The Capture

“Why are we walking? It would be quicker for you to fly to go get your sword.”

Ren spread his arms and wings wide in the empty street with a brilliant, cocky smile. “But then we couldn’t bask in the splendor that is my kingdom.”

Sakura sighed, already exasperated with the man’s inflated ego that had been in overdrive since that morning. It was going to be a long day of listening to him brag about the illusion that he had created for himself. It wasn’t going to get any better in the coming days either, not with them sticking around in order to go through whatever records Ren was so interested in. The only positive thing about this stay was that there were hardly any angels around to further irritate her, and the ones who had hung around were quick to become scarce upon seeing the Fallen One. She doubted that those who had fled to the land would return until well after they had gone.

Which was fine with her.

She didn’t like crowds anyways.

It was a peculiar, almost eerie feeling wandering around the abandoned streets of such a large city. There should be people and noise and the electrifying energy that came with the merging of so many in one place, but there was none of that.

Only silence.

“I’m pretty sure that no matter what you say, this still isn’t your kingdom.” The woman poked a finger into his ribs, trying to burst his bubble, but some things are indestructible.

“You’re right.” The man leered down at her as he took her hand in his and laid a kiss on her knuckles. “It’s our kingdom.”

The vixen looked away as her annoyance faded and the nerves began to grow in its place. “You’re an idiot,” she mumbled. It wasn’t what she had meant to say, but it was by far the easiest words to manage. Accepting and going along with his adoration and looks and touches had seemed to come so naturally the day before as they laid together. But now, after a night of listening to his whispers and a morning of overthinking everything said, she was once again stumbling all over herself while Ren watched on with delight.

He laughed, “As all great kings are.” The man released her hand, his fingers slipping under and gently tugging at the soft fabric along her neck. “I like this dress. You look like a gift. You should get one like it when we get back to the land. Or just snag this one. You’re good at taking things that aren’t yours.”

Sakura scoffed at the accusation but couldn’t help but think that he was right. It was a pretty dress: white, with a pleated skirt that stopped just above the knee and top that tied in a bow behind her neck while completely exposing her back. The demon wouldn’t have chosen it, and there were much more modest options to pick from, but Ivy had pleaded to be the one to dress her that morning, and the woman had allowed it. The girl had been so upset over what had happened with the parasite, and she knew it was something that would make her happy. Ivy loved treating Sakura like a doll that she could dress and make up. However, it was very rare for the demon to allow it.

But she had, and the dainty fae had bopped around the room cheerfully as she put on display and debated each dress, finally handing her this one as she swept the vixen’s long, cherry tresses high upon her scalp and tied it into a ponytail with the blue ribbon she kept in her boot. Ivy had been so pleased with her selection and made Sakura promise multiple times not to immediately change after her and Zero left for the castle with Charlotte.

Sakura had been true to her word, though reluctantly so, and now the man’s shifty fingers were dawdling higher, closing in on the bow.

The woman slapped his hand away.

But that wasn’t exactly what she wanted to do either.

Ren always knew the right thing to say. To do. Her… not so much.

She looked up at the man, and he met her gaze with a cunning grin.

He knew.

And he was going to make her say it.

Make her be the one to initiate.

But words could be so hard.

Especially since she was a woman of action.

But if she couldn’t voice it.

Then she would just have to show it.

She took a deep breath and swallowed her nerves.

Now or never.

Sakura revolved in front of the angel’s path, her hand balling into a fist that collided without warning into his gut as he doubled over, feeling as though something had ruptured as all of the air evacuated his lungs with the force of the blow.

Ren gasped, painfully drawing as much oxygen in as he could. “Damn it, woman!” he managed to snap. “What’s your problem this time? I got you a whole kingdom! What more do you fucking want from me?” His head jerked up to glare at the woman but one look, and he was breathless once more.

She didn’t say a word. She didn’t need to.

Bright, alluring eyes said it all and invited him to follow.

She turned and walked away, the sway of her body casting a spell that was impossible for him to resist.

“Fuck.” She heard the man’s whisper but the steps behind her were silent as a ghost. She knew they were there, though.

Chasing her.

The way she wanted.

The woman went through the city and passed the buildings until she escaped their tight, suffocating confines. She slipped into the forest, sinking further and further into its familiar embrace.

Into trees like the ones where he had first caught her when they were children.

Trees like where she had run when he caught her again after years of being separated.

The place they were most comfortable.

A place that was theirs.

No matter where they were.

She couldn’t hear him.

But she knew he was close.

Watching.

Waiting.

When would he catch her this time?

She didn’t know.

But she knew he would.

As he always had.

Deep into the forest they ventured before arms snaked around her waist and pulled her back into him, his breath teasing her neck, voice low. “We’ve gone far enough, don’t you think? Or are you gonna keep running?”

Sakura spun to face Ren and took his hand, leading it to the bow behind her neck. She buried her other hand through his hair, pulling him closer. “No,” she sighed as he pulled the fabric, unwrapping his prize. “I’ll be good.”

It was gentle. Barely there. A shy, exploratory first touch of lips against one another. Something new. Uncertain. Innocent. Their eyes met, soft emeralds and sapphires that lit one another with the heat of their desire.

Creating an inferno.

And the fight was on.

Frantically pushing and pulling, grasping and releasing, stumbling with the cloth barriers between them being torn away and discarded. Lips together and apart, discovering new territory along each other's skin.

Desperate.

Needy.

