Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ A Dark Heart ❯ A Hot Excursion ( Chapter 24 )

A low raspy voice, five warm fingers caressing her bare shoulder and the smell of a fresh cup of coffee awoke Bulma from her deep sleep. She blinked a few times and smiled languidly when her groggy mind realized the voice attempting to wake her up was none other than her lover's.

“Bulma, wake up,” he whispered once more, sitting by her side on the bed and quietly offering her the hot beverage.

Bulma yawned loudly as she slowly sat on the bed, leaning her back on the fluffy pillows and lazily stretching her limbs before finally reaching for the blue cup Vegeta kept patiently holding in his hand.

“Thank you,” she mumbled gratefully, stirring her drink with its little spoon and taking a sip.

It was perfect, with the right amount of milk and sugar, just the way she liked it, and she secretly wondered how that was even possible when the Saiyan had never even made coffee for her before. Bulma smiled inwardly, glad to learn her mate had paid more attention to her daily habits in the past than he'd probably like to admit.

“It's very good. Thank you, Vegeta,” she said again, gently stroking his shoulder, making him simply nod in silent reply; was it her imagination, or was he blushing a bit at her words of appreciation?

Bulma finally took a good look at him, taking in his relaxed stance. He looked well-rested, just like her, which was surprising considering she'd disrupted his sleep in the middle of the night, initiating what had turned out to be another round of tender but mind-blowing sex. Even though she'd been the one climbing on top of him, he'd soon rolled them over, taking full control of their coupling and leisurely making love to her. It wasn't unusual for her Prince to be domineering in bed, and yet, the woman flushed now when she recalled the extremely possessive way in which he'd taken her the night before.

As she savored her comforting drink, Bulma couldn't help but experience a tinge of embarrassment too at her excessively emotional behavior. She'd never cried in bed with Vegeta before, in fact, she'd barely ever shed tears in front of him, being the proud woman that she was and knowing how much the warrior despised her so-called `stupid human sensibility', and yet, she'd ended up crying more times than she cared to confess during their entire trip together. Still, Vegeta had never mocked or reprimanded her for her hypersensitive displays, choosing to comfort and soothe her instead. Everything about his conduct seemed to be different, from his patience when it came to her, to the incredibly affectionate way in which he'd been treating her.

It felt almost surreal, but here they were, sitting side by side in bed, quietly drinking a cup of coffee, almost as if they were a regular couple sharing an intimate, everyday moment together when, in fact, their relationship had always been anything but ordinary. She could count with the fingers of one hand the amount of times he'd actually been present when she'd wake up in the morning, due to his brutally gruesome daily training sessions, which he usually started before dawn. Whenever she'd found him still by her side in the break of day, it'd been only when his body hadn't reached fulfillment from their previous night activities and he still wanted to assuage his gluttonous Saiyan appetites. After a passionate morning session of marathon sex, he'd leave to train to the Gravity Room for a couple of hours before her mother would call him for breakfast. In those occasions, he'd certainly given her her fair share of pleasure, but his almost pathological fear of intimacy had always been there, standing between them like a hard-hearted, opaque wall, and she'd be lying if she said she hadn't felt a tad hurt at times by that distant attitude.

The man she'd managed to seduce on Earth was very different from the one sitting by her side, clad only in a pair of comfortable grey sweatpants, eyeing her circumspectly from the corner of the eye as she finished her drink.     

“Do you want more?” He asked, turning around slightly and grabbing her now empty cup.

By now, Bulma was absolutely dumbfounded by his attentive behavior.

“Uh? Um, no, it's fine…”

She stretched indolently one final time, allowing Vegeta to admire her lovely body, dimly illuminated by the warm colors of sunrise. It pleased him to notice her foolish insecurities and apprehensions from the previous night were long gone; if anything, it was he who felt a lack of confidence on how to act around her under their current circumstances. Even though he'd promised her a week together, he had no idea on what to do with her beyond the small surprise he had in store for her that morning. He could only hope Bulma would eventually take the initiative about everything else regarding this whole `relationship' business.

“I guess I could make us some breakfast. Are you hungry?” Bulma continued, starting to get off the bed.

“No,” he cut her off, standing beside her as he held both empty cups in one hand.

“No?” She asked, unable to hide the surprise in her voice.

He wasn't hungry?

That was new…

“I thought…” He replied, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.

“Yes?” Bulma prodded gently, encouraging him to finish his thoughts.

He looked at her with an almost neutral expression on his face, secretly hoping he wouldn't make an utter fool of himself, before finally gathering the courage to make his proposal. “I thought I'd take you somewhere first. There's something I'd like to show you…”

His words rapidly caught her attention, and Bulma couldn't help but raise her eyebrows a little in wonderment. “Really?” She smiled. “What is it?”

Vegeta smirked, the evident curiosity present on her pretty face suddenly bringing some of his poise back regarding his little plan.

“You'll see…” He replied mysteriously, swiftly turning around and walking out of the small bedroom. “Get dressed,” he instructed. “And put on something warm.”

Bulma stood completely naked in the middle of the room, both astonished and excited by the prospect of going somewhere special with Vegeta. She looked around and, seeing her mate had placed the suitcases containing their clothing on the floor, she knelt down, looking for something warm and comfortable to wear. She promptly felt giddy with anticipation, knowing this was the very first time Vegeta had taken the initiative when it came to making plans to do something together, and she couldn't wait to see what he had in store for her. Whatever it was, the fact that he'd made the effort to come up with something was more than enough to make her happy. Bulma chose a pair of old jeans and a cozy white sweater and, just as she placed them on the bed and was about to get dressed, a soft sound behind her startled her, making her turn around immediately.

