Heyas everyone! HotaruZala here back from my long break of writing school papers! Yay! I finally graduated!! No more school for me! - jumps up and down- Anyways, I'm here to bring you chapter 2 of The Hotness Factor which I know everyone has been anxiously waiting for. I also have a little surprise for everyone...I plan on making this story five chapters instead of the three I originally planned so more AsuCaga happiness is on the way in future chapters. With that in mind, I hope everyone enjoys this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Disclaimer: I don not own GS, GSD, or the AsuCaga happiness you are about to witness in this chapter. It would be nice if I did though, wouldn't it? -giggles-

-The Hotness Factor- Part Two: The Talented Mr. Zala

-Country of Orb, May 15th CE 74. Location: Athha Estate. Time: Noon -

It was a bright and sunny day and very warm outside. Cagalli cranked up the A.C. As she sat in her office reviewing some papers. However, thoughts of a certain blue-haired Coordinator were very much lingering in her mind. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she remembered what he had said to her at breakfast just yesterday: "I'm glad."... "I just wanted to please you."... "Are you pleased...Cagalli?" He had said that in response to her saying that she liked the roses he had placed around the house and also her favorite foods that he had prepared specially for her. She felt her face heat up slightly as she brushed a sweat drop from her brow. She shook naughty thoughts out of her head and then decided to take a break and go for a short walk outside. Once outside the estate's door, she ran into her and Kira's friend Miriallia, whom they affectionately referred to as Miri; who decided to join Cagalli in her walk around the garden.

Miri smiled as they walked around staring at the pretty flowers in the estate's garden: "I hear the boy's are having some kind of car wash today for Reverend Malchio's orphanage. It's to help keep it open since the children staying there love it so much."

Cagalli raised a golden eyebrow in curiosity: "Really?"... "Lacus never told me that the orphanage was in need of money. I'd like to help if I can."

Miri nodded and giggled: "Well...that's one reason why we're going to check it out."

Cagalli raised a golden eyebrow again in curiosity: "What's the other reason?"

Miri smiled mischievously, her baby blue eyes sparkling as she did so: "C'mon Cagalli...a bunch of hot mens's washing cars...shirts are bound to come off."

Cagalli rolled her eyes: "Miri...tell me...is that all you think about?"

Miri pretended to be shocked and pouted: "I'm insulted Cagalli...I think about lots more than just men. I also think about how to write good stories about them." She winked at Cagalli who chuckled slightly in response.

Cagalli shook her head and still chuckled slightly: "I thought you might say that."

Miri eyed Cagalli and smirked: "You know me so well huh?... "Well, I know you all to well too Cagalli Yula Athha. You might like to know that this whole thing was organized by a certain handsome blue-haired knight who's in your favor."

Cagalli felt a blush creep into her face as she eyed her friend curiously: "So what?"... "What does that have to do with me?"... "Whatever he does is his own business."

Miri smirked: "I understand that. I knew you would say that too, but I just thought that you'd like to know that he's going to be there."

Cagalli, a slight blush still on her face; hissed: "Of course he is!"... "If he's in charge of it he'd be a fool if he didn't show up."

Miri chuckled at Cagalli's reaction: "Well...if he's going to be there and it's hot out...his shirt is bound to come off as well...and..." She leaned over and whispered in Cagalli's ear: "...I hear tell he has a gorgeous body." She winked at Cagalli whose face turned a bright shade of red at that thought.

Cagalli, with her bright red face, stammered: "M-Miri...cut it out...I've told you, he's not the type of guy that would do something like that in public."

Miri chuckled and shrugged: "Alright...whatever you say."

-12:15 pm that same day -

Just outside the orphanage the boys were washing all cars that came their way. Since their friend Heine had the most charisma out of the bunch, he was put in charge of luring in the customers. Miguel, Rusty, Nicol, Yzak, Dearkka, Shinn, Auel, and even super Coordinator Kira were all busy rinsing and scrubbing the parked cars. Lacus stood on the balcony with Reverend Malchio keeping the children occupied with various games. Miriallia and Cagalli came in through the back gate and were greeted briefly by a shirtless and soap covered Heine before he retreated back to the front to retrieve more patrons.

