The Promise: A Tasuki and Miaka Love Story
By KittyLynne
(Standard Disclaimer: The author of this fic does not own the story of Fushigi Yûgi or its wonderful characters; they are owned by Watase Yû and a vast host of multimedia based companies. However, I do own any original characters, ideas or elements put into this story. Please don't use them in any way without my written permission.
Chapter Rating: A very solid and serious 'M' for overt sensuality, romantic descriptions of lovemaking, and a sprinkling of cuss words. Readers under the age of 16 should read only with parental approval. To others of age who may not enjoy reading prose relating to two people physically expressing their love and devotion to each other: this chapter is not for you. You have been warned.
Chapter 19- The Flame of Love
When the door closed behind them, it seemed to shut out the entire world. Even the noises from the busy street below the bedroom window had faded to a sobering hush.
Tasuki stared down at the female who reposed right next to his heart, well pleased with what he saw. Although Miaka was still leggy and small-boned, her curves had definitely ripened to those of a full-fledged woman.
His woman.
It was amazing to be holding her like this...but then again, everything about Miaka amazed him. She was a tough and gutsy little chick, but soft and vulnerable too, and so full of trust that she'd surrender herself to him without any qualms regarding his past bad behavior. Having her for his own was a gift that he hardly felt he had earned. He still couldn't help wondering if he wasn't dreaming, for during their time apart his dreams had often tormented him in this way. Perhaps she was just an illusion, a faux Miaka being played by a vengeful Taiits-kun in order to teach Suzaku's most irreverent seishi a lesson …
As if in answer, a flash of light caught his eye; the red aura pulsed with an intensity that permeated the farthest corners of the room. The wing seishi gazed at his forearm, taking note of how rapidly his celestial symbol had come into full prominence and the fact that once again, his 'yoku' had given irrefutable affirmation of his feelings.
Miaka was the real thing, the only woman that could make his mark appear with such strength and brilliance. No one else ever could.
She was looking up at him with a face full of love and tenderness. After a moment she sighed and snuggled back against his chest; despite the seriousness of his mood, Tasuki found himself grinning at the very sweet picture she made.
Overtaken by a sudden whim, he bent forward to gently press his lips against her forehead, delighting in the happy little murmur she made and in the clean, sunshiny scent of her hair... until the memory of Tamahome doing the same thing intruded and shattered the idyll. Jealousy rose with a vengeance, squeezing razor sharp talons deep into his heart.
Jaw clenched, he battled to subdue it by reminding himself that this time he wasn't the one who had been forced to let go. There were no tricks or deceptions involved in that fact; only painful honesty as she had said goodbye to Taka.
'Live for the moment, fool.' He thought fiercely. 'Then afterwards, do everything ya can to convince her to stay forever.'
Green eyes were searching his face anxiously. His expression eased, but a split second too late.
"We need to talk. Could you please put me down, Tasu-chan?"
"Okay." He averted his gaze as he did so, even though he knew it was useless trying to hide from someone so good at reading him.
Once on her feet, she got straight to the point.
"What's the matter?"
He shook his head. "It's really nothin', Mi-chan." His lips compressed and his hands balled into fists as they came to rest on the tops of her shoulders. "It's stupid."
Small hands lifted to grab hold of his wrists. "It's not stupid or nothing if it's bothering you! Please don't shut me out!"
The ex-bandit hesitated, frowning, then abruptly relented under the influence of pleading green eyes. "Oh, all right! Ya know what Taka said out there about you makin' a choice between him and me?"
She nodded.
"Be honest!" He blurted. "Are ya gonna be thinkin' about bein' with me instead of him?"
She took his mark, holding his forearm aloft so that his celestial mark was between their bodies. Her chin lifted, and her face was suffused with the glow of Suzaku's abiding power. "I'm totally in this moment. I won't be thinking about anything but you, and I will not be making comparisons. Will you?"
"Hell no! I never ever thought havin' someone else could make me forget about ya-"
"Tasuki, I don't really want to hear about the other women!"
"I wasn't gonna do that, Mi-chan!" He said hastily, cursing himself for being clumsy. "Just listen now, ya gotta hear the rest of it."
"I understand. You don't have to tell me about-"
"Now that I opened my big mouth, I gotta. Don't want there to be any doubts about how I feel."
He could tell she was conflicted, but she gave in. "All right, I'm listening."