Obsessive.

As if their first was their last.

There was nothing left to separate them when his hands clutched under her thighs, lifting her up as her legs locked around him and his lips greedily devoured hers. He pressed her back against the ragged trunk of the nearest tree and wasted no time in hastily following the path into her.

Sakura’s eyes snapped open as she tore away from his kiss and her nails dug violently into his shoulders, pushing his chest away from hers. “Fuck!” she hissed, gasping sharply while trying to catch her breath. “Stop!”

Ren froze, his eyes now wide and horrified. “What?! What’d I do wrong? That’s where it goes, right? Did I miss?”

“No, that’s where it goes.” Her voice was a low whine he wasn’t familiar with. “It just... hurts.”

Worry turned to confusion. “What do you mean it hurts?”

“I mean it fucking hurts!” she snapped, slapping his back hard, in no mood to explain herself to the man who was the cause of her distress. “Maybe if you didn’t just shove it in like that, this wouldn’t be an issue!”

The man winced at the verbal and physical lashings. “Ow! Shit! I’m sorry, okay! Fuck! It just slipped in there. There was nothing I could do.” This was far from what he had spent years envisioning, which, was a real shame considering things had started out so well. “Uh… should I take it out?”

Sakura considered it. “I don’t know… no. It should stop hurting, right?”

He was starting to feel agitated, unsure of what the right thing to do was. “How the fuck am I supposed to know? You’re the woman, and it’s not like anyone taught me much more than where to stick it!”

“Well, I don’t fucking know either! None of those girls in the village ever said anything about it hurting.” She chewed her cheek in irritation, feeling as if she’d been tricked and was the butt of some sadistic joke.

“I don’t even know why it would hurt at all. It’s not that big.”

“It’s not that small either, Ren!”

“Yeah, maybe, but have you ever seen an ogre’s or a giant’s? Now those are big. Absolutely terrifying. Those would hurt.”

“Are we seriously having this conversation right now?” The demon gnashed her teeth, her patience evaporating much quicker than the pain in her lower half. “I don’t give a fuck about theirs. It’s yours that’s my problem.”

She had a point there.

“Okay, I’m sorry, you’re right.” The angel took a deep breath, trying to calm down, to think logically while the majority of his blood was rushing towards the wrong head. “Hold on. Let’s just… I don’t know. Fuck! Ummm...” He pulled them away from the tree and slowly worked his way down to sitting on the ground with her straddling him. “Just stay here. See if it stops. Just do what you need to do. Pull it out. Keep it in. Whatever works.”

“Yeah. Okay.” She nodded at the reasonable suggestion. “Does it hurt for you?”

An abrupt enthusiasm washed over his face along with a very pleased grin as his shook his head slowly. “Oh no. Far from it. It’s definitely the greatest sensation of my life. So much better than I could ever imagine. I finally understand why men go to the district and pay for it.”

“Bullshit,” she grumbled with a pout, glancing away. “That’s not fair. Why does it get to feel good for you?”

He chuckled, burying his face against her neck and kissing the soft skin. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s just retribution for all the pain you’ve put me through. What goes around, comes around and all that.”

Sakura didn’t like it but acknowledged that the man may be right.

She’d never admit it though.

She stayed still, feeling his body against hers.

His arms hugging her waist.

His lips trailing along her chest.

His skin burning into hers.

His heartbeat calling to her own.

She waited as the pain ebbed away and was replaced with the same yearning from earlier.

A need that only he could fill.

She took his face, her fingers tenderly brushing across his checks. Emeralds gazed into sapphires, hungry for more. “I love you.” Sakura smiled, saying the words that she had always felt but had been too afraid to say for far too long.

Ren returned the smile. “Damn right you do.”

Her lips pressed to his, and his to hers.

She moved.

Slowly.

Carefully.

Finding her way.

As he found his.

And they found each other.

Their bodies synchronized in a dance that they could only perform together.

The push, the pull.

The give, the take.

The chase.

The capture.

Entwining completely.

Two halves becoming whole.

Becoming one.

His hands gripping her hips as they rolled like the waves of the ocean, increasing with urgency.

Studying each new and rousing expression across her face.

Stealing the fervent cries from her lips with his.

Claiming all of her for his own.

Offering the same from him in return.

Bringing her to the edge and following her over.

Spilling his ecstasy into her depths.

Clinging to each other, rocking gently, and allowing everything to pass.

Their breathing becoming steady.

Their eyes meeting.

The realization that they now had the other’s all.

Their everything.

What a beautiful thing.

A true blessing.

To be so loved and cherished.

To give the same to the one who gave to you.

Ren peeled himself away and beamed, his thrill emanating. “I did it. I’ve finally trapped you. I won.”

The woman laughed while caressing the man’s cheeks and kissed him once more. “Yeah, you did. Good for you. Proud of you. Come on, we should probably go get your sword and head back before it gets too late.” She began moving away but was quickly tipped onto her back, the dirt and foliage of the forest floor pressing into her skin. “What do you want now?” she asked, her tone suspicious, eyes narrowed, while he smirked down at her.

“What do you think you’re doing? I didn’t say you could go,” Ren growled, eyes like storm clouds on a perfect day as ebony wings stretched to block out the sun above them. “I’m not done with you yet. You had your turn, now it’s mine.”

“You’re turn, huh?” A challenge curved across Sakura’s lips as her hands buried into dark curls and pulled him closer. “I’ll fight you for it.”