The doorbell at Yuuki's began ringing at 7 p.m. that Wednesday evening. Asuna warmly welcomed all of the guests that she'd invited to dinner; for some of them it was even the first time they visited her house.

All of her friends arrived one after the other: Lisbeth, Silica, Sinon, Klein, Agil, Eugeo, Yuuki, Suguha and of course Kirito. Alice had been there since the afternoon to help her prepare everything. Her family had left for Kyoto that morning, so nobody else was home.

After greeting them, Asuna made them sit around the big table in the dining room and then she and Alice began serving the dishes.

Everything was delicious, as one would expect by a cook as excellent as Asuna. The girl hadn't restrained herself and had cooked different types of food, mostly because she didn't know what all her friends preferred and so she'd tried to please everyone. Because of this, on the table there were various dishes such as rice with curry, tempura, okonomiyaki, onigiri, chashu and sushi, which was the one food they all liked. Unsurprisingly, a certain black-haired boy managed to taste a bit of everything.

Lastly, Asuna treated them to Christmas Cake, a typical japanese dessert for the holiday season, which made them all happy.

"What a great dinner, Asuna" Klein sighed contentedly. The others nodded in agreement.

"Thank you. I didn't make everything myself, though" she informed him. "I never would have made it if it wasn't for Alice. The onigiri and okonomiyaki were cooked entirely by her".

Eugeo turned toward the blonde girl with a smile. "They were really good, Alice".

"Thank you" she replied with a nod.

Asuna could barely restrain a smile. Her friend was feigning nonchalance, but she knew she was internally screaming.

After dinner they moved to the living room, where the Yuuki family had set up their Christmas tree. The group of friends sat on the big sofa and on the armchairs, cheerfully talking about the plans they had for Christmas day; Kirito turned on the Augma to talk to Yui, allowing her to join them.

Before they knew it, it was 11 p.m. and one after the other the guests decided to take their leave.

"Thank you again for this wonderful evening, Asuna" said Agil.

Yuuki gave her a big hug. "I hope you have an amazing Christmas in Kyoto".

Silica nodded. "We'll meet again as soon as you come back".

"Absolutely" agreed Asuna.

Klein got up from the sofa. "Shall we leave too, Suguha?".

The girl nodded, then turned toward her big brother. "I'll see you tomorrow".

Kirito smiled and waved her goodbye. He'd asked Klein to drive his sister back home, since he was staying at Asuna's.

Lisbeth and Sinon walked to the door as well, then stopped to say goodbye to Asuna. Lisbeth threw a quick glance at Kirito, who was busy wishing Yui a good night, and then winked maliciously at Asuna. "I hope you have a lovely night" she whispered.

Sinon rolled her eyes. "We better go, Liz" she said, leading the other girl outside while Asuna gave an embarrassed chuckle.

When the two girls closed the door behind them, Asuna turned toward the living room: only Eugeo and Alice were still there. The two friends and Kirito immediately offered to help her clean the kitchen.

Once they were done, they went back to the living room. "It's gotten quite late. I better go. Thank you for everything, Asuna" Alice said.

Before Asuna could respond, Eugeo turned to Alice. "I'll walk you home" he offered. "I mean, we have to take the same road anyway" he hastily added.

"S-sounds good to me" she replied.

Asuna noticed that her friend was still trying her best to keep her mask of indifference on, but she knew that she was elated at the idea of spending some time alone with Eugeo.

After saying goodbye to them – and after granting Alice an encouraging smile - Asuna joined her boyfriend on the sofa and rested her head on his chest, happy for the time she'd just shared with her friends. They spent a few minutes like this, simply enjoying each other's company and watching the wood burning in the fireplace.

"Yui looked so happy. At times like these I really wish she could be here with us" Asuna murmured after a while.

"Me too" Kirito replied, stroking her hair. "I bet she'd be crazy about the holiday season, with all the decorations and the Christmas trees. Especially yours" he added, throwing an admired glance at the huge tree in the room. The one at his house wasn't nearly as beautiful as this.

"Speaking of decorations". Asuna suddenly lifted her head from his chest. "I don't think I've showed you the ones I put in my room".

"N-no, you didn't". Kirito straightened, an odd tone in his voice.

"Let's go, then". Asuna got up and held out her hand.

Kirito took it, then let her guide him upstairs.


Kirito knew that Asuna's talk about Christmas decorations was probably just an excuse to take him to her room – and hopefully into her bed – so he'd decided to play along. He believed she knew all too well that some decorative item was the last thing he was thinking about.

Asuna turned on the light in her room and she proudly showed him the tiny Christmas tree she'd set up in a corner, as well as the colourful fairy lights thad adorned the shelves of her library.

