Chapter Twenty-nine

Two months

"No one will see it there, don't get mad at me," Syaoran said, still laughing.

"That's your game, is it? Well, I'm going to mark you too," Sakura growled, sitting up and nipping at one of his pecs.

She pulled away a few seconds later, looking at the small bruise that was beginning to form on his chest.

"Now you're mine too," she said, glancing up at him with a mischievous grin.

"Yeah, but my dad will see it because we like to go swimming."

Sakura blanched and Syaoran burst out laughing.

"Don't worry, it doesn't matter," he said, kissing her again.

"How long will that mark last?" she asked between his lips in a nervous voice.

Syaoran shrugged.

"I don't know... a week or two, depends on how hard you bite me."

Sakura sighed and heard his laughter again.

"Hold on to me," Syaoran whispered, wrapping her legs around his waist.

She clung to his neck as she felt him lift her into the air. They continued kissing and she didn't open her eyes again until she fell into a soft spot.

They were in the study room, lying on the sofa bed where she had slept so many times. Syaoran attacked her mouth mercilessly and pressed himself against her, running his right hand up one of her legs. When it brushed against the fabric of her skirt, he stopped and looked into her eyes.

"Not yet... right?"

Her heart was about to burst out of her chest.

"I... I... I don't..."

"Never mind, I'm content with this," Syaoran murmured, pulling her close to his lips again.

"I'm sorry, I just... I don't want you to see me naked."

He frowned, sitting up suddenly.

"Why would you say that?" he asked, upset.

Sakura looked down.

"I don't want to, if you see me... you might not like me anymore."

"I've seen you at the pool the last two summers. I love you and your whole body. What's the point of this?"

She hid her face in her hands, sobbing.

"I have many flaws, and I hate for you to see them," she confessed quietly, through her tears.

"But what flaws are you talking about? I haven't seen any."

Sakura continued to cry and Syaoran hugged her, feeling terrible to see her so sad.

"Talk to me, I want to understand you," he asked, sighing.

"You're going to say it's not true, but... I don't look pretty, I hate the stretch marks I got when I had my growth spurt and I have the chest of a little girl... no one can like that."

He rolled his eyes, snorting.

"That insecurity is because you've been made fun of for so many years... You know that, don't you?"

"Whenever they saw me in my swimming costume, they always told me I looked like a zebra, and it's true, and I'm also very pale and skeletally thin, I have small breasts and... I'm not good enough for you," she said, between sobs.

Syaoran felt the fury invade him and he clenched his fists with which he was surrounding Sakura.

"I thought that your self-esteem had improved your self-esteem. Listen to me, I would never lie to you. I like you very much, you're beautiful, your body drives me crazy and I wouldn't change anything about you... Do you hear me?"

She wiped her tears, trying to calm down.

"You're just saying that to try to make me feel better."

"Bullshit, Sakura. I'm saying it because it's the truth, stop thinking you're not worth it because you're wrong."

He kissed her for a few seconds and stared at her.

"Do you like my body?" Syaoran asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Of course, yours is perfect," she replied, sweeping her gaze over him.

He snorted.

"It's not. There are things I don't like, too, but I accept them and I've learned to live with them."

"What things? But you couldn't be fitter or more handsome."

His eyes twinkled.

"That's exactly what I think of you, and you don't believe me when I tell you."

Sakura felt like her heart was going to explode.

"You're a sweetheart," she whispered, catching Syaoran in her arms and kissing him anxiously.

He hugged her tighter and tilted his head to the side, deepening the kiss. Sakura moaned, her whole body burning at the feel of him so close... and she wanted to feel him more, the fabric of his jeans was bothering her.

"Syaoran..." she whispered, still kissing him.

"What?" he said, stopping and staring into her green eyes.

"I still can't have sex with you, but... I want to try something," she replied, blushing.

"Whatever you want, just tell me," Syaoran replied, leaning closer to her and nibbling on her ear.

Sakura breathed in slowly, feeling thankful because he wasn't looking at her at that moment.

"Take off your trousers."

Syaoran raised his head in surprise.

Without a word, he lay down next to Sakura and unbuttoned his trousers, taking them off and throwing them on the floor.

"What are you up to?" he asked with a smile as he kissed her again.

Sakura dodged his gaze.

"I want to do to you what you do with me in mind."

Syaoran took a few seconds to react. He hadn't expected her to say that.

He leaned over her, kissing her throat.

