Chapter 203: Playing Games
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kuon would return to Japan.
Ren kept his head straight while his eyes followed his manager's reflection in the mirror. Yashiro was outside, pacing and talking animatedly on the phone. He wondered what could have possibly got the man so riled up. If it was someone in Japan, they were up early. And if it was someone from Japan, it had to be something serious by the manager's mannerisms.
Ten was almost done with his hair. She had a trusted process that she perfected from being his stylist for years and the need to revert his hair to its original color. She went above and beyond, experimenting with the technique until she got it right. Her ultimate goal was to make sure his locks remained lustrous and healthy after each session. Like she promised, having another set of hands did make things go a lot faster.
The petite hairstylist had been fired up once again talking about Ren's audition and the physical appearance of the character he would portray. Ten had extracted a promise from him, demanding that he would give her the contact information of the director should he accept the role. He agreed readily, for nothing more than to witness Ten tearing into the man. Ren wasn't sure he wanted the role anymore, knowing who would be directing the film. Did he even have anything to prove? The short answer was no.
To get his mind off the audition, he eventually picked up his phone and noticed Kyoko's text messages. He held his phone closer toward him to block the screen. There was one thing he learned early on about hairstylists— they were notorious gossipers. Although Elijah signed an NDA to be here, it didn't stop him from asking all types of questions, and since Ren was grateful for the man's help, he had no problem giving him answers…within reason.
While Ten and Elijah were busy, Ren covertly glanced at the messages. His girlfriend was as busy as she claimed she would be this morning. If only he could have been with her. He felt a little apprehensive about her visit to Cedric and couldn't exactly respond with what he really thought about her decision. Ren understood her reasons for inviting him and couldn't interfere if he wanted to move forward. Everything that he felt for the guy was still new, and although he made peace with it, there would always be lingering feelings of the past threatening to bring him down. It was those feelings that kept him from responding.
Kyoko's message about Tina was warmly received. With his stay in LA quickly diminishing, he didn't have time to say goodbye to her in person and felt a little guilty for leaving again. He loved that his girlfriend made it a point to see her one last time and could only hope Damien would be good to her. When he had the chance later, he would call his old friend and say goodbye. If she did accept Kyoko's invitation, he would be seeing her again soon enough. The last message she sent made him chuckle and absentmindedly shake his head.
"Something good," Elijah asked, catching Ren's amused face in the mirror.
"Yeah, Kyoko is going on a shopping spree." Ren raised his phone to share his screen. The image of Kyoko and the store she was in were easily distinguishable.
Elijah whistled, "I hope you both make a ton of money because she'll go broke in there. Has she ever been in one before?"
Ren shook his head. He was a little saddened that he didn't think about taking her there. The ecstatic smile on her face as she held up random dollar items for purchase would have been a wonderful sight to behold in person. The section probably reminded her of the 100 yen shops she loved to frequent back home. In another twenty-four hours, they would be back in Japan, and soon his time with her would be scarce.
"We'll probably have you done and home before her," Ten teased, checking out the image too. "Let's get you washed."
With his moment to respond lost, Ren placed his phone down and followed Ten to the sink. Yashiro finally came back inside as his hair was getting washed but he was still preoccupied with his phone.
"Everything alright, Yukihito?" Ren eyed the manager's image in the mirror when he returned to the chair.
"Yes, just a minor deviation in our departure plans. Nothing to worry about," Yashiro explained. "The President has taken care of everything so you and Kyoko will arrive as planned."
"Did our dear president give a reason?" Ren cocked his brow curiously. Lory tended to keep everyone in the dark when it came to his scheming. Nobody ever truly knew what was going on in his mind.
"He said something about the airport shutting down and rerouting flights. No matter, there won't be a delay."
Ren nodded. If there was more to the call, Yashiro wasn't spilling right now. Ren chalked it up to the typical woes of a manager in his position.
For the next half hour, his hair was washed, trimmed, and styled to completion. Staring back at him was a hybrid version of Ren and Kuon with the dark lenses in place and his hair swept out of his face. Whenever he transitioned to his former self, he often used the fringe of his hair as camouflage to cover up a face that he could hardly bear. This time, he didn't complain when Ten styled his hair out of his eyes, exposing him to the world.
"Wow," Elijah uttered in awe, staring at Ren's reflection.
"Right! Isn't it gorgeous," Ten sighed as she ran her fingers through the back of the newly restored golden locks. "We have to protect this at all costs."
"Why do you dye your hair?" Elijah asked with a frown. "I thought Japanese ladies go wild for this sort of thing."
"The characters I play are native Japanese, my hair color would limit the roles available to me," Ren replied, going with the safest answer. He wasn't about to tell a relative stranger his life story.
"That makes sense. I mean, this is Hollywood. Celebrities are always changing their style to suit a role. It's just a shame you have to cover up this beauty."
"Thanks," Ren responded awkwardly and moved to stand up.
After long hours in the chair, Ren finally thanked and said goodbye to the stylists with a promise of seeing Ten back in Japan.
On the drive to the house, Ren made a quick call to Tina where his old friend threatened to end him if he ever hurt Kyoko and promised she would be there for Christmas. He replied to Kyoko's texts and caught up on email. It didn't surprise him that she was too preoccupied to message him back and took comfort in knowing she was safe with Nicole.
There were more messages in his inbox from colleagues and acquaintances in the last half hour than when he first looked at his phone in the salon. Curiously and with a tinge of regret, he opened the email from Kijima. Whatever was going on, the actor was bound to cut through the bullshit and give it to him straight.
Have you and your princess abandoned Japan? Even with you gone, the media and fans still find a way to keep you relevant. I took this hot babe out last night and all she talked about was you and Kyoko. It was annoying as fuck but she was hot. Let's just say it was worth it. *smirk emoji* There's a crazy mob camping outside LME. The agency had to hire more security and enlisted the help of the police department to keep them back so we mere mortals can get to work. And don't get me started about Narita. I don't know what that shit show is about. Whatever the hell you're doing over there, hurry up and get your asses back.
