Blossom (Part 4)
by BrDPirateMan

Neku was lying on the floor, watching curiously as his girlfriend Shiki straddled him. She took hold of his erect muscle and slipped it in her special place. As she let her weight bear down on him, she made gasping noises and her face grew hot and red. The pressure on his groin was quite intense and he squirmed underneath the grip of her legs.

When they felt his flesh lodge completely and firmly within her, they were so overcome with joy that they didn't quite know what to say. Perhaps words weren't necessary…

However, before they could even begin, Neku woke up and realized it was all a dream. How many such dreams has he had already? He'd lost count. Shiki was so alluring in each one but he could only barely make it to the penetration stage before he would wake up and have his bubble burst. On more fortunate nights he might actually have had some but again it was always short-lived. This time felt so real he swore he was throbbing down below. Thinking he might have stained the futon again, he peeled back the covers but saw that he was in the clear. He let out a sigh of relief.

The other thing he noticed was that Shiki was not in bed with him. Where had she gone? He didn't need to search too far. She was leaning against the railing in the balcony, dressed in her yukata, enjoying the sights and sounds of the night.

Wait, it's still nighttime? So it wasn't even dawn.

Shiki heard the rustle of the blanket and spun round, surprised that he was awake. "Ah, sorry… Did I wake you up, Neku?"

"No, I woke up on my own. Just happened to."

"Oh, I see."

"What're you doing?" he asked, putting on his own robe and joining her.

"I woke up in the middle of the night for no reason, and I can't get back to sleep, so here I am."

He wrapped his arm around her frame and she responded by cuddling up to him. Together they surveyed the townscape, the many lights like oases in the darkness. The silence was like velvet to their ears: smooth and soothing. When they stood there with the chirping of crickets as the only sounds accompanying them, they felt a strange yet beautiful sense of isolation, as though they were the only ones alive in the world and that they alone had the right to do whatever they wished without fear of consequences.

"Shiki," he said, "are you hungry? Do you need anything?"

"Nah, I'm good. I don't feel like eating. You?"

"I'm alright. Since we're both up, what shall we do?"

Shiki took a while to think, but no ideas came up except for one. It probably wasn't the most appropriate thing but Neku was a kind, forgiving soul.

She cleared her throat and stammered her answer. "How… How about sex?"

His eyes grew wide at her suggestion, but it was obvious he liked it. And since they were both here to do precisely that, what better time to do it than now? It was a quiet, romantic time of the night, too. Talk about excellent timing. He had grand plans for their first time, plans that he wished to execute at the right moment for maximum effect, and now was perfect.

"Sounds good," he said, smiling. "However, let's not do it here."

She frowned in puzzlement. "Why? What do you mean?"

"I'm not the best with words, so you might be put off when you hear this, but… why don't we do it outdoors?"

"O-Outdoors?!" Her shock was inevitable; he expected that. But at the same time, she wasn't repulsed or looked like she was going to scold him for coming up with such a preposterous idea. She was curious, very much so…

"Sorry if I put you out. It's just that while the bedroom is a good enough place as any, it's not very exciting, is it? And I really want our first night to be something to remember forever. So I thought maybe we could try it out in the forest behind this inn. You know, the one that the dirt path kind of leads to."

"The forest… Neku, this afternoon when you claimed you were just checking out the inn, you were really scouting out a good place out back, weren't you? It's the only real way to explain why you came back all dirty."

"You catch on fast," he said, glad that she had a sharp mind. "That's my Shiki."

She gulped. He actually went this far for her… She wasn't sure she was ready to attempt something so daring but it wouldn't be nice to snub him flat after all the trouble he went to. At the very least, she ought to check out the forest with him. Then she could decide if it was worth it. However, even during her indecisiveness, a small part of her was raring to give his plan a go.

Shiki clutched his hand tightly. "I'm… I'm a little scared, to be honest. Are you sure this will be alright…?"

