Love from Venus: Arc 1, Part 7
Title: Love from Venus
Part: ARC 1, Part 7
Author: Aquarius Galuxy
Fandom: Power Stone
Pairing: Rouge/Ryoma
Genre: Romance/Erotica/Friendship/AU
Rating: varies from PG to NC-17
Word count: 4,311
Summary: Sales representative Ryoma Iwakura's life careens off course when a business deal brings him to a hostess bar, and into the company of hostess and strip club dancer Rouge. A spark of attraction ignites between them, one Ryoma tries to deny. Despite his reservations, he embarks on a scandalous friendship with Rouge that questions his plans for the future.
Author's Notes: This concludes Arc 1!! Now there's just the Interlude and a short Arc 2, and then we're done. This took forever to edit. I get distracted by the tiniest things. T_T Prompts are from 10_prompts.
#25 (4:5 Gift)
Ryoma pushed the buzzer, patiently waiting as Mindhi unlatched the door to let him through. He'd been dropping by every two days since the hospital visit, leaving his apartment much earlier than his usual routine called for. Being on the streets was peaceful at dawn. He liked the exercise and fresh air, relished the thought of watching Rouge recover as the days passed. Falcon had found out about the hostess when Ryoma let slip his destination, much to his dismay and the blond's amusement. He was teased every subsequent time Falcon caught him leaving way before work was due to begin.
"Morning," Mindhi greeted the moment she pulled the door ajar, surveying him. She had been warming up to him each time he showed up at their place, even going so far as to ask what he thought of her roommate on his previous visit. He hadn't given her a straight answer then. "I see you've brought something for Rouge again."
"Morning." He tried to shrug casually, kicking his shoes off before entering the apartment. "Just some fruit, since they're good for health. Rouge has been eating them, right?"
"Yeah. I've made sure to tell her that they're from you." Mindhi grinned, pointing him towards the kitchen so he could deposit his loaded bag. There was a large bowl of fruit on the counter from his previous visits. "As much as she appreciates the fruits, though, she can't finish them at the rate you're carting them here."
"I'll remember that." He placed the carrier of apples and oranges next to the existing pile, turning back to the living room. Mindhi hovered at the doorframe. "How has she been?"
"Getting better. She's been itching to start work again and all, but you've said that she isn't to strain herself 'til Saturday." The dark-skinned girl beamed. "I guess the lure isn't as strong when you aren't a patron of hers."
Ryoma caught himself before he shot her a glare. "Not you too." When she continued to grin smugly, he ignored her words and checked his watch. "I was just repeating what the doctor said. Is she still asleep?"
"Yeah. She's sleeping better these few days, so she won't wake as easily." Mindhi gestured towards the dancer's room. "Want to see her anyway? I could wake her up if you want."
"Uh, sure." Ryoma wasn't about to highlight that his answer had been the same on every visit. "Don't wake her, though. She needs to rest."
He followed Mindhi to Rouge's room, where she allowed him in as silently as possible. The curtains were pulled shut. Ryoma waited for his eyes to adjust to the dimness, watching Rouge whilst she slept.
Not for the first time, he wondered at how tranquil she looked, curled up on her side. Her lips were parted, fringe falling away to reveal her other eye. Standing there like a spectator made Ryoma feel as if he was intruding on her personal space, seeing things she showed no one else. He blushed at that thought, cheeks heating further when he remembered that she'd seen him more intimately than this.
Forcing the accompanying memories from his mind, he got ready to leave, looking over Rouge again to reassure himself of her recovery. Once satisfied, he slipped out of the room, heading over to where Mindhi waited.
"Sorry for troubling you," he muttered, afraid that the merest sound would rouse the dancer.
"It's okay." Mindhi smiled and walked him to the front door. "Don't worry, you'll be able to kiss her all you want soon enough."
"What--" Ryoma sputtered. His face glowed red. How could she even suggest such a thing? "I didn't--"
"Has anyone told you that you're fun to tease?" Mindhi unlatched the door, observing him as he donned his shoes posthaste. Ryoma grabbed his briefcase from where he'd set it on the floor. "I'll tell Rouge that you were here."
He nodded, stepping away from the entrance. "You're only going to be telling her that."
"And that you brought fruit. Cross my heart." Mindhi smiled and waved. He nodded at her, striding towards the stairs. "Have a good day, Ryoma. Thanks for dropping by."
---
#26 (7:10 Once more)
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Rouge blurted, sliding into the very same booth they'd met in some weeks ago. Ryoma surprised her with his punctuality -- she'd showed up right on time, but he was conscientious to the point of being early, as he had been on the previous occasion.
"It's all right. I was just going through some schedules for work," he told her, straightening and sipping from his mug of coffee. Rouge shivered at the way his gaze scanned over her.
"Ever the workaholic, huh?" She couldn't help smiling, glad that she could finally savour time with him without flu hindering her senses. The past few weeks had been varying degrees of hell, from the dizzying periods at work, to airless nights full of coughing and muscles that ached. Ryoma was like a godsend when he showed up in her room suddenly and brought her to the hospital. Things had got better after that. The medication from the doctor eased her illness, and phantom calls from Ryoma brightened her days. (Mindhi informed her of each visit after she woke.) "I'm glad you could make it today."
"It's a Saturday -- I don't see why I can't." Ryoma volunteered a smile, which made him look boyish and charming at the same time. She doubted that he knew it made her quiver inside. "I'm glad to see that you're better now."
"It's all thanks to you, really." Rouge lowered her gaze coyly, turning to a waitress who had stopped by their table. She placed an order for tea before looking back at Ryoma. "Although I don't agree with you paying my bills. You know that." She frowned at him; he chuckled nervously. "It isn't right, anyhow."
