"Sore?" Grimmjow returned from the shower and sat on the side of the bed. He had his pants on but his back was still steaming from the shower.
"How did you guess?" Ichigo sat stiffly. Grimmjow grinned.
"It will get better."
"I hope." Ichigo smiled too. "Help me up?" He stretched out his hand. Grimmjow took it and pulled him to his feet. He staggered and was caught around both shoulders.
"Easy," Grimmjow whispered. He kept a tight hold and watched the pain flicker through Ichigo's features. "How bad is it?"
"I'm just not used to it," he assured. "I'm fine." He pressed his lips up, against Grimmjow's in a quick, reassuring kiss. "It's not a normal activity, you know?"
Grimmjow nodded but his solemnity didn't leave him. He walked Ichigo to the bathroom but left him in privacy.
Ichigo washed slowly. He was actually in quite a bit of pain but he didn't want to let on to Grimmjow. He hoped it wouldn't always be like this, but being a medical student, he also knew he should expect no less after the exertions of the night. His knew in time, his muscles would get used to it and the pain would in fact improve. But now he couldn't help wince as he washed his backside or notice the bruises here and there from Grimmjow holding him tight.
Grimmjow prepared them a hang-over breakfast since they had in fact enjoyed a liberal amount of liquor. They were quiet, and it was borderline awkward. Ichigo kept remembering the night before, the way they'd twisted together, what Grimmjow had seen of him. His face flushed at the mere thought and he hoped Grimmjow didn't notice.
His foot was kicked. He looked up to see Grimmjow staring right back at him. Shit. He definitely had noticed. For a moment Grimmjow stared him down, then his face broke into a rueful grin.
"You're still embarrassed?"
"Shut up." Ichigo threw his napkin across the table. Grimmjow let out a laugh.
The morning was lighter after that. Ichigo hastily cleaned up the bedroom while Grimmjow showered. He felt ridiculous trying to re-fluff pillows and straighten sheets as if he could hide what had happened.
Did he want to hide it? Or shout it from the rooftops? He wasn't really sure.
"Do you work at the hospital tonight?" Grimmjow asked as he tied his shoes. They were going out for some groceries.
"Yeah, at eight." Ichigo glanced at him. Was he disappointed? Did he want to have sex again tonight? "I'm not sure when I get off."
He made to open the door but his hand was caught. Grimmjow turned him slowly.
"Listen, Ichigo, I know things are different now. And we can't exactly proceed as normal until all this shit with Urahara and Aizen is over. But I don't want you to worry about what I think. Last night was fucking amazing. I want to be with you. End of story. We don't have to rush things, I'm not going anywhere."
Ichigo felt relief spread through him, but also shame that Grimmjow even had to say this to him. Since when had he become so insecure?
"You are okay with all this shit, right?"
And suddenly like a switch was flicked, Ichigo saw the insecurity reflected right back in blue eyes. All this morning he'd been thinking about the man before him but he'd neglected to really look at him and take him in. He was just as worried Ichigo was having second thoughts.
He leaned in and Grimmjow was caught off guard by the sudden, forceful kiss. He didn't protest, however, and his hand wrapped around the back of Ichigo's head, keeping them locked together. By the time they broke apart, Grimmjow's other hand had already wandered up Ichigo's back. But they backed off and straightened their clothes, smiling.
"Guess we're on the same page then," Grimmjow concluded.
"Yeah," Ichigo breathed and grabbed the shopping bags. "We are."
Two nights later Grimmjow was bent over homework he would probably never understand unless he took the time to catch up on the last ten years of education he would have needed to grasp the materials from their classes. He didn't really need to try anymore, since Urahara was in on it now, but he got annoyed that he was the only one sitting there like an idiot in classes. He gave up when Ichigo shut his own book, having finished both their lab assignment for them.
It was late. Between Ichigo's shifts and their day time classes there wasn't much time for homework. They lay back on the bed together once they were ready. Ichigo hadn't been home until Grimmjow was already asleep last night, but now they both lay away, side by side.
Ichigo sat up again slowly. He looked to Grimmjow and drew his shirt up over his head. The other watched him appreciatively. He sat too and took Ichigo's shirt from him, tossing if over the side of the bed.
