Love from Venus: Interlude
Title: Love from Venus
Part: Interlude
Author: Aquarius Galuxy
Fandom: Power Stone
Pairing: Rouge/Ryoma
Genre: Romance/Erotica/Friendship/AU
Rating: varies from PG to NC-17
Word count: 5,506
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: I thought this would be one of the shortest chapters, but it turned out to be one of the longest! Had a lot of fun with it. =p Prompts are from 10_prompts.
#29 (7:7 Stray)
This time, Falcon did spray the floor with coffee.
"Bloody hell! Give a man some notice, Ryoma!" he bellowed, glowering at the tangled figures in bed. Sure, Ryoma had mentioned it the second, third and fourth times, but that was no excuse for him to neglect the fifth. "Seriously."
The raven-haired man shot bolt upright, blinking sleep from his eyes. Falcon glimpsed an indecent portion of Rouge curled up next to him, just as bare as her bedfellow was. He decided that he'd be a gentleman and avert his eyes from her.
"Huh?" Ryoma muttered groggily. "What're you doing here, Falcon?"
"I was just about to ask you the same thing -- what is your woman doing here?" His voice was raised; he waved his cup of coffee in the air. The tedious chore of cleaning up the mess he made fell on his shoulders. And it was all because he found the recent spate of Ryoma humping like a rabbit funny.
"I... uh..." Ryoma's face grew steadily redder. He swallowed and glanced at Rouge, eyes bulging when he saw how exposed she was. Falcon watched as he hurriedly tugged the sheets back over her, his blush rising to his hairline. "We, uh, weren't doing, uh, anything..."
"Are you flustered?" Falcon asked emphatically, shutting the door behind him. If anything, the man's cheeks darkened further yet. Before he met Rouge, Ryoma was never, ever agitated over a woman. He'd never flushed so much over one, either. "Look, you agreed to tell me whenever Rouge comes over. I'd like to avoid future accidents involving my coffee."
"I'm sorry. Coffee?" At Ryoma's puzzled stare, Falcon pointed to the brown-speckled tiles before him. The former followed the direction of his extended finger and winced. "I--"
"Ryoma?" Rouge mumbled, shifting slightly next to her bedmate. Both men turned to look at her. Unconscious of their attention, she swept her hand across the mattress, where Ryoma had just vacated, before searching further down, in a smaller arc. Her fingers came into contact with his back. The receding flush returned to Ryoma's face when she slipped her hand around his hip, over what Falcon suspected was his thigh. What followed next was a series of slow bobs beneath the sheets that had Ryoma squawking and Falcon turning away in embarrassment. "Mmm."
"R-Rouge!" the raven-haired man yelped, gingerly extracting her hand. His face was so saturated with scarlet that Falcon wondered if he would faint. "There's someone here!"
"Yeah, uh, morning, Rouge," Falcon greeted, cautiously sliding his gaze over to the pair. There was a telling tent in the sheets that he really didn't want to bear witness to. He took a swig of his coffee. "And Ryoma -- I'm fine not knowing about your exhibitionistic tendencies, thanks."
Ryoma spluttered incoherently. Rouge's eyes sprung wide and locked onto him; she froze, squeaked. The tint of her face pinkened to match her lover's. He had to admit that they were kind of cute like this.
"Right. I should leave you two to your misdeeds," Falcon began awkwardly, turning towards the door. There probably was some bench in the park he could crash on 'til they were done. "But seriously, Ryoma. Tell me to stay out the next time you're having Rouge spend the night. You've pulled enough curveballs on me as it is."
"Uh, to be honest, Ryoma didn't plan on last night," Rouge blurted just as he was about to reach for the doorknob. He looked back in surprise. She eased herself up on the mattress, clutching the sheets to her chest. The flush on her countenance was fading. "I just dropped by for a surprise visit and Ryoma invited me to stay over."
Facts clicked in his head. Falcon blinked, silently absorbing her words. Then a possibility struck him so hard that he jerked his gaze towards his roommate, mouth agape in shock. "Wait a mo' -- Ryoma got you to stay over so he could jump you?"
Ryoma stiffened and blushed.
"Actually, it was kind of mutual." Rouge waved her explanation off, leaning into her bedmate. Ryoma promptly pulled away. "Hey!" She gave the man an offended stare, before gazing back at Falcon. "But yeah, I do think he's a bit of an exhibitionist."
"D-don't say that!" Ryoma frowned at her, stuttering when she trailed her hand over his chest.
Falcon snickered. Now, that was unexpected. Months ago, he would've laughed 'til he collapsed if anyone told him that Ryoma would be fornicating non-stop with a woman he hardly knew. The man had strayed, and strayed so far, from his ideals. Rouge was certainly something special if she had that powerful an effect on him. Whether that was good, though, was for Ryoma alone to decide.
"Well, have fun with him, Rouge." Falcon grinned, giving the pair a thumbs-up. His roommate squawked a protest. Rouge blushed. He stepped cleanly over the patches of coffee on the floor, pulling the door open. "And for heaven's sake, buddy, freakin' tell me if I'm not welcome here. I don't care if you wanna be an exhibitionist or get chained up or whatever -- I just don't wanna be involved in all that, okay?"
It was with a smug grin at two glowing, red faces that Falcon shut the door, taking a discreet sip of his lukewarm coffee.
---
#30 (9:3 Lessons)
"Ro-ouge! Ryoma is here!" Mindhi hollered from the living room, her voice slightly muffled by the bedroom door.
The hostess blinked, surprised, smoothing foundation onto her cheeks with a sponge. That was early. But then again, Ryoma was always early. A grin crept up her lips. She swivelled her head to check that her skin looked even in the mirror, setting the box of compact powder down on her bedside table. The thought that Ryoma was in the apartment made her stomach flip. "Got it," she yelled back at Mindhi.
There was a soft tap on the door. "Where do I leave him?" her roommate asked from just outside.
"You could invite him in if he wants." Rouge glanced at where Mindhi was probably standing, before selecting a shade of lipstick from her pouch. "The door isn't locked."
"Rouge says to go in," she heard Mindhi tell the man. Snorting softly, Rouge looked towards the ceiling, running her fingers through her braided hair. The girl wasn't as bad as Ayame and Cassie were, but she was learning to be cheekier than Rouge would have liked.
There was a low, masculine rumble in response, moments prior to a knock. The door opened. Ryoma slipped into the room, shutting it quietly behind him. "Hey," he greeted.
"Hey." Rouge slanted her gaze over to the man, meeting his eyes, shortly before surveying his T-shirt and pants. His clothes clung snugly to his form, accentuating his physique. She'd have to save the hug and grope for later. Her fingers uncapped the lipstick subconsciously. "You look good. Sexy."
"Uh, thanks. I could do without the compliments, Rouge." He blushed lightly, looking her over. A quiver slid along her spine. His eyes didn't leave her shimmery, gold dress for some time. "Are you sure that dress is appropriate? It's... rather short."
