After

Lace Priest

This is a sequel to Release Me. Usual disclaimers....none of the characters belong to me....etc., etc. Under 18, you know the rules....not for you....
Comments would be greatly appreciated!

Gabrielle woke up alone. Memories from the night before suddenly came crashing through. Oh gods, what had she done! Now that she had finally gotten what she'd been asking for, she wasn't sure what to do. She wondered, albeit a little too late, whether she was really ready to take all of Xena. The answer had been so simple before last night. Funny how the morning light brings out the corners that are so easily hidden in the dark of night.

Gabrielle started thinking about Miranda, the gorgeous woman she had met several moons ago. She had been waiting for Xena at an inn when she had struck up a conversation with the innkeeper. As the conversation progressed, she found out that Miranda knew Xena. What a surprise.

Gabrielle scowled. She hated thinking about other women or anyone else for that matter, that had *been* with the warrior. They were always sooo beautiful. Gabrielle wondered for the millionth time, what in hades did Xena see in her. 'I'm nowhere near her league.' She pictured the sharp planes of the woman's face and the grey creature-like eyes. No wonder I always feel so insecure. One of these days, she will wake up and realize that she can get someone better looking, more worldly and go searching for that some one.

Yet Miranda hadn't warned her about that at all. Instead, she told her that loving Xena was the hardest thing in the world. "I don't think Xena can be loved." Miranda paused briefly and took on a faraway look. "She will never let herself be loved and I don't think she can love anyone either. Not completely. It would mean a complete surrender and I don't think she can do that. If I were you, I would leave now before she breaks your heart because she will never surrender, Gabrielle. Never."

Gabrielle had stayed quiet after that just watching Miranda as she worked the counter. She didn't want to admit anything to this stranger even though she knew that Miranda probably already knew what she was going through.

"You know what's worse Gab?" Miranda said after a long pause, jumping in as if she expected Gabrielle to follow. "I don't know if there's anyone out there who could handle it once and if she ever let that happen." And with that she walked away again, customers calling for her attention.

Gabrielle came back to the present as Xena walked into her line of sight. She looked up and locked eyes with blue ones. She had gotten good at reading Xena's face, but this expression was completely unreadable. 'Damn, the walls are back up. It's only taken me 3 seasons to knock them down. Who was I kidding. It's taken Xena only hours to put them back up.' Gabrielle thought sadly.

"Sorry, I was trying to get back before you woke up." Xena said, her shaky voice instantly betraying her emotions. She walked over to Argo, with a pretense of putting some things away.

Gabrielle's heart broke at the casual sound. She would stick by this woman even if it was the last thing she did. She loved Xena.

Saying nothing, she waited until Xena turned back around. Gabrielle looked at those amazing blue eyes, and shyly patted the bedroll next to her. No, not all of the the walls were back up. There was still a chance.

Xena hesitated briefly, but she slowly walked over and sat beside the bard.

Gabrielle lovingly looked at her mate. The warrior looked so vulnerable, sitting there, looking at her hands. "Xena?" She said softly. She waited, but Xena only kept on staring at her hands. "Love." Gabrielle reached over and lightly touched her jaw, slowly turning her head toward her.

"Don't turn away from me please." Gabrielle pleaded as she searched for the answer in those amazing eyes. She turned her body so that she now faced the warrior. She took Xena's hands and concentrated on the feel of strength in the hands she was holding. Such incredible hands. So strong and yet sexy. She looked back up to her partner's face. There was fear. She is just as scared as I am.

"Have I ever told you that I love you?" Gabrielle said, with a bright smile.

Slowly, Xena softened her face. "Still?" She asked, some what timidly.

"Always." Gabrielle said with much conviction and seriousness. And she threw her arms around the warrior's neck. They hugged tighter and tighter as if their life depended on it. "Oh Xena! Please, don't shut me out." she whispered in her ear. "I love you, in every way. You will always be my hero." Gabrielle felt the arms tighten around her. Gods, Xena felt so good. 'I can never give this up.' She thought.

"Even after last night?" Xena choked out.

"Yes,Xena, especially after last night.

Warrior, I need you to love me." Gabrielle said fiercely. She wrapped her hands around dark hair. "I command you to love me, with the passion only you are capable of. love."

Feeling a surge of raw emotions, Xena kissed Gabrielle passionately as she lowered her to the ground. She roughly kissed her neck, sucking hard, biting, licking every inch. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew she should slow down, be gentle with her bard, but just when she decided to obey her mind, she felt Gabrielle's hand tighten around her head, pressing it hard to her.

"Yes." Gabrielle moaned. "Harder, I want to feel your teeth sinking in, I want you to draw blood. Possess me Xena, I want to be completely yours."

Xena couldn't believe what she was hearing. Any last rational thought was quickly forgotten and she went with the moment, giving in to the intensity.

She started to slide her hand down the moving body in front of her. Right before she got to her destination, she moaned loudly at the unexpected explosion of ecstasy. Gabrielle had suddenly raised her leg in between Xena's, and was pressing hard.

"We do this together, Xena." Gabrielle choked out, her breath sending shivers down Xena. She reached out and grabbed Xena's hips and pushed her down harder.

Xena screamed at the ecstasy. She brought her head down, she needed to kiss Gabrielle, need to taste her. Her hand finished it's journey down. Clothes meant nothing at this point, she wasn't wasting anytime removing anything. Xena's hand found it's way home. Gabrielle gave out a long drawn out moan. Xena drowned in the pleasure the sound sent through her body.

Xena worked, wanting nothing more than to please her bard. She pushed green clothing aside and attacked her breasts. Licking, sucking, caressing. At the same time, she rubbed herself up and down, feeling Gabrielle's hands at her hips, guiding her, amplifying the pleasure. Her world only consisted of the exquisite feelings she had at that moment. She felt herself losing control. This time, she was not frightened, she welcomed the freedom.

As she felt herself going over, she planted a searing kiss on Gabrielle, wanting to be fully connected as she gave in. She soon after felt Gabrielle tighten, and then pulse around her fingers. They both moaned deeply in each other's mouth.

Both laid there, Xena still on top of her bard breathing hard, sweating, and emotionally exhausted.

Gabrielle wrapped her arms tightly around Xena, keeping her in place. "Sleep now, my warrior. I've got you. It's ok.... I love you."

"I love you too Gabrielle."

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