A Brush With Destiny Part 10

Disclaimer: The main characters don't belong to me. They belong to RenPics and Universal. No copyright infringement was intended. This series is based on the love between Xena and Gabrielle. If this offends you, see ya some other time and place!

Sex : YES and quite graphic too so be warned.

Violence: Only if Xena doesn�t behave

Language: YES most definitely but mild/medium.

Bard's Note : This is my first uber series so please... Be kind!

Xena rolled her shoulder slowly as she stepped off the plane. The injury was playing up and the fifteen hour flight had done nothing to improve either the pain or her mood. Gabrielle sighed as she followed. Her lover had barely said three words to her over the previous few hours and she found that she was delighted to be on land again, just so she'd have someone else to look at. She grinned to herself and then looked at her partner to find a deep scowl etched onto her face. Gabrielle shook her head.

"Xena, Honey, I love you but you�re driving me crazy," she said.

Xena's scowl deepened.

"Sorry for being a burden," she snapped moodily but Gabrielle just smiled and pulled her out of the stream of people to stand with her back against the wall.

"Xe, deep breaths, ok? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what?" the tall woman asked warily.

"That you're afraid of flying?" Gabrielle wasn't prepared for the delicate blush that rose to her lover's cheeks. "Hey, it�s nothing to be ashamed of," she went on. "I'm not too fond of flying myself. I was wondering why you almost broke my hand when we hit the turbulence. You, my beautiful warrior, are very strong."

Xena immediately took her hand and examined it.

"I'm sorry," she replied worriedly. "Did I really hurt you? Do you need to see a doctor? Sometimes I don�t know my own strength. I never meant..."

Gabrielle giggled.

"You're cute when you're all protective like that," she teased. "I'm fine, Honey, really. You know, with all the flying we've done over the past few months... you really should have mentioned it."

Xena looked down sheepishly as she absently played with the bard's fingers.

"I guess you're right," she replied softly. "I just didn't want to be a distraction."

Gabrielle's eyes widened in shock.

"A distraction?" She shook her head. "Xena, you're the most important thing in my life. Everything else are the distractions."

Their eyes locked and Gabrielle lifted herself up onto her toes to kiss her lover but Xena shook her head.

"Not here, Gabrielle," she said quietly. "We don�t know how the people of Greece look on gay relationships."

"You're right," the writer replied with a sigh as she adjusted her backpack. "Come on, let's find the bags."

Xena and Gabrielle had returned to the hotel after their run-in with Alti the night before, thrown all their belongings into two suitcases and picked up a flight to Greece. They knew the Shamaness would follow but, for the moment, they were safe.

"So apartment or villa?" Gabrielle asked as she leafed through the available accommodation brochure at the tourist desk. When she didn't receive an answer she turned to find that her partner was no where to be seen. She frowned and went back to the brochure but, a moment later, she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder. She turned and smiled as Xena stood in front of her with a large bunch of flowers in her arms.

"I'm sorry for being such a bitch over the past few hours," the warrior said softly as she passed over the flowers.

"They're beautiful," the writer whispered. This time she didn't care. She kissed her lover gently on the lips. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Xena replied, a large grin lighting her face. She mentally patted herself on the back.

"So, apartment or villa?" Gabrielle asked again as she went back to the brochure.

"Villa," Xena replied with a wiggle of her eyebrows. "We can be totally alone."

Gabrielle leaned into her and moaned softly into her ear.

"Mmmmmm... I can�t wait for that," she husked and Xena licked her suddenly dry lips as a wave of need moved through her.

"Hurry," the warrior growled. Gabrielle quickly arranged for a villa and a hired car. She handed over her credit card, signed the slip, got the card back and then grabbed Xena by the hand to drag her to the car park.

"Gabrielle?"

"What?"

"The bags?"

"Shit!"