"I figured that you could use the help." Ryoma's cheeks darkened slightly. He glanced away.
It was as Mindhi suggested, but Rouge wasn't keen on exposing his secret. Not when she had one herself. Instead, she pretended not to notice his blush, lifting her bag off her shoulder. "Right, it's pretty obvious that you aren't going to let me return the money to you."
"Yeah." Ryoma met her gaze resolutely. She smiled.
"That means I'm indebted to you. Feel free to claim a favour or two anytime." Rouge braced herself for his protest, riffling through her satchel.
"But I don't require favours from you." Ryoma frowned. "That was not my intent."
"Mindhi told me about your visits and the fruit -- either way, I can't thank you enough for your concern." What had he been doing while he was in her room? The idea that he'd been watching her while she slept brought colour to her skin. Rouge suppressed those thoughts. Her fingers closed around a rectangular box in her bag, light with a matte surface. She drew it out and handed it to him. "I thought that a little something would be the least I could thank you with."
Ryoma stared blankly at her proffered gift. "Uh, you really shouldn't have," he muttered weakly, looking back at her. Pink crawled over his face.
"Please accept it." Her lips quirked. His surprise tempted kisses, and they weren't in any sort of a relationship condoning that. "It's a necktie. I spent some time picking it out for you, so it'd be wonderful if you'd have it."
His eyes bounced uncertainly between her face and the burgundy box. "I, uh..."
Rouge spotted the waitress returning with a mug, stretching to grab his wrist. She pressed the box into his hand. "It might come in useful, since you work in an office and all."
"Thanks," Ryoma managed, his fingers tightening around the gift. He reddened and ogled it briefly, before placing it at his side. "I'd appreciate it if you refrained from doing this in the future."
"And you should stop paying my bills," she retorted playfully, accepting her tea when it arrived.
"Point." He laughed sheepishly, looking around the cafe. Being a weekend, the place was more crowded than normal. "So... how are you settling back into your work routine?"
Rouge clasped her warm mug, enjoying the heat it emanated even though it wasn't necessary with the multiple layers of sweaters and jacket she'd worn. "Things are going fine. I ran into some problems at work because of the urgent leave I took, but hey, I'm still employed." She grinned and shrugged.
"Damn, that sounds bad." Ryoma looked at her worriedly. "Do mention if you're having trouble there."
"Sure." Ryoma was being a little overprotective, but it was kind of cute. Rouge took a sip of her tea, thanking the gods for the lack of soreness in her throat. "What about you? How has work been lately?"
"We have another deal coming up. I just hope it doesn't take place at a club again." Ryoma grimaced.
Rouge giggled. Their first encounter was all too vivid in her mind. "Well, hold it at either of my clubs, and I'll make sure you get special treatment." She sent him a wink. He flushed.
"Uh, no thanks." Ryoma fidgeted, changing the topic. "That aside, I've been meaning to ask: What was growing up like in your hometown?"
As before, their conversation drifted through topics they had in common, each finding the other more fascinating than they'd previously thought. After a particularly informative exchange on food, Rouge happened to glance at Ryoma's watch, gasping in surprise. She'd have to be leaving soon.
"Time passes way too fast," she grumbled, polishing off her tea. Ayame and Cassie would want to know how things went this afternoon.
"That it does." Ryoma gulped his last mouthful of coffee, leaving his lips gleaming with the beverage, as he'd done on their previous rendezvous. Rouge resented the fact that she was trapped behind the table. Licking his mouth clean right now seemed a darn good idea. Instead, she extended her hand just as he spoke again. "I was, uh, wondering if you'd like to come to my place for dinner -- Rouge?"
She traced a line across his lower lip, gathering wetness off his soft flesh. Ryoma stared at her, mouth agape, his gaze latching onto her finger. Warm air feathered over her skin. Rouge wanted to have him breathe all over her body, wanted his lips on hers. His cheeks were flooded with colour. The prospect of dinner with Ryoma sent a trill of excitement through her veins, teasing a grin from her lips. She withdrew her hand and brought it to her mouth, making sure he was watching intently before dragging her tongue over her fingertip. Her lips curved into a pointed smirk. He tasted of coffee. "Dinner sounds good."
A beet couldn't have held a candle to his face then.
"H-how about n-next Friday?" he stuttered, his gaze skittering away. Rouge slipped her hand beneath his, stroking his fingers lightly with her own. He made a strangled noise in his throat.
"I'll be there." She grinned, grinned wider when she realised that he hadn't specified anything they were to avoid. Her intentions for that night ought to be clear. In fact, they were so obvious that the only question she had was whether his pants were tight after her display.
Across the table, Ryoma squirmed and dared not meet her eyes.
---
#27 (1:9 Snare)
"Hey, Falcon," Ryoma began apprehensively. He tossed vegetable stirfry around in the pan, guessing the odds that the blond would agree to his suggestion without actually hearing it. The sizzle of food and TV sounds combined were enough to drown out his words. Maybe. "I'm having a friend over for dinner on Friday, so it'll be nice if you could settle your own then."
"Friend? Which friend?" Falcon answered loudly from the adjacent room. The TV volume was brought down. Ryoma could imagine his roommate glancing towards the kitchen, before turning back to the jukebox. "Do I know him?"
"To some extent," he heard his own tone taper off, unwilling to disclose any more than was necessary.
"Hey, why wasn't I invited if I know him? You know I don't mind joining my friends' friends for dinner and then making myself scarce." Falcon's voice drew closer.
Ryoma clenched his jaw, reaching over for a spoon to sample the vegetables. Having his roommate watch him in a debate never bore well when he himself knew the flaws in his argument. He fixed his gaze on the dish he was preparing. "I didn't have you in mind when I arranged it."