He took a deep breath. "For a bandit, bein' with women for pleasure was the code. But for me, it was never any damn good to be that way! The more I tried not t'care about anythin' more than sex, th' more it was obvious t'me that I couldn't enjoy it beyond a certain point. Then I met you and found that love was what I was missin'. "
At hearing this, Miaka's body visibly relaxed.
"Had to learn the hard way that you weren't mine to have. I was desperate to get ya out of my head after Kahou. Right after we beat Hikou, I met a woman who could pass for you, dumplin' knots an' all. She was fun an' good company, an' she made it obvious that she wanted me. I started thinkin', 'what the hell, there 's nothin' wrong with makin' myself feel better'. I even told her how I felt about ya, and she was fine with it."
"Did she help you feel better?" Miaka asked. The question seemed to pop out against her will.
"We had some laughs." He stated honestly. "But when you sacrificed yourself for Taka, and I thought you were gone...I cursed myself an' the injustice of fakin' my feelings. Everyone deserves to be loved by someone for themselves. I loved you, and was some selfish bastard who was usin' another girl as a substitute for what I couldn't have. After ya left, I went an' let her down as nice as I could- took her to her sister's place, and then left when Chichiri came along with Houki's request for engagin' our services for the country. It helped to be on the road, an' Chiri taught me some meditation stuff that made it easier to control my impulses. Got so damn good I was actually thinkin' I could be accepted by a monastery."
At that, Miaka finally smiled. "I'm very glad you didn't apply."
"Yeah. Me too." He admitted sheepishly. "So there ya go, Mi-chan. There's how bad I got it for ya."
"I'm sorry for doubting." She said quietly. "I'm glad you told me."
"Kinda shocking though, huh?"
"No." Miaka said. "What you said was sweet and wonderful. What's shocking is that you went through so much for my sake, and I can't find it in me to be sorry that your feelings for me kept you from being with women!" She lifted her chin, looking defiant. "I like it that you couldn't!"
Tasuki grinned. "And I like it that you like it." He said. "Love is all or nothin' for me- if I can't honestly give it my all, then it ain't worth givin'!"
Her eyes were sparkling."Will you give me your all?"
"Little baka! You know I will!" He hesitated. "But doin' that kinda presents a problem..."
"How's that?"
"Well, it's been three years..."
She nodded sadly. "I hope I can make it up to you."
"It's not that!" His face was suddenly aflame. There was really no delicate way to say it. "After three years of...nothin'...there's a good chance of my spillin' the seed too quick."
"Ohhhhh."
Now they were both blushing.
"Dammit, Miaka, I don't want to disappoint ya!"
"You aren't going to, Tasuki. We'll take it slow. I have absolute faith that you're going to make it good."
Her confident words were a balm, but he was still troubled. She had no idea of the strength of his desire for her, that one touch of her body against his could end things before he'd gotten her over to the bed! The last thing he wanted or needed at this point was that kind of a failure...but neither did he want to scare her the way he had during their night together in Kahou!
"I don't think ya get what I'm sayin', Mi-chan! It isn't gonna take much for me to get crazy-"
"I want that! I want you to be the intense and passionate man I know you are, because that's exactly what I love about you!" She peeped up at him through her lashes as her hand moved down his chest to flatten itself on his abdomen. "And you know...maybe you shouldn't be underestimating my reactions! Who's to say that I might not get crazy?"
Leaning forward, she punctuated the point by brushing her lips over his nipple, then taking it between her teeth to give it a gentle nip.
He jerked in surprise. "Miaka!"
She looked up. Her eyes were heavy lidded; her lurking smile was a portent of pleasure yet to be discovered. Hopefully he could keep that look on her face after all was done. "Yes, my darling?"
"I love ya so damn much it hurts!"
"And I love you. You're everything I could ever hope for."
He swallowed with difficulty and ignored the stinging in his eyes. "I'll do anythin' I can to make ya happy."
Her head lowered to his chest once again. "Then make love to me. " She whispered against his heated skin. "Be with me."
Tasuki groaned, his arousal heightened by the erotic combination of emotive words, her stroking hands, and the wet warmth of her tongue finding and delicately laving the most sensitive spots on his skin. Savoring the sensations, he buried his hands in her thick auburn tresses, feeling the last of his self-doubts ebb away under her loving attentions.
