Lucy took a deep breath, contemplating on whether or not to speak her thoughts out loud. She took another breath and looked up at Natsu through her lashes. "Explain it to me then."

Natsu's eyes widened and his mouth dropped open slightly, not expecting her to say such a thing. But, that shock didn't last long and within seconds Natsu gave Lucy a very soft, but frustrated smile and stared into her eyes.

"It's so bad Luce. I want .. No. I need you, all the time. And I don't just mean like this." Natsu said, voice low and gravely, referring to the position they were currently in. "I always want to be with you, if you're away for too long I miss you. I feel as though if I don't get enough of you in a day, I'll die. To be honest, I need you more than I've ever needed fire."

Lucy's eyes were starting to get teary from Natsu's confession. Never in her wildest dreams did she ever expect him to say something like that.

"And that's not all Lucy. The type of need that I feel for you in this kind of situation happens a lot too. Sometimes it's at the guild, when you look over at me with that sexy, flirty smile of yours; and sometimes it's when we're out on a mission and your body somehow ends up against mine. It drives me crazy. But, most of the time it's when I'm home at night. When I just lay there, and start thinking about you."

Natsu closed his eyes and took in a shaky breath, then his body let out a shiver. Lucy couldn't control her tears, and they were running down her face. She didn't even try to wipe them away, she just continued to listen to the man in front of her. "Natsu.." He slowly opened his eyes, and raised his hand to caress Lucy's left cheek.

"I lay in my hammock and I think about how soft your skin is, how shiny your hair gets in the sun.." Natsu moved his hand to run it through Lucy's blond locks, and twirled some of the ends with his fingers. "I think about how tough you are, and how much you love and care for your friends." Natsu ran his hand down Lucy's neck, across her left shoulder and down her arm. He linked his fingers through hers, brought them up to his lips and gave them a chaste kiss.

"I think about everything that makes you, you. And then I realize that I need to be with you, that I need to be next to you in some way. Which is why you usually find me sleeping in your bed every morning. But tonight, I just.. I just couldn't hold it in anymore. I've held it back for so long. I got this way around when we were trying to save Extalia by pushing back the lacrima, you were trying so hard and you were so passionate about it. I can usually satisfy myself, but.. The need for you hit me so strong tonight, I just had to have you.. That's why I showed up so late, er.. Early I guess?"

Natsu looked down with a blush on his face, a little embarrassed by telling Lucy everything. He then felt Lucy left go of their interlocked hands. "Oh Natsu.." Lucy gently cupped his face in her hands and made him look up at her. She had the brightest smile on her face that Natsu had ever seen. She brought her face closer to his and pressed her lips to his in a very sweet kiss. She pulled back, and she still had the tears running down her cheeks. Natsu couldn't help but grin at the Celestial Spirit Mage, "Oi, Weirdo. Don't be crying." He brought his hands up to wipe away the salt water on her face.

Lucy let out a giggle, and wrapped her arms around the Dragon Slayers neck, her tears finally drying up. Natsu snaked his arms around her waist, and kissed her temple. "Hey, Luce?" Lucy lifted her head and looked Natsu in the eyes, "Yes?". He ran his hands up and down her back, gathering up the last of his courage. "I love you."

Lucy couldn't believe it; well she could, after everything Natsu just told her. But, she couldn't at the same time. Everything seemed so surreal. She looked into Natsu's nervous eyes, and broke out into happy tears. "Hey, Lucy! I said don't be crying!" All she could do was laugh, "I love you too, Natsu!" She felt his arms tighten around her and his lips upon hers. Lucy sighed into the kiss, and pulled away first; from both the kiss and Natsu's arms. Once free, she reached around her back and unclipped her bra, letting it fall off her shoulders. She then wiggled her way out of her underwear.

Natsu took in the sight of Lucy stripping off her undergarments, and dropping them on to the floor; letting his eyes wander over her perfect body until they landed back on her face. He just sat there, unable to move. "Luce.. You're, .. wow." Lucy blushed a pretty shade of red, and smiled up at Natsu. "I remember you saying how you just had to have me. I didn't hear wrong did I?" Natsu snapped out of his stupor and shook his head back and forth. "You heard that right." He smirked, leaning towards her on his knees. Natsu watched Lucy lay down on the bed with a smile and reach out to him with her arms open.

"Well, come over here and show me what you got Dragon Boy."

Sorry about taking so long! But, yupp! Got the next chapter up, and expect a lot more to come. I know that this chapter is much more ''subdued'' than the rest, but I wanted to put some real feelings into this. Make it more than just sex.. Kind of. ;) Read and review, let me know what you guys think! Give me some ideas too! :)

- JessLMcLean