Falling In Love and Other Things

Leda was sitting on the bed brushing her hair with the exquisite silver brush, comb, and mirror set that Rukia had brought her. She put the brush down and picked up the mirror, staring at the intricate design on the back of it. Two centaurs, a male and female, were depicted frolicking in flowers that lined the edges of the mirror and twisted into a thick braid to form the handle. She picked up the treasured items carefully and took them to the table in the room to set them down. The windows were tall and wide, with no glass in them. Climbing into the window that had a sill big enough to sit on, she stared out at the night sky. It looked like an expanse of indigo blue silk set with sparkling silver stars that glittered like diamonds. Her father had been an avid student of astronomy and had shared his love with her. She studied the night sky, searching for the constellations and naming each one out loud as she found it. Never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined that she would be the bride of the god who put them there.

"There's a new group of stars tonight," Byakuya announced, accidentally frightening her. He had had slipped into the room undetected by her as she was gazing at the stars. Not wanting to disturb her and also wanting to just gaze at the lovely sight of her before him, he had remained silent for several minutes.

Leda glared at him momentarily, her angry silvery gray eyes meeting his gentle and loving slate gray eyes briefly before turning back to the stars. If she looked at him much longer, she would give in to the warm feelings trying to rise to the surface. She felt she needed to be angry with him for at least a little while for abducting her and taking her away from her home. Her body bristled due to the proximity of his when he stood beside the window she was sitting in.

"I made a new one just for you. It's your wedding present from me," Byakuya explained in his deep soothing voice.

Leda was trying so hard to be irate with him. Turning her back to him to get a better look at the stars, she allowed her legs to dangle out of the window. Her breath caught in her throat when his arms slid around her waist to protectively hold her. She could feel her resolve crumbling and her body relaxing against him when he pressed his chest to her back. His hand pressed against her cheek to push her head in the direction he needed her to turn to see. Her breath was labored and heavy as he whispered in her ear.

"There. It's called Cygnus," he told her, kissing her neck. He smiled when he felt the goose bumps form on her skin under his fingertips.

"The swan," she murmured, gulping loudly.

"I love you, Leda. I'm sorry for my thoughtless, rash actions," he apologized, kissing her neck again as his fingers slowly glided down her neck. "Please don't hate me. I couldn't bear it."

"Oh, my god," she gasped, pulling her legs over the sill when she felt him carefully pulling her backwards.

"Yes?" He kissed her lips briefly, amused by her flare of anger. He knew she could not stay upset with him for long.

"I won't say I love you. I definitely haven't forgiven you," she informed him stubbornly, biting her lower lip to hold back the moan that wanted to escape when he untied the belt of her toga.

"You will. You still love me. You will forgive me," he told her confidently, pushing the toga from her shoulders and watching it cascade to the floor in a waterfall of gray silk.

Leda wanted to be livid with him just for his arrogance and self-importance. She found it impossible to feel anything but desire and unmistakable lust as he kissed her into oblivion. Her fingers shook as they pushed open his godly robes to touch his skin. A plaintive moan of longing passed her lips to be stifled by his mouth that was covering hers.

Byakuya sat her on the windowsill, sliding into her as he cupped her behind in his large hands. He felt her shudder and smiled. He doubted it was from the night air because it was comfortably warm, just like always. Pleasing her in every way had become one of his fondest goals. Groaning her name in her ear, he wanted her to know how much pleasure she gave him as well. He felt her body tighten around him and moaned from the satisfaction of it. He hoped he never got over the wonderment and fascination he constantly felt for her right now. Caressing her breast as he stroked her on the inside with his member, he pulled cries of grateful ecstasy from her lips.

Leda leaned back on the sill allowing the silvery blue moonlight to bathe her creamy skin as he made love to her. She smiled upon hearing his sudden intake of breath followed by a declaration of her incredible beauty and his love for her. He was a captive a different sort. Neither one of them were truly free and bound by each other. She would have to admit, although she did not know for sure, she doubted any mortal man could ever please her after being with him. Maybe he had done them both a favor by stealing her and bringing her here. He saved himself from a life of crushing loneliness despite being the god of gods. She was saved from a life of misery and discontentment. As much satisfaction as she had found in the life she had fashioned for herself; a life devoted to helping others and taking care of them, he had come along and ruined all that.

"Byakuya!" she cried out, twisting her fingers into his long dark hair as his fingers dug into her thighs.

Opening her eyes to look at him, she thought he was absolutely beautiful as he virtually glowed in the muted light from the moon. Her eyes reveled in the sight of his long dark lashes lying against his perfectly flawless ivory cheeks from his closed eyes. His full lips, the color and soft texture of delicate pink roses, were slightly parted as he emitted moans of ecstasy because of how she was making him feel. She felt the familiar delicious pressure and warmth of the impending orgasm growing deep within her belly.

"Leda, my love," he whispered, kissing her as he released inside of her.

Leda wrapped her arms and legs around his body, hanging on to him as her body was overwhelmed with wave after wave of pleasure as if she were in the ocean. She felt like a small child, helpless and protected, as he held her and carried her to the bed. A soft fur was laid over her body to keep her warm as she snuggled into his broad chest. Falling asleep in his arms, she dreamed of her wedding day to come when she would be wed to a god.

"It's time for your ceremonial bath, your Ladyship," Renji said with a lecherous smile on his face.

"Rukia can't go with me?" Leda inquired, chewing on her lower lip nervously.

"No. She's busy with other preparations," he answered, enjoying the look of horror that crossed her face.