They went back to the main terminal, grabbed the bags and took off back to the car. An hour later, they pulled up outside the cutest little villa they had ever seen. It was a single storey building with a large patio area. The walls were whitewashed along with the wall surrounding the garden. The swimming pool was small but very clean and clear but what appealed to them the most was that the beach was down twenty or so steps on the other side of the garden wall. Xena carried the suitcases into the villa while Gabrielle went to the wall to look at the view. At the end of the beach, on her right, there was a cliff face and when she looked up, she saw a lighthouse standing guard over the bay. The laughter of children floated to her on the breeze and her eyes widened as she noticed a number of naked men and women further up the beach to her left. This wasn't usual in the States and she'd never come across it on her travels before, always being too caught up in her work to do things like going to the beach. She sighed softly and then a pair of strong, warms arms encircled her from behind. The writer smiled and leaned back into her love's chest.

"It's beautiful," she whispered.

Xena's chin rested on her shoulder.

"Not as beautiful as you are," she replied as she slipped her hands under the writer's tight vest top and ran them over her hard stomach. "I love you, Gabrielle Whyte."

"I love you too, Xena," the younger woman replied as she placed her hands over her lover's and moved them higher to cup her breasts. Xena loved that her partner wasn't wearing any bra and she turned her around, pushing her top up to capture a hardened nipple between her lips. Gabrielle moaned softly and arched her back, encouraging her lover to take more but she was suddenly scooped up into Xena's arms and the warrior carried her into the villa and straight into the bedroom. They slowly undressed each other, kissing each newly exposed area of skin as if it was being revealed for the first time. The writer moved to stand behind her lover, kissing and running her tongue up and down her spine, running her hands over her ribcage and sending shivers through her.

"Lie down," she whispered and Xena stretched out on the bed, face down. Gabrielle crawled up on top of her and stretched herself along the length of the taller woman's body. "Just relax," she said as she reached her left hand under her partner to squeeze and roll her nipple while her right hand snaked down to gently stroke her clit, at the same time, rubbing her own entire body against her. Xena growled with pleasure. She didn't know which aroused her more, the gentle pressure against her nipple, the stimulation of her intimate flesh or the feeling of her lover's hard nipples pressing into her back. It didn't matter though. The sensations were all working together to bring her closer to the edge. The writer smiled as she felt her lover squirm beneath her and bit down on her shoulder, leaving a nice red mark that would soon turn into a telling bruise. Xena's moans came longer and faster and she began to thrust her hips down on her love's hand as she neared the edge. Gabrielle moved her left hand down to slide between her own legs and she worked on them both, wanting them to climax together.

"I'm nearly there," Xena got out through gritted teeth.

"Me too," Gabrielle replied in a similar fashion.

"Hurry," the warrior whimpered. Gabrielle pressed them both harder.

"Now!" she cried and they both released at the same time crying out loudly and bucking hard, Xena against the bed and Gabrielle against her partner, heightening her climax. When the shudders had eased, Gabrielle just rested her cheek on her lover's shoulder. They were both soaked with sweat; their bodies shimmering in the sunlight that came through the window.

"God, you are good," Xena mumbled sleepily.

"I try," the writer replied just as sleepily but she slid down off her partner's back to lie face up on the bed with her arm over her eyes. Xena moved to rest her head, using her lover's stomach as a pillow. She wrapped her arms around her hips and sighed contentedly.

"Love you, Gab," she whispered as she dozed off.

Gabrielle ran her fingers through the warrior's sweat soaked hair and smiled.

"Love you too, Xe."

That evening, after showering and dressing in shorts and T-shirts, they left the villa hand in hand to explore the area. The building was situated about a mile from the nearest town, a pleasant walk for supplies or shopping. Gabrielle's eyes shone happily. She loved shopping. It was one of the things that she and Xena did NOT have in common. The older woman would rather sit watching paint dry than go shopping. They descended the twenty-four steps to the beach and walked from one end to the other, just chatting and stopping every now and again to share a kiss. Suddenly, Xena laughed and pointed at the banana boat full of screaming people being towed by a speed boat.

