Growing Pains

Chapter 15

This chapter has a bit of Araile and Shinrai fluff. Hope you enjoy!
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Shinrai grinned widely as the two teens walked along the forest edge. As the sun streamed through the trees, Shinrai couldn't help but notice how her gold eyes sparkled at two butterflies that were flying closely together. They flew so close to each other that they almost touched, and then fluttered apart.

Or how her giggle sent a small thrill through his veins. Or how her smile created a dimple on the left side of her face.

Yup, he had fallen in love with his best friend.

"Wah-hey!" Shinrai startled as the two butterflies flew into his face, causing Shinrai to step back and fall on his butt.

Laughing loudly, Araile helped him up as the two cheeky butterflies flew off into the depth of the forest.

"Are you okay?" she giggled as Shinrai dusted himself off.

"Yeah..." Shinrai grumbled, his pride hurt hurting more than his body.

Giggling, she continued to walk. Hearing a low growl behind her, Araile turned around just in time for Shinrai to barrel into her, knocking both teens to the ground. Gasping, her breath left her lungs, and her tail twitched in annoyance.

"Hey! What was that for?" Araile demanded, her ears flat against her head as she glared at Shinrai.

"Just because," Shinrai stated with a smirk, looking at her face.

A frown pulled at her lips as Shinrai continued looking at Araile's face. Even though she was annoyed, she was still pretty cute. In fact, her annoyance made her even cuter. Cue in the butterflies and molten heat running through his veins. Leaning down, his lips brushed gently against hers. Araile started in surprise, but then her eyes slid shut as a series of feelings washed over her body. She had never felt this way before in her life.

She had just felt butterflies before when she had first encountered Shinrai all those years ago. But this was something different...something more.

All around her was Shinrai's scent, and nothing but that scent mattered anymore. The sensations were like a drug to the 14 year old, and Shinrai was the only one who could administer it.

She wanted more of it.

A noise made itself at the back of her throat as she hesitantly raised her arms and rubbed her hands gently against his arms and back. Shinrai had definitely grown up. Muscles jumped and rippled against her feather-like touch as her hands moved up and down his arms. Her fingers then hesitantly travelled up his spine and to the soft tendrils of Shinrai's hair.

An approving groan rumbled through Shinrai as she ran her fingers through his hair. His hair was as soft as silk against her fingers.

Araile let out a soft gasp as Shinrai's left hand went down and massaged her hip. Little shocks of pleasure ran through her body as the tip of her tail twitched back and forth. Shinrai's other hand went up to cup the back of her head, altogether deepening his kiss. Heat began to coil in the pit of her stomach at all the contact.

To her, Shinrai's lips were everything: soft, hard, yearning, questioning, passionate, and gentle. Her hands gripped Shinrai's tunic as his mouth left hers and began to wander down her jaw and down her slender neck.

When he reached a spot between her neck and shoulder, a breathy squeak left her lips, causing him to grin.

'Right there huh? Alright then!' Shinrai thought as he altered between sucking and kissing that one spot, making the teen squirm beneath him.

More breathy sounds left her lips as Shinrai continued his assault on her neck. Two could play at that game. An idea suddenly popped into her head, and Araile snaked her hands through an open spot in his tunic. Flexing her fingers, she ran her nails down his spine, causing Shinrai to shiver.

Snickering, Araile continued. Call it payback for what he was doing, if you will. A low growl sounded from Shinrai as he grabbed her arms in his, intertwining both of their fingers.

"Araile..." Shinrai started, causing her to gaze up at her friends face.

She never noticed how clear his eyes were.

"What do you want?" he asked, uncertainty clear in his voice.

Her breath hitched in her throat as she gazed up at the teen. He looked so unsure and worried as he gazed down at her, biting his lip. What did she want? Her heart began to pound. Did she want this?

She mentally shook her head. This was Shinrai, the boy she trained with and talked with all those years ago. This wasn't some teen who barely knew her.

Gazing up at Shinrai, the answer became clear to her.

"You," Araile breathed as she crashed her lips against his.