She found Vegeta standing there, leaning on the bedroom's door with his arms crossed, fully dressed in human clothes and a pair of sneakers, and it was pretty obvious he'd been shamelessly staring at her naked form while she'd been distractedly looking for something to wear. For some reason, probably because of the incredible night they'd just spent together, Bulma felt oddly confident in her own body, and the unequivocal thirst present in her mate's eyes did absolutely nothing to make that new-found self-assurance go away.

“See something you like?” She asked coquettishly, placing her hands on her hips and winking at him in a playful, flirtatious manner, making a rush of heat spread across the warrior's face.

“Tch!” He quickly replied, simulating indifference as he privately struggled with the strong urge to grab those delicious ivory hips and pin them right into the mattress. “I was just wondering what the Hell was taking you so long…”

A proud smirk drew itself on Bulma's lips. “Is that so?” She inquired again. “Because I could have sworn you were ogling me like some pervy old man…” She carried on, grabbing the cozy-looking sweater and putting it on.

“Don't be ridiculous, woman!” He responded, his cock now twitching at the sight of the gorgeous woman slipping into a pair of old blue jeans and wearing absolutely nothing underneath. Whether his mischievous little mate knew what she was doing, he didn't know, but she appeared to be completely oblivious to his presence as she knelt on the soft carpet once again, looking for some suitable shoes to wear.

“Don't get your panties in a bunch…” She mumbled vaguely, picking up a pair of thick socks. “I'm almost done here. Besides, I thought we were on vacation, so what's the rush?”

The Saiyan remained silent for a minute, salivating at the creamy expanse of flesh impishly exposed every time her sweater rose as she bent over while she maneuvered to put her socks on, still sited on the floor. His fingers dug on his forearms on their own volition, and he briefly wondered if it would be such a bad thing to give up his pride, send his previous plans for an excursion to Hell and fuck her brains out right then and there. Then again, the woman seemed to have gone back to being the little spitfire he'd fallen for more than a year ago. Proving himself incapable of controlling his urges around her would only serve to swell her newly inflated ego even more.

“You truly are a vulgar woman…” He mumbled unintelligibly, feeling the tips of his ears burn disgracefully.

“Uh?”

“Nothing. I'll wait outside. If you're not ready in five minutes, I'm leaving without you,” he concluded, leaving the house without so much as waiting for a reply.

Bulma smiled widely as she leisurely put on a pair of walking boots, knowing without a doubt that her grumpy Saiyan was going nowhere without her.

She felt good.

Really good...

It was as if things were slowly going back to the way they used to be when they'd first started to feel that unmistakable attraction towards each other and their volatile dance of seduction had begun. All those arguments, sometimes about the most insignificant issues, sometimes about vital ones, when they'd yell, bicker and even insult each other, only to end up making up fervidly in the most unusual, unsafe places. Always thriving on the danger of getting caught, and on that heavy, unescapable fear both lovers felt in the back of their minds, knowing what they were doing was wrong, a forbidden adventure that wasn't meant to be, and yet secretly enjoying just how damn easy it was for the two of them to get lost, to detach themselves from the rest of the world, cursing anything and anyone who might dare to get in the way of the feverish desire that kept bringing them back together.

Perhaps that was the reason why it'd hurt so much to see him disappear, walking away from her and their child's life without so much as a goodbye or, at the very least, one that hadn't taken place while they were both asleep. The memory of Vegeta holding and kissing her and their son in their sleep before abandoning them suddenly flashed through her mind but, as she tied her hair in a messy bun, she did her best to ignore those sappy, sentimental emotions.

Bulma sighed, taking one final look in the full-length mirror before leaving her room and joining her mate outside. Today was a good day, and hopefully the beginning of an even better week which, if she was lucky, would end up with Vegeta finally making the choice she knew in her heart was the right one for him: going back to Earth with her and Trunks, right where he belonged.

She left the house, noticing Vegeta hadn't even bothered to close the entrance door, and she found him sitting on a large rock nearby, in that unmistakable stance that was both casual and oddly solemn. In moments like this, it was impossible to forget he was a Prince, after all.

“Should I encapsulate the house?”

Vegeta stood on his feet, deep in thought, newly scanning their surroundings in search of any foreign ki signal but, just as he'd previously thought, there was none, and the entire population had disappeared from the planet, except for the ones living and working in the metropolitan area they'd visited the previous night.

“Bring it with us, just in case,” he finally determined, watching her through pensive eyes as she pressed the button by the door and held the resulting tiny capsule in her hand, safely putting it inside one of her pockets.

“Alright,” she exclaimed impatiently, literally throwing herself in his arms and holding him tightly, much to his surprise. “I'm ready! We're flying, right?”

“We are,” he replied, slowly taking off into the air.

The place he was taking her to wasn't too far away from where they'd settled, and he hoped it hadn't changed all that much after all this time. Just how long had it been since he'd last visited Virggo? Ten? Fifteen years? He wasn't even sure anymore, all he could recall was having to endure Raditz and Nappa's drunken appalling stories about all the cheap whores they'd fucked while he'd been away from the city, taking solace in the wilderness and isolating himself from everything and everyone.

Vegeta felt Bulma laying her head upon his shoulder, tickling his skin with her warm breath. He glanced at his woman from the corner of the eye, and he gladly noticed the excitement now present on her lovely face. He subtly pressed her lithe body a little closer against his, the absence of his Saiyan armor allowing him to perfectly feel every soft curve melting against his vigorous body, making a shiver run through his spine. It was impossible to ignore the fact that she wasn't wearing anything underneath her white sweater, just like he couldn't ignore the naughty look she was now giving him.

“What is it?” He finally asked.

