A/N: Hi everyone! I'm so sorry for the long pause I had in between posts. The updates will probably come slower from now on. But, they will come no matter what. This story will be finished, just at a slower pace. Thank you all for your support and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
They observed each other for a long while, frozen in time. These were not cold calculations, but curious ones. Chihiro held her breath, becoming insanely aware of the spirit underneath her, his body pressed to hers. There was a skip in his pulse, a flicker of surprise darting through his jade eyes for only an instant. But, his solid warmth and steady breathing never changed. Easily, the apathetic mask that Chihiro desperately wanted to break had returned to his features, "You don't know what you're talking about."
The sentence whipped her like an icy front of the night air, "Excuse me?"
Haku explained, a thread of vulnerability embroidered in his words, "Chihiro…I'm sorry. I should've said that differently-"
"Well, I'm sorry, too. Because I'm pretty sure I know exactly what I'm talking about," Chihiro snapped as she bared her teeth. Without thinking, she flattened her palms against the damp grass on either side of his shoulders and rose over him in rage. Her figure was poised like a wild beast, pinning its kill to the ground with fervor. Her face hovered above his, strands of her chestnut hair pointing down at him like sharpened daggers. Her soulmate neither flinched nor blinked. He only cocked an eyebrow, amused at best by her actions.
Something cold and smooth slid up and down his exposed neck. He glanced down. The pearl necklace Chihiro donned was swinging rapidly with the sudden force of her movements, an angry pendulum against the peaceful nocturnal breeze. Carefully, Haku caught the gemstone between his forefinger and thumb. Holding it up to Chihiro, Haku questioned, "You don't think this is influencing you?"
Chihiro pulled away, coming to sit on top of his waist. In a tiny, irritating way, she felt threatened by his question. Of course, it influenced her. It enabled her to feel what Haku felt directly. But, she could separate her feelings from his. She had enough sense to do that. Or at least she thought she did. If Haku questioned it, maybe she wasn't as good as she thought, keeping all the emotions in order.
Her arms impulsively crossed as she deliberated her next choice of words. This was not the time for blurting out whatever she thought. Especially now, when her instincts told her to spit sarcasm or shout blunt lines of defense. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes as she did. Just looking at Haku and his neutral gaze could infuriate her now. How could he be so collected when she was a tangled ball of fury? It felt like he was mocking her inability to control her frantic feelings.
No, he's not doing that. That's just how he is. He's only waiting for your response. He's trying to be patient. She reminded herself of this, then exhaled, feeling the need to take another breath. Another deep inhale and she'd be able to speak calmly. As she did, she dropped her head, shaking it lightly. She couldn't even remember why she was so upset.
With a bolstered emotional stability, she met Haku's stare with a smile, "Not as much as you think it is."
"Is that so?" Haku's reply was more of a statement than a question.
She smirked, poking his chest, "Your pearl's effect may not be as strong as you thought."
He responded by sitting up slightly on his forearms, face tense, "Chihiro, you were snarling on all fours a few seconds ago."
"But you were calm, Haku!" She cried, gradually losing the cool she had worked to attain. When his face fell, she doubted her assumption, "Weren't you?"
Chill wind scooped itself around Chihiro before Haku could speak, making her quiver with an unexpected yelp. The night was getting darker, colder. The outside world no longer welcomed them, and before she knew it, Chihiro was wrapped in the dragon boy's arms, being carried towards the house.
"You're ignoring my question," Chihiro muttered grumpily.
Haku snorted. Her slight grumble only served to make her more lovable. It split some of the tension in the air, and as he carried her through the sliding-glass door, he looked down at her with a strange gleam of feelings, "No, I was not calm. And, I'm not sure if I am now either."
He placed Chihiro on the couch gingerly. Then, he kneeled in front of her, his fingertips touching his lips thoughtfully. There was an internal struggle, signaled by the crease in his brow, but finally he choked out, "I hold fear in my heart."
"Haku…"
"It controls me, and I'm infuriated that it does."
Chihiro sat in shock, almost unable to form another sentence, "But…what could you possibly be afraid of?"
He paused, "Losing you."
She pursed her lips, stating what she thought was obvious, "You don't have to be afraid of that."
"If I push too far…if I lose control…I could not say what would happen…and because of the pearl, your feelings may be altered, making want something you may not-"
"Whatever I do with you, I want."
"I'm sure you don't want it all at once."
"No, no you're right about that, but we can…take it slow?"
"I…I still won't know how I'll react."
"You mean…you've never…"
"Whatever intimacy I share with you…It's all new to me…"
"I find that hard to believe."
"It's true, Chihiro."
"But spirits can fall in love, even with each other."
"Right. That doesn't mean it's common," He explained, adding a sheepish confession, "Besides, I've only ever loved you."
