BATHSCENE – REN/HAO

 

Note: This doesn’t belong just to me. There are two of us in here, hence the change of colors. For the record, I’m the red one.^_^

 

~*~

 

Tao Ren did not like to be late, generally speaking.  When it came to something important, he was even more insistent on arriving in a timely fashion. Anything less would be both rude and inappropriate.  Hence, he had scheduled the meeting at the bank to discuss some of his investments for fairly early in the morning, so as not to be late.

 

Typically, Ren would be on time no matter what... but ever since Hao had moved in with him... he had found leaving to be difficult on more than one occasion.  Hao would get into the mood to mess around, and molest him until he either lost his temper or gave in...  This very often resulted in Ren arriving late, and twitching as he did so.

 

Hence, Ren had chosen to schedule the meeting for early in the morning, when Hao would likely be asleep.  Hao almost always slept in late, after all.  So, he expected to get showered, dressed, and ready to go with no complications whatsoever.  Ren turned on the hot water, waiting for it to warm, before shaking off his clothing and slipping into the shower.  He closed his eyes with pleasure as the heated water pelted his pale skin, warming it soothingly.  "Ahhh..." 

 

He reached for the body wash that Hao had insisted he buy, blushing slightly at the memory of the way Hao had growled and murmured how hard it would be to resist him if he smelled that good.  Ren wasn't typically interested in using anything so potentially effeminate as bodywash... but the way Hao had said that... and as the sweet scent of lavender filled up the shower... Ren had to admit that he did find it most pleasing.

 

Still, Ren didn't have too much time to waste enjoying the scent of the bodywash.  Soon, he lathered up his hands, slicking them over his body and shivering slightly at the feeling of such actions as his own fingers glided over his skin, before he reminded himself to stop thinking of such things.  He needed to get clean and get out of the shower, so that he could reach his appointment on time...

 

Hao awoke with a start as a flurry of feelings, courtesy of none other than his partner wafted through his empathic sense similar to the way the smell of lavender coursed through his sense of smell. He glanced over at his bedside, then, to the bathroom, and a wicked grin slowly spread on his face as an idea occurred to him.

 

Shaking himself completely awake, he stood up, tossed off the blanket which was the only thing covering his body, and tiptoed gently to the said bathroom, his awareness of how naked and wet and arousing Ren probably looked at the moment only serving to heighten his desire even more.

 

A chuckle escaped his lips as the sound of faint appreciative moaning sounds from the bathroom reached him. "...Don't start without me, Ren..." he muttered in a low tone, pausing at the door and contemplating his next action. If he entered the bathroom now, Ren would be angry, no doubt. But then again, if he -didn't- enter now, he'd have no choice but to grab his partner as he comes out of the bathroom and relinquish his desire and lust like that and thus, make him angrier still.

 

If you think about it rightly, it was a no-win situation for Hao. If he doesn't do anything, he'd up being extremely pissed for the rest of the day. However, if he -did- do something, no doubt he was going to get a beating and a scolding from his partner again. As much as he liked Ren's slaps...he wasn't particularly thrilled on having the anger directed on him. It usually meant he wouldn't be able to touch Ren for one night...or more.

 

But then again, Hao thought to himself as he continued to stare at the bathroom door and listen to the noises of water (as well as Ren's moans, which were driving him half-crazy), it's not like he would be able to withstand this kind of torture anyway. He was Asakura Hao, and Asakura Hao did NOT wait...especially when it came to something like this.

 

A wicked, lustful grin spread across his face as he reached for the doorknob. He was going to do this now; else he'll never be able to do it. With a soft sound of triumph, he turned the doorknob ever-so-slightly, went in, and discreetly closed it. The silhouette of his oh-so-attractive partner was fairly visible through the shower door, and as he gazed at it, Hao found that he really didn't have the patience to wait any longer. It's now or never. Thankful that Ren always somehow managed to forget to lock the shower door, he opened it slightly.

 

His grin widened as he stared appreciatively from head to toe at his partner's naked and very wet form, extremely thankful that Ren had his back turned as of the moment, and very distracted with the heat of the water and the scent of lavender to even notice that there was some in the bathroom with him.

 

Ren made soft sounds of contentment as he worked to cleanse himself, perhaps spending a bit more time rubbing soap over soft, slick flesh than he needed to.  He was confident that he had allowed adequate time for a nice cleansing... Once that was done, Ren turned his attention to washing his hair.

 

He was just stooping over to pick up a bottle of shampoo, when a soft sound caught his attention. 

 

It wasn't one of the usual sounds of the shower.  Ren frowned faintly, before slowly putting down the shampoo and turning around.

 

Even before he saw the silhouetted outline of his lover outside of the shower, he knew.  The second he'd heard that soft sound, he knew.  It was just so like Hao to slip in and try and interrupt him in the shower... though Ren supposed it was remotely possible that he'd come to use the bathroom, he doubted it very much. Only one thing would get Hao out of bed this early in the morning. And that one thing was sex.

 

"Don't even think about it, Hao," Ren muttered quickly.  "I have somewhere that I need to be soon.  So, just stay out there and let me finish showering.  I'll be back in a few hours, anyway..." Ren added, hurriedly attempting to rinse his body clean.

 

Unruffled, Hao leaned against the doorframe, eyes still roving all over Ren's body appreciatively. "...Are you sure about that?" Unable to restrain himself, he walked towards his partner half-threateningly, backing him against the wall. "Are you sure you don't want...?" He let his voice trail off as he bent down to nuzzle Ren's neck. "God...you smell good..."

 

Ren felt his cheeks flush as Hao blatantly looked up and down his body.  "Of course I'm sure! I have to get to the bank in about thirty minutes!" he muttered, shyly turning his gaze downwards.

 

That proved to be a mistake, for seconds later, Ren found himself all but pinned back against the shower wall by Hao.  He bit down hard on his lower lip to keep from sighing pleasurably as Hao nuzzled at his neck.  Ren felt a shudder wrack his slender frame at Hao's seductively purred words, as his eyes nearly slipped shut for a moment.

 

"Hao..."  He drew in a long breath and gathered his self-control.  "I can't.  Tempting... though it is... I have an appointment at the bank... it would be rude of me to be late..."

 

Hao chuckled softly against Ren's neck as his hands slid around his partner's waist. "What's wrong with being late? You're Tao Ren. It's your job to make them wait..." His mouth curved into a broad grin as he felt his partner respond to his touches against his will. "...Come on...I know you want it..." He nibbled gently on Ren's ear, and patting himself mentally at the back for his triumph upon realizing how close he was to succeeding.

 

Ren bit back a sigh as Hao's hands eased their way over his slippery skin, capturing his waist in an encouraging embrace, before he once again struggled to regain self-control. He narrowed his eyes, frowning faintly at Hao. "Being late is rude. I know that they would wait... but it would just waste everyone's time..." Ren murmured, shivering as Hao nibbled at his ear, a soft sound falling from his lips. Ren forced his heavy-lidded eyes open, and it was then that he noticed the self-satisfied grin on Hao's lips. Hao obviously thought that he was going to get his way.

 

Ren frowned thoughtfully to himself. Pleasure was pleasure, but there had to be limits. He'd given into Hao on more than one occasion, but this was an important meeting, and there was no reason why they couldn't do this later. He wouldn't let Hao control him completely, especially not when he was going to be so smug about it. Ren squirmed his way free of the other's grasp, hurriedly trying to finish rinsing himself before Hao got any other ideas. He wondered just how much time he had left before he would be late, frowning again to himself. He really hoped that he didn't have to call and delay the meeting as a result of this.

 

Hao pouted slightly as Ren broke away from him. This wasn't how he intended for things to happen. Ren was supposed to give in to him, but...judging from the way his partner had just shaken off his touches earlier...it was obviously not going to happen. At least, not if Ren had his way around it. And then, sensing his partner's thoughts, a triumphant smile spread across his face once again. Ren wanted it, that much was certain...but he was more worried about being late to that useless meeting more than anything else.

 

Ignoring his partner's earlier protest, he boldly slid his arms around Ren's waist again and nuzzled his neck. “Do you mean to tell me that that meeting of yours is more important to you than ME?" Going even further, he let one of his hands slide down in an effort to caress his partner into submission.

 

The problem with being involved with someone as incredibly powerful as Hao really often arose from his empathic abilities. If he wished to, he could see into Ren's thoughts, and this naturally left the Chinese male at something of a disadvantage... particularly when his body wanted something that his mind didn't, as was currently the case.

 

Ren had hoped that Hao would take his meaning from his words and let it go... but clearly, his ever horny lover had no desire whatsoever to let Ren even so much as get out of the shower. Before the violet-haired male could even begin to do so, he found his waist being seized and his neck being nuzzled in an affectionate way that made it particularly difficult for Ren to resist. When Hao was only demanding, it was hard to refuse, but Ren could do so more easily than he could when Hao also was affectionate.

 

Ren sighed and melted against Hao a little. "You know that isn't what I'm saying, you idiot..." Ren breathed, his breathy manner of speaking belying any annoyance in his words. "I just mean that going to my meeting on time is more important than satisfying your never-ending needs, because I'll be back in less than two hours. And then we'll have plenty of time..." When one of Hao's hands dipped even lower, Ren's eyes flew wide open and he gasped, trembling at the sensations that Hao had drawn up with that single action. "Nn... you know that I have to go..." Ren groaned, still leaning into Hao's embrace.

 

Hao chuckled against his neck, his smile evolving into a full-fledged wicked grin as he continued to caress his partner. "You DON'T have to go. You WANT to go." He pressed a soft, fleeting kiss to Ren's neck. "...You and your damn principles..." His mind was silently cheering at the thoughts that he sensed from his partner. He was SO close...so utterly close to succeeding...

