X

Turn Me On
Norah Jones

Like a flower waiting to bloom
Like a lightbulb in a dark room
I'm just sitting here, waiting for you
To come on home and turn me on.

Years of battle and danger meant that when a small hand land on his shoulder, his first instinct was to grab the arm and flip his attacker over. There was a gasp, and then a familiar giggle, and Auron squinted in the faint moonlight to find Rikku looking over at him with an impish expression.

"Well," she said breathlessly, "I guess you read my mind."

He glowered, sitting up and propping himself up on his elbows. "You shouldn't do that," he reprimanded, frowning down at her. "I could have actually hurt you."

"Sorry," she answered, though she didn't sound too worried. "Didn't think about it."

"It's late."

"Yup. We've got about…" Rikku glanced out the window. "Five hours till sunrise. Five hours 'til we give the signal and get this show on the road. Kinda scary, don't you think?"

"You aren't wanting to back out—?"

"What, and let you guys have all the fun? No way!" Rikku grinned. "I'll be there, banner flying."

"Well, then—"

"I just thought, in the spirit of last chances – well." Rikku hesitated, and then leaned up and kissed him on the lips.

He almost fell into her. Her lips were every bit as warm and yielding as he'd imagined, and they left a faint peppermint taste on his mouth. Her hand was raking through his hair and he could feel her breasts against him, even through his coat.

"I don't wanna die a virgin," she whispered when she pulled away just enough to break the kiss. Her breath smelled like toothpaste and her eyelashes were tickling his cheek but her voice was shaky, and the tone set off alarms in Auron's head.

"No," he said sharply, pushing her away a little harder than necessary. Because that was the completely wrong reason to want to lose one's virginity. It was exactly the kind of thing he was sure she would regret when she survived. And she would survive.

"Why not?" Rikku looked a little hurt, but Auron refused to feel guilty when he was only trying to do what was best for her. "I've wanted you since – like, ever. I almost kissed you tonight on the deck but I chickened out. But I want you, Auron, I want you like crazy."

"You shouldn't throw something like this away just because of fear."

"It isn't fear. Haven't you been listening? I – okay, yeah, I'm scared. I told you that already. I'm scared as heck, but I like you. A lot. I've always liked you. I can make my own decisions. I know what I'm doing. And if this is my last chance to have this with you, then…"

Oh, no. No, no, no. He couldn't give in. She was looking at him with those willful green eyes, like she knew what she was asking and really did want it. She looked like a woman.

Her lips were so soft as she start to kiss along his jaw, and her hands were working at the fastenings on his coat. And because he was weak, and in spite of every rational reason why he shouldn't, he surrendered. He could do nothing else.