A/N: Hello! Welcome to my newest IchiHime fic! It is going to be rather heavy on the citrus, but who doesn't appreciate that from time to time? LOL Oh, and, there will be spoilers for anything up to episode 286, but anything that occurs after that I've made up (as I hadn't seen after that when I wrote this LOL), so don't say I didn't warn you! Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this, and please forgive any OOCness!

Summary: After the fight above Karakura Town, Ichigo returns to Hueco Mundo to retrieve Orihime and bring her home. But when they find themselves standing on her porch, they also find themselves unwilling to say even a temporary farewell, despite the incredibly late hour….

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach in any way.

Surrender

Silence stretched between them even after both their feet were planted firmly upon the sturdy concrete porch in front of her apartment. There was so much that they wanted, needed, to say, and yet neither could find the words to voice their thoughts.

After the long, intense battle above the fake Karakura Town, Ichigo had waited only long enough for Captain Unohana to tend to his major wounds before leaping back into Hueco Mundo, intent on returning to his previous mission. Though he had saved Orihime, he had yet to properly rescue her – as, in his mind, 'rescue' implied that she was safely back home, where she belonged.

Retrieving her had been much easier than he had anticipated, as the battles seemed to have come to a close on the other side as well, and in no time he and his friends – with the exception of Rukia and Renji, who were returning to Soul Society for recuperation – were headed back to the World of the Living.

Once they were standing on the familiar streets of Karakura Town, the group endured a strangely awkward parting farewell, Ichigo so plagued with guilt over Uryuu's recent wounds that he had even apologized several times to the Quincy. Both Uryuu and Chad left in good spirits, the former vowing to forgive Ichigo in exchange for his making sure that Orihime made it home safely.

And so Ichigo Kurosaki found himself frowning into one of the most unusual silences he had ever been witness to. It was clear to him that there was something she wanted to say, perhaps several things, but she seemed hesitant. And he found himself wondering if, after everything that had happened, perhaps…she was afraid of him now. I certainly couldn't blame her, he reflected, wincing inwardly at the pain the very idea sent stabbing through his heart. I don't even know if I trust me, so why should she?

Ichigo was partly right; there were several things currently flitting about in her mind that Orihime Inoue desperately wanted to say. And she was afraid. But she was not afraid of the man standing beside her; she was afraid that she would say any, even all, of the thoughts running through her mind if she so much as opened her mouth. So she kept her lips tightly shut, subconsciously pulling her lower lip between her teeth.

Orihime shifted faintly, her gray eyes staring at the cold surface beneath their feet, as her arms curled themselves around her abdomen, clenching fistfuls of the fabric at her sides.

When she moved, ever so slightly, Ichigo's brown gaze immediately snapped over to her, and his frown deepened as she fisted her hands in her clothes. She looked upset, which wasn't really surprising, but it bothered him anyway. Resisting the urge to reach out to her, Ichigo's right hand tightened instead around Tensa Zangetsu's hilt, and he forced himself to break the strange, awkward silence that had formed.

"…Orihime?" he asked quietly, noting when the glaze over her eyes shattered as his voice called her back to reality.

She realized she'd gotten lost in her own mind when Ichigo quietly called her name, unspoken concern evident in his voice. Lifting her head, Orihime turned enough to face him and offered him a weak but genuine smile. "Sorry, Ichigo," she said softly. "I guess I sort of…zoned out, didn't I?"

Giving a slight shake of his head, Ichigo replied, "Don't apologize." He paused, and his frown deepened a bit more before he added, "I…don't know how to ask this, without sort of sounding like an idiot, but…what's wrong?"

Unable to hold the intensity of his gaze, Orihime lowered her eyes, and then lowered them all the way to the ground when she found herself staring at his mostly-exposed chest. Her face flushing, she murmured, "N-nothing, really…it's just…all in my head, that's all."

"What's all in your head?" Ichigo pushed, concerned even more by her ridiculous attempt to hide whatever was bothering her. She almost never kept something like this to herself, not once he'd asked about it directly.

Pulling her bottom lip between her teeth again, albeit briefly, Orihime turned her gaze to the closed door before them. Her response was so soft that he almost missed it. "I'm just not ready to be alone again."

Guilt seared through him at her words, and he had to take a moment to form his response.

It had taken him far too long to find her, and then he'd abandoned her (with Uryuu, yes, but Uryuu hadn't exactly been fit company at the time) in order to return to the World of the Living and fight. I had to, he reminded himself. But the knowledge did nothing to ease the pain of the situation.

Giving in, just a little, Ichigo stepped closer and allowed his free hand to land lightly on her half-exposed shoulder. When she returned her gaze to his, he offered her a faint smile and said, "I can stay if you'd like."

Trying to smother the hope that had flared up within her at his words, Orihime took a breath through her nose and replied, "I-I would like that, but…your family…?" She didn't want to talk him out of it, or to seem ungrateful, but she didn't want to keep him from his family longer than she already had, either. I should just be grateful that he risked never seeing them again for me, and not be so selfish as to keep him from them any longer, she admonished herself.

"They don't know I'm back yet," Ichigo assured her, giving her shoulder a faint squeeze and trying valiantly to ignore the way her skin felt against his palm. "Besides, it's late; they'd all be asleep right now anyway."