Ren frowned at the message, wondering if he should bother sending a response. He didn't know Kijima had it in him to type so many words. There were similar emails from others, only with a more polite tone. Yashiro was busy typing away on his phone so Ren refrained from plying him with questions. He decided it wasn't important. Whatever was happening in Japan could wait until he returned. As he scrolled through his remaining mail, he came across one from Kei. Anticipation filled him as he read the message. Finally, it was all coming together and he couldn't wait to work with the producer to reach his goal.
The empty driveway at the Hizuri home confirmed that he had somehow beat Kyoko home. Although they had guards posted at the gate, Nicole was under explicit instructions to not leave Kyoko's side until someone was home with her.
Disembarking from the vehicle, Ren said goodbye to Clint and thanked the bodyguard for his dedication and protection. Miles and Tucker would be on duty when it came time to escort them to the airport. Yashiro left after confirming their departure time and location, stating he would meet them at the airport. He still had to pack up his belongings and return the rental car.
Finally alone, he knew that there was something he absolutely had to do before leaving California. He quickly ran downstairs to change into something more suitable for the task at hand. In their room, he noticed how much Kyoko had done this morning, finding the majority of his belongings already packed away in the suitcase. He made a mental note to thank his girlfriend properly for her help later.
Dressed to work, he headed directly for the garage and rummaged through the cabinets, locating all the supplies and equipment he needed to get started. His father might have been rich, but he took pride in doing things himself when he had the time. With music blaring through the speakers in the garage, the first thing he did after opening the driver's door was to remove the minty tree from the mirror and slip it into his pocket. Yes, he planned on keeping the thing as a memento of the passionate night they spent together. The hot images that flooded his mind had him easily groaning and adjusting himself.
"Get it together Kuon or you'll never get this done," he muttered to himself. Focusing on his work, he went through the process of giving the inside of his father's car a thorough cleaning. He vacuumed the carpets, wiped down the surfaces, and conditioned all the leather seats, paying special attention to the passenger side to erase all evidence of their time inside. Hopefully, his dad wouldn't shudder every time he entered his car if he made it smell like new.
As he was putting away the supplies, he noticed the dirt splatter on the fenders and mentally patted himself on the back for his hindsight. He opened the garage door just in time to find the vehicle containing Kyoko pulling up the driveway.
With a broad grin spread across his face, he stepped out of the garage and stalked toward the SUV. Before he could even reach for the door handle, Nicole popped out of the driver's side and yelled.
"Stop right there, buddy!" She warned in a deadly voice. "Who are you?"
"Ugh, Ms. Nicole, this is umm…" Kyoko stumbled out of the car and implored him with her golden eyes to help her out. He guessed she wasn't sure how to address him in front of anyone outside their circle.
Does Nicole really not recognize me?
"I guess the hair color throws people off. Still Ren here," he answered and held his hands up. He had purposefully left his brown contacts in to avoid any further speculation and forgot to take them off. Judging by her confusion, it was safe for him to assume that her company didn't have all the dirt on him, or if they did, the bosses were keeping the whole truth to themselves.
"So it is," Nicole stated and contemplated his appearance for another moment. He held his breath waiting for her to say more. "It actually suits you."
"Thanks!" Kuon chuckled and relaxed when she didn't question him any further.
"It's a good thing you're here. You can help carry the bags." Nicole gestured for him to follow her.
With his curiosity piqued, he followed after Nicole toward the rear hatch of the vehicle. Inside he was amazed to find that his girlfriend might have splurged for once.
"I hope you left some stuff for the other shoppers," he teased, grabbing bags and hooking them over his arms. His statement instantly had his girlfriend's cheeks blooming red as she nervously tapped her index fingertips together.
"I didn't realize I bought so much until it was too late," she admitted, regretfully. "It was like a magical spell was cast over me as soon as I walked into the doors. Could it have been enchanted?" Her eyes shone brilliantly, a faraway look glossing over them.
He knew they were about to lose her to LaLa Land. He exchanged a knowing glance with Nicole and they both burst out laughing. It seemed the bodyguard had picked up on a few of the quirks that made Kyoko special. He couldn't resist pecking his adorable girlfriend on the cheek while she pouted.
"You never know," she protested, lifting her grumpy face to his and jutting out her bottom lip.
"You're so cute," he cooed, taking advantage of the angle of her upturned face and kissing her properly on the lips.
"Okay, stop. You guys are giving me a toothache," Nicole complained and added more bags to his arms.
"A toothache?" Kyoko frowned. "How is that possible?"
"She's implying that you're so sweet that you're giving her a cavity from all the sugar, resulting in a toothache."
"Oh, I think I understand," Kyoko nodded seriously. With him holding most of the bags, there was a heavy one left in Kyoko's hands that she insisted on holding.
"Well, since Ren is here already, thank you for all your care today, Ms. Nicole. Please enjoy the rest of your day."
"Are you sure? I didn't get to teach you that move," Nicole questioned.
"No, you didn't, but that's okay. I promise to find someone in Japan to give me a lesson. When I return, you can give me some pointers," Kyoko answered. He had no idea what they were talking about, but he'd have plenty of time to question her later.
"You're coming back?" Nicole asked surprised.
"Yes, I have a feeling you'll be seeing more of me. I doubt my father or Mr. Hizuri would allow me to go around without a bodyguard from now on…hey, have you ever been to Japan?"
"Are you offering me a job, Kyoko," Nicole snorted.
"Why not? You're strong and good at it," Kyoko shrugged. He cocked a brow at the action. She probably didn't know she was doing it more frequently.
"I'm flattered, thank you," Nicole smiled. "I think I have too good of a gig going on here to leave. Plus, it would be difficult to do my job if I didn't know the language. If you need a guard the next time you're stateside, give me a call. I'll be honored to watch your back."
"I understand. Thank you for taking care of me," Kyoko bowed to her guard. As they said goodbye, his girlfriend handed the shopping bag in her hands over to Nicole. "It is not much, but it would make me very happy if you accepted this as a thank you."
