Hey! I literally feel SO bad for making you all wait as long as I did! -Bows- I truly feel bad. Please forgive me? I hope that this chapter will more than make up for the wait!
OH! Before I forget: I have a Tumblr now! It's under 'Navybluewings0013' so come find me!
WARNING: Tons of smut in this chapter. you have been warned!
Disclaimer: The only thing I get to claim as mine are the little sex bunnies that keep hopping around in my head!
Chapter Fifteen: Let's Talk About Sex, Maybe?
It had taken Lucy a week to get back up on her feet. The ceremony for her father was a quiet one, and not a lot of people came. She wasn't surprised; her father had made many more enemies than friends after her mother's death. She paid her respects as any good daughter would, leaving flowers over the tombstone made for him. For three days she stayed at home, using the time Makarov gave to her to cry all of her pain out. Natsu was there for her without question, helping her through the grieving process the best that he could. The week had been long and painful, but when Lucy stepped out of her house that Friday afternoon, she felt normal again.
She went back to work that night, assuring all her patrons and friends that she was okay. She had really scared them with her breakdown. But being back at Fairy Tail, with all the anarchy and mayhem, helped assure Lucy she was going to be okay. She loved her father, and would miss the chance they never got to reconcile. But she knew that Fairy Tail was her family, and she would make it through life okay as long as she had them by her side.
"Are you sure you'll be up to going out tomorrow night?" Lucy waved off Erza's concerned tone like it was a pesky fly. She handed a beer to Elfman on the other side of the bar before she returned to Erza, nodding.
"I think going out for Lisanna's birthday is going to be just what I need to get back into my astrology business. I did tell Mira I would help hook up her little sister if she was interested." And Lisanna had made it very clear how eager she was for Lucy's love insight. According to Mira, Lisanna had always had an interest in astrology, but never really pursued it. Now, with Lucy around, the younger Strauss could finally learn a thing or two. With all of Lucy's problems the past week, she hadn't even realized that September 1st was two days away. Though Lisanna's birthday was on a Sunday, they decided to go out the night before in celebration. Seeing how successful the formula worked for Lucy's party, they decided to do the same thing for Lisanna. Except this time, they'd end up crashing at the Strauss' apartment, which had much more room than Lucy.
"I just don't want you to push yourself too soon; I know you're a tough girl, but you've been through a lot this past week."
"It has been kind of long, hasn't it?" Lucy's sad smile was evident as she glanced at the window next to them. "I mean, I know I should be feeling so lost right now. He was my father, right? But when I left my house today, I didn't feel that overwhelming pain anymore."
"You've had a lot of friends to support you through this. It's no wonder that a lot of your pain is gone."
"Does that make me a bad daughter? For not mourning like I did with my mom?"
"Not at all, Lucy. It means you've become a very strong young woman. I'm sure that your father was very proud of, despite your differences." Lucy glanced over to her friend, surprised to see such a soft look in her eyes. Erza was a tough woman who made even the men in Fairy Tail shake. She wasn't really known for her soft side, but Lucy knew who Erza really was. She was hard on the rowdy bunch because she cared for them. A soft approach wouldn't get through to the hard-headed members like Natsu or Gajeel, so tough love was the alternative route. Still, when one-on-one with Erza, Lucy could see her features soften and her voice lower. She gave just as much warmth as she did discipline. Lucy's shock melted into a smile, placing her hand over Erza's.
"Thank you for worrying about me, Erza. It really means a lot to me." Lucy replied, giving the older woman's hand a squeeze. The red-head nodded, not moving her hand from Lucy's.
"We're family, Lucy. I don't want you to think you are alone."
"I know, I'll never think like that again. I promise!" The two girls exchanged smiles before Erza cleared her throat.
"You can come out of hiding now, Natsu. I know you've been spying on us." Lucy blinked at the random statement, and then jumped when Natsu popped out from under the bar. He jumped onto the stool next to Erza casually, ignoring Lucy's stunned look.
"I wasn't spying; I was waiting for the right moment to come over. I overheard what you guys were talking about, and I got interested. So I crawled under the bar and listened."
"Isn't that exactly what spying is?!" Lucy shouted, Natsu laughing while scratching the back of his head. He instantly yelped when Erza dropped her fist on his skull, her arms crossed in a disapproving manner.
"Listening in on a private conversation between two women is extremely disrespectful. And as a Fairy Tail member, I expect much better etiquette from you next time." Natsu shrunk away from Erza's lecture, trying to make himself smaller with every word she said. "You need to be an example for the younger generation of Fairy Tail. Crawling around on the floor is no way to act. Maybe I should start giving you lessons on how to be a man, instead of a child."
"No ma'm!" Lucy, who had been watching the two argue, covered her mouth as she started to laugh. Though many things in life would change, she knew that Fairy Tail would always be a place of havoc. And honestly, that was the best part of it. Despite some crazy fights and occasional headaches, the welcoming nature of Fairy Tail was what made it so special to Lucy. Everyone could be who they wanted to be, and it was okay. Even as she watched Erza continue to lecture her less-than-pleased best friend, Lucy knew their bond was stronger than ever. She could tell by the way Erza's eyes soften when placing her hand on Natsu's head, ruffling the younger man's hair. He scowled up at her, the flushed and looked away self-consciously when seeing her warm smile. Erza truly loved every member of Fairy Tail.
"I hate to break this party up—" Lucy glanced away from her two friends to look up at the newcomer's voice, surprised to see Gray. He looked like he just came from work, his outfit much more formal than she was used to seeing him in. Actually, she wasn't used to seeing him in much when he was in Fairy Tail. Lucy giggled at her own mental joke, but pushed past it when seeing the arched eyebrow sent her way.
