ROOM SERVICE
By Nicole Blizzard
Gabrielle and Xena stood under the awning of the inn trying to shake some of the rainwater off themselves before going inside. As she squeezed the water from her long black hair, Xena spoke in a disgruntled voice, "I just cannot believe all the problems we've had this trip."
"I am so sorry, Xena," Gabrielle said apologetically, "but you know I really want to attend this workshop for bards and poets that she's giving."
"I know, I know," Xena said with less annoyance, "it means a lot to you. What's this woman's name again?"
"Sappho," Gabrielle said softly while turning her head to look at the door and hoping that Xena would not catch the sly smile that played upon her lips.
"I've still never heard of her."
"Oh, one day I think that the whole world will know her name. Now, let's just get inside and check in," Gabrielle said opening the door to the inn.
As they walked across the lobby, Gabrielle spoke again, "You know Xena, I’m sure the captain of the boat will send our luggage as soon as she can find it."
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Xena said, "I'm sorry about being such a bitch. What with the bad weather, the lost luggage, and the muddy roads on this island, I guess that I’m just a little cranky and out of sorts. I'm just not use to taking vacations or hanging out with a bunch of literary types."
"It's okay," Gabrielle said, "The rain's suppose to blow over tonight and we've got a couple of days before the workshop begins. Maybe, we could go out in the town tomorrow and find you a nice juicy fight."
"Deal." Xena said with a smile.
By the goddess, I wonder if she has ever realized how weak in the knees I get whenever she smiles at me, Gabrielle thought to herself. Shaking her head and swallowing hard, she walked up to the counter with the woman of her dreams.
"Hello and welcome to The Artemis Inn on Lesbos. My name is Laneay. How can I help you?" The woman behind the counter had strawberry-blond hair like Gabrielle, Xena noticed. She was very lovely with a wonderful smile like Gabrielle too. Xena blushed a little and turned her head to look around the lobby.
I’ve got to stop thinking about her all the time, Xena thought to herself. She’s bound to notice one day and it could ruin the friendship that we share. I’d rather have our friendship than nothing at all.
"Yes, you can," Gabrielle said in her usual cheery way with people. "We have a reservation for a room with two beds under the names of Gabrielle and Xena."
"Oh yes," Laneay said with a little hesitation. "It seems that we’ve had a little bit of a problem with the weather. The room that we were going to put the two of you in has sprung a leak in the roof over the beds. I apologize for the inconvenience but we do have another room available. However, it only has one bed, but it is a queen size. It's all we have left for tonight until my partner can repair the roof tomorrow. I'll also give you a discounted rate of five dinars."
"Great, just great," Xena grumbled but inwardly she was afraid. Afraid of herself.
Gabrielle took a deep breath and gave a silent prayer of thanks to the goddess. Trying to keep as calm as possible, she squeaked out, "Okay." Taking another deep breath, she continued in a more normal voice, "Well, I'm sure that will be fine for tonight."
"Great," Laneay said with a luminous smile. "I’ll have my partner show you to your room. Nicole, honey," she said to the tall, fair woman with curly chestnut hair at the end of the counter, "Could you show these ladies to their room?"
"Sure, sweetie," Nicole replied with obvious affection. "Which room is it?"
"Room seven," she said. "Thanks, honey."
"If you will just follow me."
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After they each had taken a hot bath and put on the fluffy robes provided by the innkeepers, Xena and Gabrielle sat in front of the warm, glowing fireplace with a bottle of white wine and two goblets.
"I feel so much more relaxed now," Gabrielle said taking a sip of wine and turning from the fire to gaze at her companion.
She is so lovely, she thought. Her long dark hair as black as the feathers of a raven. Those full beautiful lips. And those strong hands with their long fingers. I would love to feel those fingers deep inside of me tonight...
Looking back into the flames and taking another sip she asked, "How about you?"
I’d love to run my fingers through your hair and shower kisses all along your body, Xena thought to herself as she sneaked a sideways glance at her.
"I’m feeling better now," she said but really she felt like a swarm of butterflies were doing an amazon tribal dance inside her stomach. "Perhaps we should get some sleep. It’s been a long day you know." Although I don’t know if I’ll get any sleep at all with your body next to mine, she thought.
"Why don’t we finish this bottle that Laneay and Nicole sent us first?"
"Okay, one more then."
After the wine was decanted, Gabrielle rubbed her neck and winced. "Man, I’ve really got some knotted up muscle in my neck from the rolling back and forth of that ship last night."
