Lights blare in your face, blindingly white blurred together. High pitched incessant tones ring in your ears and a weary groan escapes your lips. Suddenly, there's shuffling all around you - too loud, too busy, too much. The light flickers for a moment and another voice next to you murmurs something to the others. The cacophony fades and you're left with clearing vision and a dull pain everywhere. "...You're awake." Right next to you, to your left. You almost jump from your skin before a large, gloved hand stills you. "Calm down, I'm not here to hurt you." Breathing slowly, you do calm. The man's voice reaches you again, with more clarity. "How are you feeling? Found you pretty beat up back there."
Before responding, Shoko feels a throbbing pain in her head, feeling something wrapped around her head. Just as she is about to put her hand on her head, the man holds her hand tightly.
Without looking at you, he gently places his free hand over yours on your head and gives it a reassuring squeeze. His gaze is focused on the doctors, who nod in response to something unintelligible before moving away. When they're finally gone, Luther turns back to face you, his expression guarded as he studies your features. "There's a bandage around your head," *he explains, voice calm and soft despite the tension rolling off him in waves. "They gave you something for the pain."
"A bandage? but why-" Shoko starts looking around, noticing the lights, surgery tools, etc. "Where am I?"
"You're in the infirmary," he answers, still looking at you with that guarded expression. "I brought you here." His tone implies more than a simple explanation of your current location; it almost sounds like he's admitting to something. The corners of his mouth turn down slightly, betraying his unease before he squares his shoulders and continues, voice once more cool and detached as ever, "You were attacked... badly."
The statement hangs in the air between you, heavy and ominous. He tilts his head slightly to the side, studying your face for any sign of understanding or horror or pain. But all he finds is confusion in your eyes. Perhaps that's what troubles him most.
"What about my things? My bags?" Shoko lays her head on the pillow of the stretcher, looking at the ceiling and taking the light out of her face.
"Your things are... safe," he says carefully. "I thought it best you didn't have them while in the infirmary." There's a hint of a question behind his words, as if to gauge your reaction. His eyes watch you closely for any sign that this troubles you more than it should. But still, there's no indication on your face.
The silence stretches between them, heavy and pregnant with unspoken questions and fears. He shifts in his seat, uncomfortable with the lack of reaction from you. Finally, he clears his throat and stands, offering a hand to help you up. "You should probably get some rest."
"Yes, of course. Thank you." Shoko accepts his hand and stands up. When she puts her foot down, she staggers, almost falling to the ground.
Luther's arm snakes around your waist before you can fall, easily supporting your weight as he keeps you upright. His hand moves to cradle the back of your head, steadying it against his chest while he presses a kiss to your forehead. The gesture seems almost parental in its protectiveness and tenderness. "Easy there," he murmurs reassuringly before letting you go, allowing you to stand on your own again. "Let's get you someplace more comfortable."
Shoko holds onto Luther's arm tightly, following him wherever he's taking her. "Where are we going?"
"My quarters," he answers casually, continuing to lead you through the dimly lit hallways. He glances at your face, his expression still unreadable as ever, and decides against mentioning that they're not exactly part of the infirmary. Instead, he keeps a tight grip on your arm as they navigate the maze-like building. Finally, they arrive at a large set of double doors guarded by two of his most trusted lieutenants. A single nod from him is all it takes to gain them entry. The suite beyond is tastefully appointed with expensive furniture and rich fabrics, making it almost feel like home... except for the unmistakable presence of weapons scattered about. Luther guides you to a plush couch, sitting you down gently before procuring a blanket from the nearby chair. "Here," he says quietly, draping the soft wool around your
After wrapping a blanket around Shoko, he realizes that she was barefoot and hadn't taken a shower yet. She would also need new clothes.
He debates taking her to the bathroom and getting her set up first before realizing that she might feel too exposed in such an intimate situation with him there. Instead, he clears his throat awkwardly and says gruffly, "Uh... if you need anything, just call out." Without waiting for a response, he turns to leave, making his way over to the coffee table to inspect some papers left there by his men earlier. The click of keys filling the silence as he types away at his laptop, hiding behind the illusion of work as he avoids looking back at you.
