New Blood

The hot bath helped the ache in Reno's leg and shoulder quite a bit.  He felt that he was almost able to walk on his own, though he wasn't about to turn down Kerri's help, if only so he could feel her body pressed against his.  He knew she was interested; he hadn't missed the way her eyes had roved over his body when he came to the bathroom door in a towel.  After he'd gotten a clean pair of shorts on, he sat on the futon while she re-bandaged his wounds, trying to brush his hair out with his right hand.  



When Kerri finished with his shoulder, she finally noticed that he had managed to get the brush tangled in his hair and was having no luck in getting it loose.  Biting back a smile at the aggravated, helpless look on his face, she plucked it from his hand.  “Let me,” she said, and crawled behind him, stretching her legs out on either side of him.  It didn't take long for her to release the hairbrush, and she went to work smoothing the tangles.  She deliberately prolonged the process, as she was enjoying herself.  He really did have glorious hair, bright red with streaks of a darker, brick color, heavy and slightly rough.  



“I can't remember the last time someone brushed my hair for me.  It feels good, yo,” he remarked.  “You're spoiling me, Kerri.”



I'm just trying to help,” she answered, putting his hair in its customary ponytail.  Before she could slide out from behind him, he leaned back, pinning her against the futon.  His hands went to her bare thighs beneath the hem of her shorts, and he traced small circles on her skin with his fingertips, awakening her carnal instincts with the simple, almost innocent caresses.  “Stop it, Reno,” she whispered, her voice not quite steady, “let me up.”



“Why?” he asked.



Good question, her mind spoke up.  You don't really want him to stop at all, do you?  No, she didn't.  Quite the opposite, she wanted him to touch her everywhere.  Unbidden, the image of Reno cupping her breasts rose in her mind.  The thought caused a feeling of weakness; she felt a rush of wetness between her legs, and was suddenly very aware that his body was pressed against her sex.  She shifted slightly and gasped at the electrifying thrill that began in the bundle of nerves at her center, and then ran though her entire body.  “Reno, please,” she whimpered, not quite sure just what she was begging for.  It didn't matter, anyway, as Reno ignored her words.  His hands wandered to the sensitive spot behind her knees, and Kerri flung her head against the back of the futon.  If his merely touching her legs felt this good, she was suddenly sure that she would die if she ever had sex with him.  She'd just burn to a cinder.  She whimpered again as Reno shifted this time, sending another jolt of pleasure through her.  “Please...” she moaned.



Reno chuckled.  “Now that's a word I could definitely get used to hearing from you,” he said, and bent forward so she could escape.  She sat there for a few seconds, however, unable to move.  Finally she scrambled from behind him.  Her face burned when she saw his cocky grin, and she didn't want to meet his eyes.  



“I'm...I need to go to my place for a few minutes,” she said.  “I'll be right back.”  



She was opening the door when she heard him say, “Running away, babe?  Or just going to change your panties?”  Kerri slammed the door behind her to cut off the sound of his laughter.  She wasn't about to admit that he was right on both counts.



=~=~=~=~=~



When Kerri returned to Reno's place, the other three Turks were there, both to check up on their colleagues and to bring them a meal, knowing that Reno didn't keep much of anything besides snack foods in his kitchen.  Kerri blinked in surprise at the amount of takeout containers spread out on the coffee table.  Elena saw her expression and explained, “Reno's easy enough, but we didn't know what you would like.”  



Reno smirked and started to say something, but for once thought better of it when Kerri glared at him.  He contented himself with a very suggestive wink in her direction.  



Since Tseng and Rude had claimed both chairs and Elena was seated on the opposite end of the futon from Reno,  the only place left for Kerri to sit was next to the incorrigible redhead.  They'd already brought a plate and silverware out for her, and, trying to ignore the fact that Reno had allowed his bare leg to “accidentally” fall against hers, she began serving herself, not really noticing what each dish was.



As she ate, she listened to the talk around her.  Thanks to Elena, they now knew that GALEFORCE was definitely responsible for the assassination attempt on Rufus Shinra.  “You'd be surprised what a pretty, ditzy blond can find out from a man,” Elena said with a smile that was light years away from ditzy.  



Kerri thought she saw a glint of admiration in Tseng's eyes as he looked at her.  If so, it was quickly masked.   “Even terrorists aren't immune to beauty,” he said matter-of-factly, and a slight flush arose in Elena's cheeks.  “So we know the group that was responsible, the problem is that we still do not know who is the at the head of that group.”



“Does it matter?” Rude asked.  “They're all fanatics, aren't they?”



“Perhaps.  But perhaps if the leader is a big enough dictator, he is all that is holding them together.  Take him down, and the rest will fall away like leaves.” Tseng mused.  “That or start fighting among themselves for leadership.”



“And why kill hundreds when one will do?” Kerri spoke up.  “They're aiming for the top, why shouldn't we?”



Tseng looked at her appraisingly.  “Very true.”  He seemed to be considering something.  “Kerri, it is not widely known as yet that you are a Turk.  Perhaps you might have better luck gathering information about this matter than any of us would.”



