"It was the heat of the moment,
telling me what my heart meant,
the heat of the moment,
showed in your eyes…"
-Asia
Foreword
There will be mild adult themes within this chapter. Nothing overly graphic, but please proceed at your own discretion.
. . .
With their attempt to keep Keiko's mind away from less savory things working fairly well, Shuichi felt some of the tension flee from his spine as he settled into the loveseat alongside Davina. He maintained a brief hope that things would continue to improve, and that they could effectively salvage the remainder of the evening for everyone, at least, to some extent.
As the game continued, Shuichi kept his gaze casually trained on Davina, watching her as she played along with the notes as they flashed upon the TV screen, her eyes focused solely on the task at hand as her nimble fingers danced across the buttons of the guitar controller. She seemed to be enjoying herself, and that realization came as a relief—he felt apologetic for bringing her into a situation where unanticipated drama had unfortunately unfolded, but was content to see her willing to make the best of things instead of being eager to make her escape.
Now that things had lightened up some, he felt the urge to toy with her in some manner—he could sense her pleasure at being close to him, and desired to stoke the flames a bit, wanting to keep the momentum going as best he could. He knew from previous experiences that he had a decent singing voice, and with that capability, he had been presented the near perfect opportunity to impress her. So he took the chance when it presented himself, and selected a song that he believed would successfully convey his urges. It worked out even better than he had originally anticipated—he could hear the quicken beat of her heart, and her scent altered in a delightful manner, flooding his nose with the sweet smell of want. When he turned to meet her awestruck gaze in the midst of singing a very boldly worded verse, he could almost taste her desire, unable to stop the smirk from appearing on his lips in that moment. His return to her side was had with a sense of triumph, and he found satisfaction in the presence of heat that brought color to her cheeks. There was a distinctive glitter present in those hazel eyes, one that caused that more feral presence embedded within to practically hum with contentment.
Things continued on for a while longer—Davina remained by his side upon the loveseat, refusing the request to participate further when she was propositioned. She announced that her fingers needed a break, but Shuichi believed that she made such an excuse to avoid having to abandon her position alongside him. Encouraged by this, he moved his arm to rest on the topside of the seat, affording him even further closeness to her. She sneakily leaned into his frame, fitting perfectly against him.
Following a few more rounds, Keiko announced that she was tired, and wanted to head home. No one protested her request to leave, not wanting to make her feel obliged to stay. Shizuru offered to drive her home, but she denied the suggestion, wanting to walk there instead. There were offers to keep her company for the duration, but she kindly refused all companionship, citing that she wanted to be alone for the chance to mull things over. Only after agreeing to text once she had reached her destination safely did they part ways with her, seeing her out the door. Davina surprised Shuichi by reaching out to place a hand briefly on Keiko's arm, sharing that she was happy to have met her and hopeful that they could hang out again soon. This small act of kindness seemed to please Keiko, who agreed and fixed her with a small smile. She made her exit, with Shizuru closing the door behind her. The elder Kuwabara sibling sighed heavily, shaking her head.
"I really wish she had let me drive her home," she grumbled, frowning deeply. "She is so stubborn sometimes."
"Walking will do her good," Shuichi offered quietly, garnering her attention. "I'm sure she needs to process everything."
"Well, I think it's safe to say that Yusuke is in the doghouse," Shizuru replied bluntly, reaching into a long coat that hung by the door and fishing around in the pocket. She withdrew a half empty pack of cigarettes and sighed once more.
"I'm gonna have a quick smoke," she announced swiftly. "Anyone hungry?"
When everyone collectively shook their heads, she reached for the doorknob and pulled the door open before stepping outside, tugging the door closed behind her.
"I hope she gets home safe," Yukina said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
"She will," Kazuma assured her quickly. "Keiko has a slap that could knock a person halfway into next week, and she's not afraid to use it. She'll be okay."
In tandem, they all returned to the living room and sat down in their collective spots, with Kazuma relocating the game controllers to afford them more space.