Miri smirked triumphantly: "See...I told you this would be nice. Isn't this much better than walking around a boring garden all afternoon?" She scanned the crowd for the blue-haired Coordinator, but he was nowhere to be found. She and Cagalli approached Kira, who was busy drying off a red S.U.V. and asked where the man in charge was.

Kira briefly smirked in Cagalli's direction, which earned him a playful punch in the arm from her: "Last I saw him, he was with Lacus and Reverend Malchio checking out the totals and how well things were going. He should be back out here in a few minutes...oh wait...there he is now." He called to his friend and waved: "Hey Athrun!"... "Over here!"

Cagalli turned around at her brother's mention of the Coordinator in question and her eyes widened as she noticed Athrun in his black swim trunks and red tee shirt, the Haumea stone, as always; draped around his neck and displayed for everyone to see. He appeared to be busy helping Dearkka finish up washing a car. Suddenly, everything became slow motion to the fiery blonde goddess of victory and
her eyes widened as she noticed Athrun slowly take off his shirt and toss it to the ground. Inner Cagalli: "Get it together Cagalli!"... "He's just one guy!" She looked up from the the ground just in time to catch him spraying water all over himself. The droplets clung to his navy blue hair as he casually shook it out and coolly ran his fingers through it. She then took notice of a single droplet running down his check and watched as it traveled from down his neck all the way down to his well toned stomach. She suddenly felt eyes on her awaken her from her reverie. The pair of gorgeous emerald eyes that were standing in front of her asked gently in a voice full of concern: "Hey Cagalli. Are you feeling okay? Is something wrong?" He reached his hand out, felt her forehead, and then softly caressed her cheek.

Cagalli's face burned bright red as she backed away: "N-Nothing!..."..."I mean...nothing is wrong."... "I just stopped by to visit and see what I could do to help."

Athrun smiled playfully and chuckled, his emerald eyes lighting up as he laughed: "I see." Just as he was about to tease Cagalli a little more, the very foward pink haired Meer Campbell came bounding up and hugged him from behind, her flirty voice purred: "I'll give you a hand Athrun." She flashed a satisfied and haughty smirk at Cagalli who simply glared at the girl. Athrun mouthed a silent "Help Me" to Kira before he suddenly felt himself being dragged over to Meer's car and noticed Cagalli's amber eyes turn a murderous glare upon Meer, who was practically hanging all over him as she pointed out how muddy her pink Beetle was.

Miri huffed in the busty pink-haired girl's direction as she watched her hang all over Athrun: "Would you look at that sickening display. Poor Athrun, don't you just feel like slapping her to death?"... "Cagalli?"

Cagalli, with her back turned to Meer, a glare still in her eye, plus a dark aura emanating within them as she growled under her breath: "She can do whatever the damn hell she wants. I don't care."

Kira chuckled nervously: "Ummm...well...Sis...if you don't care what she does, then that means you don't care what she's doing over there right now while your back is turned?"

Cagalli's head whirled around and her amber eyes widened in anger as she noticed Meer pretend to slip and fall. This resulted in Meer's landing right in Athrun's arms, her lips inches from his. Flying into her own personal SEED mode, Cagalli felt something within her snap as she rushed headlong into the crowd with tremendous speed. She was so driven by her impulses that she didn't realize what she was doing. She tapped the scantily clad Meer on the shoulder just long enough for the pink-haired girl to whirl around and... POW! Cagalli's fist connected with her nose causing it to slightly bleed as she growled: "Get your hands off him you whory bitch!"

Meer exclaimed through phony tears: "Why did you do that?!"... "I was just talking to him and I tripped."

Cagalli rolled her eyes and hissed: "Oh please...you tripped?!" ... "That's the oldest trick in the book. I know what you were doing."... "Can't you see he doesn't even want you touching him?!"

Meer hissed back: "So...you caught me...so now what?" She smirked slightly: "Now everybody knows what you're really like Princess Athha. A real lady would never punch anyone. Athrun wants a woman, not a tomboyish little girl."

