a/n A huge thanks to those who reviewed chapter 6! I was unsure on how it would be received, but now I'm feeling better about it. And THANK YOU to all those who are favoriting/following this story and myself! I would not be on here writing if it wasn't for YOU!

When I began this chapter, I realized that the opening needed to be told from both Katara's and Zuko's POV. So the beginning first POVs are Katara's and then Zuko's, but they're happening simultaneously (if that makes any sense. So it's more like chapter one). Things get a little more intense in this chapter, but 2nd base is not achieved (that's to come later ^_~ ).

Chapter 7 ~Can't~

-Katara-

Agni! Did I just say that? She thought, and she couldn't help but burst back into her giggling fit at Zuko's face. His eyes were wide and full of heated lust. The

look in his eyes drew her attention back to what was making his pants just so hot. Mid-giggle they both seemed to realize exactly their new situation. Here she

was, underneath a shirtless and an obviously turned on Zuko, at night, alone, and (if she was honest with herself) horny. Their eyes seemed to fuse together,

locked in their own little universe.

Other girls might have thought this situation would be intimidating or unwelcomed, but she'd secretly been hoping for this for a while now. Of course, every

buried feeling she had for him had sprung up with deeper passion more and more recently… Especially the last night she thought. And now she was ready. She

wanted this.

-Zuko-

Agni! Did she just say that? He thought. His eyes widened and he could feel his gaze intensify—as did the feeling in his "hot pants." She abruptly stopped

giggling (thank Agni) and stared back at him with those sharp blue eyes. He watched as understanding washed over her, as she analyzed their current

situation. Toph had left them alone and in a very suggestive position. Katara's eyes seemed fused to his, locked together in their own little universe.

Other guys might have been ready for situations like this, but he really wasn't. He'd secretly wanted this for a while, but now that the moment was upon him,

he was terrified and so confused. His need for her was acute to pain. He had no idea what to do and he was terrified of doing something wrong and hurting

her. He wasn't ready, but he did really want this.

The voices of men aboard his ship now floated back to him. He remembered them describing the desperate fire that burns you from the inside out until your

release. They said that such fire was pleasurable and addictive; he had only really experienced this desire once, last night. The thought of Mai popped

unwelcomed into his mind. Sure, he had been with her for a while and he knew she always had a crush on him, but it wasn't the same. Mai had been too bland,

colorless. Her spirit was nothing like Katara's. Her eyes never danced for him as Katara's did right now.

It was those eyes and the person they belonged to that fueled his newfound longing last night. He desperately wanted to feel it again, but this time with her

smooth body in place of his rough hand. But something was still holding him back. It was the men from his ship. They had described pleasure, but also the

burns their partners could receive. He paled and shook his head. He didn't want that for Katara.

-Katara-

He seemed to be thinking about something very hard and she watched as his face slowly pale before he shook his head. Her heart stopped, her stomach

dropped, and her eyes bulged. She knitted her eyebrows together in confusion. Here he was straddled over her and a minute ago wanting her, but now he

was rejecting her. What did I do? She thought.

"Zuko, I-" she gasped, at a loss for words and unable to continue. She tried again, "I-I-I'm sorry if-" Agni! She cursed. It was hard to keep her train of thought

in this position.

"N-no!" he almost shouted, leaping off her for a moment, letting go of her hands and repositioning his own to gently cup her face. His forearms now bore his

weight, their chests flush, and his eyes much closer to hers. But a look of horror marred his eyes. Then, as if he was hiding, he tucked his head into the side of

her neck. She stared up wildly at the stars, confused. He had clearly said no, but she could also clearly feel the rod in his pants against her thigh.

"Zuko?" she asked after a minute. He was silent. Her hands still rested where he left them. She was unsure of what to do with them. "Zuko?" she asked again,

but she only felt him shake his head in response. Slowly she moved her arms. Zuko shifted slightly to aid their movement. Very gently, she brought them to his

bareback and hugged him closer. She heard his soft moan at the contact. Encouraged, she ran her hands up and down his back, feeling the heat pour off him.

She dug her nails in a little and he moaned again, louder this time. She started to do it again when he bolted out of his hiding spot. He rested his forehead

against hers. She stared back into his glowing eyes.

"I can't." he whispered, looking at her earnestly. Her bottom lip pouted.

"Why not?" she replied and absentmindedly resumed running her hands along his back.

"I-I uhm…" he looked almost embarrassed. What? She thought. "I-I haven't done this…before." He closed his eyes, practically cringing at his own words, "I'm a

virgin." What! He was a virgin?! Out of nowhere, a giggle rose up within her and spilled out. Zuko scrambled to his feet.

-Zuko-

He cringed, hating to say the word aloud. And then she started laughing. Agni! Why was she laughing? He thought. This wasn't funny, at all. Her laughter had

surprised him, and he leaped off her onto his feet. She stopped laughing and looked confused, her expression becoming grave as she got to her feet. He

couldn't look at her, choosing to turn his head to the left and to the ocean, but he sensed her as she moved to stand in front of him.

"I'm sorry." she said quietly, and reached up to caress his left cheek. His eyes automatically closed at the sensation and he leaned into her touch. She used

this leverage to move his head back to face her. Now she was looking him straight in the eyes. "I shouldn't have laughed. It's not funny…, but it's just not what

I was…expecting." He nodded, understanding. As the Prince, people would just assume things, especially with his father's reputation about concubines.

They were both silent for a moment, trying to read each other's eyes. He could read sincerity in her eyes and still saw a hint of the dancing flame. Katara

cleared her throat.

"So, you and Mai never…?" she couldn't finish her sentence, looking away from his gaze to blush.

"No." he replied softly. A smile flickered across her lips before she regained her serious composure.

"Do you still… want to… with me?" her voice became quieter and quieter until it was almost a squeak, but he still heard her. He was surprised with the flood of

anger he now felt and took a step back from her.

"Agni, Katara!" he said loudly and he ran his hands through his hair. How could anyone not want you?! He internally screamed. She slowly lowered her arm back

to her side.

"I-I'm sorry, Zuko," she apologized, for what he wasn't sure, and chewed on her bottom lip. Her apology made him angrier.

"Don't apologize," he snapped. He took a calming breath, closed his eyes, and just stood still, hands still in his hair. He was surprised when he felt cool arms

banding his waist. He opened his eyes and looked down at her. Oh, how he wanted to kiss her, but he couldn't. Her eyes now held a pleading look, as if she

needed this to survive.

"Please, Zuko?" He wanted to scream Yes, yes of course I want you!, but he held himself back with every ounce of his self-control. I have to make her

understand he thought. He sighed.

"I'm guessing you've done…this before?" he asked quietly. She didn't try to deny it and nodded. He winced, hating that some lucky bastard had already

achieved what he so desperately wanted, but he continued, "I'm guessing it was never with a firebender?" he gritted out the words.

"No," the rising moon illuminated her now-red face. He wasn't sure how he felt about her response. She really had no idea then, but then again, neither did he.

"Firebenders…especially when it's there first time…can sometimes…accidently burn their partners." He scanned her face, looking for any signs of disgust, but

there weren't any. He tilted his head to the side in confusion.

"Zuko," she said calmly, "I'm a waterbender." Where was she going with this? He thought. "And I'm a healer." He gasped and held his breath. This was too

much. Her arms were still wrapped around his waist, her eyes glowed with want, and his member was still rigid in his pants. And now the last string on his

control was severed. He groaned, threw his arms around her, and crashed their lips together.

a/n PLEASE remember to REVIEW! I need to know how I'm doing! Thank you!