Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ The Dark Duke ❯ Waltzing with the Duke ( Chapter 14 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ, or the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Warnings: Cussing, lemon

A/N: Happy Belated Valentines day to everyone! As a good romance writer, I should have had this chapter up by then-- but life! So consider this LONG chapter my belated Valentines Day gift to all of my readers, my reviewers, and my lurkers. I love you all!

Lilpumpkingirl-- I am so glad you are my beta-- I seriously don't know anyone else who can help me with Latin...continue to be a beast!

Chapter Fourteen: Waltzing with the Duke

Bulma frowned as she placed her hand on Vegeta's arm letting him escort her out to the dance floor and away from the Viscount Viridian. They walked in silence, Bulma trying to recoup her thoughts, wondering why she always seemed to lose track of herself when she was around him. And now she was letting herself be led out to the dance floor, like a lamb being led to slaughterÑforced to leave behind her brother so she could dance with this incredibly handsome, bull--headed man.

Okay, so it was not the end of the worldÑbut it was the principal of the matter! How dare he just come to her and claim herÑwho did he think he was?!

Her frown deepened as she answered her own questionÑa Duke, that's who. He had probably never heard no in his life. Bulma wished she could hate him for that, but if she was being honestÑshe had not heard no much either...

Bulma was mildly shocked from her own unhappy musing when Vegeta gracefully swung her in a circle, before catching her in the proper waltz stance, a very appropriate amount of space between their two bodies. Their eyes locked and Vegeta, a glimmer of amusement at her surprise in his eyes, very masterfully began to lead her around the dance floor.

She should not be surprised that Vegeta was a good dancer, what with the strength of his body and the way she knew he could fight so gracefully (remembering him, shirtlessÑ on the ship and fighting Goku, still did funny things to her insides), but she was. Especially as she knew that good fighting skills did not always translate to good dancing skills (i.e. her two left--footed brother). Nevertheless, her heart was pounding as they twirled around the floor, losing track of her own thoughts as they danced.

Bulma's eyes were drawn into Vegeta's deep, obsidian ones, and she felt herself falling, falling into the fiery black depths. She was lost to everything but the two of themÑno other faces were distinguishable then but his own, no other sounds but the beating of her heart, no other feelings than that of an extremely sturdy shoulder and hand she was clasped to. The rest of the room faded to shapes and colors, Vegeta was the only focus she needed in the world.

Bulma forced herself to look away trying desperately to break the spell he had cast over her. She needed to remember that she had a right to be angry with him. "You know you did not claim this dance with me."

Vegeta smirked, showing her a flash of his white teeth that she caught from the corner of her eye. "I did not hear you say otherwise when I claimed that I did."

Bulma frowned at him, looking back at him, "Do you think me foolish enough to disagree with you in front of a guest?"

Vegeta's smirk faded as he answered, truthfully, she noted, "I would have said yes earlier today...."

When he stopped, Bulma prompted him on, curious of the hazy look he had gotten in his eyes. "But now?"

Vegeta snapped back from wherever his thoughts had led him and looked at her, his eyes flashing as he admitted, "You are a woman full of surprises, Miss Briefs."

Bulma's eyes locked with his at that surprising declaration, and she gave a gulp as she saw the way he looking at herÑlike she was a puzzle he intended to solve. She had not known him long, but what she did know was that once Vegeta set his mind to somethingÑhe would accomplish it with alacrity (her own brother and their being in London was proof of that). What that meant, now that Vegeta had decided to set his mind on her...well she was not sure she was ready to find that out yet.

StillÑsomething about looking into his eyes.... It was as if he could seduce her with just a look. She felt her body yearn to sway closer to him, even though her voice of reason stopped her from even moving an inch towards him. She concentrated on his words insteadÑhis declaration of her being a surprise, well, surprised her. Bulma had always considered herself very open and forthrightÑbut if he wanted to find mystery in her, Bulma did not mind. She had always wanted to be intriguing....

As the dance continued in silence, Bulma suddenly became aware of a familiar sensation outside of what Vegeta was doing to herÑbut in an unfamiliar setting. She subtly turned her head away from Vegeta, observing those around them, and noticed that everyone they danced by was silent, their ears turned towards her and Vegeta, straining to hear what was being said. She looked past the dancers, and noticed everyone's eyes on her, and she furrowed her brow. There had not been this many stares the other times she had dancedÑor at least not this many openly interested stares.

She frowned, but then realization hit herÑshe knew why they were all staring. It was not just her, for once, that was drawing the stares: it was Vegeta.

Bulma looked back at him seeing his eyes were slightly above her head as he led her, his face proud as he too realized they were being observed like animals at a zoo. Bulma sighed inwardly. She was used to this back home, and (even though she had made a grand entrance) she had hoped London would be unlike New York. She had anticipated that while she would garner interest due to her beauty, poise and (lets face it) wealth, she had not wished to be the one that everyone stared at treating like a precious object that was not to be touched. She had wanted things to be different...

But it was, she mused. At home, it was only her who got the stares. Here, though, the stares she received were for her as much as they were for the man she was dancing with. How had she not realized it before that moment? The Duke of Vegetasei was the catch of any London season (and would be until he got married), and attracted his own fair share of stares. What an interesting development. For once, it was not just her on stage for everyone to stare atÑshe was joined by one other (unwilling) actor.

Bulma smiled at that thought, desperate with the feeling to share it with Vegeta for a reason she could not pinpoint, "We have a lot in common."

"I beg your pardon?" Vegeta's eyes found hers again, and this time they were carefully blank, though his confusionÑand derision, which on a tide of camaraderie she decided to ignoreÑwas clear in his voice.

She tried to give him a soft smile, showing him thatÑfor onceÑshe was not trying to fight with him about something. This odd, unasked for solidarity was making her giddy, and she wanted him to acknowledge it. "You noticed the same thing I did when we stopped speaking, didn't you?"

With an artfully raised brow, his face revealed nothing. "And that would be?"

Bulma wondered at the tedium Vegeta put himself through so not to be judged, wondering if he felt the same burden she did to always be at her finest. Bulma was always careful in social situations to be on the best of behavior, as she knew if she was notÑwell the careful scrutiny she was under would only grow more bold, the whispers she was already subjected to louder.