"Then do it."

He held one of her trembling hands and brought it down to his boxers, slipping it inside his clothes. Syaoran stifled a groan as he felt her fingers around him and left several deep kisses in the hollow of her neck, gasping for air.

"Can I touch you?" he asked in a whisper.

Instead of answering, Sakura grabbed the hand he had on her knee and pulled it up to brush against her underwear.

Syaoran sighed and returned to her lips, kissing her again passionately. She kissed him back and held her breath as he began to pull her clothes down.

Sakura shivered, gasping again as she felt his fingers beneath her skirt, exploring the area between her legs.

Something similar to an aching tickle was spreading through her body as Syaoran touched her, and a moan escaped her lips as one of his fingers entered her. She began to touch him faster, still kissing him more and more intensely. She heard a gasp and he increased the pace as well, causing her legs to tremble.

Sakura felt a strange warmth building up in her belly and she wrapped her arm around Syaoran tighter, biting his lower lip to try not to moan again.

Syaoran kept touching and rubbing Sakura where he could tell she liked it more until she began to shudder and stifle moans. He groaned and silenced her with a kiss as he too let himself be carried away by the pleasure her caresses were giving him. The two broke apart and looked into each other's eyes, panting.

"You're wet," she whispered, her hand still inside his boxers.

"You're wet too."

They both laughed and Syaoran bit her cheek.

"I have to wash up... Do you want to take a shower with me?"

Sakura blushed again.

"I... I... I don't know," she stammered nervously.

"Nothing else is going to happen. I just want to hug you under the water," he murmured, kissing her nose.

Sakura nodded, looking forward to seeing Syaoran without any clothes on. He gave her a mischievous grin and leaned close to her ear.

"Well, I might actually touch you again. I liked it and I know you did too."

She swallowed.

"I'm... I'm embarrassed, Syaoran," she admitted softly.

He looked into her eyes, cupping her cheek with one hand.

"You're with me, don't be embarrassed."

"What if your mother comes?"

"Impossible, she won't come until eight o'clock at the earliest."

"Okay," Sakura agreed, sighing.

She held onto Syaoran, who took her in his arms again and carried her up the stairs while tickling her neck with his nose. Giggling, they entered the bathroom and he set her down.

Syaoran took off the only piece of clothing he had left on and stepped into the shower, turning on the water. Sakura stood still. Her heart was pounding and her cheeks flushed at the sight of him naked.

Once the water was running hot, Syaoran glanced at Sakura and extended a hand towards her. She sighed, took off her skirt and knickers and stepped into the shower with him.

She avoided his gaze, trying to cover herself a little with her arms, but he forced her closer and hugged her.

"You're perfect, Sakura."

She shook her head.

"That's not true," she muttered, thinking of all the things she didn't like about her body.

Syaoran held her chin so she had to look up and into his eyes.

"I like you like this, believe me."

Sakura smiled and stood on her tiptoes to kiss Syaoran under the water, letting her hair get wet. He parted his lips and kissed her back, running his hands all over her body.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Lathering you."

Sakura chuckled against his lips and grabbed some soap so she could do the same to him. She couldn't help but blush when she rubbed certain areas of his body.

In the end they were both very aroused, kissing and touching each other again until they felt those spasms in their cores again.

When they finally finished showering, Syaoran got out and wrapped a towel around his waist. He helped Sakura out and wrapped another towel around her, hugging her.

"And now, how am I going to leave and go two months without seeing you after this?" he asked, sniffling.

Sakura smiled, digging her fingers into his wet hair.

"Don't go, then."

"Don't tempt me, I'm about to call my father and tell him I'll see him at Christmas," he growled through his teeth.

She giggled and pulled away to look into those deep amber eyes she loved so much.

"You must go to him, he misses you. I'll be waiting for you when you get back."

Syaoran kissed her one last time and left the bathroom, returning shortly after with the clothes they had left lying on the floor. The two got dressed and spent the rest of the afternoon on the terrace of his room, watching the sunset and talking about how much they were looking forward to moving to Tokyo and starting their new life as college students.

Before his mother returned, Syaoran gave Sakura a ride home on his motorbike. He parked a couple of streets away and the two parted with a deep, slow kiss.

"I love you."

"I love you, too. I'm going to miss you," she replied softly.

She could feel her eyes fill with tears as she watched Syaoran put his helmet back on and wink at her, as he always did before he left.