"Ouch, that stings, buddy! Which friend of yours would oppose to me being around, anyway?" Falcon drew even with the doorframe. Ryoma saw him lean against it from the corner of his eye. "Ohh, wait." He cringed and looked towards the rack of spices, away from the blond who was too sharp for his sanity. "It isn't a guy you're bringing home, it's a girl!"
"That's none of your business," Ryoma muttered tautly. Heat prickled at the back of his neck. He had half a mind to empty the salt shaker into the stirfry, but he'd be eating it too. "Just be aware that there isn't dinner for you this Friday."
Falcon chortled and left the doorway to do a victory jig. "I told ya! That wasn't the only time you were gonna sleep with her."
"Shut up, Falcon. It's just a dinner." Ryoma glanced askance at him, wishing he could shoot tranquilizing darts from his eyes.
"Just a dinner?" The blond returned to the kitchen and folded his arms, waggling his eyebrows. "Did you tell Rouge that?"
"What does it matter to you?" he grumbled, fishing a bowl from the cabinet to contain the vegetables.
"Because I have a feelin' that if you didn't, it's gonna end up like the last time." Falcon grinned, padding over to pinch a stalk of greens. He popped it into his mouth despite Ryoma's frown, munching heartily on it. "Not that I'll object since you've given me advance notice, now."
"It won't happen," Ryoma told his roommate. Deep down, though, he wasn't so sure. Rouge had shown him what she wanted so explicitly, and he'd be hard pressed to deny that her suggestions had roused him. She'd done it so effortlessly, too.
"Suit yourself. I'll just come back at a decent time on Saturday. Please be dressed by then." The blond snuck another stalk away before Ryoma could set the plate on the fold-down table. He shot Falcon a withering look. "What? I'm hungry."
"You should wait 'til I'm done with cooking," Ryoma complained, wiping the frying pan clean. "And Rouge and I won't be doing anything but eating."
"Sure you'll be eating. The question is, eating what?" Falcon sent him a knowing smirk.
It was long moments before the blond's insinuation sank in. When it did, Ryoma felt his face burn through multiple shades of red. There was a high chance of them not keeping to dinner alone, and he didn't want to entertain thoughts that graphic right now. Or ever. "I didn't need to know that."
"I bet she's already got you snared. It's just a matter of time 'til you realise it, Ryoma." Falcon clapped him on the shoulder, before lacing his fingers behind his head and wandering back to the TV. "Tell me when dinner's ready."
Ryoma winced, asking himself yet again what he'd got himself into.
---
#28 (10:8 Intentions)
"So, details on your date last night, Rouge." Ayame nudged the dancer in her side, grinning playfully. The onset of winter meant that the three friends had to dress in layers of clothes before heading home. Rouge had learnt her lesson -- she never failed to have an umbrella with her during her commute to and from work now, on top of keeping sufficiently warm. Occasional gusts whizzed by them on the streets.
"Yeah, girlfriend, you've been keeping us in the dark the whole night!" Cassie accused from the other side of Rouge. Her blue-toned eyebrows drew together, tinted orange under the streetlamps. "I'll bet he was even better than the first time."
"Honestly, all he asked me to was dinner at his apartment." Rouge raised her eyebrows innocently, glancing at both her friends. What had happened after dinner was anything but chaste, however.
She set her wine glass in the sink, snaking her arms around his waist just as he lifted the last clean plate onto the draining board. Ryoma stiffened when she leaned into him; his back was a hard plane against her chest. She rubbed herself into his body. Ceramic clattered loudly onto stainless steel. She nuzzled the nape of his neck, dragging her teeth over his skin. He smelled clean, and of food. "Rouge." Ryoma did not push her away.
"But dinner wasn't all you had." Cassie smirked and linked her arm with Rouge's. Whether that was a gesture of friendship or a temporary bind, the chocolate-haired hostess didn't know.
"Yeah, we know ya too well for that." Ayame took her other arm. Rouge decided that it was their subtle way of hinting she had no other choice.
She sighed in resignation, observing each female in turn. "You know, things would be more exciting if you just got your own sex lives."
"Nuh-uh." Ayame tugged on her arm for emphasis. Rouge winced. "Yours is more than enough. Now, quit stalling!"
"Let's see... Ryoma cooks delicious food." Rouge grinned, remembering the spicy chicken dish he'd prepared. At the girls' disapproving looks, she shifted off that train of thought.
"We don't want to know how well he cooks. We want to know how well he uses his, ah, equipment." Cassie looked meaningfully at her. Ayame nodded in agreement. Rouge flushed at their interest in the man's privates, wondering if they were more perverse than she was.
"Hey! That's way too blatant, girls!" she protested, running through her night with Ryoma to pick out what could be filtered.
She coaxed his fingers around his stiff arousal, the crimson hue of his cheeks kindling her desire. He remained standing against the sink, watching her. She pressed herself into him. Licked and purred against the shell of his ear, "Show me how you do it."
When he did nothing but ogle her in disbelief, she grinned hungrily, pulling away by inches to guide his fist back and forth on his length. "You're a devil," he grated. But he consented, his fingers leaving hers as they gained a rhythm of their own. She glanced down and felt her loins flush with heat.
"We've established that." Cassie shattered her thoughts obliviously, leaning close. Rouge was glad that the faint blush on her cheeks could not be detected in the dim lighting. "I'm guessing that you came on to him during dinner."
"I'll bet it was after," Ayame chirped, bending forward slightly to send Cassie a challenging glance.
"It was after," Rouge affirmed reluctantly, skirting their gazes. The shorter hostess gave a triumphant whoop. To quiet their pending interrogation, she continued, "I hugged him while he was washing the dishes."
