A/N: First off, giving a big shout out to GemNika for helping put parts of this chapter together! She was able to give a point of view and details that I originally hadn't thought of, so thank you so much for your help!

Second - Warning! Warning! Lemon ahead! Rated M! This chapter is Rated M for mature content!

Third - Please remember to READ AND REVIEW! Reviews are what help keeps us writers going!

Now onto the story, please enjoy!

Chapter 7 The Soul Bond

'If it requires being intimate….that means we're going to have to wait till you find me won't it?' Lucy mumbled, trying to fight the blush that flooded over her face.

'We could….unless you wouldn't mind being bonded and claimed a bit more in depth….'

'What does that mean?'

Taking a deep breath, and giving her a quick kiss, Natsu met her gaze, letting all of the feelings he had for her show clearly.

'Let me claim you here Lucy. In this world that is as much yours as you are mine. Let me claim you in a soul bond.'

Lucy blinked a bit in surprise as she took a step back from Natsu, glad for the fact that he let her go, even as a shiver raced over her spiritual form from the low sound of his voice.

'A-A what?' Lucy stammered, forcing herself to take deep breaths against the sudden pounding of her heart against her ribcage at the intense look she was being given. In all the years she had known the dragon slayer, never had she thought he'd return her feelings, let alone look at her the way he was at that moment. The gentle smile that he gave her paired with the darkened eyes, only caused her heart to pound harder and her face to flush hotter.

'A soul bond.' Natsu answered simply with a slight shrug.

'What is a soul bond?'

'It's a deeper bond than that of a magical mating bond.'

'…' Lucy waited, hoping for a bit of clarification. When nothing more was forth coming, she huffed out a breath and shook her head.

'Sorry Natsu, I'm going to need a bit more than that….not a dragon slayer remember? And I sure as hell can't read your mind….we may be sharing time together here in whatever world this is, but I still cannot read your mind.' Lucy prodded, continuing to hold his gaze, and praying that he couldn't feel how her body was trembling. When he simply chuckled at her before drawing her close once more with his arms around her waist, she simply glowered at him.

'Sorry Lucy, I'm so used to you knowing everything….' Natsu said with a slight smirk, a mischievous gleam in his eyes.

'Oh very funny flame brain, now tell me what I want to know, and tell me the differences between what you mentioned.'

Giving one last chuckle, he leaned down to press a soft kiss against her lips, his nose nuzzling against her cheek. Letting out one more sigh, he leaned back again, keeping his eyes on hers.

'A magical mating bond tends to deal with just the physical aspects of our bodies. The basic principles are the same as a soul bond. Physically we make love to each other, and then at the height of our climax, which we have to reach together for it to be the strongest, we bite each other, infusing only some of our magic with each other, to mark and be claimed as mates. These marks aren't as in depth or as powerful as a soul bond claiming. After the bite has been made, the mark appears, and it allows us to be able to find each other as needed, protects us from our elements, so you'd be immune to fire, and I'd be immune to any attacks from your spirits, and lets us know when we're in trouble or in physical pain.'

'Ok….I think I'm following that….what about the soul bond then?'

'A soul bond is a great deal more powerful, and in turn makes those involved in it more powerful as well.' Natsu paused for a moment, trying to think of how to explain it without possibly scaring her off. Finally, he figured that being blunt and straight to the point would probably be best. 'A soul bond combines and strengthens both of the mages powers. All of it. It also protects the marked from ALL magical attacks, however not physical ones. The counter to that is that it heals any injuries really fast, more so than a dragon slayer. It also allows us to know where we are to each other all of the time, allows us to be able to communicate mentally, and allows us to know when we're in ANY kind of pain, not just physical.' Natsu finished, biting his lip slightly at the dazed look on Lucys' face, uncertain if he should add the next part, but he knew she needed to know.

'A soul bond also doesn't allow one to live without the other, unless there is a child. If one of us should die, then the other will as well, unless there is a child. Then the remaining mate stays to take care of and raise the child until they reach of age at eighteen. After that the remaining mate dies to be with the other one again.' He finished, waiting to see what she would say, and hoping she wouldn't reject him.