"We're going clubbing. Of course it's appropriate." Rouge paused with the metallic tube an inch from her face, lips parting in a grin. "You like?" She stepped away from the mirror, lifting her hands behind her head and turning a full circle in front of him. The sequined material would barely cover her rear if she bent forward. As she expected, Ryoma's eyes eventually latched onto her chest. A quiet laugh bubbled from her throat. She slunk over to him, cradling the back of his head with her free hand and pulling him in for a kiss.
He'd learnt, by now, how she liked her kisses. Their lips met with the merest of caresses, before she pressed firmly against him, nipping at his flesh. Ryoma parted his lips without her asking, responding with his tongue and teeth just as she'd taught him to. Heat gathered in her blood; he stroked her tongue wetly, welcoming her into his mouth.
Rouge ended the kiss before it changed her mind on leaving for their date, breathing hard to calm the hunger in her belly. He watched her with dark eyes, lips wet from their exchange. She smirked. Knowing Ryoma, he'd probably be ready for more with just that. "If I kiss you after this, you'll have lipstick on your face," she told him, waving the forgotten tube by way of explanation.
He nodded and glanced away, shifting on his feet, the concern about her dress forgotten. She'd returned to the mirror by the time he looked at her again, applying the thick makeup to her lips. Ryoma watched as she capped the tube and riffled through her pouch for her mascara. "You women treat cosmetics very seriously."
Rouge shrugged, leaning close to the mirror again to brush her lashes with sticky black paste. With the jobs she had, she couldn't imagine not enhancing her features whenever she left home for something other than grocery shopping. "We use it to look good."
"You're beautiful even without all that," Ryoma muttered, red feathering across his face as he looked in the other direction. "Skin-deep appearances don't make a person."
Rouge turned to stare at him, entirely floored. A hot blush singed her cheeks. Her heart stumbled. She hadn't imagined that Ryoma would think so deeply about her, much less voice his opinions, as profound as they were. Long moments passed as she stared mutely at him, wondering what her response should be. Their usual kisses couldn't reflect how shaken she was by his remark. Words left her bereft. She wanted to curl up in bed and smile to herself for the rest of the night.
"I, uh... thanks," she mumbled, glancing at her dress to decide on a shade of eyeshadow.
But their relationship wasn't permanent. Rouge bit her lip when she remembered, suppressing her elation with the bitter expectation of their future. She looked surreptitiously at Ryoma and swallowed. He was still gazing out of the window. Rouge completed her makeup hastily and padded over to him, masking her hurt with a teasing lilt to her tone. "I didn't know you could flirt so well, Ryoma."
He coloured again, looking tentatively at her when she slipped her arms around his waist. "I, uh, I wasn't flirting. Just stating what I've observed."
A little bubble of happiness welled in her middle anyway. It was so easy to pretend that nothing was going wrong in the long run. She leaned into him, catching his chin and angling his face to hers. "There you go, flirting again." Before he could disagree, she pressed a light kiss to his lips, pulling away to meet his eyes. "Thank you."
"No problem," he muttered. He held her gaze for heartbeats, glancing away when she did not speak. Rouge backed off with a smile and grabbed a tissue for him, recalling the first time he'd done the same for her. They'd come a long way since.
The lipstick stayed on Ryoma's lips until when they had to leave the apartment, much to Rouge's mirth and delight.
As it had been at Club Venus, loud dance music pounded in his ears, accompanied by the sharp whitish bursts of strobes that made Ryoma wonder if he was in an extremely bizarre dream instead. Unlike Venus, however, King Albert's was huge. He hadn't imagined that it'd be at least four times the size of Rouge's workplace, nor had he imagined the sea of people that writhed on the massive dance floor.
Blue, green and purple spotlights beamed down from the ceiling, circling randomly over the crowd, cycling through different hues. Patterns of colour shone through the misty glow that permeated the club and swirled on the floor. Disco balls glittered and reflected; scattered throughout the floor space were small stages, on which various dancers shimmied and twisted.
If there was one thing Ryoma resented, it was how easily Rouge swayed him. He hadn't wanted to step into the swarm of people. He hadn't even wanted to approach the club with a twenty-foot pole. All Rouge had done was to smile winningly at him and tell him that he didn't have to do much at the club, and to just follow what she did. Damn it.
He trailed after her reluctantly as she guided him towards the dance floor, moving only because she'd smiled at him and tugged on his hand. Along the way, Rouge began to move in time to the music, tipping her shoulders and swaying her hips. He stared at her, unwilling to take his eyes off her glittery contours.
Her gaze flitted away from his in the middle of a smile, just as someone from that very direction clapped him on the back. He turned, caught off guard, wondering if said person had accidentally flung an arm at him.
The unmistakeable face of his blond roommate grinned right back. Ryoma froze, his eyes bulging. He glanced towards Rouge nervously -- embarrassing himself in front of the veteran club-goer didn't sound appealing at all. Falcon was a good friend, but still. He'd sworn he'd never be caught dead in a dance club, and here he was. Ryoma chanced a glance back at the blond.
"I didn't expect you here, of all people," Falcon half-shouted at him, just so he could be heard above the music. "I'll bet Rouge here convinced you to come."
"I wasn't going to--" he shouted back. Falcon scanned Rouge appreciatively, flashing her a smile in greeting. Ryoma felt a surge of jealousy roil in his middle, glaring poisonously at his roommate. "Don't do that, Falcon -- she's mine!"
Rouge curled herself around his arm, pressing her breasts around his biceps. He realised his slip then, swallowing awkwardly, before glancing at her. "Yours?" she mouthed playfully, her single visible eye alight with pleasure.
He jerked his gaze back to Falcon, cheeks hot. The blond smirked and lifted his eyebrows. "You show him the ropes, Rouge!" Falcon shouted again, lifting his highball glass in a toast. Ryoma blinked; he hadn't even noticed that his roommate was holding anything. Rouge winked at the man, before she released Ryoma's arm, resuming her efforts to bring him to the dance floor.
They eased into the crowd, Rouge seeming to blend into the swaying bodies and limbs, while he was jostled at every opportunity. He frowned at her, ignoring the unfriendly stares as he tried to follow her to the spot she'd chosen.
"Move with everyone else," she yelled at him, her voice surprisingly clear in the midst of the deafening music. It took him a while to remember that she worked in an environment like this. What she'd meant by moving, though, he hadn't a clue.
When they finally reached a less-populated area, Rouge turned towards him, stepping closer, still shifting with the music. He looked questioningly at her. "Keep moving," she told him, glancing at her feet to bring his gaze there. "Step from side to side. Whatever you do, don't stand still!"
He followed the step of her feet, feeling immensely out-of-sorts and a little ridiculous as he moved from left to right and back, looking back up at her for her approval.
Rouge grinned at him proudly, matching his pace. "Now, move your shoulders." She wriggled her body, waiting as he tried to shift as she did. It took him a lot more time to coordinate his shoulders and feet (there was nothing like that in kendo), before he could mimic her, albeit stiffly. The prospect of dancing for hours like Falcon did sent a shudder down his spine.