"I hope they can work things out," Botan offered sullenly, appearing thoughtful.
"Well, if Urameshi could get his head out of his ass long enough, it's a possibility," Kazuma replied, his tone irritated. "I don't know what the heck has gotten into him lately."
"It's the nature of their relationship," Shuichi interjected with a shrug. "Things will work out, given time."
A tense silence fell over the group, lingering for a long moment.
"Does anyone happen to know if Hiei will in town while I'm here?" Yukina asked suddenly, her voice curious. "It would be nice to see him." Personally, Shuichi was grateful for the change in subject matter, and answered her quickly, ignoring Kazuma's sudden frown.
"I'll get in touch with him this week and inform him of your visit," he offered, earning an appreciative smile from the demure ice apparition. "I'm sure he'll make the trip, if he's able to."
A loud beep suddenly went off, effectively startling everyone in the vicinity. It hailed from Botan's phone, which she quickly checked, sighing loudly as she read the incoming correspondence.
"I have to head out," she announced quickly, sounding disappointed. "That was Ko—work. Duty calls! I'll see you guys later!" She all but raced for the door, goodbyes echoing in the wake of her exit.
"That was sudden," Davina said contemplatively. "What does Botan do for work?"
"She works at the nearby hospital," Shuichi replied quickly, creating a believable lie within seconds. He couldn't very well reveal the true nature of Botan's occupation, so this fictional idea was necessary. "She specializes in…end of life care."
"Oh. That sounds heavy," Davina retorted, sounded placated at his explanation. Luckily, she didn't attempt to delve further, instead fixing him with a small smile. "Too bad she couldn't stick around…"
"Well, there's still us guys," Kazuma said with a mild grin. "Maybe we should watch a movie or something. It's still early—unless you guys wanna call it a night."
Shizuru returned at this junction, claiming the spot on the couch alongside Yukina and Kazuma that had been vacated by Botan. The distinctive smell of cigarette smoke emerged forth from her, flooding the surrounding air with its acrid aroma.
"So, we're down another one, huh? Botan all but ran outta here," she offered conversationally.
"Must have been an urgent call at the hospital," Shuichi said, giving the elder Kuwabara sibling a mildly pointed stare to convey urgency.
"Yeah, the hospital," she echoed quickly. "Her boss has no patience—it's like being at the mercy of a toddler."
Kazuma chuckled at this comparison, but swiftly schooled his face after a stern stare from Shuichi. "Everyone good with watching a movie?" he asked, echoing his previous suggestion.
"You kids enjoy," Shizuru replied, rising up off the couch. "I'm gonna take a shower and veg in my room for a while—help yourself to snacks and the like." She headed towards the hallway and disappeared into the anterior of the house, leaving them to their own devices.
"Why don't we make some popcorn?" Shuichi suggested, glancing over at Davina, who nodded her head in agreement. "Kazuma, you and Yukina pick out something for us to watch—everyone in agreement?"
"Works for me!" Kazuma replied, looking over at Yukina who nodded. Shuichi rose from the couch, offering a hand to Davina to help her up, and she accepted without hesitation. As Yukina and her companion headed over to peruse the tall shelf of available DVDs, Shuichi led Davina into the kitchen to make the snacks.
"I know things took a bit of a wrong turn there, but I hope you are still enjoying yourself," Shuichi said softly as they rummaged around in the cabinets for their desired items.
"I am," she replied quickly, smiling over at him to assure that her words were honest. "I do feel bad for Keiko, but all in all, it's been a wonderful time."
He smiled at her statement, and together, they made short work of whipping up the popcorn, emptying the brown microwavable bags into large plastic bowls. Before their return, Davina liberated some cold sodas from the fridge, and together, they carried the snacks back into the living room and settled in, passing their companions one of the bowls to share.
