A/N: The 3rd and final chapter of my 'epic' love gift for Lakerae. ^^Hope the smut satisfies! LOL

"..." Taking a deep if uneven breath, Shirayuki organized her racing thoughts. "Thank you." She turned to face the man who was becoming more important to her than she'd ever considered possible. "Your guts are nicer than one might suppose as well." She blinked as her mind back-pedaled. "Um, can I have a 'do-over' on what I just said?"

"That was the most perfect response I've ever heard."

"Liar."

"I may be a muscle-bound moron, but I'm not one to lie."

"Will I be paying for my importune words for years to come?" They exchanged similar sheepish grins, Shirayuki speaking again. "Let's forget some of what's gone before and concentrate on the here and now."

Obi nodded. "I've been wanting to concentrate on you." He said this with conviction and a slight tremble in his voice. "I don't recall my doubts once I look into your eyes. I don't remember all the times I told myself I'm not good enough. Smart enough, or the person who can stand beside you and help you achieve your dreams."

"Isn't this truth for truth?" Shirayuki asked, "You're flat out wrong. Good enough? Smart enough?" Words were not enough to convey her meaning. She moved into his personal space and threw her arms around Obi, desperately seeking out his lips. One heartbeat - two - and with the third, Obi responded to her frenzied kiss. Shirayuki exulted as Obi pressed her against the couch. His body was scorching; his desires fed her own and she couldn't keep silent. "Don't hold back!"

Obi chuckled, deep and rumbling. "Wasn't going to - don't think I can keep myself in check - hope you don't mind bruises."

"I won't stop either." Shirayuki nipped Obi's lower lip. "Bruises will pale in comparison to the marks I leave on you."

"Truth for truth, indeed." Obi pulled Yuki onto his lap, letting a heartfelt moan escape his lips. "You've left an indelible mark on my heart already." Ignoring the query in Shirayuki's eyes, he sank his fingers into her hair and delivered another powerful kiss. He wanted, no - needed, to show her without a doubt that she meant everything to him.

It should not have surprised them that once they were moving together in the direction they most desired that fate had other things in mind.

Shirayuki pulled back the smallest amount and asked, "Is that your doorbell?"

"Who cares?"

"The person ringing and ringing the damn thing."

"Wait." Obi became a lot more serious. "I have a bad feeling about this."

Shirayuki frowned, speaking with hesitation. "With what we're doing?"

"No, oh god, no!" Obi shook his head and blushed. "I activated the pressure sensors in the hallway last night. At least one of them should have gone off before reaching the door. This can't be a friendly visitor."

"One who knows your routine, or someone employed in the same sort of work would be my guess." Shirayuki switched mental gears. "The two men from the gym - maybe they used the city surveillance cameras to find your place after you lost them driving."

"That's possible." Obi sighed and lifted Shirayuki off his lap. "Run and hide in my bedroom. There's no time to argue - my closet locks from inside and has better shielding than the popemobile."

Lips set tight Yuki nodded, scurrying inside Obi's room, hoping the interruption was a false alarm. Eyes scanning the room, her stomach knotted, Yuki forced herself to think calmly. Closets had to be on a back or shared wall. Closet doors might fade into the wall, but they needed a door knob of some kind. LOOK! There. Well aware of the lack of sound coming from the living room, Yuki did her best to quietly open and slip inside the closet.

Shutting the closet door took another act of courage. Obi had said the tiny shelter was shielded, possibly from sound and bullets. She twisted the lock and fell back, gasping. No need to wonder what was going on in the other room - or any of the rooms in the apartment. As soon as she'd engaged the lock, a sophisticated screen illuminated the interior of the closet. Video feeds showed real time action in all the major areas of Obi's home.

Whispering, "Holy Shit," Shirayuki closed her eyes and said a brief prayer.

Obi slipped the chain on the door, braced himself and opened it a crack. "Whatever you're selling, I'm not interested."

"Selling? The words of the prophet are free - wouldn't you enjoy that freedom extended to your soul?"

"Buddy, my soul is just fine as it is. Try your luck elsewhere."

"Luck has nothing to do with this Obi." The door and chain rattled as a heavily muscled body hit it full force. "My sources are never wrong. Give up the woman and chalk this altercation down to poor intell."

"Lucius, has it been over a year?" Obi forced the door shut immediately, clicking the lock.

