A/N : Oookaaay this seemed to be a bit rushed to some around here, but it was planned to let it happen head over heels since this was originally planned as a lemon OS *drop* Though then the story grew bigger and complexer with each day and it become much more than just a OS *stares at the 12 written chapter now* xD So yeah fact is the story will unfold afterward. However its kinda hard to keep one IC in a lemony chapter since we will never see them act this way (lol) but after have rewritten the whole chapter its pretty much near to it...I think o.O I tried to reduce the OOC- moments with the new version to a minimum, so forgive me if there are any left.
It´s the complete beta-d version of chapter 3 - ....finally. Thx to J Luc Pitard for being my awesome beta reader.
Chapter 3: Stay with me
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"I... I thought you were sl-sleeping!'" Shuurei stuttered, blushing. Ryuuki answered with an apologetic smile while his gaze rested softly on her delicate face. His eyes were caught by her adorable flushed cheeks. He was tempted to reach out, to feel the heat on her porcelain skin, but refrained himself on second thought. Shuurei's face may be plain compared to other noble ladies he had seen but he loved every inch of it. To him, it was indeed the most beautiful one. This silly, fleeting moment where neither of them spoke a word created a strange mood between them. Ryuuki wondered why she didn't avert her eyes from his, though neither could he. He felt himself drawn to her cherry, enticing lips and before he fully realized it he was leaning closer, meeting those lips. He immediately felt the shift in her mood, how her body tensed at the touch of their lips. He knew that he'd probably get slapped for acting so forcefully. It had been always that way, so why should there been a change now? Yet, to his amazement, something occurred he'd never thought possible.
Shuurei suddenly relaxed in his arms and kissed him back.
Just lightly and hesitantly but it was enough to send Ryuuki to heaven. It was like in his dreams... no, better! In those two years, he had kissed her a couple of times but each was forced on her, she'd never responded. But now...
She's. Really. Kissing. Me! This thought was boldly hammering in his head. Overwhelmed by this new revelation, he drew her closer until he held her tight and renewed the kiss, this time with more passion. He was stunned that this one was also received by Shuurei without struggle and he found her even leaning in to it. Not that he was complaining- quite the opposite- he was amazed. He felt her arms wrap around his shoulders and her hands began lightly caressing his neck. Shuurei's hesitant action drove him crazy and left him shivering. Holding her in his arms like this after two endless years of longing and loneliness, was more than he ever dared to dream.
Their lips parted only to meet again with more desire. Her heart was beating wildly and her pulse raced. Enclosed in his arms, she felt Ryuuki's heart racing as well. Shuurei wondered why was she letting this happen? What was more, she didn't want him to stop. When Ryuuki had stolen her first kiss she was furious about it though that kiss was nothing compared to the way he kissed her now! The soft yet passionate way he claimed her lips made her feel dizzy and, oddly, so good. The warmth of his body had a very calming and comforting effect on her, while his kisses and light touches sent electric sensations down her spine and left her shivering with delight.
Why was she feeling this way about Ryuuki all of a sudden?
The lines between right or wrong were quickly blurring for Shuurei. A part of her knew what she was doing here wasn't right, though when he had first kissed her, she had forgotten about her intentions to flee from him, even forgotten that he was the emperor and she his subordinate. She was definitely crossing a line she'd never intended to cross.
Shuurei caught herself wanting more of it. More of his kisses, more of the warmth of his body and more of the feelings he caused her to feel inside. Somehow, it seemed that all of her fears and doubts vanished in his arms. She didn't think about her insecurities, of being neither beautiful nor elegant enough for him. No, she felt accepted in his arms, just the way she was- the not so perfect and not so elegant Shuurei.
Maybe this was the reason she did not want him to stop?
The lack of air soon became impossible to ignore. Ryuuki unwillingly separated himself from her with a frustrated groan. He gazed at her in amazement. Her face was flushed and her breathing as fast as his own. Maybe it was just his imagination, but he caught a faint smile on her lips. Those lips! He intended to kiss them all night. Finally he was able to see Shuurei after two long months and so close to him. He tightened his arms around her once more, as if he were afraid she would fade away like a cloud of smoke. Ryuuki leaned his forehead down to hers.
Although it was barely more than a whisper, his voice broke the silence stretching between them. "Shuurei, God I missed you. I've missed you so much." Ryuuki looked deeply into her brown eyes, seeing an expression of bewilderment and was it… entrancement?
So she´s enjoying this as much as I am?