The movie their company had selected turned out to be a Japanese romance, one that neither Shuichi nor Davina had never before seen. He had an inkling that Yukina had been the one to pick it, but had no qualms, given his current position. He and Davina curled up besides one another on the couch, spreading out a bit now that they had the luxury of more available space. As the movie commenced, they consumed their popcorn, emptying the bowl quickly. Once their snack had been depleted, Shuichi placed the bowl upon the coffee table, then looked over at the neighboring couch to assess the situation. Realizing that both Kazuma and Yukina were thoroughly enthralled in the film, he turned his attention over to Davina, softly clearing his throat to get her attention. Once her eyes met his, he gestured for her to move closer, holding his arm up to afford her a place closer to him. To his pleasure, she relocated into the open space, sliding in alongside him and resting her head upon the curve of his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around the length of her back, cradling her against the length of his body. She settled against him and sighed quietly, seemingly content with this position.
Suddenly, Kazuma's cat, Eikichi, emerged from the hallway, pausing at the entrance into the living room to assess the room's current occupants. After a brief moment, she walked over and leapt onto the couch occupied by Yukina and Kazuma, slipping into Yukina's lap and meowing for attention. Unable to deny such a request, Yukina began to stroke her fur, her eyes never leaving the screen.
While he tried, Shuichi just couldn't get into the premise of the film, finding it to be monotonous at best. He glanced over at Davina, who was quick to catch the pressure of his eyes and turned her head to meet his gaze, smiling up at him. The urge to press his lips against hers was intense, and he nearly followed through with his intentions, barely managing to hold onto his restraint. Instead, he leaned in to nuzzle her cheek with his nose, eliciting a quiet giggle from his companion. It was an endearing reaction, one that warmed his belly and made him smile. As always, she smelled amazing, and he inhaled her scent deeply into his lungs, pressing his lips and nose against the soft copper locks of her hair.
As time passed, a strange noise started to emit from Kazuma, and after a moment of deliberation, Shuichi realized that he was snoring—he had fallen asleep. Upon closer inspection, it became apparent that Yukina had done the same. They were snuggled up together, with Eikichi lounging happily on her lap, purring contentedly.
"It appears that our friends have passed out," Shuichi announced with a smirk, keeping his voice quiet as not to rouse them.
"Maybe we should head home," Davina suggested, her tone matching his.
Shizuru appeared in the kitchen in that instant, and before she could speak, Shuichi placed a single finger over his lips to indicate she should remain quiet before gesturing over towards Kazuma and Yukina. Shizuru appeared amused at the realization, shaking her head. She pointed towards the door, and he nodded. Slowly, he and Davina parted and stood up, carefully making their way to the exit to reclaim their shoes before stepping outside with the elder Kuwabara in tow. She slowly closed the door behind them before speaking.
"Well, that was anticlimactic," she offered with a smirk. "Guess they were both pretty worn out after today."
"It seems so—we're going to head home ourselves," Shuichi announced, glancing over at Davina for confirmation. She nodded and fixed Shizuru with a friendly smile.
"It was great meeting you," she offered, meeting Shizuru's gaze.
"Likewise, kid—we should all hang out again soon."
"Sounds good."
"Have a good night, Shizuru."
"Yeah, you guys, too. Keiko got home alright, just so ya know. Shoot me a text once you guys get to where you're going, okay?"
"Will do. We'll talk to you soon."
With a wave of goodbye, the three parted ways. Once Shuichi and Davina cleared the block housing the Kuwabara complex, he decided to ask if she would prefer if he would see her home. Given the close proximity of their residences, it was heavily implied, but he thought it best to get confirmation on the subject.
Of course, she was swift to agree, much to his satisfaction. The majority of their walk to her apartment was had in comfortable silence, enjoying the quiet night breeze as they ventured forward. Davina grew chilled in light of the brisk air, and paused for a moment to slip her jacket back on. As they continued, Shuichi offered her his hand to hold and she took it quickly, appearing pleased at such an offer.
"Today was amazing," she said softly, her tone ringing true. "I'm glad we got to do this—everyone seems…really nice." She hesitated on that statement, probably as a result of Yusuke and Keiko's unseen squabble.