"Ah, you do remember."

Obi remembered Lucius' easy violence, making him scowl. "I know you, you know me - go away. Do you want to waste time on this? How much can they be offering on one measly female scientist?"

"D'you want a cut?" Lucius hummed, hissing his next words into the crack of the doorframe. "An easy twenty percent cut if you open the door and go for a walk."

"You're still stingy I see."

"Money for doing nothing doesn't get better than that. Accept while I'm still in a good mood, Obi."

"You know what? Fuck you Lucius." Obi sprinted to the closet that housed the board games. He pressed a secret button, revealing a cache of specialty weapons. Obi shoved his pockets full before shutting the door and running into the kitchen to ransack his secondary cache.

Ignoring the direct jibe, Lucius said, "This is graduation all over again, isn't it?" Slapping his hand on the door, Lucius masked his deployment of low-grade explosives near the hinges. He jammed in a fuse and lit it without pause. "You didn't get enough the last time, didja?" With careless grace he stepped back, the plastique exploding and granting him entry. "Come out, come out, wherever you are!" He chortled - ugly and loud in the otherwise silent apartment. "Time to get another failing grade!"

Inside the closet, Shirayuki clutched her stomach as it roiled, twisting and knotting. She whispered, "Obi, be careful!" The monitors showed the carnage in full colour - scraps of broken front door peppered the foyer - and the intruder with cocked gun on his forearm, surveying his every move as he advanced inside.

Yuki gasped to see the stranger find each camera and end their transmission as he stalked further inside. She forced down a gulp, swallowing her fear. "I believe in you, Obi."

Treading lightly, Lucius strained his ears listening for his prey. Obi had been his toughest competitor in class, and the years since leaving school would have honed his skills even more. "C'mon! How about a thirty percent bonus?" The sudden electronic shrill from the kitchen made his blood pump faster. Lucius cleared the remaining rooms and stopped shy of entering the kitchen. "Do you have any idea of how much you're passing up?"

The oven exploded, spraying shrapnel all over, and Lucius nodded smugly. Booby trapping that was expected. "You're gonna have to work harder!" He pulled a map from his pants pocket, refreshed his memory and with a malicious grin chose his next target.

Inside his spare room, Obi waited and planned. He prayed his unwelcome visitor would stride inside his strike zone quickly. Too much waiting and he'd be forced to break cover and seek Lucius in the open. Yuki, all you have to do is wait - stay hidden and safe. Obi calmed his breathing and stepped forward.

Shirayuki watched the incredible blur of arms and legs making strikes and blocks; the camera faithfully showing the life and death struggle between the familiar Obi and sinister stranger. Caught up in the surreal exchange of blows, she held her breath. Over as fast as it had begun, the two figures were still. Who had claimed victory? Could she escape unscathed? Should she keep hiding? Knuckles pressed hard against her mouth, Shirayuki made an abrupt decision. She couldn't live with herself if Obi came to harm.

"Money isn't everything," said Obi, voice strained from exertion, "You obviously never took the morals and philosophy classes to heart."

On his back, Lucius rasped a retort. "Money can buy all that I lack." He coughed then laughed, his laughter caught short as his ribs pained him. "Money will fix this too."

"Is the stubborn Lucius surrendering?" Obi felt the ghost of a smile colour his words. "What would the headmaster say?"

"Huh. That old fool wouldn't even be able to tell who's won this fight." Lucius gripped his belt and detached a small nodule, palming it without showing his intentions to Obi. "I never liked him after he showed preference for you." His lips twisted into a fierce frown, his angry eyes tracking Obi's movements like a hawk. "He never understood the value of subterfuge."

Obi scowled right back at his former schoolmate. "Lies and plotting only carry an assassin so far."

"Oh, finally able to admit your life's calling?" Lucius snorted. "Don't you purport to be a bodyguard?"

"I'm whatever I need to be, and right now, I'm your executioner." Obi glared with almost lethal force at his former classmate. "Say goodnight."

Shirayuki watched both men and waited, breathing shallowly. A struggle between them seemed imminent - any hesitation on her part could mean Obi's death.

"You're not capable." Lucius sneered, his disdainful quirk of lips and narrowed eyes as ugly as his soul. "You failed the termination portion of class, didn't you?"

"A hollow victory I was more than happy to avoid." Disgust coloured Obi's voice, his lips twisted even more. "But to ensure Shirayuki's happiness, I would personally escort you to Hell."