People would like nothing more than to pull her down to their level, or to prove the perfect Miss Briefs was not quite so perfect. They wanted to fault her for all of the advantages she had been given in lifeÑand while they loved her and wanted to be around her, they all hated her too. No one (she was not related to that was) truly wanted to get close to herÑto know her, to know what her hopes and fears were, or what her greatest desires were. Maybe there was someone very close to her that would understand all of these feelings...

Bulma slyly looked over both of her shoulders, before lowering her voice so only he could hear her. "That we are currently the interest of every single damn person at this ball."

He smirked at that. "Every damn person, Miss Briefs?"

She nodded, emphatic now that he was looking at her again. "Yes. I've been getting interested stares all night, but this is by far the most I've gotten." She paused, and when he did not say anything, she continued, "I have a feeling you are used to this, though."

When he again said nothing, Bulma let out a frustrated breath of air, irritated with his ability to not answer the questions she really wanted him to, before declaring, "I am using one of my three questions here, Vegeta. Are you used to this? These stares?"

Vegeta frowned as she used her promise from him to get an answer, but he gave a small nod, none--the--less, honoring his promise. "It is the reason I do not make many appearances during the season. I find, no matter how many events I attend, I am always..." He paused, searching for the right word.

"...An oddity?" Bulma finished for him, smiling at the surprised look in his eyes.

He swallowed, working the muscles in his throat, but he gave her a slight nod, "An oddity. Yes. People cannot help but stare at me, especially if I do something out of character. Like I am nowÑby dancing."

Bulma frowned at that omission. "You do not normally dance?"

Vegeta's eyes lifted past her head again, but he gave a slight nod. "I never dance."

Bulma considered questioning him more on why he was dancing with her, but she decided to move back to the topic at hand. "Vegeta, we have a lot in common."

His gaze and tone were mordant, "You do not normally dance?"

She pursed her lips at his willful misinterpretation of her words, but she pushed on, not to be deterred by sarcasm. "Whenever I go to events I am stared at because I am the Briefs heiress, the genius who just happens to be beautiful, with hair a shade no one has quite the same color as." She took a deep breath, looking him square in the eyes, as she finished, "And I think you know what that feels like. To be stared at by everyone as if you were some sort of exhibit in a museum."

A muscle in Vegeta's jaw twitched, but his voice was stern as he answered, "It is a sign of respect. They all wish to be like me, but they know better than to try and approach me."

Bulma smiled sadly, hearing a close echo of the rationale she had said many times after being stared at all night. When she was younger, it had hurt more, wondering why people did not approach her and laugh and joke with her as they did othersÑbut as she had grown older she had come to expect it, and reasoned that they were awed by her, their respect of her stopping them from approaching her. She did not know why she was being so candid with Vegeta, but she could not stop herself as she admitted, "It is a sign of respect...but it is lonely."

Vegeta frowned at her, his dark eyes deepening in anger as he spoke in his most Ducal of tones. "I am the Duke of VegetaseiÑif I choose it, I can throw balls with five hundred guests every night. I am never alone, unless I want to be."

Bulma shook her head, smiling forlornly at him, not realizing she was clutching his hand tighter as she tried to make her point, "I did not say you were alone, Vegeta. I said you were lonely. There is a difference." She raised an eyebrow at him, smiling sardonically, "A difference I am willing to bet you understand better than you are letting on, your Grace. How many of these five hundred people do you call friend?"

Vegeta's frowned deepened, and when he did not answer Bulma had her answer. Bulma leaned forward the heat of his body warming her own as she whispered in his ear, "Ante omnia honoria, observantiae et ante omnia."

Vegeta reared back in surprise at the familiar Latin, his eyes searching her face. Bulma smiled at him, a wistful smile, as she translated (unnecessarily) for him, "Honor before all, respect before anything. Quite a family motto you have."

Vegeta's hands tightened around her, his mouth stiffening. "How do you know that?"

Bulma's smile turned into a smirk as the dance ended, though neither made a move to let go of the other. Partly because her answer was very important to him and mostly because Vegeta knew this was the only proper way to have her in his arms. "I have been living here for over a month. I have been through your family's gallery room countless times as I make my way to family supper. Your coat of arms is quite prominently large thereÑas is your family motto."

Vegeta's muscle twitched in his jaw, again and he felt a rush of nervousness overlay the desires he had felt for her all night. What else had she discovered in the family gallery? Vegeta tried to think of whether there was any evidence left behind of his immediate family, but she was looking at him with those big blue eyes again, and he felt himself getting sucked into them against his will.

He longed to do nothing more than to pull her body closer to his than was proper, to have her snug against himÑto take those teasing little lips of hers and cover them with his own. When he stared into her eyes he seemed to lose all track of who he was, where they were, and what they were doing (thank God years of dancing masters had made it so he could maneuver a crowded dance floor dumb, deaf and blind!). What was this power she had over him? And why had it grown deeper when she had spoken to him about being alone?

Did she actually understand? Was she too at the top? Did she truly understand that by being at the top, one was forced to be alone? How could you be the best at everything if there was another standing next to you? Could she comprehend that part of the reason he acted so haughty in public was because it was expected of him? That people would love to see nothing more for than for him to take a misstep, and to prove he was just as human as everyone else?

Vegeta felt the urge to suppress a chill that ran through him as he felt a deep connection (one that had been throbbing to life between him and Bulma since he had first met her) solidify stronger than he had ever anticipated. He knew that he lusted after her, and that he had began to respect her as an intellectualÑbut what was this newer bond he could feel?

He was not completely sure, but he did know that he did not ever want to let her go. Another dance was starting behind them, and though they had moved out of the way of the new dancers, he had yet to let go of her completely. Despite knowing that dancing one dance with a woman was a sure way to start rumors about the Duke of VegetaseiÑlet alone two. Yet Vegeta could hardly stop himself from wanting to speak to her more, to see if she really could understand him. "Would you care toÑ"

Bulma cut him off though, speaking softly (almost to herself, it seemed) as she looked over his shoulder, "Is that Goku?"