Cagalli's amber eyes widened as she finally noticed what she had done. She turned to Athrun and met his shocked gaze. Without saying a word, she turned from everyone and took off embarrassed into the house.

Miri started after her, but Athrun shook his head: "You stay here and keep Kira from throttling Meer...I'll go." He turned his back to everyone and began walking away, but not before turning to Meer himself, an angry glare emanating from his usually calm emerald eyes: "She's more of a woman than you could ever hope to be." Hearing Meer grumble in frustration and stalk away was music to his ears and as he walked into the house, Miri and Kira heard him whisper: "She got jealous...over me."

-Meanwhile -

Cagalli ran through the house looking for a place to hide herself for a little while. She finally settled on hiding in the garage where she then sat on the floor and hugged her knees. She mentally scolded herself: "What the hell was that?!"... "Why did you do that Cagalli?!"... "Damn it...now they all know that you get jealous!"... "Kira will rag on you about this for the rest of your life!" Her eyes softened as she mumbled against her knees: "Why?" She pictured Athrun's shocked expression from before. "Damn it!"... "Why did he of all people have to see?!" A gentle voice from behind her responded: "I was just lucky I guess." She nearly jumped a foot in the air in surprise and her amber eyes widened in shock as she noticed him appear so suddenly behind her: "How much did you just hear?!"

Athrun chuckled and smirked: "Enough to know how you're feeling. In fact, I was here before you. I took a short cut and then hid. Lucky for me you showed up in one of the two places I thought you'd try to hide in."

Cagalli muttered under her breath: "Well...you caught me, as always..so..." She leaned against Dearkka's red convertible's hood: "Come on. Let's hear it. Tell me I wasn't thinking. Tell me I didn't behave like a lady. I know you're just dying to say something, so let's hear it!"

Athrun's face tinted a slight red as a small smirk crossed his face: "You got jealous...over me?"

Cagalli felt her face heat up from the gaze of those emerald eyes on her and she hissed: "What?!" "Jealous?!" She laughed sarcastically to try and cover it up: "No way in hell am I jealous!"

Athrun raised a blue eyebrow in curiosity and chuckled: "Really?"... "So...Meer walked away with a bloody nose because...?" He noticed her floundering in her response and moved in for the kill with a smug smirk on his face the entire time: "You like me don't you?"

Cagalli's face turned beet red as she growled: "O-Of course I like you...we're friends damn it!"

Athrun shook his head, his face still a slight red as he spoke: "That's not what I mean." He walked over to stand directly in front of her, water still dripping down his blue bangs as he smiled devilishly: "Neither of us is leaving here till you tell me." He patted the keys in his pocket: "I was given the keys to all the rooms in this house...this one included...so...tell me..." He gently caressed her cheek, his emerald eyes gazing into hers while he still had that playful smirk on his face: "Do you like me?"

Cagalli felt her face heat up at his gentle touch: "I-I already told you why. I don't need to explain myself any further."

Athrun shook his head, the smirk still on his face: "If you won't tell me..." He whispered in her ear: "Then might I tell you what I'm thinking...Hime-sama?"

Cagalli turned her reddening face away from him and managed to stammer in a mumble: "F-Fine...go for it."

Athrun chuckled to himself: "Oh... I intend to...don't you worry." He turned her face back towards his with his right hand so he could look in her eyes, then pulled his hand away as he spoke aloud this time: "It's more of a dream of mine really. A dream I've been having for years now...ever since we first met."

Cagalli raised a golden eyebrow in curiosity and hissed impatiently: "Let's hear it then."

Athrun flashed a devilish smirk at her and casually brushed her bangs from her eyes: "Patience...patience...I'm getting to that." He reached out, snatched her hand, and pulled her to stand up directly in front of him and very close together: "I've been dreaming about...you and me...alone...on that deserted island, the waves gently caressing the shore..."

Cagalli felt as if her heart would burst out of her chest as she exclaimed: "Athrun...I don't!..." Before she could finish speaking, he put his finger to her lips.