She felt him up through his clothes as she had done previously, dragging her nails over his covered nipples and passing her fingertips along the hollow of his groin. Except the material there was stretched taut, betraying his interest. His heart quickened beneath her palm. She let her hands drift over his body, avoiding the one spot where he strained, 'til she suckled his throat and his breathing hitched.
"It wasn't just a hug, I presume," Cassie told Rouge slyly, sending her a sidelong look.
"Oh, have more imagination," Rouge teased in return. There was no success to be had when she tried to wriggle free from their grasps.
"No way. Your telling beats our speculation," Ayame explained, grinning widely. "What happened after you hugged Mr Iwakura?"
"I stripped him." Rouge shrugged, as if it was the most obvious response in the world. Gods, had Ryoma looked tantalizing in the buff. She'd wanted to do all sorts of things to him at once. "And quit calling him Mr Iwakura -- he isn't a client of mine anymore."
"Ayame has a fetish for employee-patron relationships, don't you know?" Cassie baited, chuckling when a rosy shade swamped Ayame's pale cheeks.
"I so do not!" the ebony-haired girl objected fiercely, tugging Rouge away from their mutual friend. "Ignore her, Rouge. What about after he was naked? Did you give him a blowjob?"
Rouge blushed and frowned at her. "Aren't you just as lecherous yourself?"
"Nope. I have fewer kinks than Cassie does." Ayame grinned.
"Kinks add to the spice of life, if you pardon the cliché," Cassie retorted, reaching over to jab Ayame in the middle. The latter squealed and doubled over to avoid being tickled. "We haven't forgotten about you, Rouge. Please carry on sharing."
"The two of you are so childish." Rouge watched their antics exasperatedly, rolling her eyes. Perhaps they didn't have boyfriends because they behaved as such. "I let him take me from behind."
He gawked as she leaned over the draining board, hitching her dress up to expose her thong. It was lacy, black, and a little damp. A mumbled demurral emerged from his throat, belied by his urging manhood. She pulled the scrap of cloth aside with a crooked finger. "Ready me, Ryoma. You know how to."
He reddened, his face a maelstrom of emotions. Nevertheless, she saw his arm move, felt his warm fingers flatten against her sex. Ryoma found her clit easily, massaging it until she moaned and squirmed, before slipping two digits into her.
"No foreplay? Surely there had to be some," Ayame probed, jiggling her eyebrows. Rouge looked to her other side, but Cassie wasn't a good source of escape, either.
"Or maybe they were raging with need." Cassie laughed and nudged Rouge. "So, which was it?"
"He fingered me." Rouge grimaced at how the pair was probably picturing her and Ryoma in explicit acts. "Don't tell me you've mentally undressed both me and him."
Ayame cheered again and hugged her arm closer. "Right. We won't tell you a word. Were you still in the kitchen?"
"And was he good?" Cassie asked, almost at the same time.
"Yes, and hell yes." Rouge counted their distance from the spot they always parted at. It'd be nice to stop blurting classified information for the night. Thinking back on their romps, Ryoma had likely read up on techniques, because his fingers had teased her 'til she writhed.
She panted, dripping copiously onto his fingers, her nether flesh abuzz with tension. Ryoma worked her without pause, stopping only when she lifted a leg onto the edge of his sink, leaving herself spread for his sampling. "In me. Now."
His fingers left her pussy and returned soon after, making several visits deep into her core that had her whimpering. She mewled, lifted her rear, begging for his shaft. Just as she was about to make a grab for him, Ryoma gripped her hip, entering and plunging fully into her with one swift stroke. His thick cock ground such pleasure into her flesh that she came violently around him, choking down a hoarse cry.
Rouge flushed at the memory, staring straight ahead in the hopes of having the prying pair miss her discomfort. It hadn't been until she regained her senses after the orgasm, that she realised Ryoma had slicked himself with her juices. That single thought sent a frisson of heat through her body.
A silent cheer rose in her middle when she noticed how close the three of them were to the fork in their paths. Cassie and Ayame were not able to worm many more nuggets of information from her before they reached the traffic junction -- after all, it'd take them far longer than that to uncover the events of her second stay at Ryoma's apartment. Curiously enough, Falcon had known to keep away from the unit before they were done.
"You can ask about the rest on Tuesday," Rouge announced as they stopped next to the traffic light. Ayame and Cassie untangled their arms from hers unwillingly; Rouge shivered from the resulting cold.
"Aww, damn!" Cassie bunched her lips together to express her disappointment, looking over at Ayame. The petite hostess wore a similar expression.
Rouge laughed at their comic faces, brushing them off. "It isn't all that long, you nosy parkers." She stepped away, turning to leave.
"Hold up -- just a last question!" Ayame waved her back, bouncing animatedly. Rouge looked back at her with a touch of wariness. "What are your intentions towards Mr Iwakura, Rouge? You've been sleeping with him so much lately."
Rouge blinked at her, at a loss for an answer. Two nights didn't count as a lot of sex. To be honest, she hadn't thought that far about him yet. He was going to be leaving, was going back to his hometown to marry another woman. It stung thinking about that, because he had become a rather permanent fixture in her thoughts. Ryoma did strange things to her pulse. She wasn't keen on having him walk out of her life after how well they'd been getting along. But, all things considered, it was his decision to make, not hers. She couldn't possibly argue with that.
In the meantime, though, she'd take what he offered. Happiness didn't come by that easily.
"I don't know," she eventually told her friends, watching as they smiled obliquely at each other and bade her a good night.
It was long after they had turned down their street and disappeared from view that Rouge shook herself back to the present. She wondered about her involvement with Ryoma, about what he thought, and whether she could bear to watch him leave when the time came.