Vegeta grew confused as to her question, but did not even bother to correct her at the use of her brother's fake name. "What?" Why was she asking about her brother, right after he had felt this connection between them deepen, growing? Was she so infatuated with her brother that she could blindly make connections with other men, then run right back into his arms? Vegeta expected jealousy at that thought (and it was there), but he was more surprised when he felt sadnessÑhe thought she might actually understand himÑbut how could she if she was already thinking about her lover?

She was looking right past him and she stepped out of his grasp as she said to herself again, "Where is he going?"

Vegeta tried to recapture her attention, moving to stand next to her, even as she continued to walk away, "BulmaÑ"

But she was already gone, pushing past the crowd, who was failing at trying not to look like they were looking at her and Vegeta. There was simply not enough talking going on around them, too much looking pointedly in other directions. Vegeta ignored the others, for once, and frowned at where she had disappeared too. She was following Kakarrot she said, though Vegeta had not seen him (was she so desperate to leave his company to make a story up?), and his frown deepened as he saw her make her way to the French doors that led out to the Vegetasei property.

Whatever sadness and jealousy he felt were replaced with irrational anger when he saw her destination. She was going out into the gardens alone? Did she have any clue what sort of advances that could invite? The image of Viscount Viridian kissing her hand (twice!) entered his head, unbidden, and Vegeta frowned. He did not have to be present all night to know that many men had probably kissed her knuckles, and that many men were lusting after her, watching her, waiting for the perfect opportunity to get her away from the puritanical gazes of English society to do dastardly things to her.

She was a fool to leave the public eye of the ballroom, especially by herself, where any man could follow her out and make untoward advances to her! What kind of idiot was she?!

Well there was only one way to rectify thisÑhe would have to follow her out and warn her about other men that would be sure to follow her out and make inappropriate gestures towards her!

~~&~~

Goku left the ball, quickly, unnoticed (or so he thought), and frowning. His feet carried him as his thoughts were preoccupied, straight to where Krillin was staying in the servant's quarters, needing to talk to someone. When he got to Krillin's room his frown deepened upon seeing that the room was empty, though he smiled ruefully as he deduced that Krillin would not be able to resist the temptations of watching the ball and all of the pretty ladies who were attending. Krillin always had had a weakness for women, one that Goku did not necessarily understand.

Goku considered going back to the ball and trying to find Krillin, but sighedÑ as he knew going back to the ballroom was the last thing he wanted right now. Goku could scarcely breathe in the stuffy room, especially as so many women made sure that he was introduced to him. He could not take a step tonight without some older woman dragging a younger version of herself behind her, calling him Viscount. It was odd to say the least.

Knowing he wanted to be out of the crowds (but not necessarily alone) Goku started to walk again, and could not rightly say he was that surprised when his feet carried him to the kitchens.

They were much quieter than when he had left a few short hours before, the evening meal already having been served. Goku knew the scullery maids would all be trying to sleep so they could prepare the families breakfast in a few short hours, and he breathed a sigh of relief at finding the kitchens empty. Well...nearly empty.

Goku could not say he was surprised to see one lone woman still in the kitchen, muttering under her breath as she kneaded some dough with quite a lot of vigor. Goku could not make out everything she was saying, her Scottish brogue at its thickest (as it was when she was in high emotion), but he thought it had something to do with someone being the most popular person at the ball.

"Hey Chi--Chi."

The head chef turned, her eyes large, her hands stilling as she took in Goku taking his normal seat at the kitchen table, as if it was the middle of the dayÑnot the middle of the night or during a ball thrown just for him. He might as well have been coming from sparring, if not for the fancy kit he still wore. She tried to keep the tremor of delight out of her voice as she questioned him, "What ere ye doin' here, Goku? The ball is still goin' stron' is it not?"

Goku nodded but shrugged, "YeahÑbut I'm done with it."

Chi--Chi frowned, moving closer to him. "But it's ye're ball. Ye can't leave it. What's the matter?"

Goku played with the edge of the table, refusing to look up, "I've never liked balls. But usually..."

He stopped, and Chi--Chi waved her hand, motioning him on, "But usually?"

Goku shrugged again. He was not typically a man for conversation such as this, but he needed to tell someone. "Usually Bulma stays by my side all night. Well, as much as she can."

Chi--Chi's frown was back, her eyes narrowing, "Where's yer sister? What did she do?"

Goku smiled up at Chi--Chi and her reaction, chuckling, "Oh noÑnothing like that. It's just that...she usually does not miss a waltz with me, since she knows I don't know the stepsÑwhen the last one started, though, when I went to get her, someone else claimed her and she danced with them instead."

Chi--Chi's brows were up, "Goku, are ye jealous of yer sister?"

Goku looked up, his brows raised with surprise. "What? OhÑno! Nothing like that. It's just that...we always have each other's backs at these, and we can both take care of each other. But when she was dancing with this other person, she seemed to be...I don't know...different around them. I could not help but think what's going to happen when Bulma actually does get married. Who am I going to talk to like I talk with her?"

Chi--Chi bit back a smile at Goku. He reminded her of a lost child sometimesÑstill like that little boy the Briefs had rescued from the woods. He might have the body of a full--grown man (and a good looking one at that to boot!) but she could tell he had the heart of a child. Pure, simpleÑand quite refreshing. Some strong maternal instinct she had inside of her reached out for his hand, patting it.

She was surprised when he turned his fingers up, linking them with her, and he looked her in the eyes, his black ones seeing straight into her soul. Chi--Chi tried to force her racing heart to stop beating quite so loudly, and she calmly told Goku, "When that happens, ye'll always have me. I'll transfer to the Viscount's house in the country when ye have to go out there, and I'll follow ye back to the city when ye have to be here. It's as simple as that. "

Goku's smile brightened at that, and he squeezed her hand, "Chi--Chi, you really are the best!" He looked past her, his usual happy--go--lucky smile in place as he peeked around her. "Now whatcha making and how quickly can I eat some?"

Chi--Chi ignored the squeeze of her heart at seeing his usual smile in place and tried to stop her head from spinning at his abrupt subject change. She just smiled as she shook her head, "Oh Goku...."

