I DON'T OWN BLEACH

All Yaoi action sequences monitored by Yaoi fangirls, no Yaoi boy's were injured in this fanfiction.

Snaps to Gloaming Grove my beta; Thank you for your time and speed at returning my annoying emails.

"A man's kiss is his signature."
Mae West

Chapter 4; Sucking on Strawberries.

After climbing back into his body, Ichigo slides open the bathroom door. Turning the faucet in the shower, he adjusts the temperature to as hot as he can stand. Discarding his school uniform, he glances up at his reflection in the large wall-size mirror. His face seems to reveal none of the inner turmoil . The events that took place downstairs only a few moments ago plague his mind.

Ichigo is certain, with little room for doubt, that Byakuya Kuchiki looked at him with desire. Furthermore, Ichigo felt the same stirring inside him for the dark haired noble. Turning away from his deceptive reflection, he steps into the warm shower. Pressing his palms against the cool tiled wall above his head, he dips his head under the faucet. The water flows over him, quickly soaking his hair and body. Showers normally help him clear his head and focus on solving any problem that confuses him. However, Ichigo's thoughts continually return to the man wearing the navy blue nemaki;and Byakuya's wide shoulders and toned chest showing through the gap of his clinging clothing. This is defiantly the first time Ichigo has ever felt such an overwhelming attraction to anyone.

"I have no idea what to do about this." He mumbles to the shower as he squeezes shampoo into his hair.

XXX

Meanwhile, Byakuya changes into a plain black T-shirt and matching slacks. After brushing his hair, he goes into the kitchen looking for something to eat. Opening cabinet after cabinet, finding nothing, he growls slightly. Since becoming human he has constantly felt hungry, or an unusual emptiness inside.

"Urahara...you do need to eat, right?" Byakuya's voice echoes in the empty refrigerator. Slamming the door of the icebox, he folds his arms over his chest. "I'm starving."

"Same." Ichigo's head appears in the kitchen; he is holding up a phone book and a cell phone. "Delivery, or the ramen shop around the corner?"

"I would like to try pizza, I have heard Rukia speak of it." Byakuya answers careful to keep his gaze from falling on the orange hair he had smelled earlier.

"Delivery it is."

During dinner the two men avoid speaking of the events downstairs. Both, content to deny the attraction pulling them toward one another.

"Well Byakuya, what do you think of Pizza?" Ichigo asks watching Byakuya finish his third slice.

"Good stuff." Byakuya replies wiping his mouth with a napkin putting his plate in the kitchen sink.

"Tomorrow...you learn to swim." Ichigo announces, pointing at Byakuya with a smirk as he returns to the main room.

"Are we going back to the high school pool?" Byakuya asks, downing his second glass of sake.

"Nah, it's a holiday. I asked Urahara and he said to go down to the training room in the morning and toss this on the ground." Ichigo holds up a small black disk that looks like a hockey puck.

"What is it?"

"No clue. Guess we will find out in the morning. I told him we would watch the shop for him over the three day week end, and he just grinned then gave it too me." Ichigo replies, setting it down and walking over to the closet. He pulls out two futons and Byakuya walks over and takes his.

Dragging the bed a few feet away, Byakuya opens up the mattress and stretches out on it. His tolerance is shot; the sake is starting to make his head feel fuzzy, yet another drawback of being human. With nothing else to do, his eyes follow Ichigo around the room until he vanishes out of sight down the hall. Downing another cup, Byakuya rolls over on his belly and sets his chin in his palm. His eye-lids drop slightly just as Kurosaki reappears carrying a bowl of strawberries.

"Here, Karin dropped off some food, Yuzu is afraid you will starve to death. You look like you need something sweet to eat before bed." Ichigo says setting the bowl down and dropping to his knees next to Byakuya.

"Strawberries are my favorite." Byakuya replies, his voice is heavy with longing, as his lips curl up into a small thin smile.

"..." Ichigo almost drops the slice of fruit as he looks at Byakuya smiling for the first time. Ichigo is speechless, biting down on the sweet fruit. He is too preoccupied with Byakuya's incredible smile to notice the strawberry juice dripping down his lips to his chin, his eyes looking at Byakuya with a singular focus like tunnel vision. He is distracted to the point he doesn't see Byakuya's hand reach out and touch his face.

Byakuya's long fingers trace the path of the pink juice on Ichigo's chin, collecting it. Then pulling his hand back he dips them in his mouth tasting its sweetness. "Delicious." His blue eyes, never leaving Ichigo's, search for a reaction.

"Y-you didn't eat any." Ichigo stumbles over his words and swallows a knot in his throat. He watches Byakuya's graceful fingers pick up a strawberry and bite down on the end, his smooth, soft-looking lips becoming moist from the juice. Ichigo sucks in his lower lip, running his tongue over it in the darkness of his mouth.

"Kurosaki...do you want to kiss me?" Byakuya's gaze flicks to the young shinigami's lips, seeing them tremble.

"No..I.." Ichigo starts to move away, to run far from this intense need to be touched by Byakuya Kuchiki. Byakuya grabs his wrist and pulls him toward his futon. In a swift motion Ichigo's flat on his back laying next to Byakuya.

