AN

Yeah, so I decided to keep going after all.

Disclaimer-I own nothing.

Warning-Ichiruki sex!

No Escape

Chapter 18

Ichigo could barely keep his hands from ripping the clothes from Rukia's body. He told himself to slow down, but it didn't work. He'd never wanted a woman like he wanted Rukia, and it scared him almost as much as it thrilled him.

Using a large chunk of reserve willpower, Ichigo kept his pace slow, giving her time to change her mind, though he wasn't sure he'd survive it if she did. His member had been hard and aching for her since the moment her lips touched his thumb, and there was nothing he could do to convince it to settle down. Normally, he had more control, but apparently not where Rukia was concerned.

She was stretched out under him, her petite body fitting perfectly under his.

She looped her hands around his neck and pulled him down hard. Her mouth crashed against his in a ferocious kiss full of blatant need. Her tongue demanded entry into his mouth, and Ichigo's body heated another notch as he let her in.

Rukia clung to him. Her grip around his neck was unbreakable, and one thigh rubbed against the outside of his leg. She was panting as she kissed him, giving him desperate little noises of need that thrilled him like nothing else ever had.

There was no question that she wanted him, and that was enough to allow Ichigo to let go and give her what she wanted. No more reservation. No more holding back. Rukia was his.

He straddled her hips, being careful to keep his weight from hurting her. "How's your back?" he asked.

She frowned for a second as if she didn't understand what he was talking about, which was good enough to convince him it wasn't really bothering her. "It's good."

"If it hurts, tell me."

"So you can stop? I don't think so! I'd rather suffer."

Ichigo gave her a wicked smile. "I wouldn't stop, but I would roll you over and take you that way. I'd make sure you enjoyed it."

Her amethyst eyes darkened, and Ichigo made a mental note to put that on his list of things to do to her.

Her quick hands had already found their way under his shirt and roamed over his bare skin. When they slid over his chest, she closed her eyes and groaned. "Take it off," she ordered him.

Always willing to please a lady, Ichigo stripped out of his shirt.

Rukia sucked in a breath and went totally still. "Wow. I didn't think men like you actually existed outside of Hollywood."

"I'm glad you like what you see."

He let her touch him for another few moments until the feel of her slender fingers on his skin made him shake. If she didn't stop, he was going to burst before he'd even had a chance to get her naked.

Just the thought was enough to push him closer to the edge, and he had to take several deep breaths to ease away from the point of no return. He captured her hands and pressed hot, open-mouthed kisses against her palms.

Rukia shivered and her eyes slid shut. "You like that?" he asked, knowing the answer already.

"Like your mouth on me."

Oh, yeah. That was good. He planned on getting his mouth on a lot more of her. Right now. "My turn," he told her as he started to undo the row of buttons down the front of her shirt.

He peeled back the shirt slowly, teasing her as much as he was himself. He could see her pink nipples through the thin fabric of her bra as they puckered and tightened for him. Like her hips, her breasts fit her slender frame perfectly, giving her graceful female curves that made his mouth water.

He made quick work of her bra and found smooth, hot skin beneath.

Ichigo traced a finger from her throat, down the center of her body, and back again. Rukia squirmed beneath him, and a pretty pink flush bloomed over her chest.

"Stop teasing and touch me," she said in a breathless voice.

"I am touching you, Love."

"You know what I mean!"

Of course he did, but he also knew how much better for her it would be if he made her really want it. Like he did.

"Like this?" He drew his finger along the underside of her breast, closing in on but not quite reaching her nipple.

Rukia twisted, but Ichigo's weight kept her pinned in place. "Payback is hell, Ichigo!"

His smile widened. "I can hardly wait."

Rather than touch her like she wanted, he leaned down and pressed his torso to hers, letting his chest hair tickle her skin. She groaned and arched her back to complete the contact.

The feel of her tight little nipples against his chest should not have affected him quite so violently, but it did. He was mostly naked. With Rukia. Touching her. He gritted his teeth to stave off his impending explosion and took several deep, sucking breaths.

What the hell was wrong with him? He could normally tease a woman for hours without getting so worked up. Something about Rukia was different, and if he didn't want to embarrass himself, he was going to have to change his usual tactics.

Her mouth was on level with his throat, and she flicked her tongue out over his skin in a hot, wet caress. Her hands slid over his back as if soaking up the heat of his skin.

If she wanted heat, he'd give her an inferno.

Ichigo pushed up off of her enough to maneuver his body down so he could finally kiss her breasts. He licked and nipped his way down her neck and over her collarbone, leaving a trail of damp skin in his wake. Her lungs were working overtime, and that was all the proof Ichigo needed that she was right there with him.