Her voice trailed off when he looked back at her with a reassuring smile. That smile of his… She had come to depend on it so much during the time they had known each other. Whenever trouble was brewing, or life was destined to take a turn for the inconvenient, or when she was simply scared or lacked self-confidence… he would smile. To say that everything would work out. To show that she would be just fine. To reiterate that no matter what hurdles lay in wait, he would be there by her side… for her.

So when that boyish grin greeted her eyes, she knew that Neku knew what he was doing and that he wouldn't disappoint her. She calmed down enough for the trembling in her fingers to subside. Seeing that her nerves were on the path to recovery, he brought her lips to his for good measure. Her delicate frame pressed into his as she returned the kiss.

"I think you'll like it, Shiki. So… what do you say? I'm not going to rush you, and if you decide it's best to keep things traditional, then I'm all for that too. But since we're all the way out here already, I thought, 'why not', right?"

It took a lot of hesitation for her to come to an answer.

"Let's take a look, then."

He grinned. This was his victory. Their victory.

XOXOXOXOXO

The boy and girl slunk out the back of the inn to begin their adventure. The dirt path that they followed fuzzed out after only a short distance, but he knew the way and led her by the hand securely, making sure they stayed together. They disappeared into the forest. No one saw them. They were invisible.

Now they were thick in the middle of the forest brush. Having spent quite a while wandering, Shiki began to doubt that this was going to be any good. But she placed her trust in Neku and persevered, even when walking through long grass was not a pleasant experience.

"Definitely not the most orthodox method," he admitted, "but we'll find it enjoyable, I hope."

"We'll see. How much further?"

He pointed at a gap between the trees where the moonlight poked through. It was about a few metres away. "See that? Past there is the place I was talking about. When you get there, well…"

"Mmm?"

He scratched his cheek. "…Never mind. Just you see. It'll be nice."

Another minute of walking and stepping over the occasional fallen tree, and their efforts were rewarded when they suddenly emerged into a wide clearing. It was a sizable open space where short grasses grew in abundance and the only trees had rotted away to stumps. The absence of a canopy gave the area a good amount of moonlight, so even in this dark night everything could be clearly seen.

"Here we are," announced Neku, turning off his flashlight. "Beautiful place, isn't it?"

Shiki gaped at the serenity of their surroundings. "It's… It's lovely. I mean, wow."

"I poked around in this forest a bit this afternoon, hoping I could find a nice spot. I sure am lucky to have come across this!"

"Neku, I'm at a loss for words. This is amazing."

He grasped her shoulders and looked her in the eye. She gazed into those soulful orbs, knees weakening in a deluge of happiness and anticipation. This was the place Neku claimed they would have a memorable experience making love in, and now that she saw how lovely and peaceful the area was, she was positively squealing and itching on the inside to see how true his words were. Something told her he wouldn't be very wrong at all. Like a modern Adam and Eve they would throw all caution to the wind and have get in on out in the open without a single care. Just the thought itself was so stimulating.

A long time had passed since she had said anything. Perhaps, he thought, she was taken by the surroundings, or maybe – heaven forbid – she was changing her mind, contemplating other safer options. He began to wonder if the latter was the case, but his worries were unfounded: when she tugged at his sleeve, gripping urgently with a heated look, he knew she was game.

"Neku," she said, with a nervous gulp, "l-let's do it."

Victory. He had won her over! Nothing could describe the feeling that grew in his heart. Happiness… He was happy. And she was, too, despite her timidness. He drew her into a hug, melting her from the inside out.

"Don't worry, Shiki. I'll protect you."

"Neku, you ape," she growled. "C'mere."

A ferocious lip lock was followed by an enjoyable ritual of undressing. The sashes that bound their yukatas together slipped away and their clothes disappeared. They took a quick moment to gather them up and place them somewhere safe before turning back to more pressing matters.