------
Part: ARC 1, Part 7
Author: Aquarius Galuxy
Fandom: Power Stone
Pairing: Rouge/Ryoma
Genre: Romance/Erotica/Friendship/AU
Rating: varies from PG to NC-17
Word count: 4,311
Summary: Sales representative Ryoma Iwakura's life careens off course when a business deal brings him to a hostess bar, and into the company of hostess and strip club dancer Rouge. A spark of attraction ignites between them, one Ryoma tries to deny. Despite his reservations, he embarks on a scandalous friendship with Rouge that questions his plans for the future.
Author's Notes: This concludes Arc 1!! Now there's just the Interlude and a short Arc 2, and then we're done. This took forever to edit. I get distracted by the tiniest things. T_T Prompts are from 10_prompts.
#25 (4:5 Gift)
Ryoma pushed the buzzer, patiently waiting as Mindhi unlatched the door to let him through. He'd been dropping by every two days since the hospital visit, leaving his apartment much earlier than his usual routine called for. Being on the streets was peaceful at dawn. He liked the exercise and fresh air, relished the thought of watching Rouge recover as the days passed. Falcon had found out about the hostess when Ryoma let slip his destination, much to his dismay and the blond's amusement. He was teased every subsequent time Falcon caught him leaving way before work was due to begin.
"Morning," Mindhi greeted the moment she pulled the door ajar, surveying him. She had been warming up to him each time he showed up at their place, even going so far as to ask what he thought of her roommate on his previous visit. He hadn't given her a straight answer then. "I see you've brought something for Rouge again."
"Morning." He tried to shrug casually, kicking his shoes off before entering the apartment. "Just some fruit, since they're good for health. Rouge has been eating them, right?"
"Yeah. I've made sure to tell her that they're from you." Mindhi grinned, pointing him towards the kitchen so he could deposit his loaded bag. There was a large bowl of fruit on the counter from his previous visits. "As much as she appreciates the fruits, though, she can't finish them at the rate you're carting them here."
"I'll remember that." He placed the carrier of apples and oranges next to the existing pile, turning back to the living room. Mindhi hovered at the doorframe. "How has she been?"
"Getting better. She's been itching to start work again and all, but you've said that she isn't to strain herself 'til Saturday." The dark-skinned girl beamed. "I guess the lure isn't as strong when you aren't a patron of hers."
Ryoma caught himself before he shot her a glare. "Not you too." When she continued to grin smugly, he ignored her words and checked his watch. "I was just repeating what the doctor said. Is she still asleep?"
"Yeah. She's sleeping better these few days, so she won't wake as easily." Mindhi gestured towards the dancer's room. "Want to see her anyway? I could wake her up if you want."
"Uh, sure." Ryoma wasn't about to highlight that his answer had been the same on every visit. "Don't wake her, though. She needs to rest."
He followed Mindhi to Rouge's room, where she allowed him in as silently as possible. The curtains were pulled shut. Ryoma waited for his eyes to adjust to the dimness, watching Rouge whilst she slept.
Not for the first time, he wondered at how tranquil she looked, curled up on her side. Her lips were parted, fringe falling away to reveal her other eye. Standing there like a spectator made Ryoma feel as if he was intruding on her personal space, seeing things she showed no one else. He blushed at that thought, cheeks heating further when he remembered that she'd seen him more intimately than this.
Forcing the accompanying memories from his mind, he got ready to leave, looking over Rouge again to reassure himself of her recovery. Once satisfied, he slipped out of the room, heading over to where Mindhi waited.
"Sorry for troubling you," he muttered, afraid that the merest sound would rouse the dancer.
"It's okay." Mindhi smiled and walked him to the front door. "Don't worry, you'll be able to kiss her all you want soon enough."
"What--" Ryoma sputtered. His face glowed red. How could she even suggest such a thing? "I didn't--"
"Has anyone told you that you're fun to tease?" Mindhi unlatched the door, observing him as he donned his shoes posthaste. Ryoma grabbed his briefcase from where he'd set it on the floor. "I'll tell Rouge that you were here."
He nodded, stepping away from the entrance. "You're only going to be telling her that."
"And that you brought fruit. Cross my heart." Mindhi smiled and waved. He nodded at her, striding towards the stairs. "Have a good day, Ryoma. Thanks for dropping by."
---
#26 (7:10 Once more)
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Rouge blurted, sliding into the very same booth they'd met in some weeks ago. Ryoma surprised her with his punctuality -- she'd showed up right on time, but he was conscientious to the point of being early, as he had been on the previous occasion.
"It's all right. I was just going through some schedules for work," he told her, straightening and sipping from his mug of coffee. Rouge shivered at the way his gaze scanned over her.
"Ever the workaholic, huh?" She couldn't help smiling, glad that she could finally savour time with him without flu hindering her senses. The past few weeks had been varying degrees of hell, from the dizzying periods at work, to airless nights full of coughing and muscles that ached. Ryoma was like a godsend when he showed up in her room suddenly and brought her to the hospital. Things had got better after that. The medication from the doctor eased her illness, and phantom calls from Ryoma brightened her days. (Mindhi informed her of each visit after she woke.) "I'm glad you could make it today."
"It's a Saturday -- I don't see why I can't." Ryoma volunteered a smile, which made him look boyish and charming at the same time. She doubted that he knew it made her quiver inside. "I'm glad to see that you're better now."
"It's all thanks to you, really." Rouge lowered her gaze coyly, turning to a waitress who had stopped by their table. She placed an order for tea before looking back at Ryoma. "Although I don't agree with you paying my bills. You know that." She frowned at him; he chuckled nervously. "It isn't right, anyhow."