When she lifted her head, he dropped his hands to her hips and yanked her against him, unashamedly pushing his erection into her yielding softness.
"I can't stand any more, Mi-chan!"
"Me either." Her gaze was avid, hungry.
"I'm gonna try t'take this nice and easy," he murmured, "but I ain't sayin' it'll stay that way."
He closed the gap between them, relishing the rapid tenor of her breathing and the moan that shuddered through her body as his mouth melded with hers.
Then pent up passion exploded, sending the flames of need rocketing skyward.
Miaka's lips opened, and her seishi wasted no time in accepting the invitation. His tongue sought the territory beyond the barrier of her teeth, tasting her with a thoroughness that elicited a wild response. Her tongue entwined with his, reciprocating the seductive strokes that were a deliberate simulation of the act of love. His hands shifted to her waist, and then slid around to find the back fastening of her skirt; one tug and a sharp rasp of a zipper later, and it was slithering over her hips and down her legs to form a circle around her feet.
She kicked it aside, emitting a wordless sound of pleasure as warm, strong hands immediately sought out and conformed to the curves of her bottom.
A few seconds later, Tasuki took hold of her upper arms and pulled her away from the kiss. Her eyes flew open.
"Tip your head to th' side." He ordered, before she could find her voice to protest.
She obeyed, shivering with delight at the teasing swipe of his fingertips on her throat as he carefully pushed her hair out of his way. Her neck was now fully exposed to his burning gaze; a swift, silent gasp drew her abdomen in as he bent his head and began to use his lips, tongue and teeth upon the places where tendons stretched tautly beneath soft skin. Her knees began to weaken from the sensation, and she clutched his arms for balance, all the while marveling at the fact that Tasuki knew just what spots to nip or nibble or lick to give her the greatest enjoyment. His hands returned to her backside to steady her, and then remained there, cupping and squeezing the rounded flesh in the manner of someone trying to determine the ripeness of a peach. The comparison would have made her giggle, but the impulse vanished as one of his hands moved between their bodies. Waves of desire surged from her core as he lightly pressed his palm to her abdomen, and then traced the creases at the top of her thighs with gentle fingers.
As the scent of arousal teased his nostrils, Tasuki's mouth stilled its movement. She quivered in anticipation of his next move, then groaned in frustration as his hands moved upwards to grasp her shoulders.
She shivered as his mouth sought and investigated the sensitive hollow just below her ear lobe; as he circled the area with the tip of his tongue, she clutched him convulsively and moaned. When his lips suddenly parted and drew in some of her skin, she gasped and squirmed in his grasp. She had no real intentions of getting away, of course; her struggles were purely for show. It was clear that Tasuki knew it too, for he simply tightened his hold and growled at her like a wolf with an uncooperative pup as he continued his work.
A sensuous thrill spiraled through her, and a slow pulse began to beat at the juncture of her thighs, thanks to the erotic feeling his suckling mouth was invoking. She didn't know how she was going to explain the end result of what he was doing to the others, but neither did she care. The feel of his lips, the light press of fangs on her skin, the pull of his lips...getting a love bite from Tasuki was an intoxicating experience, one she had no intention of stopping.
With that admission, her hands stroked his sides, then slid beneath his arms to cup his broad, her fingers curling into his rounded shoulders in a gesture of unspoken encouragement. Tasuki paused to smile against her throat, then resumed his task with a renewed fervor that had her whimpering and arching into his body.
After a few very enjoyable moments, he drew back to examine his handiwork.
"Proud of yourself?" She asked, pouting a little.
"Oh yeah." His smirk took on a sultry edge as he traced the mark's perimeter with a forefinger. "You're my woman, now, so I gotta put my brand on ya."
The pout turned into a provocative smile. "A hickey isn't permanent, you know."
"Yeah, I know that." The ex-bandit's laugh was low and carnal. "Did I say that was th' only way I was gonna do it?"
Before she could think of a suitable retort, Tasuki had yanked her back into his arms and reclaimed her mouth. This time when she opened for him, his tongue was demanding as it boldly probed her lips before plundering the confines beyond them. She responded by winding her arms around his neck and tipping her head back in total submission. Tasuki's kiss was like a brand of possession, and it was taking away her ability to move or even to think. All she could do was hang on for dear life and feel...
She didn't notice that she was being propelled backwards until something solid pressed against the backs of her legs. The bed, she surmised vaguely, before she was distracted by his hooking an arm beneath her knees. Then she felt herself being lifted and lowered with great care onto what she knew was a satiny, blue and cream checkered comforter.