“Whoa, whoa, wait a fucking minute, Tseng!” Reno nearly shouted.   “You're not sending her out alone, are you?”



“I would never send any of you out alone, Reno.  But if she appears to be alone, or at least not in the company of any of us...”



“It's still dangerous, yo.  She's a rookie,” Reno interrupted.



Kerri rounded on him, looking furious.  “Yeah?  You're not a rookie and you still got injured!  So it's not that much safer for any of you than for me.  If I just wanted to sit in an office all day I would have told Tseng I wasn't interested the first time I met him!  Besides, it's my job now.  I don't deserve to sit here in safety while the rest of you are out risking your lives!”



“Doesn't mean I have to like it.  I don't want you to get hurt,” Reno tried to explain.



“Well, I didn't want you to get hurt, either,” she said in a calmer tone, “but it happened.  And it will keep happening until we stop it.”



Forgetting everyone else, Reno reached out and took her hand.  “You know, you can be a stubborn little bitch.”  He grinned at her, and she smiled at him in return.  



“Well then.”  Tseng stood, and Rude and Elena followed his example.  “We should be getting back to work.  Kerri, when I work out the details of your assignment, I will let you know.”  She nodded, and Tseng turned to Reno.  “I am glad to see that you are feeling better, Reno.  Get some rest so you can rejoin us soon, and try not to give Kerri a reason to kill you.”



“No promises, Tseng,” Reno answered.



Elena gave Kerri and Reno a searching look as she followed the men out the door.  Reno didn't notice, but Kerri tried to look innocent in return.  She was sure she'd failed miserably, if the small smile on Elena's face was any indication.



When the door closed, she gently took her hand out of Reno's grasp.  Gesturing to the food on the coffee table, she said, “The rookie needs to clean up.”



“Are you mad about that?  You are a rookie, Kerri.”



“I know, but I'd rather not stay one forever.  I'd like to feel like I'm making a contribution.”



Reno snorted laughter.  “Oh, but you are.  You have no idea how grateful the rest of them are that they don't have to take care of me.”  



“And here I was feeling useless,” Kerri teased.



“Far from it, babe.  I think they might even take up a collection to buy you a medal or some such crap.”  Reno winced as he shifted and pain flared in his shoulder.  “Sorry to change the subject, but you think I could have a dose of pain medicine?”



She came out of the kitchen looking concerned.  “Is it hurting very bad, Reno?” she asked as she bent over to get the bottles out of the bag.  Reno was helpless not to check the way her shorts rode up in the back as she did this.  



“It's just getting started.  I'd rather not wait until it actually gets bad, yo.”  Kerri poured him a spoonful of each of the liquids.  “That makes me feel like a child, you know,” he said after swallowing them.



Kerri shrugged.  “Tseng's orders.”



“I figured as much, yo.  I bet he told you I can't have a beer, either.”



Kerri nodded.  “Yep.  He covered pretty much everything.”



He sighed, and carefully lay down on the futon, grabbing the remote first.  “I can't be in charge of my own medicine, I can't have a few beers, I have to stay in my apartment,” he complained.  “I better not tell him that you getting close to me gives me a hard-on or he'll send Rude over in your place.”  He thought he heard Kerri mutter something that sounded suspiciously like shithead as she marched back into the kitchen.



*****

To Kerri's surprise, and a little to her disappointment, Reno behaved himself for the rest of the day, aside from bitching that he wouldn't be able to find anything in his kitchen now that she had cleaned it.  That evening, after Rude had brought them another meal, he also sulked until she agreed to lay down beside him while watching tv instead of perching on the edge of the futon.  But after she was laying next to him, his right hand laying possessively on her hip, it was a slightly different story.



“You want me, Kerri.  Admit it.”



“What makes you say that?” she asked in what she hoped was an amused voice.



“You've been over here with me almost two days now and haven't complained about it.” he said.



“You're hurt, Reno.  Someone has to take care of you.  Besides, you have a tv,” she laughed.



“Oh?  Remember the night you first came over?” he asked.



“It was only a few days ago, of course I remember.”



“I noticed then that whenever I whispered in your ear, your nipples got hard.”



Kerri desperately wished for a hole to crawl into, and was glad she was facing away from him so she couldn't see his undoubtedly smug expression.  “You weren't just whispering, jerk!  You were licking my ear and kissing my neck, too.”



“Ah, but I noticed them before I ever started doing that, yo.” he argued.  He waited, but Kerri made no reply.  He'd noticed that before, too.  Whenever he got too close to the truth about how she felt, she went silent.  “You can admit it.  There's no crime in being horny, babe.”



“Shut up, Reno!” she snapped.  



“Now that did it,” he teased.  “That hurt, Kerri.  Now I won't give it to you until you ask me nicely.”  He chuckled softly at the exasperated growl she let out, but noticed that she didn't push away his hand that was stroking her leg.