"I figured that you could use the help." Ryoma's cheeks darkened slightly. He glanced away.
It was as Mindhi suggested, but Rouge wasn't keen on exposing his secret. Not when she had one herself. Instead, she pretended not to notice his blush, lifting her bag off her shoulder. "Right, it's pretty obvious that you aren't going to let me return the money to you."
"Yeah." Ryoma met her gaze resolutely. She smiled.
"That means I'm indebted to you. Feel free to claim a favour or two anytime." Rouge braced herself for his protest, riffling through her satchel.
"But I don't require favours from you." Ryoma frowned. "That was not my intent."
"Mindhi told me about your visits and the fruit -- either way, I can't thank you enough for your concern." What had he been doing while he was in her room? The idea that he'd been watching her while she slept brought colour to her skin. Rouge suppressed those thoughts. Her fingers closed around a rectangular box in her bag, light with a matte surface. She drew it out and handed it to him. "I thought that a little something would be the least I could thank you with."
Ryoma stared blankly at her proffered gift. "Uh, you really shouldn't have," he muttered weakly, looking back at her. Pink crawled over his face.
"Please accept it." Her lips quirked. His surprise tempted kisses, and they weren't in any sort of a relationship condoning that. "It's a necktie. I spent some time picking it out for you, so it'd be wonderful if you'd have it."
His eyes bounced uncertainly between her face and the burgundy box. "I, uh..."
Rouge spotted the waitress returning with a mug, stretching to grab his wrist. She pressed the box into his hand. "It might come in useful, since you work in an office and all."
"Thanks," Ryoma managed, his fingers tightening around the gift. He reddened and ogled it briefly, before placing it at his side. "I'd appreciate it if you refrained from doing this in the future."
"And you should stop paying my bills," she retorted playfully, accepting her tea when it arrived.
"Point." He laughed sheepishly, looking around the cafe. Being a weekend, the place was more crowded than normal. "So... how are you settling back into your work routine?"
Rouge clasped her warm mug, enjoying the heat it emanated even though it wasn't necessary with the multiple layers of sweaters and jacket she'd worn. "Things are going fine. I ran into some problems at work because of the urgent leave I took, but hey, I'm still employed." She grinned and shrugged.
"Damn, that sounds bad." Ryoma looked at her worriedly. "Do mention if you're having trouble there."
"Sure." Ryoma was being a little overprotective, but it was kind of cute. Rouge took a sip of her tea, thanking the gods for the lack of soreness in her throat. "What about you? How has work been lately?"
"We have another deal coming up. I just hope it doesn't take place at a club again." Ryoma grimaced.
Rouge giggled. Their first encounter was all too vivid in her mind. "Well, hold it at either of my clubs, and I'll make sure you get special treatment." She sent him a wink. He flushed.
"Uh, no thanks." Ryoma fidgeted, changing the topic. "That aside, I've been meaning to ask: What was growing up like in your hometown?"
As before, their conversation drifted through topics they had in common, each finding the other more fascinating than they'd previously thought. After a particularly informative exchange on food, Rouge happened to glance at Ryoma's watch, gasping in surprise. She'd have to be leaving soon.
"Time passes way too fast," she grumbled, polishing off her tea. Ayame and Cassie would want to know how things went this afternoon.
"That it does." Ryoma gulped his last mouthful of coffee, leaving his lips gleaming with the beverage, as he'd done on their previous rendezvous. Rouge resented the fact that she was trapped behind the table. Licking his mouth clean right now seemed a darn good idea. Instead, she extended her hand just as he spoke again. "I was, uh, wondering if you'd like to come to my place for dinner -- Rouge?"
She traced a line across his lower lip, gathering wetness off his soft flesh. Ryoma stared at her, mouth agape, his gaze latching onto her finger. Warm air feathered over her skin. Rouge wanted to have him breathe all over her body, wanted his lips on hers. His cheeks were flooded with colour. The prospect of dinner with Ryoma sent a trill of excitement through her veins, teasing a grin from her lips. She withdrew her hand and brought it to her mouth, making sure he was watching intently before dragging her tongue over her fingertip. Her lips curved into a pointed smirk. He tasted of coffee. "Dinner sounds good."
A beet couldn't have held a candle to his face then.
"H-how about n-next Friday?" he stuttered, his gaze skittering away. Rouge slipped her hand beneath his, stroking his fingers lightly with her own. He made a strangled noise in his throat.
"I'll be there." She grinned, grinned wider when she realised that he hadn't specified anything they were to avoid. Her intentions for that night ought to be clear. In fact, they were so obvious that the only question she had was whether his pants were tight after her display.
Across the table, Ryoma squirmed and dared not meet her eyes.
---
#27 (1:9 Snare)
"Hey, Falcon," Ryoma began apprehensively. He tossed vegetable stirfry around in the pan, guessing the odds that the blond would agree to his suggestion without actually hearing it. The sizzle of food and TV sounds combined were enough to drown out his words. Maybe. "I'm having a friend over for dinner on Friday, so it'll be nice if you could settle your own then."
"Friend? Which friend?" Falcon answered loudly from the adjacent room. The TV volume was brought down. Ryoma could imagine his roommate glancing towards the kitchen, before turning back to the jukebox. "Do I know him?"
"To some extent," he heard his own tone taper off, unwilling to disclose any more than was necessary.
"Hey, why wasn't I invited if I know him? You know I don't mind joining my friends' friends for dinner and then making myself scarce." Falcon's voice drew closer.
Ryoma clenched his jaw, reaching over for a spoon to sample the vegetables. Having his roommate watch him in a debate never bore well when he himself knew the flaws in his argument. He fixed his gaze on the dish he was preparing. "I didn't have you in mind when I arranged it."
