VI:

Kaoru laid in bed, staring at the ceiling, and unable to sleep. All she could think about was the feel of Enishi's hands sliding over her body. Why had she stopped him? She sighed and turned over onto her side and buried her face in her pillow. The sheets were more luxurious than anything she could have afforded. Aimi had explained that it was a five-hundred thread count. Kaoru wasn't exactly sure what that meant, but it felt like cool water against her bare skin.

She groaned and threw back the covers. She swung her feet around over the side of the bed. She picked up the silk robe that Enishi provided. Like everything else he'd given her, it was beautiful in a dark blue material with golden cranes embroidered on it. She shrugged her arms inside the robe and secured its belt around her waist.

Kaoru walked towards Kenji's room and walked to his bed. She kneeled next to his side and smiled down at her little boy. He was snuggled under his blanket with the panda plush hugged within his arms. She brushed a wisp of his bright red hair off his cheek and he sighed in sleepy contentment.

She left his room and shut the door. A soft glow of light creeped out from under Enishi's door down the hall. The next thing she knew, she stood outside his door with her hand poised to knock.

Fear of rejection and an acute sense of guilt kept her from knocking.

Instead, she entered the room next to his. It served as both his office and library. Shelves of books lined the walls. She lit a kerosene lantern and then ran her fingers along the spines of the books. She paused on a worn copy of Japanese Fairy Tales.

She pulled the book down and read the inscription on the front inside cover. It was addressed to Enishi from his adopted parents in China. They thanked him for being the son they always wanted. He was their precious Peach boy, Momotaro.

A smiled crossed her lips. She was glad that after the loss of his sister, Enishi had people to love him. She set the book aside on the large table in the center of the room. She'd like to read some of the stories later. Enishi wouldn't always be there to tell her little boy a bedtime story. A strong wave of melancholy washed over her. Living on Enishi's farm was a nice respite, but it was only temporary. Before long, she'd have to return to her endless days of waiting back at the dojo.

She closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against the bookcase. She took a deep breath, willed away the familiar anxiety that had haunted her over the past two years, and straightened away from the bookcase.

Another book caught her eye, the Kama Sutra. Curious, she pulled it off the shelf. It sounded like a foreign language.

Enishi cleared his throat at the door.

Kaoru turned towards him with the foreign book still clutched in her hand.

"You might be shocked at the contents of that particular book," Enishi warned with a smirk. He was both bare footed and bare chested. His glasses were pushed back over his hair and he wore only the white pants from earlier.

It took a while before Kaoru regained the ability to speak. "How did you know I was here?"

"I heard you outside my door. Even soft footsteps sound loud in a quiet house." He tugged on his ear lobe. "And since the damage to my hearing, sometimes the quiet noises are loudest to me."

"Oh," Kaoru said, feeling guilty to have disturbed him. "I hadn't realized."

Enishi shrugged. "Well, now you know. And besides, kerosene stinks."

Kaoru hastily set the lantern on the table. "So what is in this shocking book?" She held up the Kama Sutra.

"It's a translation of an ancient text from India. It gives tips on ways to pleasure your lover," Enishi explained with a waggle of his pale eyebrows. "And it's illustrated." He settled his glasses over his nose, pulled out a chair to the table, and sat down with his feet balanced on top of the table and legs crossed at the ankles. He picked up the fairy tale book. "And this is where I learned the story I told Kenji. There are several more tales if you'd like to borrow it. I'm sure Kenji would enjoy many more of the stories." He balanced on the back two legs of his chair.

Kaoru circled around the table until she stood behind Enishi. She laid her hands upon his muscular shoulders. His chair fell flat to all four legs and he stiffened at first under her touch,then relaxed as she slowly massaged his muscles much as he had done for her earlier in the bath. "I think he might prefer when you read to him," Kaoru said quietly.

Enishi closed his eyes. "What are you doing, Kaoru?"

"I'm not sure," she admitted. "All I know is, I haven't slept a wink, wondering what it would have been like if I hadn't stopped you earlier."

