Into the Inferno

AN: The line about Agni making women with muzzles is permissively borrowed from Hotspur’s story Downfall. Thanks girl!


----Chapter Three: Cajole

He lifted his weight off of her, freeing her arms. She didn’t try to push him away. He slid his hands along Katara’s hips and started to kiss his way toward her breasts.

Zuko felt himself growing aroused. To think someone of water could inspire desire in him! His mouth skimmed along the edge of her breast bindings. He dipped his tongue into her small cleavage. Katara tensed at the unfamiliar sensation. The Prince lifted his head and breathed hotly into the crook of her neck. His fingers moved lightly over her arms. “Relax,” he said softly.

Katara gulped, took a deep breath and Zuko felt her muscles slacken. He nipped at her earlobe before drawing his head back. He smirked at the embarrassed expression on his prisoner’s face before he lowered his head to her bosom again. Zuko heated his breath and blew against the coverings over her left nipple. He puffed out a few harmless flames that could be felt through the bindings and had them caress underneath the breast in a heated dance. Nuzzling her tit, he felt the nipple harden and he gently bit it. Katara gasped at the sensations.

Zuko looked up. “Like that?” he purred. She averted her gaze from his glinting gold eyes. He straightened up and gently kissed her forehead. “There’s no need to be shy, Katara,” he said gently. His thumbs traced light circles on her temples. “I told you there’s no shame in pleasure. Just let go. Allow yourself to enjoy something new. Sex is fun. Explore it. I’d love participation from you.”

Katara didn’t answer him. Her tongue darted out to lick her dry lips. Zuko found it innocently erotic. He moved his hands behind her, taking her weight off the wall. He expertly kneaded his fingers against Katara’s back and delighted in her whimpers. His lips went back to kissing her neck only this time he wasn’t so gentle. Driven by her gasps and the occasional squeak, he licked, sucked, and nipped at her exotic flesh.

So absorbed was Zuko in his ministrations that he almost missed the sensation of Katara’s hand dipping into his pouch to retrieve her necklace. Almost. He jerked up and grabbed her wrist without wrenching her hand away from his belt.

“Drop it,” he commanded fiercely. Katara tried to tug her hand out of his grip but the Fire Prince had a very firm grasp on her. “I said ‘Drop it’,” he growled. The teenage girl closed her eyes and Zuko felt a soft weight fall back into the pouch.

“Do you know what happens to thieves in the Fire Nation?” he asked coldly. Katara remained silent. Her body had taken a rigid stance as if she was bracing herself for Zuko’s wrath. “Their hands are cut off,” Zuko explained.

Katara’s eyes opened wide and she desperately tried to pull her hand away again. “Zuko, I was just trying to get back what is mine,” she said pleadingly. “The necklace was my grandmother’s. It’s an heirloom. You’re the one who took it from me!” She gasped and clapped her free hand over her mouth. She’d realized the insult she’d just said.

Such nerve! Zuko squeezed harder on Katara’s wrist. She winced under the pressure.

“Agni should’ve made the female mouth with a muzzle,” Zuko growled. “To accuse a prince of stealing is punishable by flogging. You certainly couldn’t last long in the Fire Nation with your attitude.”

“Zuko, please let me have it back,” Katara said sadly.

“No,” he replied.

“But I let you…” she said, her voice fading. She tried again, “You said if I cooperated I’d get it back.”

Zuko pulled her close against him. He wished he could feel more of her but his armor was too padded. He said seductively, “I want to do more than touch and taste you, Katara. You know that.” He slid her robe off and tossed it aside. He decided he liked the slope of her shoulders.

“Zuko, what if I…” Katara started to say. She looked away with a blush gracing her cheeks.

“Yes?” he prodded, genuinely curious. Did she want to make a deal?

“What… if I,” she stammered, “use my… mouth… and keep… my maidenhead?”

Zuko blinked in surprise. He guessed that before tonight Katara probably hadn’t known anything other than the basics of sex. To think, just one comment from him earlier had her offering to explore something new so she could keep her virginity. He had finally convinced her she couldn’t escape. Zuko’s ego swelled with pride knowing he could lord such power over the people who defied him.

“I,” she continued nervously, “I really will try. I won’t just… get it over with.” Zuko stared silently at her while he pretended to consider her offer.