"C'mon, move to the beat! It'll be easier." Rouge took his hands in hers once he'd got the rough hang of the basic motions. "Like this -- one, two, one, two."
Ryoma admired her fluidness, how she could still roll her hips while guiding him through the dance steps. She was in her element here -- he could see the life in her eyes, feel her absorb the energy radiating all around them. "I didn't know you clubbed," he told her once he'd adjusted to the rhythm of the dance music. There was something about moving quickly that he was beginning to understand -- letting the beat command his limbs gave him a sort of adrenaline similar to what he worked up to in kendo class. Being sluggish had never won him duels.
"I've told you, I worked in various clubs!" She laughed, her eyes gleaming when she noticed how he'd pegged his moves to the beat. "Good boy. Now, keep going."
He watched as she released her hold on him and backed away slightly. The smile never left her face -- Rouge began to sway her hips more boldly, letting the movement carry through her body in slick ripples he'd seen on her once before, at Club Venus. Ryoma lost track of his own moves when she ran her hands over her front and shimmied down to the floor, before getting back up again.
"Come on," she grinned, taking his hands and tugging him down with her. It was awkward, but things changed when he focused on Rouge and her dancing instead. He paid less mind to himself, allowing her to guide him wherever she wanted. Maybe there was some sense to dancing all night long.
Rouge pulled away from him once they'd straightened, swinging her forearms and sashaying towards him. She twisted and rippled, stepping towards him and back in a series of dance steps that looked too complicated for him to comprehend, her body glimmering with each undulation. It was all he could do to keep her in his line of sight -- she danced full circles around him, her gaze constantly locking with his.
Ryoma had almost entirely forgotten about the crowd pressing around them, when Rouge tore her attention away, looking towards a random guy smirking at her. She glanced flippantly at the stranger, striding back towards Ryoma. He stared at her in confusion; she did not immediately respond. When he met the lanky man's eyes, the latter shrugged, giving Rouge a leery once-over. Ryoma tensed. A light touch on his arm drew his focus back to her face.
"He slapped my ass," she mouthed, shrugging nonchalantly. Ryoma stopped moving, an odd sense of possessiveness and anger pushing his stare back to the man, who jerked his head upwards in a wordless taunt.
No man should touch a woman without her permission, much less hit her. Especially if it was Rouge. He was the only one who touched her after work hours, and slept with her. Ryoma clenched his fists. She must have seen him glower, because she stepped closer to him and slung her arms around his waist, snubbing the man. "Your attention belongs to me."
"But--" He glanced between her and the stranger.
"You can spank me all you like later. It's no big deal." She grinned at him, leaning in and tipping her head to press a kiss to his neck. He flushed at how explicit she was. "I won't have you ruining this by beating someone up."
That made sense. She took his hand, planting it firmly on her shoulder, slowly picking up the beat again. He pushed the offensive stranger out of his mind when she tugged at him to resume moving, caressing his chest. He stared at her. Rouge grinned, guiding his other hand down her side the moment he started moving, so that he caught the curve of her waist. Her own palms flowed along his sides and back, awakening him to her touch.
"Hold me if you want me to yourself," she told him, meeting his gaze with a teasing smile. Rouge eased closer to him, anchoring his hands over the contours of her soft rear, before lifting her arms in the air and rolling her hips. Ryoma glanced down at her shimmery form, staring when she leaned in close and brushed him lightly with her breasts. He'd known that dancing got provocative in clubs, but doing this with Rouge made him a little more aware of her body than he should have been.
They shimmied together for some minutes, Rouge seeming to have the hell of a time distracting him, and him trying not to focus on her too much lest he became aroused. She pulled away from him eventually, catching his hand. "Let's go elsewhere," the dancer shouted above the noise, smiling when he nodded.
The crowd became thicker where Rouge led him, to the point where they bumped into people with every step (hips, hands and elbows jutted carelessly into him) even as they shimmied their way through the masses of clubbers. He realised that the dancing here was different -- people didn't move about as much. Rather, they writhed as one, in dances more sensual than what Rouge had guided him through earlier.
It was as if the spot Rouge had chosen was no less congested than what they'd just squeezed past. She did not seem to mind, however. All she did was to lean in close and yell in his ear, "Follow me."
He watched as she turned her back towards him, swaying her hips and shoulders, her feet rooted to the floor. A crooked finger brought him closer. She lifted her braid over her shoulder, to her front. When he was inches from her squirming body, Ryoma paused, until she glanced at him and smiled, catching his hands to pull him yet nearer. He could feel the heat emanating from her, the occasional brush of her back and bottom against him. It wasn't a chaste dance -- Rouge affirmed that suspicion when she reached behind for his hips, pulling his loins flush against her ass.
"Rouge!" His breathing hitched when she rotated her hips and pressed firmly into him. She slanted her gaze towards his, moving as if there was nothing wrong with gyrating into his groin.
"Move your hips," she mouthed, finding his hands and locking them below her waist. A deeper thrust sent sensation into his crotch; he clenched his jaw, his body responding to hers. He knew then that he would not be able to resist dancing with her, slowly rolling his shoulders.
Rouge sent him a grin over her shoulder when he began to circle his hips into hers. Her lush flesh tempted him, pressed so invitingly into his groin that he had to remind himself to swivel his hips as she was doing, instead of rutting into her on instinct. His pants were tight, now, and he drew away slightly, unwilling to have his erection made obvious. But she reached for his waist, pulling him back against her, sliding her ass firmly over his manhood. Pleasure feathered along his length. He grunted, exhaled sharply.
"Minx," he grated in her ear, blushing lightly as he locked his hips against hers. (He didn't want to, but she would've kept grinding into him until he did, he reasoned.) She smiled innocently at him.
Ryoma lost track of how long they remained joined like that, only noticing when she dragged his hands up and down her sides, his fingers brushing the curve of her bra. Her bottom continued to rub alluringly over him, tempting him with its curves. He throbbed. She raised her hands above her head, looking over her shoulder and smiling when he stroked her sides without being prompted to.
He could imagine her naked and squirming against him, cursing himself for that thought, for letting his palms stray to her thighs, her ass. Gods, her dress was so short. Her tight, slick heat was so close, just a lift of her dress and a push of her thong away. Yet he couldn't possibly have it right now, when he wanted her so badly. He knew she'd be wet, knew her body well enough to imagine sliding his cock along her moist slit.
This fantasizing wasn't doing him any good, either. Painfully hard, he hissed her name and rolled his hips into her urgently, his hands tightening around her body. She knew his need; he caught her smirk when she looked back at him. "Home?"
Ryoma nodded and blushed, heaving an inward sigh of relief when she pulled away, easing the pressure at his crotch. None of the writhing dancers around had noticed the change in his physique -- only Rouge knew. Her gaze coasted down his body; she grinned at what she saw. Ryoma stiffened when she caught his fingers and brought them to his front, testing his arousal with the back of her hand. He blushed at how public her fondling was, how someone might have seen (that only brought more heat into his loins); her touch felt good.