"I know things took an odd turn there for a bit, but such a thing is far from abnormal," he assured her gently. "And Yusuke…I know he comes off as awful in some instances, but truly, at his core, he's not what his persona paints him to be. He and Keiko have many years together, and they have always butted heads, even as children. Personally, I believe their biggest issue for both of them is how bullheaded they can be, especially towards each other."
"I understand that. I wasn't a fan of his at first, truth be told, but what I saw at the arcade made me see past my initial impression."
Shuichi chuckled mildly. "He told me that you held your own in Mortal Kombat against him. Almost bragged about it, actually. He was fairly impressed, to say the least."
"Well, I did grow up with two older brothers," she replied thoughtfully. "And I know from experience that sometimes, you just have to play hard ball and give them a taste of their own medicine, so to speak."
"That's fairly accurate for Yusuke as well. Believe it or not, Yusuke and Kuwabara started out as enemies. They would constantly fight one another, and Yusuke would almost always emerge the victor. But Kazuma never gave up—I believe his tenacity was the reason why Yusuke eventually came to respect him."
"Shizuru did tell me that they both got into a lot of trouble in their younger years—she said that they found a mentor who helped set them straight. Must have been one hell of a teacher to wrangle both of them," she joked with a smirk.
"Ah, yes—so she told you about Genkai?" he asked, fighting back a wave of mild concern. That particular knowledge was broaching on unsafe territory, and Shuichi found himself wondering why Shizuru had even spoken of such a thing.
"A little bit. It came up in conversation about where Yukina lives, and that she is her caretaker now."
He felt himself relax, failing to realizing just how tense he had grown in the few seconds prior to her explanation.
"Yes, and it's a positive arrangement that benefits them both—Genkai is almost in her ninety's, and even though she is fairly spry for her advanced age, it never hurts to have an extra set of hands around."
"I'll bet."
Silence once again crept over the pair, and their venture was swiftly coming to a close as they rounded the block, placing them on their home street. They made their way to Davina's complex, climbing the stairs to the second floor and pausing just abreast of her door.
"Did you want to come in for a bit?" she asked, turning to meet his eyes.
While he certainly wanted to do just that, Shuichi knew he should be heading home. It wasn't overly late as of yet, but in truth, he was rather tired from his long day.
"I would, but frankly, I'm fairly exhausted," he admitted apologetically. She smiled in understanding, and nodded her head, despite the disappointment in her eyes.
"I know you had an early morning, so no worries," she offered, turning her gaze to the floor in front of her briefly. "Thank you for an incredible day." Much to his surprise, she held open her arms, inviting him in for a hug. He eagerly accepted this offer, stepping into her embrace and wrapping his arms around her. She seemed to melt against him, fitting perfectly in the space, her head tucked carefully beneath his chin. They lingered for a long moment, just holding each other, and Shuichi felt his eyes slip closed, enjoying the interaction. This was far more than just a friendly hug, but a deep embrace, and judging by the firmness of her hold, Davina was more than hesitant to break it off. His eyes opened as she leaned back, far enough to look up at him without disrupting their current position. His gaze dropped to her lips as she smiled, and before he could even think to stop himself, he leaned in, firmly pressing his mouth against hers.
He was met with enthusiasm, her willingly submission to his desirous action prompting the other side of his internal self to smirk with innate satisfaction. He began to pull away slowly, but before he could fully retreat, she initiated a second kiss, and he couldn't refuse her. What had begun as an innocent connection quickly escalated, and within seconds, they were locked in an oral battle, their kisses steadily growing deeper and much more potent. She reached up to wrap her hands around the back of his neck, pressing the full length of her figure against his. The subtle press of her breasts against his chest had his inner self growling with the want for more, finding her sudden loss of inhibition to be most encouraging. One hand buried itself in her hair, cradling the back of her head against his palm as the other slipped lower on her back, resting itself boldly on the upper curve of her buttocks. He could feel heat pooling deep within his belly, flooding his loins. His excitement quickly stirred to life, and he could feel himself beginning to harden as a result of their lustful activity. But Davina kept his pace, either unaware of the effects she was causing upon him, or unwilling to end this long awaited instance between them.
