"Kiss me."
The words were out of her mouth before she was conscious of their escape. They were near silent, inaudible except for the breathy whisper they were carried on.
But he heard. She saw the contemplation in his eyes and the flash of desire, coupled with sudden understanding. He weighed the possible outcomes and settled with the notion that if it didn't happen how they hoped, he could kill the soldiers anyways.
The briefest of smiles lit his face before he took her face between his hands and claimed her lips. Despite it being her idea, the contact shocked her. An electrical current passed through her body, singeing her blood and making her heart race. She crushed herself to him, temporarily forgetting her surroundings.
Gajeel traced the pads of his thumbs along her jaw, sweetly nipping for entrance. When she opened, he sank himself into her hot mouth, feeling her jerk in surprise at the touch of his tongue. He moved slow at first and taught her the simple dance, teasing and tasting, making her shiver with delight. He groaned at the feel of her lush, round bottom in his lap. He closed his eyes, dismissing the looming danger behind them.
His boldness excited her and her fingers twisted in the fabric of his shirt. She unclasped his mantle and yanked his shirt up to run her fingers unhindered across the scars of his body. She didn't know what possessed her to do such a thing, but she was giddy with the feel of him.
He was strong. Well-made muscles bunched and flexed under her wandering hands. Mindful of her injured ankle, she knelt between his legs, wrapping her arms around his neck.
He tamped down the urge to laugh at her eagerness. It seemed he wasn't the only one affected by their previous kiss. She returned his fervor, drunk off his earthy scent. He smelt of leather and horse and man. On anyone else, she might have found it overwhelming, maybe even repugnant, but on him, it was comforting.
She eyed the fork in the tree's trunk, seeing the top of a helmet grow nearer.
Gajeel splayed his hand over her lower back and in her hair. She tasted so good and felt so right in his arms. She wasn't too tall to tangle his legs and not so little that he had to worry about inadvertently crushing her.
The guards!
The back of his mind was screaming at him and pierced his momentary bliss. He reluctantly pulled away from her to listen. Metallic rustling and meandering footfalls could be heard over the sound of Levy's shallow panting. They were searching the area, he realized. It seems they weren't loud enough to spook them.
A wicked glint lit his expression and Levy felt a slight tremor of fear flutter in her belly.
"Do you trust me?" he whispered.
She immediately nodded her head, and a wave of protectiveness surged in him and set his limbs with resolve.
He pulled her back to him softly, tenderly. This was not the same kiss as before, or ever. This confused Levy and she was at a loss as what to do with this gentleness. His fingers combed through the silken baby curls at the nape of her neck, sending chills across her skin.
He shifted, lifting her up and opening her thighs to straddle him. She gasped aloud at the new position, breathing in the hot pleasure. He seemed to grow impatient and his kisses more demanding. Her head swam at the intensity of his kiss. She felt him move under her. He was tilting her and she gripped him tighter as her laid her across the forest floor. He covered her with his body and resumed ravishing her with his mouth.
His heavy weight pinned her and she froze, instantly extinguishing the fiery passion of seconds past.
She couldn't move, could barely breathe. His touch stole her breath and she was rapidly losing control of the situation. It was too much, she determined. She couldn't tell if his passion was driven by madness or by necessity.
He was immediately aware of her rigidity and lifted himself up. Her eyes were wide with panic, her face set into one of terror; not even her lungs moved to take in air. Her fear cut him to the core; he had frightened her.
He cupped her cheek, smoothing his thumb across her bottom lip. This was a bad idea, he concluded. Anything done now would certainly traumatize her. He should have known she was too inexperienced to be effective.
He cursed under his breath and hauled her up into a sitting position.
"Hah-HA! I knew it was you, Redfox!"
In a flash of movement, Levy's forgotten knife was in his hand, his body crouched in a rigid and defensive posture.
The guard who had spoken stepped away from the brush and towards them, pulling his helmet off. Black hair flopped into cheerful and equally black eyes. He brushed one gloved hand through the disobedient locks in a futile attempt to keep it out of his sight. He had a shy smile and Levy found herself strangely at ease in his presence.
Gajeel's stance relaxed and he rose to stand, though he didn't put the blade away. Levy scrambled to stand with him, but kept all her weight on her uninjured leg.
"Bisca! Come look."
The man with the kind smile gestured behind him and the second soldier stepped forward. He removed his helmet and a waterfall of green tresses spilled forth from the headgear. Levy recovered quickly from her shock at the sight of the green haired woman, but still maintained her wariness since Gajeel had yet to speak.
"It's been awhile."
The woman's voice was deep and held a lilting quality that could be described as sultry. She cocked one hip, giving a sardonic smirk that Levy vaguely recognized. By the way she held herself, Levy had the impression the woman would have been more comfortable without the armor and sword.