It was an eternity before they reached the exit of the club.
Contrary to what he'd expected, dancing with Rouge at King Albert's hadn't been that bad, after all. It made Ryoma suspect that he wasn't actually that unsuited to dancing. He just wasn't in a hurry to return anytime soon.
---
#31 (5:8 Overwhelmed)
Rouge relaxed into rumpled sheets, glancing at Ryoma from the corner of her eye. He was staring up at the ceiling, chest rising and falling, skin gleaming dully with a sheen of sweat. Inky eyes slid down and fixed on her when she turned onto her side. He had long since surpassed the state of ogling her breasts whenever their contours shifted -- instead, Ryoma watched her face, glancing down to admire her body for a heartbeat, before meeting her gaze again.
She smiled warmly at him, reaching over to hug his arm to her chest. He did not blush, merely looked on as her flesh molded to his biceps, flicking his eyes up to hers in question. "You'd better be getting ready for work soon, before Falcon returns," she told him fondly.
It had been some weeks since their date at King Albert's, and months, Rouge realised, since they'd met. Ryoma hadn't mentioned any more about his arranged marriage -- she didn't dare ask about it, either. All she knew was that he had become a staple in her life. Ryoma was so much more than a friend now.
"It's Saturday, Rouge." His lips quirked. There was a light sparkle to his eyes. "I have nothing on in the morning."
"It is?" She blinked in surprise, staring at him when she realised the truth in his statement. Her lips curved in a mischievous grin. "I guess you blew my mind away with that last climax."
They'd gone on more dates (though neither of them had specifically acknowledged the tête-à-têtes as such), and Rouge had slept over at Ryoma's place more times than she could remember. She didn't dare bring him home, however, for fear that the noises they made would carry through the walls to Mindhi's room. Falcon sometimes teased Ryoma that she was practically his girlfriend.
Yet she wasn't. Ryoma had never asked her to be in a relationship with him, and she could imagine that he didn't want to be in one now, with all those expectations he had of his future. It hurt a little, but she'd live. She wasn't in love with him -- how could she love him when he wasn't going to be staying around forever? She just cared a whole lot about him. That was all there was to their friendship.
"Don't tease me like that." He frowned and looked away, a faint blush fanning across his cheeks. It was an improvement from the past. Rouge grinned, stroking her fingers over his. He closed them over her hand; her heart warmed.
"Are you saying that I can have my way with you again?" Rouge raised her eyebrows, trailing a finger down his pectorals. His heart thumped against her fingertip.
He glanced at her hand, then at her countenance, a hint of exasperation flitting across his face. "Do you have a limit?"
"You should know." She grinned smugly at him. "But anyway, I'd have to be going home soon. Mindhi's been getting on my case 'cause I can't do my chores while I'm over here."
"I was thinking..." Ryoma turned on his side to face her. Rouge stared at him -- he didn't usually do this unless he was serious about something. "Since you're always having to travel back and forth in the mornings and your sleep gets disrupted... And, uh, since you've been spending so much time here anyway, and, I, um, think we get along well... Why don't you come stay with me?"
He blushed, glancing away, his face regaining its long-lost shade of scarlet.
Rouge thought her heart might have stopped.
Or exploded with happiness.
She gaped at Ryoma, the intimacy of living with him drawing heat to her cheeks. His suggestion made her far more exhilarated than she ever remembered being, bringing hot prickles to her eyes that she tried to blink away. She couldn't speak for long moments, daring to imagine his reasons for the invitation. He looked back at her when she did not respond. Rouge blinked hurriedly, trying to clear her moist eyes.
"Rouge, d-do you want to?" He peered hesitantly at her, as if trying to determine the cause of her quiet.
She shook, then nodded her head vigorously, unable to trust herself to speak. "I-- Yes," she finally croaked, wishing she could hide her face in his chest. Instead, she buried half of it in the pillow, letting her fringe fall over her eyes. Ryoma carefully lifted her hair away, looking at her in concern. She flushed. He'd never touched her like that before. "I-- I'm fine. We should, um... What about Falcon? And I can't leave Mindhi alone," she rattled on, hoping to draw his attention away from herself.
Those were valid points she'd raised. Falcon wouldn't be happy at being displaced. Mindhi would be glad for her, but Rouge didn't think she could stay alone in that too-expensive apartment.
"We'll find a way," Ryoma reassured her, tucking her fringe behind her ear. "Besides, I didn't plan on having Falcon live with me for long."
"Are you saying that I was meant to live with you?" she teased, latching onto the new topic and watching as his face flooded with red. That was probably not the actual reason, but it was a nice thought.
"I, uh, I wasn't suggesting anything!" he stuttered, glancing away.
"You wanted the sex to be more convenient." Rouge continued grinning -- somehow, the smile didn't want to come off her lips. "I mean, I'd be in your bed every day. It's rather fitting for my profession--"
"That's not it!" He turned back, his forehead creasing as he propped himself up on his elbow. The way his eyes flashed at her was very endearing, somehow. "I don't see you that way--"
"Fair enough." Rouge let her gaze coast over his facial features, reaching up to caress his stubbled jaw. She burned to know how he did see her, but asking that of him would disintegrate this illusion they were in. "In any case, I'm looking forward to living with you."
That barely described her excitement, though it was enough. Rouge curled her fingers around the back of his head, guiding him down to brush her lips across his. When he did not respond, she smiled against his mouth. "Thank you."
To her utter surprise, Ryoma pressed a light kiss to her lips then, looking away the moment their gazes met. His cheeks coloured. She gaped at him, her heart tripping.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she whispered, searching his eyes, realising belatedly that she shouldn't have asked.
"It's, uh, n-nothing." He squirmed above her, avoiding her gaze.
Rouge cupped his cheek and turned his face towards hers, granting herself a thread of hope at his blush. His eyes drifted back to hers. She suppressed her desire for an affirmation, tracing his lip with her thumb. "Do that again."
He acquiesced, dipping his head to capture her mouth, his hesitance melting after the first couple of tugs. Ryoma nipped and suckled on her lips for some time, before deepening the kiss in a way that made her breathless. She gasped for air when he finally pulled away, sure that he couldn't pull any other surprise on her.
He trailed his lips down her jaw without stopping, to the base of her throat, nuzzling her. Then he mumbled against her skin, "I like you."
Rouge gawked as the tips of his ears turned red, her heart racing. He what? Blood rushed to her cheeks. She raised her hand to his head, not quite daring to touch him. "R-really?" she stuttered, numb with shock.
It seemed an hour before Ryoma nodded, his face still buried in her neck, until he lifted his head, glancing shyly at her. Rouge stared at him, her lips quirking weakly, pulling him back over her to give him a thorough kiss.