Orihime said nothing for a long minute as she stared into his eyes. She saw no hesitation in his offer, and even though she knew there were a dozen reasons why she should lie and tell him she'd be just fine, she simply wasn't strong enough at that moment. So she smiled, ignoring the faint burning behind her eyes, and softly replied, "Thank you, Ichigo."

Skimming his thumb lightly over her shoulder, Ichigo reluctantly withdrew his hand and inclined his head silently. Then he tilted his head to the door, and she flushed briefly before turning and groping around for her spare key. When she finally found it she murmured a self-conscious apology and quickly unlocked the door, opening it wide and stepping through.

Ichigo followed quietly, shutting the door behind himself, before turning again to find Orihime staring at the empty, dark apartment. Her left hand was curled into a fist at her side, shaking faintly, and her other hand had wrapped itself tightly around her left elbow. Though he couldn't see her face, he was certain she was on the verge of tears – or crying already.

He was still searching for the right thing to say when her shaky voice interrupted his thoughts.

"I-I'm so sorry," she murmured, so quietly that at first, he wasn't even sure he hadn't imagined it. But then she turned around, tears streaming down her face and guilt dulling her usually vibrant eyes. "I'm so s-sorry," she repeated, just a bit louder. She was clenching her arm even tighter than before.

His own throat constricting at the sight before him, Ichigo stepped up to her, his thumb gently wiping away her tears as he said, "Orihime, stop. You have nothing to apologize for; none of that was your fault."

She dragged in a ragged breath, her bottom lip quivering, and in an instant she hurled herself into him, her arms wrapping around his torso and both hands fisting in what was left of his bankai cloak as she buried her face in his shoulder and sobbed uncontrollably. "Yes it is!" she exclaimed through her tears. "It was all my fault!"

Ichigo felt his heart crack at her choked words. Each tear that dripped from her face and rolled down his bare chest felt like a dagger, plunging into his stomach over and over again. Orihime, he thought, as his free arm came up and wrapped around her shaking form.

"Y-you all got hurt because of me," Orihime continued brokenly as he pressed her tightly up against his chest. "You d-d-died because of me, and then…it was m-my fault that you-"

Ichigo cut her off before she could continue, leaning his head down to whisper firmly beside her ear, "Then it's thanks to you that I'm still alive."

"But," she choked, her voice quieter now, "that wouldn't have ha-happened at all if n-not for me…"

Ichigo scoffed quietly and adjusted his grip on her waist, murmuring, "He and I would have fought eventually; who's to say that wouldn't have happened anyway?"

"You don't know that," Orihime breathed, gasping for breath around her continued sobs. Subconsciously, she tightened her grasp on him, and she spoke into his chest as she choked, "I j-just wanted to pro-protect you for a change, a-and look at wha-what happened!"

Protect…me? Ichigo repeated, his eyes going wide at her admission. Is that…why she left? She thought she was protecting me – us? Releasing a breath, Ichigo quietly shifted so that he could lean his sword against the wall, and then he shifted again, wrapping his newly-freed arm tightly around her shoulders.

Neither spoke for a long minute as Orihime finally released the tears that had been building within her ever since Ulquiorra had ambushed her in the Dangai. She had tried so hard to restrain them, but now that she was finally home again, and her friends were safe, her emotions had come flooding to the surface.

When she could finally breathe without gasping, Orihime repeated, "I'm so sorry, Ichigo."

Ichigo shifted his hold on her, lifting his right arm from her shoulders and threading his fingers through her long, loose hair, until he was supporting the back of her head. Leaning his own head down enough to rest his cheek against her temple, his lips just barely above her ear, he whispered, "Please stop apologizing, Orihime. You didn't do anything wrong and no one, least of all me, is angry with you."

Orihime couldn't help but smile, just a bit, into his shoulder at his words. She still felt horrible about everything they'd gone through, but with Ichigo's arms wrapped so tightly around her, and his hot breath caressing her ear and the side of her neck, she also felt oddly at peace. His heart beat strong and fast beneath her ear, a steady reminder that he had – miraculously – survived.

"I'm just so glad," she finally murmured after another stretch of silence, "that you came back. I don't…I don't think I would have been okay if…." She trailed off, a couple more tears slipping free at the idea she couldn't bring herself to say out loud.

His heart constricted at her words, and Ichigo shut his eyes tightly as he fought back the sudden urge to hit something. After a moment, he released a breath and said softly, "I'll always come back to you, Orihime. I swear."

Suddenly her heart was pounding against her chest, and she was glad he couldn't see her face, because she knew it was several shades more red than was healthy. It…it almost sounds like he…but, no. I know better than that, she reminded herself firmly. "Ichigo," she breathed, swallowing heavily and twisting her hands just a little more into the fabric at his back.

Ichigo shifted again, and Orihime was positive that time stood still as Ichigo's lips pressed gently against her temple, directly beside her hairpin. Before she could react, or even remember to breathe, it was over, and his lips were again beside her ear as he whispered, "Orihime, there's…there's something I need to tell you."