When she was lying full length on the bed, Tasuki broke their kiss. Slowly, she opened her eyes to see him leaning over her, still held in place by her arms, which were encircling his neck. She stared in fascination at his dangling earrings, the corded, straining muscles of the arms he had put down on either side of her body, and at his smooth, muscled torso, which was hovering barely a foot above hers.
As Miaka's gaze roamed over him, Tasuki did a quick but thorough survey of his own. He loved how she looked in that moment; her brilliantly shining eyes, the blush of passion that had tinted her face and throat a rosy pink, the way her hair fanned out on the pillow beneath her, and how her lush lips had ripened from the application of his. His gaze lingered on the darkening mark on her neck, then raked down her body, taking special note of the hardened nipples thrusting against her t-shirt, her flat belly, the deep purple lace that encased her womanhood, and her long, sweetly curved legs.
'Go slow an' stay gentle.' He reminded himself, as the urge to mate put his control in jeopardy. 'It's about her.'
Miaka helped distract him from his urges at that moment by removing her arms from about his neck. Her hands slid down to his chest, then upwards to the jade necklace that swung free from his neck.
"This looks so beautiful on you, Tasu-chan…" she murmured, exploring the various stones with curious fingers. "I've always loved that you wear earrings."
He gave her a wicked grin. "Do they turn ya on?"
She reached up to fondle the earrings in question, which were now dangling against the hollows of his cheeks. "They're very sexy." She admitted shyly. "Please don't take them out."
The ex-bandit turned his head to brush a kiss against her hand. "I won't as long as ya do somethin' for me first!"
Miaka eyed him with wary amusement. "And just what do you require?"
She giggled as his eyes lowered to her still -covered chest and pointedly glared at it. "Okay, I'll take it off if you agree to leave your jewelry on for me. Deal?"
"Deal!"
Kicking off his borrowed shoes, he quickly joined her on the bed, stretching out alongside her as she sat up to slip her t-shirt over her head.
"Much better," he approved, taking the garment out of her hands and tossing it aside. His gaze roamed freely over her chest, taking in every curve and shadow over and beneath the purple lace bra, and Miaka couldn't help quivering in excitement at the open hunger she could see in his eyes.
With a slight frown, her companion reached out to run his fingers over the gooseflesh that had risen on her arm. "Are ya cold?"
Her lashes lowered to flushed cheeks as she took pleasure in the gentle swipes of his fingertips upon her skin. "No." She murmured. "I'm just… ready."
Tasuki's hand went still at the admission, but then resumed its movement, stroking upwards to the top of her shoulder. There was a pause, during which Miaka felt a tense tug, then her breath caught in her throat as she felt her bra strap fall limply onto her bicep. When his fingers moved to her other shoulder and repeated the procedure, she exhaled in a rush as she felt the lace covering her curves go slack and start to slide.
Before she could respond to what was happening, however, a commanding hand was cupping the back of her head and urging her down for a kiss.
As she bent forward, the material clinging to the ends of her breasts dropped forward and then down, exposing her fully. An urge to cover up assailed her, but the magic being wrought by his facile mouth transformed her embarrassment into a desire to be rid of the straps that restricted free movement. She reached back, eagerly fumbling to unfasten the band that encircled her rib cage. Unfortunately, all of her one handed attempts failed, forcing her to break off the kiss or be forever doomed to frustration.
Tasuki pulled back to observe her efficient, two-handed effort at removing the undergarment with marked interest.
"Ah, it hooks in the back!" He exclaimed, as she finally pulled the bra off her arms and flung it aside. "Hafta remember that for next time!"
Miaka laughed and then blushed as his gaze lowered to her chest. In a reflexive action, one of her arms lifted to cover her breasts, but her seishi stopped it with a gentle hand and tugged it away from her body.
"Don't hide," he said huskily. "I wanna look at ya."
She watched him doing so, entranced by the expression of heavy-lidded approval on his face as he took in the full extent of her endowment. Her body quivered, then tensed in anticipation as he slowly stretched out a hand.
Lightly, almost hesitantly, Tasuki stroked his knuckles around the outer curve of one breast. So soft and delightfully full. So much lovelier than he had remembered.
"You're beautiful," he breathed.
