Bedtime Treat 2 by Caoillainn De Bhulbh

"Xena? Are you sure you're ok?" Gabrielle asked for the millionth time. The day was growing old; darkness was only a few hours away. Xena was dragging. Gabrielle had seen her tired before, but seldom like this. They had helped a village beat off some raiders, but not before major damage had been done The people were too poor to pay outsiders to rebuild; they'd had to do it all themselves. Gabrielle had been drafted to work in the makeshift hospital, but Xena had volunteered for construction duty. Most of the men had been wounded or killed and Xena was one of the few really strong people capable of heavy work.

And it was very hard work. There was hardly any lumber left to re-use, most of it had been burnt. That meant that new lumber had to be taken from the forest. Xena and the others had literally taken down large trees, sawed and chopped branches off, and hewn them into usable pieces.

Gabrielle was worried. Xena was very strong, possibly even half Divine, but the work had been to heavy for her and it showed. When they met for what passed as dinner, Xena was moving slowly and awkwardly. She said very little during the meal and ate less; Gabrielle kept darting worried glances at her. Afterwards Xena insisted on taking a walk to the lake.

"Are you sure you're ok?" Gabrielle repeated.

"Yeah," Xena replied casually.

"No you aren't, you're dead on your feet," the Bard retorted firmly.

Xena stared out over the calm water, so different from the commotion and destruction in the village. "I used to live for stuff like that,"the Warrior commented, still gazing at the tranquil waters so different from the turbulence in her heart.

"Don't start with that again, please," Gabrielle pleaded, trying to head her lover away from a well worn path of guilt. "You're not like that anymore. Give yourself some credit, will ya? Besides, this guilt tripping only holds you back. You know that, don't you?"

Xena almost smiled and ruffled her lover's short, shaggy hair. "Yeah, I know. Old habits die hard, ya know?"

Gabrielle smiled and took her arm. "Yeah, I know.." Then... "You didn't eat anything at dinner, did you?"

Xena's face betrayed her. "Umm.. No. Did you?"

The Bard made a face. "Not really. I realize they didn't have much left.. But Gods, who the Tartarus cooked that crap?"

Xena laughed in spite of herself. "Whatta ya say we go back to camp. I'll hunt something and you can do your usual kitchen magic."

Gabrielle considered it, then shook her head. "Nope, you aren't doing a damn thing. I'll do everything."

One ebony eyebrow disappeared beneath dark bangs. "What if it's another Killer Rabbit?" she said, wiggling her fingers at the last two words.

The Bard threw her a mock dirty look. "I'll think of something. Can I borrow your chakram?"

"No, I don't want you decapitating yourself."

"Ha ha."

"Use your sais."

Gabrielle frowned at her. "I guess.."

"Oh, come on, Gabrielle; you can a hit dinar at forty paces with those pig stickers of yours."

Gabrielle beamed. "Ya really think so?"

Xena nodded and kissed her. "Xena, Warrior Princess, doesn't think, she knows."

The Bard rolled her eyes.

Back at camp Gabrielle took charge and ordered her lover to lay down. Xena could only smile and obey. Truth be told, she was too damn tired to move another inch. Gabrielle gathered wood and quickly got a blaze going before setting off into the trees to find dinner. The Warrior lay back, and before she knew it, someone was nudging her.

"Xena? Wake up, dinner's ready." With a groan, she slowly sat up and blinked. It was dark, but Gabrielle's fair skin reflected the firelight in way that warmed her insides. A plate was presented and she took it, staring at the contents, still blinking. A veritable feast sat on it; but she ate in a stupor, the taste barely registering. Even chewing took all her energy. When she was done, a hand took the plate away and undressed her before pushing her back on her bedroll.

She closed her eyes and expected to fall asleep again. She didn't. Her abused muscles protested their treatment and she couldn't get comfortable. On top of that, she couldn't stop her mind from running in frantic circles. Even the faint scraping of Gabrielle's quill as she wrote grated on her ears.

After several fruitless changes of position, the annoying sound stopped. "Xena? Are you ok?"

She considered lying, but thought better of it. " I can't get to sleep," she muttered, feeling idiotic.

Gabrielle put her scroll away and knelt next to her. "I remember a time when you put me to sleep in the very best way when I was completely exhausted. Do you?"

Xena managed a grin. "Yup."

"Well, what are you waiting for? Roll over."

The tall warrior complied and Gabrielle straddled her. Her hair was brushed aside and small but strong hands began pinching the tight muscles in her neck. When they were loose, the hands moved down to her shoulders. A kiss landed between her shoulder blades, and the hands slowly worked their way down her stiff back. She could only yawn and sigh. Her arms were kneaded to the fingertips and back.

