Hold onto your horses, because it's about to get hot in the stables.

Chapter 9

He stood there dumbfounded for nearly two minutes; his mouth was open as he took in the dark tangle of her hair, a stark contrast to the manly clothing.

She shifted uneasily, "Merlin? Can you say something here? The silence is rather awkward and I-"

That sparked a reaction, "Awkward? Awkward? Oh really? So me spilling out my deeply buried feelings wasn't awkward? Or you making me question my sexuality wasn't awkward? But long silences, oh no, those are awkward?"

He began to pace and kept thrusting his hands through his hair, causing it to stick up at even odder angles. She'd never seen him like this. Angry. Upset. She wasn't quite sure how to respond. She hadn't meant to cause so much trouble. Ok, well, she had wanted to cause trouble, but not to do this to Merlin. She wouldn't regret anything she'd done, but she was sorry that Merlin had been caught in the middle.

He stopped suddenly and stared deep into her eyes, his voice thick, "I just want to know why. Why would you put yourself and me in such danger? Do you have any idea of what Uther would do to me if he found out about this? Beheaded. Headless. Is this all a game to you? Was making me admit my feelings just part of your rebellious amusement?"

Shocked at his train of thought she said, "What? No, of course not. Your feelings were unexpected. I never knew you felt that way about me. I mean, I wanted to believe it, but I couldn't imagine it. You never gave me any signs or indications that you felt more than courtly duty. I needed a partner to spar with and you were so kind to me at first. And then…then I didn't want to stop, fighting with you or being with you. "

"Morgana, you know this can't work. I wasn't lying to James, I mean, you when I said that we can't be together," he said.

"And why the hell not?"

"This is dangerous. You have no idea of what you ask. Or what you'll unleash with this," he said, dragging his hands through his hair again.

"What do you mean?"

"I've kept it buried for my own good, sure. But more for yours. I've kept my distance because I knew that any sign from you would set off an explosion. A word, a look, and I would risk my life and yours to be with you. But we can't have that. We can't have this. There are too many obstacles between us. Nothing good can come of this dalliance."

"I can't undrink the water, Merlin. And neither can you. You've admitted your love and now I know it. Now I know myself. I'm sick of living this courtly life: full of secrets that no one shares, feelings buried, emotions contained. I don't want that. I want you. You who see all of me. And I want to see all of you."

"You don't know what you want. You were caught up in this farce. Flattered by my feelings and you feel obligated-"

"Stop telling me what I feel! I'm not a child. I know what I want and I know what I feel. I want you. And…I love you. This isn't a game to me. I want all you have to give. All you have to unleash," she finished.

He paused for a moment and some emotion passed over his face. Hunger. The same type of hunger she saw on the faces of starved villagers right before they were given bread. She took a breath and then another, but her lungs seemed incapable of filling completely.

When at last he spoke, his voice was seductively deadly, "Then you, my lady, are about to get a taste of it. You want unleashed passion, why you'll have it. But don't say I didn't warn you."

"Good, I've been warned," she said, thrusting her chin up at his challenge. "Because unleashed passion is exactly what I want from you."

A predatory look came over his face and she shivered. Not with fear but with anticipation. He moved closer as her back hit the sidewall of the stable. His hands tugged her closer, pressing her body flush against his and her back against the wall. He bent his head and right before he covered her mouth, he whispered, "Whatever my lady wants."

There was no teasing in his kiss; no soft brushes or seductive caresses of his mouth. And this time, she wasn't the one leading. Instead, his mouth devoured her, licking her lips, demanding entrance to the sweet cavern of her mouth.

And she gave it. Passion blazed between them. With a surprised moan, she opened her mouth. He thrust his tongue in, something that should've shocked her, but instead aroused her further. Another strangled moan escaped, muffled by their fused lips.

His hands crept up and tangled in her hair, his thumbs brushing against her cheekbones. His tongue explored her mouth, running along the ridge of her teeth and sweeping into her mouth over and over. No longer content to let him lead, she tangled her tongue with his. His lips slanted against hers, creating delicious friction as a seductive counterpoint to the forays of his tongue.

Had she thought yesterday's kiss erotic? Had she thought it dreamy? Because right now his mouth on hers was nothing short of wanton.

Her hands clutched the back of his shirt, bringing him closer. He moved his mouth to her ear, angling her head to the side for better access. Teeth nibbled her earlobe and she gasped. It was divine.

Her gasp seemed to arouse him. He wedged her further against the wall and panted out, "God, Morgana, why must you torment me? It's not enough that you haunt my dreams, cloud my fantasies, but now you have to invade my reality…"

Arching her back, she wanted to get closer. "Why must you torment me?" she gasped out.