“Nothing…” Bulma replied with fake naivete. “I was just thinking how you haven't even kissed me yet this morning…”

The warrior's throat bobbed uncomfortably.

Oh yeah, it looked like the old, brazen Bulma Briefs was back in full force…

“And why the blazes would I do that?” He replied, frowning in a vain attempt to conceal his embarrassment that his woman recognized immediately. For a man that adored taking control when they were in bed together, he could be such a prig sometimes, and she couldn't help but find his prudish behavior irresistibly cute; there was nothing she enjoyed more in this world than teasing him endlessly for it.   

“No reason,” she shrugged indifferently, before boldly licking his earlobe. She did it just once, but it was enough to make Vegeta groan in response, unconsciously digging his fingers deeper into her flesh.

“Bulma…” He threatened in a low, intimidating voice.

“Hn?” She asked innocently, licking it again and nipping it slightly.

“I suggest you stop that unless you wish to…”

He ceased his words at the unexpected sensation of her teeth sinking into his hot cheek, biting hard enough to make him halt his flight at once. They remained still for a few moments, quietly floating in the cold morning air while the Prince tried to keep his emotions in check. Vegeta looked into her eyes, the devilish smirk adorning her juicy lips warning him that her mischievous little mind was now plotting her next mischief. 

That damn woman really had no shame…

Just as she was about to approach him again with the undeniable intention of teasing him once more, he gently but firmly held her jaw, looking her fiercely in the eye.

“Enough!” He whispered ferociously against her mouth before crushing it against hers, moaning at her immediate response to his desperate, almost angry kiss.

Bulma smirked triumphantly against his lips at both her victory and Vegeta's eagerness, knowing that deep down he was loving every second of that passionate kiss. All it'd taken was a little push for him to give in to her, that's the way things had always been between them. They kissed for a few more minutes, his arm possessively encircling her waist while hers were laced around his neck with the same ardor as their tongues hungrily explored each other's mouth. The couple was still floating in the air, and Bulma cherished the sensation of knowing she was in such a vulnerable position and yet, having the absolute certainty that Vegeta would always catch her in her fall.

Bulma finally broke the kiss, panting mildly and pressing her brow against his, nuzzling his nose cheekily.

“There,” she smiled proudly. “Was it really so hard to give in to me?”

“Hn. Don't flatter yourself,” he replied arrogantly in a hoarse voice, the fierce blush invading his tanned skin betraying is false aloofness. “I've only done it so you'd shut your loud, annoying mouth for five minutes.”

Her cocky smile grew even wider. “Really? Mmm… It seems to me that you enjoy kissing my loud, annoying mouth far too much, my darling…”

“Well…” He continued, running his thumb across her lower lip one final time before finally letting go of her face, holding her tight against him with both arms. “Perhaps I am a glutton for punishment, after all…”

“Mmm…” She moaned in agreement, delicately kissing his cheek one final time before going back to hiding her face in the crook of his neck, silently letting him know she was ready for him to resume his flight. “You're right. You do have a very, very healthy appetite, Vegeta…”

“Must you always have the last word?”

“Yup!”

Vegeta shook his head and quietly restarted their journey, pretending to be irritated but secretly pleased to see his mate finally getting some of her old spunk back. He hoped Bulma would be satisfied with their small intimate moment together, and so it seemed, because he didn't hear a peep out of her until they eventually reached their destination. As soon as Vegeta's feet touched the ground, his heart was put at ease when he discovered that his old favorite spot on the planet had remained virtually untouched.

He kindly rubbed his mate's back with one hand as he kept holding her still with the other, communicating without words that they'd finally arrived. Bulma stood on wobbly legs for a second, looking at him through sleepy eyes and blinking lazily, making Vegeta unable to hold back an amused chuckle. It looked like the silly woman had fallen asleep during their journey.    

“We've arrived?” She asked, rubbing her eyes drowsily and stifling back a little yawn.

Vegeta assented, releasing her when he saw she was finally able to stand on her own.

“What was it you wanted to show me, then?”

“See it for yourself…” He replied, encouraging Bulma to turn around with a nod of his head so she could discover his surprise. She let go of him, following his instructions without arguing, her curiosity clearly evident in her big blue eyes.

“What is it? Why…?”

She couldn't even finish her last question, immediately rendered speechless by her new discovery.

“Wow…” Bulma gasped in wonder, taking a few steps forward and inspecting her surroundings.

In front of her, she saw what appeared to be some kind of natural lake, but the polished dark green stone surrounding it, and a couple of old wooden benches nearby, told her it had been, at least partially, built by the hand of man. The warm crystalline waters released a faint steam, and there was a quiet, calm solemnity about the place. Bulma had to admit that it truly was a magnificent view. 

She heard Vegeta's footsteps approaching her, and she instantly felt his comforting presence envelop her as he stood by her side.

“This is so beautiful, Vegeta…” She whispered in awe.

Vegeta nodded in silent agreement, crossing his arms regally and inspecting the place.

“These are Virggo's Thermal Baths,” he explained coolly. “It was said that these waters have healing properties for both the body and the mind.”

“Really? And how did you know about this place?”

Vegeta hesitated for a second before offering his mate an answer, fearing she'd get the wrong idea if he told her the truth. Eventually, he concluded that it shouldn't matter, after all, weren't they giving this `honest relationship' thing a chance?

“I visited this planet on a few occasions, years ago.”

Bulma squinted, her mouth immediately turning into a distinctive shape of disgust.

“Really?”

“My, my… We are jealous, aren't we, woman?” Vegeta smirked maliciously, masking his internal embarrassment about his revelation. Even though a part of him enjoyed Bulma's obvious jealousy, he didn't want to hurt her feelings either, and he certainly didn't want to give her the impression that he was the kind of man who'd indulge in certain sexual activities in places such as the ones those two third-class assholes used to frequent.

