Author's Note:

So…You know what's sour? … that's right! LEMONS

Haha!

But okay, corny intro aside… Happy New Year! I have arrived here to share my first, finished work of 2023 *throws confetti*.

I mean, okay, to be accurate…I've originally started this one shot out in the summer of 2022! I've long wanted to try my hand on a real +18 fic and, after being hit with a vaguish idea, decided to give it s try. However, most of 2022 had me in an immense writing block. I could barely get anything done that year, even drabbles felt like a challenge, and it was really starting to get a toll of me. But, ever since New Year's Eve, it felt like a some lever or so has been pulled? I do not know why but I've been feeling increasingly more energised and also motivated. I got back to this WIP and…at last, after what felt for such a long time, I was writing sentence after sentence. I can't tell you how rewarding it felt to work on this with an actual quick pace again- really, really hope I can keep this up.

While there's probably still a lot I need to learn in regards of this type of fanfic - the first step is made and the achievement of finally finishing something again has also been completely worth it!

Now, this one shot has… background context which I unfortunately haven't written yet (because it'd likely be a multi-chapter fanfic), but I do think it can be read without it still? All you need to know that it takes place in SnKimiko-Verse and features Nene and Eizan in their early adulthood. They weren't officially together during that time, but had much of an On-Off thing and occasional hook-ups. This story is basically one of those hook-ups.

I had fun working on it- and I hope it's gonna be a nice enough time reading it too…

Disclaimer: I do not own "Shokugeki no Soma" or its characters.

"Golden Hour"

Verse: SnKimiko-Verse

Rating: M. Very explicitly and undoubtedly M.

Despite his best efforts, Etsuya could not help but look up from his phone every two minutes or so. At the very least, there weren't too many other people in the hotel lobby to witness the young, eminent CEO behave like some awkward teen on their first date. It didn't exactly fit into the image that he was otherwise trying to build himself. And yet still, whenever his ears caught the sound of the sliding doors opening - his head went up before his brain could tell him any better.

At last, by the 40th time he had raised his head, the person he was anticipating made her entrance through the hotel's doors.

The honourable Jewel of Japanese Culinary Culture herself, Nene Kinokuni.

One of Etsuya's recent clients was having trouble keeping the restaurant, which he had inherited from his father, afloat. During said father's time, the restaurant had been famed for its traditional atmosphere and purist approach to Japanese cuisine. And albeit Etsuya, having a great ton of experience backing him up, knew his fair shares on how to approach the matter, the input of a full-fledged expert, someone who studied in this field of culinary ever since she could walk, felt more warranted in this case - and it would certainly impress the client and future customers as well.

Etsuya took himself a brief moment before he'd raise from his chair. For one, it'd look too dorky if he was to jump up right at the sight of her, and, second, it allowed him to take his time and appreciate that very sight, even if from a bit of distance. He had always considered her to be beautiful and, while he didn't exactly know how it was possible, it felt like it was amplified with each passing year still. Open hair continued to look stunning on her and strengthened her more matured looks. The dress she picked out today, added to it too, as it was simple but undoubtedly elegant. It went just a little over her knees and flatteringly hugged her curves.

Her bright red eyes, which, without trying, never failed to tantalise him even from afar, found his, right when he decided to get off his chair at last.

"Eizan. Good day." Nene gave one of her typical, understated greetings once he was close enough. "Kinokuni," Etsuya replied, trying his best to sound as flat as her. "I'm glad that you could make it."

"I'm always happy to be of help", she asserted. "When will we be meeting with that client of yours?" At that, Etsuya couldn't help but smirk. Quick to the point as ever, something he has always appreciated in her. "Let me check us in first." He nodded towards the hotel's reception. "Then we can get going right away."

The young man working there was quick to put up one of his friendliest smiles as they approached him. "Good day. What can I do for you?" "I've reserved," Etsuya announced. Technically his secretary was the one who did, but that was no matter in need of being pointed out. Or at least, Etsuya would have thought so. But then, after he had stated his surname, Etsuya watched how the receptionist looked it up on the computer and, once having found what he was looking for, happily declared. "Your room is ready, Sir!"

Paying acute attention to one's words was essential in business, so "room", singular, wasn't lost on someone as experienced in this game as Etsuya. "I'm sorry?" He therefore inquired. "But shouldn't it be 'both of the rooms'?" The receptionist blinked two times, clearly confused, before taking another glance at his computer. "N…No, Sir." He began. "This reads that you've only booked one."