"Come here," Xena said to her softly, "I’ll massage them out for you."
At the touch of her hands, Gabrielle felt a delicious shiver course through her body. "What’s wrong?" Xena asked. "Are my hands cold?"
"No, no. It's all right, really. It's just…" she hesitated.
"What, Gabrielle?" Xena asked with real concern as she kneaded the knotted muscles in her friend's neck.
"It's just…" Gabrielle could feel herself getting all hot and wet between her legs. And it wasn't from the fire.
Xena leaned forward and whispered into her ear, "Gabrielle, please tell me. What is it?"
Taking a deep breath and swallowing hard, she said in almost a sigh, "It's just that I'm in love with you Xena and always have been."
Xena felt her breath catch. Did I just hear right?
Gabrielle, figuring that she had nothing else to lose, continued on with her eyes closed, "And I would love for you to take those strong hands of yours and make love to me tonight and wake me with kisses in the morning, or afternoon." The last being said with a wistful grin.
Xena removed her hands from Gabrielle's neck. Now I’ve done it, thought Gabrielle. I had to tell her, didn’t I?
"Stand up for a moment," the warrior princess said softly. Gabrielle did so, but kept her eyes down for fear of seeing a look of pity, or worse yet, one of revulsion.
Placing the fingers of her left hand lightly under Gabrielle's chin, Xena tilted her face up and looked at her. Gabrielle’s eyes were closed and tears were streaming down her flushed cheeks.
"Gabrielle, please look at me," she murmured.
"I don't know that I can, after what I’ve just confessed to you," she whispered, her voice strained.
"It's alright," she replied. "I'm in love with you as well. As brave as I am in battle, I’m guilty of being afraid when it comes to you," the warrior said with tenderness in her voice. She removed her hand and stepped back.
Gabrielle heard the muffled sound of something falling to the floor. "Please open your eyes, Gabrielle." And so, she did and saw the long, lean body of her best friend and soon-to-be lover. The flickering light of the fire danced across Xena's naked body as she exhaled and moved into her welcoming arms.
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These arms. I could get lost in these arms, this body, this woman, thought Gabrielle.
She buried her nose into Xena's neck and inhaled the fragrance of her lover. She could feel the pulse in Xena's neck against her cheek and it was racing, like hers. She pulled back in the embrace enough to look into Xena's face and deep into her eyes. She could see the love that was there. She also saw the familiar lopsided smile. Those beautiful, beautiful lips. Xena pulled her face close to Gabrielle's and their lips met. For real this time, not like that time a couple of years ago when they'd sort of kissed, when Xena was having to use the body of Autolycus . She could not help but giggle a little at the memory of that.
"Something amusing?" Xena asked pausing.
"Don't stop, it's nothing that can’t wait." And with that she ran her fingers through the warrior's dark mane to the back of her head and pulled Xena back into the kiss.
Xena ran her tongue so lightly over Gabrielle's lips, as if requesting permission to enter. Permission was granted as Gabrielle parted her lips and let Xena’s tongue dance wildly with hers.
'By the Goddess,' thought the bard, 'this is so intense!!! It's as though one of Zeus’s thunderbolts has struck me. Every part of my body is tingling. No, No, No, it’s as though I’m on fire and it feels Sooooo Good!!! So Right. So Perfect.'
Xena moved her hands up to Gabrielle’s shoulders and slid the robe from off of her. It was now skin against skin and both felt feverish.
Gabrielle felt her nipples stiffen and ache as she moved her body against Xena's. So many areas of her body were begging for attention that she was feeling faint. It was at this point that Xena stopped their kiss and held Gabrielle away for a moment.
"What, what’s wrong…?"
"Shhh…" was her response as she laid a finger on Gabrielle's lips and watched as she gently sucked the finger into her mouth. Xena pulled the finger out slowly and took her sweet lover’s hand and together they lay down upon the queen size bed.
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The next morning, Laneay saw Nicole coming back to the counter with a breakfast tray untouched and a sly grin on her face.
"What’s up honey? Didn’t number seven want their breakfast?"
"I never found out, sweetie. There was a scroll hanging from the door with a message on it."
"What did it say?"
"Please, Do Not Disturb."
"Really now. Hmmm," Laneay said innocently. "That always was a lucky room. It sure was for us." The two women smirked at each other, giggled, and then walked arm in arm back into the office.