I darted my eyes around the room, panic setting in. Oh no, oh no, my mind screamed. I started forward Akira then back and then forward again. Finally, I spotted my bag and saw hope, but Akira grabbed my hand.
"Sit," he mouthed as he slid the panties inside his yukata.
"No." I shook my head, glancing at the door.
"Hurry. Mayuki-neesan's going to open the screen," he whispered.
Resigned, I sat seiza with my knees closed together. The shoji screen slid open, but no head peeked in.
"Are you guys decent?" Mayuki-san's voice rose as if it would break.
Looking at Akira, I let out a chortle. My heartbeat slowed to its normal speed. I breathed in and out.
"We are." Akira winked at me.
Mayuki-san appeared. A hand covered one of her eyes. I bit my lips to keep the well of laughter. Only if she knew.
"We haven't done anything yet," Akira added.
Mayuki-san's eyes widened. She straightened, her cheeks flushing before she shook her head, mustering her stern look.
"You're unbelievable Aki-kun. You're so confident now," she said as she glanced at me.
Akira waved it off. "What are you doing here anyway? Did aniki send you to spy?"
"No." Mayuki-san breathed through her nose and then smiled at me. "I just want to see if Reiko's fine and to remind you guys the time for breakfast."
"It's all good." I glanced at Akira. "Just a little tired."
Akira took my hand. "We're perfect."
Mayuki-san groaned. "All right. Geez. I'll leave you two lovebirds alone." She started sliding the door. "Don't get too wild. There are kids next door."
"We're not—we won't." I flushed.
Mayuki-san's laughter continued down the hall until it vanished along with her footsteps. It took a minute before the heat on my face went down.
"You sneaky little—" I threw Akira's hand and relaxed my stance, placing my buttocks on the tatami mats.
He chuckled and seized my hand once more. "The flush in your cheeks is so adorable."
"That's because of you." I scowled at him.
"The more reason I like it." He grinned so wide his eyes disappeared.
It melted my anger away into a gooey puddle of warmth. Gods. I liked this guy. There was no use denying it. I liked him. So much. That my heart ached. That my world stilled in the midst of a storm. It lit a fire inside me, a desire I never thought I'd be capable of feeling.
But the fear lingered in the back—a solid definite worry that I would lose him. It started a deep black hole inside me.
Akira tugged my arm, pausing my thoughts. He pulled again. "Come, Reiko-senpai."
I couldn't help it. I smiled. "Come where?"
He looked at me as if I was losing it. "In my lap."
"Akira, Akira." I clicked my tongue, still grinning. "You heard your sister-in-law. Your cousins are next door."
His face fell for a second, but he recovered fast enough. His smirk returned. "In my room. In my bed. We haven't done it there."
"Such a quick thinker," I said as I got on my knees and crawled towards him.
His expression was pure victory. "I knew it. You want to climb in my lap."
"Oh, really?" I stretched out my hands and slid it to the thighs I had been craving. It was smooth and warm like I thought. It was heaven.
Akira jerked. "Your hands are freezing."
"Now you know how I feel." I chuckled as my hand traveled out to his obi, untying it. Glorious bare chest appeared in front of me. I bit my lips. "Shall we mess up your bed?"