"Hollow words -" Lucius propped himself up on one arm and kept sneering, "-from a lying coward."

"Not wanting to kill doesn't mean I can't do it. Test me and find out."

Shirayuki staunched her fear and acted as Lucius shot to his feet and drew his hand back to throw what he'd concealed. She ran screaming, smacked it out of his hand and then knocked Lucius down. She threw herself on top of Obi; limbs tangled, they fell. A loud, concussive burst battered their ears - long seconds passed as Obi and Yuki battled the effects of the explosion. Dust and rubble shifted as the two checked themselves for injury.

"Tell me you're okay." Obi met "Shirayuki's eyes with dark concern, he coughed and his voice rasped, "If you're not, then I've failed."

"I'm sure I'm fine." Shirayuki attempted to smile. "A bit bruised and shaken, but alive."

Laying supine, Obi asked, "Can you tell me if the intruder is still there or gone?"

Shirayuki heard pain in Obi's voice. She turned to see the empty hallway. "He's gone."

Slowly Obi pushed himself upright. "Good enough, he's failed in his main objective - that means you're safe right now. He may return later with reinforcements, but he'd never keep trying after such a noisy display." Obi winced as his ribs protested his movements. "You have a narrow window of opportunity to escape."

"What do you mean - 'you'?" Shirayuki turned back to face her bodyguard. "Make that, 'we.' I won't leave without you. I insist you stay with me - no dying, no abandoning me, no playing some sort of sacrifice game." Aware her voice had gotten loud, Shirayuki blushed and added in a softer tone, "We leave together or not at all."

"I can see you won't budge, so I'll accept your terms - but first I may need a few items from my first aid kit." Obi lifted his hand from his side, showing a troubling amount of blood. "I must admit, all my thoughts of you garbed as a nurse never culminated in a serious triage situation."

"..." Shirayuki pursed her lips, trying to formulate an answer. Giving up she shook her head and closed her eyes. "You're something else."

Obi didn't respond.

"Oh fuck." Gathering the unconscious man in her arms, Shirayuki did her best to calm her nerves. Where should she go? Was there someone able to help her? Could she reach out for help? Would it endanger someone innocent? What to do? What to do?!

Obi groaned and thrashed his head from side to side. Shirayuki jerked awake in her nearby chair, leaping to soothe her bodyguard. "We're both safe, relax."

"Was I at least heroic?"

"Yes?"

"Ah, the sound of insincerity." Obi coughed and gurgled a weak laugh. "You should have left me for Lucius to finish."

Shirayuki clenched the blanket she'd been tucking around Obi's neck. Her fingers tightened and left wrinkles. "Never joke about that. Ever. Again."

Instead of trying to brush off his words, Obi nodded and kept his silence; choosing to close his eyes and turn his face away from the woman he'd been paid to protect.

"Once you get over yourself, I'm sure we'll have a fantastic heart to heart conversation." Shirayuki jerked away from Obi, stomping back to the chair she'd been in earlier. Snatching up a blanket, she exited what he now realized was a luxurious and spacious, ultra-modern bedroom. Sleep claimed him, calming his wandering thoughts.

"Here. Eat." Shirayuki plunked a tray of assorted breakfast foods onto the tray resting over Obi's lap. "Unless you want to remain weak enough for that Lucius guy to exterminate you."

"I'm not the main target, he's not gonna …" Obi looked up at Shirayuki's face and stopped talking, picking up his fork, stabbing at the fluffy scrambled eggs on his plate.

"Should I thank you for telling that much at least?"

Obi put his head down and kept chewing, ignoring Shirayuki. No matter how upset she got, he owed it to her to shield her from as most of the ugly situation as he could.

"I thought we'd managed to begin to connect and see each other as equals. You're much more complex than I first thought and I want to understand you. Can you look past our first impressions?"

"Connecting with me isn't a good idea." Obi flushed, aghast he'd responded despite his intentions.

Her lips firmed, "Ring the bell when you finish eating," sparing one last exasperated glance for Obi, Shirayuki left the room.

He mumbled, "Yessir."

From down the hall her voice snapped, "Hmmpf! That's yes ma'am!"