 

"Damn, I'm good," he muttered under his breath, careful not to let Ren hear. He trailed his other hand behind Ren, cheering silently as an appreciative sound escaped his partner's lips.

 

Ren sighed, trying to remind himself of why it was that he had to go. His principles... yes, and things he had to do today... and not always giving into Hao... "Hao..." A soft whimper fell from Ren's lips as Hao kissed his neck. "I need to go have this meeting sometime soon... and it's not as if there's ever a time when I can be sure you aren't going to try something like this... so it's best if I just go and get it over with... really... if I give into you now... I don't know that you're ever going to listen to me when I really have to be somewhere..."

 

Ren couldn't bite back the sigh that escaped him as Hao's hand trailed lightly down over his posterior, stroking at his smooth, wet flesh gently. Hao could be so very hard to resist when he wanted to be. Ren sighed, closing his eyes and once again trying to clear his head from a rapidly mounting daze of pleasure. He opened his eyes and reached for the shower handle, turning off the water before he stared up at Hao, his golden eyes still holding more than a hint of desire. "You know I'd be much more... agreeable... when I get back... Just let me have my meeting, and then I promise I'll come straight home..." Ren murmured breathlessly, leaning out of the shower to reach for a towel.

 

Hao gave a self-satisfied smirk at his partner's breathless tone. Now that he had Ren right where he wanted him, there was NO way he was ever going to give this up. He didn't want to be kept hanging, and -especially- not after all the work he has done. More importantly, especially not when it comes to Ren...and to -this-. He reached for Ren's hand, drawing him back against the shower and leaning him against the wall. The towel flew out of Ren's hand to the floor. Hao stared at it, then at Ren, with amused thoughtfulness. "...No, I don't think so," he muttered evilly, running his tongue provocatively over his lower lip. "You're not going anywhere until I get what I want." And with that, he leaned over and captured Ren's mouth in a hot, hungry kiss.

 

Ren groaned as Hao smirked at him and caught his hand, pulling him back into the shower and pinning him against the wall. He was more turned on by all of this than he wanted to admit, but even without reading his thoughts, Hao could probably tell that judging by his appearance and the way he was speaking. Ren wasn't good at hiding how aroused he was for very long, which was something that Hao knew very well by this time. When that towel fluttered to the ground, Ren eyed it and twitched as it fell to the floor of the shower. That had been a perfectly clean towel, and now there was no way anyone could use it. Not after it had touched the dirty shower floor.

 

That sight called Ren back to his senses for a moment. His eyes narrowed somewhat at the way Hao acted as if the matter were decided solely by him, brushing Ren's words aside easily. The sight of Hao's tongue gliding over his lips was decidedly an appealing one, but Hao's words made Ren bristle. He opened his mouth to protest that he was free to do as he wished, but before he could manage any of the words, Hao's lips were atop his own, seizing them in a kiss that made his momentary return to reason seem very short-lived indeed. Ren's lips parted as his arms eventually wrapped around Hao's neck, so that he could lean closely against the other, and his eyelids slowly lowered and slipped shut. "Hao..." he breathed, when at last was able to draw back so as to catch his breath. Ren opened his eyes, staring at the other with dazed desire, before reality came crashing down on him. "What am I doing?" he muttered. "If I don't get dressed right now, I'm going to be late for sure!"

 

Hao gazed at his partner with amusement, the grin never leaving his face as he watched Ren flitting about frantically, in all his wet naked glory. Even though the other had pulled away from him, he was pretty contented right now, with examining Ren's nakedness freely.

 

Eventually, though, he got tired and impatient of watching this go the whole time...especially when Ren finally made the move to exit the shower room. Moving swiftly, he barred his arm across the doorway before Ren had the chance to move. "...And where do you think you're going?"

 

Ren had hurried to squirm free of Hao's grasp and then to try and dry himself before Hao could interfere again.  He felt hopeful that he could still reach the meeting on time, if only he were allowed the chance to get himself out of the bathroom and into the bedroom where his clothing awaited him.  Ren had finished drying himself and wrapped the towel around his waist, and so far, Hao had not yet climbed out of the shower. 

 

He bit back a groan as Hao stepped from the shower into his path, barring the doorway with his arm.  "I told you, Hao, I'm going to get dressed and then head over to the bank for a meeting.  I'm already running a chance of being late.  So, let me get dressed, and I'll be home in a few hours."  With those words, Ren quickly ducked under Hao's arm and hurried into the bedroom.

 

Hao muttered a curse under his breath, smacking his hand on his forehead. Because he was distracted, he had completely forgotten that Ren had certain advantages when it comes to escaping his advances. It was somewhat stupid of him to think that barring his hand on the doorway would actually work.

 

Well, he still wasn't about to give up. Tossing his wet hair carelessly over his shoulder, he strode swiftly out of the shower room, not even caring that he was stark naked and dripping wet. He frowned with disappointment as he found Ren on the bed, already half-dressed.

 

He walked towards Ren, plopping his very wet self down on the bed and gazing at the other with a pout. "You're no fun."

 

Ren knew that time was of the essence when it came to getting dressed, if he hoped to be able to get out of the house and over to the bank without further incident.  Hence, he had already managed to don his boxers and his pants by the time Hao had entered the bedroom. 

 

Ren finished tying the tie on his pants, not looking up at the sound of Hao's footsteps.  He looked up as the other sat upon the bed, twitching as he glanced over to see that Hao was completely naked... and completely wet...

 

"Hao..."  Ren sighed exasperatedly.  "You're getting water all over the bed, and everywhere else, too.  If you insist on parading around naked, can't you at least dry yourself off before coming out of the bathroom?" 

 

As much as he wanted to hurry, Ren just couldn't let it go.  He picked up his towel from the nearby chair and leaned over to begin drying Hao off, attempting not to notice the other's nude form in any fashion other than an objective one.

 

Hao allowed Ren to dry him, not attempting to hide the grin on his face. This was exactly what he was aiming for. Ren was doing exactly what Hao wanted him to do. Suppressing the urge to raise his fist in triumph, he focused instead on the best way to make Ren yield to his current wants.

 

Well, he certainly had many possible options. Like right now, he could actually...hmm...

 

He raised his arms gently, carefully making sure that Ren didn't notice what he was doing. Ever-so-cautiously, he positioned his arms behind Ren...before promptly grabbing him, and wounding his arms tightly around his waist, making sure he couldn't move.

 

Ren was, of course, concerned with making sure that Hao was dry.  He didn't want the other to get the bed any wetter than he already had, and he didn't want Hao to stay wet too long and risk falling ill.  Hence, Ren was so intent on meticulously drying Hao that he failed to notice that the other had something else in mind entirely. 

 

Ren frowned faintly at Hao's lack of response, waiting for the other to at least give some sign of assent, if not an outright reply.  He looked up at the other, only to gasp as he found himself seized by Hao all at once.

 

"Kiisama~!  What do you think you're doing?!" Ren growled, squirming and struggling to free himself from Hao's tight grasp.  "Let go of me!  I have a meeting to get to!"

 

"No." Hao's responded to Ren's struggling by tightening his arms around his waist, limiting his movements to just the arms. "I'm not letting you go until you give me what I want. Come on...just this once..." Bending down, he leaned over and nuzzled Ren's neck coaxingly, his fingertips running across Ren's waist, his hands caressing the naked skin provocatively. "I don't care about your meeting...and since I don't care, then YOU shouldn't care, too..."

 

Ren glared at Hao furiously, shoving the other and trying to get free.  "You always say things like, 'Just this once,' but it never is actually just one time.  I've been giving into you quite a bit, but I'm afraid that this meeting is too important.  And I really have no more time to spare for this!"

 

Ren sighed softly as Hao's fingertips roved over his skin and the other nuzzled against his neck.

It did feel nice... and Hao was hard to resist... very hard, really... but he could NOT keep giving in.  "You might not care about my meeting, but I do.  And that's reason enough for you to care yourself...  I promise that I'll be back in a few hours... can't you just be a little patient?" he murmured, leaning over to kiss Hao's neck softly.  "We can take all the time we want then..."

 

Hao shook his head stubbornly. "No. I want it right now..." he whispered seductively, allowing his breath to touch Ren's skin. "You know I'm never patient. I want it now. NOW. And you should, too." He sighed, his hand moving upwards to Ren's hair, savoring the light kiss that his partner gave him. "...Don't go to that stupid meeting anymore. Just stay here with me..."

 

Ren sighed, reluctantly drawing back from Hao's neck to gaze into his lover's eyes.  "Some things are more important than immediate desires, Hao.  And this seems to happen every time I try to go anywhere lately... You get me dirty and rumpled, then I have to take a shower, then you come molest me in the shower... and so on.  I need to go and attend this meeting, and you need to let me do so.  You won't have to wait too long, after all... and I'd be much more... amenable... to what you want, as well..." Ren murmured, shooting Hao an encouraging look.  "Now, please listen to me and let me go."

 

Hao shook his head stubbornly, cradling Ren even more tightly as he spoke. "Some things? More important?!? Am I NOT important to you?" He flashed his partner an incredibly wounded look, before holding on to him tightly again. "...NO. I am NOT letting you go. Not until I get what I want."

 

Ren exhaled in long-suffering fashion as Hao shot him that wounded look. Hao was just being ridiculous and difficult at the same time... yet he really did hate to see the other look so sad. "Hao... you know that you're very important to me..." Ren whispered, pressing a kiss against Hao's cheek this time. "I said that there were things more important than your immediate desires, not you as a whole." Ren smiled at Hao reassuringly, before he set his jaw in determined fashion. "I am going to this meeting Hao. You and I are in a relationship together. That doesn't mean that you own me or that you should be able to hold me here when I need to be elsewhere. Especially not when I have already promised to spend time with you as soon as the meeting is over."