"If you're not ready-"
"I'm fine." Ichigo assured and rolled sideways, stretching his knees apart so that he ended up straddling Grimmjow. He was met with a hungry grin and firm hands gripped is bare back.
They kissed deep and long, their breaths fresh from the same minty toothpaste. Ichigo liked how clean they both felt, having washed up before bed. The soft scent of soap and lotion. The smoothness of Grimmjow's shaved chin. He savoured it all, and Grimmjow seemed to be doing the same, taking his time as his hands played over Ichigo's bare torso, and then as his mouth began to descent from lips to chin, to chest.
Grimmjow's hand planted firmly behind Ichigo's shoulder blade and pressed him forward. Ichigo shivered when Grimmjow took his nipple into his mouth and began to suckle it slowly. His other hand slipped around to Ichigo's front and undid his fly.
"Ah…fuck…" Ichigo bent his head into Grimmjow's at the rush of sensation. He rocked his hips involuntarily when Grimmjow began to stroke him. He moaned and groaned as his chest was still given the same attention, Grimmjow now shifting to the other side. Ichigo's hands tightened in their hold on Grimmjow's shoulders. He wasn't going to make it to the next stage at this rate but Grimmjow didn't seem to mind. In fact, when lips returned to his mouth and Grimmjow's hand quickened, he knew it Grimmjow's intention to give him complete satisfaction.
He panted desperately between kisses. Grimmjow drew it out, almost torturously. There would surely be bruises in Grimmjow's arm from Ichigo's iron hold. He squirmed and gasped and finally he dropped his head into Grimmjow's shoulder and watched him bring him over the edge. His eyes squeezed tight, his body clenched up and he moaned loudly against Grimmjow's shoulder.
The other held him in the aftermath, his body breaking out in sweat and his muscles feeling like jelly in the wake of the orgasm. When he had regained his breath, Grimmjow rolled him onto his back and pulled his pants the rest of the way off.
Ichigo lay naked beneath him while Grimmjow sat back and began to undress himself. His muscles were prominent even in the dark. Ichigo vainly wondered just how he managed to keep himself so finely honed.
Grimmjow leaned over him when he was undressed. With his hands on either side of Ichigo's head, he looked on him like a predator would his prey. But Ichigo had no fear of being devoured by this man.
Grimmjow bent his arms, met Ichigo's mouth hard, his tongue striking deep and his body settling back on Ichigo's. He was tense and ready, but he gave Ichigo the time needed to become erect again before he lined himself up and pushed in, with one, slow motion. Ichigo's back arched. He gasped and settled back, clinging to Girmmjow's biceps. Grimmjow kissed him slower now, giving Ichigo's body a chance to adjust. Unlike last time, they didn't speak. They didn't need to. Grimmjow watched Ichigo closely, and though he saw the tightness in his features that indicated pain, he didn't stop. Ichigo could endure, and if he couldn't he would speak up.
Ichigo struggled for the first few minutes. Again, the pain caught him by surprise and he concentrated on breathing and not crying as Grimmjow rocked him gently. Grimmjow maintained a slow pace for quite a long time, and Ichigo started to worry this time the pain wouldn't go away. Maybe he wouldn't be able to do this after all. But it did dissolve, slowly, but surely, and he forgot about the discomfort between kisses and nips and touches and stroking fingers. He forgot about it when pleasure shot through from the base of his spine all the way to his skull. When his body vibrated with the need for more friction, more power and his legs wrapped up behind Grimmjow's lower back and the other planted both hands firmly in order to move with more speed and strength.
Grimmjow's forehead was pressed against Ichigo's when he came. Ichigo felt his short, hot breath, heard the minute gasp, and felt his thrumming heartbeat. Even in the thrill of that moment, Grimmjow didn't forget Ichigo and his hand pumped hard and fast to draw him over too.
They lay entangled for a long while. Ichigo wasn't up for another round this time, he knew it. Grimmjow may have gone harder this time, and the throbbing was already starting in his backside. But by the sounds of it, Grimmjow was satisfied. He was barely awake when he dragged Ichigo back against him and kissed him several times before muttering something about how good it was and passing out.