Just thought I'd warn you guys a bit before you read. There's some lemony stuff at the end of this loverly chapter so if you don't like it...don't say I didn't warn you =D)

Chapter Twenty Two | The Lion's Den

"...Nate?" I asked, cushioning my head in my arms as I looked up at the night sky.

Nate glanced at me, caressing my hand in his as we lay together beneath the stars, "Yes?"

I turned my head to look at him, a gentle smile overtaking my features as I whispered, "Thank you so much."

His normally emotionless face twisted up in a subtle grin, "For what?"

I reached up to touch his cheek lightly, "For spending the day with me. I know it took a lot out of your schedule-"

His lips cut me off, working against mine in a breathy kiss as his hand clutched mine, "I should be thanking you. It's the first birthday I remember liking."

My lips curved upward in my trademark smirk and I laughed lightly, "But hopefully it won't be the only birthday you enjoy," I murmured, my eyes turning suddenly serious as I reminded him of our situation.

Our relationship was brittle, to say in the least. With the threat of Kira around every corner, security was at it's weakest and there was a high chance that one of us could die.

But Nate merely pulled me closer and whispered, almost non-coherently, "Then we must spend as much time as possible together."

I nodded, cuddling up into his chest as his arms seemed to protect me from any and all disaster.

My mind raced with thought. Unsurely biting my lower lip, I wondered whether I should voice my love for him. We had never shared those three words, but I knew he loved me, and I hoped he knew I loved him. I wanted to expel any doubts he may have...but the actual concept of love was almost alien to me: something I thought I knew but wasn't positive about.

My chance, evidently, was forced to a halt as Nate slowly brought his arms from my warm body and lifted himself up. Reaching down to me, he helped me up and murmured, "It's getting late. We should go back to Headquarters."

I nodded slowly and wrapped an arm around his waist as he pulled me closer. Together, we began our walk to what we both came to know as home.

*Page Break*

It was about 11:00 when we entered the SPK building. The other members were either in their rooms or at the main room, working on the daunting case that never seemed to get easier.

We were about to part ways: Nate would give me his gentle kiss and head off for a usually well-needed rest. Routine began it's trip around my head, and as Nate turned around to execute his signature moves, I grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him into me, kissing him heatedly on the mouth as I threw my arms around his neck.

Shocked, Nate allowed me to kiss him for a few minutes before I grinned cheekily and pulled back, my sly eyes mischievous, "We've gotta make the most of our time, no?"

I turned and laughed softly, beginning to walk away. But routine was not on the schedule tonight, it seemed.

Nate caught my wrist and pulled me back, turning me slowly around and staring deeply into my eyes.

What I saw astounded me. Lust. His hands attached themselves to my waist and he brought me closer, melting his lips to mine in a fervent kiss that made my head spin round and round.

I breathed out and stared into his yielded eyes, normally so dark and gradient. His soft white locks fell into his face, and I reached up to brush them aside. Catching my hand as I retreated, he turned it and gently kissed the inside of my wrist, our locked gazes never leaving.

I felt excitement flourish through my veins and a heady rush filled me, forcing my eyes to dilate in passion.

Nate's voice sounded strange to my ears; an odd mix between his inner child and obvious man, "Shall we make the most of this night, Alice?"

My own voice didn't seem to be in workable condition. Letting out a pent up breath, I slowly nodded my head. My bruised lips twisted into a nervous smile as he gently took my hand, beginning to lead me forward through the halls.

The journey to his bedroom seemed longer than necessary. Once we finally got there, he pushed the door open and pulled me inside. I had only been to his room a few times before: either to wake him up or tell him a new theory about the case. Before it seemed rather plain. There was a bed, of course, with the headboard against the wall. It stood solitary, coming out into the room and taking up a great amount of space. Beside that was a simple bedside table, with a clock and a lamp on the surface. There were other pieces of furniture: a dresser and table, and small armchair and a bookshelf. To the right of the entrance, there was a bathroom. The walls were painted a light green color, and the sheets matched.

But the only thing I truly saw was the bed. Nate shut the door and brought me to him, his arms circling me as our lips found each other in a sweet kiss. His hands went to my waist, while mine tunneled into his hair.

A normal kiss...that got hotter as the moments flew by. His hands soon discovered other parts of my body that had previously remained untouched. Kissing him more roughly, I pushed him back towards the bed. He collapsed on it's neat surface and our kiss was broken while I pushed myself on top of him.

Grabbing the back of my head, Nate continued our furious kisses as if the world was about to end. We continued like that for a few minutes until I decided I needed more fuel. That incessant pounding in my lower body told me what I needed to feel satisfied. Acting upon the nearly suffocating needs, I broke from the kiss and straddled his hips, my lips forming a cunning smirk as my hands rubbed his chest through his shirt. He watched me, his eyes turning more lustful with each second, as I reached up and slid my shirt off in a quick movement, showing him my full breasts behind a soft lacy bra. I reached down and unbuttoned the first three buttons of his shirt, kissing his newly revealed skin after each subtraction.

After that, my lips worked their way up, nibbling and sucking on the tender skin of his neck as he tried futilely to suppress a moan. My hand followed my lips, stroking his neck before delving down to his shirt and releasing a few more buttons.

His hands began moving, but I quickly captured them and pinned them above his head, laughing softly, "You're in the Lion's Den, darling. Learn your place."

He didn't respond, because my hands decided to step it up a little. Leaning back, I dragged a finger down his chest, buttons popping as I pulled his shirt open to reveal his pale, sculpted chest. He shivered as my nail stopped at the hem of his pants, and from underneath me I felt his obvious erection growing.

What I failed to realize, however, was that every predator must be kept in check.

With a sudden, unbridled force, Nate flipped me over and pushed me down, pressing his lips to mine in unrestrained fury. "You. Are. Going. To. Get. It."

I gasped as his hands attacked my breasts, squeezing them together and unleashing a passion I was unaware of.

Smirking wily through my abrupt fatigue, I breathed out a whimper-like moan, "I certainly hope so."

Nate only chuckled and dove downward, pulling off my jeans and sending me into fits of ecstasy that my racing heart could barely take.

And that was when the immediate pleasure giving began.

O/O

Sooo it wasn't too...intricate haha but I hoped ya'll liked the foreplay XD And I hope Nate didn't get too OOC in this one (I very much think he did, but what can ya do?) The next chapter'll be up shortly...which means in the next few days so long as I can find the time to type it up. I need some inspiration so if any of you have ideas for what might happen let me knowww! I want Mello to play a huge part in the story so IDEAS would be AWESOME! Especially if you put them into a neat little review~! ;)

Anyway, can I be just a little bit random and say that I'm in love with Neji Hyuuga? Seriously. If I could steal anyone from Naruto it would be Neji XD

Thanks for reading and please REVIEW~! =D

(And thank you, ThexWorld'sxAxBrokenxBone, Broken-Becca, and kindacravingshortcake for being the most awesomest people ever and reviewing...because no one else did T^T)