A kiss wasn't all they stopped at that morning.
------
Part: Interlude
Author: Aquarius Galuxy
Fandom: Power Stone
Pairing: Rouge/Ryoma
Genre: Romance/Erotica/Friendship/AU
Rating: varies from PG to NC-17
Word count: 5,506
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: I thought this would be one of the shortest chapters, but it turned out to be one of the longest! Had a lot of fun with it. =p Prompts are from 10_prompts.
#29 (7:7 Stray)
This time, Falcon did spray the floor with coffee.
"Bloody hell! Give a man some notice, Ryoma!" he bellowed, glowering at the tangled figures in bed. Sure, Ryoma had mentioned it the second, third and fourth times, but that was no excuse for him to neglect the fifth. "Seriously."
The raven-haired man shot bolt upright, blinking sleep from his eyes. Falcon glimpsed an indecent portion of Rouge curled up next to him, just as bare as her bedfellow was. He decided that he'd be a gentleman and avert his eyes from her.
"Huh?" Ryoma muttered groggily. "What're you doing here, Falcon?"
"I was just about to ask you the same thing -- what is your woman doing here?" His voice was raised; he waved his cup of coffee in the air. The tedious chore of cleaning up the mess he made fell on his shoulders. And it was all because he found the recent spate of Ryoma humping like a rabbit funny.
"I... uh..." Ryoma's face grew steadily redder. He swallowed and glanced at Rouge, eyes bulging when he saw how exposed she was. Falcon watched as he hurriedly tugged the sheets back over her, his blush rising to his hairline. "We, uh, weren't doing, uh, anything..."
"Are you flustered?" Falcon asked emphatically, shutting the door behind him. If anything, the man's cheeks darkened further yet. Before he met Rouge, Ryoma was never, ever agitated over a woman. He'd never flushed so much over one, either. "Look, you agreed to tell me whenever Rouge comes over. I'd like to avoid future accidents involving my coffee."
"I'm sorry. Coffee?" At Ryoma's puzzled stare, Falcon pointed to the brown-speckled tiles before him. The former followed the direction of his extended finger and winced. "I--"
"Ryoma?" Rouge mumbled, shifting slightly next to her bedmate. Both men turned to look at her. Unconscious of their attention, she swept her hand across the mattress, where Ryoma had just vacated, before searching further down, in a smaller arc. Her fingers came into contact with his back. The receding flush returned to Ryoma's face when she slipped her hand around his hip, over what Falcon suspected was his thigh. What followed next was a series of slow bobs beneath the sheets that had Ryoma squawking and Falcon turning away in embarrassment. "Mmm."
"R-Rouge!" the raven-haired man yelped, gingerly extracting her hand. His face was so saturated with scarlet that Falcon wondered if he would faint. "There's someone here!"
"Yeah, uh, morning, Rouge," Falcon greeted, cautiously sliding his gaze over to the pair. There was a telling tent in the sheets that he really didn't want to bear witness to. He took a swig of his coffee. "And Ryoma -- I'm fine not knowing about your exhibitionistic tendencies, thanks."
Ryoma spluttered incoherently. Rouge's eyes sprung wide and locked onto him; she froze, squeaked. The tint of her face pinkened to match her lover's. He had to admit that they were kind of cute like this.
"Right. I should leave you two to your misdeeds," Falcon began awkwardly, turning towards the door. There probably was some bench in the park he could crash on 'til they were done. "But seriously, Ryoma. Tell me to stay out the next time you're having Rouge spend the night. You've pulled enough curveballs on me as it is."
"Uh, to be honest, Ryoma didn't plan on last night," Rouge blurted just as he was about to reach for the doorknob. He looked back in surprise. She eased herself up on the mattress, clutching the sheets to her chest. The flush on her countenance was fading. "I just dropped by for a surprise visit and Ryoma invited me to stay over."
Facts clicked in his head. Falcon blinked, silently absorbing her words. Then a possibility struck him so hard that he jerked his gaze towards his roommate, mouth agape in shock. "Wait a mo' -- Ryoma got you to stay over so he could jump you?"
Ryoma stiffened and blushed.
"Actually, it was kind of mutual." Rouge waved her explanation off, leaning into her bedmate. Ryoma promptly pulled away. "Hey!" She gave the man an offended stare, before gazing back at Falcon. "But yeah, I do think he's a bit of an exhibitionist."
"D-don't say that!" Ryoma frowned at her, stuttering when she trailed her hand over his chest.
Falcon snickered. Now, that was unexpected. Months ago, he would've laughed 'til he collapsed if anyone told him that Ryoma would be fornicating non-stop with a woman he hardly knew. The man had strayed, and strayed so far, from his ideals. Rouge was certainly something special if she had that powerful an effect on him. Whether that was good, though, was for Ryoma alone to decide.
"Well, have fun with him, Rouge." Falcon grinned, giving the pair a thumbs-up. His roommate squawked a protest. Rouge blushed. He stepped cleanly over the patches of coffee on the floor, pulling the door open. "And for heaven's sake, buddy, freakin' tell me if I'm not welcome here. I don't care if you wanna be an exhibitionist or get chained up or whatever -- I just don't wanna be involved in all that, okay?"
It was with a smug grin at two glowing, red faces that Falcon shut the door, taking a discreet sip of his lukewarm coffee.
---
#30 (9:3 Lessons)
"Ro-ouge! Ryoma is here!" Mindhi hollered from the living room, her voice slightly muffled by the bedroom door.
The hostess blinked, surprised, smoothing foundation onto her cheeks with a sponge. That was early. But then again, Ryoma was always early. A grin crept up her lips. She swivelled her head to check that her skin looked even in the mirror, setting the box of compact powder down on her bedside table. The thought that Ryoma was in the apartment made her stomach flip. "Got it," she yelled back at Mindhi.
There was a soft tap on the door. "Where do I leave him?" her roommate asked from just outside.
"You could invite him in if he wants." Rouge glanced at where Mindhi was probably standing, before selecting a shade of lipstick from her pouch. "The door isn't locked."
"Rouge says to go in," she heard Mindhi tell the man. Snorting softly, Rouge looked towards the ceiling, running her fingers through her braided hair. The girl wasn't as bad as Ayame and Cassie were, but she was learning to be cheekier than Rouge would have liked.
There was a low, masculine rumble in response, moments prior to a knock. The door opened. Ryoma slipped into the room, shutting it quietly behind him. "Hey," he greeted.
"Hey." Rouge slanted her gaze over to the man, meeting his eyes, shortly before surveying his T-shirt and pants. His clothes clung snugly to his form, accentuating his physique. She'd have to save the hug and grope for later. Her fingers uncapped the lipstick subconsciously. "You look good. Sexy."
"Uh, thanks. I could do without the compliments, Rouge." He blushed lightly, looking her over. A quiver slid along her spine. His eyes didn't leave her shimmery, gold dress for some time. "Are you sure that dress is appropriate? It's... rather short."