Praying that her voice was steadier than her suddenly-erratic heartbeat, she turned her head so that her face was angled towards him and his shoulder became her headrest as she quietly replied, "What…what is it?"

His grip suddenly loosened, and with a feather-light touch his arms slid down her back until she was only loosely encircled within their strength. He knew what he wanted to tell her, but he had no idea how to say the words. Maybe now's not even the right time….

Taking the hint, Orihime reluctantly released his tattered cloak and pulled her arms around to his front as she leaned back enough to look him properly in the eyes. She couldn't quite bring herself to relinquish his skin altogether, however, so she let her hands rest lightly on his chest, barely resisting the urge to let them wander. She was completely baffled by his actions, so she kept silent, too satisfied with their interaction to risk ruining the mood.

Ichigo kept quiet for a long moment, staring into Orihime's curious orbs. Her eyes were still faintly glossy with the remnants of her tears, and the longer he stared at her face, the more he found himself wanting nothing more than to take care of her – to make sure she never had to cry like that again.

"I realized something," he finally began gently, refusing to allow himself to look away, despite the overwhelming awkward potential of what he was going to say. "After you were taken to Hueco Mundo. And after everything that's happened since, I know now…. I know that there is nothing I won't do for you, Orihime, because…" he swallowed, forcing down the lump that had suddenly formed in his throat, before pushing on.

Sliding his hands to her hips and tightening his hold a little, he held her gaze as he said, "Because I love you too much to ever let you go."

Orihime couldn't believe her ears as Ichigo's words washed over her and seeped into her soul. Her eyes went wide and she couldn't breathe for several long seconds as she lost herself in the intensity of his gaze. She knew that look.

Her fingers flexed against his chest as new, different, tears burned behind her eyes and a shaky smile curved her lips. "Ichigo…" she paused as a single tear escaped, taking a breath before she added, "I love you, so much."

A rare, genuine smile lit up his face, reflected in his eyes, and he used his hands to pull her against him again. Letting his forehead rest lightly against hers, he softly admitted, "I'd really like to kiss you right now."

Giggling faintly, Orihime trailed her hands up to his shoulders, and then up to cup his jaw as she teased, "Then what are you waiting for?"

His smile shifting into a more familiar smirk, Ichigo accepted her invitation, closing the distance between them and pressing his lips to hers. Somewhere in the back of his mind he thought he heard a cry of victory, but he ignored it in favor of focusing on the new and delightful sensations of his first kiss.

Orihime melted into his kiss the moment his lips touched hers. Immediately her arms wound around his neck and shoulders, the fingers of one hand burying themselves in his spiky orange hair, and her other curving around his shoulders in a way that nearly dislodged his tattered cloak. She felt his arms tighten again around her waist, one arm curving around her opposite hip, and the other splaying over the majority of her back.

When he angled his head, his tongue slipping out to trail along the edge of her lips, seeking entrance as he aimed to deepen the kiss, Orihime willingly complied. A faint moan slipped from her lips when their tongues met, beginning a hesitant but electric dance that she could feel all the way to her toes. Their lips moved together, massaging each other even as Ichigo eagerly explored the new territory before him.

But all too soon their natural need for oxygen overpowered their insatiable hunger for each other, and they pulled apart enough to drag in ragged breaths. Orihime released her grip on his hair and let her arms curl loosely around his shoulders as she rested her head in the crook of his neck. Ichigo kept his hold tight as he caught his breath, his head still spinning from the kiss.

"How long can you stay?" Orihime asked softly after she'd regained control of her lungs.

His voice equally soft, Ichigo replied, "I can stay until morning, if you want me to."

"I'd like that," Orihime admitted honestly.

Another smile tipping his lips, Ichigo murmured, "Me, too."

They drifted, briefly, into another silence, and Orihime's face began to flush again as new thoughts made themselves known. I must still be lightheaded from that kiss, she reasoned internally as she subconsciously tightened her grip on him. She was suddenly feeling rather bold and, after inhaling a lungful of his masculine scent, she was in motion.

Lifting her head just slightly, Orihime leaned up and pressed her lips to the underside of his jaw. His skin was warm beneath her lips, and she smiled faintly when she felt his pulse jump at the unexpected pressure.

Ichigo's eyes went wide when Orihime's lips made contact with his throat, but they almost immediately fell shut again as he held her close and bit back a groan. Damn, he thought, how is she doing that?

And then her tongue slipped past her lips, lightly trailing along his jaw as she lifted her head a little.

It was more than Ichigo could bear, and in an instant he had claimed her lips again in a hot kiss, her body flush against his. She moaned into his kiss as his hand trailed up her back until it was supporting the back of her head, and the sound was music to his ears. All he wanted in that moment was her.

Orihime couldn't focus on anything other than Ichigo, and the way her body was responding to his touch, his kiss. Liquid heat coursed through her, tingling all the way to the roots of her hair, and she couldn't help but realize how perfectly their bodies seemed to meld together. So thoroughly wrapped in his strength, Orihime felt she had finally found her own personal heaven.

Tearing his lips from hers, Ichigo angled his head so that he could trail hot kisses along her jaw and down the side of her throat. She made another sound of pleasure and tilted her head to the side to grant him access, and Ichigo was unable to suppress his own groan of appreciation as his tongue darted out to taste the skin beneath her jaw. His lips moved lower after a lingering moment, and another couple of kisses brought him up short when he came across the collar of her clothes.