"It's really nothing special, but I like how festive my room looks now". Asuna turned to Kirito. "What do you think?".

"It's…very pretty" he answered, trying his best to look at least a little bit interested.

"I'm happy you like it" she smiled, then she moved to sit on her bed. "Today's really been an exhausting day" she sighed. "In addition to the dinner I had to pack my suitcase for tomorrow" she added, pointing a finger at the suitcase lying on the floor beside her desk.

Kirito sat beside her, feeling somewhat uneasy. It pained him to admit it, but he hadn't thought about the possibility of Asuna being so tired; he imagined it was normal, though, since she'd had to gear up for her journey to Kyoto as well as prepare everything for their dinner. Honestly, he should have thought about it, but…he couldn't help feeling disappointed, even if admitting it filled him with shame. That was the first time he was spending the night at his girlfriend's house and he hadn't even taken into account the idea that she would want to just sleep, at least not the whole night; he obviously didn't have any intention to force her to have sex with him if she didn't feel like it. He just hoped that she did feel like it.

"I'm going to change" she announced, then she got up from the bed and reached her wardrobe. She roamed through her drawers and took a pajamas. "You can change too, if you want. I took your backpack here before dinner she told him".

And true enough, the backpack Kirito had taken with him and that contained all the things he needed to spend the night there laid upon one of the nightstands next to the bed. The boy felt a pit in his stomach when he realized Asuna really wanted to just sleep.

"A-alright" he answered, trying hard not to show the disappointment he was feeling. He didn't want Asuna to feel guilty just because she was tired. Restraining a sigh, he got up to reach his backpack but he had to stop after barely two seconds.

Asuna was taking off the red dress she'd worn for the night, letting it slowly fall from her body. Still, that wasn't the only thing that was keeping Kirito rooted to the spot. No, the real problem was what she was wearing underneath that dress.

Fuck, was the first word that came to his mind. Asuna was wearing the sexiest lingerie he'd ever seen on her: it was mostly made of black lace and the bra emphasized her breasts, somehow making them look fuller. When she turned to place the dress on the back of a chair, Kirito noticed that the black panties left a good part of her ass naked. He felt himself harden at the sight. She was so hot. Sometimes he still couldn't believe she was his girlfriend.

"Is anything wrong?". Asuna seemed to notice only at that moment that Kirito was literally paralyzed; only his eyes moved, hungrily taking in her breasts and her legs.

"Oh, you're looking at this" Asuna realized, placing a hand on her right breast and the other on her panties. Kirito gritted his teeth.

"I know I never wear black. I prefer brighter colors" she continued. "But I wanted to make an exception for your first night here. Black is your favourite color, isn't it?".

"I-it is" he managed to get out, his voice slightly hoarse.

Asuna smiled maliciously. And it was then that Kirito understood. Her being tired, the pajamas she'd placed on the desk, the apparent innocence in her words and, lastly, the way she was slowly touching herself…it was all for show. Every word, every gesture had been meticoulosly studied to keep him on his toes, to make him crush under the weight of his own desire. The sparkle in her eyes revealed as much. And he'd completely fallen for it.

His thoughts abruptly came to a halt when Asuna started to make her way toward him, her eyes bore into his. When she stopped right before him, she asked: "So what do you think? Does black suit me?".

Instead of answering, Kirito shook himself from his stupor and swiftly pulled her in, giving her a passionate kiss. His hands quickly found their way on her practically naked ass and squeezed it.

Asuna moaned and separated her lips from his. "I'll take it as a yes" she breathed.

Kirito was about to put his mouth on hers again, but the girl pushed him on her bed. He moved to place his head on the pillows, watching her as she slowly made her way on top of him. He thought she wanted to kiss him again, but her hands went straight to his belt, unbuckled it, and then began to fumble with the buttons of his jeans; he helped her getting rid of them, then she took off his shirt, that quickly reached the pants on the floor.

Asuna placed herself on top of his almost naked body and started grinding against the bulge in his boxers, making him moan; then she put her lips on his neck and on his chest, licking his nipples and leaving passionate kisses on his skin.

Kirito closed his eyes when her mouth reached his stomach, just over his boxers, and kissed him there as well. But when he felt her hands on the only piece of cloth he was wearing he abruptly opened them again, just in time to watch her as she took the boxers off him, finally freeing his painful erection.

Asuna moved his legs to accomodate herself right between them; Kirito got up on his elbows to watch just as she began to slowly stroke his cock with her fingers. When she finally wrapped her hand tightly around him, squeezing him, Kirito fell back on the pillow with a groan. She immediately started pumping him in her fist, faster and faster, savoring all the sounds she helped escape from his throat.