He closed his mouth over the tip of her breast and felt her nipple harden further against his tongue. Rukia let out a soft whoosh of air and grabbed a double fistful of his hair. He suckled gently, keeping his teeth away until she was ready for that kind of intense sensation.

And at this rate, she would be soon.

He'd never been with a woman who got so hot so fast. It was enough to make a man's head swell, as well as his member. His heart was pounding, shoving blood through his veins, but it did little to cool him down. He didn't know how much longer he'd be able to last as turned on as he was, but he was going to find out.

Ichigo switched his attention to her other breast and looped his thumbs in the waistband of her pants. He needed to get his hands on her luscious ass.

The pants and stretchy panties went down without a fight. Ichigo followed suit, kissing his way down over her ribs and stomach. He looked up to see if she was still with him but was distracted by her still-wet, distended nipples. He'd done that to her-made her body show him just how much she liked his mouth. And he wanted to do it again. Lower this time.

He made quick work of stripping her legs bare the rest of the way and urged her thighs to open for him. She gave in, melting beneath his touch, and when he kissed his way up along the inside of her thigh, she quivered and dug her fingers into his hair.

Ichigo let her guide him and kept careful track of the things that made her suck in her breath or let it out in a blissful moan. He knew he'd never get enough of her, never get tired of having her spread out before him like an offering, making her feel good.

Sweet, lovely Rukia was all his.

Her body tensed, drawing tighter as Ichigo used his mouth, tongue, and fingers to pleasure her. The woman taste of her, the smell of her arousal made him ache with the need for release, but he wasn't ready to give in to the urge just yet.

But Rukia had other ideas. She tugged at his hair, trying to pull him up to cover her body.

Ichigo grudgingly gave in and lay down beside her where he could kiss her. He loved her mouth, all soft and supple against his. A man could live for years on fantasies about her mouth alone.

Her fingers found his waistband, and she tugged in an effort to free the button of his jeans. When it didn't work, she resorted to rubbing his erection through his jeans.

Pleasure rocketed up his spine, and he let out a hiss of surprise. It must have just been too long since he'd gotten laid or something. It was the only reason he could think of that it felt so good this time. Better than it should have.

Ichigo didn't need any more encouragement to convince him to get naked. He wanted to feel her fingers stroke naked flesh before he had to don a condom. He'd love to feel her mouth, too, but he'd take whatever she wanted to give and count himself the luckiest man alive.

It took him longer than normal to get his pants off, even though he sat on the edge of the bed to make it easier. Rukia was kneeling on the bed behind him, rubbing her breasts against his bare back as she kissed his neck and stroked his shoulders and chest. For some reason, his jeans were stuck, and there wasn't enough blood left in his brain for him to figure out how to fix the problem for a few seconds. Finally, the brain cells sputtered enough for him to remember he was still wearing boots. He fumbled to unlace them, and finally, he was home free.

Rukia reached around him and wrapped her hands around his jutting member. "Do you have a condom?" she asked.

Ichigo's head was about to blow off from the force of sensation that shot through him at her touch. It took a moment for her words to make sense through the buzz of pleasure filling his ears. "We're not going to need one if you keep touching me like this. I'll explode in your hands instead."

He pulled on her wrists and she let him go. When he turned around, she reached for him, smiling.

She didn't try to hide her body. In fact, she didn't appear shy at all with him. Not that she had any reason to be. She was beautiful. Petite, slim, but not skinny, and curved like a woman should be in all the right places. The way her nipples stood out made his mouth water for another taste, and those long legs of hers were going to feel so good wrapped around his waist. He was sure of it.

Ichigo had no idea what he'd done to deserve this time with her, but he hoped he figured it out fast enough that he could do it some more before he left.

He went into her outstretched arms and kissed her. She purred her pleasure into his mouth, and he eased her back down to the mattress.

The feel of her naked body stretched out next to his was exquisite. She was all smooth and soft everywhere he looked. Everywhere he touched.

His hands roamed over her hip, down into the indentation of her waist, and back up over her ribs. He traced the delicate bones with his fingertip until he worked his way up high enough to cup her breast. Gently, he pinched her nipple between two fingers. She leaned into his touch and shivered, so he knew he was doing it just like she liked.

A satisfied smile curved Ichigo's mouth as he kissed his way over her jaw and down her neck. He wanted to feel her nipples against his tongue again and make her writhe with need. He latched on to her other breast and she nearly came off the bed.