After a few minutes of silence, he feels something poke his shoulder. When he turned back, it was Shoko. "Sorry, but where is the bathroom so I can take a shower?"
Luther startles at the sudden touch, his hands tensing briefly before he forces himself to relax and turns towards you. A look of relief washes over his features as he finds you still alive. With a small nod, he gestures vaguely in the direction of one of the doors. "Second door on your right."
"And a towel?" Shoko asks, shivering with her foot on the cold floor. "Some clothes too."
"Of course," he mutters gruffly as he stands and goes to the nearby closet. After rummaging through it briefly, he returns with an armful of warm, fluffy towels and a drawstring bag. "These should fit you well enough until I can get something better." Setting both items beside you on the couch, he pauses for a moment before adding, "There's a robe inside too, if you want." And with that said, he turns to stalk out of the room once more.
"Wait," Shoko holds Luther's arm, not letting him go. "I can't stand on my own, can you help me take a shower?"
He turns back to look at you in surprise, but before he can say anything his expression softens into something much gentler as his hands go automatically to your waist and he lifts you effortlessly into his arms. The warmth of his body envelops you once more, sending a strange fluttering sensation through your stomach despite the unease settling at the back of your mind. "Of course," he says gruffly. "Let's get you cleaned up."
Shoko stumbles to the bathroom with Luther's help. Before they enter the bathroom, one of Luther's men knocks on the door and enters the room, asking if he would attend the gangster meeting.
Brows furrow as his gaze flickers momentarily to Shoko and back again before returning to the man standing nervously beside him. A sigh escapes him and he nods once, taking care to set her down on her feet gently. "Very well," he replies shortly. "But make it quick." The man bows his head in acknowledgement before slipping away, closing the door behind them. Luther turns back to Shoko with a rueful expression. "I'll be as swift as I can. Don't leave the bathroom until you hear from me."
Shoko nods and watches Luther close the bathroom door, leaving her alone there. Luther looks at the guard and sighs, ordering him to keep watch there and not let her leave the bathroom, to keep her safe.
Sighing heavily, Luther turns his attention back to the papers on the coffee table. It's been too long since he last got a decent night's sleep; exhaustion weighs heavily on his shoulders as he forces himself to concentrate on the task at hand. He should have let her rest in the infirmary... but it just felt wrong, keeping her there while he went about his business. But now that she's here, in his quarters... he doesn't want anything to happen to her either. It's a damned if you do, damned if you don't sort of situation, and he isn't sure how much longer he can handle it.
After a few hours at the gangster meeting, Luther returns to his room. He signals to the guard who immediately leaves his room. He opens the bathroom door and sees Shoko asleep in the bathtub with soap and water.
The sight that greets him stops him cold in his tracks; Shoshiko is curled up asleep in the tub, one arm flung out across the water and soap bubbles clinging to her skin. A contented sigh escapes her lips with every breath, but it only serves to emphasize the bruises and cuts marring her delicate features. With a quiet groan, Luther closes his eyes briefly before stepping forward to undo the towel he left beside her earlier, revealing her softly curved body once more. Carefully, he drapes it around her shoulders before kneeling beside the tub. "Shoshiko," he whispers gently, cupping her cheek in his hand. "Wake up." Her eyelashes flutter and she stirs, but doesn't wake fully just yet. "Time to get out." A small pink line appears on her forehead
Shoko slowly opens her eyes, grunting in pain as she moves her neck to the side because of the bruise. "Luther?"
"I'm here," he replies softly, voice rough with emotion as he cups her face in his broad hands. "Come on, let me help you out of there." He waits patiently for her to find purchase on the smooth edge of the tub before carefully lifting her from the water, cradling her close and supporting most of her weight. "You did well," he murmurs against her damp hair as they make their way back to his bed. "I'm proud of you."
