While I wouldn't say this chapter is NSFW there are a couple somewhat graphic sentences here and there.  Just a heads up for the most part.

"No, Juvia, don't change. I guess I just didn't think this through. I should have worn something different. I just...I wear what's comfortable and it's normal for me. Despite the fact that we are going on this date I still want it to feel as normal as possible." Juvia turned and watched him as he ran a hand through his already disheveled bluish black hair.

Juvia looked him straight in the eye. "If you truly want normal then we probably shouldn't do this after all."

Gray tried to decipher what she was thinking. What she meant by her words. They left him in a huge quandary that took away most of his vocabulary. He said the only words he could find. "What the fuck, Juvia?!"

When he saw her flinch at his words he realized how that was definitely the wrong thing to say. Crap!

Gray stumbled mentally trying to think of a way to recover the situation. But he was at a loss. She stood across the room from him looking like she may scream, cry, or any other emotion Gray knew he would dread for a myriad amount of reasons.

He half ran across the room as Juvia turned and started to head back upstairs. "Please, Juvia, I don't...I'm sorry."

"I really am wondering why we decided to do this."

"I thought we were exploring possibilities."

Juvia nodded in contemplation. "Yes, but are you really open to any? You dressed normally so it makes me worry that you aren't even thinking of this as a date."

Gray stopped for a moment. Even though he had just called it a date himself only a moment ago it didn't really register in his head until she was the one to utter the words. He asked himself again, This is a date? Of course it was, damn how could he have been so stupid. If they wanted to explore the possibilities that would be the best way to do all this. Didn't he agree also to the fact that this would be a date? How could he forget that? Was it because he just didn't want it to be a date? Gray pondered over that for a moment. No, he definitely wanted to see where all these strange buzzing feelings were coming from. But he just chose to ignore the bigger picture somehow.

"I'm sorry, Juvia." It felt like he was spending an insurmountable amount of time apologizing her. But each time he did was completely sincere. "I should have consider this all more carefully."

Juvia again nodded her head and slowly came back down the stairs. "By the way, Gray..."

Gray turned her direction. He didn't realize how far she had moved in those moments but she was suddenly right beside him. Her fragrance drifted toward him and reminded him of night blooming jasmine. It made him light headed and itchy all over again. He mentally shook himself as he reminded himself that she was talking to him. "Hmm?"

Juvia leaned in towards Gray. Her curves somehow molding perfectly to the hard planes of his chest. "I don't believe in good night kisses."

"You don't?" Gray actually found himself disappointed. He realized that he had actually been looking forward to telling her goodnight. To taste her lips again but this time more thoroughly.

Juvia shook her head. "No, I mean...why say it with goodbye? When it can be said with hello."

Gray groaned in satisfaction when her lips crashed down on his. Her lips were outright demanding and he couldn't do anything but reciprocate. Their lips molded together both hungry and seeking more. But he was the one who depended it. His fingers clawed at the only bare flesh of her upper back that was exposed by the dress. He felt an overwhelming need to touch her soft silky skin. Her arms seemed too accommodating hence why he chose her back instead. His tongue demanded entry and she sighed as she relinquished her lead and let him control the kiss.

Juvia's knees turned to jelly. She moaned in salvation and felt Gray groan in response. When she pushed her breasts closer to his chest he felt rejoiced in the sensation. He pressed himself closer to her. Her body jolted when his erection pressed against her thigh but the kiss went on and on.

The kiss, or rather string of kisses, seemed to last forever and it was making Gray exceptionally light headed. Who knew she could kiss like that? Who knew he would want to kiss her like that? Gray took in a gasping breath and rested his forehead on hers. "Let's sit for a minute," he indicated the couch nearby.

Juvia nodded and led the way. Her hand finding his and dragging him with her.

Gray pushed a stray strand of hair away from her face. "That was...wow!"

Juvia blushed and chuckled slightly.

"Where did you learn to kiss like that?" Gray wasn't sure why he asked. He probably didn't want to know the answer.

"I've dated before this."

Gray felt a twisting in his gut. "Oh?"

Juvia nodded. "His name was Bora. It wasn't a long relationship. I think I dated him because he knew the right things to say. He knew how to make me feel good about myself. But then he got tired of the rain..."

Gray couldn't imagine it. He was lucky he didn't have to deal with the rain that used to constantly follow her around. He never really thought of what it might mean to her to be surrounded by sunlight now. He momentarily considered that and how it potentially effected her. He didn't really want to focus on those deep thoughts right now though. He stored them for later when he could truly go over the events of today on his own. "You wouldn't have brought him up if you didn't at least kiss though, right?"

"Oh yeah, of course we kissed. I was curious and he was...well again like I said he knew all the right things to say."

Gray became furious with this Bora guy. "Did he swindle more then kisses out of you?"

Juvia looked directly into Gray's eyes. It took her a second to recognize the rage he was holding back. It took her even longer to realize what he was asking her. "Gray, that's a very direct question."

"I'm sorry that was probably rude of me." But he did want to know.

"Maybe mildly so. But I don't feel like answering that question now. I want to get our date truly started. Did you have anything specific in mind?"