It took her a few minutes to respond, and even then it came across as more asking herself rather than him, though he still did.

'H-how is that even possible?'

'Well…the answer to that is essentially in the name of the bond itself. A soul bond. By doing a soul bond, we're giving half our soul to the other, willingly.'

Gulping, Lucy took a deep breath, still trying to think of everything he was saying.

'Um…is-is there anything else I should know about either one of these bonds?' Lucy wheezed, taking a deep breath as she realized that her lungs were starting to ache for much needed air.

'Uh…yea actually….about that…' Natsu sheepishly grinned, lifting a hand to the back of his head. Lucy wasn't buying it for even a second.

'What is it Natsu? If you're asking me to do this, you HAVE to be honest with me, completely.' Lucy glared up at him, seeing his flushed cheeks, and the hesitant look in his eyes. 'This is not a decision I can make lightly, and neither should you.' Lucy continued, even as she fought the urge to tackle him already. (Oh who am I kidding, no matter what it is, I know I'll say yes. I've been heads of heels for the idiot for as long as I can remember.)

'With a soul bond….we are literally giving each other half of our souls. It's what makes the bond work so well. And we'd never be alone again Lucy. No matter how many lives, no matter how much time has passed, we'd always find each other again. Also…some dragon characteristics would be given to you as well. Typically something that can help in keeping you safe, such as wings to get you to safety faster.'

When all she did was stare at him unblinking for what seemed like an eternity, Natsu shifted uncomfortably.

'I…would….take on some dragon characteristics?...Anything else I need to know about?' Lucy asked faintly, rubbing her forehead as she attempted to wrap her head around the information she was being given. Feeling the warm strength of Natsu's arms slide around her once again, she let her hand fall to rest on his chest as she looked up at him.

'Well there is one other thing you should know.' Natsu said quietly, biting his lower lip. This was the first time that she remembered him ever truly being nervous or uncertain about something, and it made her breath quicken in uncertainty.

'What's that?'

'Mates can be claimed if those involved agree to it, even if they don't love each other, because the love can grow with time.'

'Ok….and?'

'Mates can be claimed like that…but…..if the people involved already love each other and agree to it, the claiming itself becomes…well….it becomes almost impossible for the dragon of the pair to control themselves.'

'What are you trying to tell me Natsu?'

Letting out a strangled moan as the smell of Lucy's growing arousal tickled his senses, he lowered his head to nuzzle his face into her neck once more.

'What I'm trying to say Lucy is….I'm not sure I'm going to be able to control myself when claiming you….it'll be rough….and all my instincts to claim you will be driven to the most primal, basic level….because I love you Lucy. I've known you were mine since we met in Hargeon. It just took me a while to realize why I was always drawn to you so strongly. It's why I'm always climbing in to sleep next to you.'

Lifting his head to meet her shocked gaze, he shrugged. 'You sooth my dragon Lucy. You always have. You've been able to get me to back down when others couldn't. Because all I want is for you to be happy. I love you Lucy.'

Staring up into the dark eyes that had always reminded her of the night sky, that had always found ways to sooth her, make her laugh, help her dream, and keep her fears away, she knew in that instant. Thinking back to all of the times that he had angered her, scared her, made her laugh, made her smile, protected her, she knew that she had been only denying herself.

'I love you too Natsu. I think I always have, just never realized it.'

She watched him as she finally admitted her feelings to him, and the smile that lit up his eyes like the stars around them had her heart stuttering. Never before had she seen him so happy. She knew without a doubt that she wanted to be his, wanted to be with him forever, to never be alone. She wanted to be his other half in every way that counted.

Neither of them noticed that they had started to glow themselves, too absorbed within each other to see what was happening to them.

Without another word uttered, Natsu pulled Lucy against him once more, kissing her deeply, sweeping his tongue in to dance across hers, using his actions to tell her what he had such a hard time putting into words. She was his, she would always be his. He would make sure all others knew that she would never be theirs.