Etsuya felt his right eye twitching.

Just one room? Oh, Oh no, that couldn't be- He knew exactly what that sounded like.

One panicked glance at Nene next to him revealed that she had already lightly begun to frown.

Oh, he could not have that.

"You must be mistaken." He turned his attention back to the apologetic-looking receptionist. "I've explicitly told my secretary to reserve two separate rooms."

"I'm sorry, Sir", the receptionist nervously raised both of his hands, "bu…but my computer says otherwise."

More and more familiar frustration rose into Etsuya's head, making him ball his fists. However, even with him being the hothead that he was, he knew that yelling at the receptionist probably wouldn't bring any real results. Quite the contrary: it'd likely displease Nene and divert unwanted attention from the rest of the hotel's guests too. So someone else would have to answer for this. "Please, excuse me for a moment." Etsuya pressed out before making an abrupt turn.

Feeling both Nene's and the receptionist's eyes on his back, Etsuya marched a few steps away while taking out his mobile. "Aikawa-san!" He blurted into the phone, the very moment his secretary picked up. "What is it, Boss?" Hatsue Aikawa replied, completely unfazed by his tone.

Etsuya took a deep breath and, trying to sound a bit calmer, explained. "I've left you in charge of the booking for the hotel, right? And I told you to book two rooms, right? One for me and the other for Kinokuni Nene." Hatsue gave a confirming hum at that. "Then why does the receptionist say that I've only booked one?!"

"Well, you see." Hatsue began, sounding suspiciously like she always did when she was painting her nails. "I take a lot of pride in my work as a secretary and as a secretary, it is my duty to know about all that the Boss needs and wants- including those wants that he refuses to voice or tries to deny to himself."

"I don't know what you're trying to imply," Etsuya growled while clutching his phone tighter. "Please", Hatsue countered, "one would have to be blind not to see how your dull snake eyes lit up for once back when she agreed to this operation over the phone." Outraged, Etsuya opened his mouth, wanting to argue back somehow, even if not knowing exactly how, but Hatsue merely continued on. "All I did was be good at my job and save you some money. You two would have eventually ended up in the same room anyway."

"Remember, that I can fire you anytime!" Etsuya barked. "Sure thing." Hatsue gave an unimpressed yawn. "I hope you two enjoy your stay." And with that, she simply hung up.

It took a great amount of self-control, but luckily Etsuya was able to restrain himself from throwing his phone right into the hotel's glass windows.

While he didn't actually mind having to share a room with Nene so much (or rather: at all), he did mind the light that this could possibly cast on him.

After putting his phone back into his pocket, Etsuya took a couple of deep breaths, telling himself that this was just one minor inconvenience and nothing that he couldn't solve if he just kept a cool head.

Once calm enough, he made his way back to the reception.

Nene, unsurprisingly, did not show even the slightest hint of what she was thinking about the current situation, as her face was as stoic and unreadable as always. The receptionist, meanwhile, maintained his smile - but while it had looked natural in the beginning, it now looked a lot more like an effort.

"I am sorry for the confusion", Etsuya began, trying to sound as serene as he could muster. "My secretary has mixed things up." He swiftly brought out his credit card then and with a side glance to Nene, he continued. "I'd like to book an additional second room."

"You don't have to pay for that." Nene frowned. However, before Etsuya could argue against that, the receptionist's guarded voice found its way back into the conversation. "Sir…" It looked a lot like the young man was internally fighting an instinct to just duck and hide behind his table when Etsuya redirected his gaze to him. "I'm afraid to inform you that…", he gulped, "…we are already fully booked for tonight."

Once again, Etsuya's right eye twitched as he felt the biting irritation rise back into his head again. The receptionist wasn't blind to it either, as he was quick to add yet another: "Sorry."

"It's fine." The reply didn't come from Etsuya. It came from Nene, much to both his and the receptionist's surprise. She calmly adjusted her glasses, before turning her head to Etsuya. "It's only a few days. I don't mind."

Against all professionalism, the receptionist couldn't help but let out a loud relieved breath at that. Etsuya did not take note of it however, as he was too focused on Nene. "Really?" "Yes." Nene plainly answered with a small nod. "Let's not waste any further time now. You've got a client that's waiting."