Bulma scowled, huffing proudly and looking away from him almost offended.

“Jealous? Me? Ha!” She retorted. “Keep dreaming, Veggie-boy…” She crossed her arms, imitating his actions, and she proceeded to walk closer to the hot lake, noticing a few large steps carved inside in the same dark green stone, clearly designed to access the semi-artificial pool with greater ease.

“I guess I didn't take you for the kind of man who enjoyed visiting places like this. That's all…” Bulma continued, examining the warm, crystal-like waters, wondering how safe bathing in here would truly be.

She felt a fast rush of air on her back, and before she knew it, Vegeta was standing right behind her, his strong arms wrapped greedily around her waist as he whispered passionately in her ear.

“I am not,” he confessed, finally putting her doubts to rest.

Bulma turned her head to the side, smiling in satisfaction, her sweet, warm breath ghosting over his lips.

“I know…” She replied, resting her hands on top of his and kissing him softly once more, allowing the warrior to taste the honesty pouring from her kiss. She knew with absolute certainty that her man would never sleep with the kind of women that worked on Planet Virggo, but she found it enormously humorous that he was trying to rile her up and make her jealous considering the possessive way in which he'd treated her the previous night.

She turned around in his embrace, her mouth never abandoning his, pressing her breasts against his chest and caressing his cheeks as she deepened their kiss, relishing how relaxed and eager Vegeta was acting towards her that morning.

Yes…

Maybe there was still hope for them, after all…

“So…” Bulma muttered seductively against his lips, her fingers stroking his cheeks affectionately. He raised an eyebrow, completely entranced by those shimmery turquoise eyes of hers.

“So?”

“I assume you brought me here to go for a swim?”

Vegeta nodded. The smile on her flawless face told him she was pleased with his offer, and yet, he couldn't help but feel a tad nervous about spending time with her like this. He now understood what she'd meant when she'd said that all she wanted was some time alone with him. He'd thought the idea ridiculous at first, after all, hadn't they already spent time together in the past? They'd had sex, bathed and eaten in each other's company more times than he could count but, if he was honest with himself, he knew things had never been like this between them.

The impending doom of the mysterious androids, his neurotic obsession with the defeat of his now-deceased nemesis, with the added stress that his abandonment of her and their unborn child had put on their already fragile relationship, hadn't been the most favorable circumstances for a meaningful bond to develop between them. In fact, one of the main reasons why he'd left the Earth after the Cell Games had been due to the panic his heart experienced at the thought of being bonded to Bulma. Not only because of his natural fear of intimacy with another being, but because, deep down, he truly believed his woman deserved better.

And now she was standing here, in his arms, her soothing touch making all his demons and qualms go away into the dark unexplored corners of his tortured mind, tempting him, luring him to just relax, to embrace everything this unique woman had to offer and let go… 

“I… I know how much you enjoy bathing, and I thought that you…”

Bulma cut him off again, the enticing sensation of her hungry lips silencing his awkward explanation with another kiss. She knew how hard expressing himself verbally had always been for him, and she had no words to explain what it meant seeing how much thought he'd put into coming up with a plan to make her happy.

“It's perfect, Vegeta,” she replied with the most dazzling of smiles. “Absolutely perfect…”

The Saiyan held her gaze for an instant, allowing himself a subtle, treacherous smile of satisfaction. He removed her fragile hands away from his face, kissing her fingertips delicately before finally letting go of her and turning around, walking towards one of the old wooden benches nearby, where he placed his clothing and sneakers, which he swiftly removed. He stood completely naked in front of her, giving her his back and, abruptly, he jumped into the lake.

Bulma remained still by the stairs of the artificial pool, her pearly white teeth instinctively biting her lip at the sight of her mate swimming naked and with absolutely no inhibitions in her presence. His perfect muscles moved with the grace of an Olympic swimmer, the hot, transparent waters bathing his bronzed skin as he swam at a pace she knew was actually slow for him, but which would be almost superhuman for any Earthling. At times he submerged his body, completely disappearing from her view for a few seconds, only to reappear on the other side of the lake. There was something almost animalistic in his smooth movements, and it occurred to her that it was as if he possessed an endless field of explosive pent-up energy that had to be released or else he'd die.

After swimming from one side to the other of the lake several times, he finally swam casually in her direction, keeping his dark, smoldering eyes fixated on her as she waited in anticipation for his next move. Once he finally reached the stone-carved stairs, he walked up a few of them, exposing his torso to her as the water keep covering his body from the waist down from her starving eyes. Playful rivulets of water run through his perfectly sculpted chest and abdomen, and some of the many scars that marred his skin had turned a faint pink from the heat. He wiped the excess water from his face, offering her another arrogant, playful smirk.     

“What's the matter, little human? Are you afraid to join me?” He challenged.

Bulma looked at him in mocking disbelief, shaking her head slowly, her hands firmly placed on her hips in an act of pure defiance. She chuckled, walking to the bench Vegeta had placed his clothes on and sitting down, completely ignoring him as she removed her boots and socks. When she was done she stood up slowly, giving him her back, just as he'd done before her. A slight, discrete peek told her she had his full undivided attention, and with the knowledge that two could play this game, she decided to deliberately put on a little show for him.

Her small hands took off her oversized white sweater, revealing her inviting hourglass figure and the glowing alabaster skin of her back bit by bit. The warrior's unshakeable eyes couldn't miss the enticing way in which her generous breasts bounced when she bent over, those same hands now travelling to the waist of her stone washed jeans, unbuttoning them unhurriedly, swaying her hips a little, side to side, as the last item of clothing bared, not only a pair of perfect long legs, but the achingly smooth rosy labia between her thighs.

