Hatori's problem was that he just couldn't get Kyo's words out of his mind. As the weeks passed he couldn't shake them. She managed his office beautifully. She soothed temperamental patients. She resolved any and all problems with staff and suppliers. She even kept Shigure and Ayame from bothering him at work. And each time he saw her he wanted to grab her up and kiss her senseless. But at the office she was always extremely professional. Outside the office she never showed even the slightest interest in anything other than friendship. And every time he thought about asking her out, he heard the words again.

"Do you really think she could ever love someone so much older?"

Tohru had her own worries. Ever since the night she had come home from dancing she had felt a deep attraction to Ha'ri. His hands as he had slipped the ties from around her legs had been sensuous. His eyes had made her feel as if she was the only woman in the world. When he had placed her feet in his lap, it was all she could do to not slip down onto his lap and kiss him.

Having him carry her up to bed had been a bit of subterfuge on her part. She hadn't really been asleep, just busy imagining his body under hers. When he had tried to lay her down, she had clung to him not wanting to let him go. She almost moaned when he laid down too. She found herself imagining he wanted to be there. Not that he had just carried her up and been forced to lay down beside her. By 4am, she couldn't take the heat between her thighs anymore. A quick trip to the bathroom and frantic fingers had eased some of her tension.

The more time she spent around Ha'ri, the more she began to notice him. He was attractive, kind, generous with his time and attention. She watched his hands as he wrote. Long graceful fingers that she began to imagine trailing over her skin. She often found herself almost reaching out to brush back his hair so she could see his vivid purple eyes better. Dinners were both a blessing and a curse. She loved being near him but watching him eat made she think about other things he could do with his mouth.

But she didn't want to ruin what was possibly her best friendship. Plus he was her boss. It wasn't right to lust after one's employer. There was no denying it. She was in love with Ha'ri. She sighed as she turned her attention to the accounting books. Not that he had ever shown any interest in her anyway.

If it wasn't for Machi, who knows how long it would have taken them to figure it out.

Machi and Yuki were just a week away from their wedding when Machi's cousin ran off with her boyfriend and eloped. Machi was in tears. They were having a Western Style wedding in deference to Machi's parents religious views. That meant she had bride's maids and one of hers had just run off.

Tohru was surprised when Machi showed up Saturday morning with a gift of meat. She was even more surprised when Yuki sat her down and asked her to take the cousin's place. She and Machi weren't particularly close. But one look at sweet Machi's teary face was all it took for her to say yes. She couldn't stand to see the poor girl so upset.

That's how she found herself quickly bundled into Yuki's car, and rushed over to Ayame's shop. She had to try on the dress and have it altered for her body. An hour later, she was sitting in the dressing room in her bra and panties when the door opened and Hatori walked in. He had been in the process of taking off his shirt to try on the wedding tux Ayame had made for him. For a moment neither one said anything. She could only stare at his chest and he was possibly having a heart attack from the sight of her breasts straining against pink lace. They might have stayed there all day if Mine hadn't chosen that moment to check on Tohru. Hatori quickly slammed the door shut and started stammering out an apology through the wood. Without waiting for a reply he rushed out of the shop mumbling something about coming back later to the wide eyed Ayame.

Mine puttered around smiling at the look on her friend's face. Tohru stared at the closed door, shocked by what she had seen. Want. Pure unadulterated need. That was what had been in his eyes. She slowly grinned. He was attracted to her. Tohru tried to clear her head. She had to think this through. Was it worth the risk? Did she dare try? She listed the pros and cons as Mine and Ayame draped the altered dress around her and checked the fit. They both kept casting glances at her trying to decipher her thoughts. Finally she was done and was dressed in her own clothes again. She walked out of the back and saw Machi and Yuki waiting for her. Ayame and Mine were asking about the final plans for the reception as she walked over to the two couples.

When they all turned to her, she pointed to Yuki. "One word of what I'm about to say gets out and I'll make a scene at your wedding. I'll profess undying love for you and claim I'm having your child." Yuki and Machi looked at her in horror. She turned to Ayame. "I need a skirt. A very special skirt and you have just 4 days to make it." She quickly sketched out what she wanted before turning to Mine. "You and I are going shopping. I need the biggest selection of lingerie you know of."

She turned toward the door but Ayame's question drew her back.

"What are you planning?"

She smiled widely. "Let's just say it's time a certain doctor and I reexamined our friendship." Then she pulled Mine out the door.

The two men looked at each other and began cheering. "It's about time," Machi said with a giggle.

Hatori rubbed his temples to ease the stress behind his eyes. It had been 4 days since the incident at Ayame's. He groaned as he remembered how she had looked. Soft luscious curves barely encased in pale pink lace. Her hair in disarray from constantly changing in and out of clothes. The way her leg had been crossed over one knee had shown him the curve of her backside. She had a second tattoo. A red dragon curled around her hip.

