Author's Note: This chapter is a little bit on the suggestive side. Nothing explicit, but tons of innuendo and soft-focus descriptions. If that's not your cup of tea, please feel free to skip to the next chapter. I split this one in two so you will not miss anything of importance to the actual plot.

"So this is where the magic happened," Laney said wonderingly as Kyoya escorted her into Music Room 3.

They'd arrived a bit early to the Ouran Scholarship benefit, which was being held in the main ballroom. Laney had asked for a tour of his old stomping grounds, and her husband was more than happy to oblige.

He smiled indulgently at his wife as she took in the contents of the oversized room. Aside from the grand piano shoved into one corner, there was still little to indicate that this was an actual music room rather an overly elaborate salon. Plush couches and small tables still took up most of space.

"I'd hardly call it magic," he responded to her comment. "I spent many late nights trying to balance the books to make sure this whole thing didn't topple down around our ears. It was an unbelievable amount of work for a stupid high school club run by the Moron King himself."

"And do you regret it?"

"Not a single second," he said promptly. Then, recalling some of their more outlandish cosplays, "Well. Maybe a few seconds. But on the whole? No, it was wonderful training for the complexities of running the Ootori Group."

Laney hummed noncommittally, and Kyoya placed a gentle kiss on her neck in silent thanks for not mentioning that he, technically speaking, did not actually run the Ootori Group. Yet. "And I suppose the boys have nothing to do with all those fond memories?"

"How did Fuyumi put it? 'Young men strengthening their friendship through ridiculous outfits and idiotic schemes?'"

She laughed. "I refuse to believe she ever said any such thing. Your sister adores the guys, and I know you do too, so don't play all stoic and cold-hearted with me, mister."

"Adore is a very strong word. I adore you. Tamaki and the rest? They are, very occasionally, worth the trouble they cause."

"Baby, that was downright effusive."

"Don't tell them I said so."

Laney pretended to lock her lips and throw away the key. Kyoya laughed and placed his hand on the small of his wife's back, urging her further into the room. He watched her as she walked over the piano and played a quick arpeggio, her head cocked to one side as she listened to the acoustics in the room. Predictably lousy: the overstuffed chairs and sofas absorbed the sound. Terrible for music, but perfect for an illicit tryst. He smiled wickedly.

Hikaru had sent over a selection of gowns for Laney, and she had picked one with delicate straps crossing in the back, revealing what Kyoya had privately considered to be an indecent amount of skin. But seeing her smiling back at him over her shoulder, he was starting to reconsider. After almost four years of marriage, she could still rouse him with just a look. "Come here," he said, pitching his voice low. "I want to show you something."

He drew her to the far side of the room, where a few small alcoves were curtained off. He drew back the curtain to the largest of them. Much to his satisfaction, he found that the fainting couch he remembered from his high school days was still nestled in the corner.

"Is this where you took girls when you wanted some alone time?" Laney joked.

"Mmm. Thought about it a couple times, but no. These were the changing rooms." He pulled her close, her back against his chest. He lowered his head, laying a line of languorous kisses up the column of her neck.

"Kyoya! Anyone could walk in," she whispered anxiously, making no move to push him away as he reached her ear and nibbled at the delicate shell.

"I know," he said, his voice light and teasing. "It's a little exciting, isn't it?" His hands ran down her body, hiking up the hem of her dress. He toyed with it for a minute, letting his fingers tease her before sliding slowly but inexorably upwards. " 'License my roving hands, and let them go/ Before, behind, above, between, below,' " he quoted softly into her ear. He knew she had a weakness for Donne.

Laney let out a barely controlled exhale. "Why do I always let you talk me into this?"

Kyoya chuckled softly. "If I remember correctly, last time it was you doing all the talking." Her body trembled with sudden tension as he found a particularly sensitive spot. He continued to stroke her lightly, whispering "But this time around I have other plans for that mouth of yours, my girl."

She twisted around in his arms, supple as a young willow. "Since when have I ever let you do anything according to plan?" she asked before claiming his mouth in a scorching kiss. "But if you're sweet to me, maybe I'll be sweet to you," she breathed into his ear, hands busy with buttons and zippers. He hissed when she found what she was looking for, and stilled his own fingers. Laney grinned wickedly, reciprocating his lack of motion.

"Right," Kyoya said, pushing her against the wall. "If that's how you want to play, I am more than happy to oblige." She gasped when his mouth made contact with her throat, and he pulled back, murmuring, "Think you can be quiet? I can be so good to you if you can just be quiet." She nodded, eyes fluttering closed as his tongue began to trace intricate patterns across her skin. He stopped. "Don't close your eyes. Watch me."

Laney complied, reveling in the look of pure concentration on her husband's face. She tried to move, to touch him, but he captured both wrists in one hand, pinning them above her head. "It's not your turn," he breathed as his other hand moved lower, lower, until she had to actively fight to keep still, keep silent. Just when she thought she was going to lose the battle, he backed away, loosing her hands.

She wasted no time making her move, pausing only long enough to whisper "No noise," before lowering her head.

"Fuck," Kyoya hissed. "Unfair, Laney."

She smiled up at him. "I'm just following your plan."

He fisted his hands at his sides, worried that if he touched her now he would undo the careful hours of preparation she'd taken with her appearance for the benefit. Although at this particular moment, the benefit had receded considerably in importance; he was mightily tempted blow it off and spend the whole night right here. He didn't want to rush. He wanted to take his time with her.

She did something delightful just then with her tongue, and Kyoya couldn't quite smother a low moan. Laney immediately stood up. He stared at her in disbelief, choosing to ignore the fact that he had left her on a similar precipice mere minutes before.

"Well," she whispered. "It looks as though we've found ourselves at a bit of an impasse."

"Are you open to negotiation?"

Laney shrugged. "That depends. What are you willing to put on the table?"

"You think I'm going to declare terms first?" He raised an eyebrow at her as he tugged her closer, trailing one finger lightly over the exposed skin of her back, barely touching her.

She shivered. "You play so dirty."

He moved closer still. "You love it."

"I love you." She closed the last minute bit of distance between them, pressing every inch of her body to his. "Negotiations?" she reminded him breathily.

"Closed," he said, pushing her back against the wall. It was the last coherent word either of them said for some time.