Vegeta's fists kept clenching and unclenching excitedly underneath the water, hating to admit he hadn't anticipated just how hard it would be for him to keep his darkest impulses at bay with a naked Bulma by his side. After having had his fill of the woman just the previous night, he'd hoped his hunger would have been sated, at least temporarily. But one look at his woman seemed to be enough to drive him over the edge, and desire burned brightly in his gaze when she quietly extended her hand to him, silently asking for help. He immediately took it, watching carefully as she charmingly submerged her little toes in the water to test its temperature, and he smirked in satisfaction when he saw the approval on her beautiful face.

Bulma smiled gratefully at Vegeta when she reached the spot he was standing at.

“Thank you,” she whispered, letting go of his hand and moving past him, reaching the end of the stairs and swimming away from him.

At first, the Saiyan didn't quite know what to do.

Should he follow her and swim by her side?

The woman appeared to be doing just fine on her own, so he simply sat on the jade green stone, right where he was, enjoying the sensation of the soothing waters covering his entire form up to his shoulders. He closed his eyes, sighing in relief, and a strange sense of déjà vu engulfed him: the memories of the teenager he used to be, resorting to loneliness as a coping mechanism to deal with events he'd been far too young to be exposed to. If anyone had told him back then that someday he'd come back to Virggo already mated and with a child of his own, he would have found it an impossible idea, and yet, there he was, unable to take his eyes of the extraordinary woman that had erupted into his world like a hurricane, turning his life upside down.

Bulma was having the time of her life, sometimes swimming leisurely and, at other times, splashing lightheartedly or simply floating in the warm relaxing waters with her eyes closed and a blissful smile on her face. Vegeta looked her over in complete silence with dark, predatory eyes, taking in every detail of that luscious body. He'd certainly had the opportunity to appreciate it the night before, but now he loved being able to enjoy it in broad daylight, and the best part of it was seeing how happy and uninhibited his little mate had become.

It reminded him once again of the early stages of their relationship, and the first time he'd experienced a pang of jealousy before she was even his, on a dark summer night when, just as he'd left his beloved Gravity Room after one of his daily masochistic training sessions, he'd caught Bulma and her then human lover skinny dipping inside Capsule Corp's massive swimming pool. The sighting had been brief, and certainly unintentional, but the astonishing image of the woman's nude body temptingly bathed by the pale moonlight had forever remained imprinted on his mind, prompting some very dark tantalizing fantasies during his lonely, and very often sleepless, nights.

Looking back, perhaps that was the moment he'd decided, at least subconsciously, to one day conquer her and make her his…  

Vegeta had been so engrossed, he didn't even notice Bulma swimming in his direction until she was almost by his side. Once she reached him, she joined him by the stairs, sitting on top of one of his strong thighs and freely wrapping her arms around his neck.

“Hey…” She whispered happily, nuzzling his cheek with her cute wet nose. “Are you okay?”

The Saiyan's hands instinctively found her narrow waist, his fingers tingling at the touch of her skin as he observed her quietly. Part of her turquoise hair was still safely dry, pulled into a cute little bun, but a few damp unruly hair locks were now loose, framing her pretty face. Her bangs were getting longer, just like the rest of her hair, and he gently pulled them aside so he could better appreciate those bottomless blue eyes. She looked happy as a lark, and her usually porcelain-like skin had now turned a delectable rosy pink from the natural heat of the healing waters.

“Mmm…” Bulma moaned softly, kissing his jaw lovingly and burrowing her face in the curve of his neck, pressing her nude, enticing body even closer to him. “This is Heaven…” She susurrated, running her long fingers lazily across the nape of his neck.

Vegeta closed his eyes and remained silent, enthralled by her touch and the incredibly comforting sensation of her inviting figure melding perfectly against his. His hands kept caressing the alluring curve between her hips and waist, delighting in the minuscule reactions she so desperately tried to hide. He knew just how ticklish his woman could be and he enjoyed tormenting her mercilessly with his playful petting.

After a while, Bulma's breath gradually slowed down, unable to recall when was the last time she'd felt as blissfully relaxed as in that very moment.

“This is so beautiful, Vegeta…” She said again, laying tiny kisses all over the skin of his neck, which felt even hotter than the water itself, before finally raising her head and holding his gaze once more. “How did you even know this place?” She asked curiously.

Her clever fingers never ceased her soothing ministrations and, by now, Vegeta was having a hard time thinking straight. It was a rare mixture of feeling both incredibly tranquil and excited at once and, as always, he couldn't help but wonder if his mate truly knew the extent of the power of her touch or whether she was just acting naturally, driven by instinct and relying on her natural charms alone.

“I used to come here whenever we visited the planet,” he finally replied, losing himself in her bright eyes as his arms encircled her waist and pulled her even closer.

“Who's `we'?”

“Nappa, Raditz and myself.” 

His answer was immediate and honest, free now from any of the usual discomfort and restraint he used to experience whenever Bulma asked him any questions. In their early days, he'd always felt uncomfortable, almost the victim of some kind of interrogation, by her snoopy questions, but now things were different.

Now, he'd come to trust this woman.

He trusted her with his life…

It was an emotion that should have been making him run for the hills, and yet, he simply kept holding her against him, freely offering her a glimpse of his past.

“I see…” Bulma muttered thoughtfully. “So, they slept with those…? With those girls when they came here?”

“Yes.”

“But you didn't.”

“No.”

“So, you just…? You just came here? All by yourself?”

“I did.”