"Hello Gray, it's nice to see you." Erza's formal greeting was answered with a quiet nod, Gray never a man of a lot of words. He glanced back at the bartender, his lips thinning as if holding something back. Lucy tilted her head, concerned for her silent friend.
"Is something the matter, Gray?" Lucy asked, Gray tensing at her question. He was acting really weird, but she could tell he didn't even notice it.
"You got a minute when you're done with your shift? I've got to talk to you about something."
"Oh yeah, sure. I've got to do last call in a minute, so I should be free in an hour. Is that too long of a wait?" He shook his head, trying to act casual by slipping his thumbs in the pockets of his slacks.
"I've got no issue waiting."
"Yo, what's up with you?" Natsu's blunt statement made Lucy squeak, Natsu jumping off the barstool to walk around Gray. Gray tried to ignore the inquisitive man, but Lucy could see his eye twitch when Natsu poked his cheek. "You look like you haven't slept in a week or something."
"I'm fine." Yet the way Gray glanced away from Natsu's narrowed eyes proved that wasn't the case. While a normal person would know when to drop the situation, Natsu pressed on.
"Look at those bags under your eyes! There's no way that you're 'fine'. I mean, even the way you're standing makes you look like you've been through the ringer. Is Juvia ma—" Natsu jumped back quickly when Gray swung at him, the normally calm man glaring at Natsu.
"You don't know what you're talking about, so just mind your own business, okay?" Natsu's momentary shock dissolved into anger, Natsu shaking his fist toward his agitated friend.
"What's your problem, man?"
"Obviously if I wanted to tell you, I'd do it. So stop hounding me already." Gray turned away from Natsu, glancing to Lucy. "I'll be waiting outside for you, okay? And don't bring the idiot."
"Hey!" Natsu shouted but Gray ignored it as he sauntered away.
"Well that was very uncharacteristic of him," Erza said, sipping on her drink. Lucy nodded, her eyes staying on Gray's retreating form.
"Well if he doesn't knock it off, I'm really going to fight him next time." Natsu's irritation was obvious as he made his way back to his stool, but Lucy was too focused on Gray's departure to pay attention. She knew that Natsu was right; there was definitely something off with Gray. And though she didn't agree with the approach Natsu took, the violent way Gray reacted when Juvia's name was brought up did not sit well with her. Did something go wrong? Gray knew that Juvia and Lucy talked on a daily basis, so maybe he needed her advice? But about what? From what Juvia had said, the two of them had exchanged 'declarations of love' weeks ago. Lucy's eyes widened as a bad thought came to her.
What if Gray had lied?
The depressing outlook affected her through the rest of her shift, hurrying the stragglers that were still hanging around after last call. She cleaned the bar in record time, her fear of the conversation fueling her tired body. She promised to meet Natsu down the street of the bar, the grumpy guy agreeing only after she promised to let him sleep over. Once that was taken care of, Lucy locked up the bar before she made her way toward Gray's meeting spot. She found her friend leaning against a light post, eyes staring up toward the starry night. Lucy slowly walked toward him, hands clasped behind her back nervously.
"Sorry that took so long. Do you know how hard it is to get Cana to stop drinking?" She attempted to start the conversation with humor, but the joke barely got a smile from her friend. He dropped his gaze back to her, Lucy losing some of her own smile at the concerning look. "But you're not here to talk about Cana."
"No, I'm not." He ruffled his own hair, pushing off the light post to walk with Lucy.
"So…then what's the matter?" She asked quietly, knowing conversation wasn't one of Gray's strong suits. Even now, she could see him struggling to formulate the right answer to her question. Trying to help him out, Lucy spoke again. "It's about someone we both know, right?"
"Well, yeah."
"And I'm guessing it has something to do with your relationship?" The mention of the official title made Gray's cheeks darken, Lucy giggling. It was cute to see her confident friend become so bashful over something simple as an official title.
"Yes."
"Then why don't we just skip over this awkwardness and you just tell me what's going on? I'm sure I can try to give you advice, but only if you tell me what happened." She was hoping Juvia didn't do something out of jealousy. Aquarians were not ones who dealt with that particular problem well in their relationships. Lucy knew that Juvia was always going to have her envious side, but keeping it toned down was the key. It could also be Juvia's neediness. Maybe Gray wasn't prepared for all the time she wanted to spend with him? Pisces tended to be very needy with their lovers, clinging to them any chance they could get. The male Aquarius was better at dealing with it than the female, but not by too much. Could Gray just be realizing now he couldn't handle it? Or maybe—
"It's Gajeel." Lucy stopped walking at the name she wasn't expecting to hear. She blinked once and then again when realizing that Gray wasn't correcting himself.
"Ga-Gajeel?" Lucy asked, amazed at the blush that was covering Gray's face. Just what the heck was going on?
"Every time…he's there." Lucy knew Gray wasn't great with uncomfortable conversations, but this was like trying to talk to a four year old. Sighing to keep herself from hitting her friend, Lucy took a step closer to him.
"Gajeel's where?"
"In her apartment." Gray sighed as he shrugged off his coat, his shirt already unbuttoned. Lucy quickly waved her hands in front of her, trying to keep her eyes off the exposed skin.
"Whoa whoa, keep your clothes on!"
"Huh? Oh." Gray swore as he buttoned up his shirt. His fingers brushed the second undone button before he paused, lowering his head so his hair covered his eyes.
"Gray?" She asked quietly. Gray let out a weak snort before pressing a hand to his face.
"I want to make it special for her, you know? That first time we…I get we're both adults, and we've slept with people before. She probably would be happy doing it in a cardboard box on the side of the road." Lucy's face erupted with color at Gray's admission, the blonde girl quickly starting to put the pieces together. "Except I've put her through a lot of emotional hell. For years I know my rejections haven't exactly been kind. So I thought I could start making it up to her with making our first time special."
