Disclaimers:
This story is categorized as fan fiction. The characters of Xena,
Gabrielle, et al, which have appeared in the series Xena: Warrior
Princess, belong to the producers, writers and executives of
Renaissance Pictures and MCA/Universal Television. I claim only to have
borrowed them, without intent to profit or infringe these rights, for
the purpose of creating this story for enjoyment of
the series' fans, of which I count myself one of many.
Additionally, the story below contains references, explicit and
implied, of a sexual relationship between two consenting adults of the
same sex. If you are not of legal age to read this story,
or such material is illegal where you live, or you do not feel
comfortable with such content, please refrain from reading this story.
Timeline Notes: After "New Territory" and between episodes "A Comedy of
Eros" and "The Furies."
CHAPTER THREE - WHAT?!?
"I'm beat," Gabrielle said as they entered the room. Xena scanned
first for unwelcome parties and then pushed the door wide for the
bard to enter first. "Let's just wash up in the basin tonight and
get some sleep."
Xena closed the door and tucked the latch into place. She quickly
untied her wrist guards and her breastplate, setting it all in a
pile on the floor next to the near side of the bed. She turned
around to find Gabrielle leaning over the basin, splashing her
face and neck with the cold water. She took in the rounded curves
of the bard's derriere and walked over until she could trap the
bard's arms at her side, coax her upright and press her body
along Gabrielle's backside. She caressed the curve of the bard's
hip and bent her head, nibbling along the line of her exposed
neck. "I wasn't thinking of sleep," she murmured against the damp
skin. Her warm breath sent shivers through the bard.
Gabrielle's head fell back, then she remembered she wanted to
talk to Xena. "Um, Xena?"
"Yes, Gabrielle?" The warrior guided the bard to the bed, not
separating their bodies for an instant. Her hands roamed the
younger woman's body with a questing touch.
Gabrielle tried to keep her thoughts clear even as Xena lowered
her to the bed and was removing clothing. Xena latched onto a
rosy nipple with gentle bites and licks and Gabrielle sighed,
then she recalled herself. "Xena, um... please?"
"Please what, Gabrielle?" Xena lifted herself over the bard and
with her knee, nudged the bard's legs apart, then settled her
thigh between them. She nibbled on the soft skin of Gabrielle's
throat. She felt the hum as Gabrielle spoke, then stopped moving.
She couldn't credit what she'd just heard. "What?" She lifted her
head to study the bard's face. "What did you just say?"
"I asked you to stop."
Xena lifted herself from the bard and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Are you serious?"
Gabrielle sighed. "Yes, Xena, I am. I wouldn't mind snuggling
tonight. But no sex, please?"
"It's not sex, Gabrielle. You said so. It's love."
"Not this way, Xena. With you it's some sort of marathon run. I
can't do it. Not right now. I'm tired. I do want to snuggle, but
I don't want to have sex, all right?"
Xena turned and Gabrielle watched the muscles play on her lover's
shoulders and back as the warrior woman moved across the bed
toward her again, looking like nothing so much as a sleek tiger.
"I'd like to change your mind," Xena purred, letting her breath
caress the bard's throat, as a soft hand cupped a breast.
Gabrielle's head fell to Xena's shoulder and she put her hands on
Xena's arms to steady herself and try to get Xena to back up. "I
know you could easily change my mind." She nudged Xena's chin up.
"But I'm asking you not to try."
Xena sat up. "I see. Fine." She moved off the bed and went to the
saddlebags with their belongings. She fished briefly and came up
with Gabrielle's shift. She tossed it to the bard. "Here. I'll
sleep in the chair."
"Xena?"
"What?" The warrior wasn't snapping, but her voice was certainly
not soft, as she responded while settling on the chair.
Gabrielle sighed. "Please come to bed."
"Why?"
"To sleep, Xena," Gabrielle supplied on a sigh.
"I'm not tired," replied the warrior, leaning over and fishing
out her whetstone and sword. She began rubbing the stone against
the blade, up and down, up and down, hoping the noise would
distract her from her other, deprived feelings.
Gabrielle slipped off the bed. "I'm sorry, Xena, but look, since
I told you how I feel outside Notch week ago, you haven't let up
once."
Xena continued to sharpen her sword, not looking up.
Gabrielle sighed, took the sword and stone from Xena's hands and
knelt at the warrior's feet, looking up into the down-turned
face. And saw the tears. "Why can't we just snuggle?"
"I've wanted to make love with you since this morning," Xena
confessed. "I can't think of anything else."
Gabrielle grasped the warrior's hands. "Come to bed. Please?"
Gabrielle stood and taking the warrior's hands in her own, led
Xena to the bed. She gently pushed, finally moving Xena back
until the bed bumped the warrior from behind and made her sit.
Xena tried to pull Gabrielle down on top of her, but Gabrielle
put a finger to Xena's lips when they came close to her own.