Her fingers dug a little deeper into his flesh, and Vegeta immediately recognized that look of pity in her eyes he knew too well by now. One of his hands reached her face, delicately caressing her skin in an effort to distract her from her thoughts of commiseration. She gratefully welcomed his gentle touch, rubbing her cheek against his rugged palm as she held his gaze.

“How old were you?” She asked in a hushed whisper.

Vegeta shrugged with indifference, wondering why she even cared about such trivial matters at this point, but indulging her once again anyway.

“I'm not sure… Fifteen? Sixteen? It's hard to tell in human years anyway…”

Bulma remained silent, pondering the new facts her mate had just revealed to her.

A teenager.

Vegeta had merely been a teenager back then, just around the same age she'd been back when she'd met Goku during her quest to find the mythical Dragon Balls.

Gods!

The more she thought about her young teenage self and reminisced on all the adventures and dangers she'd put herself in during her reckless exploits, the more she realized her troubles looked like child's play compared to the horrors her mate had witnessed and been exposed to in his youth. Despite the fact that they'd lived together in Capsule Corp. for three years, it was only during these past few weeks that she'd finally gotten to see a side of Vegeta she'd never thought possible before. A past filled with experiences, so extreme in every way, that had forced his innocence to be cut short way too soon.

His confession back in the ship about Nappa and the horrible things he'd done to that poor young slave, so terrible he hadn't even dared to openly discuss them with her, made her suspect that if the older brute had been shameless enough to brag about raping a young woman in front of his Prince, then he and Raditz would surely have had no trouble relating their grotesque sexual experiences with a much too young Vegeta.

Bulma shivered in horror at the ghastly images running uncontrollably through her mind, and her involuntary physical reaction wasn't lost on her lover, his slightly trembling calloused fingers still lingering over her cheek.  

“Bulma…” He finally mumbled, trying to come up with a way to change the topic of discussion. It'd been such a perfect day so far and he didn't want to ruin things by discussing his tortured past anymore.  

As if she'd read his thoughts, and before he could say another word, Bulma's lips found his, saving him the effort of finding an excuse and swallowing his nervousness, meshing her body with his, instantly feeling as if they'd become one. Vegeta reciprocated immediately, moaning into her mouth as his fingers clutched her waist, their tongues dancing together, sharing just the sheer joy of simply being together, enjoying this rare moment of peace.

When they eventually separated, almost out of breath, the Prince kept his eyes locked on hers, letting go of her small body momentarily to reach her hair, undoing her bun and letting her hair down, appreciating the chaotic waterfall of blue waves as he took in every single detail of her gorgeous features, from those endless turquoise eyes to her succulent, inflamed lips. His hands traced a languid path across her face, from her temples to the blushing sides of her cheeks, caressing its flawless contours until he reached her jaw, and then her long, swan-like neck, where Vegeta's rough fingertips encountered the thin, silvery chain of the blue pendant he'd left for her on their last night together on Earth.

Vegeta's face contorted in a subtle but distinctive pained frown as he set his eyes on the valuable jewel.

“I found it in my nightstand,” Bulma said, feeling that his strange reaction most likely meant the ornament held some special meaning to him. “I assumed it was for me…” She continued in a voice which was half a question and half a whisper.

The Saiyan raised his gaze, squinting his eyes imperceptibly and nodding in confirmation, he then turned his sights on the prized gem once more, looking mysteriously deep in thought.

“It was my Mother's…” He confessed absently in a hushed whisper.

Bulma swallowed heavily, holding her breath in shock at his revelation, her hands clutched his shoulders tighter while her mind tried to elaborate a reply.

Vegeta's mother…

Now that was the one person her mate had never ever talked about. She recalled having been able to worm a story or two about his father, King Vegeta, out of him, but she'd never dared to enquire about his mother. She knew Vegeta had been very adamant about her having Trunks removed before her due date, alleging to how dangerous birthing a Saiyan child could be, and he'd briefly mentioned his mother had survived his birth, but beyond that information, she knew absolutely nothing about his relationship with his mother, assuming he even had memories of her given how young he was when he was handed over to Frieza.

“The Queen?” She finally asked shyly.

The Prince nodded in assent once again, his eyes never leaving the pendant as he soothingly traced small circles in Bulma's silky shoulders with his large hands.

“It passed down from generation to generation of Saiyan Queens for more than three hundred years…” He replied, the sadness in his voice becoming increasingly evident now.

One of her hands reached down to the jewel, holding it between her thumb and index fingers as she looked at it with a concerned, almost guilt-ridden frown of her own.

“I'm sorry, Vegeta… I…. I didn't know… If I'd known how… How valuable it was, I wouldn't have worn it. I guess I should…”

Vegeta immediately shook his head, circling her delicate face between his hands and staring right into her surprised eyes.

“You should wear it, woman,” he suggested with firm conviction. “It suits you…”

Bulma's throat tightened, and she nodded numbly in assent, already feeling her body react to her mate's kind touch. A big part of her wanted nothing more than to ask more about his mother and his heritage, but his very evident discomfort made her try to lighten up the mood a little.

“So…” She said, her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him even closer as she lifted her chin proudly. “Does that mean I could have been Queen?” She asked with a playful smile on her lips.

Vegeta raised an eyebrow at that, tilting his head slightly to the side as he gave her an answer with an enigmatic expression on his face.

“I believe you would have been the most powerful Queen my people would have ever seen…” He responded in a serious tone, his dark eyes fixated on hers.

Bulma's eyes and smile widened at his rare reply. It was uncommon for the Prince to praise or compliment her too often, almost always choosing to mock her instead in order to bring her ego down a notch.

“Aw, Vegeta… Really?” She giggled enthusiastically. “You really think…?”