He kissed her all over her neck, leaving her gasping for air. That bra was snow-white and awfully cute but it was in the way. He reached behind for the clasp and undid it with expert skill – thanks to a lot of time spent 'practicing' being naked together, he had learnt to do that so well he could unhook her bra and get her topless in two seconds flat.

But she didn't need his help for her panties. They came off easily and a little wet at that. He laid her down on the ground gently, careful not to hurt her. As she descended full-length, she felt every blade of grass touch her skin. They curled this way and that to cushion her body and some managed to find their way between her legs, arousing her greatly.

Neku took a long look at his lady love, fully naked and splayed on the grass much like he had envisioned in his dreams. Everything about her was perfect: her body was slender, her breasts were a sight to behold, and the pinkish tint on her cheeks made her even lovelier. The combination of her beauty and that of the environment left him breathless. If he had a camera with him, he could make an album composed entirely of nude pictures of her. He was spellbound.

Shiki's heart beat faster as he coaxed her legs open. Her opening was already glistening from the excitement and he took notice. Feeling a little playful, he glided his fingers over it, loving how even the slightest of touches would make her shudder.

"Feel good?" he asked.

Her voice quivered from the sensations. "It tickles. But I like it. Oooh…"

He liked that answer and his boldness grew. Getting on all fours above her, he continued to twist his fingers around her opening, but took great care never to go too far. All he did was caress it. Yet her reactions were far from gentle and soon she was panting furiously and squiggling under his touch. She was a joy to watch.

She reached her limit at some point and placed her hands onto his chest, barely managing to utter the word, "Stop."

"Too much? Sorry."

"No, that's not quite it." Shiki's eyes travelled downwards and he followed her gaze. "It's not fair that you're still in your briefs while I'm already out of my clothes."

The lady spoke the truth. In his excitement he had forgotten to remove his underwear. His erection was straining rather painfully against the fabric.

"My bad," he said, attempting to get back up to take them off. Before he could even budge, Shiki's hands that were now wrapped around his neck kept him in check. She couldn't suppress a naughty giggle.

"Wait, Neku. Allow me."

Her python grip made sure he stayed rooted to the spot on his four limbs. Then, much to his amazement, she lifted both of her legs and reached up to his hips. In a stunning display of dexterity, she hooked her feet into the top hem of his briefs and started pulling them down. Getting his throbbing muscle out proved a little trying, but eventually she succeeded and it was free. All that was left to do was to slide his underwear down his legs, gathering them around his knees.

He gulped in total astonishment. "Goodness, Shiki… I didn't know you were so…"

"Flexible?" she chuckled. "I took gymnast lessons when I was a kid. Good to know I'm still supple."

He let out a breath through his teeth. "That's a pretty sexy ability."

"Hee hee. Thanks."

With that last bit of modesty tossed out of the way, both lovers were now completely in the nude. The moonlight shone down on their bodies and in each other's eyes they were gorgeous. Shiki still had yet to get used to the sight of a man's full anatomy and blushed seeing how strong and stiff Neku looked down below. How would it feel going inside her? Would the two of them fit nicely? How much would it hurt? And how good would it be? So many questions begged answering and she wanted them answered now.

Foreplay was an essential part to lovemaking but they had teased each other for far too long and now they were eager to get started already. And they would, but the boy was responsible for his age and he wanted to be sure they could carry on without second thoughts.

"Shiki," he began, "I'm dying to do this with you but I can't carry on without your consent. I know I sound like a broken record by now but I simply don't want to hurt your feelings by acting rashly. Will you…?"

He didn't even need to finish his sentence for her to give him a reply, smiling warmly. "Neku, we've done many amazing things together. We're still one of the more awkward couples around but there's never a time when I didn't enjoy my time with you."

"Yeah… I feel the same way."

"Now that we've come this far," she continued, reaching up to caress his cheek, "I don't want us to back down. So please… make love to me. Make me feel good… I'm all yours."

