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It was just a dream.
Xena sat under a tree, watching Gabrielle from afar, stewing in jealousy. She had her sword in one hand and a whetstone in the other, and was making some show of tending to her blade. In reality, she had sat there for a time and more yet, watching Gabrielle go about whatever she did with a bunch of Amazons around her. She had tried to ease her mind and soothe her heart, and had failed at both, miserably.
Hands on Gabrielle’s waist, hands that were not her own. Lips on Gabrielle’s neck, lips that were not her own. Moans from Gabrielle’s lips, drawn out by the touch of another.
Xena grimaced.
It was just a dream.
She ran her whetstone down the blade of her sword. Looking up, she thought she caught Gabrielle’s face, just turning away from her; she might have been looking over at her, watching her, and Xena hadn’t even noticed. Her hair was golden in the sunlight; her figure caught Xena’s breath in her throat. She followed Gabrielle with her eyes as the bard disappeared further into the Amazon village. Ephiny was on her heels, like she always seemed to be, always there, most of the time unwanted by Xena. It wasn't that she disliked Ephiny, it was that she was always there. Gabrielle didn’t seem to mind. For whatever reason, she liked the woman.
Xena chewed her lip and returned her attentions to her sword. She wasn’t so sure why they hadn’t left yet; they’d only come for a visit, after all. Gabrielle had sworn it would be a week at most. By Xena’s count, it had now been two. It didn’t help that she knew Gabrielle wasn’t doing it on purpose. She would have stayed there for months if Gabrielle wanted to — she might have complained and grumbled about it, but she would have tolerated it for Gabrielle’s sake. There were things about her role as the Amazon Queen that Xena did not fully understand, but she did not need to know everything to support Gabrielle’s wants. In some ways, it was even good that Gabrielle had this thing that was all her own.
A flash of a memory passed her eyes. In it, Gabrielle was in Ephiny’s lap, naked, gasping, Ephiny’s hands in places that Xena very much did not want them to be. Places that should have belonged to her own hands, and her hands only.
If steel could bend in her hands, it might have done so in that moment. Xena gritted her teeth and pushed the memory away, setting her sword aside.
It was just a dream.
Xena picked at the grass at her feet and did her best to not bite her tongue. She knew very well that there was no true cause for concern. Gabrielle was hers, just as she was Gabrielle’s. The Amazons knew, Ephiny knew. Everyone knew, and respected that theirs was a bond that should not be tried. By the gods, Xena had even taken part in some Amazon rituals in the place that was reserved for the Queen’s consort. In their eyes, that was her title, or she was more or less sure that it was; Gabrielle had yet to tell her, and she had yet to ask Gabrielle about it. She had been patient, letting them put body paint on her and allowing the ridiculous headdresses and the like. She’d said the right words and done as she was ought to do. That night, she’d slept with Gabrielle, and her bard had been a Queen in her arms, a Queen for whom she’d knelt, a Queen who she’d rendered entirely her own.
And yet, sleeping in the dark confines of their hut, she’d fallen into a dream that had soured that sweetness into something foul. She’d woken with images of someone else in Gabrielle’s arms dancing in her mind, drawing cracks into parts of her heart that she’d never known to be as fragile as they proved to be. That first dream had been vague and unclear, though the jealousy she’d felt had been obvious enough. She’d not said anything to Gabrielle, because she’d not had the opportunity — Gabrielle had been swept off to queenly duties first thing in the morning, and Xena had been left alone with her haunts with little or nothing else to occupy her mind.
The next night, the dream got worse. This time the phantom hands and touches had a face, Ephiny’s — and this time, Gabrielle was even more enthusiastic in the act. She’d touched Ephiny and Xena had been forced to watch, unable to interfere, unable to wake.
Xena had fucked Gabrielle in the morning when she woke, but hearing Gabrielle moan her name hadn’t been enough to dispel the visions. The ghosts, the haunting, taunting images in her mind; the sounds of Gabrielle’s voice, moaning the name of another. And again, she’d been busy all day. And so it had been, for days on end, and Xena hadn’t had more than a few moments with Gabrielle, alone, always at the end of the day or right at the start, when the bard was too tired, or too busy to talk.
