Yay, the story is complete! And it's still within the day! Well, barely. It's ten minutes to midnight. Anyway, I hope you like it! On with the show!
Rangiku giggled helplessly and tilted her head forward until her face met his throat. She felt like coming apart at the seams and suddenly Renji's arms in questionable places felt like a safe place to break, just a little bit. She felt him swallow and placed a light kiss on his Adam's apple. She took a steadying breath. "Let's go inside, huh?" He responded by kissing the top of her head. Then he pulled away enough to let Rangiku open her door. She kept one hand in one of his.
"Rangiku," Renji's voice was soft and low over her ear. "I'm used to competing and seeing things through to the bitter end. That's all that I managed to do tonight. Don't sell yourself short: your daring and your skills made it tough to get even this far."
Rangiku's mouth quirked at a corner and her eyes dropped, lids at half mast. "My daring, huh? Isn't another word for that 'recklessness?'"
Renji sucked in a breath. "It is when guys do it. Or, I guess, anyone outside of Squad 6. Captain Kuchiki doesn't tolerate challenging rules and order."
"Hm." Rangiku grew a little sober. She stepped over the threshold to her quarters and flipped on the light. "Is that why you were so serious and intense out there? You had to impose law and order?" She gave his hand a light tug.
"Well," Renji hesitated. He stepped inside and released her hand. Renji mechanically closed the door and began pulling off his sandals. "Sort of. I mean, yeah, Captain Kuchiki ordered me to capture you – and yeah to tie up my hair too – but…"
"Hmm? Lieutenant Abarai, do you mean to say you had ulterior motives?" Rangiku pointedly looked at his hand removing the second sandal. Her smirk was shameless. She placed a hand at the collar of Renji's kimono and allowed a pair of fingers to slip under it.
Renji froze, unsure of himself for just a second. "Come on." Renji put his hand over Rangiku's wandering hand. "We had unfinished business."
"Had?" Rangiku opened her eyes wide in mock innocence.
Renji barked a dry laugh. "Alright, fine. But you still haven't told me what you're after. Why the hell you'd put me through all of that just to play keep away."
Rangiku felt a little shock run down through her chest and into her belly. She couldn't quite say it. In truth, she didn't know the right words. Just that then, as now, she hadn't wanted to call it a night. She avoided looking Renji in the eye.
Renji's eye's narrowed. There was something he had to know, even if asking got him into trouble. "It's not just... I need to know, it's not that you need someone, anyone so you don't think about-"
"Don't say his name." Rangiku's voice was wooden, her body stiff.
Renji fought the urge to gulp. "Fine. But I have to know for me. I'm not a consolation prize."
Rangiku let out a short breath. "You're no more a consolation prize than I am, I would hope. He's in my past." She looked up at Renji, color high in her cheeks and a determined shape to her mouth. "Isn't she in your past? Rukia-"
"I understand what you mean. Sure, we had our fun but it's over." Renji paused trying to think about where he was going and not thinking of anything. Rukia and he had tried being together only to realize they got along better as friends. Rangiku didn't even have that anymore. As for he and Rangiku...he liked her, rather more than he would have thought just a few hours ago. But the look on her face gave him no hints about what he should do next. Renji sighed. "Alright. Tonight's been crazy enough, I guess." He started to disentangle himself from hand belonging to the beautiful blond. "We're both pretty tired and tomorrow's going to be a long day—"
"No." She took Renji's hands into hers and held them still over his heart. She took a deep breath and looked Renji in the eye. "I…I'd like it if you stayed. I don't know what'll happen tomorrow, and I don't care. Tonight…let's have tonight, ok?"
Renji looked back at Rangiku, heart-stopping face, killer body and a smile that outshone the sun. He tried to remember any objections to her proposal but it was like trying to grab feathers in a windstorm. A fire seemed to light in his belly. His voice was husky. "As if I could say no to you."
Rangiku took hold of both of Renji's hands and took him to the middle of her room. It was a bit untidy with table shoved against a wall, under a window, sundry items tossed onto it in merry disorder. Against another wall was her bedroll with various covers and night clothes strewn about it. The décor was very feminine with flowers in a vase and watercolor paintings of landscapes on the wall. Even the light from a lamp seemed to fall with a delicate, if careless, grace.