"Ouch, that stings, buddy! Which friend of yours would oppose to me being around, anyway?" Falcon drew even with the doorframe. Ryoma saw him lean against it from the corner of his eye. "Ohh, wait." He cringed and looked towards the rack of spices, away from the blond who was too sharp for his sanity. "It isn't a guy you're bringing home, it's a girl!"
"That's none of your business," Ryoma muttered tautly. Heat prickled at the back of his neck. He had half a mind to empty the salt shaker into the stirfry, but he'd be eating it too. "Just be aware that there isn't dinner for you this Friday."
Falcon chortled and left the doorway to do a victory jig. "I told ya! That wasn't the only time you were gonna sleep with her."
"Shut up, Falcon. It's just a dinner." Ryoma glanced askance at him, wishing he could shoot tranquilizing darts from his eyes.
"Just a dinner?" The blond returned to the kitchen and folded his arms, waggling his eyebrows. "Did you tell Rouge that?"
"What does it matter to you?" he grumbled, fishing a bowl from the cabinet to contain the vegetables.
"Because I have a feelin' that if you didn't, it's gonna end up like the last time." Falcon grinned, padding over to pinch a stalk of greens. He popped it into his mouth despite Ryoma's frown, munching heartily on it. "Not that I'll object since you've given me advance notice, now."
"It won't happen," Ryoma told his roommate. Deep down, though, he wasn't so sure. Rouge had shown him what she wanted so explicitly, and he'd be hard pressed to deny that her suggestions had roused him. She'd done it so effortlessly, too.
"Suit yourself. I'll just come back at a decent time on Saturday. Please be dressed by then." The blond snuck another stalk away before Ryoma could set the plate on the fold-down table. He shot Falcon a withering look. "What? I'm hungry."
"You should wait 'til I'm done with cooking," Ryoma complained, wiping the frying pan clean. "And Rouge and I won't be doing anything but eating."
"Sure you'll be eating. The question is, eating what?" Falcon sent him a knowing smirk.
It was long moments before the blond's insinuation sank in. When it did, Ryoma felt his face burn through multiple shades of red. There was a high chance of them not keeping to dinner alone, and he didn't want to entertain thoughts that graphic right now. Or ever. "I didn't need to know that."
"I bet she's already got you snared. It's just a matter of time 'til you realise it, Ryoma." Falcon clapped him on the shoulder, before lacing his fingers behind his head and wandering back to the TV. "Tell me when dinner's ready."
Ryoma winced, asking himself yet again what he'd got himself into.
---
#28 (10:8 Intentions)
"So, details on your date last night, Rouge." Ayame nudged the dancer in her side, grinning playfully. The onset of winter meant that the three friends had to dress in layers of clothes before heading home. Rouge had learnt her lesson -- she never failed to have an umbrella with her during her commute to and from work now, on top of keeping sufficiently warm. Occasional gusts whizzed by them on the streets.
"Yeah, girlfriend, you've been keeping us in the dark the whole night!" Cassie accused from the other side of Rouge. Her blue-toned eyebrows drew together, tinted orange under the streetlamps. "I'll bet he was even better than the first time."
"Honestly, all he asked me to was dinner at his apartment." Rouge raised her eyebrows innocently, glancing at both her friends. What had happened after dinner was anything but chaste, however.
She set her wine glass in the sink, snaking her arms around his waist just as he lifted the last clean plate onto the draining board. Ryoma stiffened when she leaned into him; his back was a hard plane against her chest. She rubbed herself into his body. Ceramic clattered loudly onto stainless steel. She nuzzled the nape of his neck, dragging her teeth over his skin. He smelled clean, and of food. "Rouge." Ryoma did not push her away.
"But dinner wasn't all you had." Cassie smirked and linked her arm with Rouge's. Whether that was a gesture of friendship or a temporary bind, the chocolate-haired hostess didn't know.
"Yeah, we know ya too well for that." Ayame took her other arm. Rouge decided that it was their subtle way of hinting she had no other choice.
She sighed in resignation, observing each female in turn. "You know, things would be more exciting if you just got your own sex lives."
"Nuh-uh." Ayame tugged on her arm for emphasis. Rouge winced. "Yours is more than enough. Now, quit stalling!"
"Let's see... Ryoma cooks delicious food." Rouge grinned, remembering the spicy chicken dish he'd prepared. At the girls' disapproving looks, she shifted off that train of thought.
"We don't want to know how well he cooks. We want to know how well he uses his, ah, equipment." Cassie looked meaningfully at her. Ayame nodded in agreement. Rouge flushed at their interest in the man's privates, wondering if they were more perverse than she was.
"Hey! That's way too blatant, girls!" she protested, running through her night with Ryoma to pick out what could be filtered.
She coaxed his fingers around his stiff arousal, the crimson hue of his cheeks kindling her desire. He remained standing against the sink, watching her. She pressed herself into him. Licked and purred against the shell of his ear, "Show me how you do it."
When he did nothing but ogle her in disbelief, she grinned hungrily, pulling away by inches to guide his fist back and forth on his length. "You're a devil," he grated. But he consented, his fingers leaving hers as they gained a rhythm of their own. She glanced down and felt her loins flush with heat.
"We've established that." Cassie shattered her thoughts obliviously, leaning close. Rouge was glad that the faint blush on her cheeks could not be detected in the dim lighting. "I'm guessing that you came on to him during dinner."
"I'll bet it was after," Ayame chirped, bending forward slightly to send Cassie a challenging glance.
"It was after," Rouge affirmed reluctantly, skirting their gazes. The shorter hostess gave a triumphant whoop. To quiet their pending interrogation, she continued, "I hugged him while he was washing the dishes."
