Kaoru reached her door and turned, a 'thank you, please leave' dying on her lips. No man should look that good with the moonlight in his hair. Why in the world did his eyes look solid amber right now? She was sure they were violet.
"Thank you for the ride." Kaoru managed her voice sure even as she kept from panicking as he stepped closer.
"How long has Eric been bothering you?" His voice was gentle, softly probing for the answer to his question.
"Bothering?" Kaoru questioned, her chin rising slightly in defiance. Something about this man's sheer male arrogance was setting her teeth on edge. Raising a brow she tilted her head to the side, her eyes wide and innocent. "I am not sure what you mean? Eric is a very nice man." Kami forgive her for lying.
He laughed then. It was low, the barest of sounds, and it sent a chill down her spine. "Is that why you were avoiding him like the plague?"
Kaoru smiled sweetly. "It could be that he had recently stood up me up on a date, and that I was angry with him." There she went. Lying again, she was going to have to do some heavy repenting.
His eyes flashed then. "Then perhaps I should have a talk with him on how to treat a lady."
Kaoru looked amused. "So you know how to treat one?"
He moved so fast Kaoru wasn't sure -exactly- how she ended with her back pressed against the door, his lips firm against hers, and his hands holding her gently in place. He was reeking havoc on her senses, his kiss hot and hungry; demanding that she respond to the sexual tension that had been there for weeks.
Slowly he lessened the kiss, his teeth nipping at her bottom lip. "I know never to stand a beautiful woman up." He kissed her again, slowly and then pulled away. After steadying her form, he smiled his eyes practically glowing. "I shall be seeing you."
Kaoru gulped as he moved away. She stood there, panting, for several moments until she managed to get her wits under control and her keys into the lock. Damn him! Kaoru thought violently, now she was going to be thinking about his damn mouth for days!
Kaoru smiled dreamily as she thought about that first kiss. She honestly had been naïve, not thinking he would keep his promise. It took a few days, but when he did show back up, he managed to tilt her world even more.
Kaoru scowled as she stirred the water in the pot violently. First flowers -orchids, water lilies and carnations- had been filling her apartment by the dozens. Someone must have told her of her distaste for the over used roses, because she hadn't seen one yet. And then yesterday chocolates -white, dark, and milk- had started arriving.
The words he had whispered to Sano, 'I play for keeps,' kept ringing through her head. She didn't know whether to squeal like a girl, or go and beat something to a pulp.
She wasn't even going to think about his lips, his hands, or that tongue…she was not going there!
Sighing as she looked down at the now mutilated instant food, she tossed it into the trash. She figured it was, once again, take out time. Glaring at the stack of menus she had next to the phone, she had only started to reach for them when there was a soft knock on her door.
Taking a fast look at herself, cut off jeans and white tank top, she shrugged figuring that it was most likely Misao. Walking over - her bare feet taping against the floor- she opened the door and froze.
Kenshin smiled at her face, in his arms a full bag of what appeared to be food, and tilted a brow at her. "May I come in?"
Kaoru moved aside, her brows tucking in with uncertainty. "What are you doing here?" She blurted the words out, and then promptly blushed at her rudeness. 'It's my apartment.' Kaoru told herself firmly, forcing her eyes away from his back.
He tossed her a very sexy grin over his shoulder as he unloaded the fresh vegetables and fish he had apparently just bought. "I thought I would cook you dinner."
Kaoru gawked at him. "What?"
Kenshin nodded. "Sano told me that he and Megumi were forced to cancel there dinner plans with you."
Kaoru gritted her teeth. "I am going to kill him." She wasn't aware she had said it out loud until he laughed. Flushing she muttered something about changing and stomped to her room.
When Kaoru came out -her hair pulled back, a pair of jeans and an old t-shirt- she inhaled the smells of frying fish. Cautiously she moved toward were he was cooking and sat on a bar stool. She watched his hands as they diced up several types of vegetables and missed the way his eyes lingered on her face.
"So explain to me again why you are currently in my kitchen cooking me dinner?" Kaoru asked lightly, attempting to ease her own sudden apprehension.
"Sano mentioned that you were looking forward to something…not take out, I believe were his words. Since I had nothing else to do, I thought I might drop by." Kenshin easily told her.
Kaoru eyed him. "That still doesn't tell me -why- you are here."
Kenshin simply held her gaze with his until she flushed and dropped her eyes, picking at her nails.
It didn't take long for him to put together what Kaoru figured was the best cooked meal since her mothers death. Megumi had nothing on this man's culinary skill. Dinner was quite, mostly random comments about nothing.