~~&~~

Eighteen sat on the bench in the middle of the gardens, staring thoughtfully at the man next to her, her chin resting on her hand as he babbled on and on. He did not seem to have a stop button, but as he spoke about his life in America Eighteen found she really did not want him to stop.

He was...amusing.

And, as an added bonus, he was taking her mind off of Vegeta, and all of her other worries, as she sat there just listening to him chatter. She had to admit she was surprised she was still sitting here with him just listening to him talk. When she had taken him to the heart of the gardens, she had originally envisioned using him as a quick physical distraction. But so far, he had made no advances towards her, or seemed to recognize any of her ownÑand they had been talking. Just talking.

Well, he had done most of the talkingÑbut he had asked her questions and listened with these big earnest eyes as she told him bits and pieces of her background. Not all, or much of itÑbut he delighted in listening to her.

It was an odd feeling, to say the least. No one just wanted to listen to her talk.

When she was not talkingÑhe was. At first, she had been scornful and sarcastic with him, as she was with all menÑbut it had bounced off of him like rain on a window. Nothing stuck, and before she knew it, she was just sitting thereÑconversing and listening to this man.

She was unsure of how long they had been out here, but she did not care. She had not felt this...relieved from the pressure of acting like an ice queen...since long before her husband had died. Maybe before she had married...

"...So that's how I met Goku. He can still give me a black eye no like other man can! I wish I had his natural skill for pugilism! Thankfully he does not box much professionally anymore since no one can really beat him. Leaves me with a lot of easy picking since I don't have a wealthy family to supportÑ" Krillin stopped suddenly, perking up.

Eighteen followed his line of sight, but frowned at seeing nothing as he looked into the tall hedges, "Krillin? Are you all right?"

Krillin stood, moving away from her, and Eighteen frowned. This did not happen oftenÑmen were not distracted in her presence as they only thing they could usually focus on was herÑand she could not say she liked this feeling of being ignored.

He shushed her with a hand, still facing the other way. "Did you hear that?"

Eighteen frowned as she stood, moving next to him, "No. I don't hear anything."

Krillin surprised her by turning to her, giving her another heart--warming smile, "Yeah, well that's because your ears are nowhere as large as mine!" He chuckled, and she found herself fighting a smile at his easygoing nature. He frowned again though, as he cocked his head to some unfamiliar sound, "Sounds like Bulma. She's calling Goku's name. I better go back to the ball, see what's up."

Eighteen looked at him, her mouth open. "You're leaving me?"

Krillin nodded, then froze, realizing what she had said. He turned a beet red as he rubbed the back of his baldhead. "Leaving you?! No! I'm not leaving youÑit's just my friends!" He turned to go, but then stopped, and turned back towards her, grabbing one of her hands and leaving a clumsy kiss on the knuckles of her hands. Eighteen froze at that brief contact, wondering what about such a sloppily executed kiss was causing her heart to skip a beat or two...her hand had been kissed by some of the savviest men in LondonÑhell, in EnglandÑand she could not remember the last time one had pricked at her usually icy reserve.

When he caught her shocked eyes, he dropped her hand, stammering, "I--I--I'm sorry. I do have to go though!"

He turned to leave (running, it looked like), but Eighteen could not stop herself from calling out, "Krillin...wait!"

He turned to look back at her, and Eighteen put on a look that brooked no argument. "Come to the Grayson recital next week. I'll be in the gardens, waiting for you."

Krillin's eyes were wide with shock, but he grinned again, nodding his assent though it had not been a question, "Sure. YeahÑof course! See you there!"

Then he was gone. Eighteen smiled as he left, finally heading back to the ballroomÑready to face the devil himself in her current mood.

~~&~~

Bulma frowned as she leaned over the balustrade of the balcony, wondering which way Goku had gone off to. Seeing him leave the ballroom by himself her older sister instincts had kicked in and she had begun to worry that she had somehow failed him if he could not even make it through his first ball without feeling the need to escape. She hoped he was not mad at her for not dancing the waltz with him. Had he even danced it? She could not remember. She was too busy being...locked in her own little world with Vegeta.

As she went down the steps, into the garden, following the lit path, hoping to catch a glimpse of her brother, she frowned as she thought about the dance. Where had all that talk about being lonely come from? She was Bulma BriefsÑshe did not do lonely! If she got lonely she just went and invented something else that forced people to compliment her.

And yet, even as she tried to deny being lonely, she knew it to be true. Bulma was at the top of her game when it came to education, looks, mannersÑand that meant that she had a lot of people who felt inferior being around her, and as so, did not want to be around her even as they yearned to be in her presence to say they were talking with the elusive Ôice queen.' Even in the most crowded of ballroom, Bulma would find herself between dances, standingÑwith only Goku to talk to. It was why her and Goku had such a strong bondÑhe was an oddity since no one really knew where he had come from, and she was the glass figurine no one wanted to smash. No one in New York understood her like Goku did... Even if his loneliness was completely different than hers and they seemed to be communicating on two completely different planes at times.

Thinking about her loneliness was making her maudlin, Bulma reflected as she kept walking down the path, Goku forgotten as she reflected on her life in New York. She should not have been lonely (considering she was practically engaged before she had left) but some part of her recognized that Yamcha had the biggest inferiority complex around her than anyone else. She could not act her usual smart self around him, or else he would get defensive and closed offÑand Bulma had hated that. She did not like hiding who she really was around him, but she had been a fool in love, and she had thought that it was all worth it to get someone to love her. If you were loved, then you definitely were not alone, right?

But then Yamcha had broken her heart, and here she was in a different land, with the same feelings she felt in ballrooms in America. She was surrounded by people, constantly in demand, but she was lonely. Tonight had felt like any other ball she had gone too...

And yet...

Not quite. Not after that enlightening dance with Vegeta. What was it about Vegeta that she felt like...understood her? She had sensed he could understand her feelingsÑthat he too had gone through everything she had gone through and knew what it was like being on top of the world, sitting, alone. She shook her head at thatÑit was a scary feeling in and of itself, feeling a connection with Vegeta.

