It was impossible. There was no way I could ever stop looking at the man sleeping soundly beside me. I’d been rudely awoken by an accidental smack to my shoulder thanks to Aoshi. My watch alarm had gone off telling me it was a new day. Not only that as I flipped it off that was the exact time I’d been smacked by Aoshi, he probably thinking it was his own alarm clock. Turning over I saw Aoshi resting on his side facing me, his facial features slack from there usual seriousness. His long lashes fanned over his cheeks, while he brought in silent deep breaths. He truly was a beautiful man. The pale light streamed into through the doorway of my room as I hadn’t turned off any lamps from the living area. Instantly my face flushed when I trailed my eyes down Aoshi’s strong physique to see him only in his briefs now. If I sat up on the bed and leaned over to check Aoshi out I’m sure because his briefs were riding so low against his hips that he’d be showing off his butt crack to me. Who would have thought that someone so professional during the day could ever look so young, so adorable and so slack in sleep?

"What shall I do with you?" I couldn’t help but whisper as I lay my head back down on my pillow. Aoshi’s right arm lay under him as his own pillow, while his left was slightly stretched out before me, my fingers unable to resist stroking his hand. God they worked magic on me.

Scratching my stomach absently I flicked on my watch light to check the time once more. Perhaps I really should wake him up. We’d been distracted yesterday because of certain reasons and I really didn’t want to be the reason if his business began to loose profits and sales. And then it began – the little voices of ‘Work Misao’ and ‘Pleasure Misao’ began to annoy me as I stared over at Aoshi.

You should wake him up, his business is important. Work Misao would say to me, hands on hips, eyes narrowed and tapping her foot expectantly.

But I’m important too. Pleasure Misao would mumble and with a stupid pleading look on her face (naked by the way) and with large dewy eyes.

Argh, why couldn’t they just both leave me alone so I had free time to gaze upon ‘Mr Sexy’ lying in my now broken bed? Hmm, would it be bad if I asked him to go halves in buying me a new bed since he helped break it? No that would be bad Misao. Be thankful you got a job (and sex) out of him.

Do you think he’d be pleased if his usual routine of waking up to go to work is broken? I narrowed my eyes at Work Misao voicing this. Damn you bitch! I knew Aoshi was one for routine, even only being in his presence for several days. He was just so professional, so organised, so punctual and stern and so damn sexy in leather…

Oh god, Pleasure Misao, leave me the hell alone! I’m already finding it hard not to glomp him right now! Groaning at these thoughts I rolled away from Aoshi and landed on my carpeted floor. Man I hope that wasn’t some sharp object poking into my butt.

Scrambling to my feet realising it was just a discarded old shoe of mine I began creeping out of my room, but of course the ever ‘klutz’ Makimachi soon came out as I fell over another pair of shoes and landed with a loud thump right in front of my doorway. All this very butt naked by the way. Lifting myself up, I sat on my shins, back to my bed as I picked up the shoe (Aoshi’s shoe) I’d fallen over trying to be stealthy, glared at it before throwing it into the living room.

"What are you doing?" I felt a small ‘ack’ escape my lips as that deep voice as it was not supposed to penetrate the silence of the apartment. I glanced over my shoulder, brushing messy locks of hair away so I could see him and found Aoshi lying on his stomach looking over at me. Most of his body was covered in shadows but the pale light flickered over his facial features as he blinked the sleep from his eyes, several bangs sticking in all different directions.

"I’m…err…" Great, I had no words for him as he remained lying on my bed, arms cupping his chin as he dug his elbows into the mattress gazing quietly at my naked form.

"Are you awake because its time for work?"

"Yes!" I spoke a little too loudly. He’d just given me the best excuse. "I was just about to head for the bathroom then come back and wake you up when I was done. See you soon." I stumbled to my feet, cheeks warm with a blush because I ran from him naked, my braided hair swishing behind me as I felt his heated stare right at my butt. Argh, what a pervert! Wait, wasn’t that me?

It didn’t take long for me to jump into the shower, warm water streaming down my back as I tried to wake up. I was also trying desperately not to think of any thoughts of Aoshi in this very shower stall with me.

"Misao?"

