Rating warning.
Also,
this is the last fluff chapter. I realize the plot has taken a bit of a backseat to the romance in some of the chapters, but measures are being taken to bring it back to the foreground .
Let me know whut y'all think !
Read ON and ENJOY.
12: Hinata
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As I gaze at his sleeping, peaceful face, I am again reminded just how much I've grown to feel. For him. For the living world. Most importantly, I've grown to feel myself.
I've known him for only a few days, but after last night… we did it his way. I didn't tempt him, and he didn't touch me past a kiss, and a little petting before bed. I slept like never before, warm in his arms. I feel amazing.
Judging from the light, it looks like seven or eight.
Next to me, Kiba sighs and curls a sleepy arm around my waist, his face settling near mine. I take the opportunity to steal a kiss. At this, his long lashes flutter to reveal dark pools.
"Good morning, Hinata." He smiles dreamily. "That's quite a way to wake up."
Something in his eyes has me excited. I smile shyly at him, going on my intuition, and bite my lip.
He raises his brow at me, and my heart slams up my throat. I feel the blush flood my cheeks.
We meet somewhere in the middle, quickly sinking back to the bed. He's gripping my waist with one hand, the other roaming salaciously around my breasts, squeezing torturously as sensation spikes down to my groin. I moan into his mouth and he responds heatedly, his fingers now skimming my nightdress up my thighs, then my chest, and finally over my head. I feel freed. I'm wearing nothing but lacy underwear. His dark eyes scan my exposed body slowly, drinking me in. I shiver at the lust in his gaze.
But first things first.
Sitting up, I grip the hem of his shirt and in one swift move whip it over his head. I need him so much it hurts. Fire lances up from my sex, and I press my hands to his bare collarbones.
He's so warm. I run my fingers through the light smatter of hair on his muscled chest, then down the ripple of his abs, ending in a deliciously defined V. He grabs me, pulling me into him, and captures my lips with his, melding me to him, then freeing me to moan as he lays me on the bed and trails kisses along my jaw, down my neck, to my breasts, mumbling "You…are…so…beautiful."
I smile coyly at him, not believing myself. The effect of his presence is alarming. I'm so…open. Me: in every facet of the word. Not a façade of polite mannerisms.
"You're easy on the eyes, yourself." I run my hands all down his torso, pulling him closer to me. He has to feel it, at this distance. The heat from my lower abdomen, that condenses by the second as he groans and I cup his ass, pressing his erection against my sex. I know he feels it. My hands are pushing him closer, and he finally grinds mercifully into me. I release a loud moan, and Kiba quiets me with a needed kiss.
"Mm, don't want your cousin in here again." He whispers into my throat, and I ripple out in gooseflesh as he nips the skin there. "Although," he quips he massages my breasts, "If it were up to me, I'd have you screaming." He grins predatorily at me, sharp teeth under flushed lips, and I pull him into a heated kiss.
Before he can stop me, I undo the zipper of his jeans. Moment of truth. He's occupied by my mouth, and I slowly lean back, straightening him out so I can better pull his pants off.
I try not to let the mischievousness touch my eyes as I run my hands up his chest to his neck, his pants as far down as I can reach. Suddenly, he grips both my wrists in one hand, pinning them above my head, and whispers in my ear, "Nah-ah." It's a growl. I mewl.
He nuzzles my neck, still gripping my hands, and I wrap my legs around him in protest.
That's enough. I'm putting my foot down.
"You're teasing me."
He grins at me, eyes lit up, "Never."
I churn for a moment, then smile. He eyes me suspiciously, and I lean forward for a kiss. He's pulled in quickly, and with a tug my arms are soon free, and I immediately, my heart jammed up my throat, dive for his boxers. My momentum knocks him off balance, and with an arm around my waist he pulls me down, too. I land on top of him. But that's okay.
I have my prize en-hand.