 

Hao pouted darkly, still a little put off even as Ren kissed him. He really didn't want to be left behind just like that, most especially since he was really looking forward to spending time with Ren this morning. He couldn't understand the importance of the bank meeting. "WHY can't you just hold off that meeting for another time? It's not like they wouldn't allow you to." He brushed his lips softly against the nape of Ren's neck. "...Besides, you know very well I don't really like waiting. You CAN'T make me wait that long! I won't survive!" He added mournfully.

 

Ren shivered slightly as Hao's lips brushed against his neck, and he turned a pleading gaze upon the other. The last thing Ren wanted to do right now was allow himself to be seduced by Hao, but then, Hao was usually hard to resist. Hence the present problem. Ren had been giving into Hao lately in situations such as this one, and he really had made a vow to himself to not give in so easily the next time. He didn't want to turn around and break it immediately. "Hao... don't do this..." Ren said, keeping his gaze fixed upon the other's. "You'll survive for a few hours, just like you do whenever I have to go somewhere, and then I'll be home. I know that you don't like to wait, but I don't like the fact that I have to go through this nearly any time I want to leave the house. It isn't supposed to be this way. And it really would be a bit rude on my part to call and have them reschedule the meeting now. Everything is already in place..."

 

Despite Ren’s continual attempts at reasoning, the dark pout remained on Hao’s face, deepening with each second as it dawned just how adamant his partner was in leaving him. LEAVING HIM. He didn’t want Ren to leave, not for several hours, not for a couple of minutes, not EVEN for half a second.

 

He KNEW he'd be able to survive a couple of hours...but damn it all, he really DIDN'T want to wait several hours. He didn't care a damn whit about that meeting. HE was more important than that meeting. HE was more important than anything else in the entire world. "Who CARES if you're rude to THEM? You mean to tell me you care more about how THEY would feel if you don't show up than with how -I- would feel if you leave me?" He punctuated that statement with another incredibly wounded look.

 

Ren sighed as Hao continued to pout.  He didn't understand why Hao had his heart set on him staying, but then, he never did understand why Hao couldn't seem to be the least bit patient.  Ren allowed Hao his space, and would have allowed Hao to attend to anything he wished... but Hao seldom seemed to want to be out of Ren's presence for very long.  It was usually fine with Ren, but at times like these, he wished Hao were just a little less possessive of his time.

 

Ren was remaining calm and trying to reason with Hao, but it wasn't getting him anywhere. He might as well be ignoring Hao and getting dressed for all the good it would do him... it was just that Ren didn't like to leave things like this or see Hao looking so sad.  Something of which Hao was obviously aware.

 

"Hao... I spend nearly all day every day with you...  I am going to see these people for an hour or two at the most.  Obviously your feelings are very important to me," Ren added soothingly.  "But taking care of my own affairs is something that is important to me, as well.  I just want to--"

 

Ren's words died in his throat suddenly.  He had just caught sight of the clock beside the bed, and his golden eyes had flown wide.  He couldn't believe that it was that late already... He had been so intent on convincing Hao that it would be okay just to let him leave that he'd completely lost track of the passing time.

 

"What?" Hao's eyes followed the direction of Ren's gaze...to the clock. Then, he glanced over at Ren again, eyebrow slightly raised at the expression on his partner's face. He was well aware of the thoughts that was racing through Ren's mind as of the moment, and he was very, very much aware of the fact that it was only a matter of time before Ren finally gives in to his wishes and abandons the thought of going to that stupid meeting that he had. Only a matter of time.

 

TIME. Hao cursed under his breath. He should have just thrown Ren on the bed long ago, right before he even caught sight of that godforsaken timepiece. He knew well why Ren found it so essential to have something like that around, but he never really cared much. To Hao, the existence of the stupid clock and its inevitable presence in his and Ren's lives was just an insignificant peeve that came in with being with his partner.

 

Well, that little 'insignificant peeve' known as the 'clock on the bedside' was about to do a great damage to his otherwise wonderful morning, if that look that Ren was giving to it was any indication.

 

Dismissing the whole thing with a shake of his head, Hao looked at Ren hopefully. "Are you going to stay with me now? You're late anyway, so there's no point in going anymore, right?"

 

Ren had continued staring at the clock steadily for a few long moments.  He was already late to his meeting, and he wasn't even fully dressed yet.  There was no way he could possibly make it now.  He'd be ridiculously late to the point of making it embarrassing.  Better just to call and reschedule than to go in so late.

 

Ren could not believe that Hao had delayed him so far.  He was more than a little irritated by the fact that Hao seemed nowhere near apologetic for what he had done.  "You're right, Hao.  I'm going to be late if I go, so there really is little point in my going now," Ren replied coolly, shooting a glare at the long-haired male.

 

"I still need to call them to cancel.  I will not be so rude as to not just show up.  And then I will be staying here.  With you."

 

Ren glared at the other again, feeling furious that the other looked so pleased at getting his way once again.  It was too much.  Hao wouldn't be rewarded for something like this.  Not this time.  There had to be something Ren could do to show Hao that this wouldn't be tolerated, that Hao couldn't just come in and interrupt his shower and delay him when he had something important to attend to.  Not when Hao could have so easily waited for Ren to return.

 

Ren pushed himself free of Hao's arms and rose from the bed, walking over to the phone.  After dialing the number, Ren made his polite apologies about being unable to attend and scheduled the appointment for one afternoon next week.  He vowed inwardly that Hao would not make him miss it.  Hao needed to be taught a lesson about all of this...

 

The small frown that was reflected on Hao's face vanished at once when he heard Ren's words. He allowed the other to disentangle from his embrace, and he watched eagerly as Ren conversed on the phone with someone. It wouldn't be long now until he gets what he wants, and that didn't take much effort at all...

 

He sat down on the bed, waiting for his partner to finish with his conversation. He grinned brightly, gazing over at Ren expectantly as he finally finished with his phone call and approached Hao on the bed.   "Have I ever told you that that's one of the reasons why I love you? You always give me everything I want."

 

Ren noted the eager expression tinged with smugness that appeared on Hao's features as he spoke into the phone.  It simply wouldn't do.  Hao seemed to have every confidence of getting what he wanted now... he looked very pleased with himself.

 

True, he had gotten Ren somewhat worked up earlier in the shower... and Ren had liked the feeling of Hao holding and kissing him... but Ren resolved inwardly that he would not make it so easy this time.  He had to do something to convince Hao to try and behave himself a little better than this...

 

Ren twitched slightly as Hao stated that one of the reasons why he loved him was because he always gave him what he wanted.  'Because I always give in... because Hao always gets his way... well, not this time.  At least...'  A small smirk appeared on Ren's lips as an idea finally struck him.  'Not in the way that he wants it...'

 

"I'm glad that you think so, Hao..." Ren murmured, smiling coyly at the long-haired male as he walked over to stand before the bed where Hao was still reclining.  "But today... I think things might be just a little different..." Ren added, climbing onto the bed to straddle Hao's nude body.  Typically, Ren would have just climbed onto the bed beside Hao, but this time, he really did intend to get even with Hao for what he had just done.  Hao might think that he would be having his way with Ren shortly thereafter... but he was about to be surprised...

 

Ren played with the long tie that bound his pants together, smiling down at Hao invitingly.  "Lay back for a moment... I want to... feel you like this... just for a little while first..."

 

Hao pouted up at Ren and raised an eyebrow, trying to discern what his partner was planning, this time. It wasn't like Ren to shift moods so easily, especially for something that he considers that important. So, Hao was somewhat baffled by the strange behavior...not that he didn't appreciate it, of course. It simply means that he wouldn't need to exert any effort trying to appease Ren's anger and instead, focus all of his attention into pleasuring him, and getting the pleasure that he wanted in return.

 

His pout turned into a half-surprised, half-amused look as he caught the whiff of something different in his partner's thoughts...and he grinned slightly. At that instant, he replaced his amused look with a slightly surprised and somewhat innocent expression as he stared at Ren, dark brown eyes roving up and down his partner's body, watching him fiddle with the fastening of his pants as he lay back, complying easily to Ren’s wishes. "...Something on your mind?" He thought to ask, just for the heck of it.

 

Ren watched Hao intently, his golden eyes taking in Hao's reactions, noting the surprised amusement that momentarily appeared on Hao's features.  The grin was certainly more characteristic of Hao than the surprised, almost innocent expression that followed it.  If there was one thing that Hao was not, it was innocent. 

 

Ren wondered what Hao had seen in his thoughts, and how much the other was currently anticipating what he would do, but no matter.  Ren smirked slightly at Hao's question.  "I think you might already know the answer to that one yourself...  Since you're so good at poking around in my mind and all... but I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to stop it.  For the rest of the morning, no more poking into my thoughts, Hao.  Or I will put a stop to whatever we might be doing, regardless of how much you would like to finish it..." Ren said firmly, before leaning down to kiss Hao's throat lightly, before pressing teasing nips to the smooth skin.

 

"You really need to behave yourself right now, Hao... You've already come far too close to making me angry to risk doing so again..." Ren trailed his hands up Hao's arms, teasingly pinning them up over his lover's head, blushing at the sight.  He then reached down to quickly pull the tie from his pants, binding Hao's arms to the headboard together after having done so.

