Feeling a little nervous himself, Mamoru slowly put a hand on her small, pale shoulder. At the soothing touch Usa's wide blue eyes rose to make contact with his own. A sudden squeezing feeling in his chest caused his grip to tighten and his breath to still in his lungs. That look, it was almost one of trepidation and … love?

Attraction

Chapter 8

Usagi looked up at the feel of Mamoru's large warm hand resting on her shoulder only to meet his dark penetrating gaze. God, how she loved his eyes. They had always been so expressive, no matter how hard Mamoru had tried to conceal his thoughts and feelings. Okay, so maybe he knew how to conceal some, for she never would have guessed that he had any feelings for her until today. But at that moment Usagi could tell that there was something new in his eyes. Realization hit her full force. He loved her as well. Mamoru, stoic, cranky, mean, gorgeous Mamoru wanted and loved her. She wondered if he himself had even recognized and identified the feeling.

"Would you think me crazy if I told you that I might be falling in love with you?"

The question was out of his mouth before he could even stop it. His hand was still on her clothed shoulder and it clenched tighter, afraid that she would pull away and leave behind all that they had found and experienced that day. Never in all of his life had Mamoru felt so vulnerable and open to heartache. In the past all of his relationships had either been about sex or had been casual and ended by him. Here was a girl that he might be having feelings for and up to the present, they had only argued and supposedly hated one another.

Usagi felt a laugh creep up from deep in her belly. It started out as a giggle and became an outright guffaw. She knew that her laughter could be taken as an insult but she couldn't stop the urge from bubbling up in her throat.

At first Mamoru thought that Usagi had gone insane, what with her in near hysterics over virtually nothing. Looking at her made his heart break. Was she laughing at him? Laughing at the fact that he might be… oh hell… is in love with her. She was love and beauty personified, lying there with her gloriously sensual hair draped over her half-clothed figure and her face lit up with her smile. The delicate hand closed over her tempting mouth did little to muffle the giggles and snorts. Lord, even those ridiculous snorts were endearing. And then before he knew what he was doing, Mamoru was pushing Usagi down onto the bed once more. A mix of anger and affection were writhing inside of him. What did this girl do to him? The master of all control was left with no control within his grasp. It took a moment for the sudden silence to penetrate Mamoru's overwrought mind. Usagi's hands were clasped roughly in his, both his hands pressing hers deeply into the bed. Tear and mirth-filled eyes glowed up at him from the face so close to his own.

"Oh Mamo-chan. I love you too you silly man. Or at least I know that I'm in love with you, whereas you only think that you are in love with me..." Usagi's impish look accompanied her wonderful words. Although the endearment that she bestowed upon him was kind of girly, he liked it nonetheless. And there it was again, the worry underlying the adoration in her eyes.

"Well, do you love me or not?" Though her tone was harsh, the uncertainty there was obvious as well. This little woman was in love with him and here he was – in bed and half-naked with her – and he was utterly speechless and staring at her like a loon. And still the words alluded him, so instead he did something to show her.

Mamoru closed the distance between their lips quickly however; this kiss was different than the others. Her lips were warm and pliant and he took his time savoring her taste. Usagi's breath was ragged from Mamoru gently rubbing his lips along her own.

"Now, where were we?"

"Mamo-chan… I want you but I'm a little nervous. Does it really hurt the first time? I don't handle pain well and I just want to be prepared. What –" Mamoru cut her off by kissing her again.

"Usa, it does hurt the first time. I'm not sure quite how much because I haven't been with a virgin before, but I'm pretty sure that it goes away fairly quickly. But I don't want you to worry. I'm going to have you begging for me before you even have me in you. You'll be so hot and wet for me that I'll slip right inside of you and it will feel amazing and I won't stop until you come screaming my name so loud that the entire building will hear you." Usagi was surprised how turned on she was with just Mamoru's dirty talk. Her nipples were tight against his chest, his chest hair adding extra friction and teasing her senses even more.

Mamoru felt her nipples harden against him, and knew that she was even more turned off now. As he watched her pupils dilate he brought his large hand to her core to feel that she had gotten very wet once more. With a dark look in his eyes, Mamoru leaned down and began to completely disrobe Usagi. "No more playing Usa, I want to see your hot and naked body writhing as I torture you with pleasure."

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Ahhhh!! I'm alive! I know it had been forever, but I'm really gonna try to finish the story soon. I'm gonna crack down and get it done. And I know I keep promising the sex, but come on – you've got to admit that I'm not leaving you unsatisfied. Next chapter is it though people! I swear!!! And I want to thank everyone who continues to support me, this is for all of you! Thanks SO much, you are truly my inspiration. -Lara