The easy silence was shattered when the phone rang loudly. Kaoru pushed away from the table and answered the phone.
"Oh, hi Eric," Kaoru managed, keeping her eyes adverted from the suddenly interested Kenshin. She attempted to keep all the dislike from her voice, "eating dinner, actually."
Kaoru watched in fascination as Kenshin actually began to gather the dishes and take them to the sink. She missed what Eric said completely when he began to hand wash what he had used.
He cooked and cleaned. Dear Kami. A man who could kiss like that, and who didn't mind chores…turning away from the tempting sight of him leaning over the sink she attempted to concentrate on what Eric was saying.
"No, no, it's alright." Kaoru assured him. Chewing on a nail Kaoru was forced to use all of her self control to pay attention to the man who was attempting to make a move.
"No, I am afraid I am quite busy this week." Kaoru lied. The most plans she had was going to the gym and working out, or perhaps doing some work with her Bokken. R and R sounded nice as well. Work had been stressing lately and honestly why in the world would she go out with Eric of all people?
"That's alright. I should really let you go now. Uh hu. Bye Eric." Kaoru hung up the phone with a barely contained sigh of relief.
"So," Kenshin's voice broke her out of her thoughts. "He has your phone number?"
Kaoru blinked at the possession in his voice and frowned. "We work together. Besides," Kaoru told him blandly, "it is a listed number."
Kenshin, to Kaoru's horror, got a particularly thoughtful look on his face. "Listed is it…"
Kaoru crossed her arms and glared. "I don't really see what it matters anyway." Her tone was border line angry, and Kenshin met her glare thoughtfully. The fact that he was making her feel guilty for having a -listed- phone number was enough to snap her hot temper.
"Thank you for dinner." Kaoru told him shortly. "I shall finish cleaning up, but I think you should leave."
He raised a brow. "Do you?"
Kaoru growled slightly. "Most definitely for the best." Kaoru agreed.
Kenshin shot her a slow smile, completely un-phased by her tempter, "The best for whom Kaoru?"
Kaoru starred at him as he moved forward, his body moving as silently as any predator. Kaoru moved backwards until her back was flat against the fridge. 'What is it with this man and walls?' Kaoru though desperately.
Kaoru opened her mouth to respond, but two fingers cut her words off. "I am only going to tell you this once Koishii." Kenshin told her gently. Kaoru gawked at the Koishii and the growing Amber in his gaze.
"I -want- you." He said it easily, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "I will do whatever it takes to get to you. To get under your skin. Someone like Eric is not a threat to me, and never will be. I will get what I want when it comes to you, Kaoru. Fight me if you want, but even you must acknowledge the fire between us."
Kaoru glared up at him. "So you think I am just going to let you in my life, because you said so?"
He kissed her. It was with the same fire as the other night, his lips branding her. When he pulled back she was panting. "No, little Kaoru, you are going to let me into your life because of that. Because of what is between us. I meant what I said. I am playing for keeps. You will not get away from me so easily."
Kaoru raised her hands to push against his chest, but he only tugged her close. "Trust me, little one."
Kaoru struggled with herself. "I…"
He tilted her chin up so she could meet his gaze. "Take your time. I will wait." He kissed her again, softer. Pulling back he turned and started the dishwasher. Moving towards the door he tossed her one last heated glance. "I shall see you tomorrow."
Kaoru starred at the empty door, her finger tips pressed against her lips.
Kaoru hummed slightly as she washed the plate she had used for her cheesecake. Stopping she turned almost completely towards her bedroom. There…now she was sure that something was moving around.
Kaoru laughed at Megumi and Misao, who were both arguing about something Aoshi and Sano had said. Before that, it was an argument on which one should get married first, and before that, over a color. The two lived for the argument.
"So that's were you ladies have disappeared to." Sano said as he and Aoshi walked around the corner. Kaoru shook her head and waved to them. "I shall be seeing you guys." Kaoru promised and she started back towards her apartment. They women had enjoyed an afternoon of running around Tokyo.
Climbing the stairs she started when she saw Eric standing in front of her door, "Oh hello, Eric." Kaoru managed, her eyes showing her surprise. "Do you need something?"
Eric look clearly agitated. "I need to speak with you!" His tone was fierce and Kaoru felt a surge of fear race through her gut.
"Okay." Kaoru soothed as she unlocked her door. Kaoru entered and turned when Eric followed. Deliberately Kaoru left the door unlocked.
"So, what can I do for you Eric?" Kaoru questioned.