Once they're settled on the bed, he reaches for a nearby blanket, wrapping it around them both as he gently encourages her to lie down, tucking the fabric in tightly all around her. Leaning forward, he brushes the wet hair away from her face and tucks it behind her ear, his fingers trembling slightly where they rest against her jaw. Her eyes close as soon as
Suddenly, Shoko sneezes, making him open his eyes quickly. Maybe she had a cold from being in the bathtub for too long?
*The sound of her sneeze snaps him out of his reverie, and he turns to stare at her in surprise. "Oh! I'm sorry," he blurts out as if suddenly remembering his manners, immediately reaching for a tissue from the nearby table. With shaking fingers, he gently presses it against her nose. "Here."
Her sneeze subsides and he tosses the now-useless tissue aside, running the back of his hand across his forehead in what is apparently an entirely uncharacteristic gesture of self-soothing. Looking at her once more, something inside him shifts, warming even as it terrifies him. "You shouldn't have stayed in there so long," he mutters, sounding almost annoyed with himself.
"No need, everything is-" Shoko sneezes again before continuing, putting her hand over her mouth.
A small huff escapes his throat at her stubbornness as he begins running the pads of his fingers absently over her arm in a gentle, soothing motion. "You really should rest," he tells her firmly, almost as if talking to himself. It's a half-lie, but he doesn't think she needs to know that right now. The events of the day have left him unsettled and exhausted, and the nearness of her warm body against his is only serving to heighten the sensation. He takes a deep breath in through his nose, trying desperately not to react to her scent or the feel of her soft skin beneath his fingertips... but it's becoming increasingly difficult. "Rest," he repeats roughly. "Just for tonight."
Her head rests against his shoulder now as she continues to cough and sneeze, leaving him even more on edge.
After a few minutes, the sneezing and coughing stops. He pulls him away just enough to look at her face, and realizes that she was sleeping.
*Brows furrow as his gaze travels down the length of her body, taking in the soft curve of her hips and the way her hair fans out across the pillow behind her head. He watches her sleep for several long moments, feeling a strange mix of affection, protectiveness, and... something else swirl within him. Finally, he brushes a stray lock of hair from her forehead before leaning in to press his lips against it gently, lingering longer than he should. With a sigh, he pulls away again and turns to face the opposite wall, trying to ignore the way she feels pressed against him and the warmth of her breath on his neck.
He wishes he knew how to quiet this strange yearning within him; it's become more insistent each day since she came into his life. The thought of letting her go - of returning her to her life unscathed, as if none of this
When he wakes up the next day, it was 7am. Shoko wasn't in bed, but there were a few drops of blood that made their way to the bathroom. There was also a bloodstain on the pillow next to him.
Frowning, he sits up in bed, quickly realizing what the blood means. He hurries out of the room, ignoring his own discomfort as it's replaced by worry for her well-being. Padding through the hallways silently, he finds one of his men stationed outside Shoshiko's door and politely asks him to let him in.
The sight that greets him once inside makes something twist painfully in his chest; she's curled up on the floor beside her bed, clutching at her side and wincing with every breath. "Shoshiko," he says softly, kneeling beside her, concern etched into his features. "Let me help you."
She looks up at him through bleary eyes, a faint whisper of pain escaping her lips: "I don't want to bother you..."
Luther observes her body, noticing blood dripping from her thigh under her skirt. Maybe it was an open wound? "The guard told me t-to stay here while you slept... He said no t-I was supposed to bother you until you woke up..."
He nods understandingly, gently pushing her hair away from her face before wrapping his arms around her, careful not to make contact with the wound. "You didn't bother me," he whispers, tilting her chin up so that she has to meet his gaze. "And I want you to know that I could never be bothered by you."
Her eyes widen at his words and for a moment she looks almost... hopeful. It's disarming, making him feel uncharacteristically vulnerable as he continues to hold her close, trying to offer comfort and reassurance with just the press of his body against hers. He studies her face, searching for any sign that he's doing more harm than good, but finds none; if anything, she seems to relax a little in his embrace. "I can help you," he says quietly, "but I need to know what happened."