She felt him up through his clothes as she had done previously, dragging her nails over his covered nipples and passing her fingertips along the hollow of his groin. Except the material there was stretched taut, betraying his interest. His heart quickened beneath her palm. She let her hands drift over his body, avoiding the one spot where he strained, 'til she suckled his throat and his breathing hitched.
"It wasn't just a hug, I presume," Cassie told Rouge slyly, sending her a sidelong look.
"Oh, have more imagination," Rouge teased in return. There was no success to be had when she tried to wriggle free from their grasps.
"No way. Your telling beats our speculation," Ayame explained, grinning widely. "What happened after you hugged Mr Iwakura?"
"I stripped him." Rouge shrugged, as if it was the most obvious response in the world. Gods, had Ryoma looked tantalizing in the buff. She'd wanted to do all sorts of things to him at once. "And quit calling him Mr Iwakura -- he isn't a client of mine anymore."
"Ayame has a fetish for employee-patron relationships, don't you know?" Cassie baited, chuckling when a rosy shade swamped Ayame's pale cheeks.
"I so do not!" the ebony-haired girl objected fiercely, tugging Rouge away from their mutual friend. "Ignore her, Rouge. What about after he was naked? Did you give him a blowjob?"
Rouge blushed and frowned at her. "Aren't you just as lecherous yourself?"
"Nope. I have fewer kinks than Cassie does." Ayame grinned.
"Kinks add to the spice of life, if you pardon the cliché," Cassie retorted, reaching over to jab Ayame in the middle. The latter squealed and doubled over to avoid being tickled. "We haven't forgotten about you, Rouge. Please carry on sharing."
"The two of you are so childish." Rouge watched their antics exasperatedly, rolling her eyes. Perhaps they didn't have boyfriends because they behaved as such. "I let him take me from behind."
He gawked as she leaned over the draining board, hitching her dress up to expose her thong. It was lacy, black, and a little damp. A mumbled demurral emerged from his throat, belied by his urging manhood. She pulled the scrap of cloth aside with a crooked finger. "Ready me, Ryoma. You know how to."
He reddened, his face a maelstrom of emotions. Nevertheless, she saw his arm move, felt his warm fingers flatten against her sex. Ryoma found her clit easily, massaging it until she moaned and squirmed, before slipping two digits into her.
"No foreplay? Surely there had to be some," Ayame probed, jiggling her eyebrows. Rouge looked to her other side, but Cassie wasn't a good source of escape, either.
"Or maybe they were raging with need." Cassie laughed and nudged Rouge. "So, which was it?"
"He fingered me." Rouge grimaced at how the pair was probably picturing her and Ryoma in explicit acts. "Don't tell me you've mentally undressed both me and him."
Ayame cheered again and hugged her arm closer. "Right. We won't tell you a word. Were you still in the kitchen?"
"And was he good?" Cassie asked, almost at the same time.
"Yes, and hell yes." Rouge counted their distance from the spot they always parted at. It'd be nice to stop blurting classified information for the night. Thinking back on their romps, Ryoma had likely read up on techniques, because his fingers had teased her 'til she writhed.
She panted, dripping copiously onto his fingers, her nether flesh abuzz with tension. Ryoma worked her without pause, stopping only when she lifted a leg onto the edge of his sink, leaving herself spread for his sampling. "In me. Now."
His fingers left her pussy and returned soon after, making several visits deep into her core that had her whimpering. She mewled, lifted her rear, begging for his shaft. Just as she was about to make a grab for him, Ryoma gripped her hip, entering and plunging fully into her with one swift stroke. His thick cock ground such pleasure into her flesh that she came violently around him, choking down a hoarse cry.
Rouge flushed at the memory, staring straight ahead in the hopes of having the prying pair miss her discomfort. It hadn't been until she regained her senses after the orgasm, that she realised Ryoma had slicked himself with her juices. That single thought sent a frisson of heat through her body.
A silent cheer rose in her middle when she noticed how close the three of them were to the fork in their paths. Cassie and Ayame were not able to worm many more nuggets of information from her before they reached the traffic junction -- after all, it'd take them far longer than that to uncover the events of her second stay at Ryoma's apartment. Curiously enough, Falcon had known to keep away from the unit before they were done.
"You can ask about the rest on Tuesday," Rouge announced as they stopped next to the traffic light. Ayame and Cassie untangled their arms from hers unwillingly; Rouge shivered from the resulting cold.
"Aww, damn!" Cassie bunched her lips together to express her disappointment, looking over at Ayame. The petite hostess wore a similar expression.
Rouge laughed at their comic faces, brushing them off. "It isn't all that long, you nosy parkers." She stepped away, turning to leave.
"Hold up -- just a last question!" Ayame waved her back, bouncing animatedly. Rouge looked back at her with a touch of wariness. "What are your intentions towards Mr Iwakura, Rouge? You've been sleeping with him so much lately."
Rouge blinked at her, at a loss for an answer. Two nights didn't count as a lot of sex. To be honest, she hadn't thought that far about him yet. He was going to be leaving, was going back to his hometown to marry another woman. It stung thinking about that, because he had become a rather permanent fixture in her thoughts. Ryoma did strange things to her pulse. She wasn't keen on having him walk out of her life after how well they'd been getting along. But, all things considered, it was his decision to make, not hers. She couldn't possibly argue with that.
In the meantime, though, she'd take what he offered. Happiness didn't come by that easily.
"I don't know," she eventually told her friends, watching as they smiled obliquely at each other and bade her a good night.
It was long after they had turned down their street and disappeared from view that Rouge shook herself back to the present. She wondered about her involvement with Ryoma, about what he thought, and whether she could bear to watch him leave when the time came.
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