That was it. That was the cue to act, to shed both inhibition and virginity alike. Tonight was the night they would stop being kids and their union would mark their metamorphosis into adults so that they could look forward to more beautiful things in the future.

"Thank you, Shiki. I'll do my best."

"As will I, Neku."

He could hardly contain his excitement, but did his best to calm himself. As long as he did things in a composed manner, everything would follow and fit into place… literally. This was much easier said than done, though. In trying to lower his crotch into hers, he kept missing his mark and wound up poking her in various other places from her stomach to her thigh. Just when he was about to get truly frustrated, Shiki gently took hold of his erect muscle in her fingers and pointed it in the right direction.

"This way, Neku," she giggled.

"Sorry." The redness on his face deepened. He wanted to be suave and smooth but spoiled his chance by acting like a total beginner.

Luckily for him she was forgiving. "Don't worry. Nobody gets their first time perfect, right? Don't be afraid to make a few mistakes. The most important thing is to enjoy the moment."

She was right. He had been trying too hard to impress her. Now that he saw where his mistake lay, he decided to concentrate his efforts more on each other's pleasure rather than his own pride as a man.

"You're right. …By the way, thanks for the assist… um…"

Shiki's quiet chuckles petered out and the contented sigh she let out showed that she was happy.

"Neku," she whispered, "you can push now. Don't be shy."

"You sure? It might hurt."

"I know it will. But I'll be fine. I'm ready."

"Okay… Here goes nothing."

Neku didn't want to plough headlong into her in one quick shot and ruin it all, so he chose to play it safe. He slowly lowered his hips, letting her guide him with her hand. After what seemed like ages – during which both boy and girl grew very impatient – he finally managed to come into contact with the right spot. They both felt it and gasped in unison.

"Is it here?" asked Neku, wanting to be careful. "Is it really here?"

"Yes!" Shiki squealed with delight. "You're doing so well… Just keep going and don't mind me." Seeing as he didn't need her help anymore, she let go of his erection.

He made a slight push – the first quarter-inch of a grand entry – and his tip parted her folds ajar. She winced in a mixture of fear and anticipation and he took notice, causing him to slow down.

"Shiki?"

"I'm okay. Oh god… Keep going, keep going."

The next half-inch he took at a slightly reckless pace and her face contorted in a small frown, but he was too delirious by now to stop and he kept going, penetrating her steadily. Eventually he tore her membrane through and fully breached her defenses.

"Oh god – aangh!"

That was the cry of a girl in the midst of the loss of her virginity. Her whimpers of pain were like a ritualistic part of the experience; they hurt the body and they hurt the heart, but even when they were a necessary evil, they enriched the couple's feelings for each other. Both teenagers knew they had finally crossed the threshold that kept them in check for the whole of their six months of grueling celibacy. Now they were free.

"Ngh! Hunh… Ah… W-Wait!"

Her cries of pain were growing louder and it was becoming unsettling watching her squirm in discomfort. The tears welled up in her eyes and he felt a wave of guilt wash over him. Despite his best efforts not to hurt her, he did anyway. Even when he knew a girl's first time must hurt and bleed, he hated how it was his fault that she had to cry.

"Shiki, I'm so sorry," he breathed. "Are you okay?"

"I didn't think it'd sting so much… But I'm good."

"I'm… I'm truly sorry. I… I was hoping I could make it such that you wouldn't feel the pain, but I guess no matter how it went it couldn't be helped."

"Neku, it's not your fault. I prepared myself for this. And besides, this is the only time it'll hurt. So please… carry on."

This helped him feel a little better about the two of them. "Okay, if you say so."

