Odds and Ends
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Rurouni Kenshin › General
Rating:
Adult ++
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Category:
Rurouni Kenshin › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
5
Views:
3,410
Reviews:
5
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Rurouni Kenshin, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
I begin where you end
Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply. Watsuki owns the RK characters but the OCs, ideas, plot and words are *mine*.
Odds and Ends
Chapter 4: I begin where you end
They had spent the rest of the afternoon silent, Saitoh had let her digest her reality check, and it was with relief that he had noticed that she was putting herself in question. She would change her perspective, if she didn’t already by dinner time. He was familiar enough with political nutcases to know that they were arguing and arguing when they were trapped into their frame of thoughts and dogma. She had been foolish, but it had to be put on her relative youth and her sheltered life; obviously, she wasn’t moronic enough to try to delude herself; she had been revolted by the shock of the fall and the situation in Aizu, that was all. She would come clean concerning the people and potential rebels that she had talked about, before they could be a problem, fine. Even finer, that would be less of a problem to deal with once they were married; he didn’t need a fanatic at home.
He had hence spent his time focusing on the case waiting for him in Tokyo, since he had a photographic memory and had the reports in mind. He had figured several interesting possibilities, realizing when he sat up that his flank hurt less, things were going well, finally.
The storm had lessened while they ate, and when she lain by his side, in her now dry under-kimono, he heard the wolves howling outside. Perfect.
The only discarding note was the number of his cigarette left, only two. They would have to walk a lot tomorrow, hence instead of talking with her and trying to get names and facts, he would have just one now, and sleep early.
***
Tokio was still too at loss to find words and ask him the questions that she wanted to. Weirdly, he wasn’t a disturbing element now. He had created that confusion, but when he had told her that she could figure it out, he had helped her to regain some confidence.
She was fixing the flames, hearing and smelling him smoke, his tall body next to hers, and the intimacy, not unsettling her anymore, had something soothing. She almost wished that she could stay there with him; there was nothing that she had to look forwards to in Aizu. If only it could be him that she married. He was infuriating sometimes and he could be cruel, in his logic, in his reactions, yet he was not such a dreadful man. He was rather…well, rather attractive, too.
She sighed, wishful thinking wouldn’t change anything, and after a while she heard his steady respiration, he was sleeping. The wolves were still howling, she was stupidly focusing on the noise, and it became intolerable, obstacle to her sleep. She had to rest: the walk tomorrow, even down the mountain, would be exhausting and she didn’t want him to complain about her.
Sleep.
Sleep.
Sleep, damn it.
She sighed anew, in exasperation this time. There was no way she could, the damn wolves wouldn’t shut up, the fire was too bright, and her yukata itching her; whatever, everything was irking anyway. As she looked around for another reason to be unnerved, her eyes fell on the large bowl and the handkerchief that she had used the previous days, to clean herself a little while he was sleeping. She might not have the time tomorrow morning; maybe he would want to leave immediately, and maybe, after all, it would help her to feel better. Having a bath always relaxed her, and that was the closer that she had of it, here.
Carefully, Tokio got away from him, holding her breath as he groaned. She replaced the blanket around him, observing him until his deep respiration told her that he wouldn’t awake. She took her yukata off, kneeling on the futon nearest to the fire, so as not to feel too much cold. The snow stopping had made the temperature go down outside, but the absence of wind lessened the penetration of frozen air in the cabin, and it wasn’t colder inside.
She had intended to clean rapidly, yet, when the hot and wet handkerchief made contact with her skin, she sighed in pleasure. She passed it on her face, and then, slower and slower, on her arms, her collarbone, relieved as indeed, she felt better, cleaning her body seeming to clean her mind from her disturbing thoughts. It was only when she reached her breasts that the memory of him caressing them superposed with her move. Startled, she let her hand drop, the cold atmosphere making her skin tense and the little pebbles peak. She had to repress a moan as the sharp sensation echoed between her legs. She was assaulted by contradictive impressions, memories of what he had done to her, the odd…pleasure she experienced, confusion and shame, and then anger and fear at the idea that when her husband would touch her, she would only experience hurt and disgust.
If only…if only it could be this man instead.
Again, the thought imposed itself to Tokio. Maybe it was because their conversation had destroyed her certainties, had made her think that the cause she was devoted to was lost, that the way she fought was wrong, but she didn’t seem to find any will or sensibility in her troubled mind. It was so weak not to accept her future, to want so desperately to avoid it, to feel so discouraged, when she had always been and still was privileged. Maybe it was the long and repetitive days, and being isolated from the world, but she just wanted to forget all about what wasn’t here and now. It sounded so easy. It was stupid to delude into denial; reality would catch with her, sooner or later. In a few hours, there would be nothing left of it, just more bitterness.
Yet, right now, none of this seemed to matter. She just wanted to dream a little, for the first time of her life. Nobody but her would know…that couldn’t be wrong.
She closed her eyes and resumed her moves, hesitantly, before her fantasy erased reality. She could picture the long hands touching her so knowingly, the fingers teasing her breasts, and this time she wasn’t scared, it felt so good, and she wasn’t even feeling the cold air anymore. She could imagine his gaze on her, and she tossed her head back, when her hand drifted on her belly…his gaze on her…his gaze…
He *was* looking at her.
***
Saitoh didn’t believe the scene in front of him, thinking at first that he was having a dream. She was in front of the fire, naked, her hands traveling on her body. With her head tossed back, shiny mass of hair licking at the curve of her back, her skin velvety in the light of the flames, her eyes closed, long lashes brushing her cheeks, and her mouth half opened, she was the vision of a perfect fantasy.
He focused on not waking up, realizing little by little that it was already done, mesmerized by the contrast between her former pristine attitude and the sensual image offered to him.
Yet suddenly she stilled, opened her eyes, and then bolted.
A red mist of utter shame passed on her face, her gray gaze clouded in confusion, yet it vanished and she just stayed immobile, observing him watching her, for what seemed an eternity. Another nascent light illumined the gray orbs, something between longing and request. Desire, and she had no words, nor she dared to express it with them.
He had the words, yet he didn’t want to say them, either. Silence was adding to the tension that spread from their bodies, from their gazes, which had locked with a force that none of them could master nor deny; a force filling them and the space around, that made him forget all reason, past, facts, implications.