"Kaoru, I'm not an experiment." Enishi settled his feet on the floor, pushed his chair out, grabbed Kaoru around the waist, and balanced her upon his lap with his arms banded around her. "I love you and I'm not going anywhere." His dark eyes focused on hers intently.

Kaoru's breath hitched and she felt her eyes water. "I think I'm falling in love with you and it scares me. I don't want to go back to waiting and the never ending pain of loss."

Enishi loosened one of his arms from around her and brushed back her hair with his hand. He pressed his thumb over her lips gently. "Give me a chance, Kaoru. Stay here. You and Kenji. Stay with me here."

"I belong to Kenshin," Kaoru whispered, leaning against Enishi's shoulder, not wanting him to see her cry.

Enishi held her close. "You belong to no one, but yourself." He pressed his cool lips against her neck. "But, if you're looking for a place to belong…," he trailed off.

Kaoru leaned back within the comfort of his arms and looked him in the eye. She reached up and took off his glasses and set them aside on the table. She cupped his right cheek rough with stubble with her palm gently, her fingertips brushed over his ear. "If I'm looking for a place to belong?" she prompted.

Enishi swallowed thickly, his Adam's apple bobbed nervously as his dark eyes dilated. "You'll always have a place with me," he promised quietly.

Kaoru's gaze drifted down to his lips and she leaned forward, remembering Enishi's teasing banter that if he were seducing her that there would be no doubt. What was happening between her and Enishi wasn't simple seduction. It was something else, something more.

"Okay," she whispered, leaning close and pressing her lips against his.

Enishi's arms tightened around her, one hand drifted to her buttocks and in one fluid motion, he stood up while supporting Kaoru's weight. She wrapped her legs around his waist, her arms wound around his neck, and her soft planes molded against his hard ones. Her heart fluttered giddily and nervously.

"Where are you taking me?" Kaoru asked, pulling back from Enishi's mouth. She licked her lips absently, his dark eyes followed the movement.

"To bed," Enishi grunted. "It's late and you need sleep." He started for the hall back towards her room.

"Wait," Kaoru protested, squeezing her legs around his hips. "Take me to your bed."

"I'm not sure that's a good idea," Enishi answered, his voice strained.

"Please, I can't sleep in my room."

Enishi angled them towards his room, stepped inside, shut the door, and settled Kaoru on his bed. She gazed around at his spartan room, surprised by the simplicity. There was a map tacked to the wall of the world, a large bed with the same style bedding as hers, a cushioned chair in the corner, an armoire, and a dresser with a basin of water and an ornate jade and porcelain mantel clock that looked incredibly out of place.

Enishi followed her visual exam of his room. "The clock belonged to my adopted mother. It and a few of the books were all I was able to save after the mafia found them." He settled on the other side of the bed and stretched out with his arms behind his head and under his pillow. "I'm not going to have sex with you Kaoru," he said bluntly.

"Excuse me?" Kaoru could feel her cheeks heat up. She leaned on her elbow and glared down at the arrogant man beside her.

Enishi closed his eyes. "I told you how I feel. I want more than just a night with you, Kaoru. I want it all and refuse to settle for bedwarmer." He opened his eyes and pulled one of his hands from behind his head and brushed back her hair as it began to fall across her face. He tucked the dark strand behind her ear and smiled softly. "I will hold you though. I will hold you throughout the night so that the nightmares cannot find you."

Kaoru laid her head across Enishi's shoulder and his arm wrapped around her loosely, holding her against him. She couldn't help, but compare being Enishi's arms to being in Kenshin's arms. Enishi was taller than her by nearly half a foot, while Kenshin was only an inch or so taller. Kenshin was a wiry build and Enishi, while he'd lost weight, was bulkier with muscle. She was starting to prefer the more muscular man.

"Thank you, Enishi," Kaoru said.

He reached down and pulled the sheets over them both. "Sleep well, Kaoru."

A/N: Happy Valentine's Day 2015!