Convinced that Hiei was going to stay in place now, he loosened his
grip on his waist and tugged the shirt up over his friends head. Hiei was
having a difficult time getting his arms out of the armholes as he ran his
fingertips up and down each side of his spine. The shirt was finally flung
somewhere toward the bottom of the bed as he continued to stroke while his
lips visited every bit of skin on Hiei's chest. He separated his hands a
bit more with each pass until he had covered all of Hiei's back. Hiei was
actually trembling a little and his breathing had become uneven when he
started his caresses on an inverse course back for his spine. Hiei sat up
suddenly and Kurama froze, locked for a moment in a jolt of erotic pleasure
as his hardness was pressed and rubbed as Hiei scooted backwards so he was
sitting on Kurama's hips. He smiled and repressed a delighted laugh as he
realized that the hard pressure that twitched against his pajama trapped
length was Hiei's own erection.

	Hiei closed one eye, then opened it and tried closing the other as
he fumbled with the first button of Kurama's pajama top. Kurama was
bringing his hands up to undo it for him when Hiei leaned down, blocking
the path of his hands. He felt the light brush of teeth through the fabric
around the button, then the sharp click of teeth meeting. Hiei turned his
head and with a 'ptu' sent the button into the corner of the room.

	"Hiei!" Kurama protested, trying to push Hiei's head up and away as
the second button went to join the first.

	Hiei simply wormed under Kurama's hands and went after the third
one with something that sounded suspiciously like a chuckle. Kurama gave up
as that button went into the corner. One he could explain to Shori, maybe
two, but three? He was going to have to sew them back on before morning.
Oh, well. This was worth it. He relaxed and let Hiei have his way with the
rest of his buttons.

	Done with the problem of the buttons, Hiei grabbed the bottom of
the top and pulled it apart, exposing Kurama's skin to the chill air.
Kurama shivered a little as his skin tightened in protest, then Hiei leaned
back down over him, bringing his warmth. He laced his fingers gently into
Hiei's coarse, wiry hair as Hiei ran lips and tongue over his skin. He let
out a soft 'ah' as Hiei finally descended on a nipple and discovered just
how sensitive Kurama was. He closed his eyes and melted into the
sensations. He arched his back, making room as Hiei slid his arms under him
to wrap his mid-section in a firm hug. Hiei had just finished tracing the
lower line of his rib cage with his tongue and had discovered his navel
when the kisses...stopped. He frowned.

	"Hiei?"

	Nothing. He levered himself up onto his elbows. Hiei had his head
turned with his cheek resting on his stomach.

	"Hiei?" He reached down and tickled the sensitive tip of Hiei's
exposed ear.

	Hiei didn't even twitch, the tickle of his exhaled breath against
the skin of his stomach slow and even. He was asleep? He was ASLEEP! Kurama
flopped back down and stared at the ceiling in disbelief. And as deeply
asleep as after he released the Dragon that rode his arm. Kurama had two
simultaneous thoughts as he worked on wiggling out of the grip Hiei had on
his waist. One was to push Hiei off the bed and let him sleep it off on the
hard, cold discomfort of the floor. The other was to continue, whether Hiei
was an aware and willing participant or not.

	He was still debating between the two as Hiei curled up into a
compact ball once he squirmed free. He moved to sit on the edge of the bed,
his toes against the cold floor, and quivered with frustration and longing.
Then he stood with a smooth motion and padded over to the corner to collect
the six buttons. He might as well take care of this now. He was too wound
up to sleep and if he stayed to cuddle with Hiei he WOULD finish what they
had started. And he wouldn't do that to Hiei.

	After three painful needle pricks he had the buttons back on his
pajama top and a firm grip on his body and emotions. Not putting on his
robe and sitting bare chested as he sewed had cooled him off considerably.
He put his top back on then went to put the sewing kit back onto it's shelf
in the closet. He knelt to fill the tea ball with herbs out of his bag
against Hiei's waking and inevitable hangover. He took the pungent smelling
results back and put it in his empty mug, then shook the thermos next to it
to make sure there was enough water to brew a cup. Then he went back to
bed, sliding into wonderfully warm sheets and forming himself around Hiei
with a resigned sigh.


to be continued...