Shoko hesitates a little, but then looks at Luther. "I woke up with a really bad pain in my head and thigh, but I thought it was nothing." Shoko looks at her thigh and then looks back at Luther. "When I got up to go to the bathroom, I ended up falling on the floor. The guard outside heard the noise and told me to leave your room so as not to disturb your sleep ." A pang of anger takes over Luther when he thinks about the guard's irresponsibility and how he would have to talk about it with him later. But his thoughts are interrupted when Shoko lets out a groan of pain.
A growl rumbles in his chest as he thinks about disciplining the idiot guard who was supposed to be keeping watch over her. But that will have to wait; for now, his focus is on Shoshiko and ensuring she's well taken care of. With a sigh, he glances around the room, looking for something that might help ease her pain. His gaze falls on a first aid kit sitting on a nearby shelf and he quickly retrieves it, opening it up to reveal various supplies within.
"This might hurt for a moment," he warns her gently as he searches through the contents of the kit before selecting a pair of antiseptic wipes and a fresh bandage. Carefully, he cleans the area around her injury, wincing himself when she flinches at his touch. Once it's clean, he dabs at the wound with the corner of a gauze pad
Shoko holds back a groan of pain while Luther cleans the wound. He stops only to ask her to lie on the bed face down, so he can check that there is no other open wound or bruise that has gotten worse.
Without comment, he helps her into a sitting position and begins to gently prod at the area around her injury, his expression grim as he feels something hard beneath the skin. He glances up at her briefly before reaching for a pair of sterile forceps and using them to probe deeper. She winces and lets out a soft moan of pain, but he doesn't let it sway him from his task. Finally satisfied that everything appears to be in order, he tosses the bloody implements aside and dresses her wound with fresh gauze and medical tape before carefully setting the first aid kit aside once more.
Leaning back on his heels, he looks up at Shoshiko, concern etched into every line of his face as he takes in the pale color of her skin and the dark circles beneath her eyes. "Better?" he asks softly, reaching out to brush a stray lock of hair from
Shoko nods, and Luther lifts her shirt to see if there were worse bruises on her back. Although she was without a bra, leaving much of her back exposed, there were a lot of bruises. But few were very bad.
A growl rumbles low in his throat as he takes in the sight before him; the dark bruises marring her pale skin like storm clouds on a summer sky. Anger and protectiveness fuse into something fierce, hot enough to scorch the air between them. Setting aside thoughts of punishing the guard, he turns his attention back to Shoshiko. "Lie down," he commands quietly, reaching out to help her onto the bed. Once she's settled, he tucks the blankets around her and leans forward, hands braced on either side of her shoulders as he studies her face. "I need you to tell me what happened," he says firmly. There's an unspoken warning in his eyes; disobey him again and who knows how far he might take things.
Shoko looks away, but Luther pulls her chin, forcing her to look at him. She hesitates a bit before shifting a little uncomfortably under the blanket. "The guard, he..." She stops, swallowing hard before continuing. "He hit me."
A growl rises in his throat and anger flashes across his features at her admission. His hands curl into fists as he takes a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down before speaking again. "Is that all?" he asks, voice low and dangerous. She shakes her head, eyes wide with fear of what he might do next. Swallowing hard, she continues in a whisper:
"He... he tried to touch me..." Her voice trails off as her cheeks flush crimson at the admission. Luther's hands tighten into fists on either side of her shoulders and his jaw tenses, but for once it's not anger that drives him; desire roars through him like a wildfire, consuming everything in its path.
Luther notices tears running down Shoshiko's cheeks. He turns to the window, trying not to make eye contact with Luther.
He closes his eyes briefly, willing his anger and desire under control as he gently brushes her wet hair aside. "Shoshiko," he says roughly, his voice hoarse with emotion, "I'm sorry. I should have protected you better." Moving carefully so as not to make contact with the injury on her thigh, he rolls her onto her side, wrapping his strong arm protectively around her waist and drawing her close. "No one will hurt you again," he promises fiercely, knowing even as he says it that it might not be true.
For now, though, she's safe with him. And that's all that matters.
As she cries snuggled into Luther's chest, she calls a butler, telling him to get some bandages, gauze, medicine and sweets for Shoshiko. He also says to let her know that he wants to talk to the guard Jeremy, who hit Shoshiko and tried to abuse her.
