Lemon - This is a shorter chapter (for this book anyway) but it is a lemon from beginning to end.

Unyieldingly placing your lips against his, you slipped your hand down his sweats to stroke him teasingly with your fingertips. A deep blush rose to his cheeks as he shuddered beneath you and grew firm against your palm.

He had a feeling you would be more direct when it got to this part of your relationship - you weren't some young virgin after all - but this was almost more than his heart and brain could handle at the same time. Perhaps it was simply because it was you and everything thing was different when it came to you.

A playful nip at his bottom lip snapped him out of his thoughts. Panting heavily, he tried to direct his attention away from your soft warm hand pumping in rhythm with his unintentional thrusts. You moved to leave a trail of kisses along his jaw and toward his ear lobe, nibbling affectionately once you reached your destination.

Seeing and hearing his reaction to your touch encouraged you to continue. The hand gripping your forearm slid down to your wrist as he muttered your name in a low sexy timbre.

"Shh," you blew into his ear, "I'll take care of you, Tiger."

Goosebumps erupted across his flesh as you moved away leaving him at the edge of release. He tried to control his breathing and excitement while you crawled over to the nightstand hastily snagging a condom from the drawer. When you turned back, he was kicking his pants off the mattress.

You smirked and did the same rolling your panties down and dropping them on the floor as he scooted up to sit against the headboard. Wasting little time, you removed the prophylactic from its mylar confines and rolled it down his length earning a twitch and pleasant shudder from your greenette. You crawled over him straddling his hips and placed both hands on his bare chest as you leaned in for a deliciously deep kiss. Callused palms rubbed a path down your sides to the hem of your oversized shirt. He broke away briefly to tug the pesky article of clothing away and appreciate his first full view of your curves in all their naked glory.

A shy blush tinted your cheeks before you moved to distract him with your lips. Delicate nimble fingers searched haphazardly over dips and curves of hard muscles while brawny digits crawled over your soft flesh, wordlessly begging for more.

Weakened knees practically forced you to lower your hips, sliding your aching sex against his length. A soft gasp parted your lips triggering a new spark down his spine. His half-lidded gaze fell over you as you adjusted your position. You already felt so good to him it was hard to concentrate, he was sort of afraid he couldn't handle much more contact.

Your hands landed gently on his shoulders, nails lightly scraping his skin as you sucked in a deep breath and lowered yourself; slowly pushing him completely into your warmth.

Surely, he could hear your heart thrumming wildly in your chest. His nose brushed your cheek as he nuzzled you lovingly. You were afraid to move, already somehow feeling like you were on the edge.

"Breathe," he whispered nearly breathless himself.

You exhaled clumsily looping your arms around his neck before you began to rock your hips and find your rhythm. His hands slid from the small of your back to the curve of your ass in an attempt to hold you closer. Your body temperature rose quickly as you were now flush with each other. Soft moans mixed with desperate pants tickled his shoulder while his lips explored your jaw and throat.

Suddenly, Zoro was pushing you back, his arms still firmly around you to ensure you didn't lose contact as he gently switched your position. Now above you, you wrapped your legs around his waist moving your hands from his shoulders to his jaw. An aroused blush spread over the bridge of his nose while he watched you with endless amounts of affection, the soft clink of his earrings punctuating each thrust.

God damn...

"...you're beautiful..." you mumbled not intending for him to hear.

His eye widened a fraction before he hid his face in your chest embarrassed. No one had ever said anything so endearing, honest or complementary to him.

He loved you so much.

Could this moment last forever?

Your soft whimper brought his gaze back into focus realizing he had increased his speed. Beads of sweat rolled down your arched neck as you raised your hips to meet his thrusts. He was surprised by how pleasant your quietness was. Initially, he'd expected - even wanted - to have you calling his name at the top of your lungs, but he discovered quickly that he preferred your soft moans and deep huffs.

You whispered his name tightening your thighs around his waist. His hands moved to your hips as his pace grew sloppy but still firm. You continued to softly praise him until you both came undone shuddering against each other while he buried his face in your shoulder. He continued to hold you close while you caught your breaths, feeling strangely vulnerable he wasn't ready to part with you.

"...Amazing." you ran your fingers through his hair, voice still sultry and fully satisfied.

He nodded against you, afraid that if he spoke he'd say something you weren't ready to hear.

"Are you going to be shy now, Tiger?" you gently teased before sighing contently and relaxing under his weight.

"No," he murmured slightly amused, "I just wanted to stay like this for a moment."

"We can stay long as you'd like." you kissed his temple.