"Ichigo!" His name was a breathless sigh of need, a sound he'd never forget.

"Let me feel you," he said, barely pressing his fingertips against her mound. "Open your legss, Ruki."

Rukia did, and Ichigo let his hand slide down over her slick, hot skin. She was wet for him, scalding hot.

Ichigo groaned, and his hips bucked against her once before he got himself back under control. He couldn't stop his fingers from parting her soft folds to feel her more completely, nor could he stop himself from pressing one finger inside her. She was snug but relaxed, and he slid in easy.

Rukia sucked in a breath and stiffened. Her legs clamped closed on his arm, locking his hand against her.

"Give me the condom," she told him.

"In a minute. There's no hurry."

"That's not what you said a minute ago."

"A minute ago, you had your hands wrapped around Mini Ichigo. I'm more in control now."

"Oh, yeah?" She reached down and stroked his erection from tip to base and back again. "How about now?" she taunted.

Ichigo's voice shook when he ordered her, "Let go of my hand."

Rukia relaxed her legs, freeing his hand. Ichigo fetched a condom from his jeans and ripped it open with his teeth and covered himself.

"Spread your legs for me," he said as he moved over her. Rukia complied, but not enough to make room for his body. He nudged her knees farther apart and settled between them. His member throbbed, begging for him to shove himself inside her, but that was the caveman side of his brain talking. Instead, he rubbed against her slick folds without penetrating her.

Rukia shifted restlessly beneath him, gripping his hips as if she could actually control where they went. She spread her legs wider and lifted her bottom. "If you don't stop teasing me, I'm going to-!"

Before she could finish her threat, Ichigo eased his erection a few inches into her slippery body. She stiffened and dug her nails into his flesh.

He was pretty sure he wasn't going to make it more than two minutes, and he'd be damned if he came before she did. He had his pride.

"You good?" he squeaked out.

She hummed her approval and grabbed his ass, pulling him closer.

Ichigo could take a hint with the best of them, so he pressed forward, sliding in a couple more inches.

Rukia started panting, which was either a really good sign, or a really bad one.

"You still with me?" he asked.

"Oh, yeah. Right here all the way."

Ichigo kissed her and began a slow, steady pace. He tried not to think about how good she felt so tight and slippery around his member. Instead, he focused on her reactions. Gauged her breathing and all the little hitches he caused when he drove deep. He found the spot she liked and angled his hips to hit it just right. It didn't take long before she was digging her fingernails into his back, arching up to meet his thrusts.

Ichigo felt the crushing weight of his climax bearing down on him. Sweat beaded on his skin, and he recognised he was nearing the point where all rational thought vanished. Where all that existed was his own body and the pleasure he could wring from it. He didn't want to do that to Rukia-didn't want to use her like that.

He eased an arm under her hips to raise her slightly and pushed into her until he was seated to the hilt. She tensed and clutched his biceps, making desperate little panting noises that made Ichigo feel like the biggest stud on the planet. Her eyes were dark, with only thin rings of violet around the pupils. Her hips undulated, grinding her clitoris against his pubic bone, pushing her closer to the edge.

"That's right," he whispered to her. "Almost there, beautiful." He pinched her nipple and gave it a slight tug.

Rukia sucked in a breath and held it. Her hips bucked harder and Ichigo shifted, giving her the extra friction she needed in short, hard thrusts.

He felt her climax ripple through her belly and tighten the muscles gripping his member. Rukia let out a long, low cry of release, and he couldn't hold back any longer. Not with her sweet voice filling his ears and the scent of her arousal filling the air.

He let go of his control as she came, moving in long, frantic thrusts that sent him over the edge in seconds. Raw pleasure spiraled up his spine and coursed out over his limbs. His member throbbed as he came, shoved as deep into Rukia's tight body as he could go. His vision went a little gray around the edges, but he didn't care. Nothing mattered but the soft cushion of her sated body beneath his and the aftershocks of pleasure ricocheting through his system.

His heart was pounding hard, and the ragged sound of his breathing filled the room.

Ichigo had had a lot of sex in his life, but he'd never had an orgasm as intense as that. In fact, he still wasn't sure he was going to live through it.

A man could get used to sex like that. If it didn't kill him outright.

Rukia's hands stroked his back in clumsy sweeps. She wasn't any better off than he was if the way her heart was racing like a rabbit's was any indication. And he was crushing her, which couldn't be comfortable.

Ichigo lifted himself off of her, hating the feeling of separating his body from hers. He would have loved to stay joined with her, as close as a man could get, but he didn't dare risk it.

He pulled away from her and sprawled on the bed until he could find the strength to get rid of the spent condom.