"I've gotta try that!" she cried and took off toward the hut where a tall, dark-haired Greek woman was selling tickets. Gabrielle rolled her eyes but followed at a trot. The warrior bought two tickets and when the banana boat returned, they took their seats. Gabrielle sat up front with Xena behind her. The ex-Marine held on to the boat with one hand and Gabrielle with the other but the writer laughed over her shoulder.

"Xena, we're not on Argo. You don�t have to hold on to me. Besides, I have the feeling you're gonna have to hold on with both hands."

Xena snorted.

"Nah, I know what I'm... Whoa!"

The warrior grabbed on with both hands as the speedboat took off, barely managing to keep herself on the yellow boat. Gabrielle laughed so much that she almost lost her grip but she in turn managed to stay on board.

"This is amazing!" she yelled over the noise of the engine but she suddenly turned serious. "Xena, look!"

The warrior's face dropped as she saw another speedboat heading right for them. "Shit!" She looked around frantically but she finally just waved at the other passengers. "Everyone off!" she yelled. "We're gonna collide with another boat!" Once everyone was off, Xena and Gabrielle dove into the sea, their life jackets keeping them afloat. The speedboat ripped through the banana boat and when the pilot looked back at them, Xena gritted her teeth in anger.

"She's here," she growled and Gabrielle nodded. Two minutes later, their speedboat came back for them and loaded all the frightened passengers on board. Xena and Gabrielle sat in the stern so they could talk.

"How did she get here so fast," Gabrielle wondered. "We had to push it as it was to get that flight."

"I don�t know. There something going on here that we're not aware of yet. I can feel that this is deeper than we originally thought. Fair enough, Alti wants us dead but why attack a boat load of strangers? She could have taken us out at the villa."

Gabrielle suddenly had a thought.

"Xena, did you recognise the woman?"

The warrior frowned as she thought about that.

"No, I don�t think so. Why?"

The writer's nose scrunched up a bit as she shook her head in frustration, coincidentally spraying her partner with seawater and sand.

"I know her from somewhere but I don�t know where exactly... It's driving me crazy!"

"Thanks, Gabrielle," Xena grinned as she wiped some grit out of her eye. "We're almost back. Let's get showered and changed and head out for some dinner, ok?"

Once back at the villa, they dressed for dinner and walked to the nearest town. It was a quaint little fishing village with a long main street full of cute little restaurants. They passed a book shop and Gabrielle grinned as she walked by.

"Look!" she chuckled. "They're releasing 'A Brush With Destiny' here tomorrow. Maybe I should drop in for an impromptu signing?"

"Sounds like a good idea," Xena replied. "Actually, that reminds me. I saw an article on that actress who plays Xena... what's her name... um..."

"Lucy Lawless," Gabrielle provided helpfully. "Renee O'Connor is the one who plays Gabrielle." She chuckled. "It think that's hilarious. Your nickname is Xena and my name is Gabrielle and we're descendants of the originals. It's hard to believe sometimes isn't it?"

"Yeah. Anyway, I read that Lucy Lawless is going to be in Greece for a holiday with her husband and kids. I wonder would she talk to us?"

Gabrielle laughed.

"I think Ms Lawless has better things to do than that," she said.

"Yes, but I've heard that she's quite a fan of your books, Ms Whyte. She might be interested."

The writer frowned thoughtfully.

"I would like to meet her," she said. "I'll phone Morgan and see if she can set something up but don�t hold your breath. I've heard she's really great about interviews and stuff but she's on vacation. They've just finished shooting the series finale of Xena and I'm sure, after six years of shooting, she just wants to chill."

"You heard Renee O'Connor's pregnant?"

"Yeah. It's great."

"Yeah." They had stopped outside a small traditional Greek restaurant. "How about here?" the warrior suggested.

The writer laughed and pointed up at a sign over the door.

"Xe, look at the name."

The warrior looked up and joined her partner in laughter.

"Salmoneus' Sanctuary? Oh god!"

"That's it. We have to eat here!" the writer exclaimed and led her still chuckling partner into the dimly lit restaurant. Xena shook her head as she was dragged along.

"What am I getting myself into?" she wondered...

TBC in part 11