The following is a bit of alternative fiction based on certain characters from the Xenaverse. It is not meant to infringe on anyone else's rights. If you don't agree or disapprove, please go read something else.
Warning: This chapter has Naughty Bits. If you are under 17 you might want to just skip to part 4. You do not have to read this chapter to follow the story.
The ride back was sweet for Gabrielle. True, she wasn't much of a horse person, but she was definitely a Xena person and Xena had taught her to appreciate some of the . .better. .reasons for riding. This wasn't to say that the bard didn't walk most of the time. She liked walking. She could set a pace that allowed for taking in the sights and extended conversation that way. But she no longer resisted riding as much. She grinned wickedly behind Xena's back as certain memories filtered through her brain. She lay her head softly against the warrior's back.
It started as frustration. Xena's to be specific. They had someplace to go and it seemed as if Gabrielle was just dragging her feet. Gabrielle wasn't dragging her feet, though she was delaying. At some point Xena had enough. She halted Argo, whirled the horse around and pulled the bard up and into the front of the saddle. She wasn't sure why she did it. Usually the bard rode in the back. She guessed that it was a subconscious desire to hurry up, to push the bard ahead.
Xena wrapped strong arms around the bard's waist, started Argo into a quick paced gait, and realized abruptly that she was touching naked skin. Naked bard skin. She felt a sudden flush of desire.
Then things happened.
Gabrielle was complaining loudly, but Xena was too busy thinking mantras to calm the waves of desire that she wasn't listening. The bard shifted around so that her face was looking up at Xena's. She waved fingers in front of the warrior's face, forcing Xena to look down and grimace. "Are you listening?" the bard asked.
Xena gave a curt nod and then got stuck somewhere between up and down when her eyes met Gabrielle's. That flare of desire suddenly boosted in intensity and caused sparks of lust to flash into the dark woman's blue eyes. Gabrielle's mouth seemed to open up invitingly (though she was just going to say something else. . and then it faded from mind when she experienced Xena's gaze). Xena's lips were suddenly touching Gabrielle's in a passionately intense kiss. Her hand stroked the bard's belly and drifted to the trim of the bard's skirt.
After that, there was no going back to hating horses for Gabrielle. There were times, on the road, that they tried other positions in camp. She applied the principal to her riding experiences with Xena. They'd done a version of side saddle, with Gabrielle spreading willingly to Xena's searching hand. They'd also done a version of the straddle, where Gabrielle covered Xena's thighs with her own.
That had been the direct result of a wager Gabrielle made Xena about her ability to distract the ex-warlord. Xena had remained stoic right up until a certain bard's hands had found their way under Xena's skirt. The saddle had to be wiped down later. Somehow Xena managed to guide Argo anyway, or maybe Argo was simply so smart Xena simply let the horse lead the way. It didn't matter. It had been very very good.
It gave her pleasant things to think about when her arms embraced Xena from behind. Gabrielle looked past Xena's shoulder to find Toris' location. He was a ways ahead. Now there was a man in a hurry. Gabrielle grinned and decided to take a risk. It was time for a little distraction.
Gabrielle let one of her arms drift down to Xena's thigh and laid her palm flat. She felt a soft rumbling from Xena, as the warrior began to chuckle. Xena spoke quietly, "and what do you think you are doing."
Gabrielle grinned. "I'm making this ride a little more interesting."
Xena's eyebrows arched in amusement, "Interesting?" She nodded in Toris' direction, "You are aware there is another person on the trail?"
"Mmhmm."
"And you just expect me too . . ."
"Sit still. .ish and let me have my way with you."
Xena smiled. "Oh I wish I could do that."
"But. . ."
"I have no desire to have to wipe my saddle down in front of my brother."
"Spoilsport."
Gabrielle began moving her hand back up to the warrior's waist. She felt the warm grip of Xena's hand cover her own. She clasped the bard's fingers in her own and pulled them up to her lips. She kissed Gabrielle's palm and set the hand back at her waist. "Another time, my bard, another time."
Toris didn't understand the ferocious look he recieved later from Xena.
ŠJune 1997