—

Luckily the trouble with the hotel rooms was the only inconvenience that Etsuya had to deal with that day, as the meeting with his client had gone very well. But then again, it's what one would expect from two Totsuki graduates. The young restaurant owner had hung on their lips from beginning to end. Etsuya believed he could have told the man to jump out of a window and he'd have probably done so. In any sense, they had managed to get a lot done today. A good, fine start and a day well-spent in Etsuya's book.

It was evening by the time they made it back to the hotel - and into their shared room.

Said room was what people of their caliber would have expected - with a giant window, a bottle of high-class champagne in a bucket of ice, and, of course, one singular spacious bed. Choosing to divert his attention from the latter, Etsuya instead set course to the bucket with the bottle right after entering the room.

"Care for a drink, Kinokuni?" He inquired while holding up one of the two glasses that the hotel staff had left them with. At first, Nene only silently stared at the bottle and then at him. Etsuya already wanted to mentally slap himself, when suddenly she said. "Why not?" He suppressed a relieved sigh then and rather focused on opening the bottle.

And so they ended up on the still of the giant window, sitting across one another, both with a glass of champagne in their hands. As usual, Etsuya did most of the conversation - a few anecdotes from work, recalling some old memories from school, and praise for how she did today. Except for the occasional dry remark, Nene mostly just sipped on her glass while eyeing him up and down.

The setting sun dived him into its warm lights, almost making his blonde hair and yellow eyes appear just as golden as the bottom of the champagne bottle.

And maybe it was the sunset or maybe it was the champagne but at some point, Nene leaned in.

Unsurprisingly she tasted alcohol off his lips, mixed with a brief hint of mint from the bubblegum she knew he sometimes used when he was too busy for a toothbrush.

She realised how much she missed calling him out on that.

The kiss was soft and gentle. Nene let out a soft hum when she felt his hand wandering up her neck, his fingers briefly cradling the back of her ear.

Then, however, he pulled away. Confused, she opened her eyes and was met with a slightly flushed face and an intense stare.

Nene could make out the familiar haze of desire in those sharp eyes but he was seemingly trying to keep his composure.

"Are you sure?" Etsuya breathed, not taking his gaze off her.

Nene's eyes briefly flickered back down to his lips, almost longingly.

He very much already had his answer, yet still waited to hear her say it.

"Yes, I am".

He kissed her then. A lot more fierce and a lot more demanding. Whatever shred of professional composure that was there just seconds ago had been completely whisked away by that hoarse, consenting whisper of hers.

And as their tongues teased one another, both of his arms wrapped around her.

He always held her so, so tight, just like a thief would hold his most valuable catch while running from the police. Fearing for what he has always dreamed of to be ripped out of his hands without a warning.

And Nene liked it. Liked the feeling of being someone who he did not want to lose, liked being so whole-heartedly treasured, rather than being treated like a mere manner of course.

He broke the kiss only to divert his attention to her neck instead. Brief pain from his teeth sinking into her flesh morphed into an excited tingle, which Nene could feel right down to her toes.

A faint, but still audible, satisfied sigh escaped her. An admission to how much she had missed this.

In response, he smirked against her neck before going in for a deeper bite next. Somewhere far away in the back of his increasingly hazy mind, he knew that having her neck decorated with marks the next day wasn't good for business - but, as always whenever it came to her, he quickly forgot to care.

No one could compare to the Kinokuni heiress. Etsuya had known so already back in middle school.

She was both so regal and so ruthless, in her own way - one that has always been utterly bewitching to him.

The especially vain part of him entertained the idea of him as a 'king' - an all-powerful ruler, decked in finery and gold from head to toe. But if he really was that, then she was a goddess in comparison. And he could not help but fear for the moment when she'd eventually remember the god's old rule of not binding themselves to the mere mortals.

So, he had to savour every taste he got of her because he never knew if it was gonna be his last. The soft skin of her neck was a delight for sure, but it was not enough to satisfy all that hunger.

Etsuya reached for the zipper of her dress. When no protest followed, he began to pull said zipper down while simultaneously leaning back. He had always been one to indulge, so how could he possibly deny himself such a pretty sight as that of seeing the dress slip off her shoulders?

Heat exploded in Nene, with those piercing eyes burning on her naked skin. He held her in place, his face close to her, now exposed, chest.