"Thank you," she stammered. "I-I'm afraid I'm not very big."
Unholy amusement sparkled in the ex-bandit's eyes as he glanced up. "You're just the right size for a guy like me." One sun-bronzed hand cupped the underside of her breast, and they both admired the contrast it made against her pale skin. "They're just like you- a handful!" He added drolly.
Miaka's giggle died in her throat as he slowly leaned forward. When the warmth of his mouth closed firmly around her nipple, she arched into his touch, emitting soft sounds of agonized delight as strands of his hair flickered over her skin like silken flames. Her hands fluttered over his shoulders, and then delved into his unruly mane in silent encouragement. In turn, Tasuki alternately kissed, tasted and caressed her highly sensitized peak with lips and tongue, arousing her to a point where she didn't care how loud she cried out when he drew her flesh deeper within the confines of his mouth.
When his attention switched to her other nipple, she curled her fingers into his scalp to hold him in place.
After a few blissful moments of indulgence, Tasuki lifted his head to regard her with frank sensuality.
"This is great, but I wanna do a helluva lot more."
She watched him push himself upright...then suddenly, almost shockingly, she was flat on her back with her warrior resting on one arm and looming above her. Her senses greedily drank him in; the rapid rise and fall of his chest, his spicy male scent, the rock hard bicep flexing under her outstretched hand, his sensual mouth and the flush of arousal that colored his cheeks... and finally, his glorious. fiery, let's-head-for-the-bedroom eyes.
Just looking at him turned her on.
An exquisite knot of tension tightened inside her as he lowered his body, gently settling his weight on top of her torso, while pushing forward a little with his leg to make her legs part. When they did, his denim clad hardness pressed into her damp heat, retreated, and then moved forward again in a rhythmic motion that made her feel as if she were melting into a puddle of mindless bliss.
"Tasuki, please-"
She broke off on a moan, accepting and then answering each of his sinuous thrusts with one of her own.
"You're right, Mi-chan," he responded hoarsely. "This ain't th' time for teasin'!"
Stopping the motion, he shifted to one side of her. Her furious protest at the loss of contact was stifled by a passionate kiss, and her tension was soothed by the hand that was gently massaging her stomach. When it began a slow descent to the aching place between her thighs, she pressed gratefully into its touch; when it finally palmed her gender, she moaned her submission, closing her eyes in ecstasy while Tasuki tenderly fingered her through the lace.
As a certain spot was discovered, a minor explosion went off inside her. She cried out in shock and pleasure, clutching frantically at his shoulders.
"Mi-chan." He whispered. Instinct told him to keep going, so he did, after first sliding his hand beneath the fabric. She felt so good, and the intoxicating scent of her arousal had filled the air. He could feel himself hardening even more, but he wasn't going to stop, even if it damn near killed him! The woman lying beneath him deserved far more than a quick tumble- she deserved every single ounce of enjoyment he could possibly give to her.
Miaka panted and moaned quietly as Tasuki stroked her flesh. When his touch centered and deepened, she grabbed him around the neck with her forearms, whispering words of praise and encouragement. She had a strong need to let him know that she loved him for trying to give her this wonderful thing, and that he was making her as happy as she'd ever been. She also wanted him to know that she found his desire to bring her fulfillment to be an unselfish and loving act; one that epitomized all that he stood for, and all that he was as a man. Her feelings for him spilled out in a flood of words, and he responded by moving forward to give her the sweetest, most tender kiss imaginable.
His erection was pushing into the top of her thigh; without conscious thought, she lifted her knee to increase the pressure. A groan vibrated against her lips as Tasuki's hips jerked forward, then away.
"Hold still a minute." He rasped. His fingers kept up their steady, circling movement.
She didn't want to be still. She wanted to reciprocate, to find a satisfying way to pleasure him as she was being pleasured, but wasn't allowed the chance as her lover discovered a delightfully sensitive area of his own; a few expert strokes later and all thoughts of reciprocation- along with everything else- vanished from her mind.
At hearing her long, low groan, Tasuki broke off the kiss and his fingers quickened their pace. After a few seconds, he lowered his head to nuzzle a breast, then drew its nipple between his lips. His tongue teased and caressed, his lips tugged, and a fang gently abraded the sensitive tip.
Her body bowed upwards, blindly seeking release.
Her widened eyes locked with his, filled with the dawning wonder of discovery.