"That's really sweet of you, Gray. I know Juvia would love that," Lucy said, unsure of what the problem was. The fact that Gray was actually putting thought into how Juvia felt was a huge step for them! In fact, they were probably in the best shape they had been in since the two met. And yet, Gray looked like a train had run over him.
"I know she would. But I can't do it because that stupid idiot keeps cock-blocking me." When Gray got on a verbal roll, there was no stopping him. Lucy tilted her head when Gray glanced up at her, anger barely visible in his worn out eyes. "Since the orphanage got knocked down, I've been staying at her house. She's been having more occurring nightmares, and she says having me beside her helps calm her down. Sharing so much living space, as well as our…confession, we've started to fool around a little more. Never going all the way, but you know what I mean."
"Y-Yeah…" Lucy couldn't stop the shock from entering her voice. Juvia and Gray were progressing way faster than she thought they would. She knew they were making out, but this was way more extensive! She tried to keep her mind focused when Gray started talking again.
"But every time I try to push the envelope, Gajeel ruins it. It's like he has sex radar or something. Any time Juvia and I start to get physical, a knock on the door comes and Gajeel is the culprit. Morning, day, night; it doesn't matter. He's everywhere."
"And Juvia thinks of Gajeel as her brother, so she'd never kick him out." Lucy watched Gray respond, letting out a tired sigh.
"When she had nothing, Gajeel was there for her. When it comes to her family and friends, Juvia will sacrifice her own happiness for them. I can't say enough how endearing that is; I respect Juvia's strong ties to Fairy Tail. But it's really hard to get to sleep when you've got urges that have gotten interrupted for the third night in a row. He's practically made her couch his new bed. If I plan a date night at home, he somehow ends up wedged between us. And I've taken so many cold showers I think I'm going to start shooting out ice from my body." She knew he was being serious, but his pure exasperation made Lucy burst out in laughter. She had never seen the collected guy this frazzled!
Lucy had been so focused on the romantic relationships in astrology, she had almost forgotten about the other factors. Like the Taurus-Aquarius conflict. They weren't the worst pair in the zodiac, but they sure as hell weren't the best of friends. The Taurus has a set way of things that they didn't often stray from. Once they had an idea in their head, that becomes the only option. The Aquarius is a thinker as well, but doesn't always see things as black and white as the Taurus. Not to mention their views on love were different, as Taurus is sensual while Aquarius is logical. They weren't opposite signs, but they butt heads enough!
"He's scared." Lucy put it so simply, that she knew she had caught Gray off guard. She nodded to show him he heard her right and then continued. "I know you're not exactly a believer of my astrology findings, but just listen, okay? Gajeel is a Taurus; and if there's one thing that a Taurus loves more than food, it's stability. Which means that they really hate it when things change. Gajeel's been head over heels for Levy for years, but his fear of change caused him to never act on his feelings. And Juvia? He's known her even longer than Levy! Gajeel thinks of Juvia as his little sister that he needs to protect. Every guy before you has given Gajeel the idea that no man will ever treat her the way she deserves. And your years of avoiding her feelings and hurting her didn't exactly prove him wrong.
"So now, he's faced with the shift of you and Juvia's relationship. The Taurus doesn't take intimacy lightly; sex and love go hand in hand. Another reason he struggled so hard to make a move on Levy. And now, seeing how close you and Juvia are, Gajeel's struggling to let go. He wants you to make Juvia happy, but he doesn't want things to change. You rejecting Juvia's advances, being the bad guy in Gajeel's world, it's comfortable to him. But if you break that mold, he's lost his stability. And that's pretty scary for him. Deep down, I know he wants you and Juvia to be together; he wouldn't keep pushing you in her direction if he didn't. He's just fighting internally, at the moment. That's why he keeps breaking up your moments."
"Well I can't exactly hate the guy for that," Gray mumbled. "But how am I supposed to fix this situation?"
"Have you tried talking to him about it?" When Gray shook his head, Lucy continued. "Gajeel would probably respect your situation more if you confront him about it. I know it's not really your style, but he likes things blunt and to the point. He's not gonna get any subtle hints that you give him. Even if he did, I'm not sure he'd really pay any attention to them. I really think you should just try having a conversation with the guy before things get out of hand. Juvia's coming to Lisanna's birthday party this weekend; why don't you set up a guy's night? You can talk to him there; just make sure to pull him to the side first!"
"Well obviously, what kind of idiot would try to talk to Gajeel in front of people?" Lucy instantly tensed at Gray's indirect insult, trying to smile though her embarrassment.
"Oh right, I totally agree!" She was thankful Gray didn't notice her fake laughter, the dark-haired man giving her a short nod.
"Thanks for talking to me in private about this. I owe you one, Lucy."
"Isn't this what friends are for? To help each other out? I feel like you told me that not too long ago," She replied, giving a genuine smile. He returned the favor and then offered to walk her to Natsu's meeting spot. They made small talk on the short walk, Lucy waving once catching sight of Natsu's grumpy face.
"It took you guys long enough! I thought I was going to have to fall asleep here." Though he complained, Natsu's scowl disappeared when hearing Lucy's sweet giggle.
"I'm sorry, Natsu."
"Yeah yeah, as long as the stripper figured out whatever his problem was." Gray rolled his eyes as Natsu's roundabout way of asking if he was okay. He walked past the pink-haired guy, elbowing his arm.
"I got a new grill last weekend. Grab the guys and come over tomorrow and we'll watch the game; bring your own beer though."
"Seriously? You never have the guys at your house." Lucy could only assume it was Natsu's destructive nature that had made Gray veto hanging out in his apartment. She couldn't even count the amount of cups and dishes she had to replace because of him. Gray let out an irritated sigh, waving over his shoulder while he walked away.