When her tongue slipped past the boundaries of his lips, he eagerly met it with his own, surprised at her brazenness but pleased with such forwardness. He quickly took control of the situation, maneuvering her back until she reached the door, using his weight to keep her there. When he broke away from her, she was breathing heavily, her cheeks red with heat, her heart beating like a bird in desperate flight. The scent of her arousal was potent, and he inhaled this succulent aroma greedily, nearly tasting it on his tongue. Encouraged by her previous boldness, Shuichi pressed a series of deep kisses down the side of her face, venturing even lower onto the curve of her throat. A soft moan escaped her in that instant, a quick shudder racing down the length of her spine. That sound lanced through him like a sudden electrical shock, only worsening his state of arousal nearly to the point of delicious pain. He made his way back up to her lips, claiming them with force, and then ventured down the other side of her throat, creating symmetry. Another breathy moan escaped her, and that sweet scent of her excitement grew even stronger, flooding the surrounding air. He felt like a man possessed, craving more, needing more.
Their lips met yet again, but this time, Shuichi forced himself to pull away, knowing that he couldn't continue on their current course, lest things progress too far too quickly. He met her stare, her eyes wide and full of hunger, her lips pink and softly swollen, parted slightly as her breathing came in short bursts. He found that his breathing was somewhat labored, his lips tingling warmly from her attention, the lower half of his body actively locked in a state of arousal. His internal being howled in protest, but he ignore its displeasure, forcing himself to remove his weight and take a step away from her. The loss of her against him came as a great disappointment, but it was a needed compromise. The urge to take her, to claim her for himself in that moment was staggering, nearly blinding his resolve to end this lustful interlude.
"My apologies," he offered softly, once he found his voice. It was a struggle to keep his tone neutral when there was a war raging within. He couldn't recall similar experiences with previous female companions being accompanied by such sheer intensity. He had expected a like reaction, but this was much more than even he had thought to anticipate.
"D-don't apologize," Davina said, her voice a husky whisper. She swallowed hard, attempted to collect herself. "Only be sorry if you have no intentions of doing that again—if you do, then there's no need."
"Well then, I'm not sorry in the slightest," he replied, smirking over at her in an attempt to make light of the situation. "But please, don't ask me to come in, because I won't be able to refuse the request and I don't wish to coerce you into anything you aren't ready to do." His words were painfully honest—he knew exactly what he wanted, and while Davina's own desires might very well mirror his in that instant, he didn't want her to harbor regret, or worse, resent him if they raced into things so swiftly. More so, he wanted to take his time, to reveal in the experience of molding her, to teach her the ways of pleasure she had yet to even imagine.
"Understood," she responded, chuckling gently as she attempted to regain her composure. "And it's much appreciated."
"I'll text you tomorrow," he announced firmly, taking another step back towards the stairwell. He knew it be beneficial to put some space between them—her scent was nearly intoxicating, and while he wasn't exactly pleased with such a stark parting of ways, it was for the best. She nodded in agreement before turning to retrieve her key to unlock her door. They said their goodbyes and she headed inside, securing the door behind her. Quickly, Shuichi made his way down the stairs, gritting his teeth at the feeling of his still exceptionally present excitement, which throbbed with each step he took.
So much for heading straight to bed—what he really needed was an ice cold shower.
. . .
The walk home passed them by quickly, peppered with casual conversation, but had mostly in pleasant silence. Davina felt somewhat relieved to be en-route to home, needing time to herself to unwind and process the events of the day. It had certainly been eventful, and overall, she was content that she had agreed to participate. She felt as if there were the opportunity to forge solid friendships with the people she had been introduced to, and that thought brought her a deep sense of satisfaction. Apart from that, she had gotten to spend more time with Shuichi, and it was safe to say that things were coming along even better than she had dared to hope for.