"You shouldn't be seeing him." Eric whispered, his eyes moving around the room.
"Who?" Kaoru questioned, she had the nasty feeling she knew exactly who Eric was talking about.
"Himura. He is dangerous." Eric snapped.
Kaoru blinked. "He doesn't seem dangerous." If you didn't think about the way he moved, or the cat like grace, or the amber eyes.
"He will kill you Kaoru." Eric growled moving forward to grasp her upper arms. "He will hurt you like all the others." He shook her hard enough for her teeth to snap together.
"Eric," Kaoru growled, "Your hurting me."
He didn't seem to hear her, his fingers tightening on her upper arms. "I can't let him take you away." He nodded to himself, and Kaoru wondered if he was on drugs. It wasn't until he started to drag her toward the door that she reacted. Swiftly she took his feet out from under him and backed away.
"Eric," Kaoru's voice was firm. "I think you should leave."
He picked himself up then, his eyes glinting. "You shouldn't have done that."
Kaoru backed away from him, her eyes looking for some type of weapon. She didn't need to have worried though.
"Eric." The voice was cold; dark with a temper Kaoru wouldn't have known he was possible of displaying. Her head snapped in his direction and she froze at the look in his eyes.
He looked furious.
Eric snarled. "Himura."
Kenshin moved into the room, his eyes never leaving Eric's form. His eyes were ice, golden and furious. Kaoru was terrified, not of what he would do to her, but what Kenshin would do to Eric.
"Eric." Kaoru said firmly, her wavering only slightly. "I think you should go."
He shot her a nasty glance. "I see with who you are siding with. I should have known better than to take interest in a whore like you." His spit at her, his eyes glinting.
Kaoru pulled herself up to her full height. "Get out of my apartment before I call the police."
Eric snarled and turned to leave. "We are not finished Eric." Kenshin's voice echoed behind him. He shook, but kept walking.
Kaoru waited till he left before she glared at Kenshin. "And you can leave to." Turning she moved towards her bedroom, ignoring Kenshin.
"Koishii," Kenshin argued, "let me explain."
"I said to leave, Kenshin." Kaoru snapped as she slammed her door shut and locked the door. Moving into the bathroom she leaned over the sink and fought back tears of shock and rage.
Taking a calming breath, minuets later, she wiped her eyes and decided a cup of tea would be a good idea. Moving into the bedroom she shrieked when something grabbed her arm.
"We are not finished talking." Kenshin gently told her, his eyes having not lost any of there amber glow, his mouth thin. Kaoru winced when his careful fingers brushed her bruised arm. His eyes flashed before he was rolling her sleeves up to examine the skin there.
"I worked for a man named Katsura for many years." Kenshin said as his fingers traced the finger prints on her shoulder. "My job was to assassinate any possible threat to our government." He raised his eyes to her wide ones. "I have killed many people, Koishii, but I can promise I will never intentionally use physical force to hurt you."
Kaoru felt her lower lip tremble and she bit down on it to still its movement. Blinking she watched in fascination as Kenshin leaned forward and brushed his lips on the bruised flesh of her arms. Stilling when he moved to treat the other bruises with the same manner.
Kaoru closed her eyes and was surprised when his lips traced her cheeks, removing the signs of tears. And when he kissed her mouth, she fell into it. Wrapping her arms around his neck she kissed him back, suddenly uncaring of the consequences.
Kaoru wasn't sure when they tumbled into the bed; didn't care. All she cared about was his hands on her skin, his mouth against hers, and the way he made her feel.
Kaoru walked into the bedroom and smiled when she almost crashed into Kenshin who was coming out. His hands steadied her, and she raised her face to grin at him.
"Did I wake you?" Kaoru innocently asked, knowing his displeasure to waking alone.
He glared at her, his eyes sleepy behind his bangs. "The bed is cold." His tone was matter of fact, and only the golden glints of humor kept her from believing his petulant tone.
Kaoru ducked under his arm and flashed him a grin. "It is?"
Kenshin watched her disappear -delightful wrapped in his shirt- and smiled to himself. Ducking back into the room, he tackled her to the bed.
"I think, perhaps," Kenshin mused as he settled his weight over her giggling form. "That you should help me warm it back up."
Kenshin kissed her, his tongue tangling with hers. Raising up he mock glared at her. "Sneaking the cheesecake again, Koishii? I think I need to punish you for that. Leaving me for some unhealthy snack food."
Kaoru giggled, stopping only when his hands began to wonder, leaving her breathless and moaning. He always did have a way to prove his points.
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