There was here and now, and nothing else. Nothing but the strange world reduced to each other in which they had lived for days, with no real consciousness of the time passing aside for the dim whiteness filtering through the shoji, nothing but the pure want that each of them were experiencing and which was feeding in the endless and irrepressible build up. Nothing existed but the wildness around, desert of snow, howling wolves, and the wildness taking life inside.
Saitoh had never done anything in his life without considering all the options, without analyzing and thinking, and for the first time ever his mind was blank. Even in the utmost furor of the fight, he had been able to calculate, he had been rational. Not now, except for the faraway knowledge that there was no nefarious consequences. He had always controlled severely his wild nature, for the sake of Reason and Duty, and now he could let it run free, without danger for his life or for what he believed in. He could express it in his desire for this woman, who awoke it so deeply. He could just enjoy and lose himself into it, into her.
How exhilarating.
How unreal, and it had to stay so.
Not a word, nothing rational.
Once and only once, it would be just passion.
His eyes still prisoner of hers, her gaze still captive of his, he moved slowly towards her, feeling her breath catching in her lungs and her nerves tensing as he knelt behind her. She was as immobile as a statue, and as perfectly shaped, yet she was all but stone, she was soft and warm and her skin flustered, appealing to be touched. He let her grow conscious of his presence, that he was going to touch her, any moment; he let anticipation blossom until he was hard. He took in the tension of her shoulders when he extended his arm, even before his fingers closed around a rich strand of hair, in a careless caress. He moved closer, until he impressed his erection on her back, revealing his hardness to her, while he stroked her hair and made the silky curtain fall over one shoulder ever so lightly. Taking one of her wrists into one hand, he felt her pulse going crazy, jumping and running under the porcelain skin, affecting his own breathing. He drank the view of the curve of her long neck. He wanted to bite this tempting flesh and played with the idea for a second, before he reported his gaze on her jaw line, so delicately designed.
With a smirk, he bent his head, and brushed his lips to it, barely touching her, while placing his free hand on her stomach, and pressing her closer to him.
***
Tokio let out a loud moan, her head jerking back on his shoulder, she couldn’t bear that foreign tension overwhelming her at the mixed messages that her body received.
She had decided that nothing mattered but him and her, that she would forget everything tonight, and that she would know what was belonging to a man whom she wanted, just once in her life. She would be weak and indulge herself but at the moment, she didn’t seem to care the least, it didn’t exist anymore. It was a dream, it was unreal, and although a little voice in her wanted to tell him why she did this, wanted to explain him, it got deafened. There was no explanation to give, it was him, and her, and they wanted each other, and that was all. The way he touched her told her that she had been right, that she wanted him; and she even believed that what they were doing, what they would do, was right. She couldn’t have retreated even if she had wanted to, there was something that had just been born between them, which they had created yet that they couldn’t control, whose existence was surpassing them. She had no choice but surrendering to it, and there was nothing that she desired more.
His hand in her hair had been smooth, making her melt, whereas the hardness against her back had stirred something dark and wild, a flaring fire inside of her. His mouth feathering on her jaw was so delicate, whereas the controlled strength emanating from his frame, and the way he held her against him, always closer, always tighter, announced a devastating storm.
She was lost in the sensations, on the edge, not knowing what to expect, wanting to know and afraid to, loving his touch and fearing what was to come at once. She was afraid that she wouldn’t bear the intensity of what these first caresses promised. Yet, she had decided, or had been compelled by a side of her that she hadn’t suspected she possessed, that she would go all the way with him. She was dimly aware that she would be able to, even though it didn’t make sense…but nothing made sense tonight, no word, no rational thought, just their bodies and what they wanted.
His lips traveled down her neck, kisses gaining pressure, and finally his tongue forayed between them and she felt…tasted, that was all she could think as he groaned hungrily. He was licking at her throat, just where her pulse was desperately trying to beat, changing her breathing into irregular panting. Her blood seemed to circulate in rhythm with the pulsations of his member pressed on her bottom, disorienting her, realizing that she couldn’t even control this few of her own body.
In search of an anchor, her nails dug into his forearms. He had let go of her wrist, his hand now settled on her thigh, wandering languidly on their roundness, until it reached the point where her legs met. He seemed to want to nudge them apart. The idea made her breast swell, he would touch her there again, and she felt dampness at her core, the sensations enhanced by his wet, hot and so insisting tongue rasping the base of her neck and his firm mouth devouring her.
Her thoughts got interrupted when he bit her there, with another animal sound, soothing the sharp pain immediately with smooth tongue flicks, and distracting her from it with his second hand drifting up her belly, his fingers teasing underneath her breasts, already heavy with desire. He didn’t touch them more, and his other hand had shifted up, too, on top of her thigh, letting her weirdly disappointed. Trying to get more, yes, she needed more, she wriggled closer to him. She barely heard him gasp, caught by the sensation of him hardening. Relieved, she smiled and moved her hips again, it was enthralling, it was good, and she was drifting away, when this time, he laughed, low, ominous laugh against her skin.
***
Saitoh had known that he wouldn’t be able to control the passion for too long, in spite of his efforts to make the foreplays last and keep the pent-up growing to the maximum. Yet, her obvious delight as she had found out how to relieve herself a little from the careful trap that he was building around her had been unexpected, and it just made all of it more thrilling.
Yet, that wasn’t what he wanted right now, his nature asked for dominance, and dominance over her as he wouldn’t dominate himself.
He had enjoyed her unknowingly exciting him more, and let her play just a while, but that had made him that much closer to his own limits. Now was time to have her undone, just like he had imagined, before he was himself.
Working his way up her neck again, he coaxed her into turning her face to him, whereas his hands had wandered up her graceful body to close about her breasts, massaging slowly the round and creamy mounds. He liked the firmness of her flesh, and the way they swelled to fit his palms.
He caught the pleasure in her gray eyes when she tossed her head on one side to face him; he caught her sighs of pleasure when he brought his mouth just above hers. His smirk widening, he seized her nipples and made them roll between his fingers, rewarding each of her sweet moans with a swift kiss on her lips. She grew demanding, her hips beginning to thrust against him when he increased the pressure, whimpering when his moves got excruciatingly slow, her mouth seizing his and her tongue coaxing when he wouldn’t kiss her deeper. His blood was beating to his temples now, his groin taut with need, and he wasn’t playing with her anymore, but stroking roughly, he was starving and he needed to touch her more. One of his hands left her breast to complete its original intention.