The fact that he had followed through with his intention of asking her for an official date both thrilled and terrified her—things were taking an interesting turn between them, and while she was excited to venture down this new, exciting road, she couldn't help the feelings of trepidation that accompanied it. He seemed so sure, so in control of himself, possessing a confidence that she decidedly lacked. She felt almost undeserving of his attention, feeling as if he was far out of her league, despite the fact that he had done nothing to inspire such a thing-quite the opposite, truth be told. But such negative thoughts weighed heavily on her mind, causing harsh doubts to surface. She swallowed them back, determined to focus on the good of the situation-until he gave her a reason to entertain such negativity, there was little point in spending energy on things that would put a damper on the experience. Time would tell, as it always did. It was better to hold onto hope rather than focus on all the things that could go wrong.
Once in the hallway of her complex, they paused just outside her door. She invited him in, mostly on impulse, but wasn't exactly surprised when he denied her offer, citing exhaustion. He did look tired, and seeing as he had been awake since the early morning and had underwent a long, busy day, Davina couldn't blame him for wanting to head home and get some rest. While somewhat disappointed that their time together had come to a close, she was grateful for everything this day had brought to her, and verbally bestowed her appreciation upon him. But it wasn't enough—sensing an opportunity, Davina held her arms open in the offer of an embrace. There was a split second in which she felt foolish for making such a gesture, worried that he would refuse. But he was quick to silence her concerns, stepping into her arms without hesitation and tucking her firmly against him as his arms encircled her back.
That contact sent a sudden rush of weakness to her knees, and she pressed against his lithe form brazenly, relishing the warmth and firmness of his body upon hers. They melded together perfectly, her head slipping just beneath the curve of his chin. Her eyes slipped closed as she inhaled the scent of his cologne, finding a sense of overwhelming happiness in that moment—it felt so...right. Much to her pleasure, they remained locked in said embrace, holding each other tightly, finding satisfaction in what amounted to an innocent, but still intimate connection.
On a whim, she leaned back, just far enough to afford herself a view of his face, wanting to see his reaction for herself. She couldn't stop herself from smiling at what she saw there, lingering deep within the vibrant green of his eyes. His gaze trailed low, seeming to pause upon her lips, and suddenly it felt as if an electrical current had populated the air between them, causing her to internally tingle. Before it could register in her mind, he leaned in, pressing his lips against hers. Heat surged throughout her entire body at the thrill of this gesture, and she returned his kiss with eagerness, feeling almost desperate for the moment to last.
She could feel him begin to pull away, but surprised herself by responding with a second kiss, craving more. He accepted this action without pause, seemingly encouraged by her silent request. But soon, things had evolved far beyond the bounds of a simple lip lock—they couldn't seem to pull away from one another, drawn to each other by some potent, unseen force. What had begun innocently, naively, even, had grown hungrier, deeper. Davina felt herself tremble, reaching up to grip the back of Shuichi's neck and shoulders, pressing her body brazenly against his without so much as a iota of shame. The feel of his chest was firm against her own, unyielding and roped with unseen strength that surprised her, given his slender build. She could feel the presence of his hand sliding onto the base of her head, his fingers entangled within her hair, his other appendage sliding lower down the expanse of her back. Heat erupted within her, blossoming in her belly, bursting forth from her core and making her almost quiver from the intensity.
The fleeting concern that she was being too forward popped into her mind, but vanished in an instant. He appeared to share her desire, responding to her with fervor, just as consumed by the moment as she was. She could feel him beginning to swell against her, the thin fabric of his slacks offering little in terms of camouflaging the physical effect their unanticipated closeness was causing him. This realization only worsened the urge for more, grinding her body against his as a means of not so subtle encouragement.