She stood and walked through the village, aimless until she found her path straying towards Gabrielle. Unless she had a direction, she always found herself looking for Gabrielle. She wasn’t built to be idle, not she, a woman of action; she wasn’t meant to be alone either, not now, not after Gabrielle had come to her side so unexpectedly, and had refused to let go. Xena was forever grateful that the blonde had been as stubborn as she'd been, following her and forcing her way into Xena's life. Had she had her own way, Gabrielle would have been a fleeting memory, and nothing more.
The thought made Xena's heart twist. Yes, it was good that Gabrielle had a mind of her own; she was wise in the moments that she herself was not.
Gabrielle was talking to some women at the side of the central square. It took everything in Xena to not sweep Gabrielle off her feet right there and then and carry her off somewhere more private. She wanted to kiss her and hold her, and as she watched Ephiny at Gabrielle’s side, she knew she wanted to do it all in front of anyone who might see. She wanted, but she did not indulge; she bit her tongue and stepped to Gabrielle’s side, placing her hand on her shoulder, fingers sliding along around the back of her neck, just a slight grip, possessive but not visible to anyone.
Well, perhaps Ephiny saw, and maybe Xena meant it that way.
Gabrielle didn’t stop what she was saying, though she did falter a little at Xena’s touch, tensing as if she wanted to lean into her touch, fall further into her grip. She reached out and put her hand on the small of Xena’s back, tugging her a little closer; comfortable and chaste, though with a taste of need that soothed the raging storm of Xena’s jealousy, if only a little.
She stood there, bored out of her mind, but still satisfied to have Gabrielle near. It satisfied her more to steal Gabrielle away at the first chance she had, seeing Ephiny’s face darken at the sight of her taking the Amazon Queen by the hand to lead her away to their hut. She was fairly certain that Ephiny had no particular interest or feelings towards Gabrielle, not in the way they had presented themselves in her dreams — and yet, when she saw the Amazon glower at the sight of Xena’s arm sliding around Gabrielle’s waist, she couldn’t help but wonder if there wasn’t some seed of truth in reality from which her tormenting dreams had sprung.
She didn’t even wait until they were in the hut. Some paces from the door, Gabrielle was stopped by a few women, wanting to ask her something about an upcoming celebration. Xena felt her whole body ache, and had no more patience to burn.
“Sorry, ladies, but the queen has some more pressing matters to tend to,” she grumbled, and without asking any more questions, she threw Gabrielle over her shoulder and stormed off to the door, through it, and into the hut.
“Xena!” Gabrielle gasped, finally getting a word in when Xena laid her down on the bed and stepped back to take off her clothes. “Xena, you can’t just pick me up and—“
“I need you,” Xena cut in, letting the clasps of her dress go and allowing the leathers to fall to the floor, leaving her in her shift. “Gods, please, Gabrielle, I need you right now,” she groaned, her words tipping into a plea as she climbed onto the bed, climbing over Gabrielle, straddling her hips. “Please.”
She saw the conflict in Gabrielle’s mind, the collision of desire and duty leaving her reeling for a moment. She waited, her hands resting on Gabrielle’s ribs, and she ached. She made no effort to hide how much she wanted Gabrielle — her hand was practically twitching, her fingers needing to be inside her, pushing out those pretty noises that always seemed to echo her name.
“Fuck, Xena, you know I can’t say no.”
“Yes you can, if you want to,” Xena retorted. “But do you want to? Do you have anything that important to do right now?”
More important than me?
“Nothing more important than you,” Gabrielle answered, unwittingly — or, possibly, fully consciously — answering the question in Xena’s mind as well as the one she’d spoken. She met Xena’s eyes, and the excitement in her expression was permission enough — her hand reaching for Xena’s waist, pulling her closer, was more.
