I do not own Final Fantasy VII.

Bound by Blood

CHAPTER II: She Heard a Noise

Claudia wasn't wrong about her uncle; he was indeed enthusiastic and rather long winded, talking endlessly about the glory days of his youth with great passion. Despite having little interest in his story, I still hung onto every word and even offered input when I was able, all the while keeping my eye on the clock.

I'd been there for nearly an hour. The infantrymen assigned to accompany me were already enjoying their dinner in the kitchen with the cook, whilst I exercised my ability to appear stoic and ignore the gnawing in my stomach. Despite the food in my room, I realized that once Claudia had left me, I no longer had an appetite.

Why hadn't we started dinner yet?

"Where is your niece?" I hated to be rude and interrupt the mayor's story, but even I grew impatient when hungry.

"My wha-? Oh, Claudia." He smirked. "She's been real nervous about meeting you. I'm sure she's trying to look her best."

"I see," I murmured, looking up at the stairs. I wanted to urge him to fetch her, but as the thought entered my mind, my ears perked up at the clacking of a woman's shoes.

"There she is!" The mayor stood up, chuckling as he put his arm around Claudia's shoulders as she entered the room. "Mr. Sephiroth, allowing me to introduce my late brother's daughter, Claudia."

"Hello," she breathed, her cheeks becoming rosy.

I didn't immediately respond, instead taken aback at her appearance. She really was quite lovely now that she'd cleaned herself up. Her golden hair was swept up into an effortless bun, a very light amount of makeup accentuated her blue eyes, and the blue dress she wore was modest enough for polite company, but still drew my gaze to her figure.

Remembering myself, I stood, inclining my head toward her as I reached out to shake her hand. "A pleasure to meet you."

As we clasped hands, a strange feeling swept over me and I found myself unwilling to let her go. Without thinking, I lightly rubbed my thumb across her knuckles. Why did I suddenly want to kiss them? Looking into her eyes, I noticed something in the way she gazed back from beneath her darkened eyelashes. At that moment, I fancied kissing her on the mouth instead.

I immediately dropped my hand. "Shall we?"

We finally entered the dining room, the smell of the food wafted to my nose and my stomach lurched.

"I apologize for being late," Claudia said, once again pushing that pesky curl behind her ear.

Despite my disdain for tardiness, especially at the cost of my personal comfort, the corner of my mouth lifted into a half smile and my irritation cooled. "It's fine; your uncle entertained me well enough."

"Thank you for being so kind," the mayor said. "Even so, we must make it up to you. I know! Let's have you room with us for the remainder of your stay."

"That's very kind, but my room at the inn is satisfactory. Anyway, I don't wish to impose."

"No, I insist! We'll have your men bring your things here and you can stay in the guest suite."

I released a heavy breath through my nose. Looking up at Claudia once more, I couldn't help that ridiculous smile from stretching my face.

"Alright," I said. "I appreciate your hospitality."

"Very good, it's settled then. Now let's eat!"

My room was far more comfortable than the inn. It was cozy and warmed by the fireplace on my left. From the far wall, a king sized bed with a plush comforter beckoned to me like a lover. I gazed at it likewise, longing to bury myself in it.

"What a day," I murmured as I removed my clothes.

As soon as my body was relieved of the immense weight of leather and armor, I dropped onto the bed, relishing the warmth and softness enveloping me. My tense muscles eased and my body began to feel pleasantly heavy, almost like I was sinking. Soon, sleep washed over me.

It might have been hours, but it seemed like only seconds passed from when I fell asleep until I was aroused by a knocking on the door.

Grabbing my pants from the bench at the foot of the bed, I cautiously approached the door. Upon opening it, I was met by Claudia dressed only in a thin white robe covering an even thinner pale nightgown.

"What's wrong?" I opened the door fully.

Her face lit up as she glanced me up and down, apparently surprised at my bare chest. As if attempting to maintain her modesty, she looked away, blushing.

"I…" She faltered, clearing her throat. "I heard a noise."