"Game starts at eight." They watched Gray disappear from sight, Natsu complaining about the man's grumpy nature. Lucy didn't respond, simply happy to know Gray was taking her advice. She tugged on Natsu's arm, pulling him from his own grumbling to walk toward her house.
"It doesn't look like you solved much, Luce. He's still in a pretty bad mood."
"That's probably going to be a thing for a little while. Just try to give him some slack, okay? I promise it'll get better soon." She wanted to go into further detail, but she respected Gray's privacy enough to stay quiet. Though Juvia was technically her client, Gray deserved the same respect as his chosen partner. And it wasn't just business either; he had come to her as a friend in need. The last thing she wanted to do was have someone she cared about feel like she was untrustworthy. If Natsu minded the privacy, he didn't show it, changing the subject while the two turned onto her street.
"You got any food in your house? I'm starving."
"I went shopping last night, so I've got some choices."
"Music to my ears!" She laughed and unlocked her door, letting him clamber up the stairs toward her apartment. She was just happy he was using her door for once! She followed her energetic counterpart, Natsu running to her kitchen to scrounge up food. She dropped her keys on the counter while she moved to her room, calling out to Natsu.
"I'm gonna change and then I'll come cook you something." She wasn't sure if he heard her, but she knew he was too engrossed in food to move from the kitchen regardless. As Lucy kicked her door partially shut with her heel, she started to think back to Gray's problem. Juvia and Gray had been making leaps and bounds in their relationship. Though they hadn't taken the final step, the fact that Gray was so concerned about it was saying something. She yanked her shirt over her head, a scowl appearing from the fabric. Did Natsu ever think about things like that? She snorted as she unsnapped her bra, remembering their date. From their escapade on the couch, she knew sex wasn't the furthest thing from his mind. But since their date, the intimate side of their relationship all but disappeared. Maybe it would have bothered her less if she didn't know the statuses of other relationships. Levy had told her about Gajeel's forward claim, the smaller girl nearly dying in embarrassment. Evergreen and Elfman weren't exactly secretive anymore, and Gray had just informed Lucy they were taking the final step soon. She wasn't quite sure about Erza or Mira, the two older women following the 'kiss and not tell' policy.
But she could make her own assumptions.
Natsu liked kissing her. He held her hand in public, and more times than not his arm kept her warm on their walks home. There was no doubt that Natsu found her presence comforting. Lucy knew there wasn't an underlying need to go be with someone else. But as she yanked her skirt off her hips, Lucy thought about the absence of sensual touches or sexual development. What they had done on their first date was amazing, and she wanted more of it. But each time she tried to ask, she felt the words get stuck in her throat. She wasn't the quiet type, but this one was tough. They had just started to figure out their feelings when her father passed. Desperate for something to hold on to, Lucy had made an ill-timed pass that Natsu had declined. She knew it was right; her mental state couldn't handle two major events in one day. He stepped back to let her deal with her father, being the gentleman Lucy always knew he was.
She heard a meow under her, Lucy glancing to Happy rubbing against her leg. He must have let himself in through the parted door. She reached down to pet him, but the cat maneuvered from her touch and hopped up onto her dresser. Her eyes followed him, the bookshelf next to him catching her eye. Without consent her eyes drifted to an old binding. Her mother's book had been sitting in the same spot she had put it the second she returned from her father's house. She hadn't even tried reading the first page. Natsu had questioned her about the book, but Lucy made no rush to read it. Though she couldn't come up with a good reason why, Lucy couldn't bring herself to even touch the book again.
"Yo Lucy, can we fry up some chicken fingers?" Lucy yelped when her door was kicked open, turning to face her unwelcomed guest. Instinctively Lucy covered her breasts with her arms, thankful she had yet to shed her underwear. Natsu's eyes drifted from the bag of frozen poultry to Lucy, the blonde's face red in pure embarrassment. Natsu and Lucy had been best friends for a while, so there were occasional times when one would walk in on the other changing. But this was a little different; after all, this was the first time Natsu was seeing her since their date. She knew her little arms wouldn't cover everything, and there was plenty of pale flesh for Natsu to look at. Though it was a given she was supposed to be appalled, Lucy felt her thighs press closer together at his silent stare. his eyes had always been intense, but having his stare directed at her was giving her pleasant chills. Was this the moment they needed to jumpstart their relationship? He seemed to be enjoying the view from the way his eyes hadn't moved. Instinctively Lucy bit her lower lip, feeling a pleasant shiver run through her spine. What would Natsu do now?
She got her answer when a giant grin stretched across his face, laughter filling the room.
"Are those kittens on your underwear?" Lucy glanced down at herself, mortification filling her. Though Lucy had been known for her skimpy panties, she had normal underwear as well. She only wore them at work, making her feel more comfortable in case some drunk guy tried to cop a feel. The underwear she had on were imprinted with chibi kittens, lacking any sexual appeal for the opposite sex. She had honestly bought them because a few of the kittens looked like Happy. It was a decision she was now regretting.
But it wasn't just that choice that had Lucy's embarrassment rising. She looked up at Natsu, who now seemed unaffected by Lucy's state of undress. She knew she was a beautiful woman; at least once a shift a guy tried to pick her up at the bar. Lucy had curves in the right places, and lean muscles in the other spots. She was well endowed, and her butt was always a topic of discussion with her friends. Lucy, if she was being conceited, was sexy. And yet here, in front of the only man she wanted to get hot under the…well, scarf, Lucy could only make him laugh. Was that sexual aggression on their date because he really wanted her? Or was it because he just hadn't gotten his rocks off for a while? Did Natsu really feel no desire when seeing her like this?
