The Tale Continues (Saiunkoku Monogatari Fanfiction: Ryuuki x Shuurei lemon)

Chapter 24: A Moment to Treasure

Shuurei slowly opened her eyes and saw Ryuuki examining her closely. Their lips are just an inch away from each other. He did not say a thing but he looked so happy and contented. He closed his eyes and leaned in to kiss her again. Shuurei closed her eyes too as she waited for him. She kissed him back again and Ryuuki did not waste this golden opportunity to kiss her as much as he wanted. After four years of not seeing her, he really wanted to enjoy being with her once again.

At the second time, Shuuei and Kouyuu are sure now that it really happened. Shuuei pulled Kouyou and the table farther away from the window so they could not see the two. They would pretend not to have seen anything.

As they broke for air, Ryuuki smiled at Shuurei. He is really so happy that she kissed him back with so much fervor. Now he is sure that he has hope. He will wait for Shuurei no matter how long. Her kisses were warm. He knew that she has something for him too. It may be just a little but it is enough reassurance. Knowing that she had missed him too made his heart jump.

Shuurei ran her fingers across the lips she had been kissing. It felt soft and good to touch. She liked his kisses, his scent, his arms wrapped around her, him this close to her, and his eyes shining with love as he gazed at her. Ryuuki kissed her fingers and it sent shivers to her body. She was about to kiss his lips when she realized what she was about to do and what she had been doing. She turned red and leaned backwards. She lightly pushed him away.

Ryuuki smiled at her. The memory of her touching his lips and nearly being the one to initiate a kiss would always remain in his mind. He is so fortunate the he was able to kiss Shuurei for several times in a row with her kissing him back. Now, he really is sure that his hope is not nonexistent. He will not give up on Shuurei now that he knew that he really could make her his wife someday. He is not in a hurry. He is prepared to wait no matter how long. He is right that she would return to him no matter what.

Shuurei covered her mouth in surprise of her own actions. 'What did I just do?! How can I be so foolish,' she yelled in her mind. What just happened between them replayed in her mind. Her knees felt so weak that she lost her balance. Ryuuki caught her immediately and she further blushed at their closeness. They stood there looking at each other and Shuurei felt the warmth of his hands on her waist and shoulders and it made her heart drum her chest. When she felt like she can already move she distanced herself and rushed to the window. 'Why am I in a daze?!' she scolded herself. 'Wakeup! Did I really just kiss him back?' she wanted the ground to swallow her. She felt so embarrassed that she did not know how to face Ryuuki.

When she looked out of the window, she saw the Cherry tree that Ryuuki had given her years ago. It has a lot of blossoms now and it looked so beautiful. She missed that tree too. It had grown so tall now.

Ryuuki hugged Shuurei from behind. He wrapped his arms tight around her waist and whispered to her ears, ''thank you Shuurei. Now only your hot kisses will be engraved forever in my memory.'' He let his chin rest on her shoulder and kissed her cheek.

Shuurei froze. Heat spread through her from that spot on her cheek where he gave a peck. She knew that she blushed again. She could feel the warmth of his body on her back. He is too close and yet although she should be pushing him away, his closeness felt so good. She felt safe in his arms. She wanted to close her eyes and feel Ryuuki's warmth. The warmth she missed so much. But before she could close her eyes and revel in his warmth, she willed herself to unclasp his hands and free herself from his embrace.

''What do you think you're doing?'' she forced herself to say.

''Expressing my gratitude.''

''I did not say yes (referring to the kiss he asked for),'' Shuurei retorted weakly.

''You just did,'' Ryuuki replied and licked his lips purposefully.

Shuurei gasped. ''How impertinent! Stop doing that in front of me.''

''Why is it that tempting?''

''Shut up you shameless perverted man!''

''I'm sorry. I was just kidding.''

''You did not have to do that! It's getting dark. I'm going to prepare dinner,'' Shuurei said to distance herself from him and ran to the kitchen. She needed time to breathe.

'That was refreshing,' Ryuuki thought (referring to both the bath he just had and the warm kisses he received). He can almost feel his energy surging to the top. He sat on a chair and gazed at the Sakura tree he had given Shuurei. He knew she needed time to process what just happened. He is contented at the moment. 'Hmm, I might as well use the energy she gave me and help her.' he stood up and followed her to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Shuurei was slump on a chair and her palm is on her forehead. ''What the hell was I doing!'' she muttered as she remembered that she responded to Ryuuki's kisses. She heard the door open and quickly straightened herself. ''What are you doing here?''

''I'm going to help you cook,'' Ryuuki said with a smile as if everything is fine. As if nothing wrong happened.

''I thought you're exhausted from running,'' Shuurei said to drive him away. ''I can all someone else to help me.''

''Not anymore. After the wonderful sweet gift you just gave me I feel like I can do anything. I heard you tell the servants to let you prepare dinner,'' Ryuuki said energetically.

''I did not give you any gift!'' she glared. Then she blushed and said as she looked down on the table, ''do not ever say what happened there to anyone.''

Next Chapter: Devious