"Well", he hummed, sounding surprised but pleased. His sight set on a lacy bra and its intricately embroidered flowers. "What do we have here?" Nene could feel her cheeks glow bright red from both embarrassment…and the continuously heightening lust. Etsuya's gaze lingered on, a smirk starting to build on his face.

"Pretty."

"Shu….Shut up!" Nene stammered, as she watched how Etsuya inspected her bra both so closely and delighted, almost as if it was the treaty to one of the best deals he has ever struck.

"Isn't it a little late for that 'good girl'-act now, Kinokuni? What are you being so bashful now all of the sudden?" He teased. "You kissed me first, after all. Makes me wonder if you picked out this pretty little thing on purpose, hm?" And with one of his most conceited grins, Etsuya flicked the little ribbon right in the middle of her bra.

Despite her heavy blush, Nene still managed to throw him one of her deadly glares.

Which Etsuya, in turn, found incredibly attractive.

When she then felt his hand sneak up her back, right towards the hook and eye closure of the bra, she lightly hit his shoulder and griped. "Take me to the bed instead! A windowsill is not the place for…", he shamelessly raised an eyebrow at her, "...that." Nene paused, her own brows sinking further downwards. "You…you barbarian!"

Without barely processing that she had been picked up at all, the next thing Nene felt were the silky sheets that she sunk into after being thrown onto the very bed she had demanded for. "If the lady wishes to have it more comfortable…" An all too familiar voice reached her ear.

Nene sat up to stare daggers at him once again. "You aren't being the least bit of a gentleman right now." She sharply accused.

"There are too damn many of those in your life already." He was quick to retort, mild frustration wandering over his face in that brief moment. It was gone as quick as it came however and as he walked closer, that confident smirk was already back gracing his face. "Besides, you and I both know that you aren't looking for 'gentle' tonight."

She moved backwards as he joined her on the bed.

All Nene could do in regards to his former comment was letting out a faint yet prideful enough "hmph"-sound, before he proceeded to pull her dress down in its entirety. Silky overknee stockings and panties, matching the bra, came to light.

Etsuya took a moment to take in that sight: not just of her bare skin and enticing lingerie but the expression she was giving him too: Nene was still trying to keep her gaze composed. Her pink lips were sternly pressed together, her brows slightly furrowed and that stare of hers was as reserved as she was still able to handle.

And he deeply loved that expression of hers. So untouchable and cold.

But even more so, Etsuya loved to make that very expression crumble away.

Sure enough, a rather loud yelp escaped her when his hand suddenly jolted up to grope one of her breasts. One of the first faint chords in a secret, but beautiful, melody, which Etsuya could just never tire off.

Nene has always been particularly sensitive around her chest. She closed her eyes and her breath began going quicker, as Etsuya proceeded to knead her bosoms.

She felt how the pull in her lower abdomen became more intense with each passing second. And when his fingers traced over her clothed, hard nipples, Nene could only narrowly suppress yet another squeal by quickly biting down on her lips, turning it into a faint whimper instead.

The always-observant Etsuya noticed of course and let out a chuckle in return. It was that ever-ongoing game of theirs: Her, little Miss Perfect, who tried to remain in control of her emotions for as long as she could handle, and him, the rascal, who just became all the more motivated to make her let go and expose all that she was trying to hide.

He leaned towards her ear. "The fabric's in the way, don't you agree?" Yet again, his thumb briefly brushed over one of her buds - sending a flash of electricity through her.

Nene's entire body felt ablaze. The friction of the bra against her heated skin, when she did so much as breathe, was agitating. But as much as part of her wanted to rip the bit of remaining coverage off and leave her aching chest up to the cold air, and his mercy, there was no way that she'd let those shameful desires slip past her lips.

She knew how much he loved to make her vocally admit to it all - all those deep-buried, inappropriately primal wishes for what he could do with her. Hearing those thoughts, and those impure words, in her voice excited Etsuya to no end.

However, through all their occasional entanglements, Nene had gradually picked up on how to counter. She just had to rile him up enough, so that he'd become too impatient to have her beg and plead first.

And so, she only lightly tugged at his own clothes. "I could ask you the same." After successfully surprising Etsuya with this and momentarily diverting his attention towards her hand, still clinging to his white button-up shirt, Nene went for the real attack. She lifted her leg and, in deliberate delicateness, brushed the notable bulge in his trousers with her knee. As expected, he shuddered.