"Fuck," he breathes, and it's a groan. "Kiba," I breathe in reply. When his eyes meet mine, something's changed. Something's grown: carnal, abandoned, brimming with desire. I hold my breath, and lightly move my hand, my fingers ghosting around him, to his end. He certainly looks near his end. He's so hot, and already large, he grows under my fingertips.
I lean in as he gasps, kissing his neck, "That's for teasing me." I grin at him, and his brows shoot up. He takes a breath, closing his eyes. I can tell he's thinking about this. I nip his neck to sway his decision. I know my face must be somewhere near cherry.
To my delight, it works.
His hand, deliciously rough against my skin, travels up my back, to my neck, to cup my face tenderly. His lips tip up to meet mine. It's slow; languidly pulsing from our lips, through my brain, down my spine, filling my heart, my entire body; this love.
I readjust my fingers around him and he takes a shuddering breath, gripping my back and waist as I begin to move, simultaneously pulling his boxers down. He's free, and he moans against my lips. I groan, something entirely internal and instinctual flows from me, and I grip Kiba hard, massaging the pulsing vein under his shaft. He stifles a cry against my neck, and a flood of electricity dives towards my groin.
Suddenly he flips us, hands roaming anew while I'm distracted. Not for long, I pull at him, and he whines deep in his throat, crushing me to him. I curse my underwear.
He runs calloused fingertips down my body, between my breasts, over my navel, to cup my sex. He silences my cry with his lips, dipping tender fingers inside. He moans, "So ready," and I gasp and look in his eyes, "Yes." He searches my eyes wondrously, but to my disappointment, shakes his head. I wish he wouldn't be so chivalrous, and yet it's his sincerity and goodness that makes me want him so. The paradox is maddening.
"Not now." He captures my petulant lips, "Now this."
His fingers move inside and I groan, gripping him harder and pumping. His breath is hot against the flesh of my neck.
This fire has nearly consumed me. I'm reaching the edge, his fingers swirling, pushing me further and he's the same.
I feel so powerful, a squeeze from me has him groaning, gripping me harder and thrusting those magic fingers deeper. I swirl my thumb around his tip and he gasps into my neck. He leaks pre-cum into my palm. I can barely, through pleasure-squinted eyes, see the sun rising.
I'm distracted once more by Kiba's ministrations, rubbing me in a mind-bending rhythm as I pant and try desperately to keep up. Desire shoots up and down my limbs, sending a shallow buzz of nervous electricity flowing up my spine at his wonton touch. I'm at wit's end. There is only our breathing, and the steady pulse of our hands and hearts.
"Oh, Hinata," He breathes, voice rough, and I shiver. He's at his end too, his entire body gone rigid, and I moan into his mouth. With it rushes out all my pleasure in a shattering white light, dispelling all my fears, my darkness, my doubts. There is nothing else in the universe; just our breathing, his hands roaming, and my blossoming power as he unravels loudly in my arms.
Our lips meet, drenched in morning sunlight.
We lay tangled for what seems like an eternity, basking in delicious afterglow. I never want to stir from my perch on his chest. Then his arms snake around me, gripping me like we're at the end of the earth. In reality it's only been a few minutes.
"Hinata," There's a new wonder to his voice. I smile shyly at him, knowing my face is still flushed from earlier.
"Yes, Kiba?"
His eyes search mine for a long moment, then he smiles and shakes his head. This piques my interest. "What is it?"
He chuckles at my excited curiosity. Then his expression grows uncertain. "I…think I love you."
I blink at him. Then my face is moving of its own accord, twisting into an utter and irreprehensible delight.
Unable to keep my hands to myself for very long, I tenderly push his dark brown curls, slightly damp from exertion, off his forehead.
I nuzzle his neck; running my nose along his jaw, then lean back to meet his eyes.
"I love you, too." His features light up like Christmas morning.
But then my face falls. I remembered where, and when, we were.