It was almost as if a different being had slipped within her and taken control, willfully indulging the lecherous desires she had been mentally entertaining. Her tongue seemed to act of its own accord, reaching out to breach the confines of his mouth and taunting his own, enticing it into an oral battle that only worsened the rush of warmth that had set her very veins on fire. Shuichi was quick to claim the upper hand, suddenly asserting his dominance over her and pushing her back against the length of her front door, pinning her against the hard surface with his weight. He tore his mouth away from her, staring down at her face to drink in the vulnerable state she was in. His eyes seemed to glitter in the mild light offered from overhead, kissed by strange golden light. He wasted no time, leaning in close to kiss the curve of her cheek, slowly but firmly making his way down the length of her neck. A sudden moan escaped her with vigor as his lips hit the spot just beneath the curve of her jaw bone, prompting a hard shiver to run down the expanse of her back. He repeated his actions on the other side, eliciting a similar response. She felt lightheaded, as if she could hardly find breath, her heart racing within her chest as if she had just run a marathon.
Shuichi abandoned her throat to reclaim her lips with his, but the connection was short lived as he pulled away from her. His breathing was ragged, much like hers, and he appeared to be internally struggling, his pupils dilated and wide. He removed his weight from her and took a decisive step back, the sudden lack of his body against hers leaving a void that immediately sent a flood of frustration washing over her. Despite this, she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief, knowing that if things progressed much further, neither of them would be able to withstand the temptation to take this interlude to its ultimate conclusion. Davina knew full well that she wasn't prepared for such a thing, mentally or otherwise, nor did she want to take things so swiftly. She swallowed hard, trying to calm herself down and ignore the heady ache that had gathered steadily between her legs in light of their lust driven contact.
"My apologies," Shuichi said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. He appeared a bit overwhelmed at the realization of what had just occurred between them, a dazed look having overtaken his entire visage.
"D-don't apologize," she immediately retorted, attempting to gather self enough to think clearly. It was a near impossible task at the moment, but she managed as best she could. "Only be sorry if you have no intentions of doing that again—if you do, then there's no need." Davina didn't want him to feel contrite over his actions, for she had been just as guilty in perpetuating them. She was also hoping for some sort of assurance that the future would bring more of the same, and that this interaction hadn't negatively affected his view of her. It was a jaded notion to consider, but one she couldn't overlook it.
If Shuichi changed his mind about pursuing whatever this was at this juncture, she would be not only disappointed, but hurt. Davina knew that the feelings she was harboring for him were steadily progressing with each interlude spent in his company, and they had already ventured far beyond the border of friendship as it was. But she provided him the option of an out if only to safe herself further harm, knowing that the possibility of failure was unavoidable. If she could evade a worse outcome, it was worth the effort, even if it left a bitter taste in its wake.
"Well then, I'm not sorry in the slightest," he replied with a small smirk. That statement came as an immediate relief—it instantly felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted off of her chest. "But please, don't ask me to come in, because I won't be able to refuse the request and I don't wish to coerce you into anything you aren't ready to do."
This admonition only furthered that sense of respite, bringing with it comfort. His intuitiveness was staggering, and the fact that he acknowledged boundaries that she hadn't given a voice to only reassured her that he wasn't harboring ill intentions. His respect and concern for her well-being came as a surprise each time, and she appreciated it more than words could give justice for.
"Understood," she offered with a slight chuckle. "And it's much appreciated."
"I'll text you tomorrow," he said before taking another step back towards the stairs. His intentions to take his leave didn't upset her now that he provided clarification—he probably needed the opportunity to process everything, same as she did. She nodded, and then turned to unlock her door. After sharing a quick goodbye, she slipped inside and gently pulled the door closed behind her, sighing deeply as she heard the lock slip back into place.
. . .
Author's Note: FINALLY, haha. I haven't written a scene of that caliber in quite a while, so I hope it doesn't disappoint. Thank you to everyone who left me lovely reviews and favorited the story, you guys are the best kind of encouragement. Look for more soon! Take care and be safe!