I do not own Final Fantasy VII.

Bound By Blood

CHAPTER VI: Is This Love?

I'd never had trouble sleeping ever in my life until that night. Tossing and turning, I couldn't get Claudia off my mind. I kept thinking of how amazing it felt to touch her and hold her.

"Damn it," I growled, tossing back the sheets.

I got up, tugging my pants on and headed out to the hall. I had an intrusive thought to break down her door and have my way with her. But instead, I turned the opposite direction and went down to the kitchen.

As I gingerly sipped a glass of water, I leaned against the counter, glancing up at the clock.

2:30am

There were still so many hours left until she'd wake, and unless I managed to fall asleep, I'd go crazy waiting. Despite these slow hours, I also realized that day one had passed and only two remained. I didn't want the days to roll by so quickly; I needed more time with her.

Washing my used glass, I placed it in the drain board and headed back upstairs. I paused in front of my door. The anxious feeling gnawed at my stomach. Looking at her bedroom door, I realized how close she was, and yet she seemed almost out of reach.

I took a step toward her room, only for the door to open and Claudia to step out. She was wearing that same thin dressing gown she'd worn the first night.

When she turned to find me standing there, she nearly jumped out of her skin, as though I was some kind of specter. Clutching her chest, she soon calmed as a look of recognition danced across her eyes.

"I didn't mean to frighten you," I said.

"No, no…" She gasped, a smile playing at her lips. "I was actually coming to find you."

"It's nearly three in the morning." I tilted my head, offering up a smile of my own. "Whatever could you need? Unless…"

"U-unless?" She stammered.

"Unless you heard a noise again." I took another cautious step in her direction.

"And if I did?"

"Then I'll have to inspect your room. Or," I grinned. "You can come to mine."

She lost her balance, stumbling into the sideboard that sat against the wall.

"Are you alright?" I reached for her, helping her stand up.

"I'm sorry," she rested her hands on my shoulders. "That's never happened before."

"I have a gift for making women swoon."

She giggled under her breath. "So…um, your room?"

I leaned over to push the door open. "After you."

She smiled as she stepped in, looking around as if she'd never seen the room before. Clasping her hands, she turned toward me.

"When you leave, this room isn't going to feel the same anymore. I mean, we've had so many guests stay here. From adventurers just passing through to high profile celebrities; but none have made the impression that you have."

"I did save your life." I approached, taking her hips in my hands.

"Yes, and now I want to spend it with you."

That ache in my chest had subsided, but flooded back in with considerable force. "You literally just met me barely two days ago."

Lowering her eyes, she shook her head. "I know it sounds stupid."

"It's not stupid per se, though perhaps a bit rash. That said, I feel the same."

She snapped her eyes up at me. "You do?"

"Claudia," I paused, gazing into her dreamy eyes. "I can't believe I'm asking this, but do you believe in love at first sight?"

"I'm not sure, do you?"

I caressed her cheek. "I didn't until I held you in my arms for the first time the other day." My mouth went dry, but I managed to continue. "I can't get you off my mind, you make my heart race and ache, and…I don't know what else it could mean."

"It's the same for me." Her breathing quickened.

"But again, we've only known each other for a short while. So is this real or are we just riding some kind of high that will eventually leave us crashing?"

Her bright eyes dulled with sadness and, for a moment, I regretted what I said.

"If it's real, then we're blessed to have found each other, but if not, then I'm still glad to have been able to share this amazing weekend with you."

lt felt unnervingly good to be able to freely share my feelings with someone, especially a lover, but along with the blissful fluttering of my heart, a deep chasm of doubt formed in my stomach. Eventually this beautiful weekend would end, Claudia's uncle would return home and I to the battlefield. There was a very real chance I would never see her again.

"It's not over yet; we still have two more days. Let's make the most of it."

I leaned in to kiss her, slowly pushing her dressing gown over her shoulders. My breath caught in my throat when I found her naked underneath. Without hesitation, I slipped off my pants and lifted her into my arms, carrying her to the bed much like the first night I spent there. This was my chance to rectify my mistake.

Now that we were truly in private with no one to hear us and no fear of getting caught, I was finally able to relax and enjoy the moment. Letting her lie back into the pillows, I rested beside her, taking in her beauty.

Starting at her jaw, I traced my fingers along her chin and down her throat, earning a soft gasp from her as I caressed the curve of her breast and gingerly pinched her taut nipple. Leaning down, I kissed her breasts, flicking her nipples with my tongue. As I continued to tease her with my mouth, I slid my hand down further across her stomach, but as I approached her hot mound, my touch veered off to her hip and down her thigh. Claudia moaned in protest, but I was quick to apologize as I dragged my mouth down her body.

Despite having orally pleased a number of women before, none tasted quite so good as Claudia. Her delicious pussy had the earthy taste that all women did, but there was something sweet there too, something I couldn't quite place. Did she really taste different, or was it simply that I…that I possibly loved her? Whatever it was, I craved it, and licked her clit all the more fervently for it.

She lifted her hips, her deep moans filling my ears. Her hands grasped my hair, keeping my head still as she rocked herself against my face. She didn't need to tell me she was coming; I already knew, from her mounting cries, to the straining of her legs.

My cock, rock hard and throbbing, begged for release. I could have pleasured myself as I served her, but that was where my selfishness got the better of me; I wanted to be inside her when I came.