He nods, "I have to go". I slip off him so he can pull his pants up and his shirt on; all the while I enjoy the view. My thoughts travel naughtily over his working, exposed flesh. I know my cheeks are pink. He catches my eye and grins wolfishly at the lust in it.
"Oho, aren't you insatiable, my princess?" He takes his sweet time with the rest of his dressing, and his deliberateness makes me flush a deeper red.
Yes. It's true. I want him, still if not more than ever.
For example:
Here I am, that which was once wholly invisible, lying nearly naked and entirely wanting, obviously checking out this enigma of a man dressing before me.
How is this possible.
I can only come to one conclusion.
It's him.
But. What does this do to my own ability? Leeching his power is no better than being powerless. In fact, it's worse.
I frown.
He turns to me, and I try to change my expression; too late. He's caught me, and he leans concernedly across my bed's fluff to kiss my forehead.
"What's wrong?" The trepidation in his brow makes me feel bad for having disturbed this moment for my own stupid insecurity.
I cover it all with a sly smile, inclining to peck at his lips. "Nothing, just thinking about the rest of the day." He eyes me suspiciously, but finally shrugs and smiles.
I'm grateful when he carefully pulls my hand to his lips, caressing my knuckles.
"Do you have a cell phone?" I don't' know why I'm surprised at this question. "Yes." His gaze meets mine, and he's boyish, "My Fairest Lady; may I …have your number?"
I grin, and we exchange numbers. I feel so strange. His presence is a natural balm for me; he makes me see true color in life. However, with this new and growing paranoia of my weakness within his vast power, I'm feeling restless. I'm sick and downright tired of dependence.
The juxtaposition of these two have me desperately torn. I grip his hand as he helps me off the bed, and I keep my fingers intertwined with his large, calloused ones until we reach the end of my balcony.
I search his eyes, trying to convey my love for him through them. I can't say it again. Suddenly I'm feeling overwhelmingly shy, and my eyes meet the floor. I don't know why, but my face floods a blood red.
His fingers grip my chin, and he tips my face to his. His dark, sharp eyes capture mine, and I find myself throwing my arms around his neck.
I can't shake the feeling that things are going to change. Really, really change. I can't yet tell whether it will be for the better, or worse. Especially for 'us'.
So our lips meet, both passions raging behind the bindings of our separate skins, and dancing dangerously closely at the melding that is me in his arms.
I have learned, with him, to cherish the moment.
Perhaps that is why. I learn so much from him, all the time.
He releases me.
"Goodbye, Hinata. I'll see you soon. " He grins, revealing those bright, sharp canines I've come to love so much.
"Yes. Bye, Kiba. Be safe." I'm filling up on his face. He holds me close once more, with a chaste kiss, and is gone over the railing.
I feel momentarily dazed. I am now on my own.
The strangest thing: I'm not afraid. Apprehensive, maybe a bit. But I know I'll be fine. Not just fine, but great. I feel my power, and it floods my arteries with every intake of breath. I square my shoulders and begin getting ready for the day.
After a shower, a little mascara and blush, and a dab of lipstick, I stand in front of the mirror.
I've wanted this for so long.
I put up my sleek straight hair in a mid-to-low ponytail. Tightly gripping the tail a few inches below the band, I take a deep breath, shutting my eyes.
Finally.
I raise my other hand, and with my ancient silver scissors, shear off the entire end of my ponytail. My band falls loose, and I shake out my remaining hair.
My hair now at least two feet shorter, I feel weightless.
I run my hands crazily through my soft, thick hair, gleefully, and dump my shorn ponytail.
The ends framing my face, little longer than chin-length, my hair is slightly poufy and whipped up wildly. Resulting from my ponytail form of cutting, the back and bottom are shorter than the front ends. I shrug, for once liking my reflection. I feel something I've never really experienced: myself.
I pull up my chin, and head downstairs. On my way, I nod to various wide-eyed maids and butlers and silently mourn my life.