Nicole took the bag and peeked inside, gasping at the contents. "This is…"
"All the favorites you recommended to me, today," Kyoko finished. "I saw how happy they made you while talking about them."
"Thank you," Nicole said and pulled her into a hug. "You're one of a kind, Kyoko, don't ever change."
Nicole moved to get inside her car then turned around abruptly. "I don't usually do this, but do you mind taking a picture with me? I don't have social media or anything so I won't post it online."
"Sure, I can take your picture," He offered, putting down the bags and reaching for the phone.
"Oh, no, all three of us," Nicole clarified. "But if it's too much trouble then um…"
"It's no trouble," he smiled. "Crowd in, I'm going to take it." He wrapped his arm over Kyoko's shoulder and gave her a reassuring squeeze. He didn't know the bodyguard very well, but if he could trust her to protect Kyoko then this shouldn't be a problem. He felt okay with taking this picture even if Nicole did end up sharing it. It would be easy to explain why he was blond. If he was being honest, he was getting a little tired of hiding his identity anyway.
"Say cheeseburger," he said, alerting the girls that he was snapping the picture. When they were all smiling, he made sure to press the button several times to ensure a good shot was taken, then handed Nicole her phone.
"Thanks, guys. It was great working with you both."
Giving Kyoko another hug, Nicole left with the parting words, "Tsuruga, please take good care of her."
"Always," he easily promised.
They watched Nicole drive away for a few moments. Before he could retrieve the bags off the ground, Kyoko pounced on him, wrapping her arms and legs around him, catching him off balance. They ended up sprawled on the ground with him maneuvering his body so she was safely on top and he took the brunt of the fall.
"Corn, I'm so sorry!" Kyoko wailed and tried to scramble off him, but Kuon held her hips fast.
He groaned but couldn't contain his laughter at the mortification written all over her face. There was never a dull moment with her and he was thrilled that she was impatient. Kyoko's enthusiasm made him feel loved and brought light to his once dismal life.
"Are you okay? Did you hit your head?" Her voice was laced with concern, trying to inspect his head. The way her fingers gently threaded through his hair made him want to do inappropriate things with her in the middle of his parents' driveway.
"I'm more than fine," Kuon rolled his hips and ground against her. "This is my favorite position after all," he added in the husky voice of the emperor. The action sent a shudder through her body that he felt straight to his groin.
"You must have hit your head hard," Kyoko grumbled and glanced around the empty driveway to make sure no one was watching them. When she tried to get up again, Kuon let her. As much as he loved having her on top of him, the hard concrete was digging into his back. Helping each other off the ground, they picked up the bags and brought them into the house.
"How did you get home before me?" Kyoko questioned, taking the flight of stairs down toward their bedroom.
As they walked, Kuon explained how he spent his last hours with Ten and her American protégé working on his hair.
"Muse-sama is amazing," Kyoko praised as they entered the room. "Your hair felt so healthy and looks gorgeous," she remarked, putting the bags in the far corner of the room.
"I wouldn't mind you tugging on it either while I'm—..."
"Stop it," Kyoko squealed, cutting off his words and batting him on the arm. Kuon put the bags down and pulled her in for a hug, inhaling her delicious scent. It hadn't been long, but he missed her. They stood like that for a minute, neither of them making a move or saying a word. Kuon eventually pulled away first.
"Do you still have a lot to do?" he asked, glancing around the room. He didn't think there was much left when he came home. The few minor odds and ends that needed packing would be collected before they left. Now that she brought the whole store home with her, they needed to figure out how to get her purchases to Japan.
As if reading his mind, Kyoko said, "I'm going to ask Mom to borrow an extra suitcase."
"Good idea," Kuon smiled, glad that she had it all figured out. His mother was bound to have something she could use. "I have to finish cleaning Dad's car."
"Is that what you were doing in the garage," she asked, her honey-colored eyes dilating with surprise.
"Yeah, I figured I owed Dad."
"Do you need some help? I bought stuff." She began scouring through the bags until she found the one she wanted. "Here," she smiled at him.
The bag contained various items to clean the car inside and out. She even bought a tire cleaner to make the rubber shine. It wasn't the high-end brands his father used, but it would still get the job done.
"Nice," he smiled, kissing her on the nose. She beamed at him happily. "It should take me less than an hour to wash the outside."
"I can help," Kyoko exclaimed. "I just have to find my suit," she said, taking in the swim trunks he wore and heading for the closet where their suitcases were stored. Kuon groaned.
"I got it covered. You can do what you need here while I finish up." Her help would only be a distraction and make his job a lot harder. The images of her bent over the car, ass out in nothing but a swimsuit was already getting him all hot and bothered. Throw in water and he would be a goner. They'd probably make his father's car filthy all over again.
"Are you sure?" She asked, turning those doe-eyes on him and zapping what little resolve he had left.
"Yes," Kuon gulped. He grabbed the bag and rushed out of the room before he had her pinned against the neatly made-up bed and he never got to cleaning his dad's car. She was still recovering from the wild ride last night so he needed to be a good boyfriend and keep it in his pants.
…
"Are you seriously just going to sit there?" Kuon gawked at the audacity of his girlfriend. He had been in the zone, listening to music and diligently washing away the grime he put on the sports car until she came along. Kuon had expected her to stay in the house to do something…anything. But no, she had gone out of her way to change into one of those flimsy pieces of material his mother claimed to be a swimsuit and proceeded to set up a beach lounge chair his dad stored in the garage.
"Don't be silly," she said, flashing him a sweet smile while slathering sunscreen on her exposed skin. Kuon's eyes homed in on the way her delicate hands rubbed the creamy substance up and down those long, smooth, shapely legs that had him daydreaming of wrapping them around his waist and….
"I plan to soak up some of these California rays, sip my strawberry lemonade, and enjoy the gorgeous view. I brought one for you in case you get thirsty," she winked and nodded to the other glass sitting by her seat. He saw the hint of mischief twinkling in her eyes before pulling the large-framed sunglasses on her head down to shield them.