Gray was irritated that she didn't answer him but he had to respect her privacy. He shook his head. "No, sorry. What a horrible first date huh?"

Juvia smiled at his slip. He didn't realize he said first date. She took that to mean there would be many more. "No worries. I have some ideas."

Linnea sighed deeply. The pond was exceptionally quiet and it was letting her mind easily drift away from her. "I wonder how things are going with those two."

Lector looked at her and smirked. "You shouldn't worry so much. I've never seen Sting look at any girl the way he looks at Mikayla. Not even Yukino and that's saying something."

"Yukino?" Linnea arched an eyebrow at Lector prompting him to explain.

"Oh, umm, until yesterday Sting was certain Yukino was supposed to be his mate. Sorry, I know that seems, uh...bad to say now. But, other then Rogue, she is his best friend. It sort of made an idiotic amount of sense at the time."

"I'm guessing Yukino is Rogue's mate instead?"

Lector nodded. "Yes, that's why he seemed depressed before meeting Mikayla yesterday. I mean, it's good everything worked out the way it was supposed to."

"I suppose so. But he had better tell her about Yukino sooner rather then later."

Sting swung the door open to his room. Being the leader of a guild had it's perks. His room consisted of a large sitting area, a bathroom with an oversized jacuzzi, and a bed big enough to fit 6 people if you tried. He was thankful for the sitting area right now because Mikayla looked exceptionally nervous to be in closed quarters with him.

Sting touched her shoulder. "Hey, I promise to keep my hands to myself."

Mikayla looked up at him shyly through lowered eyelashes. "It isn't only you I'm worried about."

"Do the urges affect you too?" Sting winced at the way he worded his question.

Mikayla touched his arm. "Don't worry, there isn't any easy way to ask that. But I understand the curiosity. My dad's dragon mate talk with me wasn't an easy one to sit through. He wasn't sure how things would affect me so he tried to...umm..be very thorough... I truthfully wasn't really sure how they would effect me either. But once you kissed me..."

"So, it does effect you strongly then? I mean..."

"That may be an understatement. This also may be a dangerous conversation to have here."

"Perhaps, we should give ourselves a time frame. How many dates should we go on before we officially are mated?"

Mikayla blushed brightly. "I don't know about that..."

"What if we plan it out maybe we can better prepare ourselves for it." Sting didn't really seem like a plan it out kind of guy. He seemed more like a fly by the seat of his pants guy. But perhaps being the leader of Sabretooth resulted in him having patient moments?

"I think you are fooling yourself a bit. I mean how can we plan it out? We thrive on our instincts. Nature will take it's course and there is not much we can do to fight it."

"If nature were to take it's course you would already be in my bed and I would be buried deep inside you." Mikayla's blush intensified at Stings wording. "Crap! I can't believe I said that!"

Mikayla shook her head. "No, it's okay. But you did just prove my point. If you were to touch me right now..."

"I'd be lost to my emotions. I wouldn't be able to stop myself."

"Exactly, hence why I am honestly glad you are a few feet away right now." Sting's face fell slightly and Mikayla went to quickly reassure him. "No, I want to sit beside you and just be with you. But just like you don't trust yourself right now. I don't trust myself either." She stared at the a spot in the plush carpet beside her feet.

"So I will sit here on this bar stool. You can sit on that couch. A good, what 7 feet apart from each other? We get to know each other."

"Sounds like a plan."

They talked for hours. Mikayla learned of how Sting became the leader of Sabretooth. She got to know his best friend, Rogue, through him. He told her of Weisslogia and how his adoptive father convinced him to kill him. Mikayla wept strongly during this part of the conversation. Sting wanted to gather her in his arms but she shook him off.

The hard part for Sting was when he told her about Yuki. He first explained their friendship. How it was so easy and he grew very protective of her. Then he explained how he felt antsy around her at times. It was something that made him think of the love they could have. But now he only just figured out that he worried over hurting their friendship if they were meant to be together. He did love her of course. But as a brother would love a sister. He made sure to assure Mikayla of all of this but she seemed unfazed. Especially when she took the time to say. "Dragon mate magic is stronger then just love. It's partially the spark that can ignite into love. But it's also a magic that binds two together that are meant to be. I have confidence that what you are saying is true. I will never doubt your feelings."

Mikayla first told Sting about her family. How she loved them and how much they meant. Her father was as supportive as he could be. Her mother, while not a mage, taught her other important lessons of life. Mikayla especially stressed how her mother taught her how to accept and return love. Sting considered himself very lucky to some day receive such affection in the future.

Sting learned of several moments where Mikayla's magic got away from her. How it tormented her to not be able to control it that easily. She jokingly commented how chaotic her magic could be. Sting only half smiled at her attempt at humor.

"It scares me to say it. But I do think that you need to stay here in Magnolia for awhile to learn form the Strauss family. I will have to somehow make arrangements at the guild. I would ask Rogue to takeover for awhile, but I am sure he will be busy with Yukino. I don't want to take that time away from them."

Mikayla smiled at his immediate acceptance of her. When she saw how her parents loved she hoped that her own love would be similar. Looking at Sting now she was pretty sure it would be. But only time can determine the truth.