Not her clothes, he corrected himself as he frowned at the offensive white garment. He'd allowed himself to forget that they had only just returned from Hueco Mundo; that Orihime hadn't even been able to change into her own clothes. Then again, I haven't even dropped my bankai….

Her voice slightly breathless, Orihime mumbled, "Ichigo?" She was confused by the sudden end to his kisses, and she angled her head to try and see his face as she called to him.

Pulling himself back to the present, Ichigo properly lifted his head and half-grinned, his cheeks suspiciously red as he quietly said, "Sorry, I, uh, kind of-"

Orihime smiled softly and, instead of simply reassuring him that it was alright, interrupted him to ask, "Why did you stop?"

He hesitated, clearly caught off-guard by her question, before his grin vanished and his eyes returned to the collar of her tattered cape. He wasn't entirely sure how to voice his reason, so, after a moment he lifted one hand and carefully hooked his index and middle fingers in the collar, flexing his fingers for emphasis.

Flushing faintly, Orihime reflexively looked down at herself, and self-consciously mumbled, "I guess I'm kind of a mess, aren't I?"

"Tch," Ichigo chided, removing his fingers from the collar and trailing them up her throat, along the path he'd kissed earlier as he added, "that would make me one hell of a hypocrite, don't you think?"

Orihime blinked up at him for a long second, before faint laughter began bubbling up inside of her and she giggled, letting one hand trail the torn edge of his cloak as she said, "I guess we're both a mess, huh?"

"Maybe," he relinquished, "but I have to admit, I really don't like this." As he spoke, he tugged lightly again on her collar.

With an almost imperceptible shrug, her blush brightening, Orihime replied, "You could take it off."

His own face heating immediately as his traitorous mind heartily accepted her offer, he mumbled, "I, uh, kinda meant the whole outfit…."

Smiling, Orihime curved her hands over his shoulders and leaned up to plant a brief kiss against his lips, before pulling back only enough to whisper, "So did I."

Ichigo was speechless for a long moment as he realized what, exactly, she was offering. He knew he shouldn't, but when he opened his mouth to respond, he found himself asking, "O-Orihime, are you…sure?"

Orihime swallowed as she dragged in a long breath, but her soft smile never wavered and she replied, "I've never been more sure of anything."

Taking in a deep breath to steady his racing heart, Ichigo reached up again, this time with both hands, and dipped his fingers beneath the offensive collar. Holding her gaze solidly, he gave a sharp tug and the fabric tore apart with ease. Flicking his wrists slightly, he sent the tattered piece of clothing flying and then allowed his hands to skim over her newly-exposed shoulders and collar. Her skin was incredibly smooth, and the feel of it beneath his palms scattered all rational thoughts from his mind.

Her heart raced as Ichigo's hands danced over her skin, so lightly that it was almost torture. She couldn't move as she watched his eyes darken, taking on an expression that was entirely different from any she'd seen in them before. The look on his face alone was enough to set every nerve in her body on fire, and suddenly she felt as though she were literally aching for him.

"Ichigo," she breathed as his hands settled over her slim shoulders.

Snapping, slightly, out of his trance, Ichigo locked his eyes to hers, and recognized a matching look of desire shining in her gray orbs. Swallowing thickly, he said, "If I kiss you again, I don't think I'll be able to stop."

Reaching up, Orihime gently cupped his jaw in one hand and then, suddenly, she was kissing him, the fingers of both hands lost in his hair. Her body was again flush against his and, feeling bold, she slipped her tongue past his lips.

Immediately, his arms wrapped tightly around her, and he didn't even try to suppress the almost-growl of approval as she took control of the kiss. He was painfully aware of their closeness, and he was sure she had to have noticed, but she didn't seem to be bothered by it at all.

After a long moment, Ichigo shifted his hold on her, wrapping one arm all the way around her and lifting just enough to raise her feet from the floor, as his other hand reached out and lifted Tensa Zangetsu from his resting place against the wall. Even as Orihime gave a muffled squeak at being lifted off the ground unexpectedly, Ichigo moved, quickly flash-stepping through her apartment until they stood beside her bed.

They broke apart a moment after her feet were resting again on her carpeted floor. After a moment, Ichigo silently stepped back and crouched down, gently resting his sword on the ground, near enough to the foot of the bed that they weren't liable to step on it in the dark. He stood, then, and met her gaze unabashedly. He was slightly surprised at his own forwardness, but he banished the thought as Orihime stepped up to him.

Silently, Orihime reached out and gently pushed the remains of his cloak off of his shoulder. They both watched as it fell, with a faint rustle of fabric, to the ground at their feet.

Neither said a word as Ichigo deliberately lifted one of her arms with both of his hands and gently guided the torn sleeve off. He repeated the procedure with her other sleeve as the first fluttered to the ground, and when both of her arms were bare, he took her hands in his and pressed a gentle kiss to the back of each.

Orihime gave his hands a squeeze, smiling at him when he looked back into her eyes, before she turned around and swept her hair over one shoulder.