Suddenly she withdrew her hand, causing him to open his eyes. He was just about to protest when her lips came into contact with his cock, leaving slow kisses on his entire length. When she reached the tip she licked it, just as her hand started massaging his balls. She continued like this for a while, but her tongue and fingers were slow, too slow. She was driving him mad and she knew it.

When her eyes finally met his, Kirito managed to let out a single word.

"Please".

Asuna smirked, then closed her mouth around him. Kirito gasped, grasping the sheets, while she started working him with his tongue and pumping him with her hand at the same time. He completely lost himself to the sensation, struggling to keep his eyes open.

Suddenly, a sound echoed through the room, so unexpected that Asuna abruptly moved her mouth and hand away from him. The sound was short and Kirito recognized it: it came from his phone, inside his backpack. Someone had sent him a text, but he had no intention to check. Not in that moment. Whoever it was, they would have to wait.

"Don't stop" he begged her. "Please".

Asuna was happy to oblige him: the desperate tone of his voice and his lust-glazed eyes were enough to make her forget about everything else. She dragged her tongue up and down his length a few times, then she took him once again in her mouth. She tried to fit as much of him as possible, grazing him occasionally with her teeth.

Kirito arched his back, shoving himself deeper in her throat. Asuna continued pumping him in her fist, sensing he was close to his limit. The way he was looking at her, his lost expression, the moans he couldn't control…she was aroused by all of it and she could feel herself getting wetter by the second.

"Asuna, I'm…".

Just then, Kirito reached his climax and hot liquid began to shoot out of him and right into her awaiting mouth. Asuna stroked him until all his semen was out. Only then she moved her mouth away and raised her head.

Kirito was recovering, his breath ragged. When their eyes met, he pulled her toward him and gave her a passionate kiss; he could taste himself on her lips. He put his hands on her hair and untied her braid, letting her hair fall loosely around her face; then he reached for her bra and unclasped it.

Asuna moaned when her breasts came into contact with his chest and Kirito, noticing that reaction, didn't waste time. He changed their positions and he found himself over her. Her lips were certainly tempting, but her breasts even more so. He took one of her nipples between his thumb and index and squeezed it. Asuna's reaction was immediate: she let out a short cry, arching her back. Kirito smirked: he'd learned by now that her breasts were one of the most sensitive parts of Asuna's body and he made sure to give them proper attention whenever they made love. He knew exactly where to touch her, how to move his tongue or hands. Sometimes it was enough to make her come.

And so he began to move his finger around her nipple, slowly. Asuna watched him, impatience clearly written in her eyes, but he had every intention of making her pay for the little prank she'd pulled on him earlier.

"Kirito-kun" she begged. She'd had enough of his slow movements.

He wanted to make her suffer a bit more, but the tone of her voice was all it took for him to change his mind. So he finally put his mouth on her breast and began to kiss it.

Those hot kisses did nothing to ease the growing ache between Asuna's legs. He was kissing her breast like it was her mouth, with his tongue and all. He moved to the other one and gave it the same treatment, then closed his lips around her nipple and circled it with his tongue, while his hand tormented her other breast.

Asuna let out deep moans, thrashing uncontrollably. Just when she thought he wanted to make her come this way, Kirito moved his hand away from her breast and placed it between her legs, palming her through her panties. He smirked, his mouth still on the other breast, when he felt how wet she was. He stroked her a few times, then his fingers put her panties aside and finally found their way inside her.

Asuna cried from pleasure when she felt two of his fingers slowly moving in and out of her, while his tongue continued working her breast.

After a few minutes of this, Kirito raised his head to look at her: Asuna's cheeks were deeply flushed and her eyes were clouded. She was so beautiful that he decided to leave her breast to give her a sweet kiss on the lips, stopping his fingers as well.

But Asuna immediately started grinding against his hand, urging him to continue. And so he did, adding another finger and quickening his pace. Asuna moaned in his mouth, her hands wrapping tightly around his neck; when he put his lips once again on her breast, kissing it like he'd done earlier, she found her climax. He intensified her orgasm with the last, frantic movements of his fingers, while he felt his cock getting hard again thanks to Asuna's sexy moans.

With one last kiss on her nipple he moved his fingers away, feeling them sticky with her come, and he watched her with a proud smile as she tried to calm her breath down.

As soon as she recovered, Asuna took off her drenched panties, her gaze fixed intently on him. He considered that particular gesture as an invite and grabbed her legs, spreading them to accomodate himself between them. He started leaving a trail of kisses on her stomach, going lower and lower, ready to take her to orgasm once more.