 

"Stop poking into your mind?" Hao pouted again, and rolled his eyes. "You're no fun at all sometimes..." His eyes fluttered slowly close as he felt Ren's breath on his skin, and finally, the warmth of his lips. "It's not like I can force myself NOT to read your thoughts," he murmured in a slightly husky tone. "I mean--" he stopped abruptly, his eyes flying open as he felt Ren's hands on his arms.

 

He couldn't help but raise another eyebrow in amusement, a smile playing on his lips as he caught sight of the blush on Ren's face...such an endearing sight...in fact, he was so entranced that he didn't notice that his arms were being tied to the headboard...until they were fastened tightly there. He glanced at the headboard, then at Ren, chuckling softly. "...All right," he said finally, smiling up at his partner, before relaxing himself against the bed. "...If that's what you want, then that's what I'll do," he told Ren. "...I won't delve into your thoughts," he vowed for good measure, mentally crossing his fingers. It's not like Ren would ever find out whether he was doing it or not, anyway...

 

Ren nodded firmly in answer to Hao's question.  "No fun?" he whispered, leaning forward to kiss Hao's neck once again.  "And here I thought you found things like this to be very enjoyable..."

 

Ren felt Hao's breath hitching in his throat, and a small smirk lingered upon his lips.  The huskiness of Hao's voice... it all gave Ren a bit more confidence to continue what he was doing.  He would just flip things completely...

 

The surprised expression on Hao's face as his eyes snapped open also pleased Ren. It was so seldom that he could truly surprise the other... and he did so again when he managed to bind Hao's arms to the headboard.

 

"Mmm... see, that wasn't so hard, was it...?" Ren purred, smirking down at the other.  "Now just continue to behave yourself and then I'll have no reason to stop what I'm doing..."  Ren leaned forward once again, his cheeks heating up even more as he pressed his lips to Hao's chest, working his way down to a tender bud of flesh, flicking his tongue across it before nipping at it hesitantly.  It was seldom that he would take such initiative with Hao... but he suspected that the brunet would enjoy this... at least until he figured out that things would be altogether flipped from how they usually were...

 

Hao glanced down at his partner, a devilish smile playing on his lips at the way he was acting. Although he was quite used to being dominant, he had to admit...seeing Ren like this, blushing in that extremely attractive way, and seducing him with soft, little kisses and fleeting touches of his tongue...it turned him on more than he thought anything ever would. He had actually woken up earlier already feeling somewhat aroused, and now...everything that Ren was doing to him (the tying of his arms included) was making his arousal level spiral in an alarming rate. He shifted restlessly on the bed, wanting to be released from the ties that bound his arms to the headboard, yet at the same time, enjoying it, for some strange twisted reason.

 

"You know..." He breathed out, his voice thick with lust and desire, "...this would actually be a lot better if you would...let go of me and allow me to--" his breath hitched once more as Ren's hands and mouth moved across his body, touching him in a knowing way that made him absolutely positively insane...as if he wasn't insane enough already.

 

Ren raised an eyebrow at the way Hao grinned up at him so devilishly.  From the looks of it, Hao didn't mind this at all... but then, Hao tend to like all things sexual, particularly if they involved Ren, so it wasn't entirely surprising.  Especially if Hao wasn't anticipating what was coming next...

 

Ren began to feel increasingly aroused himself as he felt Hao's body react to his touches.  The way that Hao shifted against him, his urgent need for more becoming apparent as this continued.  "You're not going anywhere, Hao..." Ren purred softly, tilting his wide, luminous golden eyes up to meet Hao's dark ones.  Ren still had a vaguely innocent aura to him, even as he murmured such suggestive words.  And even now, his cheeks were still lit with a vibrant flush.

 

"This will be a lot better if I just do what I've planned to do..." Ren whispered, slipping down Hao's body further to kiss and nip at his stomach, resisting the urge to touch any of the lower portions of the other's body just yet.  "I plan to take my time, Hao... so you should just relax and enjoy it..." Ren added, smirking at the other before slipping down to kiss at the inside of Hao's thigh teasingly.

 

Hao shook his head helplessly, giving up on trying to tell Ren that he wanted his arms to be loosened out from the headboard. Well, at least, that was what he wanted earlier, but now...oddly enough, he wanted to see how far exactly Ren was going to take this...and if he would be able to do it.

 

He growled low in his throat, the torturous touches and kisses Ren was giving him making him very, very impatient. "You had better make sure I enjoy all of this or I'll--" he let out a groan as he felt Ren's warm mouth touch his inner thigh, and his legs parted out of their own accord. He closed his eyes, reveling in the pleasure, yet at the same time, cursing, for he couldn't have enough. He needed more. He WANTED more.

 

He was going to die before this is all over. Too much seduction would kill him...and the fact that it was his Ren who was doing the seduction...that alone was driving him to the edge. Ren was going to kill him.

 

And yet...what a way to die.

 

Ren had every intention of driving Hao mad with desire, and thus far, the other male's every reaction had only served to encourage Ren to go further.  Of course, he wouldn't leave Hao hanging without satisfaction... and eventually Ren would want to give Hao the blissful pleasure that would come with release... but first, he meant to get even with Hao for treating him like such a pushover.  Ren would prove once and for all that he was no pushover.

 

Ren paused in his actions to smirk up at Hao when the other growled impatiently.   "I had better what...?  I really think that you're..." Ren lowered his lips to Hao's other thigh and kissed it tenderly. "... in no position to make threats right now, Hao... no position whatsoever..."

 

Ren watched Hao part his legs encouragingly as he kissed the other's inner thigh once again.  The other was arching his hips urgently, clearly impatient for Ren's lips to seek out more pleasurable regions.  "Mm... that's a good boy," Ren murmured teasingly.  "Why couldn't you have been so accommodating earlier?" 

 

Ren pushed himself up a little, gazing down at Hao intently, his own golden eyes hazing slightly with desire as he studied Hao's aroused body.  With a small smile on his lips, Ren reached forward and gently stroked his fingers over Hao's waiting flesh, offering only light ghostly touches as he pinned Hao's hips in place with his other hand.  He did mean to draw this out... and see how Hao enjoyed being the one who gave up all control...

 

"A...ccommodating?" Hao repeated with a rush of breath, his lower body shifting restlessly as he tried to bring himself closer to Ren's kisses and caresses...all of which were driving him totally mad with desire. "I WAS being accommodating. Remember when we were in the bathroom? You had free reign over me. You had total control over kissing and touching me and doing whatever you wanted to do with me, but then again, you were more concerned about that stupid meeting than my needs and wants and for that matter, YOUR needs and wants. YOU were the one who was being--" His words ended on a low groan as Ren's hands finally stroked him, giving him what he wanted...but not good enough. Not good enough at ALL.

 

"R...Ren..." he moaned out, glancing at his partner with slightly pleading eyes, telling him without words that he wanted more than those brief, fleeting touches. He wanted to be caressed fully. He wanted his desire to be quenched completely--and he wanted it done NOW.

 

And if he had to force Ren to do it, he would. He clenched his fists tightly, desperately wanting to break free from the binds that held him fastened to the headboard so that he could tell Ren exactly how to pleasure him...but...the damn thing was too tight.

 

"Damn," he cursed under his breath, shaking his head helplessly. He was under Ren's control--totally.

 

Oddly enough, the thought sent thrills all over his body.

 

Ren paused in his actions and smirked up at Hao as the other breathlessly repeated the word in the form of a question.  "You were no such thing, Hao...  Had you been accommodating, you would have allowed me to leave for that 'stupid meeting' as you call it without any interference.  And you know... you really shouldn't try to argue with me when you're in this position.  You know disagreement is unlikely to get you what you want..." Ren murmured, meeting Hao's gaze.

 

He swallowed thickly at the undisguised need that shone in Hao's dark eyes as he groaned and breathlessly uttered Ren's name.  It was... a plea...  a plea for more...  The violet-haired male could feel his cheeks heating up as Hao's gaze burned into his own.  Ren felt as if he would never be able to forget the way Hao looked at that moment... the desire that radiated from the other's body.  Every movement, every struggle was pervaded with an unspoken yearning on Hao's part...

 

"You aren't going anywhere, Hao..." Ren purred softly as the other struggled to get free and cursed at being unable to do so.  "And pretty soon... you won't want to... because unlike you... I can be quite accommodating at times..."

 

Ren shyly tilted his gaze down to Hao's waiting arousal, his golden eyes growing hazed with desire as he took in the sight of the other's body.  He could do this... he wanted to do this...

 

The Chinese male drew his hand down Hao's body, grasping the base of his aching flesh, before he leaned forward to part his lips shyly and suck lightly at the tip.  He had done this for Hao a few times before, but even then Hao had not lacked in all control as he did now.  He'd always been able to grasp the back of Ren's head if need be, or arch his hips forward.  It had never been quite like this...

 

Ren gazed up at Hao once again, studying his reaction before he drew back, a fond smile catching on his lips.  "Admit that you were wrong to try and make me stay after I told you I needed to go... and I will be much... much... more accommodating..." Ren murmured, his gaze growing seductive as his heated breath played over Hao's dampened skin.

 

 

Hao’s eyes locked together with Ren’s as his partner uttered the promise, and then, subsequently gazed at Hao’s very exposed body in such a way that made Hao’s blood boil dangerously, his passion and desire escalating as the seconds flew by…

 

Hao clenched his teeth, biting back the sharp cry of pleasure that threatened to escape his lips at the instant that Ren’s mouth touched the tip of his erection…but when Ren suddenly pulled back, he growled low in his throat, his body once again moving on its own, trying to gain back that instant pleasure once more. His eyes met his partner’s, once again, a half-pleading, half-threatening expression in them.

