With her breath caught in her throat and her eyes shut tightly closed, Gabrielle tried to ”move” again, although she didn’t plan on going anywhere. It was a soft sort of friction that time, but it was heavenly. Gabrielle let out the smallest moan, quickly clearing her throat to try and cover it. She couldn’t breathe. She felt like she couldn’t breathe at all.

Xena quickly discarded the belt – an easy task – and braced herself on the ground, so she could gather herself. She didn’t know what to say, or what not to say, either.

”I … the belt … came off,” she whispered, trying not to sound as raspy as she was at that moment. ”Sorry. I won’t … use my hands.”

”Xena … I … I think we should get up,” Gabrielle whispered back, filled with the guilt of her body’s reactions to Xena. What was wrong with her? She’d never felt that way before. Well, never like THAT.

Xena rolled off of her, glancing over to see Gabrielle staring at her lips. Was it always this way? She had to wonder.

The moon was glowing then, grazing the sides of their faces as they were turned to each other, trying to ignore everything that was right before their eyes. Xena, excited by her desire. Gabrielle afraid of hers.

”… I don’t know what I did,” Gabrielle confessed at last, taking slow, silent breaths as she watched Xena’s lips. It felt as though she couldn’t pull her eyes away.

”… Are you okay?” Xena whispered back, wanting more than anything to ask how it had felt for Gabrielle, but not knowing if that was quite appropriate.

”Yeah …”

It was quiet for a long period of time, where they were just looking at one another, before Gabrielle finally spoke again. She was often the one to break the silences between them.

”… Is that how it feels?”

Xena wanted to hold her, but she tried to keep her distance. ”It … Like sex?”

Gabrielle had never liked that word, but without any fuss, she nodded. She had always wanted to ask Xena about an activity to which the warrior held a superior knowledge. A small part of Gabrielle felt twisted about learning that others had been with Xena that way, but another part wanted to learn every detail.