"That one looks like Happy! And I bet Gajeel would think that one was Panther Lily. I never knew you liked cats so much, Lucy."
He was thinking about Gajeel when she was in her underwear? Was she just a joke for him when she was like this? Feeling embarrassed for a whole new reason, Lucy clenched her teeth and tried to blink back tears.
"Get out of my room!" Natsu yelped when Lucy tossed her alarm clock at him, barely dodging it. She still had one arm over her chest, the other grabbing a heel to throw.
"Wait, Lucy, what are you—" He ducked under the heel, dropping the bag he was holding onto the floor. She ignored him as she reached for the other shoe, gasping when Natsu knocked her back on the bed. Her hands were instantly pinned down; Natsu's scowl appearing inches before her face.
"Let me go!" She tried to get away from him, knowing full well her upper half was completely naked. If he noticed he didn't share it, keeping his eyes connected with hers.
"Why are you crying?" Her eyes widened when she felt her tear trickling against her cheek, dripping onto the bed beneath them. He pressed their noses together, all laughter from before gone from his serious face. "I really didn't mean to barge in on you like this. I just-the door was halfway open so I assumed you were done."
"I meant to close it, but Happy must have pushed it open more when he came in." He glanced over to the dresser, where the cat was now contently sleeping away.
"He tends to make trouble for us, doesn't he?" Natsu glanced back down to Lucy, whose eyes were transfixed on the wall across from them.
"It wasn't you coming in that upset me," Lucy mumbled, Natsu gently nuzzling her cheek with his nose.
"Well I'm pretty sure I haven't broken anything since I got here. So I'm kind of out of suggestions here, Luce. Can you help me out?" It was incredible how mature Natsu could be when she was upset. He was a loud-mouth and wild whenever they were in public, and Lucy loved that side of him. But when they shared these quiet moments, she couldn't help but fall for him again. She hesitantly looked back at him, her lower lip trembling.
"Do you find me attractive?" His look of bewilderment was priceless, but Lucy couldn't get herself to smile during something so important. She glanced down to her own body, voice lowering in uncertainty that she hadn't feel since her high school years. "I mean, sexually. Do I appeal to you, or was that date just some way to relieve yourself?"
"What are you talking about? Of course you're beautiful. What a stupid thing to ask." She scowled up at his mean statement, but his smile outshined her mood. "Do you realize how many times I've had Gray 'escort' perverts at Fairy Tail out cause I overheard them saying dirty things about you? I mean you've practically got a fan club or something!"
"I don't care about them, Natsu. I wanna know about you!" She bit her lip at her forcefulness, but Lucy wasn't used to feeling this insecure about herself. Natsu seemed to get a bit nervous at her inquiry, laughing awkwardly.
"Can't you kind of feel my attraction to you?" As if to emphasis what didn't really need emphasis, Natsu wiggled his hips a little. Instantly her attention was brought down to their connected centers, where a very prominent clue pressed into her body. His cheeks were darker when she glanced back up, though she knew part of it was caused by the warm friction between them. It felt good to have Natsu's body pressed into her after so long, and she was starting to think the feeling was mutual.
"But when you saw me today, you just laughed at my underwear!"
"Well what was I supposed to do, jump your bones?" His loud reply made both of them blush, but Natsu wasn't finished. "I couldn't do that, not yet."
"B-But it's not like we haven't done stuff before!" Lucy defended, Natsu smirking at the memory.
"Trust me, I remember that." Instantly she felt his body pulse at the dirty memory filling his head, unintentionally making Lucy breathless.
"Don't be thinking about that when I can still feel you thinking about that!"
"But I think about that stuff all the time." His head dropped down to her shoulder, placing a slow kiss against the clammy skin. She was still practically naked, and she gasped when feeling his shirt sliding against her nipples. It was a strange feeling, but she felt a rush when Natsu's hands tightened on her wrists. "I think about having sex with you all the time."
"Y-You do?" She whispered, as if someone was watching them. He placed a slow kiss to her neck, over her quickening pulse.
"I do, Lucy. But I want to be respectful, too." She could tell he struggled to pull back from her skin, but he did so to look her in the eyes again. "I never got to tell your father my intentions before he passed. So I thought the least I could do was keep everything in my pants until you were feeling better about his passing. But then, I walked in on you like this and if I hadn't made myself laugh…" His voice was strained at the end of the sentence, Natsu finally giving a glance to her body.
"What would have happened?" She asked, enjoying the hot shiver her body got when feeling his eyes on it.
"I would have fucked you on your bedroom floor without a second thought." Well, Natsu wasn't the most poetic. Her cheeks burned hotter than ever, but she couldn't honestly say she minded. She had gotten her answer after all. Natsu was very attracted to her, in every sense of the word. She could even see his struggle to look back up at her. But he wasn't trying to just hook up with her. Natsu was trying to do right by her father, waiting for her to heal before divulging in his own desires. Even when he was horny, Natsu was amazing.
And Lucy needed to have him. She glanced up at her hands, which were still firmly captured in his. So she couldn't really make the first physical move. That was okay; Lucy knew how to improvise. Digging deep into the confidence she had momentarily lost, Lucy dug her heels into the side of the bed and pressed her entire body into Natsu's. She could hear his sharp intake of breath, Lucy's lips skimming his own ear.
"Then what happens if we make the underwear disappear?" The sentence shocked him, turned him on, and derailed his moral code all at once. Lucy felt the grip on her wrists slacken, and she yanked one up to cup his face. Before he had time to refute, Lucy pulled him down into a kiss. His mouth instantly responded to the heated kiss, his body pressing her back down onto the bed. Hands that had once captured her were now trailing over her exposed skin, sending her senses into overdrive. Her fingers clutched at the shirt he wore, yanking him even closer to her trembling body. She could feel his smile in their kiss, followed by a gentle nip at her lower lip.