Obi nodded to the empty room and continued to eat, lingering over his food. After at least half an hour, he rang the tiny brass bell on the corner of the tray. Would Shirayuki press him for more details or had she written him off? A pang, in what he realized was his still-functioning heart, pained him. It would be better for Yuki if she never saw him again. Only once Lucius was dealt with, she'd be safe.

"Huh. So you've finally gathered some courage." Supreme confidence oozed from Shirayuki's lips. She'd changed into what had to be a lounging outfit - an expensive one, and Obi wondered where it had come from. His apartment had most decidedly not supplied such an item. It hugged her curves in ways he'd only dreamed of - soft fabric molding to perky unfettered breasts.

"I'm done eating, what's having courage got to do with that?" Obi tried not to stare but was failing miserably.

"You've got no other excuses now-" Shirayuki whisked the tray off to the side and straddled Obi's body in a surprise move, "-you're going to talk to me. Guess it isn't courage, more like no choice." Doing her best to appear icy calm, she stared into Obi's eyes. "Be honest with me, it's the least you can do."

"You don't know what you're asking for at all, do you?"

"Excuse me?" Shirayuki felt the first inklings that she may have underestimated Obi. The serious look on his face was starting to scare her - and while his body had been battered and bruised in his fight with Lucius, it still had way more muscle than her own. If he wanted to dominate her, he could fight through his pain. He shifted his frame, his hips reaching a place that made Shirayuki lose focus for a brief time. How had he made her feel vulnerable when she was on top?

"I said how you don't know what I want at all and you're doing precious little to protect yourself from this muscle-headed moron." Obi made a point to lick his lips and leer. "Such a pretty, little rich girl."

"Oh, I see." Shirayuki leaned forward, anchoring Obi's shoulders to the mattress.

Discomfited, Obi frowned. "See what? A sorry excuse for a bodyguard? I'm a man who's never going to be good enough for…" He paused, considering how best to alienate Yuki. "...a highly educated and wealthy woman of your experience. I'm low class and you're elite. I'm rough and you're a polished diamond."

"You're an excellent bodyguard - maybe a little sloppy with your own protection," Shirayuki shook her head and made a slight 'heh.' "You may have done research on me, but you've only gotten the basics. I'm more than assorted bits of achievements, I'm a real damn person who makes up their own mind about the people they meet." Her hands slid to Obi's collar-bones.

"I don't want to talk. I just want to fuck you." Obi grabbed Shirayuki's hips and smirked. "What's your mind telling you now?"

"There's no 'just' about what's gonna happen." Shirayuki smiled at Obi. "I was willing to wait until your wound was better, but if you're in the mood, so am I." She rolled her hips, and smirked exactly as Obi had seconds ago. There was no hiding her bodyguard's response. "You are."

"I'm a man, aren't I? Even your boss, Zen, would enjoy some freely offered fucking."

"I'm gonna drive every thought out of your head." Dipping her head closer, Shirayuki wet her lips, the tip of her tongue at the center of Obi's attention. "Nothing more than action and reaction between us. Right here, right now. Zen? He's only my boss."

At a loss - having expected mentioning Zen would make Shirayuki upset - Obi could only stare mesmerized at the tip of her tongue. Desire overrode his usual caution, and he allowed himself to kiss Yuki. Later he could decide if it was the worst or best decision of his life. Much, much later - after exhausting the both of their passions.

The shock of Obi's warm tongue in her mouth made Shirayuki gasp - but soon the unexpected action, coupled with his deft fingers under her shirt had her humming with pleasure. She struggled to remove her garments. Her shirt was flung to the floor and quickly Obi's followed. Resuming their kiss, Shirayuki fumbled with the clasp of her bra, her frenzied fingers pushed aside - Obi releasing the hooks and running his hands up and down her back.

Sharp nips to the side of her neck made Shirayuki hiss, grinding harder against Obi. Wanting to be more vocal, but afraid she might spook him, she kept her silence. He would understand her body - as she could read his desire. Words could be had after, once she'd enjoyed a mind blowing orgasm. Or two. Oh, who was she kidding? Many, many orgasms.

Obi nibbled his way between her breasts, tongue dragging around and under. One and then the other before latching onto a burgeoning nipple; sucking heartily.

Fisting the bedclothes, Shirayuki keened - the warm tongue and pulling suction - she needed to get more vocal. Needing to express the sublime pleasure, Shirayuki went into a full throated scream. Holding Obi's head to her breast, she sobbed and gasped.

