"Now go! Pick your partners and be at the port tomorrow morning for our departure." The master shouted and the eight S-class candidates left off to find their partners. There was a large commotion in the guild hall, numerous fights here and there, about who is gonna go with who. Some had no problem picking, Natsu for example that picked happy without a second thought.

They shy bookworm had her eyes fixed on a certain studded dragon slayer, who was sitting at a corner table, ignoring all his 'immature' guild mates.

"He is an S-class candidate. Why doesn't he go and search for a partner. I guess he sits there alone because no one wants to team up with him." Levy said to herself. So, she took a deep breath, gathered all her courage to go and talk to him and maybe offer him something. Levy had been in love with Gajeel from the moment that he placed himself between her and Laxus's lightning. Since then they had shared a bunch of flirtatious moments, most of them making the two extremely embarrassed.

"Hey Gajeel." She tilted her head and smiled.

"Yo, Shrimp." He sipped his beer.

"So, you're on your way to become S-class, huh?" She hesitantly sat next to him.

"Ya."

"It won't be difficult for you. Besides you were S-class back in Phantom Lord, right?" Gajeel didn't answer. He just looked the other way as if he wanted to avoid the conversation. 'What the hell am I doing? Get to the point, Levy!' She thought. "You're so lucky. There was no way for me to be picked. I'm weak, my magic is only support, and my body is small. I am not S-class material."

Gajeel looked at her with eyes wide open. She had a sad expression because she was not picked, either as candidate or a partner. It appeared she really wanted to be part of the exams this year. 'She's so cute.' Gajeel thought and immediately felt guilty. "Levy-" he started to talk but she interrupted him.

"Yes?" Her eyes shining.

"Umm." 'Did I just stutter?' "I guess you would be a good support for me, supplying me with iron and stuff, but I have already chosen PantherLily."

"Oh. I see." She saddened once more. 'Dammit! I can't see her sad like that!'

"There's also another reason why I didn't pick you." He said, turning his head the other way to hide his blush, which reached his ears.

"What do you mean? You considered me being in your team?"

"I did. But…I would have to watch over you. You're small and therefore hard to be found if lost. And also, because the S-class exams are not a walk in the park. They have to prepare you for the dangers you may encounter in a similar mission." He tried to explain, not making any sense.

"What is your point?" She asked. Levy of course knew what he meant, she just wanted for him to say it out loud.

Gajeel only looked at her with a blank expression, only a few grunts and the sounds of teeth gritting escaping his mouth. 'I can't bring myself to say that kind of sappy shit!' He thought and quickly stood.

"Forget it. See ya in a couple of days." He placed his hands in his pockets and turned on his heel.

"Gajeel, wait!" Levy shouted as she ran behind him. "Wait, tell me. You cannot say something and stop midsentence!" Levy said but he was ignoring her. "Gajeel!" She shouted but again no answer. Levy continued walking with him in silence, and she would insist until he gives her some attention. "You big lug, talk to me!" She landed her fists on his back as she talked.

When Gajeel had enough of this, he turned and caught her wrist midair and dragged her through an alley. He pushed her, so that her back hit the wall and caged her with his body, placing both his forearms next to her head. Levy could admit she felt a hint of fear, but it disappeared completely when she felt a pair of soft lips on hers. He was kissing her. The way his body was pressed against hers and the way his lips worked, made her lightheaded.

He, on the other hand, tried to make their kissing a little more passionate, by licking her bottom lip, asking for entrance. She gave it to him and their tongues fought for dominance, until she gave in and Gajeel's tongue moved around to taste her. Levy's hands traveled to the back of his head, burying her fingers in his locks, and pulled him closer while also deepening the kiss.

Gajeel's lips moved to her jaw and then her neck, nipping her soft flesh on the way. "Do you understand now?" He growled.

"Yes….but you could have just said so." She moaned and licked his pierced earlobe while he worked on her neck.

"I'm not the one good with words, Shrimp. I'm a man of action." One of his hands snaked on her collarbone and went south until he reached her breasts.

"Mmm, I love this kind on men." Her hand was placed on Gajeel's, leading it to touch her from inside her dress, instead of through the fabric.

"Levy…" He looked at her, full of lust, eyes, just like his.

"I want you to touch me, Gajeel." She wrapped her one leg around his.

He then placed his knee between her legs, opening them. "As you wish." He said and returned to kissing the crook of her neck. His hands started kneading her perky breasts and his thumbs traced her erect buds. Levy let out sexy voices next to his ear and gritted her hips to his leg, trying to ease for of the heat that had started in her intimate area.

"If you go on like that I won't be able to stop." He growled and touched his sharp canines to her shoulder, ready to bite.

"Who said I want you to stop?" She said, knowing what he was about to do, so she braced herself for a sharp pain. That pain never came, instead his lips were planted on hers once more. "Gajeel, I want you to do it." She said, as she cupped his jaw and forced him to look at her.

"Levy, there will be no going back. I have chosen you as my mate, but you're not obliged to pick me as yours. If I do this, you will be stuck with me, forever." He warned.

"I know there is no way back after this, and I do choose you as my life-mate and I want to be stuck with you for the rest of my life because I love you. I've loved you for a long time now."

"And I love you. So, so much." He kissed her again, but this time with more love, rather than lust. They readjusted their clothes so they would gain some decency, without breaking the kiss. "Let's go to my place." He offered and she answered with a smile and a nod.

Levy and Gajeel were at it until next dawn. Gajeel being above her, sweating and panting, and Levy in a similar condition, mewling and screaming his name. It was the first time for both of them, and when their end was close, Gajeel shank his teeth on her shoulder, marking her as his mate. After that they fell asleep peacefully in each other's arms. The time for Gajeel's departure was coming close, so he woke up earlier and watched her sleep.

"I'll never let anything happen to you, my love. I'll protect you with all my might and never hurt you. Heh, the last part I can't promise, since I'm stupid enough to do it without meaning to. But you already know that and you forgive me." He planted his lips on her forehead and she smiled, his voice soothing her.

He got up and ready for his journey. He pecked her lips one more time and left.

Whaaaaaa! Chapter 1: check. Hope you guys enjoyed. If you did, go ahead and leave a review and a favorite. And I'll see ya in the next one!