"We're going clubbing. Of course it's appropriate." Rouge paused with the metallic tube an inch from her face, lips parting in a grin. "You like?" She stepped away from the mirror, lifting her hands behind her head and turning a full circle in front of him. The sequined material would barely cover her rear if she bent forward. As she expected, Ryoma's eyes eventually latched onto her chest. A quiet laugh bubbled from her throat. She slunk over to him, cradling the back of his head with her free hand and pulling him in for a kiss.
He'd learnt, by now, how she liked her kisses. Their lips met with the merest of caresses, before she pressed firmly against him, nipping at his flesh. Ryoma parted his lips without her asking, responding with his tongue and teeth just as she'd taught him to. Heat gathered in her blood; he stroked her tongue wetly, welcoming her into his mouth.
Rouge ended the kiss before it changed her mind on leaving for their date, breathing hard to calm the hunger in her belly. He watched her with dark eyes, lips wet from their exchange. She smirked. Knowing Ryoma, he'd probably be ready for more with just that. "If I kiss you after this, you'll have lipstick on your face," she told him, waving the forgotten tube by way of explanation.
He nodded and glanced away, shifting on his feet, the concern about her dress forgotten. She'd returned to the mirror by the time he looked at her again, applying the thick makeup to her lips. Ryoma watched as she capped the tube and riffled through her pouch for her mascara. "You women treat cosmetics very seriously."
Rouge shrugged, leaning close to the mirror again to brush her lashes with sticky black paste. With the jobs she had, she couldn't imagine not enhancing her features whenever she left home for something other than grocery shopping. "We use it to look good."
"You're beautiful even without all that," Ryoma muttered, red feathering across his face as he looked in the other direction. "Skin-deep appearances don't make a person."
Rouge turned to stare at him, entirely floored. A hot blush singed her cheeks. Her heart stumbled. She hadn't imagined that Ryoma would think so deeply about her, much less voice his opinions, as profound as they were. Long moments passed as she stared mutely at him, wondering what her response should be. Their usual kisses couldn't reflect how shaken she was by his remark. Words left her bereft. She wanted to curl up in bed and smile to herself for the rest of the night.
"I, uh... thanks," she mumbled, glancing at her dress to decide on a shade of eyeshadow.
But their relationship wasn't permanent. Rouge bit her lip when she remembered, suppressing her elation with the bitter expectation of their future. She looked surreptitiously at Ryoma and swallowed. He was still gazing out of the window. Rouge completed her makeup hastily and padded over to him, masking her hurt with a teasing lilt to her tone. "I didn't know you could flirt so well, Ryoma."
He coloured again, looking tentatively at her when she slipped her arms around his waist. "I, uh, I wasn't flirting. Just stating what I've observed."
A little bubble of happiness welled in her middle anyway. It was so easy to pretend that nothing was going wrong in the long run. She leaned into him, catching his chin and angling his face to hers. "There you go, flirting again." Before he could disagree, she pressed a light kiss to his lips, pulling away to meet his eyes. "Thank you."
"No problem," he muttered. He held her gaze for heartbeats, glancing away when she did not speak. Rouge backed off with a smile and grabbed a tissue for him, recalling the first time he'd done the same for her. They'd come a long way since.
The lipstick stayed on Ryoma's lips until when they had to leave the apartment, much to Rouge's mirth and delight.
As it had been at Club Venus, loud dance music pounded in his ears, accompanied by the sharp whitish bursts of strobes that made Ryoma wonder if he was in an extremely bizarre dream instead. Unlike Venus, however, King Albert's was huge. He hadn't imagined that it'd be at least four times the size of Rouge's workplace, nor had he imagined the sea of people that writhed on the massive dance floor.
Blue, green and purple spotlights beamed down from the ceiling, circling randomly over the crowd, cycling through different hues. Patterns of colour shone through the misty glow that permeated the club and swirled on the floor. Disco balls glittered and reflected; scattered throughout the floor space were small stages, on which various dancers shimmied and twisted.
If there was one thing Ryoma resented, it was how easily Rouge swayed him. He hadn't wanted to step into the swarm of people. He hadn't even wanted to approach the club with a twenty-foot pole. All Rouge had done was to smile winningly at him and tell him that he didn't have to do much at the club, and to just follow what she did. Damn it.
He trailed after her reluctantly as she guided him towards the dance floor, moving only because she'd smiled at him and tugged on his hand. Along the way, Rouge began to move in time to the music, tipping her shoulders and swaying her hips. He stared at her, unwilling to take his eyes off her glittery contours.
Her gaze flitted away from his in the middle of a smile, just as someone from that very direction clapped him on the back. He turned, caught off guard, wondering if said person had accidentally flung an arm at him.
The unmistakeable face of his blond roommate grinned right back. Ryoma froze, his eyes bulging. He glanced towards Rouge nervously -- embarrassing himself in front of the veteran club-goer didn't sound appealing at all. Falcon was a good friend, but still. He'd sworn he'd never be caught dead in a dance club, and here he was. Ryoma chanced a glance back at the blond.
"I didn't expect you here, of all people," Falcon half-shouted at him, just so he could be heard above the music. "I'll bet Rouge here convinced you to come."
"I wasn't going to--" he shouted back. Falcon scanned Rouge appreciatively, flashing her a smile in greeting. Ryoma felt a surge of jealousy roil in his middle, glaring poisonously at his roommate. "Don't do that, Falcon -- she's mine!"
Rouge curled herself around his arm, pressing her breasts around his biceps. He realised his slip then, swallowing awkwardly, before glancing at her. "Yours?" she mouthed playfully, her single visible eye alight with pleasure.
He jerked his gaze back to Falcon, cheeks hot. The blond smirked and lifted his eyebrows. "You show him the ropes, Rouge!" Falcon shouted again, lifting his highball glass in a toast. Ryoma blinked; he hadn't even noticed that his roommate was holding anything. Rouge winked at the man, before she released Ryoma's arm, resuming her efforts to bring him to the dance floor.
They eased into the crowd, Rouge seeming to blend into the swaying bodies and limbs, while he was jostled at every opportunity. He frowned at her, ignoring the unfriendly stares as he tried to follow her to the spot she'd chosen.
"Move with everyone else," she yelled at him, her voice surprisingly clear in the midst of the deafening music. It took him a while to remember that she worked in an environment like this. What she'd meant by moving, though, he hadn't a clue.
When they finally reached a less-populated area, Rouge turned towards him, stepping closer, still shifting with the music. He looked questioningly at her. "Keep moving," she told him, glancing at her feet to bring his gaze there. "Step from side to side. Whatever you do, don't stand still!"
He followed the step of her feet, feeling immensely out-of-sorts and a little ridiculous as he moved from left to right and back, looking back up at her for her approval.
Rouge grinned at him proudly, matching his pace. "Now, move your shoulders." She wriggled her body, waiting as he tried to shift as she did. It took him a lot more time to coordinate his shoulders and feet (there was nothing like that in kendo), before he could mimic her, albeit stiffly. The prospect of dancing for hours like Falcon did sent a shudder down his spine.