Bulma looked up from her thoughts as she stepped on a crunching branch, snapped back into reality, and frowned as she recognized how far out she had gotten from the house. She had wandered deep into the heart of the Vegetasei hedge maze, a garden ploy she could find her way out of very easily during the day, but looked decidedly more sinister at night even with the amount of fairy lights being strung up to add enchantment.

She could not hear another soul and that thought made Bulma wrap her arms around herself as she felt the drop in temperature from the hot, stuffy ballroom to the cool outside air. She shivered as she understood how isolated she was out here, wondering if there was anyone close by. She almost smirked at the irony of where her thoughts on loneliness had taken herÑsomewhere very remote and lonelyÑbut she was too spooked to smirk. So instead, she desperately called out, "Goku? Goku, are you out here?"

Bulma frowned when she heard no response, but forced herself to keep walking through the hedge maze. She felt slightly better when she got to the center of the gardens, where a large fountain was lit up, the candlelight making the whole place feel decidedly more...magical. She stepped to the fountain resting her hands on the raised lip, staring at nothing in particular. Now that she was back somewhere that did not feel so spooky, her thoughts turned (as they did more and more it seemed) back to Vegeta.

What was she doing to herself? Why could she not flirt with the Duke like she had with the Viscount? What was it about him that just affected her so?

She took a few deep breaths, staring at her dark reflection in the glassy surface of the water, ripples from the splashing water distorting it slightly. She stared at her likeness, as if it could give her all of the answers, frowning as she caught sight of how the hours of dancing had affected her sweeping up--do. Locks of hair had come free, and she wondered how long she had spent without knowing her hair was starting to sneak down her back like a waterfall.

She let out a sigh, pushing back some of her heavy hair that had come free from its clasp, wishing that she could just leave it all down. Though, even she had to admit, the flowing hair only added to her already great beauty. What if she just moved it over one shoulder like this...

"What in the hell are you doing out here by yourself?!"

Bulma jumped slightly as she heard an angry voice and whirled around as her heart thumped wildly in her chest. Who had followed her out here? As she turned, her eyes grew wide as she saw Vegeta storming towards her, shock, fear, and excitement mixing in her like some kind of dangerous cocktail. Anger was evident in the agitation of his voice, the harsh lines of his face, in the very way he jerkily moved, and all she could choke out was a very shrill, "Vegeta!"

He came up to her, caging her against the fountain, his arms on either side of her, as he growled at her, "Do you have any idea how stupid it is to come out here alone?! Do you know the kind of men you invite to follow you out here?!"

Bulma gulped, her heart racing, so shocked that he was angry at her she could only stammer the truth at him, "I...uh, I was following Goku."

He snorted in disgust, throwing his hands up as he gestured around them. "Kakarrot is not out here! It is just you, and who knows who else is lurking out here!"

Bulma's surprise at Vegeta's concern for her turned to anger as she realized he was lecturing her. "Wait a second VegetaÑyou're the only one who followed me out here!"

Vegeta stammered, his mouth opening for a second, before he crossed his arms in front of him as he backed away from her, glaring at her. "I came out here to let you know how stupid it was to come out here by yourself!"

Bulma gaped at him, her voice rising, "Well why you do you care?! It was my decision to come out here by myself, to look for my brother!"

Vegeta rolled his eyes, psshing as he rolled his eyes. "You're brother," he muttered, as if there was something off in that statement.

Bulma took a step closer to him, her anger warring with her attraction to this man. There was just something about him when he was angry with herÑhe was so dangerous (she was well aware of this fact, especially since he was a spy), cocky and pigheadedÑand yet something in her responded to this, throbbing to life as he archly stared at her. Even more so as Bulma acknowledged that Vegeta was actually acting...in his own weird way...protective of her. If she was less angry with him, she might even categorize it as caring. But this was VegetaÑand the last thing she would ever associate with him (especially as he was all crossy--armed and growly with her) was that he could be caring. She fisted her hands at her side, half to stop herself from hitting him, half to stop herself for reaching for him. What was it about being angry with him that made her so...out of her head?

"YesÑmy brother! Believe it or not, I've been worried about him all night. He does not do well in situations like this! I'm just trying to protect him!"

Vegeta frowned at her, moving a step closer to her as well, so he could look down his nose at her. Bulma gulped as she began to feel the heat of his body pulsating off of him in waves, going straight through to her marrow, but she stood her ground. "Protect him, Bulma? Is that all you're really doing? Or are you jealous?"

Bulma was completely thrown off balance by that one, and she stumbled back a step as she looked at him. "Jealous? Of Kakarrot's success? Are you out ofÑ"

Vegeta exploded again, silencing her with a slash of his hand, "Enough! Do not act stupid around me! You are not jealous of Kakarrot's success!"

Bulma's confusion only grew, and she moved closer to Vegeta, her hands up, pleading, "What are you talking about? VegetaÑI don't understandÑwhy are you so angry?"

"I saw you together!"

Bulma stopped, her head titled to one side as she observed him, "This is what you're angry about? Us dancing? Because I told Goku I would dance all of the waltzes with him since he does not know the steps. It's the same thing we do in New York! It's what siblings do for each otherÑwe watch each other's backs! Not that I would expect you to understand!"

Vegeta's mouth snapped shut, into an angry line, and he moved closer, observing her, as he walked around her in a circle, unspeaking, taking in every nuance of her. Bulma knew she should feel humiliated from the way he was looking at her, or the way he was questioning herÑbut something about that hot stare, from the passionate outbursts Vegeta was having (unable to stop himself, it seemed) had her body prickling in awareness.

She might lose her head around him but his very actions were making it loud and clear that he too had a hard time acting his usual stone--like self around her. Knowing that she had this effect upon him, bringing out the protective monster in him (it seemed) had her whole self--stirring with emotions she could not name.

As he moved in circles around her, her body began to heat up again, her heart racing, her whole skin becoming more sensitive. She suddenly felt extremely hot, even in the coolness of the spring air, and she had to stop from fanning herself. She kept stock still, ignoring the way her clothes felt too tight, her bodice cutting off her air slightly.

Vegeta stopped when he was in front of her, having come to some sort of decision it seemedÑmuch closer than he had been before, Bulma noted, and looked at her through lowered lashes. "You are telling me the reason you danced with Kakarrot so many times tonight was because he does not know the steps?"