With the restriction gone and done away with, Xena held back nothing at all. She leaned forward and wrapped her fingers around Gabrielle’s neck, guiding, demanding a kiss as she moved her knees back and made room for her hand between their bodies. She touched Gabrielle’s breasts and let her palm roll over her nipple, which had gone hard almost instantly; she kissed, she consumed, and with her demand and her claiming touches, she drew Gabrielle deeper into the realm of desire where she already was, waiting.
“Xena, please—“
Hearing her name, tinted with need, made Xena’s head spin.
“Please what, Gabrielle?” she groaned, kissing her neck, biting just a little, letting her teeth drag along the skin. “What do you need?”
“I need you to take me,” she breathed. "Have me. Now."
Xena groaned and sank herself into Gabrielle, her face in her neck, her body atop Gabrielle's, her hand between Gabrielle's legs, feeling the depth of her arousal, the heat, the depth of her clenching around her fingers—
She might have been lost entirely, but Gabrielle wasn't. Gabrielle heard the footsteps approaching; Gabrielle groaned, not from pleasure, but from annoyance, and Xena had to stop.
"Someone's coming," sighed the blonde. "I…"
"Can't you tell them to wait?" Xena asked, lips ghosting along Gabrielle's jaw.
As if on cue, a voice came from outside the door. "Gabrielle? I'm sorry to disturb you, but there's a messenger here from the northern tribe. It's urgent."
Xena groaned and withdrew her hand. Gabrielle's touch on her cheek was gentle, if fleeting; the apology within her eyes was clear, even clearer than the soft words she spoke.
"I'm sorry, Xena," she whispered, kissing her tenderly. "I…to stop now, it's the last thing I want. You know that, right?"
Xena did her best to control her breathing, and nodded. "I do."
It wasn't as though Gabrielle's present state of need and arousal was lost to her, after all. Gabrielle wanted her, needed her, but duty was ever-present; now was not the time to let her know of her own insatiable, drowning need.
"Later," Xena affirmed, rising up and pulling Gabrielle up with her. "We'll finish this later."
When she kissed Gabrielle, it was long, consuming; she held her tight against her as if she were memorizing the shape of her against her own.
"Later," Gabrielle affirmed. "I'll take care of this messenger business, and I'll be all yours, Xena. You just wait."
Xena knew she should’ve told Gabrielle about the dreams. Really, she had all intentions to — but not while they were still in the village. Not while Gabrielle still had duties to attend to, keeping her here. She did not want Gabrielle feeling guilty, and even less did she want to interfere with something that was important to her. Her Amazon Queen had already dealt with enough guilt over the few times they'd been interrupted in the past days; there was no reason for her to bear any more. Gabrielle did the best she could, but at present she was torn in too many directions, all at once. Xena could handle herself for a few days longer, if need be. There would be all the time in the world for just the two of them, once they left.
A flicker of gold from across the village caught Xena’s attention. Gabrielle was looking over something that looked like wood carvings on a table, bent over, her hand resting on her chin, delicate. Xena thought about having her bent over the table, one hand making a fist in her short hair, the other between her legs, making those sweet, delicious noises spill from her lips. Those noises belonged to her, only to her; not to Ephiny, not to any Amazon, not to any other woman.
Xena shut her eyes and tried, desperately, to calm herself. There was an ache in her heart and a throb between her legs, and a panting, devouring need in her soul. It wasn't just a need for fucking. That need was easy enough to still; it was a consuming, hungry need for affirmation, for reassurance which Xena dared not yet seek.
As if reading her mind, Gabrielle lifted her eyes in that moment and looked across the distance at her. Their eyes met, and Xena saw Gabrielle’s brows furrow, her mouth taking on the shape it always did before she asked a question. Though it pained her to do so, she looked away, forcing relaxation into her body. Her eyes brushed past Ephiny at Gabrielle’s side, and again she thought of the sight of Ephiny’s lips on Gabrielle’s, her hand on Gabrielle’s neck, her knee between Gabrielle’s legs…
It was just a dream.
The leaf in Xena’s hands was torn in two by the force of her clenching fists. Xena watched, tight-lipped, as a different Amazon, not Ephiny, put her hand on Gabrielle’s shoulder. Gabrielle turned around and gave her a hug; Xena thought, briefly, that she might die from the weight of the jealousy that coiled around her heart.
