Disclaimer-I own nothing.

Warning-Ichiruki fluff!

No Escape

Chapter 17

Rukia had only meant to close her eyes for a minute before going to eat dinner, but when she opened them again, the light from outside had faded and the shadows in her bedroom had deepened. A glance at the alarm clock told her it was almost eight and she'd been asleep for an hour.

Ichigo sat across the room in a kitchen chair, watching her. He was completely still, unblinking. She couldn't even see his chest moving as he breathed. For a moment, she thought she'd imagined him, but as her head cleared of sleep, he didn't disappear.

The lean lines of his face were tight with worry, and his amber eyes glittered in the soft glow of the night-light she kept in the bathroom.

"What are you doing?" she asked him as she pushed stray strands of hair from her eyes.

"Watching you sleep."

"Why?"

"You hit your head," he said as if that explained it. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm a little stiff, but it's not bad. How's Kon? Is he okay?"

"I made sure he knew you were okay so he wouldn't worry. He went to help Ririn with her trig homework for a couple of hours. He'll be back by ten."

Which left her alone in the house with Ichigo. Just the thought was enough to make her blood heat.

"Do you want something for the pain?" he asked. "Or maybe some dinner?"

She shook her head, trying to figure out what in the world was going through his. He still hadn't moved, and his glittering gaze was starting to make her squirm.

"You don't have to watch me. I'm fine."

Ichigo didn't move. "Go back to sleep, Rukia. You need your rest."

"So do you."

"I'll sleep tomorrow."

"You can't sit there and watch me sleep all night!"

His long fingers tightened around the arms of the chair until his knuckles turned white. "It's either that or I'm climbing into bed with you, close enough that I can feel you breathe. Take your pick."

A slow, honeyed warmth slid through her limbs, making her shiver. Her heart rate picked up and her breathing sped as he stared at her, waiting for her response. Her body was soft and relaxed from sleep, her mind still hovering in that languid state where life's problems had yet to intrude. All there was in her world was the pounding of her heart and Ichigo's intent stare glittering in the darkness.

Before she could stop herself, Rukia patted the mattress next to her.

Rukia felt it then, his shift from protective Ichigo to something more. She saw it in the way his pupils dilated and the way his throat worked as he swallowed. An easy sort of grace fell over him, as if he were stepping into a comfortable pair of jeans.

A bare hint of a smile tilted his mouth, and his eyes slid over her face, taking in the desire she was sure was as plain as day.

Conquest. Victory. That was the look he wore now-the one that told her he knew he was getting what he wanted and liked it that way.

He rose from the chair and stalked across the carpet, his every movement a study in grace. She saw the muscles in his abdomen ripple under his tight T-shirt as he neared her, saw the flex of his thighs as he came toward her.

A shiver raced over her skin, making it tingle with a bubbling hiss of pleasure. She felt a rush of sensation slide through her until it wound around her insides and tightened until it was hard to breathe.

He moved onto the bed, pressing his body close to hers.

"This is good," he said, staring at her mouth. "This is the way it should be."

Rukia couldn't speak. There wasn't enough air in her lungs for speech.

Ichigo's thumb stroked her mouth carefully, and the need to taste his skin swelled up inside her, taking over. No amount of common sense was going to change that blazing need.

Just one taste. That's all she needed to prove to herself that Ichigo held no magic. She could walk away from him whenever she liked.

"Does your mouth hurt?" he asked.

"No," she whispered.

Ichigo's thumb slid over her bottom lip as if testing to be sure.

Before she could stop herself, she licked the salty pad of his thumb and watched as his eyes darkened to a deep chocolate brown.

"Good," he whispered as he tilted her head back and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.

It wasn't enough to quench her desire, not even close. It was way too soft for that, but even so, that one little kiss made Rukia's toes curl. She let out a sigh of need, no longer caring about whatever had bothered her so much a moment ago. After all the pain she'd suffered today, both physically and mentally, the pleasure of Ichigo's kiss felt almost too good. She clenched her hands in his hair to make sure he didn't go away. She needed this too much to let it end.

His lips coaxed hers wider, and she complied without hesitation. He flicked his tongue along her mouth, teasing her, making her want more. Her fists tightened in his hair, and she let out a low growl of desire that she'd never made before. Ichigo made her hungry. Needy.

Her body heated beneath her clothes until she was sure she'd combust. No way was she letting him go. She needed this, needed this pleasure.

Rukia tugged his shirt free of his jeans and slid her hands underneath, over his back. The muscles along his spine were tight, and a fine layer of sweat dampened his skin. So much power was packed into his long, lean body, and she wanted to feel every inch of it.

Ichigo's tongue thrust into her mouth to play with hers, and he let out a deep growl of his own. His hands roamed over her back, questing lower until his long fingers cupped her butt. The feel of his hands on her bottom made her breathing spiral out of control and her stomach quiver.

She knew she was rushing things, and that there was some reason why she shouldn't, but she just didn't care. She'd deal with the consequences later, because she wasn't going to be able to wait much longer to feel Ichigo slide inside her. Not if she wanted to stay sane.

It had been way too long since she'd been with a man, and she needed this-needed to be more than a teacher and a mom and a target. She needed to be a woman, desired and wanted by a man made to give pleasure.

Rukia wedged her hands between their bodies and fumbled for the button on his jeans, letting him know exactly what she wanted.

Ichigo groaned, low and hungry, then pulled his mouth away from hers and covered her hands.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to be blunt. "I want you."

He gave her a slow, bone-melting smile. "I love hearing that, beautiful. I want you too."

She started shaking. She couldn't help it. She'd fantasized about him saying that on more occasions than she cared to count. None of them came close to the real thing. "That's good. We're in agreement."

"But we're friends. I can't stand the thought of fucking that up. Not with you."

"I'd never let that happen."

"Are you sure? It happens to people all the time. Things turn awkward or ugly even though no one wants that."

"Are you saying it's not worth the risk?"

He took her hands and pressed them to the pillow on either side of her head. He held them there while he looked down into her eyes. "What I'm saying is that we don't have to do this. But if we do, I won't let you push me away later. I don't have enough friends in my life to let one as special as you go."

He thought she was special, and that knowledge swelled up inside her, filling her with warmth. "I could never push you away."

Belatedly, she realized she sounded like some kind of schoolgirl with a crush. She felt her cheeks flame and started blabbering. "I mean, I know you're a free man and can do what you want. I swear I won't get clingy or needy or anything. You don't have to worr-"

He grazed her mouth with a finger to stop her. "I just want you to be sure. That's all."

"Oh, I'm sure," she told him. She felt like she'd been waiting for this for years.

AN

Yes my friends, another cliffhanger. And a super short chapter. I've got some bad news. I'm going away to Florida for about a week and a half, so I won't be able to update while I'm there. Hopefully, I can get at least another chapter out before I leave Tuesday morning. Oh well, review please!