He leaned back as he felt himself harden again. It seemed he was in a constant state of arousal anymore. It wasn't just the images in his head that did it either. The past two days of work had not eased his libido any.

Accident after accident kept happening. Like Sunday night at Akito's. He had been watching her and Akito chat all evening. Finally he got up to make his good nights and when he turned to go, she walked by and tripped. Her tea spilled all over him. And being the tenderhearted woman she is, she had began to clean him off with her napkin. Her feather light touches over his chest made him groan which just made her rub his chest more slowly so as not to hurt him.

On Monday his computer would not turn on. So when he asked Tohru to call a repairman, she asked him if he had checked all the connections, because something similar had happened to her once. Before he could reply, she was under the desk, sexy heart shaped bottom sticking up in the air. He almost had a stroke whenever it wiggled at him with every movement she made. Not to mention, she was wearing a short red skirt instead of slacks.

Then there was yesterday. Obviously the fates were conspiring against him. She had walked in at lunchtime. She had on a man's button down shirt of pristine white over a black skirt. The top two buttons were undone. Her hair was tousled making her look like she had just rolled out of bed. She frowned and said it was a bit stuffy so he opened the screen. She was standing near him talking about some changes she was thinking of making to the way their archived files when Kisa and Hiro ran by having a water fight. He wasn't quick enough to pull her out of the way and an especially large balloon hit her square on the chest.

Unfortunately his focus was solely on her chest and he missed the winks the kids sent her way and the one she returned to them. Seeing that wink might have saved him some time.

His face was slack with desire. The shirt had become transparent. He saw every detail of her red lace bra. Red was quickly becoming his favorite color. The water made her nipples harden and push against the lace. He could even see little trails of water roll down her stomach through the thin fabric. When he realized his hand was slowly reaching for her, he had turned and ran from the office. He had rushed to the bathroom to try and get a hold of his rampaging emotions. By the time he came back, he found she had borrowed a shirt from Akito and was back in her office.

He slammed his hand on the desk. Not that she had noticed him reaching, he snarled to himself. She acted as if nothing had happened. No embarrassed looks. No awkward silences. She treated him as she always had. If only she would see him! Really look at him. Maybe she would see how much he loved her. He heard a rap of knuckles on his door and scooted his chair back up to the desk hiding his hard on from view.

Tohru entered with some papers like she did every evening. He glanced at the clock and saw it was 5:30. He frowned. Usually she made sure he was gone by 5 on the dot. She walked up behind his chair and leaned over his shoulder. He had to bite his lip to keep from moaning as her breast brushed his shoulder.

She stepped away and walked over to the file cabinet to put away some folders she had snagged from his desk. He took in the crimson silk blouse and black pencil skirt that came down to mid-calf. She was once again wearing those black heels that laced up her legs. Molten lava settled in his stomach. Soon she turned and walked back over to stand beside the desk. His hand itched to reach out and drag her to him.

Tohru smiled internally. He had that look in his eyes again. She had caught glimpses of it Monday and Tuesday. He was avoiding her also. He had made up excuses to miss dinner ever since Sunday. Well, she had given him the last 3 days to make his move. Now it was her turn.

"Ha'ri, will you be coming over for dinner?" she asked.

"I think not," he said roughly. "I'm a bit tired and I think I'll make an early night of it."

She pouted a bit and watched his eyes darken. "Oh." She tilted her head to the side an bit. "That's too bad. I've missed you. But if you aren't feeling well, I understand." She placed a hand on his shoulder and felt it tense up. "You do seem a bit under the weather. Want me to stay and tuck you in?"

He closed his eyes tight at her words. She was pure torment. "No!" It came out more harshly than he had intended. "I mean, no. I'll be fine."

She smiled at him and started to turn away. He almost sighed with relief but then she stopped. "Oh, by the way, what do you think of my new skirt? Ayame made it for me." She spun in a slow circle and saw him nod slowly.

"Nice," he said.

She pouted again and put her hands on her hips. "Just nice? This is a very special skirt, Ha'ri. How can you say it's just nice?"

He frowned, thinking he had upset her. "I apologize. I didn't mean to say the wrong thing. I don't know much about women's clothes."

He gulped when she leaned in close and smiled. She took his right hand and drew it to her. "This skirt is special because of how it comes off," she whispered. She ran his fingers down the side seam and placed her lips near his ear. "Tiny snaps. Just the slightest tug, and it falls away." Then she licked his earlobe "Just. (lick) One. (nibble) Tug. (suck)"

Hatori couldn't think. Had she really…? He must be dreaming…. She stood back up and winked at him before heading for the door. She was almost there by the time he moved. She had her hand on the door knob when he was suddenly at her back. His breath was hot on her neck making her knees shake. He slid his hands to her hips and squeezed.