Bulma cocked her head to the side, not noticing that it left her neck bare as all of her hair shifted to one side, observing Vegeta. "Yes. What other reason would I have to dance with him so many times? I mean, he is my brother..."

Vegeta's eyes flared open with triumph andÑbefore Bulma could breatheÑhe wrapped his arms around her. One arm snaked behind her waist, holding her close to him like an iron band while the other found its way into her curls, tilting her head back. He bent his head closer, smirking that seductive smirk at her as he whispered, "Good," before closing the distance between them, his hot mouth lowering to hers.

Bulma was too shocked, too amazed, too astonished at what was happening to her to really respond at first. Vegeta had gone from anger to passion so quickly, it was making her head spinÑand now he was kissing her?! But then her shock at Vegeta grabbing her turned to excitement, and she felt her body come to life as his mouth connected to hers. Her eyes fluttered shut, her thoughts drifting away to nothing but feeling as Vegeta continued his assault on her mouth, kissing her over and over again, quick little pecks that dissolved into hot, hard caresses, her hands drifting into his coarse hair, holding him closer to her.

Even those brief seconds their mouths had been melded on the ship, which had caused Bulma many an agonizing night at the amount of heat and desire she had felt, paled in comparison to what was happening between them now.

Magic and heat erupted from where their lips touched, spreading a fiery heat throughout her whole body as the kisses became longer and more intense, Vegeta's firm lips sliding over her silky ones. As he caught her bottom lip with a quick nip from his teeth, Bulma let out a satisfied moan, her mouth opening to him, begging for more.

She could almost feel his triumphant smirk as he angled her head back, using her open mouth as an opportunity to slip his tongue inside of her mouth. Her heart was pounding so fast, her blood zipping through her veins so quicklyÑand an unknown heat began to pool in her lower abdomen that gained heat with each stroke of his tongue against her teeth, the inside of her cheeks, the roof of her mouth and finally her own tongue. She groaned as he took from her, urging her to become a participant of the kiss, her own mouth melding with his own. As Bulma become more daring, mimicking his own exploratory movements with her own tongue, she felt a surge of heat flash through her body as he let out a astounded groan at her boldness.

His tongue played with her own, the kiss becoming more demanding and drastic, and she began to understand why so many people said they lost themselves to passion. She had scoffed in the pastÑbut this...This kiss was causing her knees to go weak, and if he had not been holding her, she thought that she would be on the ground in a pool. Her thoughts were muddled, only screaming at her more! Her lower body took on a life of its own, and she throbbed with sensations and desires she could scarcely recognize.

There were no doubts. Only sensations. The way his tongue caressed hers, the way he held her body to his, she could only feel, and she felt great. The way he held her to him, crushing her against him, using that tongue of his to stroke up more desire within her was so new and at the same time so inviting that she knew that anything he wanted in that moment she would have given to him gladly. She had no brain.

The hand that had been cupping the back of her head, pulled out of the warmth of her hair and oh so softly (but oh so devastating at the same time) began to caress the exposed flesh of her face then her shoulder before dipping down and resting lightly on the very tops of her exposed cleavage. Her breasts, which she had never paid much heed to before, suddenly felt as if they had grown in size, hardening, beckoning his touch. She inadvertently arched into the warmth of his touch, and his hand moved down, completely palming one of the breasts as his mouth continued to seduce and bewitch her own.

She felt her body begin to tremor as one of his bare fingers traced the exposed skin at the top of her breast, and she let out a low and loud moan, right into his mouth. At his bare skin on her bare skin, she felt her nipples peak, pebbling and tensing, causing her to gasp as they rasped against the suddenly abrading fabric of her dress. It was painful but at the same time so pleasurable she knew she did not want him to stop...

The same finger that had traced the tops of her breast, now slipped inside the top of her dress, and she felt an electric zing as the pad of his finger touched one of her already taut nipples, making her cry out with a pain that was more pleasure than anything as they tightened further, begging for more than the touch of his finer.

The loud cry seemed to be some kind of signal to VegetaÑand, without breaking his mouth from her own, Vegeta scooped Bulma into his arms, holding him to her as he carried her behind the closest tall hedge. He lowered her to the soft grass, his body covering her own body with the hard heat of his. His lips were rough on her own, no longer questing, but just taking, demanding more and more from her. She happily met his demands as the kiss became more possessive, more domineeringÑbut more pleasurable.

Bulma wrapped her arms around his warm body, whimpering with delight at the way Vegeta kissed her as he held her closer to him, whatever space that was between their bodies disappearing. She was melting in his arms, turning into a mass of nerves and heat, wanting to do nothing more than to bind herself around Vegeta, and to never leave the heat of his arms.

As she let out a particularly loud moan, Vegeta muttered against lips rather breathlessly, "Does the temptress like that?"

Bulma had no response to that wicked question (as she was sure she had forgotten how to speak), but Vegeta did not give her time to reply, before he lowered his head to her again. Their mouths fused together, sloppily this time, both of them gasping for breath in the others mouths, yet unwilling to let go of each other. Vegeta's arms moved from being at her waist, to slide up the curves of her body, finding the full weight of her breasts with one of his palms again. He gave a squeeze, her nipple hardening further into his palm, as he let out another groan, whispering, "Or does the temptress like this better?"

Vegeta's hands traced to the tops of her dress, and gave a hard tug that belied his desire for her. The dress let out a loud rip of fabric and Vegeta smirked at that in pure male satisfaction, especially as he realized she was too damn far--gone to care that he had ripped the material of her dress, especially as it revealed her flesh to him. Vegeta pulled back from the kiss to stare down at the flesh he had exposed, his body thrumming as he stared at her. Just as he had suspected, no corset was necessary with a figure like hersÑher curves were all her, not some creation of a shop maker. He felt like some kind of untutored youth, sloppy in his need to taste and touch her.

Bulma looked at him through lust dazed eyes, and he almost let out a crow of triumph at seeing how lost the little genius was to her lust. Not that he was much better as Bulma's hips pressed upwards, right into his, demanding moreÑVegeta thrust right back down, letting his hard erection find the hollow of her body. He felt as if he did not find relief soon he would explode.