"And I've always loved you…even if I forgot for a time…" She cupped his cheek with her hand, running her thumb slowly over the patch of skin. Haku nuzzled into her touch, covering her hand with his.
That's interesting.
Chihiro observed the spirit react to her touch, and the way he touched her in return. It was a stark contrast, from the garden to here. There was something about it that gave her an idea.
"May I try something with you?"
Unsure of what she meant, Haku bit his lip with hesitation. Seeing his reluctance, Chihiro cautiously pulled her necklace chain off her neck and over her ponytail. She held the pearl in her hands like a peace offering, "I can put this away, so you know my feelings are mine."
The dragon wished this didn't have to be the case. He was proud to see his pearl around her neck. It was like a silent promise to him, that she was his. Yet, until they could fully understand its nature, they had no choice. Defeated, Haku hung his head, "Alright."
Chihiro bolted out of the small living room faster than he could've imagined.
What on earth is she up to?
Minutes later, hurried footfall could be heard on the staircase. It stopped for a while, then it was back again. She started speaking to him before she got back in the room, calling from down the hall, "It's safe!"
"Where is it?" Haku anxiously hollered back.
Chihiro caught herself in her haste on the doorframe, beaming, "Let's just say, my poems are watching over it."
Haku chuckled, "Only the mightiest of sentinels."
Chihiro slid beside him on the couch, unable to keep her grin concealed, "Words are powerful."
Haku raised his eyebrows, "That's true."
"So is this," Her hand rested on his cheek once more, as she leaned in close. Her warm breath traced the shell of his ear, "Guide my hand. Let me know where it's ok to touch."
"Ch-Chihiro…"
"Haku…You're safe with me…"
She felt his hand clasp hers gently, slowly. His movements still felt controlled and calculated. She knew she could change that. Her lips dabbed a small kiss onto his neck, ghosting his skin softly as she whispered, "Relax…"
Haku obeyed this time, melting ever so slightly into her coaxing kiss. He began to lead her hand down his neck, her fingers trailing behind loosely. Shivers overcame him in an instant; he froze. Chihiro gave one more encouraging kiss to his nape, soothing, "I won't move unless you do. You have full control. We can stop whenever you like."
She could feel the light hum of understanding reverberate underneath her fingertips. The pulse underneath the thin, delicate skin of his neck quickened, yet the grip on her hand never loosened. It only grew firm. Again, he began to guide her hand over his neck, down to his collar bone. Chihiro simply rested her head on the opposite shoulder, resisting the urge to caress his neck with her lips once more. She only gazed longingly at him. His eyes were closed, face flushed with either embarrassment or excitement. She frowned as she realized that if she had the pearl, she would've been able to tell. Shaking the thought from her head, she let her eyes fall closed too, focusing on what she felt.
Her fingers were softly pulled down over the soft cotton of his shirt. His chest rose with his breath, pressing against her hand. The solid muscle she suddenly felt was comforting, a reassurance that he was here with her.
Chihiro felt her hand move again, when her fingers innocently brushed against something that made Haku jolt. She stopped herself, her eyes shooting open to look at the man in front of her, "Are you alright?"
Haku stared back at her, haze filled clouds engulfing his gaze. His answer had no words in it. Only him and his body. He tenderly brought a hand to the back of Chihiro's neck, and closed their distance. Lips connected lovingly, mild and tentative. Heat was building with soft pressure inside Chihiro, her heart nearly exploding when she felt her hand being guided once more. Underneath the fabric of Haku's garments.
Skin upon skin. Fingertips to chest. Lips to lips.
Chihiro couldn't stop herself from moaning into Haku's mouth. The feeling of his soft skin and defined muscles spin her mind into oblivion. This was hers and hers alone. The true feeling of him, the Kohaku River, belonged to her fingers.
Again, she brushed the spot that had made him jump earlier. He growled into her mouth and held her hand in place. She shivered, realizing that she caressed his nipple. No, he had let her. Exhaling shakily, she hesitated, unsure if this was what he wanted. A low, needy whine was hummed into her lips, more than clear that it was. Chihiro's mind kicked into overdrive as she glided her fingers over his hardening nub. Another lustful growl followed by a nip on her bottom lip told her even more. She started to deliberately massage it between her fingers, twisting it gently back and forth.
Haku gasped, breaking their locked lips. He panted while he practically ripped his shirt off himself, more excited than he had ever been. His vision swam before him, barely able to focus his stare on his beloved. Under the spell of her touch he was helpless, even if he had the control.
His mind was pulled halfway out of its daze as she whispered, "Is this too much?"
Haku shook his head, almost drowsy with pleasure. His tongue worked languidly as he mumbled, "If it was, I wouldn't want more."
