The sound of a loud bang coming from downstairs made them both jump.
"Natsuki, the door!" Shizuru whispered fiercely right before a hand etched in shadow quickly enveloped her lips; effectively silencing her. She could make out muffled voices in the hall.
"Quick," Natsuki hissed, pointing toward the bed. "Let me handle this."
The former princess reluctantly ran to the bed and crawled into the gap between the mattress and the floor. There was a pungent smell of cracked leather and the dust tickled her nose. By tilting her head a little, Shizuru could just about see her lover's figure mold into the shadows of her room. Footsteps sounded up the stairs. Louder and louder they became until they reached the door. Suddenly the door flew open as it was ripped off the hinges completely. Men crossed into the room; their stances ready for pursuit. They rushed to the bed and threw off the covers as if expecting to find what they were looking for. Muddy boots were the only thing that lined her vision as angry snarls resounded above her.
"Damnit! We were too late!" A deep, booming voice pierced the night.
"Not quite," the familiar voice of her Natsuki interrupted the grunts of disapproval by the strange men that were sent for her. The strangers jerked around. Shizuru strained to get a better look, frantic to see if her love would be alright.
It was at this time, that Shizuru noticed that Natsuki was armed with the same blade from when they had first met. But, unlike the first time, the men sent to kill her were more experienced and were better prepared. The cry of metal clashing with metal tore through the darkness.
"Shizuru! Run!" came a shout from somewhere among the fray of battle.
At first her feet refused to cooperate with what her brain was screaming out at her to do. Her heart also refused, not wanting to leave her dear love to fend for herself, but somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew she had to do what she was told. Still her feet did not budge.
"Shizuru, Please!" The fear and desperation that mingled within the husky, yet fearful voice of the raven-haired girl had increased and gave her the strength to scramble away from her hiding place and launch herself forward, like a sprinter out of the blocks, taking them by surprise. They were slow to react. A shout went up, but she was already down the steps and running through the gate, out towards the woods.
Every fiber of her being told her to stop and go back for Natsuki, but she didn't stop. She hurled herself over a rickety wooden fence and tore through the rows of vines, stumbling on the furrowed earth. She could feel the men at her back, gaining on her. Blood pounded in her ears, the muscles in her legs were pulled tight as piano strings, but she kept going. At the bottom of the field, not far from the looming shadow of the forest, was a tight-meshed fence, too high to jump. Shizuru looked round in panic, thankfully, she spotted a gap in the far corner. Throwing herself to the ground, she crawled along the earth on her belly, feeling the sharp rocks and stones digging into her palms and knees. She slithered under the ire, the frayed edges catching on her nightgown, holding her as fast as a fly in a spider's web. She pulled and with a super-human effort, yanked herself free, her gown ripped all along the back. She could feel the night air flowing against her bared shoulder blades. She found herself among the tall trees. Her mind screaming out a sort of Déjà-vu.
Yet, still, she ran.
She ran till her feet were bloody, her heart pounding, and every muscle in her body screamed out in agony. Only then did she allow herself a glance over her shoulder. Empty, silent space stretched behind her. They'd stopped following.
Shizuru put her hands on her knees and doubled over, panting with exertion and relief, waiting for the shaking in her arms and legs to stop. Already, her mind was starting to click into motion with thoughts of her beloved Natsuki.
The silence was broken once again by thundering footsteps. Her heart seized up in fright and she willed her body back into action, but it was useless. Her strength had failed her. Tears of frustration welled up in her eyes as she forced herself to stand once again. She took a meager step forward but couldn't hold her weight and she crumbled back to the ground. With survival on her mind, she blindly felt along the forest floor for some sort of weapon. There was none. It was now or never.
The footsteps were almost on her now. The now familiar prickling at the back of her neck. Another burst of adrenaline racing through her veins powered her to lunge at the oncoming shadow with surprising speed.
Before she and the mysterious figure could even hit the ground, she realized that the shadow was Natsuki. Relief flooded through her just as the tears streaming down her face turned into those of joy. The two women hit the ground grasping, kissing, and pulling at one another. They had escaped.
Shizuru jolted awake, bolt upright, her eyes wide open. Fear fluttered in her chest like a bird caught in a net. She pressed her hand against her chest to still her rapid heartbeat. For a moment, she was neither asleep nor awake, as if some part of her had been left behind in the dream. Then, the room came back into focus as memories from last night flooded across her mind. She was safe.
The former princess felt the bed shift and glanced down in curiosity. Her heart took up its earlier tune, but this time with a flutter and the occasional skip.
The raven-haired goddess was deeply asleep, her arms flung out claiming ownership of most of the bed. Her long, dark hair fanned across the pillow. Moonlight fell through the open window, the shutter pinned back to let the cool night air into the chamber. In the gathering light, Shizuru could see an unknown chain worn around her lover's slender neck. It shimmered and glistened as she shifted position in her sleep.