"GAAAAAAAH!" I screeched out and practically plastered myself to the tiled wall in the stall as I gazed with squinting eyes through the fogged glass to see Aoshi in my bathroom.

"Do you have any tea in your kitchen?" My heart pounded in my ears. Tea? All he wanted was tea? Hmm, why did that seem a little disappointing to me?

"Err…yeah in the cupboard above the kettle. It should be in the blue pottery dish." I listened to the door close quietly and slumped against the wall. Phew, I don’t think I could take another round of banging Aoshi just yet. I was sort of sore and all. He just knew how to pleasure me to the brink of insanity. Hehe, Misao-chan you just rhymed. Wait, what was I doing in here? Showering, yes showering was goooooooood, Aoshi thoughts are baaaaaaaaad.

Humming to myself I tucked my plush towel around me and headed off to my bedroom. Quickly glancing my eyes to the kitchen, I found Aoshi standing at the counter looking very sleepily at the kettle when it began to whistle. He turned it off before I finally noticed he was dressed back in his leather pants and his grey shirt as he padded on bare feet to investigate where I kept my cups. That is when I took note he in fact had his shirt unbuttoned and the same for his pants. Why did the scenario of Aoshi making tea, in my apartment, after just coming from my bedroom seem so appealing?

"Um…" Crap that wasn’t really me was it? I slowly watched Aoshi turn half way around. Yep it was my stupid voice again. My eyes couldn’t seem to break from his taunt muscles on his abdomen constricting here and there at his movements as he gazed my way. "Err…good morning…" I felt my face flush as I stood before him in a flimsy towel, strands of hair damp while most of it was pinned messily to the top of my head.

"Good morning…" He murmured back quietly, our eyes not once moving from each others. Why did it always have to feel this awkward? "How do you take your tea?"

"Straight up, like you." I watched his eyebrow rise at that and it didn’t take long for the snickering of Pleasure Misao to assault me as I finally realised how that sounded. And so, my flush was back, ten fold as I waved my arms around trying to explain.

"No, no, no that came out wrong! I mean straight up as in how you drink it!" And then I fled the living area and closed the door of my bedroom to change and hide the remainder of my darkening blush. Argh, if only I could pound out Pleasure Misao from my brain for at least two minutes and have a non perverted conversation with Aoshi or at least think non perverted thoughts while talking to him.

Creaking the door open I was finally dressed in black trousers, black tank top and white work shirt over the top as it rested comfortably at my hips. The ‘Shinomori Delights’ shirt was in dire need of a clean and so I’ll do that tonight. I’m sure Aoshi wouldn’t mind me wearing this. I made my way further into the living area and saw Aoshi sitting on one of the bar stools in the kitchen looking quietly over at me.

"Ah, hey, you don’t mind me wearing this today do you? I haven’t washed the bakery shirt, being distracted and all." Calm Misao, remain calm and gulp down you tea. "Ack, that’s hot!" I groaned at the scolding tea moving down my throat as I stood on the other side of the counter.

"I only just made it Misao." Came his bland reply and I hated it. How could he be so damn casual at a time like this? He was sitting in my apartment, after just having sex with me and being too damn stoic about it! "You seem frustrated." He spoke once more, my eyes darting to his as I took note he was pouring me another cup of tea.

"I’m thinking…" I grumbled out, snatching the toast he had made right from his fingers and shoved it into my mouth. Yeah good one Misao, show him ‘Pig’ Misao. That’ll get him going and wanting you more and more. "How can you be so casual? It’s like this is something you do all the time and don’t become phased over it." Oh great, now ‘Snappy’ Misao was being shown. Yes, just continuously show him or your bad moods, he won’t be bothered by it at all.

"No this is actually the first time."

"First time for what may I ask?" I snapped once more, gulping down the tea again.

"To share the breakfast I made with a lover." My eyes grew wide at his reasoning and I watched as he stood up and headed back into my room. Now how could he voice that so damn plainly, walk off while doing so and yet here I was thinking it was one of the sweetest things I had ever heard. Misao, you are a twisted girl. Quickly getting up I found him sitting on my mattress and placing on his socks, his shirt now buttoned.