Vegeta's cock was ready and throbbing to be deep inside of herÑshe smelled wonderful, she tasted wonderful, she felt...amazing. Every bit of her was heat and temptation. He should not have been surprised at how passionate she was (really, he had been describing her as passionate since he had first met her), but the way she turned into hellfire in his arms was completely unexpected and arousing. He was not sure when he had made the decision to carry her behind the hedge to some soft grass, but he only knew they were here now, her dress around her waist so he could greedily see all of her.

Her breasts were pillowed out to her side, their fullness undeniable, even as she was on her back, and she arched towards him again, inviting him to cover her with his hands or her mouthÑto just touch her again. Her skin was creamy and white, silvery in the moonlight, looking delicious, and her nipples were contracted from the cold air (and her passion), two plump dark red cherries, begging for his kisses. Well he would hate to disappoint...

Vegeta lowered his mouth and kissed her nipple, groaning as she shuddered against him again. Vegeta was unable to stop himself from sucking the whole tip into his mouth, hearing her gasp. He used his tongue to twirl around the tip, flicking her nipple with his tongue, over and over, switching between light pressure and harder sucking. Using his hand, Vegeta cupped the fullness of her other breast, not wanting it to feel neglected. His thumb lightly fanned out, over her nipple, before his fingers came to her, harder, giving her a soft pinch that she met with another delicious groan.

Vegeta could live off of the little sounds she was making. Every moan and groan she was making had him lose sight of himself as the cool, masterful lover he usually wasÑhe felt like an animal, going off of want and need aloneÑsomething primitive in him heard the sounds she made and responded. Stimulus, responseÑno thought necessary.

Bulma arched her back, begging for him to never stop. She felt wanton, erotic and a whole host of other adjectives she could not rightly say she had felt before, but she could not stop herself. It was wrong, some part of her was trying to tell herÑbut how could something that feel so damned good be wrong? There was an aching sensation in her lower abdomen, that while extremely pleasurable, was still slightly painful, as if she was looking for relief from something, though she could not say what. It was a coil of heat, throbbing at her center, begging for some sort of touch...

Having the heat of Vegeta on top of her should have felt crushing, and yet, it was delightful. He was strong, and firm, all male, and while her breasts ached against him, her hands threaded in his hair, her head thrown back with ecstasy wishing that this moment would never end. No wonder people were warned of the temptation of the fleshÑif everyone knew how amazing this felt, nothing would ever get done. Everyone would be too busy doing this to do anything else.

As Vegeta continued his assault on her, Bulma's whimpers and moans grew louder, as she sought some kind of release for the torture he was playing on her, her hips arching into him, again. He let out a wicked chuckle against her breast, as if he knew something she did not, and slid one of his legs between her own. The delicious weight of him touching her, right where she had not realized she wanted, no, needed, to be touched, caused her legs to open further, then clamp around his leg, as he began to slowly rub himself against her.

Bulma's eyes popped open, her mouth opening with an, "oh!"

Vegeta let out another delicious chuckle, and moved his leg out from between her own, causing her to whimper, thrusting her hips up to him, begging for more. Lowering his head to her mouth again, taking her mouth in a bruising, life--sucking kiss, one of his large hands began to gather the material of her red dress up, higher, higher, exposing her legs to the cool of the night. Not that Bulma could really feel cool or cold with Vegeta's body warming her, his mouth and tongue heating her up to the point of feeling like she had just done some vigorous physical exertion.

When her skirt was rucked around her hips, Vegeta hand skimmed down her body, and found that place between her thighs where all of her feelings were concentrated. As he used his hand to cup her, Bulma felt branded as he pressed his palm into her, making her call out louder, again. There! Right there! GodÑhow did he know that was right where she had been craving for him to touch her?

Vegeta, hearing that last groan lost whatever control of himself he had been holding onto and he reached for the buttons of his pants. He was unable to stop himself any longer from wanting to know what she would feel like, what sounds she would make, what her face would look like once he was inside of her. He needed to have her, all of her, now.

Vegeta was not even aware of whether or not he had even fully taken his pants off when he reached for her pantaloons, tearing those off of her, before settling into the cradle of her legs. Grabbing and pulling her hips, angling them, Vegeta took one deep breath, and then thrust deep into her scalding heat.

Oh God. Oh God. Oh God.

She was tight, tighter than Vegeta had anticipated and something about being inside of her just felt so...right. He could hardly stop himself from pulling out of her, adjusting her hips then thrusting into her again, letting out a loud groanÑher name on his lips as he continued to push inside of her. Usually Vegeta was controlled when it came to having sex and he took pride in his ability to last much longer than the average manÑnow, he could not even think about anything but the sensation of being inside of her, of having her, of taking her fully.

Bulma's head was thrown back, thrashing against the ground, her hands pulling out clumps of grass. Whatever pain and unbearable fullness she had felt when Vegeta had first entered her was gone as she had adjusted to the size of him and having Vegeta inside of her. The pain was replaced by pleasure, and the unbearable fullness of him only added to it as he pulled out of her, then thrust back in, hitting a different spot than before. The ache she had been feeling began to lessen, the heat she had thought she was feeling spiraling out of control as her whole body became concentrated on where they touched. Before she knew it, Bulma was lost to this completely new sensationÑher body taking over on instinct.

Her arms wrapped around his broad shoulders, pulling his mouth back to hers for another untidy kiss, her legs spreading further as her hips found the fast and furious rhythm Vegeta was setting, driving up to meet his hips. Her legs wrapped around his hips as she felt her whole body heat up, as his continued thrusting created a fiery ball of friction inside of her.

Sharp shoots of pleasure began to build at her center, shooting out to the tips of her toes up to the top of her head. Heat, pressure, electricityÑall of it mingled at her centerÑand as Vegeta gave one last harsh thrust into her Bulma let out a loud moan as she found relief from everything and lost sight of all as it exploded within her. Her body went stiff, before going completely slack as she floated outside of herself, riding on this wave of extreme pleasure and feeling that she had not even fathomed before.

Vegeta found his own relief not a second after Bulma went slack in his arms as he triumphantly marked her as his own as he emptied himself inside of herÑtoo lost, and too dazed to do anything but hold her closer, kissing her as sensations and feeling overwhelmed him.