Athrun shook his head and smiled warmly at her: "I'm not finished yet." He pulled her in for a tight hug: "You got jealous over me. No girl has ever done something like that for me before." He hugged her as close as he could, held her as if he never wanted to let her go, and whispered hotly in her ear: "Don't you know how that makes me feel?"... "What it does to me?"

Cagalli blushed heavily and shook her head: "I-I told you...I wasn't jealous!"... "I was just...protecting you."

Athrun smirked cutely and shook his head like a stubborn child: "I know what I saw Cagalli. Protection may have been a part of your plan...but to me, it looked as if what you did was based on pure impulse. You know...in the heat of the moment. I could see it in your eyes...your desire to hold on to something you want to be yours...but...there's no need to worry because..." He brushed a tress of her short golden hair away from her ear and whispered hotly: "It already belong only to you."

Cagalli blushed heavily at those delicious words and the piercing emerald eyes that seemed to be staring her down: "A-Athrun..."

Athrun smirked coolly: "Yup...that's my name. Is there something you wanna say to me?"

Cagalli found her bare fingers trailing a water droplet down his bare chest and, noticing him shiver; took the towel from around his neck and began to dry his hair with it: "What am I going to do with you?"... "Aren't you cold?"... "You're shivering pretty bad."

Athrun felt his face burn bright red as his inner self spoke: "Damn...she almost made me lose my cool there for a second." As he thought about the delicate way her fingers trailed down his chest a few mere seconds before, he shivered slightly. His inner self spoke again: "Am I cold?"... "I'm anything but cold...on the inside anyway." A devilish smirk formed on his lips as his inner self looked at Cagalli with a hungry gaze and asked: "What are you going to do with me?"... "I'm curious to find out myself." He looked at her with the same gaze that his inner self had given her and spoke aloud in an innocent tone: "I am a little chilly." He gazed into her amber eyes with those devastatingly heart piercing eyes of his before he finished his sentence: "Could you...warm me up?" Before Cagalli could open her mouth to argue, he caught her lips in a sweet, lingering kiss; his tongue playing around with hers as he took the kiss deeper, making sure he truly tasted her.

Cagalli's face flushed candy apple red and her eyes widened as she thought: "Is this really happening?!"... " Is he really kissing me like this?!"... "Where the hell did he learn how to kiss like this?!" It was then that she felt his loving caress, the warmth of his body so close to hers and all reason seemed to vanish within her only to be replaced by this desire that Athrun had just been talking about earlier...only...this wasn't just desire...it was almost a need, a hunger. The way he kissed her conveyed to her that even during their little relationship hiatus, he still held these kinds of feelings for her. She finally succumbed to Athrun's deliciously hot kisses and found her fingers absentmindedly trailing down his well toned chest yet again.

Athrun felt himself shiver under her touch as he laid her down gently on the hood of the red convertible that she had been sitting on and continued kissing her. He thought to himself: "God...she tastes so good...I should probably stop...but I..." He broke the kiss first as he breathed with a small smirk on his face: "I've been dreaming about that too you know."

Cagalli reached up and brushed his beautiful blue bangs out of his eyes as she breathed in response: "Athrun...I...we..."

Athrun leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead, then on her cheek and his lips hovered inches away from hers as he whispered hotly: "Can't you see I hunger for you Cagalli?"... "I've always hungered for you. Ever since the day we first met on that island. You know what? I'm not afraid to admit this anymore, but the truth is..." He blushed slightly in a shy manner: "I wanted to kiss you then too. I wanted it so bad I..." He suddenly felt Cagalli yank him down by the Haumea necklace and attack his mouth with the most fiery of all kisses, him responding fervently with one of his own. She broke the kiss first by pulling away and sitting up and as she adjusted her mussed up clothes and hair, Athrun impulsively pulled her in for another hot kiss and she murmured as he kissed her neck "Lunch...tomorrow...are you free?"

Athrun finished kissing her and responded with a playful smile on his face: "Meet you at noon?" He handed her the keys to open the garage door: "My place or yours?"

Cagalli, with an extremely flushed face; nodded: "Y-Yes!..."... "I mean...my office...noon. See ya then." She opened the door to the garage and quickly walked out as she heard Kira calling for her to see if she was alright.

