Chapter Two
Gabrielle lay on the pallet relaxing as Xena was softly singing a lullaby to Solan and Elysia. After awhile, their eyelids were droopy and as they both fell into their slumber, Xena placed the two little ones in their beds. After tucking them in, she walked across the hut toward Gabrielle.
She had been so lost in the beauty of Xena's song that Gabrielle hadn't heard her beloved's approach. She looked up and gazed into Xena's sky-blue eyes. She could get lost in those gorgeous eyes. "You got them to sleep already?" she asked softly.
"Yeah. Now take off my clothes," Xena said bluntly.
"Don't I always?"
Gabrielle lightly bit her lip as she stood up, slowly removing each piece of Xena's clothing. "You're wearing too much," Xena breathed as she began to return the favor.
"Yeah, but you wouldn't want me walking around the Amazons naked."
"Gabrielle, you're playing with fire," Xena said in a dangerous tone as jealously burned through her like a scorching flame.
"Relax. I was only teasing."
"That's why we don't go with them every morning to bathe in the swimming hole. They'd oogle you... and I don't like it."
"I wouldn't like it either... if they looked at you," Gabrielle admitted.
After the last piece of clothing had dropped to the floor, Xena pulled Gabrielle close until the entire length of their bodies were touching. "You're mine, little one," Xena said before lowering her mouth to Gabrielle's in a hot kiss. Gabrielle's lips were bruised when Xena pulled back. She was gasping for depleted air.
In a single gliding movement, Xena pulled Gabrielle down onto their bed. "Xena?" Gabrielle whispered as Xena nibbled on the soft flesh of her tender neck.
Xena reluctantly stopped her assault on Gabrielle's sweet flesh. "Shhhh..." she warned, pressing two fingertips against Gabrielle's damp lips. "I long to make you scream when you cum... but we can't wake up the children."
A little muscle twitched in Gabrielle's cheek at Xena's sexy words. Her lifemate knew her so well. She couldn't keep quiet when they loved. Even though Xena asked the almost impossible, Gabrielle nodded. "I won't scream."
The tender love bites resumed, as Xena nibbled her way down Gabrielle's body. Flames of desire overtook Gabrielle. Xena left no part of Gabrielle's soft skin untouched as her teeth scraped and her tongue teased. Fingers twined in Xena's long dark hair, softly pulling. She wanted to cry out, to beg Xena for more, but she couldn't. All she could do was sink her teeth into her lower lip to hold back her cries. When their love went up in flames, Gabrielle tasted blood.
Xena sucked on Gabrielle's nipples, holding the pale globes of her lifemate's breasts in her hands, kneading them and giving Gabrielle sweet pleasure. Then her mouth trailed lower, kissing Gabrielle's stomach, licking over her taut flesh. *Ohhh Gods,* Gabrielle thought. *This is what Xena meant when she said the honeymoon is never ending. She's going to torture me every night for all of eternity.*
All though the loving was driving Gabrielle absolutely mad, she wanted it more than anything. Xena knew exactly what the woman she loved wanted as she parted Gabrielle's legs. She growled deep in her throat as her mouth met Gabrielle's essence, softly licking and tasting, making Gabrielle shiver in sweet desire. Xena drove two fingers into Gabrielle while her tongue attacked the swollen little bud above Gabrielle's entrance. Just a few thrusts, each one becoming harder than the one before was enough for Gabrielle to see stars behind her eyes. She chewed on her lip, but she did not cry out... not even once.
Gabrielle lay there, still in a daze as Xena kissed away the dampness, then lay down by Gabrielle's side. "You didn't scream," she whispered in awe in Gabrielle's ear. "But I could feel your scream bubbling up as I took you."
"Xena," Gabrielle breathed, wrapping her arms around her lover.
Xena caressed Gabrielle's golden hair a minute, then she pulled back to gaze at Gabrielle in the near darkness. "Your lip is bleeding. You bit it so you wouldn't scream." Gabrielle nodded, then quivered as Xena gently licked away the blood. There was something so erotic and intimate about that action that made Gabrielle's eyes fill up with tears.
Xena placed a palm on Gabrielle's breast, feeling her heart still racing. Despite trying to recover from an explosive orgasm, Gabrielle turned over on the pallet and fondled Xena's breasts. Xena made a feral sound deep in her throat as Gabrielle's mouth crashed to hers with passion.
She was ready to torture Xena, to make her want to scream, even though she couldn't. She mimicked every nibble and lick that Xena had placed upon her earlier, knowing it would drive her lifemate mad with desire. She suckled at Xena's supple breasts, then moved lower, to the hot, wet flesh between Xena's legs. She nipped at the tender skin of Xena's thigh before she slid her tongue into Xena's slit, penetrating deeply. The warrior princess sucked in her breath, her hips rising to take Gabrielle even deeper.
When Gabrielle's fingers replaced her tongue, she glided her lips to Xena's most sensitive place. Xena was so wet as Gabrielle made love to her. All thoughts faded away but giving Xena as much pleasure as possible. She wanted to show Xena how much she loved her as she moved her fingers into the warrior princess in a sensuous rhythm. Suddenly, Xena let go. Her whole body tensed and she surrended to Gabrielle completely. It was a beautiful thing as Xena came and came and Gabrielle lapped it all up greedily. She was still licking and nibbling when Xena pulled her up as though she couldn't take it a moment longer.
