew, before he could fully have his shrimp. But it would be worth it, he knew. So he would continue at her pace for now, no matter how painful it was for him. The shrimp deserved that much, at the very least.

Oooh a smexy chapter, kinda, for you guys. Er, well, more like talking about sex. Hehe.

Let me know what you guys think. I'm also taking suggestions, if there's any scenarios you guys would like to see, or anything I can do to add more action. Ya know, mafia type stuff?

Oh yea, a bit of bad news. Sorry, my lovelies, but I won't be able to update for a week. It's spring break starting today so I'm going home and, unfortunately, there's no internet at home. I promise to update, probably next Sunday or Monday (not this upcoming). Sorry, don't hate me! DX

Anyways, thanks for reading!

-Everythingnerd12