A sense of triumph filled the bandit seishi as he realized that his priestess was irrevocably caught up in the spell he was weaving, wholly unaware that her fingernails were digging into his shoulders… or that her hips were lifting off the bed…or that her head was moving back and forth on the pillow as she thrust up and against his moving hand.
"It's gonna be so good, Green Eyes." He promised, his breath coming in bursts and his words blowing hot against her moist flesh. "Just give in to me...just let go..."
As his priestess arched and cried out, Tasuki savored the pulsing flow of her climax, prolonging his movements until she subsided back onto the bed with a groaning sigh. Only when she had gone quiet and still did he withdraw his hand and lift himself from her warmth.
Moving up and over her, he bent to drop a reverent kiss upon her lips, a caress which she barely managed to return as her eyes closed in bliss. He then propped himself up on one elbow, softly stroking sweat- darkened strands of hair back from her temples and cheeks as his gaze adored her. It didn't matter that he was still hard. To be able to touch Miaka in this way, to be able to wring gasps and moans of pleasure from her, to see the fullfillment that he alone had brought to her, completely transcended the best feeling he'd ever known.
She stirred, and then slowly opened her eyes. Seeing the glow of satisfaction in her limpid gaze, he gave her a fanged grin. "Have I made ya happy, Mi-chan?"
Her lips curved upwards.
"Incredibly happy." She responded, playfully pushing her thigh against him. Her smile turned knowing when his hips reflexively pushed back. "And it's only right that I return the favor, don't you think?"
In an instant, she had seduced him. "I got no argument with that."
"Let me up, then." Her hands pulled on the back of his jeans.
Surprised by her sudden burst of energy, he obediently rolled off her and onto the pillow next to hers. His eyes followed the hypnotic sway of her breasts as she sat up, and then straddled his legs. "Whatcha gonna do, Mi-chan?"
"I'm going to get these off of you."
Tasuki tensed as her hands went to the fastening of his jeans. 'No, not that! I'll never last if she touches…'
Her knuckles brushed the tip of his erection and he let out a sharp groan.
Miaka blinked in dismay as strong fingers encircled her wrists, stopping the movements of her hands. Her bright-eyed gaze skimmed her seishi's face, taking note of his clenched jaw and compressed lips before meeting his wild-looking eyes.
"Did I...do something wrong?" She asked hesitantly.
"No!" He gritted. "But I think I better do the undressin' if ya don't mind!"
Comprehension dawned in her eyes and she immediately moved aside. Nevertheless, as Tasuki yanked the zipper down and muttered curses while struggling to pull tight denim over his hips, she couldn't resist pitching in just a little. With her assistance, the jeans were soon bunched up around his ankles; after a small kick from each foot, they finally fell in a heap on the floor.
As he lay back, Miaka surveyed his body with an avidness that she didn't bother to hide. All that remained of his borrowed clothing were socks and a pair of white briefs, which, she noticed with awe, were barely concealing his swollen, straining length. Her fingers lifted, hesitated, and then moved forward to stroke him through the cloth, then pulled back as Tasuki sucked in a harsh breath, then swore softly.
Undaunted, she repeated the caress; this time he brought his hands to the sides of her head, where his fingers clutched thick handfuls of hair as if preparing to pull her away.
She'd almost pushed him too far. She waited, holding perfectly still as he struggled for control.
When his breathing had calmed, she chanced another tentative caress; the fists in her hair tightened, then abruptly let go at her small exclamation of pain. Glancing up, she saw that Tasuki's eyes had closed and his face was turned to one side. She bent forward, letting her the tips of her hair dance across stomach muscles that had tautened with arousal. A violent shiver rippled through the man beneath her, and his lips parted to reveal clenched teeth.
With a whispered endearment, she lowered her head and moved her parted lips along the inner crest of one hip. He jerked and writhed on the bed. "Dammit!"
She lifted her head. "Tasu-chan, listen to me."
His eyelids flew open and his pleading glare seared her.
"I want to make this as good for you as I can. Please tell me how to touch you."
"I wanna be inside ya now!"
"I want that too, very, very much! But won't you let me have the honor of pleasing you first?"
The seishi of fire swallowed thickly. His manhood flexed beneath the cotton, silently demanding to be released from all restraints placed upon it. He had to hold back, he needed to save himself, he hadn't been inside her yet...