Images, again. Gabrielle laying in a bed, her head thrown back, pale neck craned and lit silver by the light of the moon. A head was between her legs, not Xena’s own. Hands were on Gabrielle’s thighs, keeping them spread; Gabrielle’s fingers were laced through hair that was curly and red, not black and silken. Gabrielle’s voice coiled around a name that was not hers, and Xena felt her heart twist as though it had been stabbed.
Xena pinched the skin of her forearm between her nails, hard, to bring herself out of it. With a huff she got to her feet and stormed off to the stables; ride with Argo would sort her out, she thought, and getting out of the village would help, at the very least.
As she rode off into the woods, she did not notice Gabrielle’s eyes following her, a concerned furrow settled in her brows.
She came back late. Once she’d gotten into it, the ride had gone overlong; she’d gone far up into the hills with little to no aim, and by the time she’d made it up high enough, the sun had already been setting. It had then been a race against total darkness, one which she relished; it hardly occurred to her to be afraid of the dark. If anything, most things and people in the night had more cause to fear her, than the other way around.
Her muscles ached, and her gait was stiff when she finally ambled her way to the hut she shared with Gabrielle. She stepped in, expecting total darkness, and soft breaths of sleep from the corner where Gabrielle preferred to sleep.
Instead she stepped into firelight, and before it, sat in front of the hearth, arms crossed and brows furrowed, she found a visibly irritated Gabrielle.
“You’re back late.”
“I figured you’d be sleeping,” Xena muttered, stepping aside to take off her armor. Gabrielle, however, was having none of it; she stomped over, and with a huff nudged Xena’s hands away from herself, beginning to take off the armor herself.
“Where have you been?” she asked as she undid the clasps and straps, setting everything aside carefully, in the order and manner that Xena liked. The way she was handling Xena was anything but gentle, but at least she wasn’t extending her annoyance to Xena’s things. She wasn’t too annoyed, then, Xena knew. More worried than annoyed, she guessed, studying Gabrielle’s face.
Her need, suppressed but hardly gone or even reduced, surged again. She grabbed Gabrielle’s face and kissed her, tenderness an afterthought in the gesture; Gabrielle yelped in surprise, the sound muffled in Xena’s mouth, but leaned into, rather than away from the kiss.
“Again,” she repeated, once Xena had let go of her, “Where have you been? Coming home at all hours, kissing me like you’ve not seen me for years—“
“I was riding,” Xena shrugged, her hand still on Gabrielle's waist, the other on her arm. “Truly, just riding.”
“All day? Have you eaten?”
Then, before Xena could answer, Gabrielle grabbed her by the jaw and looked at her, intently. “Why did you feel the need to go for such a long ride? You’re all sweaty and stiff, like you’ve been pushing yourself for hours.”
Of course Gabrielle saw it all. Xena should have known better than to try and hide anything from her bard.
“I just needed some physical release,” she muttered, as Gabrielle returned her attentions to taking the rest of her clothes off. She herself wore only a shift, and a loose robe over it. Xena had appraised her clothes the moment she came in, and knew she could have them off and on the floor within seconds, if the need arose.
In truth, the need was there. It was only now a question of reciprocated want, and of Gabrielle’s mood.
“I had a bath ready for you, hours ago,” muttered she, pulling off Xena’s shift and tossing it in the basket where they kept their dirty clothes. “It’s gone all cold now.”
This time, Xena kissed her softly, pushing her need to the back of her mind.
“You're sweet,” she whispered, her hand brushing along Gabrielle’s cheek. “I’m sorry I worried you.”
She went to the bath. It had rained the night before, and the ride had been muddy in places; even cooled water was better than nothing, and she had no intention of getting into bed with Gabrielle with mud caked in every crevice of her being. It was a quick wash, with little pleasure taken in the chill or in the act of getting clean — she was painstakingly aware of the fact that Gabrielle was sitting on the bed, watching her, arms still crossed. Whatever conversation they’d begun, it was not yet over. Xena knew, and some part of her wanted to linger, to hesitate. But the bathwater was cold and even a short wash left her shivering.