***
Tokio had stopped forming any coherent though when he had begun to stroke her breasts. The combination of strength and control that she felt in him, confronting the passion mounting in both of them, had made her lost all other awareness.
She just yearned; she couldn’t have enough of his callused fingers on her skin, so sensitive that it was like raw, neither of the hot wetness of his tongue, of his firm lips tormenting hers. She whimpered out loud when he abandoned one of her breasts, yet her stomach knotted when his fingers caressed it briefly, on their purposeful path down, tying her up with anticipation. She didn’t have time to dwell on the issue, since he captured her mouth for a fierce kiss, overwhelming, mind-emptying, irresistibly hot kiss. She held on to it, her tongue going to play with his, puzzling triumph filling her as she realized that he was panting too, that he liked her response, that it affected him. She let it feed her own desire, let it take over her, not afraid anymore of the unknown, only afraid not to reach it before she combusted into the flames.
He drew away from the kiss, and she protested, before breaking it herself to let out a long complaint of pleasure. His fingers had found their way between her legs and teased the little cleft, her thighs reflexively opening to let him explore her further, until he could slide a finger between her folds, and this time, she knew that she wouldn’t bear it. Her gaze clouded as his caresses got more precise. He found her little nub and toyed with it, baring her nerves, causing her to cry out with the sweet, welcomed ache biting her and spreading in delicious hot waves through her boiling blood and shivering body. She stifled a scream; one finger had gone to probe at her entrance, and she was unable to repress it anymore when he slid it deep inside her sheath.
She glanced at him, at loss, yet she found no soothing in the vision of him. He was watching her closely, excitation burning in the amber gaze. Noticing her eyes on him, he passed his tongue on his lips, quickly, and for reasons that she didn’t understand, it heightened the pressure burdening her. He nibbled at her mouth again, alternatively using his lips, his tongue, or his teeth, echoing the moves of his fingers stroking relentlessly her wet flesh, one entering and leaving her, slowly at first, and then faster. She arched her back, trying to clamp her legs, and she didn’t know whether it was to get more or make it stop, yet she froze when a second finger went to join the first.
***
She was ready, she was drenching wet and hot, yet Saitoh went on. The view of her taking pleasure into his caresses, crying out loud, changing into a wanton, sensual creature was just too exhilarating to stop…yet it had to.
He slid another finger inside her, to achieve preparing her for him, and he frowned as she stilled, her moan finishing into a little gasp. She was tight, very tight. He contained a curse, this was going to hurt. She had grasped his wrists. He went ahead anyway, not leaving room for protest, retrieving the quick rhythm that he had settled. She writhed, her nails digging into his skin, and he got strangely more excited as she did nothing to stop him, on the opposite, she had spread her legs more and was eagerly meeting his hand. He watched her face again, enjoying her expression, as she tried to enjoy what he did to her, and he never felt as triumphant as when she did finally, a savage whimper and the quivering of her body showing him that she had stretched enough for this. He rewarded her eagerness by a soothing kiss, and she welcomed it with a half sob, her swollen lips clinging to his.
He played with the idea to give her a first orgasm like this, but he nixed it, she had to come with him inside of her, it had to be the result of his possession. He was losing his mind at the idea; he had to enter her, she was so tight, he would love it…but the scent of her reaching his nostrils, combined with the sweet taste of her mouth, and the perspective to challenge his limits more gave him another one. He would do just all that his desire ordered, and now, he wanted to use his tongue on her. He interrupted his ministrations, reckoning in victory as she trembled in anticipation, surely recognizing the sinful intention in his eyes.
He laid her on the futon, wincing as their new position hurt his flank, taking just the time to admire her slim body offered to him while he was parting her legs again. She didn’t seem to understand what he was at, when he secured her thighs in his hands. Her innocence was just so exciting, he thought, touching his tongue to her folds, in a lazy caress, jubilating at her reaction. She had bolted, propping herself on her hands. He wasn’t long to have her mad with want and pleasure, sobbing loudly, her hips seeking his mouth, while he was growling with animal satisfaction, at her tart taste, intoxicating scent, and the beautiful shape and color of her flesh, coloring in red as she got closer to the point.
He didn’t give it to her. He let go of her just as she was about to come, just after she had begun to shudder violently. She would come with him, only.
***
Tokio was so disappointed and exhausted that she was almost crying with it. The way he had made her feel had been incredible, she couldn’t even think of words to put on such madness. It had been so primary, basic, to have his head between her legs, his strong hands restraining her, his hair brushing her thighs, his mouth devouring her, his tongue had been so hard and rough, his groans had aroused her even more than words; she had been dissolving into pure, delightful insanity, existing only for the intense sensations.
Why didn’t he go on? She knew there was more; her body was screaming it to her. She glanced at him, he had knelt again, and so did she, with difficulties. She had just noticed how troubled he seemed, the glimmers in his eyes and his veins beating at his temples and at his throat, yet, resent invaded her soon. She had sent him a look asking why, and it had seemed enough for him to get a grip, when she was still ready to beg him to keep on tormenting her. Until he had this smirk again: it had annoyed her before, now it was only messenger of more delights.
She widened her eyes when he took her hand, and placed it on his shaft, accompanying her moves with his own hand. It was hard, and as if having a life on its own, throbbing under her fingers. She thought that he wanted her to caress him, and so she did, yet his stupefied expression when she ran both her hands on it puzzled her.
He had circled her waist, but he stilled, frowning. After a second of reflection, he nodded to her approvingly, and she realized that she had done nothing until then, just received his caresses. He let her go on, making her understand what he liked by stroking her breast again whenever she managed to please him. Yet, very rapidly, he seemed to have another idea, and he traced the contour of her mouth with his forefinger, purposefully. She didn’t get it, at first, blushed when she did, and even more as she nodded back.
His eyes glittering, he stood up in front of her, placed her hands on his sex again, and timidly, she licked his tip. He growled, making her remember of when he had done this to her, and she repeated her move, again and again. She liked it, he tasted good, and that part of him was fascinating, so powerful. Soon, his hands went to rest on her skull, and with a soft pressure, he showed her what he wanted her to do next. She didn’t dare to look at him, when she directed the big, red head into her mouth. She slid it in and out, between her lips, slowly, not sure of what she was doing, yet she got encouraged by his groans, and she took more of it, little by little, until it filled her mouth. His hands were caressing her hair, restlessly, making a mess out of it, and it was in a gruff voice that he indicated her to use her tongue more.