Ichigo stared at her for a moment, still unable to believe she would so willingly offer herself to him. Shaking himself out of it, he reached out, skimming his hands up her bare arms and leaning down to press a lingering kiss on the back of her throat. She gasped softly at the unexpected contact, arching ever-so-slightly into him. Smirking against her throat, Ichigo removed his lips, and his hands finally found the zipper resting near her mid-back.

Despite his dislike for the outfit that had been given to her by Aizen and the Espada, Ichigo carefully eased the zipper down as far as it would go. He swallowed heavily, then, as Orihime turned back around, her movement loosening the now-unsecured garment just enough for it to fall, pooling at her feet. He was surprised to see the pants fall as well, as he'd assumed they were separate, but fall they did. And then she was standing before him in only her underwear, her face a fine shade of pink.

So beautiful, his mind whispered as he took in the sight before him. It wasn't until her blush intensified that he realized he had been thinking out loud. He smiled softly at her as their eyes locked again, hoping to reassure her that she had nothing to be embarrassed about.

Pulling her lower lip subconsciously between her teeth, Orihime reached out slowly and let her fingers dance along his waist, over the wrapping that covered the lower part of his torso. Quietly, Orihime said, "You, um, might need to help me with this…."

His own face reddening again, Ichigo reached over and began fiddling with the knot at his waist. He so rarely ever needed to mess with it that it took him a good minute to figure it out, and then with one sharp tug (born largely of frustration), his hakama loosened and fell to the ground, much like her outfit had done after he'd unzipped it.

It was Orihime's turn to let her eyes rove over his body, which was now as exposed as her own, and she didn't even realize that her tongue had slipped out and run across her well-kissed lips until Ichigo's hands cupped the sides of her face and guided her eyes back to his.

"It's not too late to stop," Ichigo said softly, not wanting her to feel pressured into anything, let alone what they were quickly leading up to.

She smiled again and reached up to cover one of his large hands with her smaller one as she said, "I don't want to stop; not unless you want to."

Ichigo allowed a grin to grace his lips as he leaned in and whispered, "Hell no," before capturing her lips in his once again.

Orihime splayed her hands across his chest as they kissed, letting her fingers trail over the muscles and scars as they slowly moved up, until her arms were curved tightly around his shoulders. She eagerly accepted him when his tongue slid past his lips, and she moaned into the kiss when his hands slid down her sides until they were planted at her hips.

He knew his control was just about at its limit as they kissed, their practically naked bodies pressed tightly against each other. Refusing to leave her delicious lips, Ichigo maneuvered them somehow to the bed they were standing beside, turning enough so that she would fall on top of him in order to avoid crushing her with his weight.

She squeaked and then giggled lightly against his lips, but did not break the kiss as they landed on her mattress. After another moment, her boldness returned and she shifted in his embrace, until suddenly she was straddling his stomach.

His hands slid slowly down her sides, until they were resting comfortably on her upper thighs, and Orihime ran her tongue erotically over his before pulling back from the kiss and sitting up, providing Ichigo with an up-close and well-appreciated view of her body. He couldn't stop his eyes from again skimming over her form, finding himself frighteningly turned on at the sight of her nearly-nude and straddling him.

He was about to lift his gaze back to hers when he spied something unexpected that had him raising a curious, and amused, eyebrow. As he lifted one hand to lightly trail the pattern on the hip of her panties, he asked, "Strawberries?"

Her face immediately flushed as she realized she'd been caught, and she raised one arm up to the back of her head as she laughed lightly and stuttered, "Well, you see, I was shopping and I saw them and I just couldn't help myself…heh…."

Unable to contain the admittedly cocky smirk that was suddenly spreading across his face, Ichigo traced the pattern one more time before cupping her hips with both hands and saying, "I like them; they're sexy."

Her arm falling back down until her hand had landed on his chest, her awkward smile transformed back into a comfortable, almost seductive grin, and her blush faded slightly. "You think so?"

"Mm," Ichigo rumbled, rubbing his thumb over the fabric slowly, "definitely. I'll have to be sure not to rip them later."

Orihime clearly found something amusing in his response, as a light laugh shook her body, and she flexed her nails into his chest with just the slightest amount of pressure. As Ichigo drew a shaky breath, she breathed, "Speaking of later," and leaned down, latching her lips onto his throat for a long minute.

Ichigo's head fell back against her pillow as she tormented his flesh. It was the best torture he had ever experienced, and his fingers dug subconsciously into her hips as her tongue trailed lower. He groaned deep in his throat as she began shimmering down his body, licking and kissing her way slowly.

Her fingers danced almost reverently over the scars that criss-crossed over his chest, from the wounds he had incurred when she hadn't been around to heal him. After she was done tracing them, she leaned down to place a sweet, chaste kiss over each.

He was so lost in the feeling of her fingers and lips caressing his skin that he was caught off-guard to find she had lowered herself to the point where she was now straddling his thighs. His eyes, which had drifted shut, snapped open when her slim fingers slipped beneath the hem of his only remaining piece of clothing.