He finally pulled away, sucking in a sharp breath when her fingers scurried under his shirt.
"Luce, I'm supposed to be waiting."
"But I don't want to wait," She replied, her lips sucking on his neck. He tried to speak, but a whole body tremor muted him when she reached the scar on his throat. She moaned against the feverish skin when his hips ground against hers, timing perfectly with her teasing sucks. The scar was definitely a sensitive spot for him. One of his hands clenched the sheets while the other slid between them, cupping her breast in his hand. Her hardened nipple rolled between his fingers, Lucy arching instinctively.
"How could I ever resist you?" His fevered whisper pressed along her bare shoulder, Lucy feeling like she had just melted into his touch. Her head was now tossed back, giving temporary control to Natsu. Her hands clutched at the back of his t-shirt, drawing it up his tense let her, more focused on kissing along the curve of her breast. Her whimper was music to his ear when he captured her nipple between his lips. He was tempted to bite it, but refrained when feeling her fingers tangle in his hair. Instead he took his time memorizing every spot that made Lucy's breathing hitch. He loved brushing the tip of his tongue along her nipple, Lucy's entire body shuddering. He glanced up at her, his lips quirking when seeing how flushed her face had become. He couldn't see her eyes, which were hidden behind tightened lids. But he knew by the trembling of her bare legs around his hips that Lucy was turned on.
The first time he had touched Lucy like this was on the floor of Gray's kitchen. It was dirty, they were covered in miscellaneous ingredients, and at the time Lucy was still sure he was dating Lisanna. The second time they tried sexual chemistry, it was awkward and reminded him of a teenage hook-up. They had done it on a couch, too horny to make it right. Natsu was going to make this something to remember. His hands were now resting on the soft skin of her thighs, and he swallowed when he realized he was trembling.
All of the restraint he had been using the past few weeks was dissolving. Lucy didn't even realize how sexy she could be. Natsu slipped one hand under the thin piece of fabric covering her warmth. She moaned his name like a prayer, the noise making Natsu blush. It was a strange combination, he decided, how her innocent whimper came from such a seductive face. His fingers stroked her softly, mesmerized by her wanton expressions. Lucy was art. He knew he wasn't the only one who saw it, too. Men lusted for her at the bar, hoping that a dropped beer mug would reveal a peek of the same panties his hand was yanking down her body. Lucy didn't fight him, lifting both of her petit legs for easier access. Once they were thrown to the other side of the room, Natsu sat back on the bed to admire the naked woman under him.
"Natsu?" Lucy's aroused daze started to wear off when she didn't feel his hands return to her body. She opened her eyes slowly, unsure when she had even closed them. She nearly closed them again when she felt Natsu's fingers slip against the inside of her thigh, his mouth simultaneously skimming the edge of her mouth.
"Are you sure you're ready for this, Luce?" From the clear need in his voice, Lucy knew what he wanted the answer to be. She parted her legs further while she yanked him lower, capturing his mouth in a deep kiss. Natsu returned the fiery touch with his own, kissing her with an obvious need. Lucy tugged at his shirt again, then slid her hands to grasp the front of his jeans. Natsu took the hint, struggling to yank the shirt over his shirt. It wasn't the task that was hard, Natsu had been undressing himself for quite some time now. It was just ten times harder when mischievous lips kissed along the newly exposed happy trail. He sucked in a sharp breath when he felt his jeans yanked down, eyes blinded by the black shirt still covering his eyes. He yelped when his weight was shoved to the side, Natsu blindly falling onto the other side of the bed. He wanted to yank the fabric away from his eyes, but he stopped when he felt a heated whisper brushing against his now clothed ear.
"Let me show you how ready I am for you, Natsu." He hissed at the hot hand now circling his erection, his hands clenching in the fabric keeping his arms hostage. He wanted to see Lucy's eyes while she kissed along his chest, but when he tried to yank the fabric from his face, he felt a sharp bite to his pectoral. Obviously he had caught himself a girl with an adventurous side to her. Natsu debated letting Lucy take control, knowing he had planned to spoil her throughout the entire night. His hesitation to let her play flew out the window when he felt her core press to his thigh. The excitement she was getting from this moment of control was quite obvious, even when he was blind. It made him swallow for the second time that night, all thoughts of breaking free now dissolving. He groaned when she freed his legs from both his pants and boxers, even taking the time to remove his socks.
Excluding the shirt that captured his arms and head, Natsu knew he was stark naked in front of her. Though Lucy's sharp intake was easily heard by the man under her, Natsu could still feel his cheeks warming. He had definitely seen Lucy naked way more times than she saw him. He wanted to yank the shirt off of his face and cover his body, ignoring the inner voice making fun of his girly thought process (was it just the fact that all his blood was going to his dick, or did that inner voice sound similar to the lug-head?). It had nearly been a minute since she had revealed him, and yet he hadn't felt a single touch return to his body. What was taking so-
"Oh Go-god," he whimpered, panting when warm lips captured the swollen head of his cock. Hands that were about to take the shirt away were now clawing at the top of the mattress, praying that he wasn't dreaming. He knew that Lucy wanted to be with him, but to be willing to do that to him...it was too much! He wanted to tell her to stop, to say something respectful like she didn't need to do something like that if she wasn't comfortable. But when her lips slipped halfway down his arousal, Natsu's mouth was occupied with moans and swears of every kind. She wasn't taking him in all the way, but who cared? The fact that Lucy Heatfilia had her mouth around him was enough to make his hips tremble in pleasure.