"No one will hurt you again," he whispers into her hair as she sobs against his chest. His words ring true not only because they are a promise made to protect her, but also because there's something deeper beneath the surface; an awareness that he might be the only one capable of hurting her now.
The mention of Jeremy brings his focus back to the matter at hand. Anger and disgust flicker through him as he remembers the man touching Shoshiko in such a way, making her cry out in pain and fear. "I'll take care of it," he promises grimly, kissing the top of her head before gently easing her away from him. With a sigh, he gets to his feet and heads for the door, pausing only to snag a blanket off the bed on his way past. "I'll be right back," he says gruff
When Luther arrives in the torture room that the butler and some of the other men had prepared before his arrival, Jeremy was tied to a chair and blindfolded, asking why he was there. Luther puts on his torture gloves and loosens his tie.
"You know why you're here," he growls, moving to stand directly in front of the terrified man. Jeremy whimpers pathetically as he tries to squirm away from the looming figure. "Now, I want you to tell me everything that happened with Shoshiko. Every little detail."
His free hand reaches up and tugs roughly at the blindfold, yanking it off so that Jeremy's wide eyes meet his steely gaze. The other man cowers beneath the intense scrutiny, struggling against his restraints. "Talk," Luther snarls, leaning in closer until their noses almost touch. "Or I'll make you wish you could go back to being blind."
Jeremy shudders and begins babbling out his story, the words tumbling over each other in his desperation to please Luther and keep him from causing more pain. As he listens to Jeremy's confession, a cold smile touches Luther's lips; this is exactly what he wanted to hear. The man had gone beyond his duties as a guard and abused Shoshiko, taking advantage of her helplessness.
When Jeremy finishes speaking, Luther straightens up, tilting his head slightly to the side as he studies the other man with renewed interest. There's satisfaction in knowing that justice has been served... but there's also something else simmering beneath the surface. An awareness of how easily someone like Jeremy could be replaced; how vulnerable Shoshiko truly is despite being under his protection.
With a rough shove, he sends Jeremy sprawling to the
Jeremy screams in pain when Luther pushes the chair, causing him to fall to the floor. Luther motions to the other men, who quickly begin to put on gloves and grab the torture tools. Jeremy starts screaming, begging Luther to forgive him and not let them do this to him, while Luther can only think about how Shoshiko must have screamed for help and mercy in the same way he is screaming now.
The sounds of Jeremy's agonized cries fill the room as he's subjected to the same horrors Shoshiko endured mere hours ago. His gut twists at each shriek, knowing that he could have prevented this from happening... but instead chose not to act. He should have known better; anyone with half a brain would have seen the danger signs and acted upon them long before it came to this.
His eyes close briefly as he fights back tears of anger and frustration, but when they open again they're cold and hard. Jeremy has been dealt with, but there are others who need watching; he can't afford to make the same mistake twice. With a nod, he signals for it all to end.
When it's over, Luther pulls off his gloves slowly, feeling dirty inside and out from having allowed such things to happen under his nose. It won't be
When Luther arrives in the room, Shoshiko was sleeping with the curtains closed, so as not to disturb her. There was a plate with strawberries, chocolates, and green grapes next to the bed, which was almost empty. When the butler sees Luther, he bows and approaches, saying that she had just taken her medicine and it was best not to wake her. With that, he leaves the room, closing the door, leaving Luther and Shoshiko in the room.
*Luther stands silently at the foot of the bed, watching her sleep. The concern on his face is evident as he takes in her pale skin and the bandages covering her injury. He reaches out to touch a lock of hair that's come loose from its braid, letting it slide through his fingers before gathering it back up gently.
"Shoshiko," he whispers softly, leaning down to brush a kiss against her forehead. "I'm here now."*Her eyes flutter open and she looks at him groggily for a moment before recognition dawns on her face. A small, tentative smile tugs at the corner of her lips. "Luther?"