Gabrielle was by the tub when she was done, holding a towel for her.
“Alright,” she finally said, once Xena had the towel wrapped around herself. “Now, tell me what’s been bothering you.”
Her gaze was piercing and her voice was edged with ice. She was expectant and knowing; there was no getting out of this conversation, not now. Xena sighed, feeling all her good intentions crumble to sand and dust in her hands.
“It’s nothing, really,” she tried. “We can talk about it later, once we leave here.”
“It isn’t nothing, and you’re going to tell me, now,” Gabrielle insisted. “Did you really think I haven’t noticed how tense you are? You can barely look me in the eye, and yet wherever I am, if you’re within sight, you’re watching me, constantly. What’s wrong? What is going on?”
Xena released a tense, shaky sigh. "I've just been having some bad dreams, that's all."
She couldn't verily escape the scrutiny of Gabrielle's gaze. Small she might be, but her grip of Xena's arm was tight; her grip of Xena, in general, was tighter still. She could have easily moved out of Gabrielle's grasp and gone to bed, but had no desire to — though the subject was uncomfortable and she truly would have preferred to speak of it at a later time, she had no desire to hurt Gabrielle by leaving her in the dark.
"What kind of dreams, Xena?"
Xena felt as though she'd swallowed sand. "It isn't—"
"—if you say it isn't important again, I will smack you," Gabrielle threatened.
"Can we at least sit down?"
To that request, Gabrielle acceded. Xena slipped on a shift, and sat on the edge of the bed; Gabrielle sat flush against her, her hand on Xena's knee.
"Now, explain to me about these dreams," she said firmly. "What kind of dreams are they?"
Xena made a face. "They're…uncomfortable."
"Well I can see that, but what happens in them? Death, hurt? Am I in them?" Gabrielle coaxed.
"No death, no hurt," Xena answered. "But you are in them, yes. They're…gods, Gabrielle, you're really going to make me say it?"
"What? Xena, I have no idea what's going on in that head of yours—"
"I keep dreaming of you having sex with other people."
The words fell, and silence after them. Gabrielle stared at Xena, mouth slightly ajar; all thought seemed to have left her altogether. Yet as she'd begun, Xena found she was not inclined to stop now.
"Visceral dreams, Gabrielle, so real I could swear they were reality, not dreams at all. Or, fuck, they're nightmares. Gabrielle, every night I go to sleep and I see you in someone else's arms, and I can do nothing about it. I can't escape, and I can't run, I'm forced to watch, and it's so real I could almost touch, but of course I can't…" Xena rubbed at her forehead and squeezed her eyes shut. "And now they're slipping into waking hours, too, flashes, images of you and Ephiny, or of some other Amazon, or other women. The sight of you like that, Gabrielle—"
"Xena—"
"I hate that I'm this jealous," Xena muttered. "I hate that it infuriates me like this to hear you moaning someone else's name—"
"Xena."
The tenderness in Gabrielle's voice gave Xena pause. She turned to look, and found not disappointment, nor yet no sign of anger in Gabrielle's eyes. Of course she was perfect; of course she would meet her outburst with only love, and kindness, and that silken-soft calmness that seemed to make up the edges of her being. Gabrielle's hand was on her arm, gentle; Gabrielle's eyes met her own, calm, but firm.
"You should have told me," she began, moving Xena's arm out of her lap. "You should have told me after the first dream," she continued, moving to straddle Xena's hips, her hands on Xena's shoulders. "You sat with this hurt for days, and you didn't say a thing. Why?"
Xena's hands circled Gabrielle's waist and pulled her closer. Proximity eased the racing of her heart; the soft sigh from Gabrielle's lips brought a smooth surface to the ripples in her mind.
"I thought it might distract you," she sighed. "I didn't want you to feel guilt for us staying here for long, or for you having to focus on so many other things that aren't me. Truly, I can wait—"
Gabrielle grabbed Xena's face with both hands, bringing her in for a bruising kiss.