Her mouth was deliberate in her movements, taking her time to pleasure him and torture him at the same time. His back arched when her tongue teased the underside of his shaft, but he refused to move his hips. Instead he dug his heels into the bed, thighs shaking in tense restraint. It was even harder to stay still when her fingers teased his inner thighs, stroking in time to her tantalizing mouth. He could feel the wet heat, and ever without his eyesight, Natsu knew she was an incredible sight. His breathing was ragged as he pinched his eyes shut, praying that she couldn't undo him with something like this. How embarrassing would that abrupt ending be? He gasped when she went lower than before, his need to see her finally snapping his behaved nature.
He was wild by nature, and both of them knew it wouldn't be long until he released the animalistic side.
Lucy saw the black shirt disappear from the corner of her eye, and she gazed up to be greeted with a lust-driven stare. Feeling a boost of confidence, Lucy parted her lips and maintained eye-contact while slowly sliding her tongue up his arousal slowly. Even though their eyes never parted, Lucy saw the shiver in his shoulders when she swirled her wet tongue around his tip. There was something sinful and yet thrilling having Natsu watch her pleasure him. Lucy had partook in sex before, but foreplay was lost to her previous boyfriend. She didn't want to reveal her inexperience with this part of sex, but from the dark look in Natsu's eyes, she wondered if he'd ever dabbled in much foreplay before her. Not wanting to get distracted from her task, Lucy slipped his tip between her lips and sucked gently, enjoying how he clenched his teeth in restraint.
Natsu was now resting on his hands, giving him the best position to watch her suck him down. Blowjobs had never appealed to him like other men. He felt it took away from the couple sharing the experience together. It hadn't even crossed his mind to ask Lucy to go down on him. But seeing her breast pressed tightly between his legs while she swallowed around his erection made Natsu's view on this particular activity dissolve. They were connected; her eyes continued to meet his in heated stares. Her hands were tracing the goosebumps on his legs, while her lips heightened the pleasure of her partner. The act wasn't selfish on his part; Lucy seemed to enjoy it just as much as he did. And seeing how much joy she got from just pleasing him snapped his final restraint. Another swipe of that devilish tongue made Natsu push up, dislodging Lucy from her position between his legs.
Lucy was again on her back, but didn't have time to complain about the abrupt change. Natsu had settled himself between her open thighs, both gasping at the first contact of their centers. The wetness he had felt against his thigh earlier wreaked havoc on his cock, and Natsu knew he wasn't going to turn back. His hands were already tracing down her body, lips kissing any part of her face he could reach. Her hands were grasping at his back, eager to feel his touches feathering over her body. He finally sunk his fingers inside her, entrapping her gasp with his lips. She shivered at the quick movements of his fingers, Natsu keeping the pace of his hand slow. She knew she had done the same to him minutes earlier, but Lucy wasn't willing to keep still. Her hips met his strokes with their own thrusts, continuing to moan into his greedy mouth.
From the way her body clenched around his fingers, Natsu was sure she was more than ready. Still, he continued to thrust into her body, yanking his mouth from hers to press his forehead to her neck. His breathing was rapid, and Natsu could feel his heart trying to burst from his ribcage. Sure, he had fucked girls before Lucy. But the nerves he was feeling now was nothing like his previous times. This was Lucy. His best friend. His most trusted person. The better half of their partnership. Everything he lived for. And she was giving that all to him. It was enough to make the best of men drop to their knees. It was a lot to take in.
"Natsu." His name was whispered in his ear, and the pink-haired man slowly lifted his head to look back up at the woman who had previously filled his head. One of her hands now rested on his cheek, a look of concern peeking through her flushed face. Hating worrying her, he sent her a reassuring smile before leaning forward, pressing a slow kiss to her forehead. When he pulled back her eyes were closed, her nose slightly scrunched at the embarrassing affection. He chuckled at that, then leaned forward to nip at the sensitive lobe of his partner. She gasped and he grinned against her ear, his arousal drowning any previous fears quickly.
In that moment, Natsu realized something; all that mattered to him was showing the woman in his arms just how much she meant to him.
"I want to be inside you." His words pierced through Lucy's stomach, her legs instantly parting wider as he continued. "I want to feel your body surrounding me. I want to make you scream my name, Lucy. Let everyone in Magnolia know just who it was that showed you the best night of your life."
"Please," she mumbled, both embarrassed and aroused at the same time. When Lucy was in control, none of her timid nature came out. But when she felt his masculine hand cup her breast while his lips brushed dirty words along her flushed skin, Lucy felt powerless. Natsu had played nice earlier; but he was done with their foreplay.
"But I want more than that," he confessed, hiking her leg up so he could fit comfortably between them. Once she was secure, his hand trailed up her body to clasp her right hand. His hand was shaking while he sewed their fingers together, mumbling her name into her tattoo. She was struggling to listen to him, but her attention was drawn to the tip that caressed the outside of her warmth. The head was slipping between her lips when he spoke again. "I want your heart, Lucy. I want everything you can give me. I want...I need to ask..."
"N-Natsu," she whimpered, legs instantly clamping around his waist. She heard his words, but was unsure how to take them. What did he mean? Her head was so filled with lust, it was hard to think straight. Why did he choose now to try and have a serious conversation? As if hearing her thought, Natsu gave up on words and firmly planted his hands on the bed. He closed his eyes as he pushed forward, groaning when his entire shaft slipped inside her. She was so warm! Her hands were digging into his back, but the slight bite of pain was only encouraging his endorphins to jump into overdrive. He had wanted to talk more, to explain what he meant fully. But as soon as her lips captured his scar, Natsu's mind went into instinct mode.