Athrun smiled one of his most devilish and mischievous of smiles as he thought: "Your office huh?" He remembered question number eight on the quiz and a plethora of ideas began to form in his head: "Good to know...very good to know." As he walked out of the garage, he passed Miri, winked and mouthed "Thank you." She simply smiled and winked back in response.

-The Next Day, May 16th, CE 74. Time: Noon. Location: Cagalli's office in the Athha Estate -

It was lunch time and Cagalli had made sure that her entire schedule was clear for her lunch with Athrun. There were staff meetings being held, but she asked Kira to attend those for her in her place. She sat in her office in casual attire, jeans and a red button down shirt with its long sleeves rolled up and the top two buttons undone. She had some sandwiches, drinks, and snacks made and sent up to her office earlier so there was nothing left for her to do but wait.

As if on cue, Athrun made his grand entrance. This time, he wore a white short sleeved dress shirt unbuttoned, a black tank top that seemed to show off his slim, yet well toned body, black pants and shoes, the Haumea necklace, and for added affect, he casually took off the sunglasses he had on and brushed his navy blue bangs back, revealing his gorgeous emerald eyes. Cagalli couldn't help but eye him from head to toe as she thought to herself: "Is this the same Athrun Zala from when we first met who was so embarrassed and shy that he would always turn away after he'd say something potentially romantic?"... "Hell...for that matter, was this the same Athrun Zala from last week who was so focused during the staff meetings that I couldn't even catch his eye?"... "Who is this person?!"... "Maybe Athrun has finally snapped." She had to admit though, she was liking this side of him. This devilish Athrun that was leaning with his back against the doorway and his black jacket casually swung over his shoulder as he straddled the doorway. This devilish Athrun whose eyes seemed to radiate ravenous lust with the heat of a thousand suns with jus one glance. Then came that smirk, that playful smirk that he had given to her yesterday just before his soft lips touched hers for the first time in over a year. She shifted around in her chair as he stared her down.

Athrun chuckled to himself as he noticed Cagalli staring at him for longer than he anticipated. His inner self smirked: "Glad to know the new wardrobe is attracting so much attention." He then spoke aloud as that smirk still remained on his face: "Good afternoon...Cagalli."

Cagalli's face tinted a slight red: "Y-Yes...to you as well." Her inner self scolded her: "To you as well?!"... "To you as well?!"... "What's happening to you?!"... "You're starting to sound as cheerful as Lacus!" Aloud she hissed at his smirking face: "Are you just gonna stand there or are you coming in?!"

Athrun, without saying a word and a mischievous smirk still on his face; closed the door to the office and locked it.

Cagalli eyed him curiously as he tossed his jacket on a nearby chair and coolly approached her: "I take it that means you're coming in?"

Athrun pulled a CD out of his pocket, placed it in her CD player, and held out his hand to her as her favorite song "Masquerade" played. (A/N: Watch Code Geass episode 14 to hear part of this awesome song if I got the title right, if I didn't someone can correct me. - giggles-) He smiled and asked politely: "May I have this dance before lunch...Hime-sama?"

Cagalli's eyes widened as she felt her face heat up at his soothing voice and before she knew it, she was spun into his arms: "Athrun?"... "What are you...?" Her back was drawn up against his chest so tightly that she could feel how fast his heart was beating and inhaled his intoxicating scent of Aramis cologne and soap. She felt her pulse quicken as his hands traveled down from her shoulders to her waist where they then rested: "I...I don't dance very well."

Athrun whispered in her ear: "Me neither."... "We'll learn by the way our bodies move." Using his skilled hands, he swayed her hips slowly from side to side and felt her back arch up against his chest. He blushed slightly as he smirked devilishly: "It's easy." "See?"... "Just like that."

Cagalli's face flushed bright red as she let her hips sway slowly from side to side with the help of Athrun's gentle hands as she asked curiously: "My favorite song...You know it?"... "How did you...?"