"That was... wow," she said, her voice as unsteady as his pulse.

"Amen."

"I'm just going to rest here for a minute, okay?"

Ichigo leaned over her and kissed her eyelids, her nose, her bruised cheek. Even with the bruises, she was the most precious, beautiful thing he'd ever seen. Generous and kind. He was a lucky man to have her in his life, if only for a short time now and then.

She grabbed his head so she could get a proper kiss. Her lips were soft, a little puffy from all the attention he'd been giving them. He'd never get enough of her mouth, not if he married her and he lived to be a hundred.

The thought jolted him, scaring him to death. He wanted to settle down someday, but not until he was sure he could be a decent husband and father. He would not do to Rukia, or any other woman, what his father did to him and his mom. Until he was sure that he wasn't wired the same as his old man, he had no right to think about marriage or family, no matter how much he wanted it.

Wanting something and being able to have it were two different things. He had to remember that so no one got hurt.

"I'll be back in a minute. Gotta clean up."

Rukia gave a sleepy nod, and Ichigo used the excuse to escape to the bathroom. He needed a moment alone to clear his head and get his priorities straight. Sex with Rukia was fantastic, and he was already aching to do it again, but he had a job to do. He had to keep her, Kon, Momo, Natsuki, and even Renji safe, and he wasn't going to do that if he kept thinking with his junk.

There was work he needed to do, and it was about damn time he got to it.

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

Momo's home was dark when she pulled in to the cracked driveway that was now closer to gravel than concrete. The scent of old cooking oil clung to her uniform and hair, making her stomach turn.

She'd lost too much weight since she'd left her husband, but too much worry and not enough time to eat had taken its toll. She'd thought the worst was over-that she was finally getting back on her feet.

And now this.

If she left town-assuming her car would even get her that far-all her hard work and meager savings would be gone in days. There was no friend she could stay with. She'd lied to Rukia because the truth was too humiliating. Her husband had torn her away from every friend she'd ever had in an effort to isolate and control her. And God help her, she'd let him, thinking it might bring them closer, might make him happy.

Momo's head dropped to the steering wheel with a thud. She was so tired. Worn too thin. A sad, secret part of her almost wished for it all to end so she could finally rest.

If it weren't for Natsuki, Momo was pretty sure she would have saved the killer the trouble by now and taken care of the job herself.

But she did have Natsuki, so she kept going even though she was numb with fatigue, struggling for every breath while simultaneously wondering why she bothered.

Momo locked her car out of habit, even though no one would want it, and went inside.

Her babysitter, Michiru, was asleep on the couch. She was just about as shy and timid as Natsuki, but she was a good kid, and Momo didn't exactly have a lot of choices for child care in her neighborhood.

She gave Michiru's shoulder a gentle shake. "Wake up. I'm home."

The teen's brown eyes opened and she shoved her short brown hair out of her face. "You're home early."

"Yeah. I wasn't feeling well." At least it wasn't a lie. "Go on home, and thanks for watching Natsuki for me."

Michiru grabbed her backpack and shambled out the door. "Why is there a cop car out here?"

Momo looked past Michiru, and sure enough, a police car was parked out in front of her house. The officers inside saw her and nodded.

Rukia's doing, no doubt. Momo was sure of it.

"I don't know," lied Momo. "Guess the police are just patrolling the area."

Momo stood on the porch and watched Michiru, making sure she got home safe and sound. The neighborhood wasn't horrible, but it got worse each year. A lot like her life.

When Michiru disappeared behind her front door, Momo went back inside, stifling a sigh of defeat. Her house was a wreck. Bills and junk mail littered every horizontal surface. Laundry was piled in one corner, waiting for her to find time to get to it. There was a sinkful of dishes and a nearly empty pantry she didn't have the money to fill.

If she left, it wasn't as if she'd be leaving much behind. A few belongings. A lot of bad memories.

She found herself standing in Natsuki's doorway, watching her sleep. She seemed to gravitate there when things were bad. Natsuki was the one bright spot in her life, and even though she was a sad, broken child, at least they were together. A pair of sad, broken people trying to find their way to happiness.

Momo's one wish was that Natsuki would succeed.

She shifted in her sleep, whimpering and curling into a tighter ball under the threadbare blanket. Momo's heart twisted as she went to hold her daughter.

Her husband had been gone almost a year now, but he still managed to ruin their lives. She prayed every night he'd burn in hell for it, and if that made her a bad person, then so be it.

"Mommy?" said Natsuki, in a tiny, frightened voice. She'd learned to be quiet at her father's hand and had never lost the habit.