"Did you just say lover?" I couldn’t help but ask, thinking my mind was playing tricks on me. Aoshi had just tied up the shoelace on one of his boots up as he flickered his eyes up at my fidgeting self.

"What do you want me to say Misao? This is my first time having tea and toast with my shag of the week?" I fisted my hands at my sides, not liking the sarcasm he voiced and stepped forward, my hands resting against his shoulders, making Aoshi unable to rise from the mattress.

"I’m not…a shag of the week…am I?" Oh great and now came ‘Insecurity’ Misao to the rescue, not! With eyes pleadingly looking down at Aoshi I watched as his hands raised to press against my hips dragging me closer to him.

"It hasn’t been a week, so that doesn’t comply with you." I furrowed my eyebrows at that. If he was trying to make a joke, it wasn’t very funny. "Secondly, I’d like to think something else could go on between us besides the great sex, but now isn’t the time to discuss it." I hated the way he voiced that so sultrily, so deeply to me as I observed him tilt his head back, one hand pulling mine down so he could craze his lips against mine. I was putty in his damn hands! It didn’t take long for my knees to turn jelly as I fell into Aoshi’s arms, his tongue invading my mouth now. God how was it he could tame my temper by a mere kiss?

"Work…" I muffled against him as a reminder. "We’ve got to go to work…" Again I mumbled against him before pulling my lips from his knowing if I went any further he’d be a very naked Aoshi. Instead I clung to his shoulders, sitting up on my knees in between his legs.

"I suppose…" Came his uncertain answer which was definitely not like him, but butterflies began to flutter in my stomach once more as I felt the brush of fingers just at the top of my buttoned jeans. Oooooooooooooooooh…

"No, we must! I can’t…" I pulled away then, lifting myself to my feet while straightening out my tank top and white shirt.

"You can’t what?" He voiced as he stood up, limping slightly because of the fact he only had one shoe on. His other of course had been thrown into my living room.

"Um, well, sleep with you again." I watched him freeze as he turned to look over his shoulder at me. Was that sadness in his eyes?

"So we are finished then?" Finished? What was he blabbering about? My eyes grew wide as I finally took notice of my vague stupid answer.

"Gah, I’ve got to stop being so stupid!" And I smacked the side of my head at that.

"Misao…?" His voice had changed. Was that slight worry I heard?

"I didn’t mean not sleeping with you ever again. I mean just not now because I’m err…a little sore." I’m certain my face was once again ten shades of red as I scratched awkwardly at the back of my neck. "I’m sorry for making you think I didn’t want you, because you know I really do." Wait, am I embarrassing myself even more? His lips had parted at my words and his eyes were slightly wider behind his still messy bangs. Ah, I really wanted to rake my fingers through those silky locks.

"You…want me?" Did he truly doubt that? How could such a sexy being like him, with so much skill in continuously arousing my senses to new heights doubt himself so?

"How could I not? Do you have any idea how sex- I mean special you are?" Okay granted he is like a total bishonen, but perhaps that wasn’t the greatest way to go about telling him he drove me wild. I placed my hands against my cheeks at my blurted words. I knew I was getting in too deep and way too fast as well, but my eyes grew wide when strong arms were around me and a head rested atop of mine.

Aoshi and I remained that way for I don’t know how long, but there we were in my living room and he was hugging me tightly to him, not allowing me to look up at him either. Was there emotions showing on his face, not wishing for me to see a weakness perhaps? I of course had no time to think this over too long as he’d finally let go, placed on his shoe and tied it up.

"We should be going. We are now really behind as I’ve yet to grab my own things from my apartment." I rushed to my bedroom to grab my bag and my keys and then quickly made my way to the door where Aoshi waited for me. I locked my apartment and we remained side by side staring at nothingness as we headed for the ground floor. Once there Aoshi unlocked his jeep and we both got in.

The drive was quiet as he left the jeep in neutral when we arrived at his own apartment complex. I watched from inside his vehicle as Aoshi walked quickly into the building. I’m kind of glad I wasn’t invited up because I’m definitely sure we wouldn’t have left and then the bakery would have been mysteriously closed and Aoshi would then have a lot of concerned customers.

