An Imperfect Science | Ikemen Sengoku

Chapter 34

In the end, even Mitsuhide had grown weary from the pace of Ieyasu's relentless commands.

When that happened, the kitsune drew her into a tight embrace, rocking his body against hers in a slow press of muscle and sinew that pushed her into one final, quiet sigh of peaceful release. Being restrained in his arms felt so safe that it lulled the howling darkness in her chest back into a whimpering sleep.

Ness stopped crying.

When she woke up, Mitsuhide's chest rose and fell in a gentle cadence beneath her ear. The room was silent. She lifted her eyes and checked the kitsune's face. He was sleeping peacefully, his long eyelashes brushing his cheekbones. Then she shifted her weight and his leg, still pressed between her thighs, slipped against her in a slide of wet silk. Oh my god.

She let out a loud groan.

She tried to hold still but she could feel herself trembling. Breathe, Ness! She took in a long slow breath, then checked Mitsuhide again. He was still peaceful, the hint of a smile on his lips. Wait. Was he smiling before?

「Are you awake, Ness?」

Ieyasu's voice was so close that it startled her. Her body jolted and she had to suppress another groan. Inhale. Hold. Exhale. She turned her head carefully.

「Yes.」

The doctor was lying beside them, within arm's reach, propped up comfortably. He looked tired. His face was drawn tight, and she figured that it was from the pain he was enduring. Ieyasu. It must be a lot of pain if you can't even hide it anymore.

「Have you stopped crying?」

Ieyasu's eyes were still ever alert. Ness touched her hand to one cheek, just to make sure. The fabric of Mitsuhide's kimono was damp with tears and sweat but her cheek was dry. She let out a long sigh of relief.

「Yes.」

「Good,」Ieyasu closed his eyes, 「Because I'm exhausted.」

She experienced a wave of memory. Some of the later parts were hazy, but he'd said something like that, before. After that, all she could remember was his voice, ordering Mitsuhide's body to fulfil his ambitions. That voice. Fucking hell. Her face grew hot.

「You're exhausted?」

「Though I may finally have succeeded in killing Mitsuhide,」said Ieyasu, 「So it's not all bad.」

「More devious men than you have tried and failed, Ieyasu.」

His chest vibrated with laughter beneath her. Damn it, I knew you were awake. The kitsune lifted one hand and a single, lazy fingertip drifted down her spine. He breathed out in a gentle sigh as he caressed her back.

「But I'm glad my service today met your exacting standards,」said Mitsuhide.

「Aaahh... ah!」

His touch was like electricity. She writhed as his hand moved and promptly toppled off the side of his body. She landed on her back between them, with a thump and an undignified grunt. Mitsuhide laughed, and Ieyasu expelled the sigh of the long-suffering.

「Are you hurt again, Ness?」asked Ieyasu.

She propped herself up on her elbows and ran a quick mental checkdown. God, my body is sore. And they didn't even... Her eyes fixed on the pool of blue silk around her waist and legs, the armour that neither of them had attempted to breach in all that time, and yet... I feel like this. It was the soreness of being thoroughly loved. Her cheeks flushed and she tried to shove it all out of her mind.