courage dear heart | Yuki Ishikawa

44

What is Yuki doing in Milan? Shouldn't he be in Japan?

I stared up at him, frozen in my seat, unsure of what to say.

Yuki's jaw was clenched as he looked at me.

He cast a glance at Andrea behind me before locking his eyes back on mine.

Without saying a word, Yuki took my hand and pulled me away from the bar.

"Hey Yukino! Aren't you going to say hi, and where are you taking her?" I heard someone shout after us, eliciting laughter from the rest of the group.

I stumbled slightly as I tried to keep up with him, our hands clasped tightly. We navigated through the bustling streets, dodging crowds and noises, until we finally reached a quiet, hidden alley. The sudden silence of the alley contrasted sharply with the lively bar we had just left.

The alley was narrow and dimly lit, with only a few scattered street lamps casting soft light on the cobblestone path.

The noise of the city seemed distant now, and the only sounds were our footsteps and the occasional murmur from the street.

Yuki finally stopped and pushed me against the wall, his hands placing themselves firmly on either side of my head, trapping me between his arms.

The sudden proximity made my heart race as he leaned in slightly, his gaze locking onto mine. The dim light of the alley cast shadows across his face

The intensity in his eyes was palpable as he looked at me.

"Were you already trying to replace me?" he said in a low voice that made me shiver, I hadn't heard his voice in so long.

I shook my head, the words stuck in my throat.

He looked down briefly at my lips before speaking again "Are you going to do that?"

I looked down at his lips too before looking up again shaking my head.

"Use your words, Nabi."

His commanding tone made my heart race and threaten to jump out of my chest.

"I have no intention of replacing you, Yuki," I said in a barely audible voice.

I felt Yuki's hand on my hair pulling my head back to make me open my mouth wider for him as he pressed his lips against mine with a fierce intensity almost desperate.

His other hand wrapped around my neck applying a softly, steady pressure that sent shiver through me.

I moaned caught off guard by his roughness, as his tongue sought mine with a desperate urgency. The kiss was both passionate and commanding, leaving me breathless and wanting more.

I gripped his coat tightly, pulling him against me.

He, sensing my desire to have him closer, put his leg between mine and moved closer until I could feel his thigh pressing against my core.

I moaned again and couldn't stop my hips from moving against his leg for some relief.

Suddenly, we heard voices approaching from the alleyway. Yuki abruptly pulled away, both of us gasping for air, our breaths heavy in the quiet space.

His forehead rested against mine for a brief moment, his eyes closed as we tried to steady ourselves.

The world outside seemed to rush back in, breaking the intense bubble we had been in. We stood there, silent, catching our breath as the sound of footsteps drew closer, reminding us we weren't alone.

"I looked for you, Nabi. I didn't abandon you," he said softly. "I won't let you go that easily."

We returned to the bar, hand in hand, Yuki's coat draped over my shoulders. The warmth of the coat felt reassuring as we walked back together. As we approached the table, a few curious glances were thrown our way, but no one said anything immediately.