Suddenly, a crack of branch, and a sound (footsteps?) stiffened VegetaÑbringing him back to the real world with a crash. Vegeta stilled instantly, lifting slightly off of Bulma so he could listen again, and this time, he let out a soft expletive as he very definitely heard footsteps on the other side of the hedge. Vegeta drew himself out of her, buttoning his pants with one hand as he stood. Without a thought, he reached for Bulma, and pulled her to her feet as well, uncaring of her nakedness or of what they had just done as his senses went on full alert.

They would not be seen unless someone walked out behind them, and looked back to themÑwhich was not going to happen. The last thing Vegeta needed at this moment was to have some houseguest find him and the American ruttingÑhe would not marry some tempting chit simply because they had been caught in the hedge mazeÑall because he could not control himself around her!

He did not have the time or energy to be angry with himself or to overanalyze what had just happened (he just had to follow her out here, didn't he?!) as his spy senses took overÑwondering who the hell was all of the way out here in the Vegetasei gardens.

Vegeta let go of Bulma to lean closer to the hedges as the footsteps grew louder, trying to see through the dense foliage. If he could ascertain just who was on the other side, he could figure out his next plan of action...

Bulma let out a groan as she tried to stand on her own only to fall into the hedges, unable to stand on her own two feet as she had not quite regained the feeling back in her legs quite yet. Vegeta smirked, knowing he had put her in such a state, but it quickly turned into a frown at her as she looked at him helplessly. He gave her a glare as his protective male instincts came up (he did not recall inviting those to enter him at any time at all tonight)Ñbut hearing another pair of footsteps join those already at the fountain, he rolled his eyes as he grabbed herÑholding her up, pressing her back to his front.

As one of his hands brushed against the soft underside of her breast, and Bulma innocently pressed back into his (surprisingly--starting--to--harden--again) cock Vegeta bit off a moan before it could escape. His mind might be sharpening, but his body (as it had just proved) was in control around this woman, not his mind. What was wrong with himÑhe usually had much more control over her body! Just what in the hell had he been thinkingÑtaking her out here in the gardens like an inexperienced schoolboy, where anyone could stumble upon them! What kind of a fool was he around her?!

Quickly he turned her, which he promptly regretted as he saw her body very obviously showing the signs of being ravishedÑred and swollen from his kissesÑbut he knew he was going to have to do it if he wanted any iota of sense. He started to redress her, buttoning the tiny buttons he had carelessly ripped earlier, glad to see that most of the dress could be closed. When she looked over him, confusion peeking through the dazed eroticism she had lost herself to, Vegeta put a finger to his mouth, then pointed to the hedges, where one could most definitely hear voices on the other side of now.

Bulma's eyes grew large as she finally heard the sounds on the other side of the hedge he was pointing at, and she stepped away from himÑsurprising him by fixing her clothing faster than he ever could have, and even managing to re--pin her hair so it looked close enough to what it looked like before it had been so completely ravaged by his hands. He quirked an eyebrow at her, wondering how much practice she had with redressing quickly, but she only shushed him (though he had not said anything), and pointed through the shrubbery where two distinct voices could be heard.

Vegeta frowned at her, but moved closer to her, and the hedge as it became clear the two people on the other side were whispering. Vegeta could not see the other people but he could hear them just fine if he zoned out the woman standing next to him (which was easier said than done). The voices were both males, and one sounded much older than the other one. He was unable to place them, or their accents though, and he grew frustrated as he was forced to listen to their conversation without knowing who they were. "You were able to enter the ballroom undetected?"

"Yes, father."

"Good, good. And did you see our target?"

"Yes. He is hard to miss."

One of them, the father, chuckled. "Of course. WellÑgood. What intelligence did you gather about him?"

There was a moment of silence, followed by a hesitant answer, "Father, I am not sure here is the best place. I think we need to meet somewhere else."

Another pause, but the other one must have nodding his acquiescence. "Of courseÑyou were always smarter than my other children Green."

Bulma's eyes met Vegeta's in that moment, widening, and they both looked back towards the shrubbery, where two different sets of footsteps could clearly be heard as moving in two different directions. Looking at him, but keeping her finger up in a silent position, Bulma gestured to herself, one way, then to the other way and himÑand Vegeta frowned at her. She was commanding him to follow one while she followed the otherÑa smart, sensible idea, but he smarted at the idea of being told what to do. Especially as he did not particularly like the idea of Bulma running after Zhelonie or his associate as he was a deadly spyÑand she was just a woman.

Vegeta took a second to consider his options, cursed himself for being a fool, and grabbed Bulma, throwing her over his shoulder as he ran (ignoring the protests of her fists on his back) back to the back entrance of the house. He deposited her on the ground glaring at her, making sure his tone brooked no argument, "I will go after Zhelonie. You will go up to your roomÑor so help me God, I will carry you through the party like I just did through the gardens."

Her eyes went wide as she imagined the scene that would create. "You wouldn't dare!"

He crossed his arms, his dark eyes glinting at herÑno longer with passion and longing, but with anger, "Try me."

Bulma stood, dusted herself offÑglaring at him the whole timeÑ trying one last time, "but he's getting away!"

Vegeta smirked, "I will not go after him until I see you enter this house and go up to your roomÑnow march."

Bulma threw her shoulders back, and lifted her head high, "Fine! But it is your fault if you do not catch him since you're wasting so much time with me!"

Vegeta waited until he saw her walk through the door he held open, seeing her march determinedly up the stairs, turning at the top towards her room, that Vegeta let go of the door and began to run in the direction the heavier (and younger) sounding footsteps had gone. As he ran, Vegeta gloomily shot one last look over where Bulma had been in her rumpled clothing, his face set in a permanent scowl as he thought you don't have to tell me that...

~~&~~

A/N: AwwÑVegeta's protective side is coming out! Bet he forget he even had a protective side... Also, why would Vegeta be so afraid of Bulma finding out more about Vegeta's familyÑjust what does he have to hide...hmmm... AnywhooÑI hope the long gap in pasting this chapter is made up by the fact that I posted a lotÑjust for all of you guys!