Blossoming

Shuhei stayed still to allow her fumbling fingers the freedom to work from his collarbones down to his waist. Button after button was undone, and finally the end of his shirt was untucked from his pants. His hand left her face long enough to slide out of his sleeve, then it returned to its place. Her jaw was trembling, but she continued.

Tension pulled the belt clasp from its place, then it was slid from the loops. She still smelled of the trees from earlier. Her cheek was smooth in his hand. He didn’t know how to stand, but he didn’t want to move lest he break her confidence. Trembling fingers reached for his pants button and zipper. Binding restraints were released, and his legs were freed.

Their eyes met once again, and Kaho’s hand came to rest over his. All of her cheek could fit in his palm, and she found herself wanting to turn to water that was only held by his steady grip. After a moment, she lowered his hand briefly and retrieved her phone to type.

“Can you keep your hands on me? I want to feel your touch. I want you to feel mine. I want to use our hands and lips first.”

Shuhei nodded and replied.

“I can do that.”

Softly shaking exhales from them both told the other that they were ready. Gentle steps led them from the entrance to the bed, and Kaho paused to face him, once more taking his hand and placing it to her cheek.

He felt her shaking as her hands raised to the edges of her dress. Zippers slid apart. Sleeves lowered to reveal the secrets hidden beneath their folds. Soft skin rose from her ribs and out into pale curves. Pink lines covered every hidden spot of her body. Her dress fell to the floor along with her bra.

He felt safe for her. More than safe. He felt loving. He was tall, broad, brooding, and intimidating, but for her, he was only Shuhei, the tired wolf who loved flowers and was gentle enough to sit with her so many times when that was what she needed most. As she felt the sensation of safety and trust drift across her stomach, she raised his other hand to the last bit of fabric left on her body.

She was soft. Every part of her was soft and gentle. He’d never been able to feel like himself with anyone else, to the point that he’d begun to wonder if he even knew what ‘himself’ even was anymore. But those weeks with her in the mountains had shown him that he could find that part of himself again. Even when he returned to Tokyo and tried to make himself believe that he was still the person he was before Nikko, she returned to his life and helped him know that he wasn’t that person anymore. Now, all he wanted to be was this. In whatever way he understood it, he wanted to be wholly hers, until every atom of his being was branded with her scent and every nerve in his body was alight with her touch.

Their lips met, and he felt her breasts against his stomach. His finger slid beneath the fabric band, and he felt the slightest contraction in her chest as she pulled herself closer to him.

He never even glanced at her scars, and she felt floods of gratitude. They were not the thing that defined her, just like the deafness which he’d been so comfortable with. All of these things that she had been at odds with were parts of the whole of her essence that he now wanted more than anything in his current life. His tongue never pushed too deep into her mouth as it raised and slid into hers. Every press and tense of his stomach sent awareness into her chest until tingling anticipation danced across their curves and into the swelling buds at their center.

His fingers dared to proceed and slid beneath the fabric, towards the last sacred realm between her legs. Fingers pressed into his shoulder, and she let out a muted sigh. Their lips separated long enough for him to gain a look of consent to continue. Both of her hands rose to hold his face and trace his lips. She nodded, and his fingers came to rest on their destination, pressing even, exploratory caresses that moved in a slow, circular motion. Warmth moved from her to him.

Blood flowed like rivers, bringing more awareness than before, and Kaho found herself tensing in release. Inhales became shorter, more faint, and expectant. Her moans were unrefined and barely audible, sending reactions of sparks from his throat into his chest. She pulled him closer as her forehead nuzzled against his neck. Her hands never released his face. Each breath rose in tone until her sounds were nothing more than muted, feminine gasps.

It began in her legs. Tingling, building waves lapped at the edges of her skin, making her aware of every detail. Each scar began to hum with warmth. A quiescent pulse spread from her stomach, down towards his hand, and up towards her chest. He was always so soft yet strong. She could break and be remade and he would be there with her. His silence never felt forced or unpleasant. She wanted his hands to bury themselves in the soils of her gardens until flowers covered every square meter of her soul.