In a sort of trance, the crimson-eyed girl ran her fingers down the sleeping woman's smooth, tanned arms and across her firm shoulders. She could feel the life moving beneath the skin even as she slept. Shizuru couldn't help the blush that spread across her face, even though there was no one there to see. She quickly became overwhelmed by the sensations Natsuki aroused in her. She delighted in the way her heart leaped and her skin crawled. She could feel love crawling over her skin, her scalp, even the soles of her feet as she leaned down, her lips hovering over the pair beneath her. Shizuru's tongue darted out over her own bottom lip in an arch, making her lips moist and ready to take those thin lips being presented to her.
For a moment, her courage falters but the power of those lips were drawing her nearer, unconsciously begging for her to taste them. Her line of vision turned dark as her eyes drew closed and her eager lips slowly closed the distance. Lights erupted behind her eyes at the contact of those warm, soft lips touching her own. For a long moment, she just simply allowed them to rest against the other's before pulling back slightly. A soft gasp escaped from her throat as she relished and basked in the sensations coursing through her entire existence. Again, she kissed her love, each time growing bolder and more eager for the simple contact. Shizuru felt as if she almost died when she felt a puff of hot air blow against her face and strong arms encase her small frame, pulling her close to the warm body below her.
Attentive lips were now joining her own. Their mouths moving in time with each other. At first, the pace was calm and loving, but it wasn't long before a feverish intent broke and passion caused their lips to desperately seek out each other.
Shizuru's breath caught in her throat when she felt gentle fingers trace the outline of her cheekbone, her nose, her chin, as if Natsuki was trying to commit her features to memory. The former princess reluctantly broke the kiss but grasped that tender hand and kissed the ends of the raven-haired beauty's fingers. Natsuki drew her back against her. She could feel the heat and weight of her body mold itself to her.
She felt the hunter's hand caress the back of her neck and pulled her face back down for another heated kiss, close enough for her to feel eyelashes brush against her skin. The hand disappeared from her neck but later slipped around her waist.
Their positions were reversed as Natsuki tumbled them both over. Raven hair fell around her like a waterfall of dark silk. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end at Natsuki's touch, skin against hers, so startling and intimate. Slowly and carefully, trembling fingers eased the crimson-eyed girl's dress from her shoulders, then lower to her waist. Shizuru shifted but did nothing to stop what was happening. She welcomed it even if she was nervous. The material came loose and slithered off the bed to the floor, like a winter skin no longer needed. As lips were dancing, Shizuru had the sudden urge to introduce her tongue into the fray. Tentively, she eased open the lips connected to her own and slipped the wet appendage into the hot crevasse of Natsuki's mouth. A whimper escaped from the girl above her but there were no signs that discouraged her actions.
Natsuki bent over her, their breaths colliding and mingling near their faces. Now, Shizuru could feel her breath, whispering over the surface of her skin like a summer breeze, leaving her skin rising towards those precious lips. Chaste kisses were pressed to her throat, her breasts, before her breath caught as her nipple was taken into a wonderfully wet mouth. Her crimson orbs closed tight as she cried out in a mixture of pleasure and pain. The warmth from her breast vanished, unfortunately, and Shizuru opened her eyes, curious and pleading. She was greeted with a nervous smile as she watched the scene before her, her greedy eyes watching the raven-haired girl's every move.
Nimble fingers began to remove their owner's shirt and trousers, eventually revealing all her beloved had to offer.
Then, crimson and emerald orbs still holding their gaze, Natsuki lowered her body into the space between her bare legs. A trembling finger pressed against her very essence. Shizuru stared back at those beautiful eyes, unblinking and serious. The feel of her bare body molding into her lover's was breath-taking. Shizuru felt strong, powerful, as if at this moment she could do anything, be anyone. A hypnotic, heavy warmth was seeping through her limbs, filling her up, devouring her senses as her lover entered inside.
Slowly, Natsuki began to move.
"Shizuru," The name easily slipped from between Natsuki's lips.
The tawny-haired girl placed her hands on the strong back, her fingers splayed wide in the shape of stars. She could feel the strength of her love, the force of her tanned arms and firm thighs, the soft hair brushing against her face. Her head was filed with the sound of her blood beating and heart racing. She had no sense of time or space. There was only Natsuki and the flickering moonlight through the curtains.
Shizuru shuddered and screamed into her lover's mouth, then was still. Gradually, the roaring in her head faded away until nothing remained but the hushed silence of the room.
Later, after they had talked and whispered promises in the dark, they drifted into sleep. The oil from a nearby lamp burned away. The flame in the lamp guttered and died. But the two entangled lovers did not notice. They knew nothing but each other as they lay sleeping in one another's arms.
Okay, even though I hate apologizing, I will say sorry to all of my readers. I know I left ya'll hanging for a long time which is why I attempted my first smex scene ever. (Yes, that's correct. I gave you porn as a way of apologizing.) Life just caught up to me, I guess. Plus, I got my heart broken and lost the will to write. Don't worry, though. I'm right back on my feet and I'm as good as new. But, if I'm a little grumpy in our next author's note, just ignore me. I'm all bark and no bite.....sometimes.
--Blue.