She knew where he was going and she stopped him with a hand on his arm. Kirito looked at her, confusion flashing in his eyes, but Asuna's face was full of resolution.

"I want you inside me" she breathed.

Kirito's eyes widened and he felt his erection twitch painfully at her words. He nodded. "Give me a second". He climbed out of bed to reach his backpack, then quickly fished a condom out of a side pocket.

The ache between Asuna's legs became unbearable as she watched him wear the condom and then, finally, move over her. She opened her legs for him and he slowly started to penetrate her, his eyes never leaving her face. When he was fully inside her they both moaned. Kirito stilled to let her adjust and gently stroked her cheek with his thumb.

"I've been waiting for this exact moment the whole night" he confessed in a whisper.

Asuna smirked. "Are you saying that, while the rest of us was enjoying dinner and cheerfully talking about Christmas, you were thinking about sex?".

"Well, maybe not the whole night, but…yes" he admitted without a hint of shame. He gave her a short kiss. "And I know you were thinking about it too, Asuna". He moved until his cock was nearly all the way out, then he thrust back in, slow and deep.

Asuna gasped. "D-do you really think so?".

"I'm sure of it" he replied with another thrust. "You even wore that lingerie, knowing full well that it would drive me crazy the moment I saw it". Another thrust. "You wanted this as much as me". And another.

Asuna knew he was teasing her. She knew he was saying those things just to arouse her more. But it was true. Every damn word. She'd been thinking about that moment ever since he'd agreed to spend the night at her house. She wanted him so much.

She stretched out her hand toward the wall behind her to turn off the light in the room. She liked it better when the only illumination was provided by the moon or the street lamps or, on that particular night, by the Christmas lights on her little tree and on the bookshelves. She found it much more intimate that way. Then she undulated her hips to let him know she'd had enough of his teasing. Kirito understood immediately. His eyes, that were gleaming mischievously just seconds before, darkened with desire. And so he began thrusting inside her at a regular pace. Asuna wrapped her legs tight around his waist, making him groan.

Time seemed to stop while he pounded deep inside her; when he hit a particular spot Asuna let out a scream, followed by many more when Kirito mercilessly hit her there again and again. She clung to his shoulders, burying her face against his neck.

This feels so good, she thought.

Kirito had the same opinion. He thought he could go on for hours, maybe he could even let himself come that way. But he didn't want it to end so soon. So he freed himself from Asuna's grip and pulled out of her.

Asuna gasped, not expecting that. But then Kirito took her by the hands and made her turn toward the bedpost. She understood immediately and moved her hair away to expose her back to him. When he entered her from behind she gave a loud moan; Kirito resumed his quick pace and reached out to touch the wet spot between her legs. Asuna lost herself to the sensation, leaning against her boyfriend's chest, feeling his cock slam deep inside her; when his other hand went to her breast and started massaging it, she climaxed.

Kirito continued pounding through her orgasm, on the verge of coming himself, then he wrapped his arms around her and stopped his movements to whisper in her ear. "You drive me crazy".

Asuna moaned at those words, at his raw, lustful voice. And yet all that passion didn't change the sweetness of his kiss, the tenderness of his embrace. She loved him so much.

Kirito pulled his cock out of her and made her turn around to kiss her; Asuna kissed him back, letting her hands travel down his back and on his butt. Then she abruptly pushed him down onto the pillows and moved over him, straddling his hips. Kirito watched as Asuna took his cock and guided it to her entrance; in a few seconds he was inside her again but didn't move, instead letting Asuna ride him at her own rhythm. He knew he couldn't last much longer.

Asuna slowly moved up and down his length, her eyes fixed on him, savoring his moans and his vacant stare, aroused by the fact that she was the only one that could witness that type of look on his face.

Kirito was usually a calm and collected boy, but things were very different between the sheets. He was so passionate, so loving. It hadn't always been that way, obviously: at the beginning of their relationship they were both clumsy and insecure, but after years of dating they'd become more confident about their bodies and desires and their lovemaking got much more intense. Sometimes she teased him about it, but the truth was that she, too, loved having sex with him. She loved how it felt when he was inside her, just like she loved going on dates, holding his hand or kissing him. In the past she'd sometimes felt ashamed by these thoughts, but no more.

And so she rode him, faster this time, feeling another release building up in her stomach. She let herself fall over his chest, clutching the pillow where Kirito had placed his head. He enveloped her body in a tight hug and started matching Asuna's movements; her loud moans filled his ears while he pounded into her, faster and faster, feeling her breasts grinding against his chest. When one of his thrusts hit a sensitive spot, she came.