"Yes," he confirms, returning her smile with one that feels genuine despite the weight bearing down upon his heart. "I'm sorry it took me so long."*Shoshiko hesitates for a moment before sitting up
When Shoko tries to sit up, she groans in pain, making the bandage bleed a little. Then Luther remembers that the butler had said that she couldn't move much, and that it was recommended to lie down until she was completely healed, and that also, as if the butler knew Luther's inner feelings, no sex.
"Shoshiko," he says gently, his voice stern as he reaches out to help her back down to the pillow. "You need to rest. The doctor said that you shouldn't be moving around too much." He nods at the bandage where it's stained with fresh blood and carefully brushes a lock of hair behind her ear. "Just lie there, okay? Let me take care of everything else."
Her eyes drop to the blood-stained bandage as well, and she bites her lip before nodding slowly. "Okay," she whispers, wincing as she moves back against the pillows. Luther studies her for a long moment, his expression pained, before standing and heading for the door.
"I'll send someone to get you some soup and broth later," he promises quietly before quietly closing the door behind him.
After a few long seconds, Luther feels Shoshiko poke his big, strong arm. "Luther, can I ask you something?"
Luther glances at Shoshiko over his shoulder before sighing and nodding for her to continue. "Ask away." His tone is gruff but not unkind; he's clearly torn between wanting to know what she's thinking and needing to keep some distance between them.
"Can I touch your muscles?" *Shoko pouts, like a child, begging him to say yes."
A corner of his mouth tilts up in a crooked grin. "Sure, why not?" he replies with amusement lacing his voice. Shifting so that he's seated on the edge of the bed beside her, he rolls up one sleeve, revealing his defined and muscular forearm. He tilts it toward her invitingly, his expression somewhere between curiosity and a hint of challenge. "Go ahead."
Shoko starts feeling Luther's forearm, mouth open like a surprised child. Her hand starts to go up to his shoulder, pouting when the shirt hides the other parts she wanted to see.
With a soft chuckle, he lifts his shirt up and off his shoulders, revealing the strong, sculpted muscles of his upper torso. It's rare for him to expose himself like this; vulnerable in a way that goes beyond just physical strength. But there's something about Shoshiko that makes him feel less guarded, more willing to let her see the man beneath the mask. Her small hands slide over his skin, tracing circles and lines as she explores his muscles. He closes his eyes, enjoying the sensation of her touch, even if it is just for a moment. It's a welcome distraction from the weight of responsibility that never seems to leave him alone
As she caresses his muscles, he feels her hand come too close to his groin, caressing the lower part, where the hair was from his groin to his belly.
A low growl rumbles deep in his throat as her hand skims too close to where he aches for her touch. Heat floods through him at the feel of her fingers so close, but he remains still, forcing himself to remain in control. Her innocent exploration is doing nothing but driving him crazy and he wonders what she'd do if she knew how aroused she makes him.
"Shoshiko," he says roughly, his voice hoarse with desire as he pulls her hand away gently before wrapping it in his own much larger one, pressing their palms together. "That's enough." His words are a warning laced with need, but there's an unspoken request there too; the plea for her to stop teasing him and give him what he needs.
Shoko pouts and buries her face in the pillow, throwing a tantrum. "Hmph."
A soft sigh escapes him as he brushes a lock of hair from her face, revealing the flushed skin there. His thumb traces a line along her cheekbone before returning to join their entwined hands on the bed between them. "I'm sorry," he murmurs, his voice husky with emotion. "It's just... seeing you like this makes it hard to think straight." He swallows heavily before continuing, "I should leave you alone for a while, let you rest."
But he knows even as he says the words that he won't be able to keep his distance any longer. Not when she looks at him like that, innocently pleading with her eyes and driving him crazy with desire. And not when he can feel the warmth of her skin against his, her heartbeat racing in sync with his own as they lie there together.
"I don't want to be alone." Shoko says, laying her head on Luther's toned chest. He moves her head away only to take off his shirt, throwing it on the floor and snuggling Shoko's head against his chest.
