A Kiss for Shelter

by ArsinoetheXXVII

What if the courtesan was not the first to fall? One night is all it takes. And in Fate's hands a seed takes root. An honorable man will take responsibility and face the unexpected. Beyond passion, beyond possession and obligation he'll want for more, but find a soul unwilling to bow to him. Still with a little effort Byakuya might get what he'd forgotten he always wanted.

48. Chapter 48

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

Word Count: 386

AN: The chapter title is indeed taken from the Robin Thicke song- love that man- loved him when he was all shaggy hair and indie-lookin!

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A Kiss for Shelter

It's in the Mornin'

The sunlight slanted in so directly she woke immediately when it touched her face. Had the sun burst in the sky to penetrate so fully through the shroud of trees that surrounded her residence?

She turned her face from the brightness and inhaled deeply. The scent that greeted her was not her own- not the familiar fragrance of her bergamot oil or the pear blossoms she often mixed into the hand cream she made. Instead she smelled fir trees- pine and sandalwood- mountain fresh snow and…

With a sharp inhale she sat up, braid whipping around her as she turned her head back toward the outer shoji. She blinked against the light, but there was no mistaking the shadow kneeling a few steps away at a low table.

Her stomach protested this sudden movement and she clasped a hand to her mouth and closed her eyes with a soft groan.

"Do not exert yourself." His voice was suddenly near and she forced down the nausea, opening her eyes to regard him warily.

There was a cup of tea in his hands; she eyed it a moment before looking back up at him, all the while leaning away from him.

When he noted the suspicion with which she gazed at the glass offered he nearly sighed, but steadily informed her, "Unohana-Taichou left a list of ingredients for this tea with Takeda-san. She said it should help."

After a time she moved her hand from her mouth and reached out with both to take the cup from him, bowing her head in deference as she did so.

Satisfied Byakuya drew away and moved silently back to the table.

Xochitl took a surreptitious sniff of the contents of the cup in hand. When no offense smell assaulted her nose to unsettle what little she had in her stomach she took a tentative sip.

She felt soothed instantly, but the feeling was only momentary as she looked over the rim of the cup at him.

"Wh-where…?"

He raised his head slowly, eyes moving from the paper spread out before him to a point on the far wall.

"My rooms."

Her gasp of surprise echoed almost pleasantly in his ears.

He turned his head toward her and his slate eyes shone with challenge beneath his midnight lashes, "In my bed."