Her scream echoed through the dimly lit room: that scream, that seemed louder in the empty house, was his undoing. With a groan he came, desperately clinging to Asuna's body.

They spent a few minutes like that, holding each other while they tried to recover their breath, then Asuna rolled next to him on the bed. Kirito ran a hand through his sweaty hair and turned to her. "That was amazing" he whispered.

"It was" she agreed with a smile.

He kissed her on the cheek, then got off the bed. Asuna watched him as he took off the dirty condom and walked toward the trash bin under her desk. The Christmas lights in the room granted her a good look at his naked body, at his back muscles that flexed when he crouched to throw the condom away. He's so hot, she thought.

As soon as he came back to bed she snuggled up to his chest. He gave her a light kiss on the forehead and put an arm around her shoulder, hugging her close. They spent a few minutes in silence, listening to the cars driving outside the window and watching the lights in the room as they cast shadows on the walls.

At last, Asuna sighed. "I wish I could spend Christmas with you". Then she added: "I mean, I'm happy I'll be with my grandparents since I don't see them often, but…I don't like the thought of not seeing you for a week".

"We can meet up in ALO. I know it's not the same thing, but it's better than nothing" Kirito replied. "Maybe you'll be able to log in on Christmas night". After dinner earlier, the group of friends, including Yui, had planned to meet in the log cabin in ALO to spend time together on December 25th.

"I doubt my parents will allow me to do that. Especially on Christmas, since all my relatives will be there with us. I don't think they'll let me ditch our family gathering just so I can lock myself in my room and use the Amusphere". Asuna shook her head, a tinge of sadness in her voice. "I had to lie even to stay here tonight. My mum would kill me if she knew the truth".

"I think she'd kill me instead…". Kirito chuckled nervously.

Asuna caught a hint of discomfort in his voice and raised her head to look at him. "Don't say that. I know my mother hasn't always been nice to you but believe me, things have changed. At least she respects our relationship. She knows you make me happy and I think that's all that matters to her".

Kirito couldn't help but smile at her words. He leaned in to kiss her and moved over her. Suddenly, a sound echoed in the room.

Asuna recognized it immediately: it was her phone, that she'd placed on her nightstand. Kirito stopped the kiss and looked questioningly at her, but she put her lips on his again, letting him know she'd think about it later. Kirito was happy to indulge her and, after a passionate kiss, he moved his lips on her neck, licking it and making her shiver. He was about to reach her breasts when the phone ringed again.

Asuna sighed. "Maybe it's important. Hold on". Kirito reluctantly rolled away from her while she picked up her phone to check her messages. It was then that he remembered that his phone, too, had ringed earlier and used that moment to reach out and take it from inside his backpack. He saw that there was a text from Eugeo.

I know you're probably busy right now, but I can't sleep if I don't tell someone! I was walking Alice home and, believe it or not, I was really trying to summon the courage to confess my feelings… when suddenly she stops, looks me in the eyes and tells me she likes me! She confessed to me! Oh, and then other things happened. I'll tell you the details as soon as you'll want to listen, but I needed to get this out of my chest, at least.

A huge grin bloomed on Kirito's face and, just like that, he was sure he knew who sent messages to his girlfriend.

And true enough, Asuna was reading a text from Alice.

I'm sorry if I'm disturbing you, but I need to tell you something. I don't know what's gotten into me, but when Eugeo and I were walking home I…confessed my feelings to him. I swear I don't know why I did it, but he was so cute and sweet and the streets were so pretty with all the Christmas lights and…I just couldn't help myself, I guess. Anyway, the best part is that he told me he likes me back!

There was a second text after this.

Oh, and then he kissed me. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO SLEEP TONIGHT?

Asuna giggled. Her heart was full of happiness for her friend. She would have never expected that sudden turn of events, but she guessed all her encouragements hadn't been for nothing. Alice deserved every bit of that joy.

She turned to Kirito, a smile still lighting up her face. "It was Alice" she informed him. She didn't add other details because she didn't know if the girl wanted to share the news with other people yet.

And Kirito didn't inquire further. He just smiled in return. "You and Alice get along quite well, uh?".

She nodded. "She's a good friend".

Kirito got closer to her and kissed her naked shoulder. "Well, tell your friend you're gonna talk to her tomorrow".

"You really don't like to waste time, uh?" she remarked, feigning exasperation.

Kirito stilled. "I-if you're tired, we can…".

"I never said I was" she interrupted him, then threw her arms around his neck and pushed him back down on the pillows so she could move over him.

Kirito immediately held her tight, opening his mouth to hers. They shared a sweet kiss, their bodies slowly grinding against each other.

They didn't need to rush things. They had the whole night to themselves, after all.