And, just as suddenly, Orihime had tugged the fabric down, her face a bright shade of pink. When she had lowered it as much as she could, she bit her lip and dared to lift her eyes back to his face, to find him staring at her hungrily, that new look again darkening his eyes. Swallowing heavily (and remembering a few things from some books she had read over the years) she wrapped one hand around him carefully.

His whole body tensed the moment she grabbed hold of him, and Ichigo reflexively bit back another groan as his head collapsed back against the pillow. As her hand squeezed experimentally before slowly pulling up, Ichigo curled his fists into her sheets. Crap, that's…so… he thought distractedly.

Her hand pumped over him several more times before she did something that surprised him even more. Moving her hand to cup him, she leaned down and touched her lips to him. Ichigo lurched beneath her, releasing a sound that told her she should definitely continue. So she opened her lips and wrapped them around him, sucking lightly.

As Orihime continued her delicious torment, Ichigo swore he was seeing stars. He was doing everything he could to keep from thrusting into her mouth, and he knew he wasn't entirely succeeding. His mind was practically blank as she swirled her tongue around him, and when she ever-so-lightly scraped her teeth along his length, his body convulsed and he knew he was about at his limit.

"Orihime," he managed, his voice nearly a gasp. "You…might wanna-" he cut himself off as a new feeling suddenly surged through him. It was the most intense, incredible pleasure he had felt in his entire life.

Orihime dragged her lips over him one more time, moving slow so as to draw out his orgasm as long as she could, and when she pulled back she carefully swirled the liquid around in her mouth before swallowing. She let her eyes close in order to properly focus on the full taste of him, and then she opened her eyes and smiled up at him when their gazes met again.

Ichigo's breath was slightly ragged as he came back to reality, to find Orihime smiling at him, still poised intimately over him. For a long moment they stayed that way, staring into each other's eyes.

When he felt as though he had control over his body once more, Ichigo moved, sitting up and wrapping her in his arms as he rolled over, pinning her beneath him easily. She let out a surprised squeak, which was swallowed almost immediately in a hungry kiss as Ichigo's lips claimed hers. She didn't even realize he had kicked off the restrictive clothing from around his knees until he had released her lips, to trail a hot line of kisses down her slim throat.

And then one of his large hands was kneading one of her breasts, and Orihime gasped, arching into his touch as a brand-new sensation shot through her. After a minute of gently massaging her generous breast, Ichigo rolled her nipple between thumb and forefinger, and he grinned at the moan that escaped her lips.

While his hand was taking care of that breast, Ichigo leaned down and captured the nipple of her other in a wet kiss. Another sound, different than a moan, came from the woman beneath him and he took that as a sign of encouragement. His tongue eagerly darted out and danced around her sensitive flesh, and then as he rolled the other nipple again, he allowed his teeth to lightly graze the one beneath his lips.

Orihime arched again beneath him and her hands clenched tightly to his strong shoulders as she threw her head back, moaning loudly.

A minute later, Ichigo relinquished her chest and sat up, smirking at her before bowing his head again and trailing his kisses down her flat stomach. Swirling his tongue teasingly around her naval, he let his fingers skim down her sides and hook into her panties. When his lips reached the edge of the thin fabric, he looked up, making sure to hold her gaze as he purposefully slid the underwear over her hips.

Once she was bare beneath him, he lifted himself up enough to tug the fabric entirely off of her body, tossing the material towards the floor without looking. Then he wrapped his hands around her calves and squeezed gently before running his hands up, over her knees, and along the outside of her thighs.

Carefully, he positioned himself again above her, and used his knee to gently nudge her legs apart until there was enough room for him to squeeze between them. She complied without hesitation, barely even blushing until his fingers skimmed over her most sensitive area. Watching her face intently, Ichigo rubbed first just a single knuckle against her intimate folds, and when she sucked in a breath and let her eyes close, he repeated the motion one more time.

Then, slowly, he uncurled his finger and eased it inside of her, his own body reacting as her inner walls convulsed around the unfamiliar intrusion. As his finger slid into her, she gasped out his name, her hands still holding tightly to his shoulders as the new pleasure took over her. Her mind was strangely quiet, covered in a thick, Ichigo-scented fog as she focused on what he was making her feel.

She moaned loudly when, after pumping his finger in and out of her several times, he added a second. Arching again beneath him, she couldn't stop her hips from thrusting upwards, her body instinctively trying to take him deeper.

"Ichigo, please," she begged breathlessly as his fingers continued pumping into her rhythmically.

Thoroughly enthralled with her reactions to his ministrations, Ichigo replied huskily, "Not yet, Hime." To appease her slightly, however, he increased the pace a bit, and she moaned encouragingly, her head thrown back.

After a short while of continuing this way, Ichigo withdrew his fingers, pausing long enough to carefully lick them clean as he watched her gasping for breath. Holding her gaze, he let his hands wrap around her hips and lowered himself deliberately over her, letting her heady scent wash over him before he began repeating his previous motions with his tongue instead of his fingers.

Orihime gasped again, louder than before, and reflexively bucked her hips into him as his tongue pumped into her. She could feel herself getting closer to the brink of…something, something she desperately wanted to reach. And then, as his tongue continued to pleasure her, he slipped a single finger back inside her, and curled it slightly. Her vision almost immediately went white and she cried out, her whole body convulsing around him before going completely limp.

