There were definitely worse ways to spend a Saturday afternoon than in the company of Hitachiin Kaoru, Megumi decided, blinking as they left the dark of the theater and emerged into the brightness of late afternoon. She wasn't sure what she'd liked best—the heat of his hand resting on her knee, or the running commentary on the movie he'd whispered in her ear. At one point, she'd had to cover her mouth with both hands to keep from bursting into loud gales of laughter.
"That was a terrible, terrible movie," Kaoru said, grinning down at her as he caught her hand in his.
"I know," Megumi chuckled throatily. A small bubble of happiness and excitement had lodged itself in her chest. "The part where he took her coffee out of her hand? Her first cup of coffee?"
"Granted, I don't have the experience of someone like Hikaru, but based on, oh, only every single woman I've ever known, that seems like it would lead to a swift kick in the balls rather than a hot and heavy make-out session."
"What about the part where he just straight-out stalked her and got the apartment across the street so he could watch her sleep? Beyond creepy."
"Is that really what passes for romance these days?" Kaoru asked. "I weep, I truly do."
"Not in my book, it doesn't," Megumi said, feeling her pulse start to speed up a little as Kaoru's thumb traced small circles on her skin.
"Hmm." He seemed like he was about to ask a question, but evidently changed his mind.
"Did you want me to take you home now?" Megumi asked. Then, in a rush, "I mean, I don't have any plans. I'm all caught up on grading, so if you want to hang out, I'm up for that too. Or I could just take you home. Whatever you want." Wow. That was smooth. Good job, Megumi! It would have been a shame to break your six-month streak of no action, but that probably saved it.
Kaoru just smiled at her. He had the most gorgeously open smile Megumi thought she'd ever seen. "This has been such a great day. I'm not ready for it to end, are you?"
Megumi shook her head. If she was being honest with herself, she'd always found Kaoru attractive, but there was something different about him today. He carried himself with a new kind of quiet confidence that was more than a little bit hot.
"So, what do you want to do now?"
"Do you mind if we just walk a little? I need to stretch out my legs after this morning—I could feel them starting to cramp up in the theater."
"Well, we certainly can't have that," Kaoru said, his voice going a little husky. "Just to be on the safe side, maybe I should massage them for you later."
Holy shit. Megumi shivered a little.
Kaoru noticed immediately. "Sorry. Too much?"
"Maybe a little," Megumi admitted.
"I'm sorry. It's just … it's been a while, you know? I think I'm a little rusty."
"You're not the only one." She laughed a little nervously. " But I'm a little surprised at you. I mean, you work with gorgeous models all day long."
He sighed. "Actually, I don't. I work with gorgeous models occasionally for shoots and shows, but that's hardly an everyday occurrence. And even then, those women are paid to make my clothes look good. Not to entertain me. I have no problem asking a model to be my date at a business event, or going out in a group to blow off some steam, but anything more? That's kind of an ethical bright line I'm not real willing to cross."
"I'm sorry." Megumi looked down. "I didn't mean …" she trailed off helplessly.
"Hey," Kaoru said tenderly, tipping her chin up with one finger. "What's going on in that head?"
"I feel like we keep having these moments," she said miserably, "and that I keep ruining them by being incredibly awkward."
"I like awkward," he said firmly. "My whole business revolves around selling the façade of perfection. I've got pretty much exactly zero use for that in my personal life. I want us to keep having awkward conversations where we screw up and stumble and maybe get to the point where we tell each other things we've never told anyone else, ever." He took a breath and leaned close, whispering in her ear, "And the way you chew the corner of your lip when you're feeling awkward? It drives me fucking wild."
Megumi was more than a little dazzled. "I thought you said you were rusty," she whispered back, not entirely trusting her voice.
"Imagine how good I'll be when I'm back up to speed." He gave her a boyish grin, tugging her hand. "Come on. I think there's a park around here someplace. Let's see if we can find it."
As they walked, Kaoru tucked Megumi's hand in the crook of his elbow, switching sides so he was next to the street. Megumi was absurdly touched by the old-fashioned protective gesture. "So. What is the deal your brother and this mysterious Jen?" she asked. "You promised you'd fill me in."
"There's not actually much to fill in," he replied. "Laney and Jen were college roommates, and have been best friends ever since. Hikaru met her on a visit to DC, and they kind of had a fling."
"And this fling is why the tension in the room rises about ten notches whenever her name is mentioned?"
"It was purely physical for a couple years, and not at all serious. Then … I don't know. It's devolved into this highly fucked-up, off-again on-again shitshow." He sighed. "The funny thing is, I actually really like Jen. Hikaru can be difficult, but someone like Jen is perfect for him. She doesn't take any of his shit, but at the same time, she always has his back. Whenever he's having trouble with a concept, talking with her always seems to clarify things for him. I can always tell when he's designing something with her in mind—it has a vibrancy, an electricity to it. When they're on, she's really good for him."
"But when they're off?" Megumi pressed gently.
"They know what buttons to press, and neither of them hesitate in pressing them. It's easy to blame Jen, and God knows I do more than half the time, but I know Hikaru. He doesn't hold back, either. They are not careful with each other." He sighed again. "Do you mind if we don't talk about this?"
"I'm sorry," Megumi said, for what felt like the fifth or sixth time that afternoon. "I didn't mean to bring up a difficult subject."