As she went lax, I rose up from between her thighs, noticing her looking somewhat dazed. The day before, she'd taken charge and mounted me first, but this time I took advantage of her weakened state. Pinning her wrists on either side of her head, I lowered myself over her.

Looking up at me, Claudia's mouth twisted in a lopsided grin as she opened her legs wider to accommodate my hips. I let one of her arms go as I sought to orientate myself, but she reached down and grasped my cock. A throaty growl escaped my lips as she guided me to her slick opening. Once I was aligned with her, my tip poised to enter, I pinned her arm back again. Our eyes met and I held her gaze as I rammed myself inside her. Her body immediately arched against mine and her eyes rolled back as her mouth dropped open. I took this opportunity to kiss her, sliding my tongue into her mouth to mingle with her own.

It was so different to be on top, to have dominion over my woman in a way that she hadn't allowed me before. I controlled the pressure, the friction, the speed. I could drive into her as hard or as gently as I so desired.

"Good god, Claudia," I moaned against her mouth. "You drive me crazy!"

I sat up on my knees, holding her hips in place. I continued to pound into her until I realized that I could move her small body against mine, treating her somewhat like a sex toy. I worried unnecessarily that it would demean her, but she grinned at the sensation, her tongue snaking along her lips as she grabbed the headboard to stabilize herself. From this new angle, I had the best of both worlds; I could see my dick sliding in and out of her, watch her perfect tits bounce from the motion, all the while still having full control.

My mouth dropped open as I pumped her, but no sound escaped my lips. My body began to tremble, sweat streaming down my chest. I wasn't ready to come yet; I was still enjoying the view of her, but alas, I reached the precipice and immediately tumbled over the edge. I thrust into her several more times before ramming her hard against me, trying to get as deep as possible. Dropping her against the bed, I pressed into her as hard as I thought she could handle, my body shuddering almost uncontrollably as I filled her to the brink. I don't think I'd ever come so hard in my life. Even after I filled her up, my dick was still hard and I managed to hold on for a few more pumps before I collapsed.

"Oh, fuck," I breathed.

My head buzzed as though I was drunk and I looked over at Claudia. She looked disoriented, to say the very least. At length, she managed to look my way, an exhausted smile on her face.

"Are you alright?" I rolled over, pushing her hair out of her face.

"Yeah," she gasped. "I'm better than alright. And you?"

I almost laughed out loud. "I've never felt better!"

She giggled breathily. "This was better than on the ground by the river."

"I agree. It also helps that we got the difficult part out of the way already."

She nodded in agreement, wrapping her arms around me and resting her head on my chest.

"Are you sure you want to do that? I'm sweaty," I warned, but as I looked down at her, I realized that she was already asleep.

Smiling, I wrapped my arms around her and closed my eyes, letting the blessing of sleep claim me.

When I woke a few hours later, I found Claudia sitting on the side of the bed. Reaching up, I stroked her back and she turned toward me, her face twisted in pain.

"What's wrong?" I sprang up, sitting beside her.

"Nothing, I'm fine."

"Don't lie to me." I caressed her cheek.

"I just hurt," she whimpered. "Everything aches."

"Lie down."

She winced as she complied, and only then did I see the damage I'd done. Dark rings encircled her wrists, purple spots dotted her hips - exact matches for my fingertips - and her vagina was reddened and swollen. No wonder she was in such pain.

"I hurt you." I shook my head looking away from her. "I didn't mean to, I'm sorry."

She said nothing as she rolled over, drawing the covers up over her.

"Rest here, I'll be right back."

I kissed her hair as I went to the bathroom, turning on the hot water to fill the tub. Whenever I was achy after a hard day, I liked to soak in a tub of Epsom salt, perhaps this would help her feel better too.

I was grateful that she allowed me to carry her to the bathroom and place her in the tub. She even offered a tired smile as I placed a rolled up towel behind her head.

"Thank you, Sephiroth." She reached out to me.

I took her hand. "I'm going down stairs for a bit, just relax."

Running her a bath was one thing, but was I overdoing it by making her breakfast too? If I acted like this over fucking her too hard, then how would I react if she was pregnant?

I paused.

That's a very real possibility in my near future. Staring down at the pot of porridge I was preparing, I gulped. If she got pregnant from me, I'd do all this and so much more. She'd deserve it too.

I returned to the bedroom with a tray of food for her: hot porridge, fresh fruit, buttered toast, and a steaming cup of tea. A simple, yet comforting meal fit for a princess.

By the time I remade the bed and set out some fresh pajamas for her, she was already finished with her bath. I looked up as she entered the room wrapped in a towel, her face lit up when she saw what I'd done for her.

She dropped the towel and immediately slipped into her fresh clothes. I helped her back into bed, propping her up with the pillows and set the breakfast tray on her lap.

"This looks wonderful," she said as she dug in.

"I wanted to apologize. I got carried away." I sat on the edge of the bed beside her.

"Don't beat yourself up about it. It hurts now, yeah, but I don't regret it. The fact that you got that excited over me…" She bit her lip and smiled.

A pleasant pressure weighed down my heart as I watched her. "Like I said, you drive me crazy."

"By the way," she leaned forward, running a finger down my bare chest. "How long are you going to stay naked?"

I smiled, shaking my head. "As long as you like."