Chapter 52

Running her hand gently up and down Reno's slick back, Aura listened to his ragged breathing. She could still feel his hot breath on her neck, still feel him between her thighs as his weight still pressed her into the mattress of her bed. She trailed her fingernails lightly down his spine and he shifted slightly. "Reno… how do you feel?" she murmured, smiling when she felt his lips on her throat.

"Mmm… fucking incredible." He whispered, lifting himself just enough to look at her. Aura smiled at him, lifting a hand to his cheek as his eyes moved back and forth across her face. "How about you?"

"I feel…" she paused, letting out a soft breath and trying to put words to the emotions flooding her. She was content, warm, happy and safe. She felt satisfied and exhausted. She felt fluttery every time Reno met her eyes, and she wanted to pull him closer still. "I feel like everything is perfect." She told him, and that familiar lazy arrogant smile spread across his face.

As Reno pushed himself higher, Aura bit her lip as he pulled out of her and then he was settling himself beside her, an arm around her waist to draw her to his side. She leaned against him, still enjoying his heat and not ready to move away yet.

"How was your day?" he asked, fingers trailing up her arm. Aura entangled her legs with his as she slid a hand up his chest, looking up to meet his eyes.

"Long." She murmured.

"Yeah?" he asked, "You seemed more than eager to jump me nearly the moment I walked through the door."

"Yes, well… I…" she didn't know what she wanted to say and just shook her head.

"Hey, I'm not complainin' yo…"

"I should hope not." Aura rubbed her hand up and down Reno's chest, smiling slightly when he tightened his arm around her waist.

"What is it, Aur?"

"Nothing, really…" she replied, wondering if she should just tell him about Rufus. What would he do? She didn't want him to get himself hurt or killed, but she had never kept anything from him and she loathed the idea of it. Especially now when everything really was pretty perfect.

"Aur?" warm fingers lifted Aura's chin and she met Reno's mako eyes once more. "What is it?"

Letting out a huff, Aura nodded. "President Shinra…" she blinked, "… tried… he… got a little handsy with me again…"

"He what?" Reno growled, going upon an elbow to look at her better. "What do you mean?"

"He…"

"Aura, what do you mean?" he asked again, his voice serious.

She bit her lip, not knowing a better way to explain it other than just telling him what had happened. "After I finished changing his bandages he got me on his desk and tried touching me." She tilted her head, her fingers moving across Reno's skin, "I told him to stop… he wouldn't."

Reno snarled, and Aura slid a soothing hand up his chest and around the back of his neck. "Aura…"

"I shoved him." She told him softly, "I shoved him back into his chair and kinda yelled at him, yo." Aura wondered vaguely how she had walked out of that office unharmed, "I kinda gave him a piece of my mind… and told him that if he ever touched me again I would quit." Reno's fingers played with her hair as he looked at her, brushing a lock back from her face, "And I told him that you would kill him…"

"Well…that's true."

"Why would he try that again after last time?" she murmured and Reno pressed his lips to her forehead.

"Power." He replied, "And he's never been told 'No'. Not in his life, yo."

"Well he better get damn used to it."

"Be careful." He whispered, pulling her closer and then kissing her carefully. She nodded, threading her fingers through his hair. "Come on…" Reno sat up, taking Aura with him, "Let's get cleaned up before we have to make dinner."

Aura let Reno lead her down the hallway to her bathroom. She opened the shower door and leaned in, getting the water started, and then when steam began to fill the room, she stepped into the shower, closing her eyes as the hot water slid over her body. The door opened again, and without turning, Aura felt Reno step into the shower with her. She washed her face, scrubbing her hands over herself when Reno's arm snaked around her waist and she leaned back in to him, allowing his hands to explore her wet skin.

"Maybe I should talk to Rufus…" his voice was low and held an edge that made Aura frown as she shook her head.

"Don't, Reno…" She shook her head again, "I dealt with it." She did not want Rufus to snap and do something awful. It was still surprising to Aura that she had walked out of his office unharmed after what she had done.

"Okay…" his arms tightened around her waist, pulling her harder back against himself. "Did he hurt you?" he asked, bending to kiss her neck. Aura's eyes closed and she shook her head slightly.

"I didn't let him."

"Good." She barely heard him above the rushing water as his hands moved down across her abdomen, smoothing and caressing her as she leaned into him. His firm body felt reassuring and strong at her back and she sighed with relief that he wasn't about to run off and get himself shot by Rufus. He respected her enough to trust that she had handled it on her own and Aura looked back over her shoulder up at him, pleased when he bent to kiss her, one of his hands coming up to her throat to hold her there. "I love that you're strong enough to knock him on his arse." He told her, lifting his head enough to meet her gaze. Aura gave a small smile.

"I think he was just surprised." She replied softly.

"I'll bet." His hand remained lightly at her throat while the other moved down her stomach, "I'm not surprised, though…" his lips returned to hers and Aura gave a soft hum of approval. As his hand drifted lower she felt his hold on her tighten and shifted her stance a little, knowing where this was heading. She could feel Reno hard behind her now and as he adjusted his stance, Aura took a steadying breath. She allowed Reno to deepen the kiss, lifting a hand to reach up and around to the back of his neck, threading her fingers into his damp hair. Reno bent a little further, his hand moving down the outside of her left leg until it tightened behind her knee, lifting gently. When he had lifted and shifted her into a position that better suited his purpose, Aura reached forward, bracing herself against the tiles with her free hand.

She had barely enough time to draw and release two full breaths before Reno had positioned himself and pushed quickly into her. Aura groaned into the kiss, going up onto her toes on the one foot she still had on the ground. Reno's hand slid from her throat down to her waist and then he'd taken a firm hold of her hip, using that grip to lift and pull Aura into a better position for his next thrust. She groaned again and Reno broke the kiss, moving her closer to the wall and allowing Aura to get better leverage in bracing herself with her hands.

This was faster than before and before long Aura had dipped her head, allowing the warm water to cascade down on the back of her neck as she bent, her wet hair hanging in her face as Reno moved behind her, one arm tight around her waist, pulling her back to meet each of his thrusts and the other hand still lifting and holding her knee. Releasing her leg, Reno trailed his hand up and down her spine, soothing as he continued to thrust with a steady pace. His hand came to rest at the base of her neck and he used that hold on her to bend her further over. Aura groaned again, trying to keep her own hands from sliding across the slick tiles at every movement Reno made.