"No, it's not that." Kaoru ran his free hand through his hair. "Hikaru takes up a lot of space in my head, and I'm starting to realize that that's not particularly helpful, or healthy. For either one of us. And I mean, look around! This is a perfect late spring day, I'm walking around town with a fascinating and sexy woman, and we're trying to find a park I'm not certain actually exists in this neighborhood. I don't want to think about my brother and his problems right now."
"Wait—you're not certain this park exists?"
Kaoru stopped in the middle of the street and pulled her to him, kissing her swiftly on the lips. "I love that that is your takeaway from this particular confession."
They did eventually find the park, but only after wandering around for another 45 minutes. By this time, the sun was starting to go down. Megumi, abandoning all dignity, flopped down in the grass. Kaoru laughed his easy laugh and sat next to her. "Tired?"
"Exhausted," she admitted. "My legs feel like they're on fire."
Kaoru reached out and picked up one leg, moving it into his lap. He started rubbing, gently at first.
"I thought you were joking," Megumi started, then leaned back with a moan as his fingers started found a bad knot and starting working on it.
"Too hard?" he asked, easing up a bit.
"No, perfect." She closed her eyes, allowing herself to enjoy the bliss of Kaoru's hands easing the hours of overuse. "I think I'd better start hitting the gym if I'm going to continue to go hiking with Laney."
"You know, just because Kyoya never says no to her doesn't mean you can't."
"I'm not a pushover, Kaoru." She opened one eye to glare at him.
"Yeah, I'd figured that one out." He switched to her second leg. "So what is your idea of romance?"
"That's a bit of a non sequitur, isn't it?"
"After the movie, you said that stalking and coffee denial wasn't your idea of romance. What is?"
"Long walks on the beach and a dozen roses," she said flippantly.
"Well, if that's how you're going to play it." Kaoru stopped rubbing.
"Okay, okay," Megumi laughed. "Let me think a minute. I don't think anyone has ever asked me about this before."
The sun had almost left the sky, but the heat of the day still lingered close to the ground. Small birds were coming to roost in a nearby tree, cooing and fussing as they settled in for the night. A light breeze had started up, sweeping through the longish grass and setting the late spring flowers to nodding and waving.
"Walking in the rain together under an umbrella," Megumi finally answered. "I know it's a cliché, but still. Taking out the trash when it's not your turn. Street festivals. Fireworks on the water. Long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days."
"That's from a movie, isn't it?"
"Doesn't make it any less romantic. Your turn."
"Spending all day in bed." Megumi smacked him lightly in the shoulder. "No, I'm serious. Getting so completely lost in another person that everything else fades away. Not letting anything intrude on the world you've built together." Kaoru leaned down over her.
This kiss was anything but swift. He captured her lower lip between his and tugged gently. When Megumi obediently opened to him, he devoured her mouth at an achingly slow pace. He tasted like almonds and mint and green tea, and every thought flew out of her head except yes and now and please. She threaded her fingers in his hair, pulling him closer, luxuriating in the desire coursing through her body.
"Shameful, that's what it is. Absolutely shameful."
Kaoru groaned and they pulled apart. Two old ladies were standing nearby, making sure to pitch their voices so they carried. "Someone ought to call the police on them. Such a display!"
"Sorry, ladies," Kaoru called out boldly as he helped Megumi to her feet. "Hope we didn't ruin your night, but there's no need to be jealous." Megumi giggled as she tried to shush him. They walked quickly out of the park.
"I feel like a teenager now," he complained. "Except I never got in trouble like that when I was a kid."
"Oh, come on."
"Pure as the driven snow, I swear."
On the way back to Megumi's car they stopped at a hole in the wall for some dinner. Megumi watched Kaoru lick the sauce from his ikayaki off his fingers, and felt a hunger that had nothing to do with food. She was almost giddy with happiness. Calm down. You are not sleeping with this man tonight, her mature, responsible brain said. But I bet he is really, really, really, really good in bed was the response from significantly lower parts of her body.
When they got to his apartment building, Kaoru invited her up. "Just for a cup of tea, or something. Please." He reached out and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "I'll be a perfect gentleman, I swear. I'm just not ready for this day to end yet."
Well, one cup of tea can't hurt.
They fell on each other as soon as the elevator door closed. "Is this what you call being a perfect gentleman?" Megumi managed before closing her mouth over the pulse point in his neck. Kaoru didn't even bother to answer, burying his hands in her hair as his head tipped back to allow her greater access.
When the elevator finally reached the top floor, Megumi couldn't decide whether the ride had been too short or too long. Kaoru was grinning at her over his shoulder as he tugged her out of the small box. I am not sleeping with him tonight. I am not sleeping with him tonight. I am not sleeping with him tonight, Megumi chanted inside her head. But an extended make-out session is definitely on the table.
He pressed her up against the door, nuzzling into her neck as he fumbled with his key. "Do you have any idea what you do to me?" he breathed. "You make me feel like I've been run through with lightning." They stumbled into the apartment as the door swung open.
"Kaoru, darling, you're home!" a silvery voice tinkled. A distinctively female voice. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?"
Author's Note: Thanks so much to Melanie-Says, Chalice13, and mutemuia for the reviews, and to sockmonkies4ever, Bellsluv, and RastfarianDragon16 for the favorites. Thanks also to everyone who has followed this story so far. If I could I would bake everyone chocolate chip cookies. Anyone want to take bets on who is waiting for Kaoru in his apartment? ;)