"You should have told me," she grumbled, kissing Xena again. "You were jealous, Xena? Truly?"
"Maybe," Xena replied, her focus slipping away to other, more pressing parts of her mind and body.
"You do realize that I don't mind you being jealous, right?"
Xena pulled back, briefly. When she saw the dark glint in Gabrielle's eye, she guessed its meaning; when she tasted need on her tongue, she knew. Realization dawned upon her all at once, and her guilt slipped away, leaving in its wake only the need, and a risen sense of excitement.
"You like that I'm jealous?" she asked, grinning against Gabrielle's lips, her grip of Gabrielle's waist tighter. "You like that I seethe in anger at the very thought of someone else's mouth on your lips, your neck, your—"
"Gods—" Gabrielle groaned, and Xena had her answer. She'd spent too long wasting her time being ashamed of her jealousy; she'd not known the true joys it could bring.
"You're mine," she murmured, moving her hand up to make a fist in Gabrielle's hair. "You're mine, and I would kill anyone who looked at you wrong, anyone who touched you—"
"Mm-h," Gabrielle managed as a reply, words lost to her entirely. Xena saw the hazy look in her eye and realized the blonde was entirely lost to desire — entirely lost to her, to her demand, and to her need.
"Right?" Xena demanded, biting lightly at the tender skin of Gabrielle's throat.
"Yours," came Gabrielle's response, a whimper only, tipping into a moan when Xena soothed the bite with her lips, and sucked.
"Mine," Xena affirmed, trailing her way back to Gabrielle's mouth. There was a knot in her chest that was fast unraveling, now that she had Gabrielle in her arms; there was a tension in her belly which was only rising, and would rise, for with each kiss, each moan it was warmer, casting mind-spinning shivers through her entire body.
Gabrielle's hands were in her hair, gripping tight enough to hurt. Xena loved it. Gods, the feeling of Gabrielle, even just now, in her arms, it was perfect, but it wasn't enough—
"I need you now," Xena groaned, sliding one hand up along Gabrielle's back to grip her hair and guide her mouth to hers as she wanted. "Now, Gabrielle—"
It was a command, and it was a plea all the same.
"Then fuck me," Gabrielle managed between kisses. "By the gods, Xena, please…"
Xena's hand twitched, her fingers aching to feel the wetness she knew awaited between Gabrielle's legs. Yet she knew it wouldn't be enough to just feel; she needed to taste, she needed to have Gabrielle in full. Suddenly the robe and the shift, all the fabric between them became too much, overwhelming — she swept them off, first her own, then Gabrielle's, the feel of skin on skin casting her mind further into the hunger that threatened to consume her whole.
Let it consume, Xena thought as she laid back and pulled at Gabrielle's hand, knowing the bard would know what she wanted. So long as it consumes us both.
Gabrielle's thighs settled on both sides of Xena's head. By the gods, she was wet; Xena could see that she was wet. Only for a brief flicker, she looked up and met Gabrielle's gaze. The hazy, out-of-breath look in her eyes was perfectly mirrored to how Xena felt; she felt drunk, half out of her mind with desire, and when Gabrielle lowered herself down and she was able to indulge her hunger in full, the moan that she released was that of not only the body, but of the soul entire.
She tasted divine, she tasted like desire itself; she tasted, she felt, she moved like she was Xena's own. She was her own, hers only—
Mine.
Gabrielle's hand was in her hair again, not guiding, just holding on for dear life. There was little tenderness in how Xena pleasured her; there was an intensity to how Xena delivered to her the pleasure she wanted to give her, and with how she was positioned, there was little Gabrielle could do but take it. Xena's arms were around her thighs, firm as steel — all she had to do was be there, be good, good like she always was good, and take it.
Xena moved one of her hands and slid two fingers into Gabrielle, drawing a throaty groan from the blonde. Again her mind was cast deeper into hunger and satisfaction, both at the same time; again her mind repeated the word, over and over, a mantra that had begun to etch itself into the very essence of what Xena's tongue was doing against the most sensitive and pleasurable parts of Gabrielle.