After a few moments he said, “That’s generous of you, Katara.” He moved his hand up and down her back in a seemingly tender caress, secretly searching for the ending of the linen wrap restraining her breasts. “But I brought you here with an intended purpose,” he continued, “and I won’t settle for less.”

Katara tried to wriggle out of Zuko’s arms, but he held her tightly. “Let go of me,” she yelled.

“You will stay with me,” Zuko said firmly.

“No,” Katara said. “I don’t want to.”

“This isn’t about what you want,” he stated.

“I tried to compromise with you, Zuko. But you’re just too proud,” she said angrily.

“Your offer was decent,” Zuko told her. Katara stopped struggling apparently not expecting him to have agreed with her on some level. The Firebender took the opportunity to pull her close, pressing her body against his. “But I want more than that,” he explained. “I want to be inside of you. There’s… no feeling like it.”

She sighed. “It can’t be that much different than… my offer,” she said.

“It is,” Zuko said curtly.

“Why does it have to be me?” Katara asked sadly.

“Because you’re here,” he replied. He felt Katara stiffen with indignity so he added, “And I desire you.”

Katara shook her head. “There are many girls much prettier than me. What is it about me that inspires desire?”

Zuko was slightly surprised. He knew women were critical of one or two traits but did Katara think herself unattractive? Surely she didn’t think that she was ugly? He agreed that she wasn’t the most beautiful woman he’d seen, but she was by no means plain. The noble born women were usually stunning at a glance. Katara’s beauty was more simple. One had to truly look at her to see it. Her ice blue eyes shone with determination and compassion. Her confidence was attractive and refreshing. Her dark skin reminded him of treats like syrup and caramel, rich in color and taste, and so smooth to touch despite her rugged lifestyle. She was an exotic water flower just beginning to bloom and the Firebender found himself very drawn to her.

“Don’t place doubt in yourself,” he said finally. She blinked up at him questioningly. “There will always be someone better looking,” Zuko continued gently, “but that doesn’t mean you’re unattractive. You’re quite beautiful, Katara.”

Katara’s eyes filled with unshed tears but she was smiling softly. Was she accepting what he told her? She wasn’t skeptical that he was flattering her? Zuko realized with a shock he had probably told her something she had wanted to hear for a long time. This skimmed too close to attachment for him. It was time to stop talking and go back touching her.

He slowly lowered his face to hers as he said, “For me, you have an exotic allure that’s irresistible.” He lightly kissed her cheek and trailed his fingers over her hairline. Katara shivered at his sultry approach. “Let me show you how beautiful I think you are, Waterbender,” Zuko purred as he planted another light kiss on her forehead.

“Zuko, I…” Katara breathed softly.

The Prince didn’t let her recover her sentence. Kissing her all the while, he went on in his honeyed tones. “Give into me. After all you’ve done for your friends you deserve something for yourself. Indulge in a little pleasure.” He listened to her breathing. Her breaths had become slow and measured in her growing arousal. Zuko grew more confident. His hands traced light patterns on her lower back.

“It won’t take long,” he said. “We deserve this, Katara. You don’t have to share this with your little gang. It’s just for us.” His fingers undid the string of her pants. She whimpered in half-hearted protest. “I can make your first time special,” he cooed. “Believe me when I say I don’t intend to hurt you. I just want this moment for us.”

“Zuko, stop,” she said barely audible. He didn’t. Kneeling down, he showered kisses across the plane of her stomach. He kept one hand on her back while his other slid off her shoes. By now, his own arousal was quite pressing and he could no longer stand his restrictive armor. Zuko began to unlace the leather cords of his shoulder pads from where they connected to his chest plate.

His fingers were soon engrossed in the efforts of removing his armor without the assistance of his servants. He took his other hand off of the Water Maiden to untangle the cords wrapped around his first hand.

The instant his other hand was engaged, Katara turned and ran for the exit. Zuko was standing instantly and wrenched his hands free of the cords. In just a few bounding steps, he was upon her. She hadn’t even made it to the door before he seized her braid and yanked her back. Katara fell and he did not catch her. She landed with a soft clang on the metal floor. Zuko hoped it hurt.

He stooped to the floor and straddled his prisoner before she could recover herself. The Prince made sure his legs held her arms tightly at her sides so she couldn’t swing a punch at his head. Katara squirmed underneath him.

Fine! Zuko thought. You want to fight me in this, go ahead. Your struggle makes my victory that much sweeter.

----

AN: Oh that Zuko and his classic guy line about a quickie...