He slid her hand down his torso, over his stomach, smiling as she hummed with delight. Taut muscles greeted her here as well. If he would let her, she would love nothing more than to rub them all night, feeling them tighten and relax with each stroke.
A stray finger dipped down into his navel, making Haku's eyes roll into the back of his head. His whole body quivered, an aroused groan caught in the back of his throat. Chihiro sat up a little straighter, interested in the unexpected reaction. With a small grin, she decided to tease him, rimming the outside of his belly button lightly, barely touching. The response she got was better than she could've imagined. Immediately, he arched his back into her touch with a deep, desperate howl.
"I'm learning so much about you tonight," she whispered close to his ear, eliciting a tiny moan of approval from her love. She thought that she might giggle, but found that she couldn't. He was vulnerable, in the throes of desire. He was a wild dragon that writhed gracefully under her caress. A spirit that unknowingly yearned to be touched.
Chihiro cooed, "I won't torture you anymore."
She slid her finger back down into his navel, gently pushing and circling until she reached the bottom. The hand around hers went slack. Haku threw his head back, letting out a long, satisfied groan. All this came as a surprise to him. He never thought being touched in these places would drive him insane.
His arousal blossomed in his groin as she continued to explore his stomach and his navel. In his fiery, desire-filled state, he had forgotten about the control she had given him. She did, too. Chihiro could see his need pressing with strain against his pants. Entranced, her finger started to slide down the dragons' belly, and slowly down his stiffened length.
Haku hissed with pleasure, swiftly grabbing her hand and pulling her close to him. He gasped, pleading, "Stop…stop…"
Chihiro burrowed her face into Haku's chest, embarrassed by how far she let her fingers wander. Stuttering, she apologized, "I-I'm so sorry…."
His voice returned to its calm, soothing drone, but his body still shook, "You're ok…"
After a few shared breaths, Chihiro felt a warm hand against her cheek. Her gaze flickered up to Haku, who smiled gently, "If you kept going, I wouldn't be able to do the same for you."
"The same for me…" She echoed in a hushed wonder. It surprised her that he even considered reciprocating. That didn't cross her mind beforehand.
An arm wrapped around her waist as he breathed in her ear seductively, "Guide me."
She became fully undone by his command. She thought she had tamed the dragon, yet the dragon had managed to tame her instead. Submitting to his restored confidence, she led his hand eagerly along her neck and across her thin shoulders, finally resting it on her left breast. She closed her eyes, satisfied by his warmth on her chest.
Haku waited for her to move his hand, frantically suppressing his urge to massage and fondle her. All that she did, though, was offer a small word, "Please…"
His fingers tenderly dug into the delicate flesh of her breast, and he was rewarded with a pleasured cry from Chihiro. Hot passion coiled like a snake around his stomach. He needed to hear that again. He tugged at the edge of her shirt, asking carefully, "May I?"
Without hesitation, she yanked her clothing off with one swoop of her arms, taking her bra along with it. Haku sat in awe, mesmerized by her bare chest. Suddenly self-conscious, she started to cover herself with her arm, "They aren't much…Sorry…"
Haku reached out to her, sympathetically taking her hand in his, pulling her limb away, "Don't ever be sorry for such a beautiful body…"
Both of his hands then caressed the curves of her breasts, lightly trailing over her sensitive nipples. She began to whimper with sensual overload, hungrily smashing her lips onto his as she arched herself into his body. Their bare chests and stomachs pressed flat against each other with overwhelming need. Electricity leapt between them, their skin being the conductor. They fell back onto the couch together, a tangle of limbs and impassioned heat.
Haku could feel himself growing feral, barely restraining his impulse to slam his hips against Chihiro. He tensed without warning, stopping himself from pressing any further into her body. His whole face contorted, giving off a pained expression.
Chihiro watched him carefully, understanding how bad his body ached. Hers did as well, flaring like a supernova that craved her soulmate. Just to be close, to be connected. Body and soul.
Inch by inch, she slowly raised herself up from beneath his dominant figure until her lips connected to his, locking together like polar magnets. Sneaking her hand around his back, she gently pushed in between his shoulder blades to beckon him closer to her. Tension slowly eased out of his body, passionate molten lava cooled by a chaste kiss.
Soon, Haku relaxed into her embrace, laying against her as she brought them back down to the couch. His head fell across her chest and she all but embraced him, silently playing with his hair as he listened to her heart. He sighed with content, the haze of lust finally subsiding, replaced by a longing to be near his other half. Laying half-naked with her in the dim light of the night was all he could ask for. It was perfect.
Meanwhile, in a small desk-drawer layered with parchment scrawled with inky cursive, a pearl bound to a sliver chain sparkled.