He knew she never would reveal that to him with words. Ryuuki suppressed a grin to avoid unintentionally angering or scaring her away but he was happy to have that assurance. With it, there was no way he would let her to go now; his desire to hold and kiss her like this had only been ignited and was far from being fulfilled. He wondered if he could wish for even more than just kissing and hugging her. That thought thrilled him. Being the emperor- flattered and addressed only as that by most people- he could easily forget at times, that he was a man first.
A man with wishes, hopes and needs he always had to deny and bury underneath for the sake of being the emperor. Every time he saw Shuurei he was reminded, because she was the biggest part of those dreams. Foolish maybe, but loving her was what kept him going through the dragging, repetitive palace days. He did not lie when he said he could not be king for her sake anymore, but it was something that kept him going in his often lonely times.
Although he had many people around him, no matter if they were praising him for his effort or- more likely- cursing him for his faults as an inexperienced ruler, he felt lonely most of the time. Because even his friends saw him only as the king and not the person behind this duty. It was different with Shuurei though, but the times he could spend with her privately were always fleeting and rare since she realized her dream of becoming an official. A dream he made possible for her, because he wanted her to be happy even if that meant to sacrifice his own little piece of happiness.
He pushed these dark thoughts back into the deepest corner of his mind, because it didn't matter at all in this moment. Shuurei was here with him. There was no reason for Ryuuki not to taste more of the forbidden fruit she was. He was finally able to show her how deeply he adored her, without being pushed away. He would've been a fool not to seize this opportunity to make her realize that she was the only one for him, the only woman he ever would hold dear in his heart.
He began to softly kiss her face, which elicited a happy sigh out of her before he found his way back to her sweet soft lips, kissing her again. Chastely at first, as if he were still afraid she would still snap at him for acting like that.
Old habits die hard, he mentally mused and was most happy as Shuurei responded. He deepened the kiss and his breath trembled of anticipation as she parted her lips to give him access to her mouth. Their tongues first met in an unassertive, sweet way and Ryuuki swore he never tasted anything more luscious in his life. He drew her closer and softly caressed her back with his hands without breaking their now intense kiss.
Shuurei was taken aback by all the feelings jolting through her body due to the way he was claiming her mouth. The way Ryuuki acted now was far from the childlike man, she used to know. No, he knew what he was doing here and she couldn't deny that she liked the way he was kissing and touching her. A muffled moan which unintentionally fled her lips was the best proof for this. She felt the strange desire to touch him in the same way. Her fingertips wandered his body instinctively, brushing over heated skin. Shyly at first, because she'd never touched a man like this before. She knew she was doing it right as he shivered at her feathery light touches.
Then they parted once more for air, not for long though. Ryuuki decided it was about time to distract himself with other, more delicate parts of Shuurei's slim body. He showered kisses over her face one more time, then nibbled lightly on her ear before planting gentle kisses along her neck. He paused his exploration at her collarbone, the tender flesh of which he softly suckled. Shuurei's breath hitched and she couldn't stop the loud moan that escaped her lips as she closed her eyes to give in to the sensual sensation. Her fingers clawed into the light fabric of his night gown while her head tilted back in delight. She was far beyond reasonable thinking by now, caught in a storm of emotions.
Hmm, next is... He smirked as his eyes settled on her chest. His hands continued to explore her body without any haste. And Shuurei was fully giving in now to his caressing. He had all night to discover every freckle, every curve of her skin- and he was determined to seize the whole time to please her, to show her his love for her. The alluring view of her small yet dainty breasts caught his eyes, soon followed by his hands which leisurely traced in that direction.
If only I could get rid of her bothering robe, he thought and yearned to touch her soft skin without the troublesome garment but he decided to take one step after another, until she maybe would be ready for that. There was enough time after all and he didn't want to miss a single reaction. He smirked slightly as he noticed her aroused reaction to his touch through the fabric. He intensified his caresses a bit to strengthen he pleasure for her. She leaned her head onto his shoulder, tickling his skin with her fast breath.
Shuurei gave in to this overwhelming feeling but a strange longing had begun to burn between her legs. She pressed her tights together to make it go away however this action seemed only to intensify her craving and she caught herself wishing Ryuuki would touch her there. She wanted to feel him closer to her. Although she was tucked firmly in his arms, it seemed somehow not close enough anymore.