"This is about both of us," Miaka quietly asserted, as her hand released his warmth. "Give and take. You've given me so much, my darling Tasuki. Please let me give something to you."
Their eyes remained locked during the pulsing silence that followed. Then Tasuki reached for his briefs and pulled them off in a slow and deliberate motion.
As the final mystery of his body was uncovered, Miaka's eyes went wide with admiration. She hadn't dared to imagine him like this, but yet wasn't surprised that this part of him would be just as beautiful, sleek and powerful as the rest of his body.
"You're gorgeous." She murmured throatily. "I can't believe you're mine."
When Tasuki remained silent, her gaze returned to his. Definitely not the time for giving out compliments, Miaka thought tenderly, at seeing the fires of frustrated passion blazing in his eyes. It was time for her to give him what she knew he needed from her.
After moving up to give him a kiss that promised a taste of heaven, she carefully shifted her body so that she was kneeling to one side of his pelvis. Heart thumping with anticipation and excitement, she then reached for him with a slightly unsteady hand. He tensed, but willingly submitted to her shy and gentle grasp. Encouraged by his response, she ran her fingers over every part of his gender, exploring its shape and texture and the wiry curls surrounding it, lightly touching and caressing the heated flesh until the ex-bandit made it clear what he wanted.
A large hand wrapped around hers, halting her motion before it began to wordlessly instruct her, showing her exactly how to grip his girth while guiding their hands in firmly stroking his length. It didn't take long for her to catch on; when she had, Tasuki released his hold on her hand, and let his arm fall back to the bed. From then on, Miaka took her cues from his gasps and growls of appreciation as to what kind of touch he liked best.
He followed her every movement with smoldering eyes. She'd established a steady, confident rhythm, and his breath came in shorter and harsher pants.
His hands clenched, unclenched, and then grabbed tight fistfuls of coverlet as a primitive tension began to swell within him.
Oh Suzaku, how good she was at pleasing him... tormenting him...loving him...
Her name came forth as a ragged moan. His eyes closed, and his head fell back against the pillow as he gave in completely to his fundamental desires.
The Priestess of Suzaku gave a loving smile. Her proud warrior had surrendered; Tasuki had given her free reign over his body. It was an amazing, priceless gift, and she intended to use it to bring him as much pleasure as he'd brought to her.
With that objective, she devoted herself to experimention with hold, pressure and speed. When his hips began to rock, she knew she'd found the right combination. In a flash of inspiration, she wrapped her other hand around him too.
'He likes that,' she thought with tender elation, as he groaned and thrust in and out of the sheath she had made.
On instinct, she dipped her head and planted light, sucking kisses on each of his hardened nipples.
As gossamer tendrils of auburn teased and caressed a path across his skin, the bandit warrior moaned. His entire world had now narrowed to the parts of him that were being embraced by Miaka- he no longer cared if he was inside her; all he knew was that he desperately needed a release that only she could give him.
One, two, three more strokes, and every muscle in his body was drawn as tight as a bowstring; another heavy tremor rippled through him, signaling he was almost ready to come. His breath caught, then released, as profound pleasure burgeoned within his groin.
"Miaka...I can't...hold..."
"You belong to me!" She exhorted as he broke off, gasping. "Don't hold anything back!"
Her hold on him tightened as it countered his thrusts; that sensation, coupled with the teasing brushes of her hair, the feel of her lips on his skin, and the sweet encouragement of her voice pushed Tasuki over the edge.
He drove his hips as hard and high as he could, pushing himself deeper into her grasp, reaching for what he had craved from her for what seemed like forever.
For a breath-stealing moment he went rigid and still, at the pinnacle of release. Then a low cry poured from his parted lips, and he plunged into the most intense and satisfying climax of his life.
Miaka watched her beloved through a blur of happy tears, humbled and gratified by the knowledge that Tasuki had let her see him at his most vulnerable. There was no embarrassment or misgivings in doing what she was doing, only a sense of rightness and joy.
From now on, every intimacy they shared would be an affirmation of their love for each other. Nothing would ever make her happier than pleasing him.
When his orgasm had subsided, Tasuki fell back against the comforter with a prolonged, throaty groan. His male parts were pulsing with slow, heavy aftershocks, his heart was pounding, and his breath was coming in harsh gasps.
He was certain that this was the most relaxed he ever had been in his life.