Tender kisses landed on Gabrielle's face as she pressed herself against Xena's body. "I love you," Xena said in a breathless whisper.
"I love you, Xena."
Feeling safe and content, Gabrielle fell asleep almost instantly, curled up in Xena's arms. Unlike her lifemate, Xena lay there in the darkness, caressing Gabrielle's hair. When all was dark and quiet, she thought about it most. Even the lingering passion couldn't quench the ache deep inside her soul.
~~X~~~~X~~
When morning light came through the open windows of the hut, Xena was awakened far earlier than she had been accustomed. She groaned as Gabrielle lay across her chest, still sleeping soundly with a look of bliss upon her sweet face. There was a knock coming from the door of the hut and whomever was far too persistent and noisy.
The former Destroyer of Nations stood up to pull her shift over her head. Then she turned to cover Gabrielle's nakedness with a blanket. She scurried to the door, not wanting the rude knocking to awaken the children. She pulled open the door of the hut, seeing Ephiny standing in the entrance, seeming stunned to see Xena in only a sheer ivory shift. It clung to the warrior princess like a second skin.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to disturb..."
"It's okay," Xena said, her gaze shifting back to Gabrielle who was still fast asleep.
In an attempt to keep the conversation quiet, she pushed Ephiny out the door and into the sunshine. She joined the young woman outside the hut, thankful that both of the babies were still sleeping in their bed. "Why are you here? What do you want?" Xena asked, getting right down to the point.
"Well, I was hoping I could talk to you and Gabrielle -."
"She had a wild night, if ya know what I mean," Xena stated which caused Ephiny to blush.
"Hmmm... okay, well, the queen is asking for your presence after breakfast today, you and Gabrielle. Amarice can watch the children-."
"What's this about?"
"Just show up after breakfast and all will be revealed."
After Ephiny left down the walkway, Xena entered the hut and approached Gabrielle who hadn't moved an inch on the pallet. She knelt on the bed and brushed the tendrils of blonde hair out of her lifemate's face. "Wake up," she said softly.
"Not tonight, Xena. I'm too sleepy," Gabrielle protested, one eye opening just slightly.
Xena smirked and said, "It's morning, little one. I don't want sex. I need you to wake up."
Reluctantly Gabrielle roused and stretched her limbs. Once she came to full awareness, she smiled sweetly at Xena. "Is Elysia hungry again?"
Xena shook her head. "No, but we better get dressed, then awaken the children and give them breakfast. We have a visit to make to the Amazon Queen. Ephiny said she's requesting our presence."
"That's strange. I wonder what she wants."
Xena shrugged. "Who knows. Maybe the queen is insisting we both show up naked at the swimming hole tomorrow morning."
Gabrielle giggled as she watched Xena searching through their belongings for a clean set of clothes for the children and themselves. Xena handed Gabrielle a leather Amazon outfit accented with feathers. "This is sexy. Put that on," Xena urged.
"Only if you put on something sexy, too. I will if you will."
"You're on!"
Xena stripped off her shift as she gumbled about the inconvience of having to meet up with the Amazon queen before she could go hunting and kill something for their breakfast. Gabrielle smirked as she saw her lifemate's 'barely there' red Amazon bikini top and short leather skirt. "Gods, that looks luscious on you," Gabrielle said, rising to her feet.
She gave Xena a quick kiss before she slipped on the alluring outfit Xena had selected. Solan and Elysia had just been changed and fed when Amarice showed up, eager to watch Xena and Gabrielle's offspring. "You two look... good," Amarice said, swallowing as she gazed at their attire.
"Eyes up," Xena warned, noticing that Amarice's stare was riveted onto Gabrielle's cleavage.
Amarice gulped. "Oops. Sorry. I won't keep you from visiting the queen." The young Amazon picked up Elysia and cuddled her close as Gabrielle and Xena walked out the door.
Gabrielle grasped Xena's hand as they made their way through the Amazon Village toward the queen's hut. As they entered, accompanied by the queen's guards, Eponin and Solari, they were both surprised to find the whole Amazon Counsel in attendance, including Ephiny who often sat in as Regent whenever the queen had to be away.
"What's going on?" asked Xena.
"We had a meeting last night," said Queen Cyane. "About your presence here in the Amazon Village. We have concerns."
The warrior princess visibily tensed as a frown overtook her face. "What kind of concerns? Is this about my past?"
"The council is well aware of your past as The Destroyer of Nations, but despite that we have much respect for you and all you've done for our sisters, the Amazons. That is why you were asked to stay among us and become members of our tribe. But unfortunately, after our meeting last night, all of that has changed."
"What do you mean? Nothing's changed," Gabrielle said in confusion.
"One of your children happens to be male. No men are allowed to dwell within the Amazon Village. Male children are sent away-."
"You expect me to send my son away?!" Xena exclaimed.
"No, that isn't expected of you. Male children are allowed to stay until their second birthday, but after that time, a choice will have to be made,"
"That's nothing more than a pile of centaur $hit," Xena said bluntly.
"Xena," Ephiny spoke, rising to look directly at the Warrior Princess. "Amazon laws must be upheld. No male child above two years of age is allowed to remain within the village."
"If Solan can't stay, then neither will I," Xena cried out in anger.
Before anyone could stop her, including Gabrielle, Xena had rushed out of the Queen's Royal Hut. "Excuse me," Gabrielle said hastily as she hurried out after her fuming lifemate.