As they were talking, the pain started to subside. He noted how she was relaxing as it did, and took it as a good sign. He still had quite a distance to cover, so he was back to work soon enough. The feeling of entry was nothing like they had known before. The friction was delicious and grew as he went further in. He could feel the resistance in her walls and all along the length of his muscle. On the receiving end, Shiki did her best to accommodate and take all of him in, but it wasn't easy for a budding body still in the midst of puberty. Her moans and gritting of teeth showed that while there was some inevitable discomfort, the pleasure that came with it was far more worth it and she endured it to the finish.

Eventually Neku went through the full distance and was completely buried to the hilt. He had not taken the chance to check on Shiki's condition the whole time he was 'busy', so now he did that. He was glad to see she was holding up well.

"Let's wait a while," he suggested. Somewhere in an article on the internet he had read that it was best to delay the actual sex for a minute or two so that the girl could adjust and get comfortable.

Shiki was so overwhelmed by the experience that she just lay there and blushed harder than she already was. "It feels a little weird," she squeaked. "I… I can actually feel your… you know… inside me."

Now it was his turn to go even redder in the face. Hearing that bit about being able to feel every bit of him within her suddenly made him embarrassed, not to mention a little self-conscious. "I didn't do a shoddy job of it… did I?"

"N-No, of course not! You were amazing and I loved it… But I've never done this sort of thing before, so I just wondered if it'd feel like this."

"Yeah… It's kind of strange. Feels a little tight, but it can't be bad."

They took the opportunity to indulge in each other their feelings on their newfound experiences thus far.

"Hey Neku."

"Yeah?"

"What gave you this idea anyway? Did you read about it somewhere?"

He gave a short chuckle. "Don't laugh at me for this, or say it's clichéd, but… I got it from a dream."

"A dream?" Her eyes widened in curiosity. "Do tell. I'm all ears."

"How should I put this?" Having to recall it proved a little embarrassing but he knew she wouldn't mind that it was a little on the smutty side. "It's a little weird. I was dreaming about us. We were playing around in a meadow, chasing each other or something."

"Like kids?" she giggled. "That's sweet."

"Then when I caught up with you, we took off our clothes and got it on. In that meadow. Out in the open."

The blush on her cheeks grew deeper. That she would appear in his dreams and surrender her body to him too was proof that he cared about her more than she thought. His love for her knew no bounds and it moved her. Her heart skipped a beat too many.

"It was a wet dream," he added self-deprecatingly. "Woke up to a fine mess, I did."

"Oh, but I quite like the sound of it."

"Of what? That I made a mess in my shorts?"

"No, silly," she laughed softly. "That we did that in your dream. It's nice… and now, we're actually going to make that a reality. It's like a dream come true, see?"

"Shiki…"

"Hee hee… Am I being too romantic? What with all this talk about dreams and stuff."

"You're fine, Shiki. I like these kinds of conversations."

She fixed a come-hither look at him, beckoning him to have his way with her. "Alright, enough of talking. For now, isn't there something we should be doing?"

He understood.

"Yeah…"

"I trust you'll give me a good time," she said with more than a hint of cheekiness.

He mirrored her sense of humour and smiled back at her. "Then I'll be expecting the same from you."

Neku started making thrusts against Shiki's hips slowly and carefully. Being the one at the bottom, there was little she could do but she did her best for him anyway by squirming in an attempt to match his movements. He understood that this was her first time and it would be better to take things at a comfortable pace, so he eschewed speed in favour of a kinder, more manageable approach – an approach that her budding, inexperienced body took to rather well. Even during lovemaking he was such a gentleman.

Her hips bucked and heaved with every thrust he made. She closed her eyes shut and savoured the intensity of each stroke. His movements against her were slow and would have made a more impatient woman furious, but she loved how the slowness was actually prolonging her pleasure. This was their first night and it was supposed to be special. To finish up too quickly would be a terrible thing indeed.

And it was simply wonderful. All alone in this little patch of the forest, they were caught up in their slice of heaven… enjoying the moment.

"Aaah!"

"Shiki… Did I hurt you again?"

"No," she squeezed out a reply, biting her lips. "It just feels so good! I love it! Oh Neku… oh god this is fantastic."