 

Amidst his passion-hazed mind, Hao heard the softly uttered words, and it came naturally for him to answer it, even as Ren’s breath on his incredibly aroused flesh distracted him to no end. "N...no..." he moaned out his reply, even as he continued to struggle to free his arms from the headboard. He took a long, deep breath, before resuming his tirade. "...I will do no such thing! I am not WRONG! I am NEVER wrong! I was only trying to do what's best for the both of us! Didn’t you want it to happen? Even if you say you don’t, I KNOW you did, because that’s certainly what it felt like! So I have nothing to admit to. Nothing at all--" his breath caught in his throat then as Ren lowered his mouth towards him again, presumably to give him what he wanted...ALL that he wanted...

 

The way Hao's dark eyes glinted dangerously made Ren's breath catch in his throat.  He licked his lips, slowly trailing his tongue across supple pink flesh as his golden eyes remained locked with Hao's, his cheeks flushed to a vividly pink hue.

 

A low sound of excitement escaped Ren when Hao choked back a moan, only to be muffled against Hao's heated flesh.  Ren's fingers tightened against Hao's hips, barely holding the other in place when he drew his lips back, causing Hao to struggle and strain to get free in order to seek out more pleasure. 

 

Ren drew in a few quick pants of breath, waiting for Hao's response as he took in the desperate expression on Hao's face, somewhere between pleading and demanding more pleasure from Ren.  Ren could feel his stomach growing taut with the need to give Hao just what he wanted.

 

Ren was fully expecting Hao to give in, so when the other first began to utter the word 'no', Ren gazed up at Hao in surprise.  His golden eyes narrowed determinedly as Hao went on.  The other still wouldn't admit that he was wrong... but if Hao could be stubborn at times, then so could Ren. And this time, Hao *had* been wrong, so Ren had no intention of backing down and giving in... no matter how much his own body ached to do just that...

 

Ren leaned downward once more, pausing to hover when he was just over Hao's body.  "Why must you make this so difficult, Hao?" he whispered.  "I don't deny that you were able to get me worked up... and I've never denied wanting you, but I wanted to put aside that desire and go to the meeting, and you know that.  Admit that you were wrong to try and force me to bend to your will... and I'll stop trying to bend you to mine... and concentrate on more enjoyable things... Hao..." Ren whispered pleadingly, shooting an urgent gaze up at the long-haired male.  "Don't you want me to do this...?" 

 

Ren gazed down at the other's body again, shyly parting his lips to trace his tongue over Hao's heated flesh, kissing and sucking over delicate skin.  Ren could feel his own body heating up more and more as he gathered a more thorough taste of Hao.   "Let me do this..." Ren whispered, gazing up at the other intently for a long moment.  The need in Hao's dark eyes was palpable, catching in Ren's chest.  He again lowered himself to Hao's body, this time parting his lips and drawing in the full length of the other, slowly sliding his lips over the other's silken flesh.

 

"I've already told you. I am NOT admitting ANYTHING. I haven't done anything WRONG!" Hao shook his head forcefully, not willing to back down on this...whatever kind of game Ren was playing with him, no matter how aroused he was. From the looks of things, and from his current perception of what was going on in Ren's mind, he doubted if his partner would be able to last much longer ministering this kind of torture on him...

 

Upon that pleading gaze, and the inquiry that followed, Hao felt his blood rushing again, and he clenched his fists at the headboard, still quite determined to break himself free from his...imprisonment, so that he could finally take over. But no, the damn things were just too TIGHT. "...Of course I want it," he let out in a growl.

 

He allowed his legs to part even more, giving Ren total and complete access to all of him...and when he felt Ren's mouth finally closing in on him, that was when he finally allowed himself to lose control, his body bucking up on its own as he let out a groan of pleasure.

 

Ren twitched slightly as Hao continued to deny that he had done anything wrong.  The other could  be so vexing at times... particularly when he insisted that he was right, when he was, in fact, wrong.  This would be so much easier if Hao would just admit that he'd been wrong to try to force Ren to stay.  Then Ren would be able to focus entirely on giving Hao pleasure... and taking his own... rather than this game of temptation and teasing. 

 

Ren still wouldn't give Hao control... actions had consequences, after all, and it was time that Hao realized that he wasn't the only one who could take control.  Ren flushed slightly at his thoughts, though inwardly, he assured himself that he could do this.  It was clear that Hao was enjoying what he was doing now... a little too clear, in fact...

 

Ren nearly choked as Hao's hips jerked free of his grasp and the other thrust up ever further into his mouth.  He gasped a bit around Hao's length, jerking his own head back in innate reaction to the other's movements. 

 

Ren caught Hao's hips, pinning them back down against the bed, before he gazed up at the other, smirking and giving a small shake of his head.  "Not so easy to hold still when it's you, is it?" he whispered hoarsely. 

 

It would have been so easy to give in to what Hao wanted at that moment... what they both wanted, really... Ren's gaze flickered over to the nightstand, his cheeks flushing as he caught sight of the lubricant still sitting there from the night before.  It would have been so easy...

 

"If you refuse to admit anything, though... I don't know that I can continue with this... I've tried to be persuasive... but you don't seem to want to listen to me..." Ren murmured, leaning down and sucking at the tip of Hao's arousal once again.  "It's really important to me that you see the error of your ways..."

 

"The error of my ways?" Hao repeated, inhaling as he struggled against Ren's grasp, trying to reclaim the pleasure that Ren refused to give him totally, even though they were completely aware of how much they both wanted--and needed it. "Would you really consider it wrong for me to wish to give YOU pleasure especially if you wanted it, and for me to want it in return?" He gasped out the final word, desperately seeking for more touches as Ren took him in again, taking him slowly, but not completely, making him acutely aware of how much he wanted all this. But he still couldn't understand what he did wrong.

 

'To HELL with it,' he thought to himself, a low groan escaping his lips once again, his eyes fluttering close as the sheer pleasure of the torture overwhelmed his senses, even as he struggled to let the words out. "...All right. FINE! I was wrong! I shouldn't have done that! I should have allowed you to go to that stupid meeting so you could have gotten it over and done with! I'm sorry! I'll never do it again!" He opened his eyes then, glancing at Ren sincerely, pleadingly. "I swear, I'll never do it again," he vowed with conviction, nodding for good measure, just to satisfy Ren. He didn't feel the least bit sorry at all, of course, but it wasn't like Ren would ever know that.

 

Ren fervently hoped that Hao would give in before the situation became any more heated.  He didn't know how long he could stand to watch his lover writhe before him in need and not give Hao what he wanted.  Hao teased him and tormented him at times... but Hao also brought him much pleasure.  Ren wanted to give the long-haired male pleasure in return... if only he would stop disagreeing...

 

"I wouldn't consider it wrong for you to want to give me pleasure... but I don't think it's right that you should try to change my mind to satisfy yourself after I've already made a decision.  Can't you understand that?" Ren asked, groaning himself only moments after Hao.

 

A smile appeared on his lips after Hao finally gave in.  It had taken a long time for Ren to get to hear those words... but it was definitely worth it...  So long as Hao understood that he'd been wrong to interfere... then there was no need to torture either one of them any longer.

 

"Apology accepted..." Ren whispered, his golden eyes softening as he met Hao's gaze.  “That's all that I wanted to hear... 

 

"Now... there's no reason why I shouldn't..."  Ren drew back from Hao's body and off of the bed before walking over to the nightstand and picking up the tube of lubricant.  He then tilted a coyly seductive gaze in the direction of his lover. 

 

"It would seem that one of us... isn't quite naked yet..." Ren murmured, before easing down his pants slowly in full view of Hao, blushing brightly at the way the other stared at him, but for once, not turning away or displaying any modesty at all.

 

"That's better..." Ren added, folding his pants and putting them on the sofa near the window, before returning to the bed to rest beside Hao.

 

"Mm... now... no more teasing... I promise..." Ren whispered, leaning in to kiss Hao surprisingly aggressively, before drawing back up to open the lubricant and spread it across the palm of his hand.  He then reached down to wrap his fingers around Hao's aching length, stroking the other slowly with a firm grip.  He just needed Hao to relax a little first...

 

Hao watched impatiently as Ren crossed over them room, then walked back towards the bed with something in his hand. Judging from where his partner just came from, Hao knew perfectly clear what it was, and that only served to fuel his impatience even more.

 

He glanced over at Ren, not daring to take his eyes off of his beautiful partner as he took off his pants and stood there, in all his glory, in all his nakedness, which Hao appreciated very much. And then, he couldn't help but chuckle slightly with amusement at Ren's next actions. Really, it was that obsession with keeping everything neat and orderly that made Ren so fantastically unique, and so incredibly endearing to him...

 

And then, Ren hovered over him, his weight resting on the bed as he leaned towards Hao. Having anticipated this, Hao raised his head slightly to kiss him back, wanting to prolong it as much as he could...and he couldn't help but let out an irritated sound when Ren suddenly pulled away. He was about to demand something again when Ren's slick fingers slid repeatedly all over his hard length, making him gasp and buck up against his hand, all thoughts of demanding anything from him completely forgotten.

 

Ren smiled shyly at Hao as the other watched him undress, slipping off pants and boxers to reveal his fully nude form.  Even though Ren tended to blush when Hao stared at him for an extended period of time, he couldn't help but feel warm inside that Hao would gaze at him thusly.  Hao really was... amazing... himself... Powerful and strong...  So seductive and beautiful, even though he could be difficult and lacking in any sort of self-control at times...  Ren knew that there was no one else on earth that he'd rather be with.  He knew that Hao loved him... Hao told him so often... and Ren was coming to trust in Hao's feelings... to believe that they wouldn't vanish or change someday.  Ren almost felt as if he could say the words back...  Even though Hao knew what was in his thoughts...