Ichigo withdrew as she collapsed, and he couldn't contain the swell of pride at the sight of her limp, breathless, and satisfied beneath him.

After a moment, when he could see her breath was beginning to come a bit more regularly, he began slowly trailing lingering kisses back up her stomach. He detoured over her bosom, lightly running his tongue along her sensitive nipples, before continuing back up her collar and over her throat, where he suckled lightly.

The soft moan that escaped her told him that her body was waking up again, and he took his time moving toward her lips, letting the desire build up once more. When he finally found her kiss-swollen lips, she returned the kiss eagerly and wrapped her arms again around his shoulders in order to hold him in place.

Their tongues clashed, simultaneously dancing together and fighting for dominance (though the winner was never in doubt) and Ichigo quickly returned to mapping out his new favorite territory. They kissed passionately for several minutes, Ichigo bracing his weight off of her with his forearms, and Orihime's arms curled tightly around him.

When they pulled apart, gasping for breath, Orihime curled one leg around his hip as she lifted her lips to his ear and practically purred, "I need you, Ichigo."

He swallowed, her words seeming to resonate through his entire body, and he tilted his head to press his lips against her throat. Taking a breath, he poised himself properly over her and then plunged inside of her, burying himself as deeply as he could in one swift motion.

Orihime tensed around him, her body unaccustomed to his girth, and she bit back the cry of pain that had nearly slipped from her lips. Her nails dug into his shoulders as she waited for it to pass, and as it began to fade, Ichigo started pressing light, loving kisses up her cheek. It was only then that she realized a single tear had escaped.

"I'm sorry," he murmured tenderly, his lips brushing the shell of her ear.

After a moment, her body relaxed beneath him and her hold eased up as she whispered, "It's okay; I'm alright."

"Are you-?" he began, cutting himself off when her other leg wrapped itself around his hip and her legs locked together behind him.

A sexy smile curving her lips, she breathed, "Yes."

That word seemed to be all he needed, as Ichigo claimed her lips in a hot, brief kiss as he began pumping into her with as slow and controlled a pace as he could manage. Orihime met his rhythm easily, arching beneath him as his lips trailed again down her throat and taking him to the hilt inside of her.

Orihime moaned throatily as their bodies moved together and Ichigo's lips descended over one of her supple breasts. As his teeth scraped over the delicate flesh she threw her head back and dug her nails into the skin of his back. When he finished with that breast, Ichigo shifted his attentions to the other even as he began pumping faster into her.

"More," Orihime gasped breathlessly when she began to feel herself approaching that edge once again.

Ichigo grunted something unintelligible as he lifted himself from her chest and braced himself properly again. He, too, was quickly approaching that precipice, and he wanted them to go over together.

Her body began convulsing around him and he picked up the pace, leaning his head down to catch her earlobe lightly between his teeth. One of her hands slid up, into his hair, and her nails scraped his scalp as she grabbed a fistful. Her other hand clenched again against his skin and she arched beneath him, releasing a series of sounds that pushed him that much closer to the edge.

"Come with me, Hime," he grunted, his lips grazing her ear before he pressed a lingering kiss just beneath it.

Orihime opened her mouth to respond, though she wasn't sure exactly what she was going to say, when suddenly he collided with just the right spot, and pleasure that surpassed what he'd shown her earlier was shooting through her and she cried out in ecstasy.

Just as she clenched around him, he found his own release, his body exploding within her as he was wracked by an even more intense pleasure than before. He heard her call out his name as her own orgasm overtook her, an instant before his vision went white, and he barely heard his own outcry as he lost himself to the sensations rocketing through him.

They stayed locked intimately together until well after the final waves of their orgasms had rolled through them, both waiting until their breathing had at least mostly stabilized.

When he was able, Ichigo withdrew from her and rolled onto his side, curving one arm around her waist and pulling her up against him. Orihime rolled with him willingly, curling up against his chest as he slipped his other arm beneath her head, letting her use it as a pillow.

"I love you, Ichigo," Orihime murmured as she looped one of her arms around his torso, to better snuggle against him.

Tilting his head to press a gentle kiss to her forehead, Ichigo whispered, "I love you, too, Hime."

She smiled into his shoulder, feeling perfectly content wrapped up in Ichigo's arms, and let herself finally fall into an easy, peaceful sleep. There was no doubt in her mind that it would be the first night since she'd gone to Hueco Mundo that she would sleep without nightmares.

Ichigo felt his own eyes growing heavy even before Orihime had fallen asleep, and he realized sleepily that her blankets were down somewhere by their feet, but reaching for them would disturb her, and it required more energy than he really had at that moment. Knowing he'd probably wake up in the middle of the night in order to reach for them, Ichigo allowed himself to succumb to a deep, restful sleep.

Sunlight was streaming through the gaps between the curtains covering Orihime's window when Ichigo finally awoke, face-down with his arms shoved beneath her pillow. He recognized the weight of her comforter, resting across his mid-back, and realized that he hadn't woken up at all. Orihime must have gotten cold, he figured, blinking his eyes rapidly to try and get them used to the light.