Knowing he had impressed her, he was filled with joy. "Shiki, you're so sexy… I really – "

A minor spasm went through her and she screamed. "S-Stop talking and keep going!"

He was in a good position, getting on all fours, but he wanted to be even closer, to feel all of her. Making sure she could bear his weight, he gingerly lowered his entire body on top of hers, bringing his arms underneath her flawless back. He felt a new surge of sensations as their skin made full contact. The softness of her breasts on his chest had a comforting, almost motherly aura, as though so long as they were in each other's arms, nothing could harm them. His virility astounded her, driving her into frenzy as his muscle drove into her in repeated onslaughts.

How their bodies melted together as they made love, like chocolate and caramel. Their kisses were with passion and their movements with lust and longing. More, they wanted. More, more, more. And so they continued into the night…

But the moment would not last forever. There was a looming, growing, bubbling feeling in his groin. He had enough experience by now to know what it was: he was nearing breaking point. Shiki was panting harder and writhing more uncontrollably. She too was about to reach her highest pleasure.

He thought it best to at least warn her that it was going to happen soon. In between hot and heavy breaths, he panted, "Shiki… I don't think I can hold it in much longer…"

"M-Me too. I think this may be it…"

"But… But I can't just end it right now. I want you to feel good for as long as I can handle it. It's… It's hard though!"

It moved Shiki to hear how much he was holding back, how selfless he could be. Throughout their relationship, Neku had always been a generous person to her. He loved her very much and would not hesitate to go the extra mile for her. During dates, he always insisted to pay the bill, even when she suggested they go Dutch. If he had to go on a family trip, he would bring back souvenirs for her. Although she often chided him for not considering his own interests – and his own wallet – he never listened. For him, as long as she was happy, it was all that mattered to him.

And now, that same selfless personality of his that drew her to him had shown itself even in sex. He was fighting back his urges just so she could enjoy it longer. It touched her greatly, but she also knew from the grimace on his handsome face that he was struggling in a losing battle.

She couldn't stand to see him this way and decided that enough was enough. He had to let go. He deserved this much.

"Neku, don't hold back," Shiki egged him on.

"B-But, Shiki…"

"You've made me very happy already… But please, let us do this last bit together… you and me. So let it out. Let everything out. Don't hold back!"

Neku saw the earnest look in her eyes. And he finally understood.

"Shiki… I… I love you!"

"I love you… too… Neku… I lo– !"

In an instant, their world was filled with a thousand colours. Their minds and feelings raged like a maelstrom. Together they released their energy in perfect unison. Her inner walls squeezed around him in great pulsations and each one sent waves of ecstasy searing through her. The sensations were powerful enough to bring tears to her eyes and she sobbed in shameless joy as she continued to give in to the pleasure. Nothing in the world mattered right now. Nothing could stop her. She loved it all and had every right to.

The moment he felt himself being clenched down below, his body reacted accordingly. His mind no longer had control over himself. He gave in. In immediate response to her orgasm he let himself go and a groan escaped from his throat as he pumped viciously inside her. He obeyed her earlier request. He didn't hold back. He saw no reason to restrain himself. For weeks he had controlled his impulses, waiting to release all of his energy on this day. And he did. He let it all out in thick reams that flooded her insides. Every spurt had the force of a tsunami and it kind of hurt. But it hurt so good.

Shiki was a sensitive girl. Whenever she was hugged, or kissed, or simply when anything touched her skin while she was naked, the sensations that greeted her would be more thorough than normal. Perhaps such was the benefit that came with an oversexed mind. It was already more than enough to be able to physically appreciate the hardness of his muscle inside her, but when he ejaculated and she actually felt his semen sloshing around within, the resulting climax proved too great for her and she screamed into the night sky.

