~ Le Diable's Woman ~
by Shandy


Disclaimers: This is a Alternative Uber tale. The main characters are mine, although they are based on MCA Universal's Xena and Gabrielle. It is also Alternative so if this is illegal where you live, please leave now. I don't want to be held responsible for you being caught out, or worse, if your mother finds this on your harddrive…….its not good, believe me.

My characters:

Katherine Oscuro (Light) Gabrielle

Cody Caldwell Sangria(Blood) Le Diable Xena

Violence: ermmm……yes, of course.

Sex: Ermmmmmm…..yes again.

Anything else: yes, again….just read the story already.

spiceyangel@hotmail.com .


Part 6 (Conclusion)

Katharine was seated in an armchair against the fireplace absently fingering her locket when Cody got back. Immediately, she sprang up from her seat, letting the book on her lap fall and clatter to the ground. "Cody..." She breathed.

The pirate hung a jacket over the couch, the jacket Katharine recognised as belonging to the guard from the prison. Without a word, the pirate turned and started up the stairs in the lobby. A maid, moving like a ghost along the wall glanced up at her. She nodded once at Cody's stare, indicating that a bath had been drawn.

Katharine hurriedly placed her book back onto the shelf. After three hours of waiting for Cody, she had only reached the fourth page. She raced up the staircase, careful not to trip on her overlong skirt hem. Cody was entering a room not far ahead, a room Katharine recognised as the master bedroom. "Cody!" She cried, moving a little faster up the hallway.

The raven-tressed woman entered the room, leaving the door ajar for Katharine to follow inside.

As she entered, Katharine pushed the door closed and crossed the room to the only recently released criminal. She reached a hand to smooth back a lock of Cody's escaped hair.

Then, ever so slowly, blue eyes blazing, Cody leaned down, her lips softly claiming the younger woman's. Katharine's world began to spin as Cody's arms enfolded her, drawing her in, the kiss becoming more demanding. Her own mouth opened to the pirate's explorations. Leaning back against the poster of the bed, Katharine felt Cody's hands begin to wander over her body. Breaking the kiss, Cody stepped back, pain creasing her features as Katharine's fingers had splayed across fresh wounds.

"Goddess, I'm so sorry." Katharine gasped.

"Don't worry, I've had worse." Replied Cody. She winced as she remembered the utter humiliation of being flogged in front of this innocent woman. Katharine pulled out of her arms, fearful that she was the source of this pain.

"I'll….uh, leave you to your bath…." She said softly. The words awakened a feeling in the pirate, and suddenly she realised that she wanted all of the young blond, but worse still, was the fact that she wanted her now.

She swept Katharine into her arms, carrying her as easily as if she were a puppy. "Better yet," she grinned. "Why don't you join me?" Katharine grasped onto the pirate to stop from falling into the bath, her grip like iron bands across Cody's arms. Rather than let her fall, Cody lowered her gently into the awaiting water, ignoring the bilious skirts that Katharine was wearing. Katharine looked around. The bath wasn't the meagre tub she was used to seeing in various places; rather it was a large square of at least four feet width, in which she could float quite comfortably despite her dress.

"Oh my!" she exclaimed. "It's a little cold."

Cody scowled. "I forgot that ladies like yourself prefer heated baths." She turned towards the door and shouted for someone to bring hot water, giving her enough time to memorise the picture of Katharine sitting in the bath, looking like a wet cat.

She waited by the door for the water, but was startled back into the bathroom when she heard Katharine cry out.

"My locket!" she shouted, hair hanging in loose ringlets around her face.

Cody's eyebrow raised involuntarily. The silent maid was there with the water from the kitchen and Cody bid her leave. She tipped the water into the bath and grinned stupidly at Katharine. "Well, I guess that I'd better get in and help you find it."

Katharine looked up coyly. "Surely it doesn't take a locket to make you get into a bath with someone."

The pirate chuckled and removed her boots before stepping in, sliding silently into the now warm water, careful not to splash it over the side. She felt about under the bubbles for the locket, accidentally brushing against Katharine's thigh in the process. Katharine went to move out of the way, as she knew she should, but regretted it immediately as she slipped back down under the water.

Cody grasped at her and pulled her spluttering back to the surface. "It's slippery." Katharine noted.

Cody chuckled. "Oh. Really?"

She held up a locket. "I believe, that this belongs to you." Katharine smiled gratefully and reached for it. The pirate grinned and held the tiny chain out of the bath, teasing Katharine closer. Obliging, Katharine pulled herself over Cody, reaching for the necklace. Snaking her arm around the blonde's neck, the older woman pulled her in for a quick kiss.

Katharine sighed; her eyes still closed as Cody pulled away, again. She could feel her resolve weakening, yet what was she to do when Cody wouldn't even kiss her for longer than a minute?