Kuon chuckled sardonically at his luck. There was no way he was getting anywhere near her when she looked that delectable. He was thirsty alright, but not for lemonade. From her seated position, the only view she had was of him laboring over his father's car. The little seductress knew very well what she was doing.
Deciding that two could play this game, he ignored her despite every fiber of his being screaming at him to toss his cleaning rag and take her inside. It took an act of God, but he managed to return his attention to his task, bending slightly to rub the sudsy soap that she bought all over the hood of the car. As he worked, he could feel her intense gaze hidden behind those tinted lenses, stalking his every move. If she wanted a show, he vowed to give her one. He made it a point to exaggerate his movements, flexing at every opportunity. Yes, he even shamelessly bent over to give her a good view of his ass, knowing his board shorts hung so low on his hips that it exposed the top of his glutes for her viewing pleasure.
Crack kills, baby. He chuckled to himself and turned at her giggle, winking her way.
The way she adjusted her legs, rubbing those silky thighs together was a sign that he was turning her on. He would bet big money, she was as wet as he was, only it wasn't water getting her soaked. Kuon made the mistake of glimpsing at her from the corner of his eye, catching her just as her pouty red lips wrapped around the straw in her glass and sucked up the lemonade.
Lucky straw! Fuck! She's good! Kuon groaned internally. At the rate she was going, his shorts would no longer be able to hide his desire for her.
A mischievous plan began forming in his mind. He took the hose and rinsed the soap off the car, successfully wetting himself with the back spray of the water. When he was sure there were no suds left to leave any blemishes on the paint, he swaggered toward Kyoko, his heated gaze never leaving her.
The way her lips parted and her body shifted had Kuon smirking. His t-shirt was wet and plastered to his torso, accentuating every dip of his sculpted body. He deliberately combed his wet fingers through his hair to not only move the hair out of his eyes but also show off the roped muscles on his arms and the hint of abs as his shirt rode up.
Without a word, he reached for the glass of lemonade and began to drink. Ignoring the straw, he gulped the sweet and sour liquid, spilling over the rim and dripping down his chin. Kyoko's upturned face gaped at him. He kept his eyes trained on her while he drank. The beverage was refreshing and cold; the liquid soaking the collar of his shirt made him shiver.
The ice clinked as he drained the glass, but the little flick of her tongue across those sweet lips almost had him choking.
"Thanks, baby. I was parched," he said with a satisfying sigh. Kuon swiped the back of his hand across his mouth and then placed the glass down.
"Corn," she began, her words breathy, like it was difficult for her to speak. The sound made his whole body hum with satisfaction. "You spilled," she pointed out.
Kuon followed her finger. "Oh, I didn't realize," he replied innocently and inspected the pink stains saturating his shirt. He pulled at the hem of his tee and whipped it over his head. The gasp from his girlfriend, eyeing his naked flesh, was worth drinking like a barbarian and ruining his shirt. It was fall season, but the weather in South California tended to be on the warmer side in the afternoon, making it comfortable to be outside in their attire. He balled the dirty garment and tossed it into the garage then got back to work, satisfied with the encounter.
…
Kyoko nibbled on her bottom lip as she stared at the enticing way her boyfriend strutted back to the car and resumed cleaning. She admired the way the sunlight shone on him, highlighting the corded muscles moving under the smooth skin of his back. The man's body was a work of art. She could stare at it for an eternity and still never get over the beauty that was him. Her imagination went wild, envisioning red angry streaks raking down his flesh as her nails clawed his back while he pounded into…
"Ahhh," she shrieked and was roused from her dirty thoughts by a spray of cold water.
"I'm sorry, baby!" Kuon apologized while trying to stifle his laughter. She had been so deep in her fantasy that she didn't notice him move behind the car to clean the other side. From that angle, she understood that it was possible for him to accidentally get her wet with overspray.
"It's okay," she smiled. It was bound to happen with her being so close and in the line of fire.
"Do you need a towel?" He asked, his chocolate eyes taking on a darker shade. "You look…wet." The emperor was back, his gaze lingering a little too long at the juncture of her thighs.
Kyoko's cheeks burned with embarrassment. Does he have some sort of sixth sense? His hot look sent a rush of heat down her spine and jolted her clit. The need for him to touch her increased ten-fold. She had to have him, but the stubborn man was hell-bent on torturing her. Instinctively, she rubbed her thighs together trying to ease the ache between her legs. The way his body tensed gave her a clue that he was just as affected by her as she was by him.
"I'm fine. The sun will eventually dry me off in no time," she answered, regaining her composure. Removing her sunglasses, Kyoko stood and walked over to his side. She never washed a car before; however, after observing Kuon's work she thought she got the gist of it. It was time she helped.
Locating the bucket beside him, Kyoko bent over at the waist, making sure he got a good view of her assets and picked up the other rag from the soapy bucket. "You missed a spot," she offered and began to clean the car fender directly in front of him, brushing against his upper thigh in the process. Nothing major, just enough to get him groaning. She smirked, loving the effect she had on him. I can play this game too.
Kyoko enjoyed teasing him while she worked. She made it a point to touch him at every opportunity, enjoying the way he reacted each time. A soft caress from her fingertips to his lower back as she scooted around behind him or an accidental bump with her hip was enough to make him jump away from the contact. His reaction was so ridiculous that one would think she had cooties. She would have taken pity on him if it wasn't for the good size semi, straining at the fly of his board shorts. It egged her on, challenging her to see just how much he could take before he snapped.
Judging from the audible groan he made, Kyoko figured she was winning the game. Feeling celebratory, she began singing along and undulating her hips to the beat of the music with every swish of her soapy rag.
"Baby, you're like lightning in a bottle, I can't let you go now that I got it, and aaaaallllll I need is to be struck, by your electric looooovvvvveeee Ohh oh ohh."
Kuon drew first blood. Kyoko was mid-belt when she felt the chilly water spray across her back.