Taking that as encouragement, Obi switched and suckled Shirayuki's other breast, moving to slide his hand into her pants and underwear, his long forefinger dipping and curling into welcome, moist heat.

"Ohhhh, yesssss... Give... Me... More..."

Obi grinned. Shirayuki was scrabbling madly with his pants, tugging and fumbling - all the while trying to keep contact with his fingers that continued to glide and rub. "I'm gonna give you my all, wait." He rolled them over. Obi covered Shirayuki with his body, fingers relentlessly stroking between her legs. "It's always ladies first, right?"

"What about lady's choice?" Shirayuki panted heavily. "I want more than your fingers."

"I like a woman who knows what they like." Obi licked his lips, grinning. "You look like you'd taste sweet." He raised an eyebrow and when she didn't demur, he scooted down and removed the rest of her clothes. Lightly at first and then with more force, he licked; flicks of his tongue and then he applied suction, pushing his fingers back into the wet wonderland that was open before him.

"Ugh, ngh!"

Faster, deeper, Obi explored the sounds of delight Shirayuki was capable of producing. Finally her legs clamped about his head and she shrieked at the apogee of her pleasure, and seconds later her legs trembled like jelly, releasing Obi.

"Fuck." Shirayuki pushed herself up onto her elbows and watched unabashed as Obi stripped off his pants, kicking them into a corner. He skimmed his hands down his hips, hooking his fingers into the waistband of his underwear. Catching her appreciative look, he moved slower - lowering them inch by inch, turning to coyly hide at the moment of reveal.

"More."

Obi faced Shirayuki again, palming himself, his expression a mix of desire and caution. Reading something in her face, he relaxed - shoving his last garment down so fast his erection bobbled - thwacking himself just under his belly button.

Shirayuki held out her arms and Obi approached the bed, climbing on top of her much like she'd restrained him earlier. His hands patted her shoulders and then slid along her smooth skin to capture her cheeks. Obi kissed Shirayuki, pouring all the things he was afraid to say into it. How much he wanted her to push past his posturing, how much he was secretly afraid he wasn't good enough and how much he'd regret if he didn't at least try to reach Yuki.

Obi finally pulled back and panted, "This is your last chance to change your mind. It'll suck, but say no and I'll stop."

"I want you, I want this." Shirayuki stared at Obi.

Obi nodded. "You've got me until you decide you've had enough."

"I hope you're prepared to stay a lifetime then." Shirayuki curled her fingers into Obi's hair and tugged him closer. "When I make up my mind, there's nothing in this world that can alter it." Licking her lips, she gave Obi a broad wink. "Nothing."

"Good to know."

"Talking time is over." Shirayuki didn't waste a second, lifting herself up and connecting their lips in another passionate kiss; her tongue delving deep. Her fingers, already in Obi's hair, rubbed against his skull. She pressed her advantage, angling her body - rubbing in all the right places.

Obi let himself cling to Shirayuki and return the same amount of ardour, pressing his naked length into the vee of her thighs - all the while moaning in the back of his throat. One hand on his cock, the other on the mattress, Obi covered the head of his cock in Shirayuki's fluids and then pressed himself inside her sweet haven. It was hot, wet and tight. He groaned, then began to rock his hips, pressing deeper inside and slowly withdrawing before ramming back.

"Fuck!"

"Oooh!"

Legs crossed and locked, Shirayuki held tighter onto Obi's back and shoulders. She panted in concert with Obi's heavily gusted breaths as he began a series of thrusts. "Damn…"

A desire to reach and share his most sincere feelings made Obi pause as he was balls deep inside of Shirayuki. Forehead pressed to forehead, he said, "Could you care for me?"

"That's an asinine question." Shirayuki huffed. "Would I be doing this if I didn't care?"

"I'm asking, so yeah, I don't know."

"Yes." Shirayuki stared at Obi. "Didn't I just say talking time was over?"

"I can't help wanting to be clear about this." Obi had the grace to appear slightly abashed. "Being with you will mean a lot of changes."

"Life is a very long series of changes - but right now, you need to listen." Shirayuki smiled and for Obi it felt like he'd won the lottery. "You're my bodyguard - so that makes me your client, right? The customer if you prefer. The customer is always right. And I want you."

Obi nodded and winked. "In that case, it'd be my supreme pleasure to keep guarding you, Miss Yuki."