*Luther sighs heavily, wrapping one arm around her shoulders as she nestles closer to him. His other hand smooths down her hair, taking in the sweet warmth of her body pressed against his own. There's an ache building inside him as he tries to deny the fierce craving that has taken hold; the need to feel her skin against his, her breath in his ear, her hands roaming freely over his chest and stomach, tracing patterns that make it difficult for him to think straight.
"Luther?" she whispers softly, her voice trembling with emotion. "Will you stay with me tonight? Please..."*His resolve crumbles beneath the pleading in her voice, surrendering to the longing that has taken hold. With a low groan, he tilts his head slightly, brushing a kiss against her temple before pulling back just enough so he can look into her
After a few minutes of silence, Sashiko twirls one of Luther's hair curls around her finger, playing with the curl. "Can I ask you something?"
"You can always ask me anything," he answers gently, running his fingers through her hair in a soothing motion. His eyes meet hers as he waits for her to continue.
"Can you touch me like that guard touched me? Maybe, with you, it might feel right." Shoko lets go of the curl, looking at Luther with a pleading look, which always broke down his barriers.
*The image of Jeremy abusing her flashes through Luther's mind, burning hot and cold in his chest at the same time. He can feel his fingers tighten into fists at the memory, but he forces himself to calm down, remembering how much pain she must have been in when it happened. Releasing a shaky breath, he cups her cheek gently with his palm and leans forward, gazing into her eyes intensely before brushing his lips against hers. Her soft moan fills the air as his tongue dances with hers, claiming her mouth and sending shivers down her spine.
Slowly, he begins to caress her body, tracing circles on her stomach and chest, just as she had done with him earlier. His touch is gentle at first, but it grows bolder as his desire spirals out of control, consuming him whole. She whimpers
When Luther wraps his muscular arm around her waist to pull her closer, Shoko moans in pain softly, scratching Luther's chest.
*A hiss escapes him as her nails rake across his skin, drawing blood. He draws back slightly to look down at the damage she's done, confusion and concern warring on his features. Shoshiko meets his gaze, shame and apology mingled in hers.
"Sorry," she whispers. "It didn't mean to..."
Carefully, he cups her cheek once more, gently brushing away a stray lock of hair from her forehead. "Shoshiko," he says quietly, his voice rough with emotion. "I just want to make you feel good." He hesitates for a moment before continuing. "Maybe I'm doing it wrong."*His thumb traces the pad of his index finger across her lower lip, gathering moisture from where she's parted them in anticipation of his touch. Lowering his head, he
Luther kisses Shoshiko once again, this time in a softer way. He feels her fingers caress where they had scratched, trying to ease the pain.
*As their lips meet again, his fingers still on her hip, Luther presses into her more firmly and rolls his hips against hers. She moans into the kiss, arching up into him as she feels desire bloom inside her once more. His tongue tangles with hers, seeking entry, and she parts her lips eagerly to welcome it in. With a low growl of need, he pushes her back onto the bed, following her down so that their bodies are flush together from chest to thighs.
His hands roam over her bare skin, tracing familiar paths as his mouth hungrily devours hers. His kisses move lower, over her jaw and neck to where he knows she's most sensitive. When one of his fingers accidentally grazes the place where she was hurt, she cries out in pain and tries to pull away from him. But it only seems to fuel his desire, driving him
Shoshiko moans and blushes, but before Luther caresses him again, the butler knocks on the door and enters, asking if Luther would prefer to have breakfast in the room or in the dining room. When the butler enters the room, Luther smiles and remembers what he had said, no sex until Shoshiko gets better. But what does it matter now?
*Luther forces a smile and nods toward the door. "We'll come down in a moment." He turns back to Shoshiko, his face flushed and expression apologetic. "You're hurt... I shouldn't have..." But before he can finish, she cuts him off with a shake of her head, fingers brushing over the small smile on his lips as if trying to erase it.</Generate a response of approximately 100 characters only for Luther Reinhart, without including any actions or language descriptions from Sshoko.> Luther Reinhart: *He watches her intently, unable to hide the raw emotion in his eyes. "I shouldn't have forgotten about my promise..." It's an admission he doesn't like making; one that highlights just how far he's fallen from his usual self-controlled, commanding self.</Generate a response of approximately