"Tohru," he groaned softly. "do you have any idea what you are doing to me?" He felt her press back into him and sigh. Her head tiled back against his chest and she looked up at him with bright eyes.

"The same thing you do to me," she said softly. Then she turned in his arms and pulled him down against her lips. Their lips were demanding. Tongues stabbed at each other. His hands pulled her hips against his and she ground into his erection.

He was having trouble breathing. She was here, in his arms. And she was returning every touch, every kiss with passion. She pulled back from his lips and smiled.

"Remember what I said," she whispered. "Just. (she rocked into his hips) One. (she slid one hand down his chest) Tug. (she undid the button on his pants with nimble fingers). He moaned deeply and ripped at the seam under his hands. Twin pieces of fabric fluttered to the floor revealing a red garter and panties.

Her legs slid from his shoulder as if boneless, and he collapsed against her chest. Several minutes passed with only the sound of their uneven breathing. He could hear her heart beating furiously in her chest. He smiled against her flushed skin. He had done that to her. He had made her heart pump so furiously. Her fingers slid through his hair tenderly. He looked up into her face. She was smiling at him affectionately.

"You are a very naughty woman," he joked. "Seducing a poor lonely doctor in his office late at night."

Tohru laughed and pulled him up onto the couch beside her. She snuggled against his chest. "You can't blame me. I gave you ample opportunity to make the first move."

He looked at her with wide eyes. "What?"

She chuckled. "Spilled tea on your chest so I could touch you. Unplugging your monitor so I could get you to check out my ass. Bribing Hiro to throw that water balloon." He pushed her far enough away to get a good look at her face.

"Are you telling me I spent the last 4 days taking cold showers for no reason?" He couldn't believe it. Instead of spending the last four days buried deep inside her, he had spent it tossing and turning in his lonely bed shivering from the icy showers. He narrowed his eyes at her. "I take it back. You're not naughty. You are an evil temptress who owes me four days."

Just then Tohru's phone buzzed. She nimbly rose from the couch and grabbed it off the floor. He reached for her but she moved a step away.

"Hello, Shigure." She laughed.

"Not necessary. Everything is fine here." She smiled at him wickedly.

"Oh yes, I have him eating out of the palm of my hand." With a smirk he lunged forward and dragged her to him. He kissed the base of her neck and she moaned. "Or maybe he has me eating out of his," she said huskily.

He bit down gently and she almost dropped the phone. He took the phone from her nerveless fingers. He pressed it to his ear and listened to Shigure and Ayame squealing with delight.

"Sorry, but Tohru is too busy to come to the phone right now. We'll talk to you tomorrow." Then he hung up as Shigure began demanding details for his next novel. It was too soon for him to get it back up, but he could think of a few ways to keep her occupied until he could.

It was close to noon when they walked into Shigure's house the next day. Somehow they weren't surprised by the crowd in the living room. Ren, Yuki, Machi, Kazuma, Ayame, Haru, Hana, Akito, Kureno, Ritsu, Hiro, Kisa, Uo, Kyo, Momiji and Kagura were all beaming up at them. Shigure stood and slowly clapped, soon followed by the others. Tohru blushed and threw her purse at the group. Hatori couldn't help smiling. His family was gathered here, happy for him. Happy for her. Hatori turned her toward him and pulled her close.

He was afraid it was too soon. But he could not have kept the words inside for anything. "I love you," he whispered into her hair. He felt her stiffen and pull away slightly. He felt apprehensive. Slowly she smiled up at him.

"You've ruined me, Doctor. My reputation is in tatters. You'll have to marry me now." she said. He heard several gasps around the room, but he only had eyes for her.

"Tohru, do you mean that?" He held his breath. He was afraid to believe it was true. He had never dared to even dream of this.

She leaned in and kissed him gently. "I love you. I want you. I need you. In my bed, in my life, in my heart. I've spent the last few months dreaming of you. You've slowly buried yourself in my heart and I cannot image a life without you."

He crushed her to him and let all of his fears drop away. "I thought that I loved you before you left. When you came back I realized that it was just infatuation with an idea. But the woman you are now is everything I ever hoped for. Everything I never dared to dream of. I love you, Tohru Honda. And you aren't getting out of this. I am definitely marrying you. Before you realize you're too good for me."

Loud cheers erupted around the oblivious couple as they kissed each other hungrily. Hatori actually snarled at Shigure when the couple was pulled apart so they could be congratulated. He watched lovingly as Ayame twirled Tohru around the room. He caught her eyes and she winked at him.

Five months ago he was as cold and frozen as everyone thought he was. In 18 short weeks she had turned his entire world around. Now he burned with a fire only she could spark.