“Of course, I do,” he interjected before she could finish her sentence. “Your annoying banter and incessant screeching would undoubtedly have brought entire nations down on their knees,” he concluded, his mouth now adorned with one of his trademarked malicious smirks.

Ah, yes…

There was that Saiyan asshole again. The one she'd fallen for, much to her shame…

She stared at him in shock for a few moments. Her wild eyes and furious pout, seething in anger, told Vegeta he'd really crossed the line this time. His far too sensitive ears got ready for the loud, angry tirade he knew was coming.

And yet, it never did.

Quite on the contrary, the minute Bulma's lips formed a smirk that matched his own, the warrior knew he was in trouble.

“Is that so?” She asked in a husky, seductive voice, resting her forehead against his and softly nipping the tip of his sharp, regal nose, leaving him utterly shocked and confused.

What was happening?

Why wasn't his woman fighting back?

He swallowed heavily, nodding again, completely incapable of forming a cohesive sentence. And things got even worse when Bulma's body shifted her position, going from being innocently sited on one of his thighs to turning on his embrace, lifting one of her legs and placing its knee on the rock stair he was sitting on, and the other knee on the other side, effectively trapping his body beneath hers.   

Oh…

The woman was fighting back, just not in the way he'd first anticipated…

“Because…” She whispered again, the tip of her rosy tongue licking his lower lip. “If memory serves me right, you seemed to have no problem with my incessant screeching last night…”

Vegeta snickered with difficulty, trying to gather whatever remains of self-control he had left in him, realizing his battle for dominance may very well have been lost already.

“I have no idea what you're talking about, little human,” he mustered, settling his greedy hands on her milky hips. “The only noise I recall is the desperate begging I forced out of your mouth last night…”

Bulma's dirty smile never left her lips as she carefully removed a lock of damp hair from Vegeta's forehead. Her hands then travelled to her mate's muscly chest, her nails tracing idle circles across the warm, wet skin, making him shiver when her naughty little fingers grazed his nipples, hardening them immediately. 

“Mhmm…” She moaned impishly, her blue eyes feasting on the perfection of the manly body sitting underneath her. “Can you blame me? I mean…” She continued, pinching one of those hardened nipples and eliciting a gasp from him in return. “How could a woman be teased by a man like you without begging for more? Mhmm?”

Vegeta kept quiet. His head felt hot and dizzy, and he had to fight his increasingly heavy eye lids from closing and giving in completely to her touch. He knew this was payback for the incredibly submissive way in which she'd allowed herself to be taken the prior night. His woman was just as proud and stubborn as he was, and yet, she never seemed to have a problem with him taking control of their coupling, if anything, she actually appeared to enjoy it far too much. He'd never asked exactly why that was, but he'd always assumed it had something to do with how exceptionally powerful Bulma was in her home planet. Vegeta was no fool, and he knew that, despite the fact that his touch had an extremely arousing effect on his woman, there had to be something more to her surrender. He suspected that she also relished being able to give herself to him and let him take charge because in her daily life, she was the one who was forced to be in control, both in her home and her family business, at all times.

Of course, that wasn't always the case, and occasionally she'd be the one forcing him to submit to her, and with astounding ease he might add. In fact, one of the main reasons why it had taken him so long to give in and allow himself to establish some kind of a relationship with this woman was that he'd always found it downright scary how easy it was for her to bend him to her will when it really suited her. During those rare but powerful times, his Saiyan pride had always laid forgotten in the end as his little female had her way with him.    

Bulma's hands kept moving downwards, caressing the indentations of his perfectly chiseled abs and savoring victoriously both his very evident struggle to control his ragged breathing and the way his sculpted body trembled in desire against her soft form. Her journey reached its end when her long fingers rested innocently on his groin, and she couldn't help but bite her moist lip in anticipation as she noticed his already half-hardened member getting ready just for her.

“Perhaps…” She muttered against his lips, her fingertips laying maddeningly still on his impatient skin. “Perhaps you should be the one begging for me now, Prince Vegeta…”

An innocent peck on the lips made him grunt in exasperation, and his Adam's apple bobbed nervously once more, his hands clutching her flesh even harder as he let his pride ultimately speak for him. 

“A Prince never begs, woman…”

“Oh?” Bulma asked in mocked surprise. “Really? Ummm…”

Her hands wrapped themselves around his now fully erect manhood, working his length up and down with one hand as she stimulated his bulbous tip with the index finger of the other, drawing tiny circles on it. It wasn't long before she was rewarded with a deep groan from her mate, losing himself in her tantalizing touch. His head found the curve of her neck as he closed his eyes, biting the inside of his cheek so hard he could taste blood and panting loudly through his nose.

The hard evidence of this titillating woman knowing his body like the palm of her hand felt both like a blessing and a curse...

“I'd say you're enjoying this, my love…” She whispered suggestively in his ear, her sweet, teasing voice feeling like an echo in the distance in sharp contrast with the bold, almost rough way in which she was milking his hardness with both hands now. “I bet I can make you beg for more…”

Vegeta still refused to give in to her wishes, and his hands left her body in a pitiful act of rebellion, holding onto the jade green rock of the stairs, getting lost in the pleasure only his mate could provide.

He was getting close, so dangerously close to the edge…

“Mhmm… I see you're still stubborn as always…” She sighed in amusing disappointment. “That's too bad…” Before the warrior's dazed mind could grasp what devious plan she had in store for him, Bulma simply ceased her ministrations, abruptly taking her hands off him.

