Author's Note: Well, I certainly can't keep you waiting much longer, can I?

Unwilling to surrender the sweet sensation of his tongue battling mine for dominance, I continue to kiss him feverishly until his lips leave my mouth for their own gain, but do not leave my skin as he peppers a soft trail of even softer lips along my jaw and down my neck, stopping twice to suck on sensitive patches of flesh.

I shudder, a grin tugging at my lips as the hot tingling of the act pushes against the pain. I want - need - more…

Pulling away, his touch is replaced by a twinge of disappointment. I stare at him, perplexed as his eyes beg for permission before he speaks it.

"Izaya…" he says my name so perfectly, as if it were made for his voice.

Warning signs flash like neon lights in my frazzled mind while my heart thrusts violently into my ribcage, its speed matching his as if both organs are going to tear us apart to escape. I don't want to think anymore. I only want to feel - to feel every bit of this agony die under his heat.

He is asking me if this is okay; wanting to be sure that we are not digging ourselves into something we cannot escape later on. At the moment, how am I supposed to care? How can I say no?

Burying my face in the crook of his hot neck, I run my tongue over smooth skin before settling on a spot to suck. Shizuo tilts his head back, giving me better access. He has never experienced anything like this before. I can tell by the deep groan as I nip at the bruised red patch in my mouth.

Unsure of what to do with himself while I continue to tag his flesh with my physical signature, he rakes his fingers down my back. I arch into them, reminding myself of a cat, always giving in to a gentle touch.

Satisfied with the red spots left by my mouth, I lean back to examine my work, committing the image to memory. The entire image from the several crimson spots to the pink hue on his cheeks bringing out the fiery gold in his peculiar eyes.

It is as if I look at him and the world doesn't matter.

Whatever waits outside of these walls does not exist.

What are you doing to me Heiwajima Shizuo? And why are you so fucking good at it?

I know I'm not strong enough… but I would be anything in the world for this. Anything.

He leans forward, pushing his lips into my forehead while his long fingers tug upward at the hem of my shirt. "Can I?" he asks as delicately as he kisses me.

Swallowing my nervousness, I nod, helping him peel the soaked fabric from my skin, pulling it over my head with a soft tug. Quickly, I decide I am comfortable like this before my quivering hands work at each button of his shirt, only to tear my gaze away in shame.

The scar I left him with on the day we met is the only imperfection slicing through an otherwise perfect creation in a perfect line across his chest. It is only fair that I should have to see it, but so wrong for him to be burdened with the memory of our deadly first encounter.

Life was so much simpler then…

"Hey… don't…" Shizuo says, cupping my face in his hand.

I lean against the sensation, closing my eyes to block out what I cannot so easily forget.

There is so much that I'm coming to regret; more that I can't make myself understand.

I know why I pay him… I pay him because there is too much that I owe him for - repairs that money can't buy. However, when money is all you have…

"I'm sorry…" I mutter, pushing myself off of him.

The tears rolling down my cheeks are invisible against the water running down my face.

Nothing makes sense anymore.

"There's nothing to forgive," he tells me, taking my hand with a half-smile on his face.

"How can you say that?" I wonder, taken aback by his tranquil acceptance, "I gave you that scar."

"I earned it."

Blasphemy.

"Shizuo… how can you say something like that?"

"'Cause it's true."

"How?" I narrow my eyes into scrutinizing slits, wondering how the hell it is possible for anybody at all to think such a thing. "I…"

"I started it. If it hadn't been for me immediately lashing out at you, it wouldn't have happened."

Face falling into a frown, I suddenly begin to feel cold. I hate the way he tries to save me from responsibility. And I'm about to voice my opinion when he settles over me with a predatory look burning in his fiery eyes.

The sight is enough to cause my lower stomach to coil into twisted little knots of lust.

Everything about him has my body screaming for more.

How fucking embarrassing…

Kissing me again, he takes a hand, dragging his fingertips down my torso until he reaches the button of my jeans. He unhooks it and gently tucks his fingers down the front of my underwear, flushing a bright shade of pink when he finds my hardening erection.

"Ahh…" I moan softly at the minimal contact, suddenly finding it painful to stay in these wet pants any longer.

He senses this, pulling back before he easily pulls them from my skin, despite the way they try to stick to my frame. How does he make movement look so easy? And how can it be so comfortable to be completely naked - wet and naked - in front of him?

"Damn it…" he mutters, drinking in the sight.

I crinkle my eyebrows. "What's wrong?"

"N-nothing…" he stutters nervously, "You're just…"

Running his hands up and down my sides he comes back down to nip and kiss my collar bone.

"Beautiful…" he whispers, sliding one hand from my hip to my needy, throbbing cock.

The sensation of his hot hand on me in such a fashion is almost too much for me to handle. Feeling my eyes roll back in my head, I nearly come right here. It's been so long… so fucking long since anyone has touched me like this. Too long.

I've almost forgotten what it feels like.

"Hnn… Shizu-chan…"

Giving me long, slow strokes, he smiles - proud to earn my approval.

"A-are you sure you've n-never…aaah… done this before…?" I tease with a gentle smile.

His face heats up once again. "Never…"

"Shit!"

Grabbing his head, I pull his mouth into mine, kissing him desperately. His hand… as amazing as it is, is soon not nearly enough. I need more. I need to feel more.

Reaching down with quivering hands, I work at the button of his pants until his own hot erection is freed. He groans deeply at lacking restriction pushing him down as I press my thumb against the smooth head. He twitches in my hand, and it all goes straight to my own.

Forcing myself to keep my composure, I pull out of his lips and look at him with pleading eyes. "Let's take this back to bed, ne?"

"What? Now?" he asks, frowning at the removal of my hand from his dick.

"Please? I don't want to take your virginity on my shower floor…"

"Oh… right…"

The removal of his hand is painful as he turns off the shower and scoops me up from the bottom of the shower.

He carries us back to bed, not even bothering to waste time drying off. I don't blame him. I almost regret stopping him.

Laying me down, he wriggles out of the remainder of his wet clothing, giving me quite a show of his full body before we get back to business. He is incredibly lean now that I take time to truly observe what lies beneath that uniform. Lean yet toned - as if to disguise that serious strength.

And his dick…

I shudder, needing that full, hard size inside of me.