 

Ren hadn't ever said it aloud.  Perhaps today he could...

 

The way Hao returned his kiss made Ren moan softly into the other's mouth, his eyelids falling halfway shut by the time Ren drew back from the kiss.  The wonderful, intoxicating kiss...

 

Ren shyly watched Hao react to his touch as he slicked his fingers over Hao's body, his stomach feeling even more tense with desire to match the aching arousal that Ren had felt practically since they had begun.  He felt his inner confidence mounting as Hao lost the ability to do anything else other than gasp and buck into his hand.  It was time...

 

Ren continued stroking Hao's body, murmuring to Hao how beautiful he was at that moment as he slicked a few fingers on his other hand.  He'd never tried something like this before... but while he was still nervous about how this would go, Ren finally felt ready to attempt this. 

 

As soon as the other was moaning under his touch and relaxing a little against the bed, Ren reached down to push Hao's thighs further apart, before quickly pressing a finger into Hao's body, pausing the moment he felt the other grow tense.

 

A smile curved to Hao's lips as Ren murmured that comment into his ear, even as the acute pleasure of the torture his partner's hands were doing to him continued to overwhelm his senses. He -knew- he was beautiful, of course. He had always been beautiful, and he would always be...but coming from Ren, coming from someone who was so inconceivably precious to him that he couldn't even fathom it...that alone made the compliment distinct, and special.

 

Hao squeezed his eyes shut and let out a moan, savoring the feel of Ren's fingers as they glided over his flesh, eagerly spreading his thighs wider, and as soon as Ren reached into him, touching him the way Hao often touched him, he gasped out a breath and threw his head back, all form of resistance and control totally shattered...and yet it was only just beginning.

 

He should know how good this was. As an empath, he was conscious of Ren's needs, wants and desires...and he knew perfectly well how to caress and kiss his partner, how to make him moan frantically with uncontrollable need, and yet...he never really knew how it felt, not completely. Now he knew.

 

And he couldn't get enough.

 

Ren smiled down at Hao as a smile appeared on his lover's lips.  Seeing Hao like made Ren feel content somehow, knowing that Hao was smiling because of him.  Yet knowing that Hao was moaning and spreading his legs invitingly because of him was even more amazing... 

 

Ren groaned softly as he felt the other arch into his touch, slipping beneath his fingers, and groaned again as his single digit slipped into Hao's body.  It took him a moment of crooking his finger and shifting it around inside before he found what he sought, his breath catching as he felt Hao tense and moan at his touch.

 

"Hao..." Ren whispered, savoring the sight, the feeling of the other, as he pressed his finger further inward, before slowly slipping it out, trailing his other hand over the other's length at the same pace.  This was truly... amazing... but Hao's reaction gave Ren all of the confidence he needed to continue.  Hao wanted this, as evidenced by the way he groaned impatiently for more, and moaned again once Ren allowed his finger to once again slip inside.  After continuing thusly for awhile, Ren carefully added another finger... He would do for Hao what Hao had always done for him, pressing inward a bit more strongly now, wanting to give Hao as much pleasure as possible and make certain that the other was completely ready... before he attempted to go even further.

 

"Hao..."

 

Even though Hao was well aware of how good he was at pleasuring Ren, of how good it all felt for his partner every single time he kissed and touched him, feeling everything for himself was infinitely better…and knowing that it was Ren who was giving him all this…unimaginable pleasure made it even more unbearably good.

He clenched his fists tightly at the headboard as Ren’s finger hit his most sensitive area, while at the same time, caressed him, as if he didn’t want to deny Hao of all and every single inch of bliss that he could offer. As much as he wanted to scream…he held himself back, biting his lower lip and making a low, breathy gasp escape his mouth instead.

He really was going to die before this is all over.

Somewhere in his subconscious mind, he briefly noted that the ties that bound his hands to the headboard were on the brink of giving way...but the thought of that escaped him as Ren continued to caress him.

 

Amidst his passion-hazed mind, he heard his name being uttered in a soft, whispered voice. Ren's voice.

 

"Don't stop," he demanded fiercely in a rush of breath, before Ren could say anything else. "P...please. I need this. I want this," he added, just to make his point clear.

 

Ren was transfixed by the sight of Hao as he pleasured the other's body.  He might not have been able to read Hao's thoughts, but the other's ecstasy was visible on his features with every touch that Ren gave to him. 

 

The Chinese male could feel his cheeks flushing vibrantly, as his own golden eyes began to grow darkened with desire for the one before him.  Ren wanted Hao as he had never before

had him... to give the other pleasure with no shyness... no hesitation...   Nevertheless, Ren would be sure that Hao was ready... to have this chance wasn't something he would throw away in causing the other pain.  He parted his fingers a little, stretching Hao, before slipping in a third.  The other was showing no signs of pain whatsoever, and Ren could feel his own body aching with the need to seek out his own pleasure.

 

Ren smiled at Hao's words, gazing down into the other's pleasure-hazed dark eyes.  "I want this, too... want you, Hao..." Ren whispered, leaning down and inwards to kiss Hao once more, the kiss growing wilder and more feverish as it went on, until Ren finally gave into the urge to stop his ministrations and climb atop Hao's body, pushing the other's legs apart and upwards.  Ren panted desperately for breath as he drew closer to Hao, positioning himself in what he hoped was the right way.  When he pressed against the other and Hao shuddered in response, Ren was sure.  "Want this..." Ren whispered again urgently.

 

Just when he thought he was about to die from the sheer torment of the pleasure Ren was giving him...his wonderful, beautiful partner ended his misery by claiming his mouth in a hot, hungry kiss, infinitely made better because he had not expected it at all. He raised himself up ever-so-slightly, leaning far deeper into the kiss, wanting to take and taste as much of Ren as he could. He let out a pleasured gasp as Ren climbed over him, his body automatically welcoming the intrusion, his legs hooking up and around Ren's torso, pulling him downwards towards his body, wanting to feel as much of his partner as he could.

 

He squeezed his eyes tightly and let out a soft muffled moan at Ren's next movements, his hips bucking upwards, silently pleading for Ren to go on. "Hurry up..." he whispered breathlessly. "I don't want to wait any longer." Somewhere in his hazy mind, he heard a soft whisper from his partner, but before Ren could utter anything else, Hao silenced him greedily with his mouth, his arms still struggling at the headboard all the while. He really needed to get out of those binds. As much a pleasure as he was getting from Ren...he wanted to give it back twenty-million fold, and he needed his hands for that.

 

At this point in time, Ren's own body was aching with desire.  He'd ignored his own needs to tend to Hao thus far, but at long last, he could do this... take Hao like this... and feel how it was to have control of this from beginning to end.  Such a difference from the way Ren usually was... but Hao's reactions gave Ren ample confidence to continue.  He wanted to feel it all now...

 

Ren made a soft sound of pleasure as he drew back from the kiss, running a tongue over them to draw in the last of Hao's wonderful taste.  His heart was thudding in his ears, and an aroused smile settled on Ren's lips as Hao gasped beneath him.  Another small sound escaped Ren as Hao's legs folded around him invitingly and drew him closer, his hips arching up urgently, leaving their bodies even closer.

 

In answer to Hao's urgings, Ren nodded breathlessly, but he was unable to manage any verbal reply because his lips had been captured by Hao's a split second later.  The way Ren returned Hao's kiss with passionate urgency was answer enough.  They both wanted this now... and there was no reason to wait any longer.

 

Ren closed his eyes, leaving his mouth melded to Hao's own, drawing back slightly, before pressing forward.  He gasped a little against Hao's mouth as he felt the other's body, entering him slowly, remembering how it had been for him the first time with Hao... so overwhelming... and how it had taken him time to adjust.  Each inch was a tortured heaven, his body screaming for so much more, his thoughts intent on Hao.  When at last he filled the other completely, Ren slowly opened his eyes.  Perspiration sheened his brow as he groaned and drew back from the kiss."Hao..." he whispered, smiling faintly down at the other, between ragged breaths.  "Amazing..."  Ren's head swam with the pleasure of it, as his body began to impatiently crave more.  Yet, at that moment, Ren focused on Hao's arms, still bound over his head.  He reached up, fingers working to free Hao's arms from there restraint.  There was no need for anything like that now... not now...

 

Hao suppressed a groan as he felt the entry, his body trembling slightly at the instant pain that particular action brought...pain that left as quickly as it came, only to be replaced by an incredible, overwhelming amount of pleasure that almost took over his senses. He had always known how it was like to fill someone, to feel the tightness surrounding him...to feel Ren all over him. Yet...he had never once quite understood how it was to be Ren...to have something inside of you that made you feel so whole, and complete like you never had before. He only knew that Ren felt good...but the reactions he'd always elicit every single time they do it...every single time they were at that point, satisfied as he was, their meanings eluded him, somehow.

 

But now, he knew. Now, he understood.

 

He let out a small, pleasured sigh...and then, he gazed at Ren, and was about to demand something that had been bothering him since earlier...when those lovely golden eyes looked into his dark brown ones, with a small, but gentle and affectionate smile in them...as well as a considerable amount of desire.

 

He managed a bright and properly lustful grin as Ren spoke, and then, the grin became even wider as his partner did what he had been so impatiently anticipating, which was...to untie his hands. Almost immediately, Hao swiftly stretched his arms out, and subsequently wrapped them around Ren, drawing him down even closer, melding their bodies even more as his mouth demandingly sought for Ren's again, and at the second he found it, kissed him urgently, his tongue moving inside his mouth, tasting him greedily, thoroughly, like he couldn't have enough.