In an instant, his eyes were back on her, and had she not been prepared for that reaction, she might have fallen backwards from the sheer piercing intensity in them. Instead, Nene simply said. "Must feel restraining."

Everything happened too fast for her to register then, but the next thing Nene knew was that she had been pushed down into the sheets - braless. Etsuya loomed over her. "How bold." He growled, before lifting his hand and bringing it up to her chest. "I was certain a lady out of such good house would have been taught not to play with fire."

He took one of her upright nipples in-between his thumb and pointer finger - and pulled, drawing a loud gasp out of her.

Nene threw her head back, her eyes fluttering close as Etsuya continued to toy with her chest. She squeezed her thighs together, feeling how her inside twitched and tightened when his mouth closed on one of her breasts. First circling around it with his tongue, he then took one of her sensitive buds in-between his teeth. Nene gave a yelp, that ended as a moan.

Pleased to hear her being enjoying of it, Etsuya kept his sweet torments going for a couple more minutes before he leaned back again. With a satisfied grin, he cupped her face as he marvelled at the sight in front of him: her viridescent hair sprawled on the sheets, the crimson blush on her face, her slightly parted lips, and the clouds of desire in her eyes. He both loved seeing that look on her- and knowing that he was the cause of it.

Nene couldn't help the excited tingle that wandered over her skin as she gazed up at him. She would be too embarrassed to say it out loud but something about the spark of confidence in his sharp eyes and that familiar smirk was incredibly attractive, and enticing, to her. In her admiring haze, she decided to pull at his white shirt yet again - finding them to be in the way. When he raised an eyebrow, she summarised her deep-seating, shameless desire for a look at his hard chest and toned muscle in a short, plain, hoarsely-whispered: "Off."

Etsuya chuckled. Sometimes she was just too cute.

Without warning, he teasingly pressed two fingers against her damped panties, making her flinch in both surprise and excitement. "Don't tell me our ice princess is getting impatient?" A hint of agony found its way into her eyes, as he removed his hand again and instead made her watch how he unbuttoned his shirt in pronounced slowness.

Nene slightly grimaced, which only amused him further of course. "What? I thought you wanted a strip tease." What an evil man he was!

After he had peeled himself out of the fabric at last, he leaned towards her ear. "You look so good being all needy like that by the way." He bit into the sensitive flesh, before sensuously continuing. "I hope you're ready for a long night. I'll make sure that once we're done, you won't even remember your own name."

Nene's blush intensified as she felt her treacherous heart jump in anticipation at his words. Arrogant as they were, if he was able to deliver on them then how could she be mad?

Instead of replying, she appreciatively let her slender fingers trace over his chest, allowing herself a short moment of appreciating his physique now that his shirt was off at last. Etsuya let out a faint hum in return, enjoying her tender touches. Despite all his teases, he was growing hotter by each second too. Feeling her eyes on his naked skin made his hard member twitch, pressing painfully against his clothes - which felt increasingly too tight with each passing second.

But how could he claim himself to be part of a culinary elite if he was to take a main course before the appetiser?

And so, he took her small hand into his. To Nene's evident surprise, he brought it to his lips, giving it a little kiss. Because in spite of what their earlier exchange would make one believe, if it was for the right girl, he was willing to try be a gentleman once in a while.

The gesture made tiny stars gleam up in Nene's eyes before she bashfully looked to the side, a couple of butterflies flapping their wings in her stomach. Here he was at it again - with those little actions that would make the departure feel all the more challenging once it was time for her to leave, creating memories to haunt her in the lonely nights to come.

After he had let go of her hand, Etsuya let his mouth wander down the rest of her body, right to her lower abdomen.

Nene silently watched as he pulled her panties down. Watched how he obscenely licked his lips once they were off, and was shocked to realise that it didn't even make her feel the slightest bit outraged (more so: impatient).

Etsuya took himself another couple of seconds to delight in the sight in front of him: prim and decorous Nene Kinokuni, stripped off everything but her overknees (which he had decided to keep on, liking the look of it) sprawled out just for him. His head sunk downwards. "Look at you, so wet and ready." Without warning, he bit into the soft flesh of her inner thigh. Nene shrieked in surprise. "All for me," Etsuya murmured, before placing a kiss on the bitemark he left.

