Chapter 10

Minny demurely raised her eyes to Ichigo across the table from her as they ate. She knew she needed to have serious conversation with him about their relationship. They were playing with the proverbial fire here and someone was without a doubt going to get burned. Besides, a relationship like this was not practical and completely unsustainable. They couldn't play around with each other's emotions forever, and it was time to stop. The idea of a no strings attached relationship is a complete myth; at some point, someone always gets hurt. She put her elbow on the table, propping herself up with a fist on her cheek while her glance evolved into an open stare. She smiled when he glanced at her then his cheeks started to turn pink from her intense observation.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" he asked, tentatively shifting his big brown eyes to hers. He could be so cute when he acted shy.

"Because you're cute," she replied, her smile growing until it nearly split her face in half when his blush blossomed to a lovely rose red. It was comical that such a benign comment could embarrass him especially since he skirted the edge of being a sexual deviant sometimes.

"What's on your mind?" he inquired, now returning her acute gaze.

"We need to talk," she said, feeling her stomach clinch nervously from the long sigh he released.

"I knew this was coming," he murmured, standing up from his chair. He held out his hand to her, pulling her up.

"So you're not surprised? Or upset?" She pulled him into the living room, and they sat down on the couch side by side. She leaned over on him when he put his arm across her shoulders.

"Surprised, no. Upset, yes. Come on, Minny, give me a little credit. Even though I don't always act like it, I am an adult. I can tell when something is going on even when nothing is said."

"So what do we do now?" she asked, laying her head on his shoulder.

"Well, I do love you, Minny. I've always wanted you to be a part of my life. I think both of us know already that I will never be your husband. I'll just have to be content with being the one you will always come back to no matter what. Maybe when we're old and have just a few years left, we can get married then. We can live out our last days blissfully happy with each other finally," he said, kissing her on top of her head. He could feel her tears soaking into his shirt as she cried.

"You're such a romantic fool, Ichigo Kurosaki," she sniffed, smiling through her tears. "It's one of your most endearing traits. You're a fierce lover, emotionally and physically. I love you, too. You know that, right?"

"Yeah, I know. But I also know you don't love me enough – not enough to truly be mine," he clarified, hugging her close. "Quit crying, honey. This isn't a good-bye. We can never say good-bye. We're only redefining our relationship."

"You do have a way with words, my dear," she commented, turning her lips up to his. Her pulse quickened as his fingertips rested on her jaw, tilting up her head so he could kiss her. Her lips lingered on his, both of them enjoying the softness of the kiss and relishing the intimate contact.

"Minny," he murmured, kissing the tip of her nose. "Can I make love to you one last time?"

"Yes, I would like that very much," she answered breathlessly. She whimpered when his lips returned to hers for another gentle, bittersweet kiss. Her skin prickled with arousal as his fingers skimmed her neck and chest going to the buttons of her shirt. She tenderly touched his face, watching his ardent brown eyes as he slowly undressed her. She unbuttoned his shirt as his fingers and hands lazily stroked her face and chest. By the time they were finally undressed, both of them were breathing hard and starting to sweat from arousal alone. They had explored each other's bodies as if trying to memorize each contour and curve as well as the texture and warmth of each other's skin.

"I will remember what we've shared," Minny whispered in his ear as he laid her back on the couch.

"Memories of you will be what gets me through lonely nights," Ichigo said, staring into her eyes as he lowered himself into her. He took her hands in his, holding them down on the couch by her head. Their eyes remained locked on each other's the whole time he made love to her. Their lovemaking was unhurried yet profound, neither one of them ready for it to end. Their movements were deliberate and measured, luxuriating in every sensation that went through their bodies.

Sweat started to form on Ichigo's forehead running down his face as he struggled to hold back and make it last. A few of the wet droplets formed too close to his nose to be sweat. Minny had tears running from her eyes as well, but they made the short distance from her outer eye to disappear into her hair without being detected. The emotional impact of this moment was more than they had expected or been prepared for.

"Honey, I've gone as far as I can go," he whispered, pressing kisses to her cheeks and chin then her lips. He bit his lip to control himself, to hold back just a little longer.

"Ichigo, yes. Yes!" she cried out, raising her hips into him to push him over the precipice into a mind-blowing climax. She squirmed under him, calling out his name as he gave her a pleasurable but painful orgasm – pleasurable because it felt so good and painful because of the intense emotions. She kissed him, sighing with bliss and sadness as he laid his head on her chest. They lay quietly in each other's arms, neither one wanted to move or to say anything. Their world was perfect at this moment, and they wanted to enjoy it. Soon enough it would all be changing.