She found the will to glance at him when she tried and got rewarded by his low growl of pleasure. He noticed that she observed him, and stared back, telling her what a good girl she was and how excited she made him. The tone of his voice provoked another surge of heat in her; she wriggled, trying to ease the burning, sharp tension at her core, while going on with her task. It reminded her of when he had penetrated her with his fingers, in the rhythmical move, and she went on, faster and harder, because she had liked when he had done it like this. His tone changed again, it got urgent, torn between panting and moaning, he was so hard in her mouth, and she tasted a little bit of moisture, until he framed her face to stop her, and then knelt in front of her again.
***
Saitoh was beyond combustion level, as he was finally able to withdraw. He had wanted her to understand that he was going to take her, yet her initiative had changed his plans, and he didn’t regret it. Having her knelt in front of him and pleasuring him like this had been an unexpected gratification, her lack of experience compensated by her eagerness, and her obedience to his indications. He had mastered, but had been enslaved at the same time, feeling that he wasn’t familiar with, and he had liked the novelty.
He cupped her face between his hands, and gave her a long kiss, to thank her, and to prepare her for the last moment. His tongue dueled with hers, renewing her passion, making her drowning into the kiss, while he placed her on his lap. He would have liked to be on top of her, to pin her to the futon and to sink inside of her, but with his wound, it was the best way. She parted when his tip touched her entrance, gasping, and he gritted his teeth, she was so wet and so tight, he wouldn’t be able to be slow, impossible, he had played on the edge for too long, and now he wasn’t able of any restraint anymore.
***
Tokio got self conscious again when she felt him at her entrance, her anticipation changing into apprehension. He was so big, and his fingers had hurt her already…She tried to overcome a feeling of panic, when he kissed her swiftly and placed his hands on her waist. She wanted him, she was dripping and his member beginning to enter her was feeling good, yet…yet…
He suddenly pulled her hips down, penetrating her in a rough thrust, she felt something tearing apart and she screamed out in pain. She was impaled, there was no other word, she tried to move away but he wouldn’t let her, it only hurt more. He held her tight against him, and finally, she bit his shoulder so that she could stand it. It was so shocking, she trembled and she wasn’t able to contain her tears, hiccupping, hitting his back. His hands were caressing her hair and back, and he mumbled something, that he couldn’t wait, that he had to move, that he wanted her too much, and he made her sit up and down, to withdraw and enter again, the gliding move stinging her wounded flesh and making her whimper her pain. The third time, he released his hold, and she arched her back to get away, freezing when she met his eyes. He was transfixed, a look of possession in his flaming amber orbs, and she saw herself into that intense gaze, or better, she saw what she did to him. He wanted her so much that he didn’t control himself anymore, there was nothing left of the aloof, rational, ironic man that she had seen before.
Time to overcome her bewilderment, and she realized that the pain had faded. At that moment, her reasons came back to her, why she had wanted to do this with him, why she had wanted him to be the first man to touch her, and the idea of how miserable she would have felt if it had been another. He seemed to realize her turmoil, and kissed her again, almost fervently, while keeping on thrusting into her, with a visible effort to slow down. When he parted, she caressed his face and his rebel hair, suddenly grateful, realizing how close they were, how easily emotions spread from one to the other. She didn’t know if she could enjoy it, this time, the way she had finally loved his fingers penetrating her, but she wanted him to, and she tried to adjust her moves to his, she wanted him to be pleased.
He noticed, he noticed everything, and he buried his face into her shoulder, whispering to her that he loved her body, that she was sweet and that she drove him crazy. Heat won over her again, and the pain vanished definitely, letting her only with the feeling of his thick and hard member intruding her, it changed from inconvenient to incongruous and then marvelously exciting. She held on to the feeling, suddenly it wasn’t enough, she was trying to keep him in, arching her back, extending her legs, urgency filling her, taking over. She closed her eyes, and felt his lips closing around her breasts, his rasping tongue teasing the erected peaks, his hot breath feeding the flames licking her body, and she gripped his shoulders, following his lead again, loving to entrust him with her, loving his strong arms around her and his heat inside. She moved as he said, knowing that it would give them even more pleasure, she welcomed his feverish kisses, responding with even more hunger. She told him everything that he wanted her to say, which was only the truth: she wanted more, she wanted him deeper, he made her feel so good, and she belonged to him.
Rapture fell upon her when he got so hard that she couldn’t believe it, a second before he came, spilling his seed inside of her, with a near shout. She stopped breathing, thinking that it was too much for her, that she was going to die, before waves of pure ecstasy rippled through her, leaving her boneless and branded.
***
Never had he have a climax comparing to this one. Saitoh had managed to roll on the bedding with her, in the near unconsciousness following his release. Tight, hot, willing, and so sweet in her surrender, abandoned to him, she had been just perfect. She was just perfect now, slim, supple, slick body resting next to his, like two survivors of a storm brought ashore by a furious sea. He would have stayed for hours like this, yet he came back to reality sooner than he would have wished, courtesy of the cold filling the cabin, freezing his sweaty body.
Yes, he was in a cabin, in the middle of winter, he had completely forgotten about even their direct surroundings in the heat of their passion. He felt her shivering, yet she had fallen asleep, which was only normal. It was her first time, and she could only be exhausted, it had been way more exotic than what he had had in mind at first. He glanced at her, his lips lifting in a half-indulgent, half-satisfied smirk, especially when she muttered a protest at his parting their embrace. He noticed that he should place a new log in the fire, and then, he noticed her blood. He took care of it, rapidly. He didn’t want to think or rationalize about what it meant right now, and his damn mind wouldn’t let him rest if he allowed it to start working.
He slid under the blanket, next to her, and thankfully he was too spent for his brain to fight against the slumber.
TBC…
Author’s notes
Let’s count the cliché game (4): Err…do we really want to do that here? Too many!!
I don’t like to write “virgin lemons”, inexperience is bothering (though here, well, it wasn’t too realistic either, blanket scenario cliché, again). But for Meiji settings, and except for Yumi (or Megumi, though it is not the same “experience”) I don’t see how it could be different. Yes, Tokio could have been a widow, only you’ll see that it would have been an obstacle to the following developments, considering Saitoh’s paranoid nature. I hope that in spite of the obligatory deflowering part, it was hot enough; at least they had an almost complete tour of the question, and they didn’t complain to me, LOL.