"C'mon, move to the beat! It'll be easier." Rouge took his hands in hers once he'd got the rough hang of the basic motions. "Like this -- one, two, one, two."
Ryoma admired her fluidness, how she could still roll her hips while guiding him through the dance steps. She was in her element here -- he could see the life in her eyes, feel her absorb the energy radiating all around them. "I didn't know you clubbed," he told her once he'd adjusted to the rhythm of the dance music. There was something about moving quickly that he was beginning to understand -- letting the beat command his limbs gave him a sort of adrenaline similar to what he worked up to in kendo class. Being sluggish had never won him duels.
"I've told you, I worked in various clubs!" She laughed, her eyes gleaming when she noticed how he'd pegged his moves to the beat. "Good boy. Now, keep going."
He watched as she released her hold on him and backed away slightly. The smile never left her face -- Rouge began to sway her hips more boldly, letting the movement carry through her body in slick ripples he'd seen on her once before, at Club Venus. Ryoma lost track of his own moves when she ran her hands over her front and shimmied down to the floor, before getting back up again.
"Come on," she grinned, taking his hands and tugging him down with her. It was awkward, but things changed when he focused on Rouge and her dancing instead. He paid less mind to himself, allowing her to guide him wherever she wanted. Maybe there was some sense to dancing all night long.
Rouge pulled away from him once they'd straightened, swinging her forearms and sashaying towards him. She twisted and rippled, stepping towards him and back in a series of dance steps that looked too complicated for him to comprehend, her body glimmering with each undulation. It was all he could do to keep her in his line of sight -- she danced full circles around him, her gaze constantly locking with his.
Ryoma had almost entirely forgotten about the crowd pressing around them, when Rouge tore her attention away, looking towards a random guy smirking at her. She glanced flippantly at the stranger, striding back towards Ryoma. He stared at her in confusion; she did not immediately respond. When he met the lanky man's eyes, the latter shrugged, giving Rouge a leery once-over. Ryoma tensed. A light touch on his arm drew his focus back to her face.
"He slapped my ass," she mouthed, shrugging nonchalantly. Ryoma stopped moving, an odd sense of possessiveness and anger pushing his stare back to the man, who jerked his head upwards in a wordless taunt.
No man should touch a woman without her permission, much less hit her. Especially if it was Rouge. He was the only one who touched her after work hours, and slept with her. Ryoma clenched his fists. She must have seen him glower, because she stepped closer to him and slung her arms around his waist, snubbing the man. "Your attention belongs to me."
"But--" He glanced between her and the stranger.
"You can spank me all you like later. It's no big deal." She grinned at him, leaning in and tipping her head to press a kiss to his neck. He flushed at how explicit she was. "I won't have you ruining this by beating someone up."
That made sense. She took his hand, planting it firmly on her shoulder, slowly picking up the beat again. He pushed the offensive stranger out of his mind when she tugged at him to resume moving, caressing his chest. He stared at her. Rouge grinned, guiding his other hand down her side the moment he started moving, so that he caught the curve of her waist. Her own palms flowed along his sides and back, awakening him to her touch.
"Hold me if you want me to yourself," she told him, meeting his gaze with a teasing smile. Rouge eased closer to him, anchoring his hands over the contours of her soft rear, before lifting her arms in the air and rolling her hips. Ryoma glanced down at her shimmery form, staring when she leaned in close and brushed him lightly with her breasts. He'd known that dancing got provocative in clubs, but doing this with Rouge made him a little more aware of her body than he should have been.
They shimmied together for some minutes, Rouge seeming to have the hell of a time distracting him, and him trying not to focus on her too much lest he became aroused. She pulled away from him eventually, catching his hand. "Let's go elsewhere," the dancer shouted above the noise, smiling when he nodded.
The crowd became thicker where Rouge led him, to the point where they bumped into people with every step (hips, hands and elbows jutted carelessly into him) even as they shimmied their way through the masses of clubbers. He realised that the dancing here was different -- people didn't move about as much. Rather, they writhed as one, in dances more sensual than what Rouge had guided him through earlier.
It was as if the spot Rouge had chosen was no less congested than what they'd just squeezed past. She did not seem to mind, however. All she did was to lean in close and yell in his ear, "Follow me."
He watched as she turned her back towards him, swaying her hips and shoulders, her feet rooted to the floor. A crooked finger brought him closer. She lifted her braid over her shoulder, to her front. When he was inches from her squirming body, Ryoma paused, until she glanced at him and smiled, catching his hands to pull him yet nearer. He could feel the heat emanating from her, the occasional brush of her back and bottom against him. It wasn't a chaste dance -- Rouge affirmed that suspicion when she reached behind for his hips, pulling his loins flush against her ass.
"Rouge!" His breathing hitched when she rotated her hips and pressed firmly into him. She slanted her gaze towards his, moving as if there was nothing wrong with gyrating into his groin.
"Move your hips," she mouthed, finding his hands and locking them below her waist. A deeper thrust sent sensation into his crotch; he clenched his jaw, his body responding to hers. He knew then that he would not be able to resist dancing with her, slowly rolling his shoulders.
Rouge sent him a grin over her shoulder when he began to circle his hips into hers. Her lush flesh tempted him, pressed so invitingly into his groin that he had to remind himself to swivel his hips as she was doing, instead of rutting into her on instinct. His pants were tight, now, and he drew away slightly, unwilling to have his erection made obvious. But she reached for his waist, pulling him back against her, sliding her ass firmly over his manhood. Pleasure feathered along his length. He grunted, exhaled sharply.
"Minx," he grated in her ear, blushing lightly as he locked his hips against hers. (He didn't want to, but she would've kept grinding into him until he did, he reasoned.) She smiled innocently at him.
Ryoma lost track of how long they remained joined like that, only noticing when she dragged his hands up and down her sides, his fingers brushing the curve of her bra. Her bottom continued to rub alluringly over him, tempting him with its curves. He throbbed. She raised her hands above her head, looking over her shoulder and smiling when he stroked her sides without being prompted to.
He could imagine her naked and squirming against him, cursing himself for that thought, for letting his palms stray to her thighs, her ass. Gods, her dress was so short. Her tight, slick heat was so close, just a lift of her dress and a push of her thong away. Yet he couldn't possibly have it right now, when he wanted her so badly. He knew she'd be wet, knew her body well enough to imagine sliding his cock along her moist slit.
This fantasizing wasn't doing him any good, either. Painfully hard, he hissed her name and rolled his hips into her urgently, his hands tightening around her body. She knew his need; he caught her smirk when she looked back at him. "Home?"
Ryoma nodded and blushed, heaving an inward sigh of relief when she pulled away, easing the pressure at his crotch. None of the writhing dancers around had noticed the change in his physique -- only Rouge knew. Her gaze coasted down his body; she grinned at what she saw. Ryoma stiffened when she caught his fingers and brought them to his front, testing his arousal with the back of her hand. He blushed at how public her fondling was, how someone might have seen (that only brought more heat into his loins); her touch felt good.