"Ple….Please…." Nene whimpered. Her pulsating heat ached, turning her mind blank. He was already so close to where she wanted, no, needed him. "No more…"

With his own member throbbing at the sound of her sweet pleas, Etsuya decided that he had teased her enough. He sunk his tongue into her core, earning him a relieved moan. Nene's eyes fell shut, as she let herself be carried away by the sensation.

Etsuya smiled to himself, listening to her faint pants and mewls - anticipating to get more and more of those pretty tunes out of her. He got a grip of her hips - keeping her, and her wet depths, in place whenever she squirmed.

Thanks to all of his earlier teasing, it didn't take too long for him to make her see stars. Hearing her breaths accelerate and telling how close she was, Etsuya lightly bit into her most sensitive pearl - successfully sending her over the edge.

With an ecstatic cry falling off her lips, Nene's body reared up. Her hands desperately clawed into the sheets, as the intense wave of lust crashed over her. Having momentarily lost conception of place and time, Nene didn't know how many seconds had passed once she sank back down with a satisfied sigh. The bed felt like the softest of clouds underneath her and she laid completely still for a few more passing heartbeats. And while she basked in pure bliss, her breath gradually became steady again.

The first thing that she actively took note of again was the sound of a belt being unbuckled.

Slowly, she pushed herself up with the help of her elbows. Her glassy eyes found the ones of Etsuya, who has gotten off the bed and now stood by its edge instead. He hungrily fixated her as he threw the opened belt somewhere to the side. And once his pants had fallen to the ground as well, Nene was left with little to no imagination of just how excited he was.

She only realised that she had been staring, when a question of Etsuya snapped her out of it: "You're on birth control, right?" Nene gave two nods at that, the first one slow and the following one a lot quicker. "Y…Yes." "Good to hear." He grinned, before letting out a relieved hiss as he freed himself of the restraints of his underwear at last.

He was quick to join her back onto the bed. After getting a hold of her hands, he pinned them right beside her head - pushing her down in the process. Nene expectantly looked up at him, feeling herself grow hot all over again when looking up to his sharp eyes sparkling with greed - for once not for gold, or bank notes but for her.

Freeing her left hand for a moment, Etsuya brought it to her face instead - appreciatively brushing over her parted lips with his thumb. "Kinokuni Nene, you drive me so damn crazy", he admitted. Honesty was a risk, but in intimate moments like these it was one that felt worth taking. Nene only whimpered in return as she sensed the head of his length lightly pressing against her heat. "Don't expect me to hold back."

At last, he began pushing into her, watched her eyes widen - and captured her lips right after.

Nene felt her head spin from both the sensation of tasting herself off his tongue and her insides being stretched at the same time. Instinctively, her legs wantonly wrapped around his torso, as if afraid he could pull out again and leave her with painful emptiness. Right then, her mind was clear from any of the thoughts regarding her responsibilities, the destiny her parents had so carefully planned out for her - all gone, in the wake of lust and being so intimately connected…to him. Here, in this bedroom, at that moment, they weren't Kinokuni and Eizan…but Nene and Etsuya. And she couldn't help but wish that it would last forever.

They broke the kiss once he was fully inside her - both moaning against the other's lips.

"Fuck", Etsuya muttered, "you're so damn tight." Nene couldn't even bother to correct him on his profanity, as she gazed up at him with unchained longing in her eyes. Her composure had fallen off for good - a sight that pleased Etsuya and his ego to no end.

He squeezed the hand that he was still holding on to before beginning his thrusts. All his pent-up impatience made for a quick pace, one that drew a string of moans and occasional squeals out of Nene - beautiful sounds that he has become addicted to. Wanting more, wanting them louder, he decided to let go of her other hand and rather brought it to one of her breasts. Nene gasped and squirmed in response. In need of support, both of her arms flung around his neck and Etsuya groaned as he felt her nails digging into his back.

"If that expression is anything to go by, I'd say you missed me." He gave her a lop-sided, little grin followed by a particularly hard thrust making her unable to reply with anything but a lustful cry. "Good girl", he growled while gently cradling her cheek with his thumb. "Taking me so well. You're looking gorgeous like that, you know?"

How in heaven's name was he ever supposed to move on from this woman?