The Surface was there, and she finally broke through. Gasping, rapturous lips parted to breathe in the first breaths after her coma.

Her moan was louder than her sighs. A tremor shook her body, and her fingers tensed on his jawline and neck as release cascaded through her for the first time.

His fingers slowed, then cautiously lifted, resting themselves in the small curls of hair that were above. Heavy, deep pants sent warm exhales from her lips onto his ribs. Warmth coated her, and her knees felt weak. She looked up to him. His other hand had never released her face. Hers finally moved from his, down to the shielding cotton. Thumbs anchored on fabric, lips parted, and she pulled the remaining covering from her hips.

She finally wanted to be fully exposed. No matter what damnation was cast by the gentle lantern light that was shining through their window, she wanted him to have all of her.

As she lay onto the bed, he knelt before her and then sat on his heels. Firelight danced on the walls behind him, framing him in faint gold and orange. For the first time, he was nervous.

After so many casual, empty bonds with souls he never cared to know beyond credit card details, he was now finding himself trembling with uncertainty. She was perfect. She was complex. She was kind and gentle with him. Years of speaking empty words in hollow languages had left his lips empty and utilitarian, but she… she brought blood and awareness to those lips and made them crave to be against all of her dripping, soft, full ridges until no words were left to be said.

Shuhei inhaled as he looked Kaho in her eyes and did his best to formulate the right words.

“If… I hurt… you… say. I will stop,” he said slowly.

Kaho nodded and slowly lifted her hands as she felt a new awareness pulse into the soft, warm longing that was gathering between her legs.

With that, Shuhei joined her in vulnerability.

Shadows bent in across his stomach’s ridged divisions as veined hands cupped his waistline and pressed the fabric over the dips of his hips before pulling them to the ground. Now, Kaho was fully aware of what awaited her. To her pleasant surprise, she did not feel shame or hesitation. If anything, quickening heartbeats told her she was beginning to feel ravenous.

She wanted to feel him. All of him. She wanted him to consume her. She wanted to envelop him and watch as his soul poured into hers.

His eyes were tender and delicate in the low light. She saw faint spasms of nervousness in his shoulders. He was beautiful.

As he crawled forward, she lay on her back. Watching his body tower over hers let her fully appreciate his lean, wide shoulders. He was against her now. His arms pressed out to wrap her within his reach. Kaho’s knees lifted slightly as her hands ran along his stomach. Her touch caused him to inhale slightly and his brow raised. Her fingers reached the end of their journey and found the stranger that had sought.

Though she didn’t hear it, she could see him let out a soft moan as his eyes closed and his head lowered for a moment.

When his eyes opened once more, they found hers in the darkness, and she pulled him into her as they held one another’s focus.

When he was fully enveloped in her and their hips were pressed against each other, his hands alternated to raise her legs against his waist.

His lips pursed and parted slowly as he spoke.

“I. Want. You. To. Tell. Me. How. Slow. And. Deep. You. Want. Me. I. Want. To. Be. Yours.”

Tears formed in her eyes for the briefest of moments. Something grew in Kaho’s heart and she wanted to allow herself a bit of grace. She held up 1 finger.

“One,” Shuhei repeated.

Kaho nodded and pointed to his lips.

“One kiss.”

Tears ran from her eyes as a lovely, all-encompassing weight blanketed her. She nodded again and pointed to a rogue scar on her chest, just above her left breast.

Shuhei understood and first leaned forward to kiss her lips once more. They met for the slightest of moments, and his forehead pressed to hers. She felt all of him. He felt all of her. Patient, loving shivers moved between them both. Radiance coated them in ethereal bliss. His lips moved from her mouth and down to the scar, where they descended with utmost lightness. Kaho sobbed a final cry of self-acceptance, and The Surface calmed to a placid state. Shuhei allowed himself to cherish the feeling of her fingertips as both hands returned to his face.

As their eyes met once more, her legs softly squeezed as they guided his gentle hips.