Chapter 13



She loved how he made her feel, both in her body and in her heart.

He made her feel special. That was actually nothing new, but now it

was so much more intense. Loving Sora, and being in love with him,

were two very different things.

"I don't want to hurt you," he whispered as he moved between her

thighs. "You'll tell me if any of this is uncomfortable. I'll try to

go slow —"

"You talk too much." Kairi wrapped her legs around his waist and

lifted against him. "And you're a terrible tease. Do you want me to

beg?"

"No." He groaned. "Not necessary, believe me." His broad, beautiful

shoulders glistened with sweat as he slowly, so very slowly, pushed

himself inside her.

Kairi groaned, too, not with pain but with incredible pleasure.

"More."

A growled laugh and two seconds later, Sora gave her what she

wanted. She felt the pressure building as he pushed deeper and

deeper, felt the stretching of her inner muscles, but she also felt

Sora, solid and powerful over her. Her friend, and now her lover.

His scent was especially strong right now, hitting her on a basic

level, making her want to drink him up. And the tenderness in his

eyes...

"I love you," she whispered, then bit her lip in shock. She hadn't

meant to say such a thing! She wasn't like other women, wasn't

seduced by circumstances into losing control of her tongue. She

didn't want him to feel pressured or uncomfortable by her excess of

emotion. "I..."

His eyes flared with incredible heat and his body grew rigid. "You

can't take it back," he rasped, then pushed completely into her with

a harsh groan.

Kairi held on tight as he found a deep rhythm, accelerating it until

she couldn't catch her breath, couldn't keep from crying out.

Without meaning to, she dug her fingertips into his shoulders. When

Sora shouted, holding her so tightly she felt a part of him, she

melted. Oh, she didn't see fireworks, but she felt the explosion in

every limb, in every fingertip. And especially in her heart.

"I can't move," Sora said some minutes later.

Kairi tightened her arms around his back. "Then don't." It was all

she could do to keep from crying, and she had no idea why. But Sora

evidently heard something in her voice, because he lifted his head

and forced her to meet his gaze, even when she tried to duck her

head against his chest.

"Kairi?"

She swallowed hard and felt like a ninny when one tear escaped to

roll down her cheek. She was not a weepy person. Her parents had

neglected her but she hadn't cried. The town had frowned at her and

she'd hid her hurt deep. But now, after receiving such incredible

pleasure, she felt her emotions spilling over. It was such a dumb,

female thing to let happen. Another tear joined the first.

Sora bent forward and very tenderly kissed it away. "Are you all

right?" he asked.

Kairi nodded. "Yes. In fact, I'm wonderful. You're wonderful." She

sniffed, then offered him a watery smile. "Thank you."

Sora didn't answer. He continued to watch her, his gaze probing as

if he could see into her mind, as if he knew her heart was breaking.

He rested his cheek on her belly. In a whisper, he said, "I've

always thought about this."

Feeling very uncertain of herself, Kairi smoothed his dark hair.

"About what?"

"Being with you this way." He sat up and smiled at her. "I have some

things for you. I meant to dole them out little by little, but I've

been... distracted." Sora pulled out the small black box and opened it.

Kairi smiled as a tear rolled down her face.

"Kairi, will you marry me?"

"Of course!" she cried out. Sora placed the ring on her finger. They

embraced in a long delicate kiss. "This is the happpiest day of my life",

thought Sora. Just as they pulled away from the kiss, Kairi began to fade...

Sora woke from his sleep. "Damn it, it was all just a dream!"