 

Ren watched the flicker of pain slip from Hao's features, his body ceasing its trembling beneath him, and he smiled once more.  It was right like this... as right as it was whenever Hao was with him.  He could give Hao the same pleasure that Hao always brought to him... and feel pleasure the way Hao had felt it in return.  Just as Hao hadn't known what it was to feel filled completely, Ren had never known what it was like to be so completely engulfed in heat, to feel gripped so tightly, pleasure from every source, to feel Hao's body beneath him, pressing against him.  It was a different kind of bliss entirely... It seemed that there was nothing that he could do with Hao that would not end in some kind of wonderful pleasure.

 

At Hao's sigh, Ren gazed down at the other, even as his fingers were finding their wait to the binding that held  Hao's arms fast.  Ren knew that this was what Hao wanted, and he would deny the other nothing... not now...  Judging by the grin that appeared on Hao's face, he had all that he wanted now...

 

Ren moaned softly as Hao's arms wrapped around his body and drew him closer, his eyelids fluttering as his cheeks flushed to an even brighter shade of  pink.  He trembled with the need to move, his body urging him along, and when Hao drew him in for another blindingly passionate kiss, Ren no longer resisted that urge.  It was a clear sign that Hao was ready...  He wouldn't hurt the other now...

 

Ren drew back slowly, before shifting a little and pressing his hips inwards again.  He wanted to do for Hao what Hao did for him... find that spot that made him shudder and gasp and cry out for the sheer bliss of it.

 

Ren himself gasped at the feelings drawn up by his movement, a sweet, hot, foreign friction that he had never felt before.  "Hao..."  Ren moaned softly.  "Ah, Hao..."

 

How could something feel so good, yet make one yearn for so much more, all at once?   Ren had never understood all of the hunger that appeared in Hao's features whenever they were together like this, and Hao was holding onto self-control to draw things out.  He had never fully realized the source of the impatient need that flickered in Hao's dark eyes... until this moment...

 

Ren rocked back, increasing his pace a little, and gasping again at the feelings it drew up.  He was hazily glad that Hao had gotten him frustrated enough to turn the tables... just  so he could try something like this.  It was wonderful... to have such a complete union with his lover... no matter how they came together...

 

Hao's breath hitched as Ren surged forward into him, his hips moving in synchrony with his partner's movements, like he didn't want to deny himself any shred of sensation that came out each and every second their skins touched, and each and every second that their flesh came into contact. He had never felt this way before...showered with so much pleasure, so much bliss, and so much love that he was practically drowning from it...and yet still, he couldn't get enough. He wanted more. He wanted to drown in it...completely, fully.

 

He tightened his arms around Ren, so much that he knew he was practically crushing them together, but he didn't care. He wanted to savor each and every moment of this...the first time was always something important, something special...something to be remembered, and although it was not the first time he and Ren had made love...the fact is, -this- was the first time he had surrendereed himself completely to his partner's mercy, and allowed himself to lose his control. More importantly, -this- was the first time he had allowed Ren complete access to him like this.

 

And most important of all...this was the first time Ren had allowed himself to take control of everything, for once. Even for once.

 

To be honest, as much as Hao liked to take control of things, to make Ren give in so easily to his demands, -this- was a refreshing change...one that he welcomed completely with open arms...

 

He focused his attention on his partner as they moved together, a smile forming on his lips at the blissful expression on Ren's face, as well as the blush...the beautiful, wonderful blush that perpetually graced his lovely face. He chuckled in mid-gasp, extremely pleased at the way Ren moaned out his name, each and every time he surged forward. It made him feel...warm...loved. And he didn't need to turn on his empathy to its fullest to know that it was so.

 

Ren drew in a sharp gasp of breath as Hao's hips rose to meet his own, in one movement, offering Ren a deeper pleasure still.  It was only natural that his lover's name fall from his lips at regular intervals, a soft repetitive sound that echoed the incredible sensations that Ren was currently experiencing.  Yet, it wasn't enough for Ren, either.  He wanted more... full completion of this act. The longing that was lodging in Hao's breast was matched by one that Ren was currently experiencing.

 

Ren liked this feeling... having control... He also liked that Hao trusted him deeply enough to surrender to him so completely, even now when nothing held him back.  This was more than Ren had ever known that Hao would give to him...

 

Ren smiled down at Hao for a long moment, his cheeks flushed, a faint sheen of perspiration on his brow, his locks tousled.   Hao looked so beautiful, even then.  The other's cheeks had faint flush to them, Hao's hair was fanned out behind his head, and the expression on his face was one of mingled bliss and desire, his dark eyes dazed with passion.

 

Ren moaned out at the way their bodies moved together, heavenly sensations pulsing through him with each movement, unable to stop himself from moving more quickly now.  He needed more, more of the remarkable synchrony that seemed to exist between them even now when the roles were reversed.  Ren was feeling so much at the present moment, his senses utterly overloaded with a new pleasure he'd never quite experienced before.

 

A fleeting grin fixed itself upon Ren's lips as he caught the way Hao chuckled up at him.  Even now, the other retained enough coherence to find pleased amusement.  Ren decided that it shouldn't stay that way for long.  And there was one last thing he could do to make Hao lose all reason... which was good, because Ren himself wasn't far from that point at all, though he was determined not to let go until Hao did so, as well.

 

Ren reached down between their bodies, curling his fingers around Hao's flesh, and groaning at the sensation as he began to stroke the other in time with their movements.  He could barely keep himself steady at the combined sensations that were threatening to overwhelm him, his hips meeting Hao's again and again.  Ren leaned forward to kiss Hao once more, a fever of passion as their lips and tongues meshed together.

 

Hao almost jerked out of the bed as a tremor of pleasure jolted his senses at the instant that Ren’s hand closed over his arousal. It was not the first time this has been done to him, but the feeling of being caressed like that, coupled with the strong, screaming pleasure that vibrated all throughout his entire body as he and Ren moved together, hips meeting in an endless rhythm, overwhelmed him so much in a way that he has never experienced before.

 

He would have let out a low growl, but Ren's mouth found his at that moment, silencing him with hungry, passionate kisses, and making every single thought inside his head disappear entirely. He couldn't remember where he was anymore. All he knew was the pleasure...the blissful feeling, and the person who was giving it to him. Ren.

 

The world could have ended right then and there, and he probably wouldn't have cared. Someone else could have been named Shaman King and claimed the entirety of the Universe as his own, and he probably wouldn't have cared. Never mind caring, he probably would have never -known-.

 

And it was all because of this. All because of HIM.

 

This -him- was Ren...his partner, his other half, his lover, his soul...and he never wanted anyone else. No one else can give him -this- kind of pleasure...no one else but RRen.

 

Moaning against Ren's mouth, he clung to him, arms tightly bound around the supple body of his lover, touching him all over, caressing him, hungrily possessing him...and he never wanted to let go.

 

Ren moaned out loudly as Hao jerked at his touch, his slim form wracked with pleasure that caused him to tense suddenly, sending heady sensations throughout Ren's entire body.  He couldn't think, could scarcely breathe... for those glorious moments, all that Ren could do was feel.  Feel Hao... so intimately... so wonderfully... like this, together... Ren had never known it would feel so right, him claiming Hao like this... in the way that Hao always claimed him... but it did.

 

Ren was caught up in kissing Hao, even as his fingers tightened around the other's flesh, tugging in slightly erratic motions in time with their fervent hips.  Ren was dimly aware that Hao was growling into his mouth, as he was making some mewl of pleasure into Hao's, but he refused to break the kiss.  Ren wanted to keep kissing Hao, lack of breath or no, keep tasting Hao, until he could absolutely no longer go on.

 

Ren knew then that he wanted no one else... felt this feeling for no other... It was Hao alone... it had always been Hao...

 

He could feel Hao moaning back breathlessly against his lips, Hao's hands roaming over his body, before his arms tightened around Ren, crushing them together.  Pleasure like this was more than Ren ever had... or ever could resist...

 

It wasn't long until his body was all but crushed under the sea of rising pleasure, quivering faintly as he let his body move of its own accord, hips pressing into Hao's at a feverish pace, hand caressing the other's heated flesh again and again.

 

"Hao...nnn...!" Ren moaned breathlessly, his body finally pushed past its limits as a final

wave of ecstasy surged through him, everything coming to a head in a few blissful moments.

 

Hao held Ren closer to him, cradling his partner's shuddering body, supporting him as everything came into completion. Even all throughout this, Ren wouldn't cease the pleasure he was giving Hao. Throughout all his exhaustion, Ren continued to touch him, caressing him again and again until his body, at long last, finally lost control, the pleasure that has been surrounding him ever since earlier, when everything started, merging into one rapturous sensation deep inside, all over him, until at last, he couldn't take it anymore.

 

Ren's name came out of his lips in a loud, breathless moan...and as everything came over him, overwhelmed him, he found that he could no longer think at all. He could only feel...and it was unlike anything he had ever hoped to experience before. He tightened his hold on Ren's body, frantically clinging to him, depending on him, submitting all of himself to his partner and his lover completely.

 

Just as Ren was his, now and forever...he was Ren's...

 

Ren could feel Hao's body finding its own end, even as he was reaching his own peak, and he forced his eyes open to watch the other's face.  It was all he could do to keep his fingers moving at a fervent pace as he took in the beautiful sight of Hao beneath him, silken locks mussed on the pillow, cheeks flushed, dark eyes shining with pleasure.  And the way that Hao was looking at him... with such absolute trust, love...