Neji stops me in the hall, and roughly pulls me into an alcove. His eyes are many things: angry, curious, demanding, controlled. I sigh at him.
"What have you done now?" He looks furiously at my hair.
"It was time for a change." I stare him down and shrug. "Past due, I think we both realize." I add in a low whisper. His pale silver eyes take me in anew.
He smirks, and I become conscious of a change between us. He seems to…accept me. I follow my intuition and smile at him, and he, to my amused chagrin, salutes me and allows me passage. I look over my shoulder in passing, and he's smirking interestedly. He knows where I'm headed.
I take a few calming breaths. I'm doing this. It needs to be done. It needed to be done last year. I stop at the grand oak doors of my father's study.
Clearing my throat carefully, I knock.
"Come in," I hear from inside. It's curt and impatient. Crap. He's in a bad mood.
I brace myself, and smile at him. His pale steel eyes are surprised. Of course he's surprised. This is the first time I've ever willingly approached him since my mother died.
His face is calculating. "Hinata. What is it? I'm very busy."
I take a seat in front of his huge, ancient desk. "Father. I need to discuss something of importance with you. It will only take a few moments."
He's excellent at covering his shock at my straightforwardness.
I bet he still hasn't noticed my new hair.
"Well?" He's glaring at me expectantly.
I take another calming breath. "I believe it's time you recognize that, at the age of nineteen, I have my Masters in Business Administration," I hurriedly banish visions of me alone, night after night, in my room studying to get ahead, "and that I am an excellent candidate to help run the company. I also think it reasonable to remind you that I am your sole child, and with that in mind I would like to put forward my wish to one day take the mantle of running the family company upon my shoulders."
This is the most I've ever spoken to him. This seems like a day of firsts.
He's scrutinizing me, like only my father can, searching in my eyes for the flaws of my soul. After a long few minutes of silence and my growing internal panic, he releases a slow breath.
"Fine, daughter of mine, I'll play along. Show your worth." He nods to the door, and I'm dismissed. I give him a curt thank you, and am gratefully on my way out.
I did it.
I can't believe it. This is happening. He's actually listened to me. I doubt he even recognized my voice before this encounter.
I stutter into the kitchen, and when I sit at the dining table a butler immediately confronts me.
He has a kind face. "Good Day, Miss Hyuuga. What would you like to eat today?"
Just as I'm about to answer, Neji sits across from me.
"Whatever Ancho feels like cooking will be fine, thank you."
He turns politely to Neji, whose eyes are boring questions into mine.
"The same." He snaps, and the butler scurries away.
When he's past earshot, Neji's inquisition begins. I brace myself.
"Now do you care to explain what the hell has happened to you, Hinata?"
I blink patiently at him. I've just discovered this power, and I'm not about to let it go. Not to him.
"I've decided I would like to be more involved with the company. There is too much being done under my nose which I disagree with to stand by any longer."
His glowing eyes glare daggers at me. My heart spikes.
"You and I both know that's not all of what I mean."
I sigh, my once bronze armor bending slightly with my exhaustion. It's been one hell of a day already. "Then you're also referencing Kiba?" I shake my head, "He has little to nothing to do with my decision."
It's Neji who looks speculative now. "Of course he does. You know this; I hear it on you. You're like a completely different person lately. You're not the cousin I know." He shrugs, and smirks cruelly, "I'm just making sure this isn't some faux display of confidence because you finally got off." I gape at him, blinking a few times to process everything. He was being downright nasty.
No holds barred, then.
"How did you meet the mutt, anyhow?"
An unreasonable fire fills me, and I'm angrier than I think I've ever been.
"First of all, cousin, hold your sarcastic, undeservedly insulting tone when you speak to me."
Power floods my veins. I decide to keep going before my nerve runs out. I try not to register Neji's utterly confounded expression.