"A noise?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, a noise outside my bedroom window. It frightened me. Can you please investigate for me?" She gazed up at me with pleading eyes, much like a puppy. How could I refuse?

"Show me where." Of course I was skeptical of the supposed noise, but at the moment, I thought it couldn't hurt to humor her.

Claudia's bedroom was only two doors from mine, so if there was a disturbance, I would have known about it. But once inside her room, I looked around, making note of the doors and windows. I opened each one, checking in vain for the cause of her mysterious noise. Nothing was amiss, just like I knew already.

"Everything seems fine," I said, double checking the locks on the windows. "Perhaps you simply had a nightmare." A possibility, since she'd experienced a traumatic event that morning. It would've been strange if she wasn't still a bit scared.

"Perhaps," she agreed.

"Well, goodnight." I nodded to her and was about to head back to my room, when she reached out, grabbing my arm.

I halted, turning back to her. Her face was sullen as she held my arm. Neither of us said anything for a moment. There was something on her mind though, something heavy.

As I tried to discern the strange expression on her face, a powerful thumping invaded my ears. The sound caused my entire body to shake. Swallowing down the lump that suddenly appeared in my throat, I soon realized the incessant thumping was my own heart. But why? My heart has never pounded so hard before, not even in battle.

Without thinking, I reached out to her, tracing my fingers along her jaw before lifting her chin. She met my gaze and my mouth went dry. There was something smoldering in those icy blue depths, a fire that turned her cheeks red and stifled her breath.

"There was no noise. Was there?" I kept my voice quiet and neutral, but it was a struggle.

"No." Her voice was barely above a breath.

"You just wanted me to come to your room."

"Yes."

"But why, when mine was just fine?"

"I," she hesitated, perhaps having not thought this plan through well enough.

"What is it you want?" My mouth went dry as I watched her trembling lips. "Are you trying to seduce me?"

She didn't speak, instead reaching out to spread her hands across my chest. My breath hitched in my throat as the heat of her soft hands sent tremors rippling down my body. My penis became engorged, pressing painfully against my tight leather pants.

The hand I'd held gingerly beneath her jaw caressed her cheek. She sighed, leaning into my touch. Her breath was sweet and minty, of course it was; she was expecting to be kissed. So I obliged her, pressing my lips against hers as I brushed her hair behind her shoulder, dragging my fingers down her back.

Her body arched against me as I dropped my hand lower to squeeze her firm bottom. Throwing her arms around my neck, she drew me in deeper. I responded in kind, lifting her so she wrap her legs around my waist. Carefully, I carried her to her bed and dropped her down, taking in the delicious sight of this beauty with her nightgown up around her waist and her legs spread open for me.

With a feather light touch, I stroked my fingers up her thighs, earning a slight twitch of her hips as I slowly eased her panties down and off. I knelt down, kissing her thigh as lightly as I'd touched, following the same trail with my lips, all the while her soft sighs filled the air around me.

I didn't hesitate when l approached her pussy, eager to taste her. Placing her legs over my shoulders, I held her hips down as I slid my tongue along her slick lips. She gasped as I tapped her clit, trying to move her hips, but I held her still as I teased her.

"Oh, Sephiroth!" She murmured my name over and over again, like it was all she knew how to say.

Claudia strained against me as if testing her strength to mine. She arched her back, her breathing coming fast and shallow. Her legs tensed up as her body began to tremble.

"Yes, oh yes, Sephiroth…" She wanted to scream, but she restrained herself, barely speaking above a whisper.

I kept my lips around her clit as she rode out her orgasm, taking my own pleasure from her satisfaction.

When she finally fell limp, I rose from between her thighs. She looked like she'd been on a wild ride; breathless and sweating.

"You should go back to bed now," I said, lifting her up to toss back the bedcovers.

She gazed up at me with sleepy eyes. "But," she whimpered. "Is that all? We're not done."

I tucked her back in bed, my stomach unusually tight. "That's all for now."

"What about you?"

"You needn't concern yourself with me," I said, though painfully aware of how engorged my cock was. "I will see you in the morning."