Chapter 14

A draft of air woke her up. Looking around, she clearly remembered having closed the windows before she slept.

Slowly, methodically –just as she had always been after leaving the Akatsuki-, Kouri closed the widows. Out of habit, she turned to check on the baby sleeping peacefully in the crib. Instead of finding the baby, she was confronted with an empty bed.

Telling herself that Kizashi must've cried and Miji had heard it before she did, Kouri slowly went to the door.

"Kouri."

The single word floated to Kouri's ears as if in a dream. It was the voice that haunted her dreams. The very voice she dreaded yet yearning to hear.

Turning away from the door, she looked toward the direction of the voice. She could barely make out the silhouette of a man holding a bundle, yet she knows it's him, Itachi, holding their son.

"So you're gonna kill him, too?" she asked softly.

Itachi just looked at her silently.

"Answer me, Itachi! Are you gonna kill him just as you planned to kill me before?!" Kouri hissed in and fear.

Still, Itachi didn't answer her. Instead, he silently placed Kizashi back to his bed and covered the infant with his blanket.

Kouri watched Itachi's movement warily. Her heart was pounding so loudly in her chest, she wondered if Itachi had heard it.

He was walking toward her now, the moonlight illuminating his closed expression. She silently watched him advance toward her, certain that he will bring her and their son back to the hideout to be drained of their life force. If that be the case, Kouri silently vowed to kill the whole Akatsuki first before they laid a single finger on her or Kizashi.

Itachi was already in front of her yet he didn't stop his stride. Pretty soon, he had Kouri pinned between him and the wall.

A tingle went down Kouri's spine at his nearness. She could feel herself responding to him just as she always had before. "Wha-what are you doing?" she asked nervously.

He bent his head to her ear and whispered softly, his breath gently fanning her neck, "Reminding myself of you."

Kouri shuddered. Warring emotions swirled within her, hatred, lust, fear, anger, it confused her so much that she tried to concentrate on hating him. It did no good since the man in front of her fired every fiber in her being.

"I missed you," he said, placing a light kiss on her neck.

Her gasp echoed through the room and her mind went into a complete stop. Itachi was then kissing her so masterfully that her knees turned weak and she had to lean on him for support. Her arms, by their own volition, went around his neck and pulled him closer.

His hands cupped her breasts and fondled them, as if familiarizing himself with them once again yet in awe with what recent pregnancy had done to them. Kouri's scent permeated his brain, making him want to burry himself again in her softness, just as he always had done before, her regardless whether she was ready or not. Sliding the nightgown up Kouri's thigh, he wrapped her legs around his waist and quickly freed himself from his pants. Gripping her hips, he plunged himself inside her and was welcomed by the moist heat of her.

Kouri moaned as Itachi entered her. Her conflicting emotions only fueled her passion more and when he moved to begin a dance as old as time itself, Kouri matched him thrust for thrust.

The pleasure built and built until it burst out in a climax so strong, it rocked them both to their very soul.

Just as he had always done in their room in the hideout after they had made love in other places besides the bed, Itachi gently placed Kouri on the matress, lay down beside her and pulled her against him, spoon-fashion.

Kouri would've laughed at the irony had she not been winded after their bout. Instead, she snuggled against him –as she had normally done before- and fell asleep. All other explanations and confrontations would have to wait for tomorrow.

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A/N: hi guys! Sorry for the very late update. I was very busy with school. Especially now that we had summer class. Thankfully, it's over. Well, maybe not exactly over since I have to pass my requirements and my take-home exam tomorrow. Yes, you heard me right, I have an exam. You might be wondering why I'm writing this chapter if I have an exam. Well, let's just say, the best ideas sometimes come when you're preoccupied with other things. Don't you agree?

Anyway, thanks for all of you who reviewed my ff. I'm really sorry if I can't thank you one by one right now since this is only a "stolen moment" with my father's laptop. I will have to erase this chapter from the files after I upload it since the owner would most probably kill me for writing lemon.

So, guys, R&R pls! thank you very much, once again, for your continued love and support.

Carpe diem!

Rylai Crestfall

PS: I am so sorry it's short. TT