She leaned in to him and began to kiss his neck, the heat of his skin was smoldering on her lips. She never would have imagined that kissing would actually taste good, yet his skin did to her. A bit salty from his dampened hairline, yet mixed with with the smell of soap and the very own scent of his skin she failed to find a comparison to. Though she liked the way he smelled and tasted very much, it was a completely new and exciting experience for her senses. She trailed down the line of his neck with flighty kisses to his collarbone, while her not-so-shy-anymore hands brushed over his clothed, broad chest. She wanted to make to him feel good, the same way he was making her feel. Her actions elicited a deep, throaty groan from his lips.
He caught her mouth once more for a deep kiss while she let her fingertips slip under his garment, wandering on the bare skin from his flanks up to his shoulders. She traced smooth and hesitant lines over his skin; it didn't feel exactly soft under her hands but also not rough- it was just right to her. Ryuuki was trembling, shivering under her touches and broke their kiss for the urge to moan. He buried his face in the crook of her neck and breathing in her enticing scent, licking its sensitive skin. Oblivious to the world around him, he was smelling her, tasting her skin and feeling her hands run free on his body.
Shuurei, Shuurei, Shuurei, he repeated her name like a mantra in his head.
With only those few touches she was driving him crazy; she had that effect on him. Right now he'd forgotten about the endless loneliness, the years of craving of Shuurei, the sometimes very lively and graphic dreams he had of her. This was better! He was utterly happy and wished the night would never end. He quickly got caught up in the desire to feel her closer, really close, right now. He fought against this need because he feared it was too much for her and would still scare her away in the end. Despite that, he was just a man after all- a man entangled in the arms of the woman he loved deeply and had yearned to feel around his neck like this for years.
Shuurei knew from Kouchou that men liked to kiss and... um, other things, but she never expected that a man could enjoy a few simple touches that much. She was amazed by his reactions. Her eyes widened as he laid her down on his bed in a swift movement and lightly hovered her with his body. She gasped as she noticed how he wrestled with the belt of her dress. Was she really willing to--?
She couldn't form an answer to that question. She just knew that she didn't want him to stop touching her, not when it felt so delightful. She felt a chilly breeze cross her bare skin as he finally set her dress loose, letting her shivering briefly. All her concerns were pushed back to the deepest corner of her mind as he kissed her softly again. The honey-blond strands of his hair fell loosely onto her neck and tickled her skin.
Ryuuki broke the kiss too soon for Shuurei and paused in his movements to enjoy observing her exposed body. Her delicate skin gleamed red-golden in the soft candlelight, making her even more ethereal to him. She didn't have the most womanly figure he had seen in his life, yet hers was the most beautiful to him. His eyes roved over her naked skin, never leaving; it was as if he wanted to memorize every inch of her body as an everlasting memory.
Shuurei felt his ardent gaze momentarily lingering on her chest and blushed, feeling awkward. Why does he stare at me like that? She knew she was rather flat-breasted in comparison with other women at her age, not like Jyuusan-hime. She huffed. That thought brought her momentarily back to her senses- until it was scattered to the four winds by an extensive wave of this warm, cozy and needy feeling rapidly building up inside her again. She felt his kisses, the hot wetness of his mouth enclosing one of her breasts- sucking and nibbling it carefully- while the sensitive flesh on the other side was leisurely stroke by his calloused yet very gentle fingertips. Another moan escaped her lips as she got lost in the sheer pleasure of the overwhelming feeling. Her hands restlessly flickered over his shoulder, tousling through his hair, gripping its silky strands.
She tasted sweeter than honey and wine, her enticingly soft skin and the fierce, passionate reactions of hers aroused him even more. Ryuuki let his hand wander to her legs, up her thighs, caressing softly the area around her center without touching her there. His need for her grew bigger from every second until it became almost unbearable. He wanted her so badly now, the pulsing between his legs was so intense it was nearly painful. He desisted from her breasts, kissing her neckline, before continuing his exploration with butterfly kisses on her flat belly.
His fingertips wandered. He discovered the gentle sensations of her inner thigh and the smoldering wetness of her folds. Her breath hitched, only to accelerate faster than before as she felt his touches. That strange longing turned into an aching and yet she felt all light-headed and blissful as his fingers started to rub that spot skillfully. She'd stroked that spot out of curiosity one night after Kouchou told her that was the point of woman's pleasure. It had felt good, yet it was nothing compared to the wonders of Ryuuki´s touches now. Shuurei whimpered in bliss, her whole body starting to feel light.