Next chapter: The end, oh, well, no much suspense in the marriage thingy with Saitoh/Tokio in Meiji settings, it’s rather in the way to go there. Tiny tiny twist, as I had said.
Odds and Ends
Chapter 4: I begin where you end
They had spent the rest of the afternoon silent, Saitoh had let her digest her reality check, and it was with relief that he had noticed that she was putting herself in question. She would change her perspective, if she didn’t already by dinner time. He was familiar enough with political nutcases to know that they were arguing and arguing when they were trapped into their frame of thoughts and dogma. She had been foolish, but it had to be put on her relative youth and her sheltered life; obviously, she wasn’t moronic enough to try to delude herself; she had been revolted by the shock of the fall and the situation in Aizu, that was all. She would come clean concerning the people and potential rebels that she had talked about, before they could be a problem, fine. Even finer, that would be less of a problem to deal with once they were married; he didn’t need a fanatic at home.
He had hence spent his time focusing on the case waiting for him in Tokyo, since he had a photographic memory and had the reports in mind. He had figured several interesting possibilities, realizing when he sat up that his flank hurt less, things were going well, finally.
The storm had lessened while they ate, and when she lain by his side, in her now dry under-kimono, he heard the wolves howling outside. Perfect.
The only discarding note was the number of his cigarette left, only two. They would have to walk a lot tomorrow, hence instead of talking with her and trying to get names and facts, he would have just one now, and sleep early.
***
Tokio was still too at loss to find words and ask him the questions that she wanted to. Weirdly, he wasn’t a disturbing element now. He had created that confusion, but when he had told her that she could figure it out, he had helped her to regain some confidence.
She was fixing the flames, hearing and smelling him smoke, his tall body next to hers, and the intimacy, not unsettling her anymore, had something soothing. She almost wished that she could stay there with him; there was nothing that she had to look forwards to in Aizu. If only it could be him that she married. He was infuriating sometimes and he could be cruel, in his logic, in his reactions, yet he was not such a dreadful man. He was rather…well, rather attractive, too.
She sighed, wishful thinking wouldn’t change anything, and after a while she heard his steady respiration, he was sleeping. The wolves were still howling, she was stupidly focusing on the noise, and it became intolerable, obstacle to her sleep. She had to rest: the walk tomorrow, even down the mountain, would be exhausting and she didn’t want him to complain about her.
Sleep.
Sleep.
Sleep, damn it.
She sighed anew, in exasperation this time. There was no way she could, the damn wolves wouldn’t shut up, the fire was too bright, and her yukata itching her; whatever, everything was irking anyway. As she looked around for another reason to be unnerved, her eyes fell on the large bowl and the handkerchief that she had used the previous days, to clean herself a little while he was sleeping. She might not have the time tomorrow morning; maybe he would want to leave immediately, and maybe, after all, it would help her to feel better. Having a bath always relaxed her, and that was the closer that she had of it, here.
Carefully, Tokio got away from him, holding her breath as he groaned. She replaced the blanket around him, observing him until his deep respiration told her that he wouldn’t awake. She took her yukata off, kneeling on the futon nearest to the fire, so as not to feel too much cold. The snow stopping had made the temperature go down outside, but the absence of wind lessened the penetration of frozen air in the cabin, and it wasn’t colder inside.
She had intended to clean rapidly, yet, when the hot and wet handkerchief made contact with her skin, she sighed in pleasure. She passed it on her face, and then, slower and slower, on her arms, her collarbone, relieved as indeed, she felt better, cleaning her body seeming to clean her mind from her disturbing thoughts. It was only when she reached her breasts that the memory of him caressing them superposed with her move. Startled, she let her hand drop, the cold atmosphere making her skin tense and the little pebbles peak. She had to repress a moan as the sharp sensation echoed between her legs. She was assaulted by contradictive impressions, memories of what he had done to her, the odd…pleasure she experienced, confusion and shame, and then anger and fear at the idea that when her husband would touch her, she would only experience hurt and disgust.
If only…if only it could be this man instead.
Again, the thought imposed itself to Tokio. Maybe it was because their conversation had destroyed her certainties, had made her think that the cause she was devoted to was lost, that the way she fought was wrong, but she didn’t seem to find any will or sensibility in her troubled mind. It was so weak not to accept her future, to want so desperately to avoid it, to feel so discouraged, when she had always been and still was privileged. Maybe it was the long and repetitive days, and being isolated from the world, but she just wanted to forget all about what wasn’t here and now. It sounded so easy. It was stupid to delude into denial; reality would catch with her, sooner or later. In a few hours, there would be nothing left of it, just more bitterness.
Yet, right now, none of this seemed to matter. She just wanted to dream a little, for the first time of her life. Nobody but her would know…that couldn’t be wrong.
She closed her eyes and resumed her moves, hesitantly, before her fantasy erased reality. She could picture the long hands touching her so knowingly, the fingers teasing her breasts, and this time she wasn’t scared, it felt so good, and she wasn’t even feeling the cold air anymore. She could imagine his gaze on her, and she tossed her head back, when her hand drifted on her belly…his gaze on her…his gaze…
He *was* looking at her.
***
Saitoh didn’t believe the scene in front of him, thinking at first that he was having a dream. She was in front of the fire, naked, her hands traveling on her body. With her head tossed back, shiny mass of hair licking at the curve of her back, her skin velvety in the light of the flames, her eyes closed, long lashes brushing her cheeks, and her mouth half opened, she was the vision of a perfect fantasy.
He focused on not waking up, realizing little by little that it was already done, mesmerized by the contrast between her former pristine attitude and the sensual image offered to him.
Yet suddenly she stilled, opened her eyes, and then bolted.
A red mist of utter shame passed on her face, her gray gaze clouded in confusion, yet it vanished and she just stayed immobile, observing him watching her, for what seemed an eternity. Another nascent light illumined the gray orbs, something between longing and request. Desire, and she had no words, nor she dared to express it with them.
He had the words, yet he didn’t want to say them, either. Silence was adding to the tension that spread from their bodies, from their gazes, which had locked with a force that none of them could master nor deny; a force filling them and the space around, that made him forget all reason, past, facts, implications.
There was here and now, and nothing else. Nothing but the strange world reduced to each other in which they had lived for days, with no real consciousness of the time passing aside for the dim whiteness filtering through the shoji, nothing but the pure want that each of them were experiencing and which was feeding in the endless and irrepressible build up. Nothing existed but the wildness around, desert of snow, howling wolves, and the wildness taking life inside.