It was an eternity before they reached the exit of the club.
Contrary to what he'd expected, dancing with Rouge at King Albert's hadn't been that bad, after all. It made Ryoma suspect that he wasn't actually that unsuited to dancing. He just wasn't in a hurry to return anytime soon.
---
#31 (5:8 Overwhelmed)
Rouge relaxed into rumpled sheets, glancing at Ryoma from the corner of her eye. He was staring up at the ceiling, chest rising and falling, skin gleaming dully with a sheen of sweat. Inky eyes slid down and fixed on her when she turned onto her side. He had long since surpassed the state of ogling her breasts whenever their contours shifted -- instead, Ryoma watched her face, glancing down to admire her body for a heartbeat, before meeting her gaze again.
She smiled warmly at him, reaching over to hug his arm to her chest. He did not blush, merely looked on as her flesh molded to his biceps, flicking his eyes up to hers in question. "You'd better be getting ready for work soon, before Falcon returns," she told him fondly.
It had been some weeks since their date at King Albert's, and months, Rouge realised, since they'd met. Ryoma hadn't mentioned any more about his arranged marriage -- she didn't dare ask about it, either. All she knew was that he had become a staple in her life. Ryoma was so much more than a friend now.
"It's Saturday, Rouge." His lips quirked. There was a light sparkle to his eyes. "I have nothing on in the morning."
"It is?" She blinked in surprise, staring at him when she realised the truth in his statement. Her lips curved in a mischievous grin. "I guess you blew my mind away with that last climax."
They'd gone on more dates (though neither of them had specifically acknowledged the tête-à-têtes as such), and Rouge had slept over at Ryoma's place more times than she could remember. She didn't dare bring him home, however, for fear that the noises they made would carry through the walls to Mindhi's room. Falcon sometimes teased Ryoma that she was practically his girlfriend.
Yet she wasn't. Ryoma had never asked her to be in a relationship with him, and she could imagine that he didn't want to be in one now, with all those expectations he had of his future. It hurt a little, but she'd live. She wasn't in love with him -- how could she love him when he wasn't going to be staying around forever? She just cared a whole lot about him. That was all there was to their friendship.
"Don't tease me like that." He frowned and looked away, a faint blush fanning across his cheeks. It was an improvement from the past. Rouge grinned, stroking her fingers over his. He closed them over her hand; her heart warmed.
"Are you saying that I can have my way with you again?" Rouge raised her eyebrows, trailing a finger down his pectorals. His heart thumped against her fingertip.
He glanced at her hand, then at her countenance, a hint of exasperation flitting across his face. "Do you have a limit?"
"You should know." She grinned smugly at him. "But anyway, I'd have to be going home soon. Mindhi's been getting on my case 'cause I can't do my chores while I'm over here."
"I was thinking..." Ryoma turned on his side to face her. Rouge stared at him -- he didn't usually do this unless he was serious about something. "Since you're always having to travel back and forth in the mornings and your sleep gets disrupted... And, uh, since you've been spending so much time here anyway, and, I, um, think we get along well... Why don't you come stay with me?"
He blushed, glancing away, his face regaining its long-lost shade of scarlet.
Rouge thought her heart might have stopped.
Or exploded with happiness.
She gaped at Ryoma, the intimacy of living with him drawing heat to her cheeks. His suggestion made her far more exhilarated than she ever remembered being, bringing hot prickles to her eyes that she tried to blink away. She couldn't speak for long moments, daring to imagine his reasons for the invitation. He looked back at her when she did not respond. Rouge blinked hurriedly, trying to clear her moist eyes.
"Rouge, d-do you want to?" He peered hesitantly at her, as if trying to determine the cause of her quiet.
She shook, then nodded her head vigorously, unable to trust herself to speak. "I-- Yes," she finally croaked, wishing she could hide her face in his chest. Instead, she buried half of it in the pillow, letting her fringe fall over her eyes. Ryoma carefully lifted her hair away, looking at her in concern. She flushed. He'd never touched her like that before. "I-- I'm fine. We should, um... What about Falcon? And I can't leave Mindhi alone," she rattled on, hoping to draw his attention away from herself.
Those were valid points she'd raised. Falcon wouldn't be happy at being displaced. Mindhi would be glad for her, but Rouge didn't think she could stay alone in that too-expensive apartment.
"We'll find a way," Ryoma reassured her, tucking her fringe behind her ear. "Besides, I didn't plan on having Falcon live with me for long."
"Are you saying that I was meant to live with you?" she teased, latching onto the new topic and watching as his face flooded with red. That was probably not the actual reason, but it was a nice thought.
"I, uh, I wasn't suggesting anything!" he stuttered, glancing away.
"You wanted the sex to be more convenient." Rouge continued grinning -- somehow, the smile didn't want to come off her lips. "I mean, I'd be in your bed every day. It's rather fitting for my profession--"
"That's not it!" He turned back, his forehead creasing as he propped himself up on his elbow. The way his eyes flashed at her was very endearing, somehow. "I don't see you that way--"
"Fair enough." Rouge let her gaze coast over his facial features, reaching up to caress his stubbled jaw. She burned to know how he did see her, but asking that of him would disintegrate this illusion they were in. "In any case, I'm looking forward to living with you."
That barely described her excitement, though it was enough. Rouge curled her fingers around the back of his head, guiding him down to brush her lips across his. When he did not respond, she smiled against his mouth. "Thank you."
To her utter surprise, Ryoma pressed a light kiss to her lips then, looking away the moment their gazes met. His cheeks coloured. She gaped at him, her heart tripping.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she whispered, searching his eyes, realising belatedly that she shouldn't have asked.
"It's, uh, n-nothing." He squirmed above her, avoiding her gaze.
Rouge cupped his cheek and turned his face towards hers, granting herself a thread of hope at his blush. His eyes drifted back to hers. She suppressed her desire for an affirmation, tracing his lip with her thumb. "Do that again."
He acquiesced, dipping his head to capture her mouth, his hesitance melting after the first couple of tugs. Ryoma nipped and suckled on her lips for some time, before deepening the kiss in a way that made her breathless. She gasped for air when he finally pulled away, sure that he couldn't pull any other surprise on her.
He trailed his lips down her jaw without stopping, to the base of her throat, nuzzling her. Then he mumbled against her skin, "I like you."
Rouge gawked as the tips of his ears turned red, her heart racing. He what? Blood rushed to her cheeks. She raised her hand to his head, not quite daring to touch him. "R-really?" she stuttered, numb with shock.
It seemed an hour before Ryoma nodded, his face still buried in her neck, until he lifted his head, glancing shyly at her. Rouge stared at him, her lips quirking weakly, pulling him back over her to give him a thorough kiss.
A kiss wasn't all they stopped at that morning.
------