Mine.
Though it was Gabrielle who was on her knees, it was Xena who was in the depths of an act of worship. She was devoted to this woman, to her pleasure entirely; all that mattered was what Gabrielle felt, and what Gabrielle wanted. Xena flicked her tongue over Gabrielle's center and relished in the slight jolt that pushed through Gabrielle's body. She sucked, and Gabrielle moaned; an added swirling motion had Gabrielle leaning forward, one hand on her own thigh for support, a droplet of drool hanging from her bottom lip. Her eyes were shut, but as she approached the height of her pleasure, she opened them, seeking to meet Xena's gaze. The hazy look was then replaced by something else entirely; a firmness of a different kind, one which came with a tightening of Gabrielle's grip on Xena's hair, and a shifting to her hips as she began to take control. Through it all, Xena had heard her mumble, moan the word 'yours', interspersed with her gasps and whimpers. Now it changed, as it so often did; Gabrielle pushed Xena's mouth further into herself, took control, and Xena yielded gladly, shivers running down her spine even before she heard that one word that melted her in totality.
"Mine," Gabrielle gasped, her gaze locked in with Xena's. "Mine, Xena, you're mine—"
Xena curled her fingers and kept pace with her tongue and lips, sucking not too much, not too little; Gabrielle's words crumbled into a groan, and then a most beautiful, pleading moan, released at the precise moment that the tension exploded in full, muscles clenching, pleasure cresting, coursing through her veins.
A gentle tug at her hair was all it took for Xena to stop. Gabrielle did not move for a while; she remained there, resting on her knees, staring down at Xena with such an expression of love and devotion within the depths of her eyes that it made Xena's heart ache.
"Still seeing images of me with someone else?"
Xena blinked. Gabrielle's hand was on her cheek; her thumb brushed the wetness that had spread on her lips, and all over her chin.
"No, Gabrielle, I—" she began, licking her lips. "You do know I never doubted you or your loyalty, surely—"
Gabrielle smiled. "I was only teasing, Xena," she chuckled. She moved off of Xena and settled down to lay in the bed. Xena moved to lay beside her, craving still that delicious closeness that eased her heart into a worldly harmony. Gabrielle kissed her, and to her surprise Xena tasted more need on her tongue than she'd expected. She'd expected softness now, relaxed calm for at least a time — but instead there was demand in the way Gabrielle moved on top of her, pushing her onto her back, her hand on her jaw firm, gripping tightly.
"You're an absolute fool, you know," she murmured, tasting herself on Xena's tongue. "Thinking I'd mind a little jealousy, allowing yourself to be tortured by dreams, not speaking of them—"
Her knee nudged Xena's legs open. Xena wasn't sure how she'd wound up on her back, but found little to complain about; there was a firm demand to Gabrielle's actions, one which strung her along, slowly growing into a need of her own. Oh, yes, she ached to be touched, to indulge the tension that had risen all while she'd devoted herself to Gabrielle — she ached, and she burned, needing—
Gabrielle laid down, her thigh pressing against Xena as she rolled her hips and kissed her deeply, and Xena felt languid pleasure rush through her, drawing relaxation in its wake. It barely took anything at all for Gabrielle to have Xena completely hers, yielding, taking all the pleasure she was willing to give.
"Don't tease me," Xena pleaded, her lips brushing against Gabrielle's neck. "Gabrielle..."
Gabrielle hummed and ran her hand up into Xena's hair, making a fist and moving her head aside. "Spread your legs a little more, then," she whispered, her words hot breath in Xena's ear, her lips pressing a kiss just below, to where Xena's pulse raced, thrumming against delicate skin. "Look at you, so desperate…"
She was a devil in her own right, teasing her with words even if she indulged her with touches and her kisses. Nimble fingers ran their way down Xena's abdomen and down to her sex; Gabrielle moved to lay on her side beside Xena, and touched her, skirting, fleeting at first.
"So wet," she murmured, nipping at Xena's earlobe, her hand in Xena's hair still tight, guiding her how she liked. "All for me, hmm?"
