Chapter 34

"Isn't he taking too long by himself out there?" Noel asked in a worried tone as he glanced around trying to see signs of Jade. No matter where he looked there was no sign of him returning after he had been gone for over an hour.

"If you wanna check on him he should be fine. He's off in that direction." Capricorn pointed in the direction that Jade had gone. Being a demi human with better hearing and sense of smell then most he was quickly able to determine where Jade was. He could hear the sound of the waterfall trickling down when they had arrived from the beginning. The fresh water source to drink was one of the reasons he had picked this spot to stop and rest as well as the fact that they were well covered.

After getting the go ahead that it was safe to go looking for Jade it did not take long for Noel to get up and walk off into the direction that Jade was in. Unlike Capricorn he did not have a sense of hearing that was as strong as a wild beast. He could not hear the waterfall until he was already closing in on the location of it. Following that sound of running water it did not take him long to spot the falling water and the pile of Jade's clothes resting on the rock.

His face flushing red when he realized what he was walking in on he turned to leave but then he realized he had not seen Jade in the water. Blushing deeply he debated on turning to look once more and quickly shook that thought aside thinking it would be inappropriate if Jade really was in the water behind him. No matter how he thought about it though he did not see him in the water at all. It was not like Jade would just randomly walk off with nothing on.

Turning his head slightly to the side to glance at the water again he still did not see the man. After a few seconds suddenly Jade's body burst forth from the water. His eyes were closed as he inhaled the fresh air strongly. His long black hair being thrown about in the air from the sudden burst out of the water causing drops of water to fly everywhere from the tips of his hair. It was like the water droplets were sending off sparkles in the air around Jade's figure. The water covered him up to his waist but even above the water his figure was well toned causing Noel's face to flush deeper.

Jade's eyes slowly fluttered open as droplets of water trickled down from his eye lashes. His bright green eyes gazing over at Noel in a relaxed manner as though he did not mind that he was standing there. There was something in his eyes that felt much more at peace than he usually looked. Not a single word left Jade's lips as he stood there silently taking in the fact that Noel was there. Noel could not determine what was behind those eyes but he swallowed nervously as he wanted to turn and leave but his body would not listen to what his mind was telling it.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know you were.. uh.." Noel stumbled over his words as he tried to tear his eyes away from Jade's figure in the water.

"It's fine." Jade's response was simple and to the point. It did not bother him that Noel was there but for some reason he could not stop his heart from pounding against his chest.

Slowly going to take a step backwards to leave Noel found himself stumbling over the calico. Meowing at the man as if it was scolding him for backing up into it the cat smacked it's paws at Noel. Startled from trying not to hurt the cat he found himself stumbling until he was falling towards the water. Jade's body instinctively moved on it's own in order to catch Noel as he fell. The water instantly submerged around his body and felt cold to the touch but at the same time the body heat radiating from Jade to his own caused Noel to quiver slightly in his arms. It was too late to save the clothes from becoming soaked from the water that they were both submerged in but Jade had stopped him from falling completely under.

"If you wanted me to hold you all you had to do was ask." Jade could not help but joke at the fact that Noel was once again in his arms. The tone of his voice, however, was full of a deep tenderness that felt as though he did not mind it in the least.

Noel could not help but wonder if he was imagining things because where his head was resting against Jade's chest from being caught he could have sworn he heard Jade's heart pounding like a freight train. There was a slight blush on Jade's face as if the man himself had no clue that he was blushing as he gazed down into Noel's blue eyes. Gazing at each other in silence a faint warm smile began to appear on Jade face as he leaned into Noel's face half way as if testing something. It wasn't obvious if he was testing himself or Noel but neither of them felt as if they truly cared what it was about.

Using all the courage he could pull from himself Noel leaned forward. His lips placing against Jade's as he continued to be held there in Jade's arms in the cold water. Wrapping his arms around his neck so that he would not fall he could feel the sweet tender taste of Jade's kiss as it slowly deepened. As Noel felt his body being lowered into the water he kept his arms around Jade's neck as his heart ached at the fact that he might be trying to end the kiss but after a moment a sigh escaped him as he felt his back being pressed up against the edge of the water so that he was being pressed against the earth, both of them waist deep in the water.

Noel could feel Jade's hand slowly tracing down his side and back up so that his hand was carefully pulling his shirt away. Their kiss only ending for the brief moment that Jade needed to remove it completely and toss it ashore. He could feel the man's waist pressing up against his own through his pants. It was obvious the man was had full attention and it caused his face to blush deeply at the realization.

"W-Wait!" Noel called out to him to slow him down.

"Hm?" Jade's gaze got lost in Noel's blue eyes.