As is hearing Katharine's silent cry to go further, Cody let the locket fall in order to wrap both arms around the blond, pulling her over her lap. Katharine settled on her knees between Cody's bent legs. Cody's tongue teased her lips again and Katharine pulled back, offering the pirate her neck with a silent glance at Cody's lightning blue eyes. The dark pirate kissed down to Katharine's breasts and teased the nubs with her tongue, heedless of the fabric that covered them. Katharine gasped at the feelings Cody evoked. She lost herself in the touch, wanting more, but not knowing how to ask for it. Cody's head raised up to nibble on her lover's earlobe. "I want you…. need you…" she whispered, as Katharine's fingers ran through her hair like rivulets of water.

"NO!" Katharine cried out suddenly.

Cody pushed her right back, breaking the holds that they had on each other. "What?" She gasped.

Katharine looked away sheepishly. "Cody, I..."

The pirate fingered a stray lock of golden hair. "That's fine. I shouldn't have pushed you so much, I - "

Katharine shook her head. "It's not that, it's just - "

"Katharine, it's alright, I understand."

"No, you don't." Katharine reached a hand to smooth a crease from Cody's forehead. "I want you so much, but - "

"Katharine, you don't have to explain."

"I just - "

"I wanted - "

"Cody!" Katharine's shout startled the pirate. "Would you listen? Please?"

Cody nodded.

"Cody, I want you so much that it scares me. I've never needed anything more than I need this."

"Then why - ?"

"I don't want to remember it being in a bathtub." Katharine sighed.

Cody chuckled. "Was that it?"

The younger woman nodded. Cody laughed loudly. "We don't have to do it in a bath tub, you silly girl. I just couldn't have waited to have you."

Katharine looked up at the glimmering blue eyes. "Really?"

"Yes, really." Cody grinned lopsidedly. "Now, you go change, and let me finish my bath, before I ravish you again."

Katharine smiled. She stood up slowly, remembering not to slip again. Cody watched as her new lover squeezed the excess water from her skirt, loving the way the wet fabric clung to the pert breasts. Katharine smiled softly as she exited the bathroom.

Sighing, the pirate sunk back into the tepid water. She bit her lip, remembering how Katharine had felt in her arms. Pliant, yet strong, she remembered looking at her and wondering how she would refrain from making her first time hard and fast. Gods, she wanted her so much! She realised that it would have to be slow and gentle, but it was going to take all of her willpower to stop from hurting the innocent woman. She slipped a hand down under the water, hoping to relieve some of the pressure and tension building up within her. She imagined her last sexual encounter, the one involving the whore from Diana's house, then felt guilty. She was planning on spending the night with Katharine, whom she had really strong feelings for, and here she was thinking about Helen. Mmmm, Helen with the fiery red hair and rounded upturned breasts. She moaned aloud, remembering that night, She wasn't sure whether it was the thought of things to come that took her higher, or the thought of things past that made her breath come heavier, forcing her hand to move faster and water to slop over the sides of the small tub, but all she knew was that all she was, was nothing compared to the feelings she and for Katharine. A thought she pondered as she brought herself roughly to climax.

**

Cody drifted in the now cold water, and realised that she would have to get out. Slipping her clothes off, clothes she hadn't removed getting into the bath, she dried herself quickly on a towel. The pirate slipped her dressing gown on and moved silently towards the door.

As she entered the room, she cursed herself for not remembering to put on the lamps. It must be later than she thought, as the room was cloaked in silky darkness. Confused, she looked about, and found that it was still late afternoon, but the curtains had been drawn and there was indeed one candle lit already in the room, giving the bed and surroundings an unearthly glow. Cody stepped forward to light the other lamps, but looked back again at the bed. Katharine was there, lying still on the bed. Her head was propped up on her hand as she lay on her side. Her hair fell around her shoulders like the hair of an angel. Cody let her gaze wander up and down the woman's body. Truly, it was probably the sexiest thing the pirate had ever seen - that is, until Katharine sat up, letting the silk sheet fall away from her, so that Cody could see that she wore nothing underneath. The pirate stepped toward the bed. Her eyes travelled lovingly up and down the body in front of her.

Moving again, her fingers slid under the bard's chin, then slowly guided her forward.

The pirate watched the blonde's eyes close as their lips moved ever closer. She stopped a fraction before they touched.

But Katharine had no intention of waiting. Pushing forward, Katharine brought their lips together tenderly. Cody's hands guided Katharine's hands to the back of her neck, feeling again the younger woman's fingers in the tendrils of her hair, then, she let her own hands fall to Katharine's waist. She pulled the woman against her, loving the gasp that came from Katharine's throat.

