Author's Note: A short one for now! I had to do some reconfiguration to get some scenes in the right place, but I think it'll all work out. There's just going to be some smut-intensive chapters and then some smut-light, but plot-heavy chapters.
Happy New Year!(Though technically, it still isn't for me.)
"Mikan, are you coming?"
The brunette shrieked, smoothing down her skirts. Twisting around, she peered over the edge of the couch to find Lady Sumire in the doorway. "W-what?"
"We're starting a game of hanetsuki soon, and you said you wanted to join."
"Oh, uh, I - I can't today. Maybe next time?"
"Is something wrong?" She stepped closer, thinking she might find an answer from whatever was in front of Mikan, hidden from Sumire's view.
In a rush, Mikan raised her hand and blurted, "No, everything is fine! I - Natsume invited me to… do things today. I should probably spend time," Mikan gasped unexpectedly, "with my betrothed!"
Mikan was never good at lying, and Lady Sumire could tell by how high her voice went at the end that she most definitely was hiding something. Mikan appeared more flustered than she had ever seen her, sweaty and red-cheeked. Her brown eyes darted around the room, never quite meeting Sumire's. She quivered, the silence lying thickly between them.
Probably just the nerves. Poor Mikan's betrothed was always teasing her.
"All right. We'll plan another game another day, and I'll let you know when."
"Thank you, Sumire! And shut the door on your way out, please!"
With one last questioning look, Sumire did as Mikan asked, the doors shutting firmly with a thud.
Mikan sighed with relief. Then she smacked her skirts. Natsume's head slithered out, a sinful grin on his glistening lips. In full view, he quickly slipped his two fingers into his mouth to have a taste of Mikan before she could protest.
"You're wicked!" She hissed at him, slapping his arm.
"Mmm, and you're delicious."
With an oomph, she lay back on the couch cushions, her betrothed still kneeling before her. He watched her carefully, judging her reactions.
"How do you feel?" he prompted.
"I feel…" She searched her mind, but settled with basic honesty, "Good. I liked it, especially when you licked my clit and used your fingers at the same time."
Natsume could see her getting herself worked up again. "Do you want to continue?"
Mikan gaped at his brazen suggestion. "And risk someone else walking in on us?"
"The door's closed now." Slowly, his hand snaked up under her skirt, dragging his fingertips softly against her thighs. He felt her thigh quiver. "Everyone else is playing hanetsuki."
"That's true," she said, partially convinced.
"Relax, Mikan. Don't focus on anyone else but me. Nobody's going to catch us."
Taking in his words, Mikan nodded mutely, watching with wide eyes as he once again disappeared under her dress.
Relax, Mikan.
Immediately, his fingers found that same button he'd been working earlier, rubbing in a firm circle.
Relax, Mikan.
His tongue tickled her outer folds, hovering on the edge. Just his breath made Mikan clench with delight. The tips of his fingers teased her.
Then he licked.
When he had done so the first time, Mikan had squirmed, unaccustomed to that part of Natsume inside her, but now…
Mikan sighed, surrendering herself . Unconsciously, her legs parted even farther.
One hand rose above her hand to grip the edge of the couch as her hips uncontrollably bucked against Natsume's face. Her feet slipped, struggling to find purchase, before they ended up on the edge of the couch, widening her legs and allowing her to push herself more against Natsume's invading tongue. Her other hand pushed Natsume deeper.
Sounds Mikan didn't know she could make tumbled from her lips: soft gasps when Natsume went in circles, a breathless moan when he combined his fingers and tongue, and a pleading urgent, "Natsume," as he rekindled the fire in her belly.
With a low cry, she reached her peak and once more felt herself release hotly onto his face. When she had done so the first time, she had been embarrassed, ashamed she might have… relieved herself, but she was reassured by Natsume and the differences in sensation that she had not.
Licking her essence from his fingers, he wiped them on her dress before shifting her so he could lie on the couch with her splayed out on top of him, her head on his chest and his arms around her. Natsume's hands busied themselves, stroking her hair, her back, her arms.
Mikan nearly fell asleep, so tremendously satisfied and worn out. She wondered if each time with Natsume would always feel like that.
She wondered many things.
Remembering her first impression of him, and thinking about how skilled he was with his fingers and tongue, she wondered…
"Have you ever… done that with another woman before?" Mikan didn't know if she could bear the thought of Natsume sharing such… closeness with another person.
"It's customary in my house to explore your sexuality and learn with many partners." Mikan's heart stuttered and dropped, sinking heavily at the implication. His fingers continued to sweep her arm. "But I didn't follow my house's traditions."
"Oh?" she squeaked out. She cleared her throat.
He chuckled, a deep rumble in his chest that vibrated through her. "Yes, oh. I heard and saw you were quite chaste so I thought it would make you feel more comfortable if I abstained as well, knowing I'd never experienced this with another woman so you wouldn't feel the pressure to compare. You'll be my first as I am yours."
Mikan's heart swelled, hearing that Natsume had denied himself… for her.
"That way, we can explore our bodies together. As you can tell, I am ready to go," he joked lightly.
Almost in conspiracy, she whispered, "Is that why you're so excited? Has it been building up all this time?"
"It's not as though my libido is naturally any higher than any other, including yours. It's that in my house, we're more open with our desires. We say what we want, and I know what I want."
Mikan nearly scared herself out of asking, but she plunged forward. "And what do you want?"
"I want you, of course."
Underneath the cherry blossom tree, Mikan lay with her head in Natsume's lap, her hair spread out so Natsume could braid and weave the blossoms into her hair, as she read philosophy that had been recommended to her.
"Mikan!" Lady Wakako came rushing towards them. She inclined her head politely and gave a small curtsy. "Lord Natsume. Did you hear Lady Asano and Lord Masataka broke off their betrothal?
"Oh no!" Mikan sat up, the blossoms falling into place. "That's terrible to hear. I did not imagine they would."
"I, myself, was not surprised. They were one of the lower ranked Matches." Lady Wakako's tone dropped in scandalized disapproval, but Mikan did not join in that gossip; though she and Natsume could be viewed as proof of the accurate compatibility rankings, Mikan did not think the rank determined the success of the couple.
"Still, they're our friends. How are they faring?"
She almost snorted in derision, her nose turned up just the slightest. "As well as you think they could be."
"Wakako!" called a few other ladies and lords gathering around the garden fountain. Even from a distance, they could see the titters and the shaking of heads.
"Oh, I'm off to spread the news." Lady Wakako paused, noting their intimate positions. "Have a good time together."
"Poor things," said Mikan in sympathy, turning to Natsume, who had not yet commented on the situation.
His opinion was brief: "That will never be us."
