The softness of her lips, her sweet taste was heaven to Joe and it took all his restraint to stop himself from plundering that sweetness. He couldn't stop himself from drawing her closer, from moaning, and he was rewarded with her mouth opening slightly under his.
He teased his tongue into that opening, her own soft moan driving him on. She tasted of toothpaste and her own sweet self, and he allowed his tongue to explore her mouth, encouraging her on her own explorations.
Her hands were caressing him, causing waves of desire to course through him, and when he found himself moving to caress her, to thrust against her, he knew he had to stop this.
His breaking of their kiss was as reluctant as hers, but he felt that her wrinkled nose and look of distaste was not flattering at all. Had he disgusted her with his own passion, restrained though he was?
"I wish you didn't smoke, Joe. You taste terrible."
"You don't." It was all he could say to her. He wanted to crush her to him, to tell her of the emotions coursing through him. To tell her how much he loved her.
But he couldn't. He didn't deserve her. Could never deserve her.
Nobody, however, seemed to have told Jun that.
She moved closer and again ran her hands over his torso, lightly teasing. She swallowed, and decided to try something she'd read about. She leant forward and lapped a teasing tongue over his nipple.
"Jun, stop."
"Why? I know you don't find me distasteful," and she brushed a hand over the bulge in his jeans. "So why shouldn't I?" Her voice quivered with bravado, but her eyes were confused.
"Jun, you're a wonderful girl. Too good for the likes of me. You have to stop this now, before you get hurt."
"Will you hurt me Joe?"
"No! But, Jun, you have to be my sister. I'm no good."
"Why, Joe? Why? I love you. I don't want to be your sister. I want to be your lover," she brushed away tears. "You're not no good, Joe. If you were no good, you would have failed these past years. You're a good man, Joe."
"I'm trouble, Junie. Nambu'll tell you how much trouble I am."
"Him! What if I want trouble, Joe? What if I'm trouble too? You can't let Nambu dictate who you love, and how you love. Not now, not after we've been brushed off by ISO." She took his hand in hers. "It's our lives now, Joe. We've won, and we've got the right to live our own lives. I wanted – want – to live my life with you." She took a deep breath, pain raging through her at what she was to say next. "If you don't want that, if that's why you've been avoiding me, then tell me now. Let me get the hurt over quickly, Joe."
She'd pulled away from him at her last words, and his heart wrenched at the bereft look on her face – the same look she'd worn when she'd arrived.
At the same time, there was singing through his body as he heard her confesson. Him. She wanted him. For life. She choose him.
He reached out and drew her towards him, sliding his arms around her slender waist, loving the feel of her against him. "I want that too, Jun. I've wanted it for a long time now. That's why I've avoided you. Because I thought that what I wanted most, I couldn't have." This time, he initiated their kiss, but it was her that deepened it.
This time, he allowed himself freedom, and plundered her mouth, tasting her, let his hands caress her body, causing her to arch with the sensations, causing him to thrust against her in passion.
This time, she broke the kiss, both of them flushed and panting. She didn't break their embrace, however, and moved her mouth along the line of his chin, placing tiny, loving kisses. "Make love to me, Joe."
He pulled away slightly and looked down at her. "Are you sure, Jun? Is this what you really want?" He'd be her first, he knew that from the innocence she'd displayed as they had kissed.
She nodded. "You're the only one I've ever wanted. I want this, Joe. I don't want to go home tonight. I want you to make love to me, and then I want to sleep next to you. I want to wake up with you beside me in the morning." She grinned suddenly. "I want you to brush your teeth first."
His shout of laughter surprised even him. His wonderful Jun – she'd always been full of surprises, and now was no different. "I'll do better than that, sweetheart. I'll even have a shower and shave."
Jun's mouth was dry at the thought of him showering, wanting desperately to be in that shower with him. Later, she told herself. That can come later. She smiled back at him, and nodded her agreement. Suddenly, she felt nervous, shy, wanting to put off the inevitable as long as possible, and yet wanting him more than ever.
Joe saw the indecision in her face, and kissed her gently. He knew how she was feeling, and he knew that giving her the time she needed was vital. "Be back soon," he said softly and left the kitchen.