"Sorry, it was an accident," he smiled sheepishly, aiming the water hose back to the car and then dropping it to the ground to resume washing. Kyoko gaped at him incredulously. Goosebumps pimpled across her skin instantly. This time it was the cool breeze and not him that hardened her nipples.
Accident, my petunia! Kyoko didn't buy his excuse for one minute. With his attention back on the car, she giggled to herself before making the conscious decision to pay him back for splashing her, not once but twice. She dipped her rag into the bucket by her feet, getting it nice and saturated with not-so-clean soapy water. Without much thought into aiming, she balled it up and lobbed it in his direction. It landed with a squishy plop on the ground, but not before bouncing off the side of his face and covering his beautiful profile with soap and debris.
Kyoko squealed and covered her mouth, both mortified and amused by what she had done. Stunned brown eyes stared at her for a few seconds then turned predatory. Kyoko watched his gaze flick to the hose on the ground. She lunged for it at the same time he did, but he threw the rag he was using to clean the top of the car at her. It was the perfect distraction as she dodged out of its way. The move had cost her as he picked up the hose with a wicked grin on his face. Screaming, she had no choice but to duck for cover. Kuon ran after her armed with the hose prepared to soak her without mercy.
She gasped as a jet of cold water blasted her directly on the butt cheek. "Kuon!" Kyoko shrieked over his sinister laughter. He had changed the setting on the hose so that the flow of water spraying from it was now a powerful singular stream capable of bruising her butt. It hurt!
"That's mean," she pouted, rubbing her sore behind as she glared at him through the window while ducking low on the opposite side of the car.
"Mean?" He mocked. "Says the woman that bruised my face without remorse!"
"I did not!" She protested, standing from her crouched position to defend herself. Huge mistake. Kuon didn't even falter. As soon as she popped up, he pulled the trigger on the hose and sprayed her point-blank in the face. Kyoko instinctively screamed, getting water in her mouth and up her nose before she had enough sense to duck again.
"I can't believe you," she sputtered, wiping the water out of her eyes and pushing the wet air off her face. At least he had the decency to put it back on the shower setting. The water sprayed softer so it didn't hurt as much.
"Do you give up," he taunted. She stayed low, using her ears to gauge where he was standing.
"Never!" Kyoko roared dramatically, making him chuckle and continue to tease her. The sound of his voice and the crunch of his steps told her he was still on the other side of the car. Kuu's sports car wasn't very big, so she knew Kuon was just toying with her, enjoying the little game they were playing. The thought that he could easily overpower her titillated every sensitive spot on her body. Kyoko ignored her traitorous body and tried to think clearly. She could make a break for the garage, but the idea of running away without putting up any sort of fight didn't sit well with her.
With every step he took, Kyoko moved in the opposite direction quietly, still crouching so he couldn't see her. Her gaze landed on the bucket full of water a few feet away and a plan for retaliation began to formulate.
"Gotcha!" He yelled from behind her just as her fingers curled around the rim of the bucket. Lifting it with her, Kyoko ignored the cold blast of water attacking her back mercilessly and heaved the contents at him.
"Ahh!" He yelped, releasing his grip on the hose to swipe the dirty water off his face.
Laughing with glee, she dropped the bucket and darted for the garage. She was almost home free when a strong arm wound itself around her waist and hauled her back. Kyoko gasped as her body slammed into a concrete wall. It took her a moment to realize that said wall was Kuon's broad chest.
"You little minx! Where do you think you're going?" He demanded, rasping into her ear. Kyoko laughed and struggled, trying to get out of his iron grasp. Somehow, he twisted her around and flung her over his shoulder like a ragdoll.
"Kuon! Let me down," she protested weakly, beating his back with her tiny fists. The smack to her right butt cheek was unexpected and firm. The most surprising thing about it was the moan that escaped her lips as he caressed the spot.
"Baby, you're killing me," he groaned, his tone tortured. Kuon seemed to hesitate a moment, moving towards the outside of the garage then stopped.
"Fuck it," he muttered and twisted on his heel, heading inside the house.
"Kuon the floors," Kyoko objected, gaping in horror at the wet trail they were leaving behind on the dark floor. He delivered another swift smack to her other cheek, the pleasurable pain vibrating straight to her clit. She couldn't understand her reaction. It should have angered her to be manhandled like this, but her body betrayed her as she let out another moan. Kuon picked up his pace, taking the stairs down dangerously two at a time until he reached their room.
"Wait!" Kyoko shouted after he burst into the room, poised to deposit her on the newly cleaned sheets. Kuon stuttered. "I just made the bed," she whimpered.
With her still draped over his shoulder, Kuon moved and lowered them to the floor beneath the faux canopy of the tree occupying the corner of the room. As he put Kyoko down, her string bikini unraveled and fell to the floor in wet plops. The smug look on his face told her everything she needed to know. Somehow, while she was preoccupied during the walk, he had strategically worked all the knots loose on her swimsuit. Kyoko tried to cover her nudity, but Kuon was already on his knees, pulling her hands away and laying her against the largest fairy mound. Her ass rest on its crest so the remainder of her upper body had no choice but to lay at an angle.
"Kuon," Kyoko whispered breathlessly, wantonly spreading her thighs and trying to lift her upper body to look at him. She should have been more embarrassed since she was practically propped up on display for him; however, all modesty went out the window as lust conquered her. All she could think about was the sexy man nestled between her thighs.
"Is this okay?" He asked, his breath a hot caress against her sweet spot as he sought permission.
"Please," she begged, jerking her hips closer to his mouth. It seemed to be all the approval he needed for his lips to descend on the nub hidden between the top of her folds, devouring it until Kyoko couldn't think straight.
"Yes!" She screamed in ecstasy, her body convulsing from the pleasure his tongue delivered. Her fingers dug into his blond locks, kneading his scalp as she bucked her hips, greedily needing more. Kuon released her clit, licking and nipping his way down her slit.