The woman called Bisca must have triggered something in Gajeel because he suddenly found his voice.
"Alzack..."
The man's smile grew wide, "In the flesh."
Gajeel reached forward and they closed the space between them, clasping each other's forearms.
Levy quickly looked between the armored pair and to Gajeel, hoping for a little guidance or clues as to how she should react to their presence. Gajeel appeared shocked more than happy, and Levy itched to have her knife back.
"Your little bird looks like she's about to fly the coop."
Gajeel looked at Bisca, then to Levy, as if he suddenly recalled her being there. He blinked once and his thoughts finally focused into coherent speech.
"Levy, these are my—"
He halted, unsure how to phrase to her who they were without giving away too much information.
"Spies," Alzack finished his sentence with a nod. "We keep watch on the steward and his movements. Relaying the information by courier. We've been remiss this last year, though." His lips quirked into a sad smile.
Gajeel straightened, recovering his usual gruff countenance, "What brings you here?"
Bisca was the one to answer him, "Looking for you. José seems to have realized you aren't returning any time soon. He's become determined."
Gajeel nodded, as though he expected her words, "I had a week to return. Starting yesterday."
Alzack's eyes widened considerably, "He knows you found it."
Gajeel snuck a glance at Levy who had become rooted to the forest floor. Her hands were fisted against her stomach, and her shoulders were stiff.
"Yeah, I found it alright," he muttered morosely, thinking back to José's words about bringing Levy back to Crocus.
Alzack clapped him on the back.
"Don't worry. The platoon is headed to Magnolia. We came by way of the mountains. It will be safe there."
Gajeel nodded his thanks to the soldier. He turned away from him, taking Levy's elbow and helping her balance before swinging her up into his arms.
"You almost had us, Redfox."
Gajeel looked over his shoulder at the pair, tilting his studded brow in question.
"We thought you were some wild animals getting it on. We almost turned back."
"What stopped you?"
Alzack jerked his chin towards a copse of trees where a certain blue equestrian took obvious refuge. Gajeel groaned internally when he saw her ears perk forward and to the sides, listening for them. She must have thought herself well-hidden despite the fact her entire rear-end could be seen from the river. He grit his teeth to keep from cursing the animal's lack of wits.
Alzack and Bisca bade them goodbye and Levy gave them a small wave behind Gajeel's back. She gave a shuddering sigh of relief that they were not actually out to take them into custody.
They were alone again in the forest and the sound of bracken crunching underfoot sounded more than obnoxious in her ears. It was too loud. She felt hot from their time kissing and she squirmed in his arms to get more comfortable.
"Y'okay?"
She immediately stilled and tried to keep her gaze on Aurai.
"Yeah," she whispered, not trusting herself to speak with her full voice.
Gajeel shifted her, obtaining a better, yet unnecessary, grip on her legs. He walked with large strides until they stood next to the roan mare. He sidled up to the horse and set the watchman into the saddle. It took a little effort to be careful of her ankle, but she did not flinch and she seemed well settled. He placed two fingers just past his lips and whistled for Pantherlily.
The horse trotted in from out of nowhere and dutifully waited for his master's next command. Levy eyed Gajeel's back as he stomped away. He was quite handsome and she immediately recalled running her fingers over the planes of his wide shoulders and back. Her mouth watered involuntarily as the breeze tormented her with his delicious scent. She cursed herself for her naïveté. She knew to expect a little more from Gajeel when she suggested he kiss her. He was a dominating figure. She accepted it. So why did it terrify her?
He stepped up and swung himself into the black saddle, adjusting the reins in his fingers for comfort. He turned his horse towards her and he took the reins from her hands.
"What are you doing?" she asked as he fastened the tack to his own saddle.
He met her eyes with a glimmer of steel and amusement.
"Can't have y'running off on me again."
He nudged Lily into a brisk walk before digging into one of the saddle bags. He proffered a bright red apple and small wedge of yellow cheese, both of which he passed to her.
She glowed from his thoughtfulness and proceeded to dig into her meal with haste. Gajeel watched her from the corner of his eye, pleased that she took the food without argument.
When Levy had finished off the last bite of cheese, she proceeded to sucking her fingers clean. Her stomach settled into a sated weight and she sighed. She caught his gaze by chance and they stared at one another, a current of electricity passing between them.
A bright red flush crept up her cheeks, making her burn under his scrutiny until she could no longer bear his eyes on her. She tore herself away and resolutely kept her eyes on the passing scenery.
In her wide scope of knowledge, Levy realized that it wasn't him that actually terrified her. It was the fact that she knew absolutely nothing when it came to physical love.