"Why lie about it?" Byakuya lifts Ichigo's white T-shirt and slides his hand up the warm skin of his belly to the tight skin of Ichigo's chest. "Is it because I'm a man?" Byakuya leans over, expecting a snappy response from the man shaking under him. Ichigo whispers, "No.." barely audible, his fierce brown eyes looking Byakuya directly in the face.

"I can feel your heart beating." His hand stops moving over Ichigo's sternum to savor in the wonderful vibration. "If I lean over you..will your heart beat faster, for me?" Byakuya's shadow eclipses Ichigo, and he slowly lowers his head closer. His dark bangs fall over part of his face concealing the intense desire burning in his eyes. "It's pounding so very fast." Byakuya leans closer and notices Ichigo clamp his eyes shut firmly and wrinkle his eyebrows together. Ichigo's reaction sinks in, and Byakuya immediately regrets pushing him too far. "Forgive me." Byakuya mutters and then quietly leaves the room, sliding the door closed behind him. He takes three steps out the door then slides down the wall, shutting his eyes, with his hand over his face. "What have I done?"

Time passes and the door opens silently. Ichigo peeks outside, seeing Byakuya's sitting form asleep leaning against the wall near the door. Biting on his lower lip, Ichigo kneels down in front of the sleeping man, his hand gently lifting the mass of black hair away from his peaceful face. Ichigo's tongue snakes over his lips moistening them; then slowly, carefully, moves closer to Byakuya. Parting his damp lips, Ichigo lightly brushes Byakuya's lips with his. Byakuya's eyes flutter open from the brief contact to find Ichigo's mouth near his. Ichigo's eyes grow wide and he stands up, raking a hand through his orange hair.

"Ichigo...I'll ask you one last time." Byakuya stands up his smooth, perfect skin illuminated by the faint glow of the moonlight shinning through the window. "Do you want to kiss me?"

"I-I do." Ichigo holds his hands up in front of him. "But, I don't know if I'm ready for...you know, everything. I've never been so completely distracted by someone's presence."

"I see."

"I don't even understand it. This is all very new to me, and I..." Ichigo lowers his hands and sighs. "I'd like to take this slow, that is...if you don't mind."

"Agreed." Byakuya's voice is firm and confident as he walks toward Ichigo with his hands at his sides.

"That's it? I thought you would be mad?" Ichigo's eyebrow arches in shock.

"You can set any limitations on me, I will honor them." Byakuya lifts his hand and lightly touches Ichigo jaw. "Now about my kiss....since you stole the first one. I will take the second one."

Byakuya gently nudges Ichigo back, pressing him into the wall. Stepping between Ichigo's legs, he presses his body into him. Byakuya licks his lips and brushes them over Ichigo's, sending a warmth down his Ichigo's spine. The dark haired noble lifts his hands up on each side of Ichigo's face and touches the wall, the contact reminding him of his limits and keeping him from pushing too far. Byakuya's mouth glides over Ichigo's again, this time pausing. Their lips part and Byakuya tastes him for the first time. The sweet, seductive hint of strawberry mixed with Ichigo's natural flavor drifts into Byakuya's mouth. Byakuya can't resist widening the kiss, and opens his mouth more to allow the tip of his tongue to caress Ichigo soft lips.

The rush of his heartbeat droning in his ears mixed with the feeling of Byakuya's tongue dipping inside his mouth is sending a wave of emotions over Ichigo. He feels warmth on his lips and fire in his stomach. Byakuya's sweet fragrance is brushing over him like a thousand feathers. Ichigo closes his eyes and sinks down into the storm. He feels a moan escape his lips as his tongue meets Byakuya's for the first time. The excitement and desire entice him, like a moth to a flame, Ichigo's lips move and dance around Byakuya's seeking the heat of a flame.

Byakuya's teeth begin to nibble gently at Ichigo's bottom lip as the kiss intensifies. Byakuya is not prepared for the incredible sounds escaping Ichigo's throat and echoing into his mouth, the vibration of his moan causing him to grow hard in an instant. With a slight hiss, Byakuya rubs up against Ichigo lightly to show him the effect the orange haired shinigami was having on him. The shock of the contact breaks the kiss and Byakuya pulls back. They stand panting with their eyes on each other, at a loss for words. Byakuya blinks several times his eyes trying to focus, when Ichigo ends the silence between them.

"That...was just kissing?" Ichigo slides down the wall, his chest heaving quickly. "Is it always like that?"

"No, that was...new for me too." Byakuya replies, bracing his hand on a nearby wall. "First time I have ever felt dizzy, maybe it's the sake?"

"Nah, can't be...I didn't drink any."

Author's notes; I being fully aware that Byakuya doesn't like sweets would like to point out...he didn't say which strawberry tastes good. Double metaphor= sexy. Furthermore, Byakuya only ate one! About Byakuya's drinking...This fic is for adults so it shouldn't bother anybody, right? His technical age being over 200...so let's just leave it at that. I hope you review, not getting a lot of reviews snivels.....This chapter brought to you by the following lovely reviewers.........

ramecupmiso

happygirl24

raven

Thank you!!! Click review GOGO!

Chapter 5; "Urahara....is staring at me"