The pace he took was never slow. She was glad that Natsu hadn't tried to treat her like a virgin; she knew they were both too old to go through that overplayed scenario. Natsu's body was unrelenting in it's pace, his muscles straining with the force he was using. Lucy's body was happy to take the powerful strokes, her voice reaching pitches she hadn't know she could reach. Though she had experienced sex before, nothing would have prepared her for this. Natsu was like fire; untamable and forever changing. He would change his pace just as quickly as he would change the force he used. His hands didn't stay on the bed for long, running over her bouncing breasts and down her quivering stomach. Lucy couldn't breathe when his fingers snagged her clit, unrelenting in his rubbing. Her cries of his name were loud. The scratches she left on his back would remain for days. Natsu's mouth never left hers for long, sweat from their movements tinting the kisses with a salty taste.
He wanted to try so many things with her voluptuous body, but he had plenty of night left to try that. His build up from her earlier blowjob was affecting him far more than he wanted to admit. He glanced to her face, realizing that Lucy wasn't quite as far along as he was. Determined to take care of her first, he increased the pace of his thumb against her clit.
"Oh!" Her cry sounded beautiful to his ears, but it wasn't enough. Lucy was a shivering mess under him, but he needed more. She was gasping for air when he reared back on his legs, yanking her bottom into his lap. The different angle changed the sensation for her, and she nearly came when his tip brushed deep inside her. The new position was addictive, and Lucy needed more. Her toes curled as he swiveled his hips hard into her, Natsu refusing to give up his pace to his exhaustion. Sweat was dripping down his back and palms, and Natsu swore when he nearly lost his grip on her thighs. Lucy quivered in his lap, desperate to reach that final edge. Her orgasm was teetering, and for a moment Lucy was amazed at how intense their sex had become. Never before tonight had Lucy experienced sex that made her perspire like this. Sex had never made her feel so connected to the other person.
For a second their gazes met again, and Lucy's eyes widened at the tired grin he gave her. Even now, when instinct and hormones had overridden both of their minds, Natsu was smiling at her. For her. He was always looking at her, no matter what else was going on in the world. Natsu only had eyes for her, since the first day they had met. Lucy's heart stopped for a second, overwhelmed by the pure love that entrapped her. Was this what it felt like, falling in love with your soulmate? Lucy's question was left unanswered when a wave of pleasure hit her. Natsu had picked up the pace again, racing toward the end with her. She felt a flick of his thumb over her sensitive nub before her orgasm took over, Lucy's voice shaking as she sobbed his name.
When she finally recovered from her pleasure, Lucy found herself alone. The bed was empty, her sheet tossed over her body. She clutched to it as she sat up, glancing around the deserted room. She blinked slowly, wondering where her partner was. Her gaze was directed to the bathroom when the door opened, Natsu reappearing. He had his boxers back on, which somehow embarrassed her more than when he was nude. From behind him, Lucy could hear the sound of water running.
"I figured you'd want to take a shower, so I got it ready while you were out of it." Her confusion must have been pretty evident, because Natsu answered her without her opening her mouth. "I didn't put it on too hot, cause I prefer a cold shower after a good workout."
"T-Thank you," she mumbled, trying to give him a casual smile. He nodded, but the tension she was sure they were trying to avoid was now upon them. Lucy was the first to break eye contact, looking down to the bed they had just destroyed. Her sheets were damp from both of their sweat, among other things. She blushed at the unintentional train of thought. Just thinking about the past hour made her toes tingle in excitement. Natsu was nothing if not spectacular. She pulled the sheet closer to her, wondering if he felt the same.
"And up we go." Lucy yelped when she felt arms around her, dragging her and her sheet off the bed. She glanced up at Natsu, who was effortlessly carrying her toward the bathroom. Though she was sure he was tired from their escapade, Natsu didn't complain as he placed her on the toilet lid. "So, I know that frozen chicken's been on the floor for about an hour, but do you think we can still cook it?"
"Th-the...chicken?" She asked, staring as he nodded.
"I used it as a shield when you were hurling shoes at me earlier." Well he certainly knew how to diffuse awkward situations. Lucy's laughter came without warning, the blonde clutching the sheet to her while her companion grinned. "Hey, you left me little choice! It was the chicken, or the cat."
"Natsu, what am I going to do with you?" She continued to laugh, though the giggling was cut off when Natsu lifted her chin and left a scorching kiss against her lips. When he pulled away, Lucy's eyes were glazed with desire. Even with the amazing sex, Lucy was left defenseless in her desire to be with the man crouched in front of her.
"I should be saying that to you." Her eyes cleared at the serious note in his voice. His hand was on hers, his thumb brushing over the pink Fairy Tail tattoo. Their eyes stayed connected, Natsu's face clearly showing he wanted to say more. She wanted to push the subject, but the somber look was gone within a second. His smile returned as he pushed back to his normal height, stretching his arms over his head. "Hurry up with your shower, okay? I'm starving, and we both know I'm not to be trusted with the stove."
"Yeah, I'll...be right out." He nodded and exited, not seeming to notice the lost look on Lucy's face. Her fingers brushed where his thumb had touched, thinking about his previous statement. Just what had Natsu been hinting at? Why didn't he continue the statement? And during sex...what had he been trying to say? Why did he keep grabbing her hand like that? She wanted to brush off Natsu's strange behavior, and tried to push it to the back of her head for the rest of the night. After her shower, Natsu didn't make mention of the weird statement again. The two managed to make dinner without Natsu setting it on fire, and fell back in the comfortable relationship they had formed for years. And yet...
Lucy was sure that Natsu wasn't aware of the somber looks he continued to give her hand.
I really need to go to church after writing this...-fans self- Well, I hope you enjoyed it! We should only have two chapters left (if my plot bunnies allow it) and so much to cover! How will Gajeel and Gray's conversation go? Will Juvia get her happy ending, or will something get in the way? What was Natsu so focused on? What does Layla's book have in store for Lucy? And who else is going to cry when this all end?!
Chapter 16: A Time of Change