His lips moved to her neck and she felt him smile against her skin. "I haven't even begun to torment you."

His hands moved down her shoulders, his palms running against the sides of her bound breasts. "How did you…what happened to your…?" he said, suddenly flustered.

"I bound them. It would be quite unmanly of James to have breasts," she said, breathily. What was he going to do? And how soon was he going to do it?

"Indeed," he said, chuckling.

He moved to the hem of her rough wool shirt and slowly started to push it up, his eyes seeking permission. She nodded as his fingers brushed the soft skin of her belly. It was torture. He pushed the shirt up and exposed the band of fabric which bound her breasts.

Fingers feathered across her collarbones as his hand was fisted to keep her shirt up. Her eyes closed against the sensation and beneath the cloth, she felt her nipples harden. His hand moved down, brushing against the barely visible swells of her breasts. Gently, he pushed the tightly wound fabric down to expose the heavy weight of her breasts.

"Bloody hell," she heard him mutter. "You're stunning." She felt herself blush at his compliment. No man had ever seen her like this. It was exhilarating. Beneath his gaze, she felt powerful. Sensual. Aroused.

Suddenly, both hands cupped her naked breasts. Her head lulled against the wall as a rather loud throaty moan escaped from her parted lips. "Shhh," he whispered against her ear. "We'll get caught."

As his palms began to massage her breasts, she had to bite down hard on her lip to stifle her moan. Gently, his thumbs flicked across hardened nipples and then he began to roll them between his fingers. His hands were magical. The heat of his hands against her skin was intoxicating. She craved it. Wanted more of it. Everywhere.

And clearly, she wasn't the only one affected. His hot breath panted against her skin, setting off goosebumps.

Their lips found each other again as his mouth smothered the erotic sounds coming from her mouth.

Her body arched into his, desperately seeking relief for the strange ache at her core. He pushed back, the hardness of his body both alleviating and increasing the ache.

But she wanted more. She wanted to be naked and she wanted him naked. She wanted to be underneath him, the hard weight of his body pressing against her-

"Merlin!" a voice sounded at the entrance of the stables.

They broke apart at the sound of the very familiar voice. He seemed frozen. His hands were still under her shirt, his lips were still puckered, but his eyes were wide.

"Merlin!" said the voice a little closer now. That seemed to galvanize them both into action. Merlin snatched his hands back and with a quick motion meant to signal her silence, he ran around the corner of the pen and walked towards Arthur.

She slunk down in the stable, aware that she was scantily clad and in men's clothing with her near stepbrother a few steps away. And that it was rather obvious who had made her so disheveled.

"Where the hell have you been? Why did it take you so long to answer?" said Arthur, his voice suspicious.

"I was….just so caught up in my work," said Merlin shakily.

Awkward silence then, "Why are you flushed?" said Arthur.

"Hard work. Exertion, you know."

Another awkward pause, "I thought I heard a moan."

"That was me too. Stubbed my toe."

"It sounded like a woman's moan," said Arthur.

"Yep, that was me. What do you think? That I was having a quick tumble with someone in your stables? Uh huh, sure," said Merlin.

She rolled her eyes. Merlin was a pretty bad liar. Not creative in the slightest.

And apparently, Arthur was enough of a dollophead to believe it, "Ok, now that you say it, I'm sure I've heard girlish groans from you before. And frankly, I don't know what hapless female you'd get to roll around in the hay with you. Anyways, I need you back at the castle. I've got a few tasks for you to do."

"Sure, Arthur. Just let me clean up and I'll meet you in your room in ten minutes."

"Alright," he said and as his loud steps walked toward the door, she heard Arthur mumble, "Merlin and a woman…hilarious."

She had managed to rebind her breasts. But there was no way to hide her reddened lips, her flushed face, or to calm her pounding pulse. There was no way to rid herself of the sensation of his hands on her skin. Of his body pressing hers against the way. Nothing could get rid of that knowledge. And she didn't want to.

"Morgana, we-" he started, his eyes avoiding herself.

"I know, we need to talk. Come to my room later," she whispered.

"Morgana, you know I can't…"

"Find a way. Or I'll find you."

And with that promise, she shoved her hair in her cap and left the stables.

FINIS

Merry Christmas! Happy Chanukah! Sorry this chapter took so long, I hope the next one will come before New Year's. While of course I loved writing the naughty scene here (bowchikawowow), I loved writing the dialogue. Merlin and Morgana (she's so bold, isn't she?), along with Arthur and Merlin-hilarious!

Tell me what you think. Please review!