His gaze settled over the form of his lover, curled on her side and facing him, still soundly asleep. Her arms were curved beneath her head as she was too low to reach the pillow, and the comforter was just high enough to obscure the majority of her ample bosom. A small portion of her hair covered her face, and Ichigo shifted enough to reach out and lightly brush it away, letting his fingers skim over her soft, warm skin.

At his feather-light touch Orihime shifted slightly and sleepily murmured, "…Ichigo…."

He smiled faintly, not wanting to disturb her. It was then that he remembered that he had somewhere else he really needed to be, as his family still had no idea he had returned and – so far as he knew – they knew next to nothing about his sudden, unexplained disappearance. Dammit, he cursed inwardly.

Taking a deep breath, he pushed himself to a sitting position before looking over at her. She was sleeping so peacefully, he really hated to disturb her. I can let her sleep for a few more minutes, at least, he reasoned. His gaze lingering for a long moment, he sighed soundlessly and flash-stepped from the bed, reappearing almost immediately on the other side and crouching down to grab his hakama.

When he lifted the familiar material, he paused, inspecting it closely. When he had discarded them the night before, the edges had been tattered and shredded, and really his entire outfit had looked more like rags than clothes. But now his hakama was pristine, clean and undamaged. A quick glance confirmed his suspicions – his haori (which had reverted from his bankai cloak sometime during the night) was also as good as new.

A soft, sleepy voice broke into his thoughts, saying aloud what he had already concluded. "I fixed them last night; I didn't think you'd mind."

Turning to smile softly at her, he saw she had rolled over and was watching him with a small smile. "Thank you," he began, before allowing a faint frown to settle on his face and asking, "but why weren't you asleep?"

Her smile becoming reassuring, she replied, "I had to use the bathroom."

Kicking himself for forgetting such an obvious possibility, he shook his head faintly, his easy smile returning.

Before he could say anything, her smile dimmed slightly and she asked, "Do you have to leave now?"

Shifting, Ichigo released his clothes and leaned onto the mattress, resting his elbows on the bed and leaning forward to press a light kiss to her forehead. "I should really get home before it gets too late into the morning," he said softly.

"I understand," Orihime promised, her eyes corroborating her words, though he could just as clearly see that she still didn't want to be by herself. Reaching out with one hand, Orihime let her fingers dance over the side of his face, tangling loosely in his hair as she asked, "When do you think I'll get to see you again? Will it be before school?"

Her question reminded him that he wasn't even sure what day of the week it was, but that didn't matter, as an idea had struck him, so he said, "Actually, I have an idea about that." Pausing, he reached out and took her extended hand into his, kissing her knuckles tenderly before elaborating. "Would you like to have dinner with me and my family tonight?"

Her eyes went wide at his unexpected offer and her face lit up, but she quickly bit back her joy and asked, "Are you sure?"

"Of course," Ichigo promised, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.

"But," Orihime hedged, knowing how much he hated bringing anyone over to his home, "are you sure tonight would be alright? I mean, what if they need more time, especially after you've been gone for so long an-"

Leaning forward, Ichigo silenced her concerned ramblings with a light kiss on her lips. Pulling away after a moment, he said, "I'm sure, Hime. My family will be thrilled to have you over."

Letting the smile return to her face, Orihime asked, "What time should I come over?"

Ichigo paused, contemplating her question, and finally said, "Maybe 5:30? Dinner won't be that early, but my family is…social, and I'm sure they'd like time to talk to you before we eat. And after."

Orihime laughed softly and nodded. "I can definitely do that."

"Good," Ichigo said softly, another small smile gracing his features. Leaning in for another light kiss, he added, "I really should get going, though. Call me if you need anything, alright?"

"Okay," she promised, before adding, "I'm sure I'll be fine, though."

"I know," he agreed, finally releasing her hand and once again turning to his clothes.

Orihime sat up, holding her comforter to her chest reflexively, and watched him dress, swallowing as another wave of desire rolled over her.

He turned back to face her as he finished tucking his haori into place. He smirked at the familiar look in her eyes and paused to approach her, pulling her into his arms and half hauling her off of the bed as he kissed her deeply. Her arms curved around his shoulders again as she let him devour her lips, his hands skimming over her bare skin.

When they pulled back, breathing heavily again, Ichigo murmured, "I'm going to introduce you as my girlfriend tonight, if that's alright with you."

"Of course it is," she whispered, curling her fingers loosely into the collar of his shirts.

They smiled silently at each other for a long moment, before Ichigo pressed a final kiss to her forehead and stepped back reluctantly. "I'll see you soon, Hime."

"Definitely," Orihime agreed as he paused to slip Zangetsu over his shoulders. She watched in silence as he crossed her bedroom to the window and slid it open, stepping one foot onto the ledge before turning and offering her a silent smile. Almost as soon as she'd returned it, he vanished, flash-stepping through and onto the opposite roof.

As a gentle breeze blew through her open window, Orihime drew a deep breath, and her smile grew. She was sore in places she'd never been sore before, and she knew she probably needed a shower desperately, but she was happy. Happier than she had been in a long time.

To Be Continued…

A/N: Yeah, this chapter didn't get away from me at all… :P Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Please drop me a review to let me know what you thought, and please read the rest!