His heavy eyes opened instantly, his entire being feeling as if a jug of cold water had just been poured all over him. He raised his head, and the devilish sparkle in his mate's gaze made him feel both infuriated and strangely proud of her clever, mischievous ways. It was control that she wanted, the very thing he hated to relinquish the most, and yet, his shuddering body now seemed to have very different plans, and one only aim in mind: release.

Vegeta's hands travelled back to her body on their own volition, one of them digging his fingers into her waist as the other desperately grabbed her fragile wrist, pleading for her to finish what she'd started.

“Bulma…” He murmured miserably into her skin with his brow pressed against her shoulder, making her smile victoriously.

Yes…

Now she had him literally in the palm of her hand…

She knew this was the closest to begging her proud mate would get, and seeing him in this state had turned her on far more than she was willing to admit, so she stroked his length lightly a few times before raising her hips, positioning herself on top of him and taking him in slowly, engulfing him within her tight warmth.

Her back arched, pressing her chest against his as Vegeta hissed at the unbelievable sensation, feeling her pelvis rock leisurely, his own pleasure completely at her mercy as she set up her pace. His rough hands soon found her breasts, fondling them gently as his tongue worked his magic on her erect nipples.

“Oh, yes…” Bulma moaned, arching her back even further and offering herself to him. Her nails raked across his hot shoulders and neck, sinking on the back of his head. She mewled as he kept sucking on her tits, increasing the speed of her movements as she rode his thick, hard cock, savoring the thrill of knowing she was the one doing this to him, getting him in this state of pure, desperate need.

Only she possessed such power…

Her hands clutched a handful of his wild hair and she pulled hard on it, almost aggressively, forcing his head back as she made love to him, her hips working him over repeatedly. She knew how close he was to his climax and, wanting nothing more than to join him, she brazenly grabbed one of his hands, guiding him to her center.

“Touch me…” She commanded, panting heavily against his lips in a breathless whisper that was both a demand and a plea.

Her lover didn't resist, and Vegeta's fingertips caressed her as only he knew how, feeling her tight little pussy already beginning to squeeze him, sending him into a frenzy. His free hand grabbed her hip, ready to take control once again, but Bulma wouldn't let him, quickly forcing him to let go of it and intertwining her fingers with his as she increased her speed, the soft flesh of her bottom slapping the top of his thick thighs violently as she fucked him relentlessly.

“Fuck! Yes!” She shrieked, ardently crushing her lips against his. Vegeta's eager tongue slid inside of her, muffling her excited sounds, feeling completely powerless underneath his sensuous blue siren. He kept teasing her clit with increased fervor until he finally felt her orgasm wash over her, violently wracking her small body with tremors as her breath shook against his parted mouth, tempting his body to join hers, his own release following soon…

Bulma's trembling hand found the nape of his neck and her head fell tiredly, resting her burning cheek against his. Vegeta closed his eyes and held her tight, focusing on the unusual sensation of her drained yet content ki flowing, not only through her body but, somehow, across his own too. He couldn't explain why this was, all he knew was that he'd never felt as close to her as in that instant, and even though such vulnerability should frighten him, he simply chose to embrace it, relishing the comfort the woman in his arms brought him.

“Now we're even,” Bulma whispered cheekily in his ear.

`Not for long…' He thought evilly, already anticipating how he'd seek revenge later, but allowing her to enjoy her well-deserved victory as he pulled her even closer and silently basked in the warmth of her presence.

They remained this way for a few more minutes, until their heated, agitated bodies finally cooled down and Vegeta carried her out of the thermal waters, drying her off with a touch of his ki before placing her gently on one of the wooden benches and helping her get dressed. Once they were fully clothed and ready to go, Bulma looked around with a questioning look in her eye.

“Which way?”

“To where we came from?” Vegeta asked, pointing to their left. “This way.”

He extended one of his arms out to her, ready to hold her and fly her to the spot where they'd previously installed their house, but Bulma merely clasped his hand, intertwining her fingers with his, just as she'd previously done during their physical moment of intimacy.

“Good, let's go…” She simply replied, already walking in the direction her mate had just pointed at.

Vegeta walked a few steps behind her, following her close in slight bewilderment, until he finally dared to ask.

“What are you doing?”

“Walking,” Bulma answered casually, not even bothering to look at him.

“Why?”

“Why not?”

“Flying is faster.”

“Yes, I know.”

He blinked in confusion a few times, his analytical mind, always focused on efficiency and utility, not having a clue as to why his woman was choosing the most ineffective way to return to their place.

“So?”

“So, what?”

“Flying is faster,” he repeated, staring at their interweaved hands absolutely dumbfounded.

Bulma turned around, slowing down her pace a little and offering him a dazzling smile.

“But this is nice, isn't it?”

Vegeta looked at her beaming expression, luxuriating in those radiant pink cheeks, heavenly blue eyes and the way the cold morning air played games with her long, feathery hair. He couldn't, for the life of him, see what was so `nice' about making the choice of walking instead of flying, especially holding hands this way.

Was it perhaps some human custom he'd never partaken in?

He didn't know, all he knew was that he couldn't recall having seen Bulma so damn happy in a very, very long time, so he decided to spoil her once again, walking wordlessly by her side.

Gradually, he found himself taking pleasure in their quiet stroll, in the serene sounds of nature surrounding them and, above all, in the calm balminess of Bulma's touch and the tender way in which she kept holding his hand, never letting go of him.

“Today was fun,” she declared gleefully, finally breaking the silence. “Can we do this again tomorrow?”

Vegeta nodded in assent without hesitation, giving her small hand a gentle squeeze and secretly loving the way her hopeful gaze lightened up by his response. It suddenly astounded him to learn how little was required to make his woman happy. 

If this was all it took to put that look on that exquisite face, he'd take her for a swim every single day…