"Isn't there a female servant that can take me?" she queried, trembling when he grabbed her wrist and proceeded to drag her from the bedchamber. "Renji!"

"I am your bodyguard after all," he muttered, turning away from her to hide his mischievous smile. He was having too much fun.

Leda would hit him if she thought it would injure him in the slightest, but she was afraid she would be the one hurting if she punched him. With a deep sigh, she sped up her steps to keep up with his long determined strides. She stood with her head down in dejection and preemptive embarrassment as he opened the doors that housed the bath. Bath? Her eyes swept over the pool filled with steaming water covered with fragrant white magnolias floating in the surface.

"Your bath awaits, My Lady," Renji announced grandly bowing deeply to her.

"How do you do that?" she inquired, glaring at him.

"Do what?" he asked, looking up at her from his bowing position with a smirk on his face.

"Bow with sarcasm?" she questioned, folding her arms under her breasts.

"Oh, My Queen –"

"I swear to…Byakuya, if you call me one more title with that disdainful tone, I'll –"

"You'll what?" he challenged, raising his chin defiantly. He grinned smugly at her.

Leda had reached her boiling point of rage with his disrespectful manner. She clutched him by the gold epaulets at his shoulders and shoved him toward the pool. She screamed when he seized her by the arms in a failed attempt to right himself. They both yelled as they splashed down into the waiting bath, sending a wave of water and flowers over the side onto the tile floor.

"Get out! Get out! You impossibly annoying prig! Demigod, my ass!" she screeched in her fury.

"Your Highness, what language!" he yelled in feigned offense. He was quite amused at the soon to be Queen of the gods' tirade. If only her cherished thunder god could see her now. She was the most entertaining mortal he ever had the displeasure to know. Laughing loudly, he hauled himself out of the pool.

Leda struggled out of her toga. She thought since she was in, she might as well stay in.

"My La – " Renji was abruptly cut off by a sopping wet toga hitting him straight in the face and wrapping around his head. Struggling to remove the cloth as if it were a jellyfish attacking him, he stumbled and fell back into the water.

"Oh, no," Leda gasped, pushing herself as far away from him as possible. She huddled in the corner, shaking.

Renji slowly and menacingly rose above the surface of water, glaring at the trembling woman pressing herself into the edge of the pool. He moved toward her in a deliberate, threatening way while keeping his brown eyes on her unusual, almost colorless eyes.

Leda could not help but think how virile and appealing the redhead looked with his long hair free and draped across his shoulders. She lowered her eyes from his piercing stare while he advanced upon her not stopping until he was so close his body almost touched hers. Raising her eyes, she watched him with a mixture of disbelief, fear, and curiosity as he began to disrobe right in front of her.

"Wh-what are you d-doing?" she stammered, averting her eyes and raising her hand in front of her face.

"If you wanted me to take a bath with you so badly, all you had to do was ask," he told her in sexually teasing manner.

"R-Renji, st-stop," she stuttered nervously, closing her eyes tightly when he pushed her hand away.

"Are you sure that's what you want?" he asked, pressing her hand against his chest.

Leda bit her lower lip, whimpering when she felt the hard muscle beneath silky soft skin. Curiosity overtook her and she opened her eyes. Her hand looked so white and fragile against his bronzed, well-defined pectoral. She stared at the vivid contrast of color and strength. Her eyes rose to meet his when she felt his hands in her hair.

Why was he doing this? Renji had been arrested by her sudden burst of spirit and playfulness. He watched her carefully as she looked at him inquisitively then met his intense gaze. What was he thinking? Had he lost his mind? He was holding a naked woman, and not just any random mortal, but the one who was his Master and Commander's possession in his arms. She would be the wife of the King of the gods yet he found himself wanting her. The temptation to kiss her was too great.

"RENJI!" Rukia bellowed, her voice echoing from somewhere down the marble hall.

"Damn," he hissed, holding his breath and going under the water.

"What the –"

"Leda!" Rukia called, running into the room.

Leda tried to lean back casually as if she were relaxing in her ceremonial pool.

"Leda, have you seen Renji?" she asked, turning her head to the side questioningly after an odd yelp came from her friend. "Are you in pain?"

"No," she answered apprehensively, refusing the urge to scream when he touched her leg. "Renji left me here a few minutes ago. I have no idea where he went."

"O-okay," the purple eyed goddess said uneasily studying her friend. She did not recall Leda's eyes being that big. "Well, don't be in here too long. You need to get into your dress."

"I'll be there in just a minute," she assured Rukia, watching her friend make an eventual exit while she glanced back several times with a worried expression. "I'm fine. I'll be out soon."

When Rukia was finally gone, Renji broke above the surface pulling in a loud gulp of air. Apparently demigods cannot breathe under water.

"You moronic horse's ass," Leda snarled at him as she moved to the stairs that were carved into the side of the bathing pool.

"Speaking of ass…" he said, watching her with a libidinous grin as her naked behind was revealed to him. He leaned back on the side of the pool as if he were supposed to be there and was well within his rights to enjoy himself. Who was she going to tell? Her husband-to-be? Both of them would be executed by the jealous and temperamental god.

"Let's don't," she snapped, snatching the one of the pristine white cotton sheets from the pile on the bench to wrap around herself. "Let's not speak of any of this. Ever."

"Yes, your Ladyship."

This would definitely be their little secret. Renji found himself in a very uncomfortable predicament and it was not the fact that he was naked in the Queen's bath. He was thinking he might be developing some type of affection for the mortal woman. Not love necessarily, but without a doubt lust. He just found another reason to hate the god of gods. Dammit.