She wanted more, so she pressed herself closer to him and gasped as she felt his hardness, a clear sign of his own arousal. She felt herself losing control more and more as every wave brought her closer to the peak. Ryuuki muffled her moans with his kisses, mixing them with his own as her hips bucked up, colliding firmly against his eager crotch. He was utterly thrilled about the precious sight before his eyes as he continued to work his fingers slowly between her legs. Thrilled about her delighted face lost in pleasure, about the moans which came so carefree from her lips, he was most thrilled to be the first man ever to bestow her with such feelings, such lust.
He tasted the salt on her dampened skin as he licked down the line of her neck to her cleavage. With his other hand he groped around her back, pulling her firmly up to him and tucking her tightly to his chest. He needed to feel her close, wanted her so badly. Yet even this closeness wasn't enough for him anymore. He craved for more.
Ryuuki pulled away from her center to hold her with his other arm as well, ignoring her frustrated groan. Simultaneously he nibbled softly on her earlobe, causing her another shiver. An, "I want you" escaped unintentionally from his lips, groaning raspy in her ear. Although he hadn't meant to say it out loud, he hoped she'd get the meaning because he couldn't hold back much longer. Yet he wouldn't do anything Shuurei didn't want as well. Her response was immediate, though non-verbal. She wrapped her arms around him, pressing her waist close to his body and kissing him softly on the lips. Shuurei didn't care about right or wrong anymore, she just didn't want to stop now; didn't want to stop these feelings, which made her feel so light and warm at the same time. She couldn't say why but she felt at ease in his arms, happy actually. The closeness and the smoldering, comfortable heat of his body letting her heart eagerly flutter between its accelerated thumping.
That was all the answer he needed from her. Ryuuki intensified the kiss she had started while quickly disposing his night gown with a few proficient movements. The lightheaded feeling gripped Shuurei again as he started to fondle one of her breasts. She watched dazedly as he moved himself fully between her thighs now and positioned himself at her hips. Gently beginning to move. Her breath hitched as she felt a short, sharply pain down there, but was quickly distracted by Ryuuki's loving kiss and tight embrace. It took a few moments before this faint aching turned into something sensational, growing more so as he carefully started moving. She let out a loud moan due to the shuddering waves of lust which seemed to encircle her whole being now. Hands fluttered over the back of his body, desperately searching for something to grip, as she felt her whole body starting to tremble. She found hold on the sheets, clawing it between her fingers, before he took her tiny hand and gently entwined it in his own. She nuzzled her head into his chest, muffled screams of lust into it before he caught her mouth for a passionate, deep kiss.
Ryuuki had indulged with women before to cease his boredom and loneliness when he was still the neglected prince. Though when he became the emperor he stopped because he didn't want to become like his father, who slept with several women for the sole purpose to beget an heir to the throne. Those reckless "actions" of his father also indirectly caused the civil war years ago, during which the whole population of Saiunkoku had to suffer and still hadn't fully recovered yet. However making love to the one woman he deeply adored was totally different from his former experiences- so special. Being with Shuurei this way filled his heart with utter bliss. He rapidly moaned her name into the crook of her neck as he felt himself losing into sweet oblivion.
After the tension was finally released, he sank exhausted into her arms, listening to her labored breathing and her heartbeat which wasn't any less frantic than his. Both remained silent, simply enjoying the presence and cozy comfort of each other. Shuurei lazily ran her fingers through his long silky hair, while yawning wholeheartedly. She felt utterly exhausted but also kind of... peaceful. Yet somehow she couldn't shake off the feeling of embarrassment for doing all these things with Ryuuki, for going overboard like this. She was too tired now to worry about things like that though. For now she just wanted to put that in abeyance and find the needed sleep.
Ryuuki smiled at the fuzzy, warm feeling inside and doubted that he had ever felt happier in his life than right in that moment. He looked at her, caressed her cheek and kissed her lips very softly, murmuring "I love you" into it. Shuurei blushed and didn't answer his confession, trying to avoid his loving stare. She turned away from him to the side, tiredly hugging the silky blanket to her naked body. She fell almost instantly into a deep slumber. Ryuuki smiled before cuddling close to her back. He knew Shuurei wasn't a person for emotional words. It had always his role to swear undying love, though even without her words he was finally able to tell that she felt similarly for him. She still might be trying to hide it but her actions and behavior told him otherwise because the Shuurei he was holding in his arms right now, wasn't yelling at him or pushing him away as usual, no she was actually enjoying his nearness and even feeling comfortable in his arms.
What a wonderful revelation, he beamed on this thought, before his eyelids became heavy and he fell asleep.
At Shuurei´s side.