The whimper that left Xena's lips was as close to an affirmative as she could give. Gabrielle's fingers moved within her, curling and pressing just right in the places that made waves of pleasure run through her; Gabrielle's thumb was on her center, giving ghosting touches, drawing further desire out of, and within her all at the same time.
With her hand now on Xena's neck, Gabrielle brought her closer for a kiss. She kissed, and she bit at her lip, humming her pleasure at Xena's little noises and whimpers. Xena could not help that she began to chase her pleasure, moving her hips in pace with Gabrielle's touch.
"More," she whispered, the words spilling into Gabrielle's mouth. She reached for Gabrielle, seeking touch, seeking contact, but Gabrielle had other ideas; her kisses trailed downwards, from her jaw to her neck, to her breasts, and her hand followed, her touch drawing shivers along Xena's skin and down her spine. Soft lips enclosed around a hard nipple, and Xena released a groan as Gabrielle's expert tongue moved around, even as she began to suck. Her other hand rested on Xena's ribs, while with the other she continued to fuck her in a way she knew so well; with her mouth and her hand alone she rendered Xena without thought, without comprehension, just needing, only wanting.
"Fuck, Gabrielle," Xena whimpered, her hand finding its way to Gabrielle's head, not pushing, just resting; she laced her fingers through her hair and craned her head back, arching herself further for Gabrielle's mouth to access. She was Gabrielle's in totality, and Gabrielle was hers.
Mine, Xena thought, and her pleasure reached new heights.
"Mine," she groaned out loud, her grip of Gabrielle's head tightening as her hips rose up, muscles tensing — and then pleasure released, rushed through to her head and her heart, all from Gabrielle, and for her, too.
The satisfaction that danced upon Gabrielle's features was beautiful to see. Xena tugged at her hair, her hand still where it was, and Gabrielle moved back up. The kiss they shared was tender and languid; sleep was beginning to enter the edges of both their thoughts, slowly, but surely.
"Yours," Gabrielle whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to Xena's cheek. She kissed the other, and repeated the word; she kissed Xena's lips, and repeated the word.
Xena noticed goosebumps had risen on Gabrielle's skin, and kicked up the blanket they'd pushed to the far end of the bed, pulling it over them both.
"Mine," she murmured, kissing Gabrielle's shoulder, her neck, the mark she'd left on her jaw.
Gabrielle's hand was on her chest, fingertips lightly pressing into the skin. Xena could see there was a thought lingering in her mind, taking form; she raised an eyebrow, but did not bother to break the soft silence that lay between them.
"What if you have another dream?" she finally asked, resting her forehead against Xena's, her eyes shut. "I hate the thought of you being tortured every night, even if it does make you very…ravenous."
Xena wrapped her arms around Gabrielle's waist, pulling her tight against herself. "So long as you're mine in waking, I can bear it."
"But you shouldn't have to bear it—"
"Gabrielle," Xena sighed, cutting her off before her worries grew to an unnecessary height. "If ever I needed reassurance and reminding that you were mine, it was tonight. You fulfilled that to perfection. I have no doubt that I'll sleep well."
Gabrielle shuffled to settle so that she could rest her head on Xena's shoulder, her hand on Xena's chest. "I'm sorry if I've neglected you," she mumbled. "Truly."
"You haven't. I was the fool for not telling you," Xena sighed.
"Well, that's true."
Xena let out a little laugh. "Just as long as you're mine, I don't mind being a fool. Occasionally."
"Often," yawned Gabrielle. "You forget, I'm quite wise."
"Oh, sure."
"I am."
"I was agreeing!"
"Go to sleep."
"You go to sleep," Xena chuckled, giving Gabrielle's waist a slight squeeze. "Too stubborn for your own good."
"Hey, you chose to keep me."
To that, Xena had little to say, other than another laugh and a shake of her head. Gabrielle yawned, and so did she; soon they both dropped off to sleep.
She didn't have a nightmare that night, or the next. And the next time she did have a nightmare that spurred jealous feelings, she knew better than to be a fool; after all, Gabrielle had, or was herself the perfect remedy.