Saitoh had never done anything in his life without considering all the options, without analyzing and thinking, and for the first time ever his mind was blank. Even in the utmost furor of the fight, he had been able to calculate, he had been rational. Not now, except for the faraway knowledge that there was no nefarious consequences. He had always controlled severely his wild nature, for the sake of Reason and Duty, and now he could let it run free, without danger for his life or for what he believed in. He could express it in his desire for this woman, who awoke it so deeply. He could just enjoy and lose himself into it, into her.
How exhilarating.
How unreal, and it had to stay so.
Not a word, nothing rational.
Once and only once, it would be just passion.
His eyes still prisoner of hers, her gaze still captive of his, he moved slowly towards her, feeling her breath catching in her lungs and her nerves tensing as he knelt behind her. She was as immobile as a statue, and as perfectly shaped, yet she was all but stone, she was soft and warm and her skin flustered, appealing to be touched. He let her grow conscious of his presence, that he was going to touch her, any moment; he let anticipation blossom until he was hard. He took in the tension of her shoulders when he extended his arm, even before his fingers closed around a rich strand of hair, in a careless caress. He moved closer, until he impressed his erection on her back, revealing his hardness to her, while he stroked her hair and made the silky curtain fall over one shoulder ever so lightly. Taking one of her wrists into one hand, he felt her pulse going crazy, jumping and running under the porcelain skin, affecting his own breathing. He drank the view of the curve of her long neck. He wanted to bite this tempting flesh and played with the idea for a second, before he reported his gaze on her jaw line, so delicately designed.
With a smirk, he bent his head, and brushed his lips to it, barely touching her, while placing his free hand on her stomach, and pressing her closer to him.
***
Tokio let out a loud moan, her head jerking back on his shoulder, she couldn’t bear that foreign tension overwhelming her at the mixed messages that her body received.
She had decided that nothing mattered but him and her, that she would forget everything tonight, and that she would know what was belonging to a man whom she wanted, just once in her life. She would be weak and indulge herself but at the moment, she didn’t seem to care the least, it didn’t exist anymore. It was a dream, it was unreal, and although a little voice in her wanted to tell him why she did this, wanted to explain him, it got deafened. There was no explanation to give, it was him, and her, and they wanted each other, and that was all. The way he touched her told her that she had been right, that she wanted him; and she even believed that what they were doing, what they would do, was right. She couldn’t have retreated even if she had wanted to, there was something that had just been born between them, which they had created yet that they couldn’t control, whose existence was surpassing them. She had no choice but surrendering to it, and there was nothing that she desired more.
His hand in her hair had been smooth, making her melt, whereas the hardness against her back had stirred something dark and wild, a flaring fire inside of her. His mouth feathering on her jaw was so delicate, whereas the controlled strength emanating from his frame, and the way he held her against him, always closer, always tighter, announced a devastating storm.
She was lost in the sensations, on the edge, not knowing what to expect, wanting to know and afraid to, loving his touch and fearing what was to come at once. She was afraid that she wouldn’t bear the intensity of what these first caresses promised. Yet, she had decided, or had been compelled by a side of her that she hadn’t suspected she possessed, that she would go all the way with him. She was dimly aware that she would be able to, even though it didn’t make sense…but nothing made sense tonight, no word, no rational thought, just their bodies and what they wanted.
His lips traveled down her neck, kisses gaining pressure, and finally his tongue forayed between them and she felt…tasted, that was all she could think as he groaned hungrily. He was licking at her throat, just where her pulse was desperately trying to beat, changing her breathing into irregular panting. Her blood seemed to circulate in rhythm with the pulsations of his member pressed on her bottom, disorienting her, realizing that she couldn’t even control this few of her own body.
In search of an anchor, her nails dug into his forearms. He had let go of her wrist, his hand now settled on her thigh, wandering languidly on their roundness, until it reached the point where her legs met. He seemed to want to nudge them apart. The idea made her breast swell, he would touch her there again, and she felt dampness at her core, the sensations enhanced by his wet, hot and so insisting tongue rasping the base of her neck and his firm mouth devouring her.
Her thoughts got interrupted when he bit her there, with another animal sound, soothing the sharp pain immediately with smooth tongue flicks, and distracting her from it with his second hand drifting up her belly, his fingers teasing underneath her breasts, already heavy with desire. He didn’t touch them more, and his other hand had shifted up, too, on top of her thigh, letting her weirdly disappointed. Trying to get more, yes, she needed more, she wriggled closer to him. She barely heard him gasp, caught by the sensation of him hardening. Relieved, she smiled and moved her hips again, it was enthralling, it was good, and she was drifting away, when this time, he laughed, low, ominous laugh against her skin.
***
Saitoh had known that he wouldn’t be able to control the passion for too long, in spite of his efforts to make the foreplays last and keep the pent-up growing to the maximum. Yet, her obvious delight as she had found out how to relieve herself a little from the careful trap that he was building around her had been unexpected, and it just made all of it more thrilling.
Yet, that wasn’t what he wanted right now, his nature asked for dominance, and dominance over her as he wouldn’t dominate himself.
He had enjoyed her unknowingly exciting him more, and let her play just a while, but that had made him that much closer to his own limits. Now was time to have her undone, just like he had imagined, before he was himself.
Working his way up her neck again, he coaxed her into turning her face to him, whereas his hands had wandered up her graceful body to close about her breasts, massaging slowly the round and creamy mounds. He liked the firmness of her flesh, and the way they swelled to fit his palms.
He caught the pleasure in her gray eyes when she tossed her head on one side to face him; he caught her sighs of pleasure when he brought his mouth just above hers. His smirk widening, he seized her nipples and made them roll between his fingers, rewarding each of her sweet moans with a swift kiss on her lips. She grew demanding, her hips beginning to thrust against him when he increased the pressure, whimpering when his moves got excruciatingly slow, her mouth seizing his and her tongue coaxing when he wouldn’t kiss her deeper. His blood was beating to his temples now, his groin taut with need, and he wasn’t playing with her anymore, but stroking roughly, he was starving and he needed to touch her more. One of his hands left her breast to complete its original intention.
***
Tokio had stopped forming any coherent though when he had begun to stroke her breasts. The combination of strength and control that she felt in him, confronting the passion mounting in both of them, had made her lost all other awareness.