"Mmm," he moaned, tonguing her entrance. "You taste so sweet…like candy." He dragged his tongue from her core to her clit and back again several times, teasing her until she was aching and mewling with desire. With every swipe, she felt him lap up the heat weeping from her core.
"Kuon!" Kyoko growled, annoyed by his teasing and jerked her hips the next time his tongue neared her damp entrance. Finally, showing mercy, he gripped her thighs and plunged his tongue into her pulsating core. Moaning, Kyoko threw her head and arched her back, enthralled in the erotic pleasure from his tongue. She was in heaven.
It didn't take long for the tension in her lower belly to build as he drove into her, swiping her inner walls with his hot appendage. His death grip on her thighs loosened as one hand moved to circle and flick over her clit. In a matter of seconds, he had her screaming his name and falling into a never-ending bliss of sexual gratification. He continued his ministrations, riding out her orgasm until the spasms of her body became small tremors, eventually coming to a halt. Kyoko tensed as his tongue, still lapping up her juices, dipped lower, passed her perineal area, and skirted the edge of her rear entrance.
She tried to wiggle away from him, but he held tight, moving back up to more familiar territory. Her body relaxed again as he kissed his way up her mound, over her breasts, and to her lips.
"Feeling good, my little tease," Kuon asked, settling between her legs and rocking his length against her. The coolness of his wet shorts against her naked flesh made her hiss. He leaned down and captured her lips, kissing her slowly and passionately, grinding into her in sync with every thrust of his tongue. The taste of her was still fresh in his mouth. She could feel the embers of her lust being stoked and on the verge of reigniting. Her hands slid down over the rigid muscles of his torso until they fingered the laces of his shorts. Kuon groaned, breaking the kiss and putting space between them.
"I better go," Kuon said, pecking her on the lips one more time before pulling himself completely away from her.
Kyoko felt like he just dumped a bucket of cold water on her; the haze of her post-coital bliss cleared instantly. She was lying there completely naked for the taking and he was leaving.
"Go," she panicked, trying to sit up. Watching her struggle, Kuon moved to help her. "Did I do something wrong?" It had to be the rag to the face or the bucket of dirty water. She had probably taken the game too far.
"What?" His eyes widened and scooped her up to sit on his lap on the floor, leaning his back against the mound for support. "You did nothing wrong," he assured her, stroking her cheek with his knuckles and tucking wet locks behind her ear. "You were perfect," he cooed, kissing her softly on the lips. " And as much as I want to bury my cock deep inside your throbbing pussy, I don't want to hurt you. You're still recovering."
A thrill ran through her body at his dirty words and right on cue, her core began throbbing for him…again. "I..um…it doesn't hurt anymore," she promised, already shamelessly panting with hunger.
"It's okay, baby. I got more than my fill," he smirked, flicking his tongue over those soft full lips, red and plump from eating her. Kyoko blushed, but the sight of his tongue heated her.
"Please, Kuon," she pleaded, shifting to straddle him. Her lips hovered over his ear so he wouldn't miss her next words, "I want to feel your cock deep inside me." Kuon gasped at her confession. Taking advantage of his parted lips, Kyoko slanted her mouth over his and plunged her tongue inside, claiming his. To her relief, he didn't reject her. His arms tightened around her, crushing her against him and returning her kiss with equal fervor.
"I need inside you now, baby," he panted between kisses. Kyoko lifted slightly off him so they could undo his shorts. Aside from the small tie, the crotch of his swim trunks was clasped with velcro, making it easy to undo. Kuon shimmied the material just low enough for his dick to spring free. Because she was already soaking, it was easy for him to immediately sheathe himself to the hilt. Finally connected, they both groaned in satisfaction.
"Are you okay," he asked as he maneuvered her to slide up and down his length.
"More than okay!" She assured him with a euphoric smile plastered on her face. Kuon slid his hand behind her neck and brought her mouth down to his in another passionate kiss of entangled tongues.
"I'm not going to last much longer," he confessed, kissing down her neck and latching on her breast, pulling the tight bud between his teeth and rolling it with his tongue while his hand teased the other one. Kyoko was already chasing her own orgasm as well.
"I'm close," she gasped, loving the way he teased her breasts. His other hand slid down to cup her ass, pushing her down further with every thrust up. Kuon began to move faster, penetrating her deeper with every thrust. She felt it when his finger slid between her crack and gently rubbed at the puckered flesh. Kyoko was so overcome with euphoria that she didn't tense up like before and embraced the new onslaught of pleasure it brought to her body. He didn't enter her; however, the sensation was enough to fling her off the cliff just as she felt the hot stream of his cum shooting inside her.
Kyoko collapsed over him, resting her head on his shoulder while Kuon peppered soft kisses up and down the crook of her neck as he continued to pump inside her. His hands glided over her back in soothing strokes until her body stopped trembling.
"You okay, baby," he asked, once she calmed down.
"No," she whispered against his neck. "I think my legs have turned to goo," she joked, pulling back to stare into his eyes. They kissed again with heated eyes wide open.
"Well, as much as I love having my cock buried inside you, my poor ass is going numb."
Kyoko giggled, squeezing her inner muscles absentmindedly.
"Fuck," Kuon groaned as her walls contracted around him. "Baby, you're killing me!"
Kyoko laughed and lifted herself off him with his guidance. They laid down on the floor, embracing each other for a few more minutes. Kuon had pulled up his shorts while Kyoko laid butt naked in his embrace.
"How did the audition go? You never did say," she finally asked.
"It was good. The director asked me to audition for the lead role."
"That's amazing!" Kyoko exclaimed, embracing him tightly. "I always knew you were destined for greatness." She stopped gushing when she noticed he wasn't exactly thrilled.
"If you get an offer, will you take it?" She asked, right to the point. Hopefully, he would expand without her having to pry it out of him.