"So hoooooooooot…" I moaned to myself as I flicked on Aoshi’s air-conditioning. The air outside was terribly humid and I wondered what was up with the weather these days. It’d been quite cool yesterday morning and now it was humid all of a sudden. It instantly began to make me think of Aoshi, knowing he could be both of those as well. Business hours he was his stone cold professional self, not giving anything away and after hours, boy was he steaming hot.

I didn’t have to wait long to see Aoshi rushing out of his apartment building, his eyes blanketed by drenched bangs glancing down at his own watch as he placed it on. Yep, we were definitely running late for sure. He jumped into his jeep, droplets of water spraying everywhere as he did so. Mm, he looked good wet. I listened to his tires burn rubber as Aoshi sped down the quiet streets of Tokyo to get to the bakery. It didn’t take long for guilt to begin to slowly fill my stomach because I was partly at fault for the lateness.

Xx Shinomori Delights xX

I’d never seen Aoshi work so fast then he was now. No wonder he slept soundly when his body hit a mattress as I’m sure this is how fast he’d work or perhaps even faster if it was just himself for hours on end. At the determined look in his facial features I decided that today was going to be my very first professional day of being completely serious.

"Yosh! Lets do our best today Aoshi-sama!" I voiced aloud before grabbing what he asked of me, also while noticing the rise of his eyebrow at the change in my face and voice. There was no more time to think on such trivial matters. Makimachi Misao – Professional Assistant – was going to be known as of today!

Xx Hours later… xX

"Doomo Arigatou…" I voiced to the last customer that walked out of the bakery. Sighing lightly as no others came in for about five minutes I finally headed out the back to refill some of the trays.

"Misao?"

"Hai?" I turned to see Aoshi in his usual attire of black pants (not leather this time) and his white bakery shirt with black buttons and his bakers hat too.

"Why did you change?" Change? I looked down at myself wondering what he was on about. "Not your attire, your attitude? Why is there all of a sudden a serious outlook about you?" My eyes grew wide as I stopped placing mini lemon meringue pies on one of the trays.

"Well, I thought you might like it that way. You are so serious at work that I wanted to be the same. I want to take this job seriously so you’ll understand that I too can separate personal matters from business." There was that flicker in his eyes again. What was that look for?

"Misao, I never asked that of you. In fact, I’ve had several customers question if you weren’t feeling well today."

"But I’m fine."

"True, but I believe they miss your usual high spirited attitude. Where have all the smiles gone? It seems your smiled bring in more clientele."

"My smiles bring clientele?" How odd that such a change could drop sales. Was I really that bubbly that people liked me that way?

"Aa…" I nodded my head, my smile breaking wider over my face as I placed a small spring into my step and turned my head away from Aoshi when I heard the bell chime telling me customers had come inside.

"Arigatou…" I voiced to him before heading for the main area. I was just about to voice a good afternoon to the customers, to make sure they knew the energetic Makimachi Misao was back, but instead caught a small confession.

"I missed it as well." And with that coming from Aoshi, those words brought along ‘Klutz’ Misao once more as I tripped over my own feet, stumbling into the bakery but couldn’t fall to the tiled ground as a strong arm wrapped around my waist while another helped me grip the tray of pies I nearly lost. He was just so…warm. Clapping snapped me from my daze as I felt Aoshi straighten us up and I came face to face with four customers gazing over at us.

"Nice save Shinomori-san." One man voiced while two young females, probably my age blushed, which in turn got me blushing as Aoshi’s arm was still wrapped around me. Oh crap, think non perverted thoughts Misao.

"Here is your tray of pies Misao." I laughed lightly as Aoshi handed it back to me, his face not changing at all when we had an audience and I quickly took it from him and placed it back into the counter and closed the door. Taking a deep breath to face the two girls giving me knowing looks I chanted to myself while asking them what they’d like.

I could be professional and high spirited at the same time and not think about how Aoshi’s body felt as he leaned fully over me to save me from smacking to the ground once more. Yeah, I could not think about how he being so close got my heart pounding and my senses screaming. Damn… It was going to be one long afternoon.

Xx To be continued xX