She just yearned; she couldn’t have enough of his callused fingers on her skin, so sensitive that it was like raw, neither of the hot wetness of his tongue, of his firm lips tormenting hers. She whimpered out loud when he abandoned one of her breasts, yet her stomach knotted when his fingers caressed it briefly, on their purposeful path down, tying her up with anticipation. She didn’t have time to dwell on the issue, since he captured her mouth for a fierce kiss, overwhelming, mind-emptying, irresistibly hot kiss. She held on to it, her tongue going to play with his, puzzling triumph filling her as she realized that he was panting too, that he liked her response, that it affected him. She let it feed her own desire, let it take over her, not afraid anymore of the unknown, only afraid not to reach it before she combusted into the flames.
He drew away from the kiss, and she protested, before breaking it herself to let out a long complaint of pleasure. His fingers had found their way between her legs and teased the little cleft, her thighs reflexively opening to let him explore her further, until he could slide a finger between her folds, and this time, she knew that she wouldn’t bear it. Her gaze clouded as his caresses got more precise. He found her little nub and toyed with it, baring her nerves, causing her to cry out with the sweet, welcomed ache biting her and spreading in delicious hot waves through her boiling blood and shivering body. She stifled a scream; one finger had gone to probe at her entrance, and she was unable to repress it anymore when he slid it deep inside her sheath.
She glanced at him, at loss, yet she found no soothing in the vision of him. He was watching her closely, excitation burning in the amber gaze. Noticing her eyes on him, he passed his tongue on his lips, quickly, and for reasons that she didn’t understand, it heightened the pressure burdening her. He nibbled at her mouth again, alternatively using his lips, his tongue, or his teeth, echoing the moves of his fingers stroking relentlessly her wet flesh, one entering and leaving her, slowly at first, and then faster. She arched her back, trying to clamp her legs, and she didn’t know whether it was to get more or make it stop, yet she froze when a second finger went to join the first.
***
She was ready, she was drenching wet and hot, yet Saitoh went on. The view of her taking pleasure into his caresses, crying out loud, changing into a wanton, sensual creature was just too exhilarating to stop…yet it had to.
He slid another finger inside her, to achieve preparing her for him, and he frowned as she stilled, her moan finishing into a little gasp. She was tight, very tight. He contained a curse, this was going to hurt. She had grasped his wrists. He went ahead anyway, not leaving room for protest, retrieving the quick rhythm that he had settled. She writhed, her nails digging into his skin, and he got strangely more excited as she did nothing to stop him, on the opposite, she had spread her legs more and was eagerly meeting his hand. He watched her face again, enjoying her expression, as she tried to enjoy what he did to her, and he never felt as triumphant as when she did finally, a savage whimper and the quivering of her body showing him that she had stretched enough for this. He rewarded her eagerness by a soothing kiss, and she welcomed it with a half sob, her swollen lips clinging to his.
He played with the idea to give her a first orgasm like this, but he nixed it, she had to come with him inside of her, it had to be the result of his possession. He was losing his mind at the idea; he had to enter her, she was so tight, he would love it…but the scent of her reaching his nostrils, combined with the sweet taste of her mouth, and the perspective to challenge his limits more gave him another one. He would do just all that his desire ordered, and now, he wanted to use his tongue on her. He interrupted his ministrations, reckoning in victory as she trembled in anticipation, surely recognizing the sinful intention in his eyes.
He laid her on the futon, wincing as their new position hurt his flank, taking just the time to admire her slim body offered to him while he was parting her legs again. She didn’t seem to understand what he was at, when he secured her thighs in his hands. Her innocence was just so exciting, he thought, touching his tongue to her folds, in a lazy caress, jubilating at her reaction. She had bolted, propping herself on her hands. He wasn’t long to have her mad with want and pleasure, sobbing loudly, her hips seeking his mouth, while he was growling with animal satisfaction, at her tart taste, intoxicating scent, and the beautiful shape and color of her flesh, coloring in red as she got closer to the point.
He didn’t give it to her. He let go of her just as she was about to come, just after she had begun to shudder violently. She would come with him, only.
***
Tokio was so disappointed and exhausted that she was almost crying with it. The way he had made her feel had been incredible, she couldn’t even think of words to put on such madness. It had been so primary, basic, to have his head between her legs, his strong hands restraining her, his hair brushing her thighs, his mouth devouring her, his tongue had been so hard and rough, his groans had aroused her even more than words; she had been dissolving into pure, delightful insanity, existing only for the intense sensations.
Why didn’t he go on? She knew there was more; her body was screaming it to her. She glanced at him, he had knelt again, and so did she, with difficulties. She had just noticed how troubled he seemed, the glimmers in his eyes and his veins beating at his temples and at his throat, yet, resent invaded her soon. She had sent him a look asking why, and it had seemed enough for him to get a grip, when she was still ready to beg him to keep on tormenting her. Until he had this smirk again: it had annoyed her before, now it was only messenger of more delights.
She widened her eyes when he took her hand, and placed it on his shaft, accompanying her moves with his own hand. It was hard, and as if having a life on its own, throbbing under her fingers. She thought that he wanted her to caress him, and so she did, yet his stupefied expression when she ran both her hands on it puzzled her.
He had circled her waist, but he stilled, frowning. After a second of reflection, he nodded to her approvingly, and she realized that she had done nothing until then, just received his caresses. He let her go on, making her understand what he liked by stroking her breast again whenever she managed to please him. Yet, very rapidly, he seemed to have another idea, and he traced the contour of her mouth with his forefinger, purposefully. She didn’t get it, at first, blushed when she did, and even more as she nodded back.
His eyes glittering, he stood up in front of her, placed her hands on his sex again, and timidly, she licked his tip. He growled, making her remember of when he had done this to her, and she repeated her move, again and again. She liked it, he tasted good, and that part of him was fascinating, so powerful. Soon, his hands went to rest on her skull, and with a soft pressure, he showed her what he wanted her to do next. She didn’t dare to look at him, when she directed the big, red head into her mouth. She slid it in and out, between her lips, slowly, not sure of what she was doing, yet she got encouraged by his groans, and she took more of it, little by little, until it filled her mouth. His hands were caressing her hair, restlessly, making a mess out of it, and it was in a gruff voice that he indicated her to use her tongue more.
