Let's make amends for my very late update: with a lemon. A short one because I still feel I suck at writing these, but I did my best! Besides, I felt like it.

Secondly, if you are still with me, let me just apologise for this long absence: the summer break was exhausting. I had my university entrance exams, then visited Hungary (if any of you lives in Budapest permanently: I'm so envious right now!) and now I'm in the middle of thinking up my MA thesis in sociolinguistics (any idea folks? I want to focus on register and style, I believe ).

As usual, I loved every review and my heart danced a polka dance with every 'favourite' or 'follow' button pressed!

-s.

"Oh, fuck, yes!"

Ichigo moaned with pleasure. He was pressed firmly to the wall behind him and all he cared for were Byakuya's hands on his body and his fast breath on the younger man's skin. Byakuya pushed him harder into the wall and shuddered with pleasure as he came inside Ichigo. But the younger man wasn't finished. Ichigo instantly reversed their roles and dragged Byakuya to the nearby bed.

Byakuya only sighed when Ichigo hover over him and pulled Ichigo into another hot kiss. Their mouth and tongues tangled as they fought for the dominance. Just as Ichigo won, he skilfully spread Byakuya's legs and pushed into him, making the other man gasp in pleasure.

In a matter of seconds, Ichigo became blissfully ignorant about everything. He forgot about the room, he ignored the fact that another people could be few meters away. He focused only on their bodies and the immense amount of pleasure he derived form the contact. In that moment, even the figure of Haruna was of no importance to him. And then the world exploded, crashing him and making him groan with satisfaction.

Ichigo collapsed onto Byakuya's chest, a dreamy smile on his face. The other man's arms circled around his shoulder, scooping him close to his body. If it wasn't the sex, that, the few minutes just afterwards, was the second best thing Ichigo would have missed if Byakuya had said 'no'. Oh, how a foolishly happy man Ichigo was at that moment, back in Byakuya's office.

"You know I won't accept any second thoughts, right?" Ichigo murmured against the older man's chest. Byakuya chuckled and ruffled Ichigo's hair, before saying:

"I can imagine that. However, if I could have a suggestion?"

"Be my guest."

Byakuya then moved a bit and sat up. Ichigo followed suit and looked at his seriously-looking lover.

"I want to take it slow... I know that your conditions were clear and as we are currently in that particular situation, you know that I eagerly accept them. But...", Byakuya touched Ichigo's frowned brows. "But I don't want others to know yet. Even Rukia. Especially Rukia."

Ichigo processed what he has heard. Apart from Rukia and Renji – and Haruna but that scumbag was out of the equation now – really no one knew that he and Byakuya had had some problem in their relationship. Still, the rumour must've spread, that was for sure. Even if, in all Seireitei only the higher-rank officers were in the know about the fact that he and Byakuya were a thing in the first place. Keeping a low profile would mean then that he only had to act regularly around Byakuya in other officers' presence. It wasn't hard, definitely manageable.

The question was, what was the point? It wasn't a problem before. Byakuya apparently could read Ichigo's expression, because he added quickly:

"I want Rukia to focus on herself and the baby. The wedding is coming shortly, also. Another source of potential stress is not necessary. I hope you can understand that."

Rukia was sure that they were still fighting. And, from the very beginning, she was extremely concerned about Ichigo and the face that Byakuya could simply hurt him. Even though they made up, the situation wasn't that simple, Ichigo knew. Rukia would be the first person to try to convince him to think about it millions of times. She surely had to focus on herself instead of playing with their well-beings, the boy thought, nodding his head in a short yes.

"Sure. I get it."

"I'm glad."

They stopped talking and suddenly Ichigo felt the nervous. It was about something Byakuya had said a moment earlier. He summoned all his left courage and spoke:

"So... let's talk about my conditions."

Byakuya's face grew even more serious that before. Ichigo couldn't tell if it was good or bad.

"Let's talk."

Ichigo took another quickly breath and grabbed his clothes. He felt like talking about these stuff required some more clothes on. Besides, he needed extra time to reorganise his thoughts. The last thing he needed was saying something stupid again.

"Seeing as we are where we are, I assume you were in the right mind beforehand."

"Are you going to insult me or talk about the actual thing?" Byakuya chuckled and instantly, Ichigo relaxed a bit.

"I know you don't love me," the other man's silence was his only confirmation. "But I'm also assuming that you are not that cruel to give me hope where there's none. So my question right now is... are you that cruel?"

"You use such strong words," the Kuchiki heir mused. But he grabbed his lover's hand and squeezed it. "No, I'm not that malicious. Still, I yet cannot name the feelings I have for you."

"There are some, then?"

"Definitely yes. After that unfortunate conversation in the woods I realised that I miss having you by my side when you are away. And when you almost literally fought for me earlier, I felt that something even more. I cannot return your affection straight away but I can still accept it and respect, while trying to come up with the idea for myself in the meantime. Does it satisfy you at the moment?"

"Very much, yes," Ichigo answered with relief. He felt as if some enormous weight was taken from his shoulders, he felt really light-headed. He laughed a little at the thought that if only this 'something' could do that much, then his world, his head and his heart in his sorry chest would definitely explode if this 'something' developed further.

Byakuya looked around his bedroom. The sun was long gone and the only light was a small candle on the night stand. Ichigo followed his gaze and reached for the candle to put it out.

"It's late. I'm going to my room, then. We don't want Rukia to find us in some inappropriate situation in the morning, Ichigo joked and got up. He finished clothing himself and gave Byakuya last soft kiss before leaving the room.

As much as he wanted to stay, he also knew that Byakuya needed time to think. And to be honest, he wasn't in better situation himself.

The story slowly comes to an end – if I/you like it or not. I must admit that I got kind of lost after almost 3 months of not updating or actually doing nothing with the story whatsoever, so I beg for your forgiveness in terms of the plot.