 

Ren's breath caught in his throat even as he fought off the urge to close his eyes and collapse bonelessly atop Hao.  His entire body was seized with a great weariness, along with the thrumming aftermath of pleasure and the sound of Hao moaning out his name echoing in his ears.  Still, Ren refused to give in to Hao's tight grasp that was pulling him downward, his arms shaking with the exertion of holding himself up.

 

Ren smiled down at Hao, his eyes still dazed and half-lidded.  He had to say it now... now when the moment was at its peak and he felt the emotion thumping so passionately against his chest.  He could say it now... would say it...

 

"Love you..." Ren whispered, reaching forward to cup Hao's cheek tenderly.  After a moment, he finally drew back from the other, groaning reluctantly as he lost that feeling of closeness, only to collapse onto the bed beside Hao.

 

"...was amazing..." Ren murmured breathlessly, closing his eyes as he drew in heaving breaths and relaxed against the bed.

 

As everything finally came into completion for him, he gazed at his partner and his lover, with all and everything that he felt reflected fully and completely in his eyes. He had said it to Ren plenty of times, yes. He had meant it each and every time, yes. But there was something about making love that was so essential, so beautiful...the mere fact of being one with the person you consider as the one and only being precious to you than life itself...the exchange of pleasure, the caresses, the touches, and the kisses...contact which were not merely of the physical, but of the spiritual, of the emotional...everything ensures that you will remain his, just as he will remain yours...for always...

 

It was easy to say the words without meaning it, Hao knew. But for Ren...it was something entirely different. Nothing ever came easy for his partner and lover...not even something like this. It had to take a lot of effort on his part to even get Ren to open up to him, and over the years, while his partner never did once utter the words, he knew the whole time...Ren loved him.

 

Yet...as he took in a couple of breaths, as he savored the final warmth, and the aftermath of everything, he couldn't help but feel surprised as, no sooner after he had thought of it, he felt Ren's warm hand gently glide over his cheek, touching him in such a loving way, that when he looked up, gazed at those beautiful golden eyes...eyes that he grew to love even more with every passing second, especially now...and as he heard those softly uttered words--words that he had always known existed deep within his partner, he felt something indescribable, inconceivable...tug deep inside of him. In his heart. The heart that he had always thought had ceased to exist, long ago, until Ren came into his life. Yes, he -had- always known...and he was happy knowing, even though it was never uttered out loud. But...

 

He pouted slightly, sighing with disappointment at the loss when Ren drew away from him after some time. He shifted a bit and focused his gaze on Ren, on the bed, right beside him.

 

Beautiful. That was the only word he knew that could describe Ren. He doubted if the word was even enough to describe him without losing the very essence of what he was...but nevertheless...he doubted if there was anyone else who could look as beautiful as Ren did at that moment. Except for -him- maybe...

 

Although he had realized it earlier before, when he had started sleeping with Ren, each and every time, Hao found himself still entirely amazed...all that beauty belonged to him, and only him...

 

And he couldn't help himself. He found that he could no longer merely just continue staring. He raised his hand, and gently ran his fingers all over his lover's beautiful, beautiful face...from his tousled hair, to his smooth, fair cheeks...now a gorgeous pinkish hue after everything that happened, and to his lips...exquisite and slightly moist, from all their kisses...again and again, he caressed each and every single inch of that beauty, marveling the feel, the texture of them against his skin, and wondering, still consistently wondering inside his mind how in the name of all that he believed in could someone be so perfect, so seductive and sensual, and innocent all at the same time--and so utterly, indescribably beautiful...and the most astounding thing of all was that Ren belonged to him--not just physically, but in all his entirety--body, mind...heart, and soul.

 

And now, after those softly uttered words...he had full, verbal proof of it. But he just had to hear it again...

 

The way Hao had been looking at him right up until the very end had already been something special.  Hao's dark eyes were soft and warm, even as the daze of pleasure overwhelmed them, before slowly beginning to fade.  Just from the way that Hao was looking at him then, Ren could feel how much the other loved him.  The moment was already thick with emotion when Ren uttered those words, yet the pure and simple happiness that appeared on Hao's features, along with a rare flash of surprise, made Ren want to melt inside with the purest of contentment.

 

They needed no words between them as their gazes locked, beautiful dark eyes meeting beautiful golden ones steadily, all else forgotten...  The moment was perfect.  Ren knew then, beyond all doubt, that it had been utterly right to reveal his feelings to Hao with words... and having said them felt very good to Ren, as well, somehow.

 

After Ren had drawn back and come to rest beside Hao on the bed, he lingered with his eyes closed for several moments, relaxing against the mattress and catching his breath.  At Hao's touch, however, Ren's eyelids slowly slid open, and a smile was immediately called to his lips by the way Hao was touching him.  Ren gave a pleasured sigh as Hao's fingers gently traced over his face, his hair, even his eyelids. 

 

At the way Hao was continuing to stare at him... with love, admiration, and even a tender possessiveness, Ren could feel the dying flush blossom anew in his cheeks.  Hao was looking at him as if he were beautiful...

 

Ren smiled shyly, looking down for a moment, before rolling onto his side and drawing close to the brunet.  "Hao..." he whispered, snuggling against Hao and wrapping an arm around the other's waist.  "You make me so happy...  this makes me so happy... just being close to you like this, even if we are making the bed a little messy."  Ren grinned faintly and yawned wearily.  Even he was too tired from his earlier exertions to want to shower or change the sheets just now.

 

A little sleep first wouldn't hurt anything...

 

Ren reached down to draw up the covers, and once he'd done so and settled back against Hao, he tilted his gaze up to meet the other's own.  Hao was still gazing at him intently... and Ren could feel his cheeks coloring once more.  "Hao... why are you looking at me like that?" Ren whispered.

 

As Ren inched closer and wrapped his arms around Hao's waist, Hao found himself automatically enfolding his partner in a warm, possessive embrace, a soft sigh of contentment escaping his lips as he did so. And, just when he was thinking that nothing can be more perfect than all this, Ren had to come leaning against his ear and whispering those words to him...

 

A soft, fond smile involuntarily graced his lips, growing even wider as he continued to gaze over his wonderful partner...so beautiful, right down from the tips of his toes up to the pointy, oddly endearing end of his hair--and more. He loved the physical, yes...but the whole person that made up the totally unique being that was Tao Ren was what he loved best of all.

 

If granted that he didn't have anything to speak of that would prove it right now, those softly whispered words would sufficiently prove one particular aspect of Ren that he adored so much...aside from the fact that -he- obviously made Ren happy, the other was just plainly obsessed with cleanliness--and it was that, among many other qualities, that made Ren so wonderfully, perfectly endearing to him.

 

Hao continued to gaze at his partner as Ren suddenly shifted, only to settle back in his arms once again, with the covers drawn up over them. At that softly uttered question, and the quite adorable blush that came with it, Hao chuckled, an affectionately amused expression on his face. "...Because I want to," he stated simply. When a small frown started to hover on Ren's face, Hao rolled his eyes playfully and sighed with resignation. "All right, fine. Because you're beautiful. Because you make happy in ways I can't describe, and...because I love you." He laid his hand gently on Ren's cheek, his fingers caressing the contours of that beautiful face that he would never get tired of looking at. He smiled sweetly, and gave Ren a meaningful look. "Does that answer your question?"

 

Ren smiled  contentedly as Hao embraced him tightly, sighing along with the long-haired male as they lay there together in silence, the only sounds on the air the sounds of their breathing, gradually slowing down in the aftermath of pleasure.  It felt so right... just seeing the warm smile on Hao's lips...  filled Ren with even more happiness than he already felt.  This was how Hao was meant to be.  Happy, warm, blissful...

 

Ren was glad that he could be the one to give Hao those feelings.  He remained where he was, satisfied to rest against Hao in a peaceful silence after he'd said what he wanted to say.  Even if they were a bit sticky and probably did need a bath... it just wasn't important compared to how right it felt to be close to Hao at the moment.  Some things were more important than cleanliness... even to Ren.

 

Ren could feel the flush creeping up on his cheeks again as Hao continued to gaze at him, even after he'd drawn up the covers around him and settled against Hao again.  Even though he loved Hao, and was glad that Hao could gaze at him thusly, Ren was still not quite accustomed to anyone gazing at him like that for a long stretch of time.  He frowned faintly as the other chuckled teasingly and gave him an evasive answer.

 

The answer that Hao gave him eventually only caused Ren's blush to deepen, his golden eyes soft and warm as he smiled up at Hao.

 

"Hao..."  Ren whispered, leaning into the other's gentle touch.  "That more than answers my question.  It tells me everything that I need to know... 

 

"Mmm... I think I could stay here like this for hours..."

 

Ren added, shifting slightly against Hao and yawning languidly.  "Sleepy..."  Ren went on to murmur, closing his eyes and just listening to the sound of Hao's breath and his heartbeat thumping softly in his chest.  "Love you..." Ren added, feeling weariness settle heavily upon him once more.  Ren wasn't even aware that his last words had come out in Chinese... as he began to drift off to sleep...

 

Hao chuckled at Ren's answer, having expected nothing less. "I'm sure it does," he murmured dryly. "...And I'm glad you feel that way," he added, grinning slightly to himself.

 

As Ren closed his eyes, a warm, fond smile graced his lips once again...softer this time, and more affectionate than the rest. It was the kind of smile that Hao only allowed himself every once in a while...mostly, when Ren was asleep.

 

Hao leaned over and brushed a soft kiss on his partner's lips, allowing himself to linger for a while...long enough to feel those softly uttered words, spoken in a language quite foreign to him...yet he understood, nevertheless.

 

With one last, fond smile, Hao leaned back against the pillows, wrapping his arms tightly, protectively around Ren before closing his eyes and finally, drifting off to sleep.