"I'm here, baby. Mommy's here."

Natsuki clung to her, her thin body surprisingly strong. Maybe the rest of her was strong, too. Rukia seemed to think so. Momo could only hope.

"I was dreaming again."

"It's just a dream. It's not real." Anymore.

"Can I sleep with you tonight?"

"I was thinking we could take a little trip. Go somewhere fun, like a vacation."

Natsuki rubbed her eyes. "Now?"

"Sure. Why not?"

"It's night."

"I know. We can see the stars better this way."

Her bottom lip started to wobble. "I don't want to go."

"Why not?"

Natsuki's grip tightened, and Momo could feel her trembling. "Please don't make me go!"

Momo had no idea what had upset Natsuki, but she pulled her into a tight hug and rocked her. "It'll be fun. You'll see."

Natsuki pushed away and scrambled against the far wall, clutching the covers tight against her chest. "I don't want to go back! I'll be good! I promise!"

"Go back where, baby. I don't know what you mean."

"To live with Daddy. Please don't make me. I'll be good, Mommy."

Momo captured her daughter's face gently in her hands, making sure she was looking right into her eyes. The fear she saw there nearly tore her apart, and she'd do anything to take away the pain Natsuki had suffered. "I'd never send you away, baby. Not ever. You and I are a team, and I'd never be able to get along without you."

"You wouldn't?"

"Not a chance. What made you think I'd ever send you away?"

"Keitaro told me. His mom sent him to live with his dad so she could have a boyfriend."

"Baby, the last thing I want is a boyfriend. And even if I did, I'd never want one who didn't want you."

"You sure?"

"Positive."

"Then I don't have to go?"

Natsuki was on the verge of another breakdown. Momo could see it in the desperate gleam brightening her eyes. She couldn't survive that again. Neither of them could.

Of course, they wouldn't survive a killer, either.

"I'm sorry, baby. We have to go. But don't worry, we're not going anywhere near Daddy."

"Promise?" asked Natsuki as her chin started to tremble and her eyes filled with tears.

"I swear it. We'll go see Mashiro. Remember her?" Mashiro had been Momo's closest friend for years before her husband had slept with her and shoved a wedge between them. Mashiro had moved to Hokkaido for work, and even though they hadn't spoken since, maybe she'd open her door to them for a few days. It was worth a shot.

Natsuki nodded. "She had lime green hair."

A small smile tugged at Momo's mouth. "You're right. That's her."

"I liked her."

"Good. That makes two of us. Put on some clothes while I pack, and I'll meet you downstairs."

Momo didn't own a suitcase, so she threw the few good outfits she and Natsuki had into a trash bag and hauled it out to her trunk.

Ten minutes later, they were on the road in a car that barely started. Momo had fifty bucks in her pocket and a credit card that was nearly maxed out. Beside her, Natsuki sat in silence, clutching her pillow as she stared out at the road ahead.

Behind them, a police cruiser followed at a discreet distance as they hit the highway and headed to Hokkaido.

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

Renji stayed hidden in Momo's closet until his legs started to go numb. He'd heard the front door close and the engine of Momo's car rattle to life about ten minutes ago, but he wasn't sure if it was safe to come out yet.

The police were here. He'd heard Momo talking about it with her babysitter.

Renji couldn't be caught now. Not yet. So he stayed hidden and waited until he was sure they'd left.

In her haste to leave, Momo had left the bedroom light on, and the dingy lace curtains would do nothing to obscure his movements from the police if they were still there.

Why they'd be watching an empty house he had no idea, but he was sure they were still out there. He could hear them breathing, panting like a dog, like Aizen always did.

No. Renji shook his head to clear it. Aizen was dead, and those cops were too far away for him to hear them breathe. It was just his imagination.

He was rattled, that was all. His nerves were getting the better of him. The stress of everyone knowing what he was doing was too much. He'd liked it a lot better when it was just his secret-one he shared with his brothers and sisters one at a time. Now he felt like everyone was watching. Judging him.

None of them understood. They all thought he was hurting people.

Rukia had actually called them murders, as if it was some kind of crime he committed, as if he was no better than the scum he defended. Drug dealers and pimps and armed robbers. He wasn't like them. What he was doing was good, and if the dead could speak, Rukia would know he'd saved them. She'd look at him with that bright glow of adoration in her eyes like she did when she looked at Ichigo.

Just the thought was enough to make him want to find her and show her what he was doing. She might not understand now, but once all that fear was gone, once she was free and happy, she'd see he'd been right all along.

Review please!