In the center of the room Rangiku put Renji's hands over her hips and, looking him in the face and biting her lower lip, she slid one of his hands up along her waist. She pressed his fingers in so he could feel the lines of the fabric. At her bra he jolted in surprise. Rangiku gave a little laugh behind a closed mouth. Renji grinned.
Rangiku giggled even louder, tongue stuck between her teeth. "For safe-keeping, you understand." She placed his hand to the spot where her kimono strained to close over her expansive cleavage. She licked her lips and blushed beautifully.
Renji pressed his hand through, pressing down the part in the collar until he felt skin along the palm of his hand. The skin quivered softly and for his part Renji forced himself to breathe in at a steady pace. He closed his eyes, taking a moment to soak in the sensation. Then, ever so slowly, he slid the hand up and to the side until he could feel the lace of a bra on the back of his hand and a shallow sake cup between his thumb and forefinger. It had been half way tucked under the bottom seam.
Renji laughed and pulled Rangiku into a tight hug. This woman was going to make him crazy in the best possible way. On reaching for the cup and then pulling it out, Rangiku's kimono had fallen open all the way to her hakama, exposing the flimsy lace and breasts. Renji feasted his eyes on the view even as he set the sake cup on the table. He looked one last time into Rangiku's eyes, looking for any reservations. She leered at him, daring him. He gave her a huge grin and tugged Zabimaru free, laying it reverently on the table as well. He then closed his eyes and lowered his head to her breasts and inhaled deeply.
They always go for the boobs, thought Rangiku with no small amusement. They're so reliable. She sighed happily as Renji began running his lips over the skin, kissing and lightly tasting it. Her hands were on his back and after a little bit of his ministrations she decided to have some fun of her own. She pulled away long enough to set Haineko on the table as well and then tugged at his kimono, trying to free it of his obi. Renji repositioned her so she leaned against the table and his hips pressed into hers. He nibbled on her neck while loosening his obi and pulling the kimono over his shoulders. His hair swept over Rangiku's face and with a giggle she blew it off only to watch it fall again over her nose and mouth. At a questioning sound from Renji Rangiku said, "Usually it's my hair that goes up someone's nose." Renji growled and bit at her neck. Goosebumps erupted on her neck and flew down her arm as he ran his teeth insistently over the skin.
This time Rangiku had to pull away to catch her breath. She stared at the beautiful man hovering over her, flowing red locks framed prominent cheekbones, a decidedly elegant neck for so much beefcake, and of course shoulders that looked like they could hold up the sky. The tattoos traced lines that ran counter to his muscles and the result was a rippling effect that made Rangiku's mouth run dry. Absently she licked her lips and sucked in a breath.
Renji grinned at her. "See something you like?"
"I'll say." Rangiku growled. She put her hands up to Renji's chest and concentrated on the sensation coming in through her skin. Eyes drifted closed and her lips parted as she breathed through her mouth. She felt Renji's chest shake as he chuckled softly. She opened her eyes slightly when Renji put his hands over hers. They held still for a long moment. Rangiku felt like she couldn't breathe deeply enough, desire was building to an overwhelming point deep inside.
Renji's voice was sly. "I've had enough of being on my feet."
Rangiku nodded dumbly, the sensation of electricity ran through her breath, waves of heat and then cold rolled up her spine, one on top of the other again and again. Renji took a small step back and then leaned into Rangiku. One arm went around her back and the other under her knees. He cradled her gently and lifted her so she curled against his chest. Rangiku put an arm around his shoulders but kept a hand on his chest. When he was sure she was secure Renji stood up straight.
Rangiku pointed. "The bed is that way. Oh! Wait, the light." Renji complied and carried Rangiku toward the switch by the entrance. She reached out to flip off the light and returned to her position. There she nuzzled his neck as he picked his way to her bedroll by the dim light that filtered in through the window.
In the dark he kicked some discarded knick-knack and heard it skitter and crash into a wall. He tightened his grip on Rangiku until she squeaked. "How in the hell did it get this far?"