Gabrielle massaged her behind while half sitting on her legs, kissing each tight butt cheek
when she was done. Her legs were next. The Bard manipulated every muscle and joint down to her toes, sprinkling kisses along the way.

"Turn over," Gabrielle whispered.

With some effort she did so, feeling pleasantly heavy. She looked up at verdant eyes gazing at hers in total adoration. "What did I do to deserve you?" she murmured. She wanted to reach up and touch that beautiful face, but didn't have the energy.

"You were born," Gabrielle replied quietly.

She didn't know what to say in the face of such a profound and loving statement, so remained silent.

The Bard's fingers alighted on her temples and massaged the tension from them, then did the same for the rest of her face.

The Bard did her arms over again, lingering on her sore hands. It was Elysium on earth. Her front got the same unhurried, caring treatment.. Then the hands left her and she felt Gabrielle move up her body. She was tempted to open her eyes, but didn't.. At First. Then she gave in. Her lover was gazing at her with the same expression as before.

Gabrielle leaned down and kissed one eye shut, then the other, before planting one on each cheek. Xena licked her lips in sleepy anticipation, and Gabrielle did not disappoint. The Warrior felt a tongue tip brush her mouth, and a moment later soft lips melded with hers. The kiss was light and sweet, but it seared her to her toes and inflamed all points in between.

Gabrielle gently lowered herself onto Xena without breaking the kiss, indeed, when she was comfortably situated, she deepened it just a bit and slid her tongue into a willing mouth. They feasted on each other quietly for a bit before Gabrielle slowly licked her way down Xena's neck to her throat, nuzzling a pulse point now jumping with excitement.

After giving it a quick cleaning, the Bard kissed her way to a soft mound while her hand found it's twin. She rooted around the underside first, nuzzling and licking before taking pity on her groaning lover and concentrating on the dusky nipple. It was protruding, but still soft.. She flicked it a few times with her tongue, then sucked it into her mouth . It hardened instantly.

Xena twitched and moaned. Gabrielle grinned devilishly before attacking it with her tongue while rolling the other nipple stiff between her gentle fingers. She felt a pair of large hands land on her head and pull her downward. Not one to argue, she swirled her tongue around Xena's nipple and shifted until her damp patch pressed against the Warrior's taut belly. Then she switched breasts.

Xena made a noise and began squirming under her. The Bard took that as a sign and ground herself against the tight muscles as she fed. After a few minutes of this, the hands on her head moved to her shoulders and pushed. She took the hint and kissed her way down Xena's trembling body, stopping long enough to dip into a very cute belly button before reaching her destination. The hands pushed the top of her head and she took one last lick before settling herself between Xena's long, sexy legs.

She decided a direct approach was needed, but kissed the soft skin of her lover's inner thigh until they quivered with anticipation before taking a nosedive into the damp curls. Xena's warm, slippery flesh met her lips, and she began licking without mercy. The strong hips raised to meet her and those familiar hands landed on her head and pulled her forward. The only sounds were heavy breathing, punctuated by gasps, and wet noises; music to both their ears.

Gabrielle felt herself getting full and warm between her legs but concentrated on Xena. The Warrior's hips began to thrust in a rhythm; Gabrielle dug her booted toes into the dirt and pushed back, slipping three fingers deep into Xena at the same time. Xena arched back and twined her fingers tightly into Gabrielle's short, soft hair. The Bard smiled briefly, then winced as Xena tugged a bit too hard. Time to get going... She synchronized her licks with her finger thrusts, Xena's inner muscles clamped and released as she approached climax.

Keeping a steady rhythm, she drove Xena to the edge... And over. The Warrior went stiff,
then bucked against Gabrielle's face as her orgasm pounded through her. Xena's release triggered
her own, but she rode out her lover's waves with her until they stopped.

Gabrielle gave the swollen flesh one last kiss and slowly withdrew her fingers. Xena heaved a deep as her lover crawled on all fours to look down at her.

"Xena?" No reply. The Warrior was out like a light. Gabrielle smiled and lay down on her a moment before taking the taller woman by the shoulders and hips, rolling them both over so that Xena was on top with her head under Gabrielle's chin. The Warrior made a soft sound and stirred, but did not awaken. Usually it was the other way around, but Gabrielle loved lying like this, even though Xena often protested that she was too heavy for the Bard.

She pulled the sleeping fur over the both of them, wrapped her arms around her now slumbering soulmate, and quickly joined her in Morpheus's realm.

The End