"Shhh."
The bard slid her body over Xena's until she was on the other
side of the warrior who finally laid back. She put an arm over
Xena's leather-clad stomach and put her head in the crook of
Xena's shoulder. She felt the warrior's arm go around her back.
She lifted her head and kissed Xena's cheek, then replaced her
head on the warrior's shoulder.
"What do you want me to do, Gabrielle?"
"Right now, just close your eyes." She touched Xena's face
gently, caressing the warrior's cheek and brow, and finally
brushing the broad side of her hand over her eyes, encouraging
them to close. "I love you, Xena." she kissed the warrior's
exposed throat.
"I want to love you too, Gabrielle," replied Xena.
"I'm tired, Xena. I haven't had a good night's sleep in several
days," Gabrielle murmured against the warrior's chest.
"But I thought I pleased you in bed." Xena frowned. "You sound
like I don't."
"It's too much. Do you know since Notch, we've been together
every single day. Often several times a day?"
Xena shook her head. "What's wrong with that? I want to bring you
pleasure. I'm giving."
Gabrielle lifted her head and tried to get Xena to meet her eyes,
but the warrior looked anywhere but at the bard. "You're taking
over the sex in this relationship. I want to give to you too.
That brings me pleasure even more than having an orgasm does."
Now as Gabrielle finally got the warrior's attention, Xena looked
incredulous. Gabrielle just put a gentle hand over the warrior's
mouth. "Don't say anything, Xena. Just listen." Gabrielle fell
still. The only sound either woman heard was the pulse pounding
in her head and the tandem beats of their hearts.
Gabrielle laid her head back on Xena's shoulder and wrapped her
arms around the warrior. She sighed. "I'm sorry, Xena. Forget I
said anything." Even as she also longed to lose herself in making
love with the warrior, it wasn't the only thing Gabrielle wanted.
She wanted Xena's heart. If she could only get Xena to remember
what kinds of intimacy there were including sex.
The kinds of intimacies they'd shared before Notch. Stargazing at
night, quietly walking along together down the road, sharing a
story next to the campfire, and practicing together. Gabrielle
lifted her head at that thought. "Xena?"
"Yes?" Gabrielle grimaced at the wariness in the tone.
"Could we go practice together in the morning?"
"I suppose."
"Xena?"
"Yes, Gabrielle?" A heavy sigh. Xena was obviously having trouble
relaxing.
"Thank you." She hugged the warrior tightly and threw a leg over
the warrior's stiff body. She squeezed tightly until she felt
Xena's muscles release their tension.
Xena closed her eyes and tried to absorb everything Gabrielle had
said. Not much of it made sense. On the one hand she had thought
Gabrielle was satisfied with their physical relationship. The
bard always had a soft look afterwards and fell asleep in Xena's
arms. But Gabrielle seemed to be saying that she wasn't happy.
Xena was happy with the relationship. At least she thought she
was. At times, when Gabrielle fell asleep, Xena recalled,
occasionally she felt a little like something was left undone,
but without a sense of what that something was.
She'd been solicitous of Gabrielle's needs above everything.
Wasn't that what this was all about? Giving instead of taking?
Pleasure instead of power? Wasn't power making demands on your
partner? So she made no demands on Gabrielle. She asked only for
the opportunity to bring her pleasure. What was wrong with that?
According to Gabrielle there was a lot wrong with it. Xena fell
into a troubled sleep. How am I going to fix this?
Mornings always came too quickly for the bard, Xena knew, even as
she tried to stir Gabrielle from sleep, hoping to entice her into
lovemaking before breakfast. She stroked the bard's lithe body,
hand roving beneath the soft blanket over softer skin. Gabrielle
always felt so soft.
Xena bent over her bard and kissed the soft skin of her temple,
wondering what dreams played in Gabrielle's mind. She was about
to nuzzle the curve of the bard's neck when there was a sharp rap
on the door to their room.
Xena pulled the covers up closer about the bard's shoulders, and
kissed her cheek. "Sleep well, Gabrielle," she murmured before
crossing the room to cautiously open the door.
"What is it?" She took in quickly the entire appearance of the
man standing at the door. He was reasonably affluent; his clothes
were refined in cut and fit. He was middle-aged and well groomed,
certainly not a laborer.
"I have come to ask a favor of Xena, the Warrior Princess. We had
heard she was staying here."
"I'm Xena."
"You? But..." He stammered, floundering to his final thought.
"But you don't look like a killer." He indicated her soft cloth
shift and general disarray.
Xena smiled, which softened her appearance even more. Wait until
Gabrielle hears this one. Someone actually thought she didn't
look fierce enough to be The Warrior Princess of the legends. I
must've outwardly changed too, Xena thought, stepping outside the
room to address the man in the quiet of the hall while her bard
slept.
Chapter 4
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