“c1″> 

Half a
candlemark earlier the Conqueror had excused herself from dinner
with the members of her council telling them that that she had a
lot of paperwork to attend to. Presumably, Gabrielle still was at
the servant’s quarters telling a goodnight’s story to
the children. So, there was no rational excuse for Xena not to at
least begin to make a dent in the piles of scrolls littering her
desk.

“c1″> 

She
mentally readied herself for some candlemarks of boring work when
her eyes were drawn to the centre of the desk. There should have
been a square piece of parchment giving details about her schedule
for the next three days, instead there was a small scroll sealed
with her personal crest.

“c1″> 

Only
one living being was bold enough to use it without her knowledge.
So, she wasn’t surprised to find Gabrielle’s clear
handwriting inside. There were no rhymes and no rhythm but it
undeniably was a poem.

“c1″> 

Falling
asleep in misery and pain

I
opened my eyes to a sea of blue

Living
in darkness and fear

I found
myself bathed in sparkling light.

“c1″> 

I vowed
never to love

So my
heart would be save

Encased
in ice.

“c1″> 

Blue
fire melted the icy prison.

Your
eyes warmed my heart.

Your
arms carried my safely through the night.

Your
soul quietened
my fears.

“c1″> 

But I
never said: Thank you.

Never
told how much I love you

More
than words can say.

“c1″> 

“c1″>I’d like to show you instead

“c1″>Tonight.

“c1″> 

“c1″>G.

“c1″> 

“c1″>Suddenly the night was full of possibilities, and Xena
had a hard time not to hurry her steps towards the bedroom too
visibly.

“c1″> 

When
Xena opened the door Gabrielle immediately was in her arms,
greeting her with a passionate kiss. She was led to the bed where
the young woman quickly shed her sleeping shirt and began to slowly
undress her taller companion. Xena didn’t try to help her or
to return the kisses. She knew from experience that Gabrielle had
to go at her own pace to feel really save. She gently was pushed
back on the mattress and the blonde retraced her abdominal muscles
with hot kisses.

“c1″> 

“c1″>Gabrielle definitively knew her lover’s body and
she played it well. Desire rushed trough Xena, heat accumulating
between her thighs. Her breathing became ragged but still she
didn’t move.

“c1″> 

The
kissing stopped and green orbs seemed to burn a hole in her eyes.
Gabrielle only whispered but what she said made the tall woman
tremble with arousal, announcing a dream come
true.