Early as it may have occurred in their lives, this night was their first step in discovering adulthood at its finest. They loved how they had blossomed from a pair of silly teenagers to a mature couple. Their transition from boy and girl to man and woman was finally complete. Their lives burned the brightest tonight.

Close to fizzing out but not quite ready to end it just yet, they tried to keep going, but their attempts would prove futile. Eventually they resigned themselves to their exhaustion and gave up, but not before Neku willed himself to squeeze out one last drop. There was a whole ocean of his sperm inside of her and it did their hearts good to know that she was on the pill. That they were prepared. They collapsed satisfied into each other's arms.

The noises died down, and peace returned to the forest they had violated. Above the panting and wheezing, all that could be heard was a crisp silence.

Shiki was the first to speak. She had to use what few remnants of her strength to form words.

"Wow," she squeaked. "We…"

Neku finished for her, gazing deeply into her soul with a tired smile. "We did it."

She blinked back tears, but they rolled off her face all the same. "Yeah…"

"Shiki, you're crying," he said, alarmed. "Did I hurt you that badly?"

"Silly…" She caressed his strong back lovingly. "People cry when they're happy, don't you know? And I'm so happy tonight. Our first time…"

"Yes, that's right…"

They shared a brief but passionate kiss to cap off their stellar evening. Their first night was a resounding success. But during its afterglow, they slowly regained their senses as well as their teenage shyness, and now they were starting to grow embarrassed at what they had done. They may have been raring to go at it all this time, but as they were still young and inexperienced, they were fraught with the kind of self-consciousness that lovers at their age were famous for.

Perhaps the path to adulthood wasn't so easy and straightforward after all… But at least they had taken this one big baby step so it was all good.

"Um, Neku?" she giggled weakly. "Y-You're kinda heavy."

"Oh, er, right, sorry. Hang on."

He struggled to get up and pulled himself out of her slowly for fear that he would hurt her again. Her canal was still tense and clenching tightly, and a small shudder shook her body when he finally disconnected with her. Leftover fluid bridged the gap between their private parts in a sticky string.

They lay side by side, gazing at the moon as they tried to catch their breaths. The air was cold but cleansed and rejuvenated their bodies. For a minute or two they just lay there on the grass, trying to digest everything that had happened. It almost felt too good to be true. But it was no dream. They had given their love to each other in the richest way imaginable, and they had their still tingling senses to prove it.

Shiki turned to look at her lover. "Neku… Thank you. Thank you so much."

"No, I should thank you."

"I'll never forget this. Let's remember this day, okay? Then maybe we could come here again on the same day next year."

He instantly knew what she was getting at and reciprocated her thoughts. "An anniversary? I like the sound of that. It'll be something special to look forward to."

"You know me so well."

Growing curious, he asked her cautiously, "Say, um, what part about the whole thing just now did you enjoy the most?"

"I loved everything," she breathed dreamily.

"There has to be something that stood out in particular… Or maybe even something I didn't quite nail. Tell me so I can improve upon it next time."

She barked out a short laugh. "Self-improvement? That's a smooth way to talk about sex."

He blushed deeply, wondering if he had made himself look like a fool. "Ah, uh, I just want to… well…"

"Don't worry, I know what you mean. I need to do better next time too. But I don't think we should fret so much about style and technique and all that. Having fun is what matters at the end of the day… don't you think?"

"You might be right." Then he added very sheepishly, "I just want to keep things fresh and make sure you feel good."

"Then you already pass with flying colours."

"Heh… I guess…"

Shyness overcame him and he found it hard to look at her. He settled for looking up at the stars, but was surprised when his view was obscured by the silhouette of Shiki clambering atop his body on all fours. A look of renewed lust was in her eyes. Seeing her in the nude and drenched from head to toe in sweat was eye candy in itself, but when he saw how her crotch was positively dripping, it was a real turn-on.

"The night is far too young to just end it like this," she whispered. "Do second helpings sound good?"

His knowing smile was enough of an answer for her.