In spite of what his secretary might believe, he had long given up on denying his long-lasting love for the beauty underneath him. Try to forget about it, sure, but it was so strong, so all-consuming, that all his efforts in that regard would evaporate instantly whenever he saw her standing back in front of him.

With her eyes, shining like polished rubies, and her beautiful, smaragdine hair, that felt like the finest of silks in his hands - Nene Kinokuni was nothing short of a treasure. The treasure that he, more than any other, so desperately wished to call his.

"Ei-" Nene breathed, interrupting herself in the midst of it. "Etsu…Etsuya." A surprise that came so suddenly, but so gentle and loving, that it made Etsuya stop in his movements. All shields fell off for that brief moment when he met her eyes.

It hadn't been the first time- but it always stunned him how she could make his name, which to him had always sounded like it was given to him with the full intent of having it be hissed with contempt, sound so soft…and so beautiful.

"Don't stop…" Nene hoarsely begged. "Etsuya…please don't stop."

After blinking himself out of his own daze, Etsuya gave a brief nod before he complied and began moving again. Nene let her head fall back in relief. The grip her legs had around his hips tightened in her efforts to feel him even deeper. It might have been unprincipled, or something, of her - but giving in to the passion and desires felt so, so good. Etsuya kept his gaze pinned on her, hoping to somehow engrave this rare, precious sight he had of her into his mind.

"I'm close…", she eventually whispered. "I can tell", he grunted at the feeling of her walls squeezing him tighter and tighter with each passing moment.

He let one of his hands trail down her stomach until it reached the small, sweet spot right above her pulsating heat. Rubbing it made her cry in both surprise and euphoria. A couple more flicks of it and two more hard thrust was all it took for Nene to arch her back and for Etsuya to hear his name fall off her lips.

He kept pounding into her, while she sank back into the sheets, which were feeling just like clouds again. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of it - still did so as she felt his weight collapsing onto her once he had finished as well.

—

Nene awoke to a room tinted into all kinds of orange hues by the early sunrise.

That and the soft sound of a heart beating in the chest that she had her head rested against. When tilting it upwards, she found the sight of a peacefully sleeping Etsuya.

Seeing him so calm and serene was a rarity for sure - one that Nene couldn't help but be fond of. And so, in hope not to wake him, she tried to be extra careful when she sat up.

The warm rays of the morning sun fell on her naked skin, bringing to light all the many traces last night's escapade's had left on her. Nene felt her cheeks glow in faint embarrassment when looking down at her body and seeing the many, many little smudges of bright red she had been decorated with.

Thank the heavens that she had brought herself a scarf!

Quickly bringing the blanket up to her chest in order to cover herself, she threw the still-sleeping Etsuya a mild scowl before turning her attention toward the window.

The sunset was truly beautiful this morning and Nene got so enchanted by it that she didn't know how much time had passed when she eventually felt two strong arms wrap around her from behind. Nene's heart jumped, as she felt herself overcome with comfort and security. Her complaints regarding the hickeys suddenly evaporated.

"Slept well?" Etsuya murmured against her right ear. "I…can't complain," Nene responded, in an equally low voice.

"I hope you know that I really had intended to book us two rooms." He mumbled into her shoulder. "I don't want you to think that I brought you in just for sex. I earnestly believe that your knowledge and experience are of immense worth in this operation."

With it being so early in the morning, Nene's guards were a bit lower than usual and she allowed herself to blush a little at his praise. "Don't worry, I believe you", she said and meant it. "I was right beside you at the hotel's receptionist after all and, by this point, I've come to know what you look like when things don't go your way."

"Very funny." He grumbled at her subtle tease, before nuzzling his head back into her shoulder. And for a moment, they just remained in that deeply intimate position - neither of them bringing it over themselves to part yet.

"The hotel's breakfast should start in an hour." He then eventually said, after taking a glance at his mobile. "I see", was all that she responded. Something about that brought her spirits down a little. Not that she wasn't hungry, but she knew that once they were about to leave this room they were back to being Kinokuni and Eizan - former classmates turned temporary business partners, nothing more and nothing less. It's how things were supposed to be after all - so why did she feel a part of her getting saddened by it?

In an attempt to her mind off it, she got back into the conversation. "I think both of us should take a shower before we head to breakfast."

"Together?" He mischievously grinned, to which she only poked his nose.

"Lecher." She stated, blunt but with a tiny smile on her lips.