He felt the mattress shift as Miaka leaned away from him, then shift again as she returned to wipe him off with something that felt as soft as a butterfly's wing; it tickled a bit and he giggled, but his eyes stayed shut due to latent shyness. When she finished her task, he blindly held out his arm and smiled with satisfaction when he felt her snuggling into his side. As she made herself comfortable, he draped his arm around her shoulders, feeling a surge of tender protectiveness envelop him as her head came to rest in the curve between his shoulder and chest. His hand moved gently over her hair, and then downwards to lightly stroke her upper arm as they lay quietly, enjoying the moment and each other.
After a few minutes had passed, Miaka lifted her head and discovered that her seishi was watching her with half-closed eyes. "Are you happy, my love?"
"Mmm hmmm..." He hummed drowsily.
"Oh good!" She smiled up at him, and then gently detached herself from his arms. Tasuki's eyebrows drew together in an ominous line as he watched her roll to the edge of the mattress and then stand up. When she walked across the room to the closet, he propped himself up on his elbows and eyed her semi-naked form with an energetic hunger that was astounding, considering a moment ago he had felt as if he'd never move again. "Hey! Where th' hell do ya think you're goin'?"
"Not very far," she assured him.
Opening the closet door, she reached inside to pull out a fluffy, soft-looking comforter. "I thought maybe we could take a little nap together while you... um, recover. If we use this to cover ourselves, then we don't have to remake the bed."
He pouted. "It ain't gonna take that long."
Miaka grinned, knowing full well Tasuki resented the fact that she was holding the blanket in front of her chest. Revealing her breasts as she slid back into bed and draped him with the blanket clearly appeased him, but she noticed that he didn't relax until she had her body curled around his and her head resting on his chest.
Tasuki let out a sigh. Lying next to Miaka felt as natural as if they were married, a notion that he had every intention of making a reality. But it was too soon to ask, the month hadn't even started yet, and it wouldn't be fair to put that kind of pressure on her when she was trying to choose between worlds. He'd have to be content with living each day with her to its fullest as her lover.
Miaka listened to the pounding of her seishi's heart. Strong and steady as always, but a little faster than normal-an aftereffect of an intense orgasm. Warm satisfaction washed over her. Despite her inexperience with this type of lovemaking, she had managed to show Tasuki how deeply she cared for him. That meant more than anything.
"Miaka?" His voice rumbled pleasantly against her ear.
"Yes?"
"What if the others come back before I can … y' know..."
A hint of red tinged Tasuki's cheeks. His Priestess smiled, loving the fiery warrior all the more for his inherent bashfulness. "Then I guess we'll have to wait until we get back to Mount Reikaku."
"Okay." He paused for a yawn. "Y'know, that's a kinda nice idea, Mi-chan."
Her smile widened. "I think so too."
Tasuki shifted so that he could see her face. "Ya don't mind waitin'?" His tone held both amusement and dismay.
"I think it'd be much more romantic if our first time like that happens there." She answered dreamily. "Do you mind?"
"No, if that's what ya really want." His tone suggested it was the last thing he wanted.
"Thank you, my love." Miaka lifted herself up on one elbow, kissed him soundly, and then reached across his chest to fiddle with a glowing box sitting on the nightstand next to them. "There, I've set the clock so that a musical alarm will sound and wake us in time to get dressed before the others return."
"Thanks for th' warnin', " Tasuki grumbled. He was a bit perturbed by this sudden turn of events, but had enough presence of mind to wrap his arms around his beloved as Miaka laid down next to him and pulled the blanket up to their chins. As she wrapped a possessive arm around his waist and her warmth and softness seeped beneath his skin, his irritation lost the battle with contentment.
"I love ya, Mi-chan. More than anythin'." He mumbled into her hair. Funny how much more easily those words came out when he was in close bodily contact with her.
She placed a kiss on his chest, and then hugged him with one arm. "I love you even more."
A sleepy smile curved his lips. "Oh yeah? We'll just hafta see about that…."
As his voice trailed off, a soft cloud of silence descended upon the bed, and the entwined couple lying upon it slipped into peaceful slumber.
To be continued…
Author's note:
I would like to acknowledge that the idea for the hickey was based on a certain scene in the second volume of 'Ceres: Celestial Legend', another outstanding series that was written and drawn by Yuu Watase.
My warmest thanks and gratitude to everyone who has read and/or reviewed this story.
Peace and love,
KittyLynne