"I fear that it might hurt the first time." She whispered. Katharine looked up, lust plain in her eyes. Careful not to touch Cody's wounds, she wrapped her arms around the pirate, bringing her down over her.

The rest of the world fell away as each sank into the inconceivable rapture of actually tasting the lips they had yearned for,

Capturing Katharine's lower lip, Cody sucked gently as her hand glided across the slightly trembling muscles of her lover's back.

Katharine moaned at the exquisite soft wetness of Cody's mouth. Her lips parted, wanting to taste more of the pirate, wanting to draw her in, wanting to conquer her. Hands continued to seek, discovering soft hair, firm muscle, curves and valleys, silk cloth and skin just as beautiful - all resulting in both Katharine's and Cody's further arousal. Gently grasping the younger woman's lip with her teeth, Cody reached out her tongue, running it languidly across the surface, drawing a sweet moan from the woman nestled so perfectly in her arms.The liquid flame of Cody's tongue ran through Katharine's whole body like wildfire, melting her muscles, stealing her breath, creating truth from fantasy. Lying above Katharine, Cody slowly, so very slowly, brought her weight down, covering the bard's body with her own. Hip to hip, breast to breast, both groaned at the contact.

Katharine pulled Cody's bottom lip into her mouth and sucked. The pirate's body twitched then pressed even harder against hers. Raven hair fell around her face and muscled shoulders strained against her hands. Her hips had begun pushing against Katharine, begging for contact of any kind. The pirate's hand slid lower, stopping as she braced her other arm against the mattress.

Their tongues danced together both offering and accepting, demanding and surrendering.

Katharine felt her body rock as images began to flash into her imagination. Cody naked, kissing her breasts, moving lower.

Her own naked body bucking, hips lifting towards the pirate's eager mouth. Moans erupted from her throat, her hands grasping against the pirate's back. Cody let out a gasp of sudden pain and Katharine pulled her head down for another kiss, trying to relieve the pain. She grabbed the pirate's hips and pulled them more tightly to her, slipping her thigh between the muscled legs.

Pirate hands continued sliding over the bard's body, caressing firm muscles and soft skin.

Without breaking contact, the pirate brought the young blond to a sitting position against the pillows. Her head moved down between Katharine's breasts, trailing hot, wet kisses in their stead. She nibbled, sucked and fondled them, waiting to see how Katharine would react.

Katharine moaned audibly and pushed her hips up against Cody's legs. Tender flesh brushed against rock hard thigh and Cody tensed, moving herself against Katharine's clit. With a smile, Cody pulled herself up to once again conquer Katharine's mouth. Her hand moved down, gliding effortlessly across hair as soft as feathers. Katharine moved her legs further apart, not noticing the movement at first, but then relaxing as Cody traced a line up and down. Fine hair tickled her hand as a slow wave of heat soaked the bed sheet. "Ma belle femme…" The pirate whispered before beginning to suck on Katharine's neck.

Then, suddenly, Katharine pushed up, feeling Cody's finger inside her, while her hand moved in a slow circle against her clit. Katharine cried out and moaned, and Cody, hearing the moan, mistook it for pain and moved her hand slightly.

"Cody…" the woman moaned, "I love you."

Cody, startled, pulled her hand away, and stopped her assault on the woman's neck.

Yes, Cody, you succeeded. You made her want you and need you. Hell, you even made her love you. Everything is going your way. And in the morning, in the morning she'll hate you, and hate herself. Then she won't ever leave you, because no man will have her after you have. Only before you thought of Helen. How can you expect Katharine to give herself to you fully, while you're off with whores. Don't do that to her. You love her too much.

The barrage of thought hit the pirate, as a blow would have. She moved away, conscious now of her true feelings. Her expression made Katharine pull the bed sheet over her again. "Cody? What's wrong?" Katharine asked.

In shock, Cody looked away from Katharine, nursing her hand as if Katharine had burnt it.

"I can't do it to you." She whispered, her words only just audible. "Get out, before I hurt you."

Katharine's forehead knotted in confusion. Only moments ago, Cody had held her in her arms, whispering words of love to her, and now….? What was going on?

Cody leaped up from the bed, wrapping her discarded gown around her. She threw a chair out of her way in her anger. "Get out." She roared, unconscious of her effect on Katharine. The younger woman slipped out of the bed, and rushed for the door. Cody waited until she heard Katharine's door slam before falling back on the bed. Suddenly, she wept. She was losing a woman who had loved her. And, pulling the pillow that held the scent of Katharine close, she knew that there was nothing that she could do about it.

"I love you too, Katharine." She whispered into the pillow against her wet cheeks.

But it did no good; Katharine wasn't there when she awoke.

THE END



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