Already he could feel his dragon shifting restlessly against what little restraint he had left, and when the sound of Lucy's moan coupled with her hands fisting in his hair raced through him, that control snapped. He had already been on edge the moment he had seen her, the glow of the stars dancing across her skin, and feeling her against him tasting her lips, hearing her moans, he knew that his control wasn't going to last.

Lucy gasped as she felt herself being hauled into the air, wrapping her legs around the waist of the man she was pressed against like a second skin. She felt like she was on a rollercoaster that hadn't even started the slow build up before the steep plunge. And she didn't care. She hadn't noticed when she had first seen him here that her muscles had started clenching, aching for something only he could provide.

Feeling the sharp edges of his teeth scrape along the skin of her throat, she let her head fall back even as her hands scrambled to remove the open vest he wore, desperate to feel her hands against the hard heat of his chest. She could feel his heart hammering beneath her fingers, and the natural heat he provided grew until it was searing itself into her skin like a memory. Like it was making sure she would never be without this heat again.

She didn't know how, but she found that the vest had disappeared, and the scarf soon followed, allowing her fingers to dance across his skin, her lips soon following as she followed his lead and nipped at his skin, leaving marks and trails of where she had tasted him. She had never felt this warm in her life and she didn't want it to stop. While she had never done this before, after listening to Cana so many times, she had at least an inkling as to what was happening.

Growling low in his throat, Natsu let his hands race over her skin. She was his, he was finally claiming her! For all the times that he had carried her, and held her hand, held her pressed against his side in silent torture, she was finally going to be his.

Desperate need laced his every movement, the desire to finally have Lucy the way they were meant to be clawing its way to the surface. While his inner dragon had been the determining factor in realizing just who she was to him, there was more than just those primal instincts that drove Natsu's need for her. Finally able to caress her milky skin the way he'd longed to for months, he could feel something deeper click into place. It wasn't just the inner dragon begging for her body to willingly bend to his whims and be claimed. Deep within his soul, something that Natsu could only call himself was awash in joy as the blonde's stuttering breaths glided over his flesh.

Her taste exploded across his tongue like vanilla and honey and strawberries had been set on fire, making it a delicacy that he wanted to never finish eating. Unable to stop the urging from his dragon, he bit into her neck without breaking the skin, only to get a stronger taste of her, wanting her smell to be absorbed into him so she'd always be there in some way.

The small cry of pleasure that escaped her had him twitching and starting to shift against her, creating friction that only had him craving more.

The faint smell of something burning had him pulling away from his feast for a moment, dragging in gulps of air as he looked down at her, growling louder at the darkened, lust filled eyes that met his own. Tearing his gaze from hers to look further down, he was certain he was going to swallow and choke on his tongue.

On the journey his hands had taken to trace over the skin that would soon be his, Natsu's hands had lit on fire, burning away all barriers that had once stood between her and him.

In all the times Natsu had seen Lucy naked, it had never been quite like this. Her heavy-lidded eyes, darkened with lust, peered back at him. Plump lips tinged a dusky rose from their kissing and the blush on her cheeks colored her so beautifully, he was breathless. Her golden, sun-kissed hair was painted in splashes of color from the multi-hued flames surrounding them in the darkness.

He'd always loved the way flames danced across her angelic face, how they would only highlight each perfectly sculpted piece of her.

Natsu had always loved the way her skin feels, and now, as he's on the verge of devouring her, melding their souls in a way most could only dream of, her silken skin has become like feathers dancing along his flesh. It teased him relentlessly, her hesitant touches that grew in confidence as the seconds ticked by bringing him to the edge of senselessness.

Expanding his attention further, he realized that somewhere along the line, she had managed to free him of his vest and scarf, leaving him only in the pants that had become far too tight. For once he was glad he had decided to go commando, and without a second thought, lowered a hand to burn his own pants away.

At the first brush of sensitive skin against an already damp core, Lucy whimpered as Natsu growled, instincts pushing him to immediately start pressing against her, her obvious arousal coating him, and dragging him further into the need to claim her.