After a while he noticed that the rhythm of her breathing had lengthened.  “Kerri?” he said.  When she didn't answer he pushed himself up so he could see her face.  He was amused when he saw that she had fallen asleep beside him.  After everything she'd put up with from him today, he didn't have the heart to wake her.  Gingerly he moved to the end of the futon and got to his feet.  He stood for a moment, making sure that his right leg would indeed bear his weight.  When he was sure that it would, he hobbled to the bathroom to take a piss, then into his bedroom and got the blanket she had put back in there earlier.  He returned to the living room and spread the cover over her.  His eyes glinted mischievously as a thought struck him.  He climbed carefully back into his former position without causing himself too much pain and lay beside her.  Smiling, he brushed a lock of hair out of her face, and was delighted when she turned over and snuggled close to him in her sleep.  He wondered what her reaction would be when she woke up next to him in the morning.  Still smiling, he drifted off to sleep.



=~=~=~=~=~=~



When Kerri opened her eyes the next morning the first thing she saw was her hand lying on Reno's smooth chest.  Needless to say, she was at a total loss for a few seconds.  Then she remembered laying down with him and watching tv last night.  Obviously she had fallen asleep, and he hadn't been able to get to his bed without her help. She glanced up at his face and saw that his eyes were still closed.  Good, he was still sleeping.  And since he was still asleep, she couldn't resist running her hand gently over his smoothly muscled chest and abs.  She'd spent most of her time here trying to ignore his bare chest...but hadn't quite been able to do it.  Damn, the man had a great body.  Because she wasn't looking at his face, she missed the wicked smile that spread across it.  Therefore his voice came as a complete shock.  “Lower, Kerri,” he said seductively.  



Kerri gasped and jerked her hand off of him.  She would have leaped off the couch if his right arm hadn't been firmly curled around her shoulders.  “Dammit, Reno, I thought you were still asleep!” she said without thinking.



“So that's why you were feeling me up.  I'm sorry, let's pretend I am still asleep then.”  He closed his eyes and pretended to snore comically.  When she did and said nothing, he opened one eye and peered down at her.  “I'm waiting.”



“Let me up, Reno,” she said tightly.



“Ah, well, it was worth a try.”  He let his arm fall away from her shoulders and Kerri pushed the blanket back, got to her feet.  



Wait a minute...blanket?  She looked down at him accusingly.  “How did this blanket get here?” she asked him.  For an answer, he sat up and swung his legs to the floor, wincing a little as he stood up.  “You can walk by yourself!” she said indignantly.



“Yep.  I tried last night after you fell asleep and I was able to do it.  It's even better this morning, yo.”



“Then why didn't you just go to bed, Reno?”



His eyes roved over her body before he answered.  “I just wanted to be close to you.  I didn't take advantage, Kerri.  No wandering hands or peeking, I promise.”  He smirked, then added, “You were the one who copped a feel.”



Kerri wondered again why there was never a hole handy for her to crawl into...and pull over herself afterwards.   Reno laughed at the look on her face and stepped forward to pull her into his arms.  His purpose seemed to be reassurance and comfort rather than seduction.  To Kerri, who was the one whose breasts were pressed against his bare chest, the purpose didn't matter, the effects did.  She could feel his hardness against her hip, and felt a melting sensation in her lower belly in response.  Her arms went around him almost of their own volition, which in turn sent a tremor through his body.  Reno pressed his lips to her jawline just beneath her ear for a moment, then whispered, “As soon as I'm fully recovered, Kerri, you're mine.”  He slid one hand down her back until it was cupping her ass and pulled her tighter against his erection, making her gasp and dig her nails into his back as a throbbing heat rose between her thighs.  “Do you  want me?” he murmured.



“No,” she lied, badly, and he laughed.



“Prove it, then.  One kiss.” he said.



“What?”



“One kiss.  If I can't make you moan, I'll leave you be.”



“You're crazy, Reno,” she whispered.



“Afraid, babe?”



Great, now what? she thought.  He'd managed to get her cornered.  She took a deep breath and raised her head.  “Go for it,” she said, hoping she sounded more composed than she felt.



Reno lowered his head and captured her lips, savoring his first taste of her mouth, pulling back just to recapture them several times before licking her bottom lip, urging her to open for him.  When she did, he plunged his tongue inside to meet hers, his arms tightening around her as she stroked it with her own.  



Kerri was lost the moment his lips touched hers.  Every emotion she had for him that she had tried to deny flooded her, and she could only cling to him, her body melting against his.  She could feel herself growing wet, and instinctively thrust her hips against his cock, mutely asking him to take her now.  Kerri moaned deep in her throat, the sound another invitation that Reno could barely resist.    



With an effort, Reno put her gently from him.  Everything in him urged him to fuck her right now, just tumble her onto the couch and thrust wildly inside her until both of them came their brains out.  But, with her he wanted more.  Hell, she deserved more after the way she'd taken care of him and kept him company so he wouldn't go crazy.  Reno seriously doubted that she'd done it just because Tseng ordered it.



They looked into each others eyes, Kerri's for the first time completely unguarded, her desire for him revealed at last.  Reno sighed, leaned forward to kiss her forehead tenderly.  “I win,” he said as he straightened.  “Don't I?”



Kerri closed her eyes and bit her lip shyly, but couldn't lie to him.  “Yes, Reno,” she said.