"Second, Inuzuka Kiba is no mutt, he is… someone I care for," My heart is going to explode, "and you would do well to remember that. Also, no matter where the influence is from, I'm telling you now that this is how it is. I will be taking my rightful place at the company, and it will turn back to a salvageable direction, so help me."
I solemnly regard his quickly composing face.
"And lastly, Neji, you, rightfully, know nothing about where and when I get off, so try to contain your presumptuousness."
He's gaping like a fish, his twisted mouth opening and closing in outrage. He can hardly contain himself. Hell, I can hardly contain myself. My anger is still burning, despite my verbal reprieve.
He's finally caught hold of his thoughts; I brace myself for his infernal rage, however the butler, who brings us each a steaming platter of udon noodles and chicken, saves me momentarily. He gets the brunt of Neji's glare, too, and practically trips over himself getting away from the black aura surrounding us.
Neji leans in, dangerously close. Anger still burns in his eyes, but its coupled with something new and entirely past due.
Respect.
"Actually, Hinata, I do have quite a vivid knowledge of when and where you get off." He raises his brows pointedly at me, and I blush puce.
But then, rather than going on some blasting tirade about my incompetency and Kiba's low birth and such trivialities, he smirks at me.
I smile genuinely at him, despite my blush. He shrugs again, "You're human too, Hinata. It's still an idea I'm getting used to. But at least we're past our most bitter differences." He's referring to three years ago, when he nearly killed me.
I don't like to think about that day.
"Yes, of course."
"I think we'll work well together." Boy, Neji is a rollercoaster.
I'm emotionally exhausted, but I beam at him anyways, "I hope so."
We finish our meals in amiable silence.
I eat half my plate, and am just sitting back in comfortable fullness when my cell phone starts ringing.
It's Kiba.
I answer quickly, "Hello?"
"Hinata." It's a croak. He sounds awful, like he's been put through a blender. Something thick and suffocating clasps my heart to stillness.
They've found him.
All this time we'd been like honeymooners, ignoring all but each other as the world falls apart around us.
And now, its all caught up to us.
"What's wrong? What's happened?"
I just hear his ragged breathing, and something clatters loudly in the background, "… I just wanted to see…that you were alright."
"Kiba!" Me, the girl who was mute not three days ago, I am practically shouting. I get up and begin storming to the door, "Talk to me! Where are you? What's happened?"
"It was them. Fuck. This…this was a warning. To stop me. They know; they know that we stared it; the boycott. They figured out those who gathered everyone. I doubt it's just me they went after." He coughs, it sounds like he's wheezing, and my chest is completely constricted. I'm hyperventilating.
"Who? Who was it? Where are you?"
"It's okay. Shit. I can't… believe it. I'm okay. We're all okay." He sounds relieved, yet completely uprooted. Something big has happened. I hear barking in the background, and I immediately run for the door.
"No," I can't contain the anxiety in my voice, "I'm going there. Wait for me. I'll be there in ten minutes."
"No, Hinata-" I'm barely aware of Neji hovering behind me.
"Kiba." I stop him. He's not getting out of this one, "I'm going. I'll see you in a few minutes. And Kiba…" I sigh into the microphone, turning away from Neji. "Be safe…."
"Please, don't come here." His voice is low and raw and speaks of something horrible.
I shake my head, even though he can't see me, "I am."
I hang up.
I grab my keys and purse and fly out the door. Glancing over my shoulder, I finally notice Neji walking determinedly beside me.
"We'll take my car." His voice holds an authoritative calm that has me nodding gratefully. It would be hard to drive with all this in my head.
Rushing out, I can't help but fear the worst. One thing has kept me from breaking; Kiba is, at the very least, alive.
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(AN)
So, I received some incredible feedback on the last chapter, thank you Guest reviewer and Murcielago for your awesome, inspirational comments; they are faar more appreciated than you may guess.
Thanks again !
Love.
Bright Eyed