He was already so far gone, his dragon thrashing and roaring inside of him, that he knew he wouldn't be able to hold on much longer, no matter how much she deserved things going slow, and being revered. The sharp bite of teeth against the scar on his neck had him gasping, and sliding harder against her wet folds. He didn't know how he had managed to gain back enough control to keep from just shoving into her hard, but he was glad for it.

That is, he was until she managed to say something into against his skin, her words vibrating, sending shivers along his skin. At her words he felt him lose all control as scales appeared across his skin, his canines grew, and his hands gripped her tightly enough to know she'd have bruises.

She had sunk her teeth into the pulse of his neck, her tongue dancing along his skin, his taste acting as an aphrodisiac to her senses, when she realized he was still holding back. That was when she knew what to do. Lifting her mouth just enough to speak clearly, she whispered against his skin, knowing that he'd hear her no matter what.

'Don't hold back my dragon….my mate!' With that she sunk her teeth into his neck once more to stifle the scream that tore from her throat as she felt him suddenly fill her in one long sharp stroke.

Her words. Her words were like the trigger to a gun waiting to be fired, and the next thing he knew he was buried inside of her, her warmth drowning him in sensations that had him growling and snarling as he fought for control once more. He didn't want to hurt her! Not his mate! The scream in his ear told him that he had caused her pain!

The scream died down into heavy pants and long moans, even as her hips shifted against him, her muscles fluttering and clutching in desperation to pull him deeper. He pressed his face tight against her neck while staying still, hoping that he could gain enough control back to make this remotely pleasant for her.

She apparently had other plans.

'Please Natsu… Take me… Fuck me…. Make me your mate,' Lucy whispered, nibbling on and allowing her breath to flow against his flesh. The grip that suddenly tightened on her hips had her gasping, a moan spilling from her lips even as she rolled her hips to meet the hard thrust he had suddenly given her.

His snarls and growls grew louder as he started pounding into her, his hands guiding the pace that was needed, even as her nails dug into his skin and her head fell back. Their cries of passion echoed around them, causing even the stars around them to vibrate and start pulsing faster.

'Mavis, Lucy… you feel… so… fucking… good,' Natsu growled, spearing into her over and over again, their skin slapping together. He could feel her getting tighter, as her cries got louder, and her moisture dripped down his legs. Feeling her nails dig into his shoulders had him somehow managing to push into her harder as he let his hands shift around to grab her ass, pressing her tighter against him.

He didn't think this would ever be enough for him, and if Natsu had thought she was beautiful before, it was all washed away as he looked at her then. Just being nestled deeply within her was as close to heaven as he'd ever gotten, but then there was the wild, wide-eyed look she was giving him just before their lips crashed together once more. How her breasts bounced and rubbed against his chest with each roll of her hips.

He could feel her sex fluttering around his length, and knew that she was getting close. With a snarl he shifted a hand to grip a hip, tilting her so that the bundle of sensitive nerves above where he was sinking into her rubbed against him with each thrust.

Her lips tore from his on a wanton scream, driving Natsu further as pleasure coiled deep in his gut.

He could feel his balls tightening, and the telling tingle that danced across his nerves to settle at the base of his spine that he wasn't going to last much longer. From the feel of her tightening around him, to the snarls she was now letting loose echoing in his ears, he knew she was close too.

'That's it Lucy….scream for me….cum for me baby….I wanna hear it….dammit….cum for me Luce!' Natsu snarled with one last thrust into her, leaning down to sink his teeth into the curve of her neck and shoulder. The first taste of her blood bursting against his taste buds had fire racing through him only to escape as he filled Lucy, his mate, with his seed. His hips jerked and shuddered against her, her own orgasm locking around him and sucking him dry, thirsty for everything he had to give.

Her scream of release followed but the distinct pain of her own teeth breaking his skin in her own mark had him roaring out in triumph, even as it sent them both over the edge once more. The combination of back to back orgasms had him clutching her against him tightly even as he dropped to his knees, his teeth still buried in her neck, his dick still being milked inside of her.

Feeling overwhelmed by the intensity of their orgasms, neither noticed the explosion of light that came from them, sealing their hearts, souls, and lives together for the rest of eternity.