"I don't know anymore," he replied tiredly. Kyoko lifted her head to gaze into his troubled eyes. "You see…" he launched into the details of the audition and his history with the director. Kyoko was up, angrily pacing the room in all her naked glory as young Kuon's story unfolded. She was ready to call an Uber to that man's place of work and give him a good thrashing. The nerve of him to mistreat her darling Corn. It was unforgivable. This director, Sam Wilson, was officially on her shit list.
…
Kuon laid back, enjoying the way his girlfriend ranted and paced back and forth in front of him. He didn't know how she did it, but even angry, she radiated a natural grace. His gaze dipped from her flashing amber eyes, down the long column of her neck, and to her heaving chest, emphasizing those firm breasts that fit so perfectly in the palms of his hands. Whenever she turned away, he was treated with a rear view of the most perfect ass, still reddened by the swats he had administered and the grip he had on them. Seeing his marks on her filled him with pride and a possessiveness he didn't know was possible.
Kyoko probably forgot that she didn't have a stitch of clothing covering her body, and he wasn't about to point it out to her. He was glad he confided in her, somehow talking, getting it all off his chest had put everything in perspective and allowed him to release some of the bitterness he had buried deep in his heart. Kuon knew he probably had to see a professional when he returned to Japan. He couldn't keep unpacking his baggage onto his sweet girlfriend. As sexy as she looked strutting around him angrily, promising carnage, he owed it to her to seek help.
The next time she got close, he snagged her wrist and yanked her down on top of him. His hands caressed her backside, loving the softness of her skin pressed against his body. If they didn't have so much clean-up to do, Kuon would have suggested taking a shower so they could spend their time wrestling between the clean sheets.
"Have I ever told you, you look sexy when you're angry?" He smirked, nibbling on her earlobe.
"No," she moaned, rolling her hips against the length already hardening under the thin material of his shorts.
"There you go again, seducing me," he rasped, licking and sucking at the pulse of her neck.
"Is it so bad?" She teased and squealed when he began blowing raspberries against her neck.
"If you don't want my parents to see the mess we made, I need to get up," Kuon explained, being the voice of reason. "You can take a bath while I finish upstairs."
"I have a better idea. How about you finish the car and I'll take care of the floors. Then we can take a bath together."
"You have the best ideas." Kuon pecked her on the lips and headed for the door with Kyoko right behind him. He paused and turned toward her. "Maybe, you should put on some clothes before coming out," he smirked, his eyes raking down her nude body appreciatively.
"Right," she said, smacking her forehead with her palm. As she turned away, Kuon popped her butt cheek one last time, eliciting a curse from her sweet lips. A nice red print was already taking shape on her ivory skin.
They managed to finish cleaning and took a long-drawn-out bath that included making love once more. Kuon savored every moment he spent with her. With the way he was acting, one would think they would never see each other again. He knew moments like these would be rare when they returned to Japan. Their schedules were already packed, and he had late-night sessions scheduled with Kei. Kyoko would most likely already be in bed by the time he got home. The thought of her at home, sleeping in their bed, would be his only consolation during those long days.
When his parents came home, they gathered in the kitchen, laughing and sharing their day like a typical family. Dinner was a hodgepodge of leftovers in the fridge, the Chinese food his parents brought home, and simple side dishes Kyoko and his dad threw together quickly. Kuon was in charge of setting the table while his mother took care of their drinks. It wasn't lost on them that they were kept out of preparing any sort of food.
Now that they were in a more intimate setting, Kuu paused from shoveling food in his mouth and asked, "How did the audition go?" His father's eyes were a mixture of curiosity and concern. Kuon had given him and everyone in the parking lot the short version just to appease his family enough without giving too much away.
"It went as usual. We spoke a little before we jumped right into it. I think the director and the others evaluating me thought I did well. Did you know Date would be there?"
"What?" Kuu exclaimed. "Why was he there?" Kuon assumed his father's surprised reaction was sincere, but then again, the man was a highly paid actor.
"So you didn't send him?" Kuon questioned.
"If you're asking if I interfered on your behalf, then my answer is no. I respect what you're doing and your mother and I want to support you. Whatever you need from us, we're here for you son, both of you," he smiled tenderly at Kyoko.
"Thank you," Kuon managed, emotion ceasing in his throat. It took him a moment to pull himself together. "That's all I need."
"What did you think of the director?" His mother piped up. "Do you think he's someone you could work with if you were offered the role?"
Kuon's gaze narrowed and homed in on his mother suspiciously. Maybe the reason Sam had beef with them had to do with his mother. Did he have some sort of obsession with her and angrily took it out on him because he was the son she shared with Kuu? There was no point speculating when he could just ask. Wasn't lack of communication the main reason for all his problems?
"I might as well just tell you…" Kuon took a deep breath and launched into the same discussion he had with Kyoko earlier. He watched as flames of anger danced around his parents' eyes as he told them about his experience with Sam when he was younger. The mood at the dinner table had plummeted with each spoken word, even Kyoko was upset hearing it all over again.
"I'm sorry, son, this is all my fault," Kuu confessed.
"Your fault?" Kuon further concluded that his father probably kicked the man's ass for doing something to his mother. "What did you do?" He asked curiously.
"It's probably what I didn't do. I kept turning down his offers to work with other directors on projects I found more interesting. Most of those I worked with tended to be nominated for top awards and usually ended up winning. I can only guess he was jealous of his peers' success."
It sounded plausible and could be the piece Kuon was missing. It would explain why Sam was riding him so hard. When he couldn't have Kuu, he tried for his son. He demanded the same level of perfection his father possessed out of a preteen and when Kuon couldn't deliver, he cast him out.
"It makes sense," Kuon nodded. Surprisingly, he wasn't as upset about it now that he knew it wasn't only him. The director had set unrealistic expectations of him as a child.
"We should have been there. As your parents, we should have protected you. Please forgive us." His mother's emerald eyes watered as she pleaded with him.
"It's okay, Mom, we all made mistakes. You guys were busy, but you always tried to make time for me. I was the one that didn't want to be a burden and bottled things up. I'm good…we're all good. Let's put the past behind us now."