Athrun spun her around in his arms so she was facing him, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist as he smiled and chuckled: "I like this song too you know?"... "Who would've guessed that we have similar tastes in music." They glided across the room gracefully, Athrun applying dips and turns when appropriate. Just when he and Cagalli were becoming lost in the dance and the feel of each others arms around the other, the song ended. He kissed her hand and politely bowed, then pulled out her chair as they sat down to eat. Athrun chuckled to himself as Cagalli munched nervously on her grilled cheese sandwich and kept taking sips of her drink, which he knew she usually did when she was nervous as he would do the same thing. His inner self smirked: "This is almost too easy...you know that right?"... "You've got her...now go in for the kill." He smiled sweetly as he now asked aloud: "Something on your mind?"... "You're eating awfully fast." He eyed the chocolate covered strawberries on the table and his inner self smirked mischievously as he picked one up as Cagalli began to answer his question.

Cagalli, her face candy apple red; shook her head and hissed: "N-No!"... "I'm just hungry. I haven't eaten all day. You got a problem with that?!"

Athrun shook his head and chuckled at her angry face: "Nope. No problems at all." He lifted the chocolate covered strawberry in his fingers, poised it over his lips, and then slowly took a bite of it. He then glanced at Cagalli out of the corner of his eye, her fiery amber eyes were fixed on him as he ate the chocolate covered fruit. He took another bite of the strawberry and casually wiped his mouth with his napkin and then licked his lips.

Cagalli tried her best to shake all naughty thoughts out of her head, but to no avail. Her inner self screamed: "Why did the cook have to pick strawberries as a snack?!"... "And God...why did Athrun have to eat that damn strawberry so slow?!" It was driving her crazy and making her all tingly inside. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore as her face burned bright red, she blurted out: "Athrun!"... "S-Stop doing that!"

Athrun looked puzzled and innocent as can be, his emerald eyes blinked as he feigned confusion: "Huh?"... "Stop doing what?" He reached for another strawberry, but Cagalli grabbed the bowl first.

Cagalli snatched the bowl of chocolate covered strawberries away from him and hissed: "No more strawberries!"

Athrun raised a curious blue eyebrow and smirked that sexy smirk of his: "Oh...I get it." Suddenly, with one full sweep of his arm, he cleared all the food off the desk and watched as it fell to the floor with a loud clatter. His emerald eyes were filled with that devastatingly ravenous desire she had seen in them before. He leaned over the desk and kissed her sweetly, yet hungrily; the same kind of kiss they had shared the day before in that garage. He noticed her eyes widen in shock at first and then close as she returned his kiss.

Cagalli broke the deliciously hot kiss first as she whispered next to his ear as she was catching her breath: "Athrun...you taste like strawberries and chocolate...mmmmm...so damn good."

Athrun smiled warmly at her and then leaned down to kiss her chastely on the lips, then trail scalding hot kisses down her neck as he felt her pull him closer to her as he lay on top of her on the desk. Her hands had slipped under the back of his shirt and she trailed her fingers delicately across the smooth and warm skin of his back. He shivered under her touch as he found his wandering hands starting to undo the buttons on her top until the shirt was wide open and her black lace bra was visible to his innocent emerald eyes. He felt her trail hot kisses down his neck and, while trying to keep his composure; he managed to ask in a breathless voice: "Cagalli?

Cagalli's honey colored lips hovered over Athrun's neck as she responded in a mumble: "Hmmm?"... "What?" She continued to kiss his neck and run her fingers through his neck length navy blue hair.

Athrun abruptly sat up on the desk, and, pulling her up with him; he hugged her lovingly and whispered hotly: "I want to make love to you."

Cagalli's amber eyes widened in surprise at his bold statement and she felt her face begin to heat up again: "A-Athrun...I..."

Athrun gently ran his fingers through her hair, closed his eyes, and cut her off as he whispered softly, hotly, tenderly, and in a determined tone in her ear: "Someday...I will make love to you...Cagalli."

Okie dokes...that's the end of this second chappie of The Hotness Factor. Don't you just love the devilish side of Athrun? I do. -giggles- I love his sweet gentleman side too. What will Athrun do to charm Cagalli next? You'll have to wait and see in the next installment. Reviews are very much appreciated and I'm sure Athrun would love it if you rated his performance for this chapter. -giggles-