She found the will to glance at him when she tried and got rewarded by his low growl of pleasure. He noticed that she observed him, and stared back, telling her what a good girl she was and how excited she made him. The tone of his voice provoked another surge of heat in her; she wriggled, trying to ease the burning, sharp tension at her core, while going on with her task. It reminded her of when he had penetrated her with his fingers, in the rhythmical move, and she went on, faster and harder, because she had liked when he had done it like this. His tone changed again, it got urgent, torn between panting and moaning, he was so hard in her mouth, and she tasted a little bit of moisture, until he framed her face to stop her, and then knelt in front of her again.
***
Saitoh was beyond combustion level, as he was finally able to withdraw. He had wanted her to understand that he was going to take her, yet her initiative had changed his plans, and he didn’t regret it. Having her knelt in front of him and pleasuring him like this had been an unexpected gratification, her lack of experience compensated by her eagerness, and her obedience to his indications. He had mastered, but had been enslaved at the same time, feeling that he wasn’t familiar with, and he had liked the novelty.
He cupped her face between his hands, and gave her a long kiss, to thank her, and to prepare her for the last moment. His tongue dueled with hers, renewing her passion, making her drowning into the kiss, while he placed her on his lap. He would have liked to be on top of her, to pin her to the futon and to sink inside of her, but with his wound, it was the best way. She parted when his tip touched her entrance, gasping, and he gritted his teeth, she was so wet and so tight, he wouldn’t be able to be slow, impossible, he had played on the edge for too long, and now he wasn’t able of any restraint anymore.
***
Tokio got self conscious again when she felt him at her entrance, her anticipation changing into apprehension. He was so big, and his fingers had hurt her already…She tried to overcome a feeling of panic, when he kissed her swiftly and placed his hands on her waist. She wanted him, she was dripping and his member beginning to enter her was feeling good, yet…yet…
He suddenly pulled her hips down, penetrating her in a rough thrust, she felt something tearing apart and she screamed out in pain. She was impaled, there was no other word, she tried to move away but he wouldn’t let her, it only hurt more. He held her tight against him, and finally, she bit his shoulder so that she could stand it. It was so shocking, she trembled and she wasn’t able to contain her tears, hiccupping, hitting his back. His hands were caressing her hair and back, and he mumbled something, that he couldn’t wait, that he had to move, that he wanted her too much, and he made her sit up and down, to withdraw and enter again, the gliding move stinging her wounded flesh and making her whimper her pain. The third time, he released his hold, and she arched her back to get away, freezing when she met his eyes. He was transfixed, a look of possession in his flaming amber orbs, and she saw herself into that intense gaze, or better, she saw what she did to him. He wanted her so much that he didn’t control himself anymore, there was nothing left of the aloof, rational, ironic man that she had seen before.
Time to overcome her bewilderment, and she realized that the pain had faded. At that moment, her reasons came back to her, why she had wanted to do this with him, why she had wanted him to be the first man to touch her, and the idea of how miserable she would have felt if it had been another. He seemed to realize her turmoil, and kissed her again, almost fervently, while keeping on thrusting into her, with a visible effort to slow down. When he parted, she caressed his face and his rebel hair, suddenly grateful, realizing how close they were, how easily emotions spread from one to the other. She didn’t know if she could enjoy it, this time, the way she had finally loved his fingers penetrating her, but she wanted him to, and she tried to adjust her moves to his, she wanted him to be pleased.
He noticed, he noticed everything, and he buried his face into her shoulder, whispering to her that he loved her body, that she was sweet and that she drove him crazy. Heat won over her again, and the pain vanished definitely, letting her only with the feeling of his thick and hard member intruding her, it changed from inconvenient to incongruous and then marvelously exciting. She held on to the feeling, suddenly it wasn’t enough, she was trying to keep him in, arching her back, extending her legs, urgency filling her, taking over. She closed her eyes, and felt his lips closing around her breasts, his rasping tongue teasing the erected peaks, his hot breath feeding the flames licking her body, and she gripped his shoulders, following his lead again, loving to entrust him with her, loving his strong arms around her and his heat inside. She moved as he said, knowing that it would give them even more pleasure, she welcomed his feverish kisses, responding with even more hunger. She told him everything that he wanted her to say, which was only the truth: she wanted more, she wanted him deeper, he made her feel so good, and she belonged to him.
Rapture fell upon her when he got so hard that she couldn’t believe it, a second before he came, spilling his seed inside of her, with a near shout. She stopped breathing, thinking that it was too much for her, that she was going to die, before waves of pure ecstasy rippled through her, leaving her boneless and branded.
***
Never had he have a climax comparing to this one. Saitoh had managed to roll on the bedding with her, in the near unconsciousness following his release. Tight, hot, willing, and so sweet in her surrender, abandoned to him, she had been just perfect. She was just perfect now, slim, supple, slick body resting next to his, like two survivors of a storm brought ashore by a furious sea. He would have stayed for hours like this, yet he came back to reality sooner than he would have wished, courtesy of the cold filling the cabin, freezing his sweaty body.
Yes, he was in a cabin, in the middle of winter, he had completely forgotten about even their direct surroundings in the heat of their passion. He felt her shivering, yet she had fallen asleep, which was only normal. It was her first time, and she could only be exhausted, it had been way more exotic than what he had had in mind at first. He glanced at her, his lips lifting in a half-indulgent, half-satisfied smirk, especially when she muttered a protest at his parting their embrace. He noticed that he should place a new log in the fire, and then, he noticed her blood. He took care of it, rapidly. He didn’t want to think or rationalize about what it meant right now, and his damn mind wouldn’t let him rest if he allowed it to start working.
He slid under the blanket, next to her, and thankfully he was too spent for his brain to fight against the slumber.
TBC…
Author’s notes
Let’s count the cliché game (4): Err…do we really want to do that here? Too many!!
I don’t like to write “virgin lemons”, inexperience is bothering (though here, well, it wasn’t too realistic either, blanket scenario cliché, again). But for Meiji settings, and except for Yumi (or Megumi, though it is not the same “experience”) I don’t see how it could be different. Yes, Tokio could have been a widow, only you’ll see that it would have been an obstacle to the following developments, considering Saitoh’s paranoid nature. I hope that in spite of the obligatory deflowering part, it was hot enough; at least they had an almost complete tour of the question, and they didn’t complain to me, LOL.
Next chapter: The end, oh, well, no much suspense in the marriage thingy with Saitoh/Tokio in Meiji settings, it’s rather in the way to go there. Tiny tiny twist, as I had said.