"Okay," his parents replied in sync. Kuon nodded and caught the proud smile on his girlfriend's lips. He leaned over and pecked her cheek before returning to his food. The atmosphere lightened again while Kyoko told them about her shopping trip. After dinner and dessert, the men cleaned the kitchen while Julie helped Kyoko pack her new items.
The young couple still had several hours to kill before they had to leave for the airport. They ended up spending the time in the "music" room where the two Katsukis held a private recital for their biggest fans. They took turns playing the songs from their respective versions of the drama on the baby grand piano. The melodies were different, but the tone both fit the character and plot. When they ran out of songs, they dusted off some old board games Julie found while going through the shelves to show off more of Kuon's pictures and memorabilia.
The rest of the night was filled with laughter and love as they took classic board games and livened them up with alcohol. Kyoko was immediately switched to water after it was clear she was on the losing end in most of the games. It was expected since this was her first time participating in a family game night. Kuon made a mental note to try to host one regularly when they returned to Japan. They could even invite all their friends that were now part of their family.
Omake:
Now, this was first class, Kuon smiled, cuddling closer to his girlfriend. Their large leather chairs were reclined and the armrests were lifted out of the way to make a more comfortable sitting arrangement. He was going to miss his parents, but unlike the last time he embarked on this long journey, he was leaving them on much better terms with the promise to see them in December to celebrate Kyoko's birthday.
Reuniting with them had gone far better than he had expected. They had forgiven him and he had managed to forgive himself as well. As predicted, the trip hadn't been all unicorns and rainbows. The appearance of a stalker, threat of a sex tape, and almost getting shot could be considered a typical day in LA. Returning to Japan was never part of his plan once he came to America. He was amazed at how his life had changed, for the better, after reuniting with the little blessing tucked into his side.
"Oh my God," Kyoko gasped, drawing his attention to her and discovering her face covered by the cashmere blanket they were snuggled under together. Kuon turned his attention to the screen and groaned in agony. The sounds coming out of his side of the headset he was sharing with her finally tore through his distracted brain.
"Fuck," he grumbled, pulling the bud out of his ear, while he struggled to locate the little remote to shut the thing off. By the time he found it on the armrest, which he was now cursing for being poorly designed, the scene featuring his parents' characters in a very steamy love scene had escalated. This was one of their newer movies that he had never seen as Ren. He couldn't bring himself to watch any films that featured his parents for fear his resolve would crumble.
They had found it on the menu and decided to watch it until they fell asleep. It had been rated R, but Kuon didn't pay much attention to the warnings before the movie started. If he did, alarm bells would have probably blared in his head to avoid this movie. He forgot that R-rated movies these days in America tended to get a little more liberal when it came to sex and nudity. Kuon would forever have his Dad's butt cheeks seared into his brain, something he so desperately tried to avoid seeing on this trip. He was grateful it wasn't his mother. That would take some extra therapy to get over.
"Is it safe," Kyoko giggled, peeking at him through a little hole she made in the covers.
"Yes," Kuon sighed, ducking under the blanket to join her. With the lights of the cabin dimmed for the night, Kuon could barely make out her face in the dark.
She giggled again and pecked his lips. "That caught me completely off guard. I thought the movie was about a space mission, but I guess physical needs become a necessity when you're out there."
Kuon groaned. He knew why that love scene was inserted into the plot line even though it was completely unnecessary. Sex sells and people loved a good romance with some heat.
Kyoko's lips pressed against his, sweeping her little tongue against his lips. Please don't tell me seeing my parents intimate turned her on. That thought horrified him and almost had him gagging against her mouth.
"What are you thinking?" He whispered against her lips, refusing to voice his fears.
"About us," she murmured, tugging on his bottom lip. Oh, thank fuck!
She released his lip before he could respond to her kiss and continued speaking. "It made me wonder if that would be us in twenty years."
Oh, Kamisama, no! She is thinking about them. He calmed down after thinking about it objectively. At least she was talking about their future together.
"Do you think I would be good enough to pull off such a scene?"
Kuon knew she could pull it off even now. She was that sexy. The idea of her being intimate with an actor other than himself in a film almost set his blood to boil. That jealous reaction was something he had to work on now before it became a problem.
"I know you would. I have a brilliant idea. How about we get a little practice in," he teased, nuzzling his face into her neck and hooking her thigh over his hip.
Kyoko laughed and pushed him away. "Stop it," she whispered loudly.
"What?" He asked innocently.
"We can't. Everyone will hear," she hissed and shifted over him. Being in the window seat, Kyoko leaned over Kuon to look down the short aisle. From this angle, Kuon could see a bit of a sleeping Yashiro sitting closer to the front. The lone attendant on their flight had retreated to her little space behind the closed curtain. No one was paying any attention to them.
Kyoko bit her lip unsure, so it was up to Kuon to take control. Aside from a heavy make-out session and some light touching, he made sure things didn't go too far. Eventually, they fell asleep with limbs entangled and didn't stir for hours.
…
Yashiro had covered his mouth when the giggling started to keep from laughing and immediately flicked the switch to turn on his noise-canceling headphones. The naughty kids were taking full advantage of this private flight the president had procured for them. The reason for the change of plans was a little unsettling, but he supposed he should be proud of his charges for having such a strong fanbase. They would probably be proud for orchestrating such an opportunity for their favorite couple. But as much as Yashiro enjoyed them being lovey-dovey, he knew when to draw the line. He snuggled further under his blanket and closed his eyes to blissfully sleep the long hours away.
AN: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! This crazy chapter! This is my longest one to date and it has put me over 1M words…what?! I hope you enjoyed it because as usual I got carried away and there was no way I was not getting them on that plane. I apologize for the delay, it seems like these days I'm only averaging about 100 words a day when it comes to writing. Big thanks to the ladies that sprinted with me to get this behemoth done. I couldn't have finished without all their encouragement.
Thank you for not giving up on me! I HEART you all!
The song during the carwash was "Electric Love" by BORNS.
Until next time, ja ne! ^_^