#mjs matchmaking services

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Out Of The Office Drama: Rose Bangs Seasonelle. Client Profiles: Kaoru Kirishima x Akiyoshi Zaizen.  (MATURE)

MJS: @smile-smile-ichthys @hifftn @whatdoyouexpectthistime

Staring at her reflection in the mirror, Rose smoothed down her dress.

That’s right, her dress.

She sighed. Dresses weren’t her thing, while she could admit the simple strappy, long length, black dress looked great on her. She just wasn’t a dress person.

Give her a pair of ripped jeans and a shirt and she would be happy with that. Unfortunately for Rose, the event she was going to required something a little more upscale than that.

Luckily for Rose, her parents being designers, she was often gifted with unreleased or handmade garments specifically made for her on special occasions – such as Christmas and birthdays. So she didn’t have to worry about making the effort to buy such items.

This one, she received earlier on this year as a birthday gift from her Mother. Her Father designed it and her Mother hand sewed it. They were a dream team when it came to this stuff – they worked so well together, like needle and thread.

Rose smiled, her parents were great and she really did appreciate and love them a lot. She’d have to take Ryosuke to see them soon. And hopefully she’ll get to introduce him as her boyfriend – it still sounded weird, but maybe that was perhaps because he wasn’t actually her boyfriend yet, not even close.

Ultimately, Miho and Rose hadn’t come up with a feasible plan to get Ryosuke to ‘bare his fangs’. All of Miho’s ideas where pretty X-rated and would probably kill him. Poor pup.

A little buzz from her phone snapped Rose out of her thoughts. Ah, speak of the devil.

Miho

‘Rooosseeee, I’m going to be a little late. So get the party started for me.’

Chuckling, as if she could actually hear Miho saying the words and fluttering her eyelashes unapologetically at Rose, she replied with a simple ‘Fine.’ She didn’t want to know why she was going to be late – probably something Goto related. They were even more inseparable than they were before, if that was even possible.  

Rose put her phone back in her bag and gave her appearance a once over before she got ready to leave.

This party was going to be a test for Rose, in more ways than one.

Getting out the taxi, Rose sighed. She wished Jazz and H or even Izumi had decided to come – they were invited after all. But she understood since the people hosting the party had only dealt with Rose and Miho.

Rose looked up at the familiar tall building and sighed again. She was here now, may as well get it over with.

“You actually showed up?” A voice said as soon as Rose walked through the door. “I was expecting you to bail.”

Rose turned to see Minato leaned against a pillar a few feet away from her.

He wasn’t wrong, she did want to bail initially. Parties and fancy dos along with dresses were not her thing but Miho had encouraged her to go – well, her actual words were ‘If you don’t go, I’ll fire you.’ So she really didn’t have much choice.

Although with Rose no longer being a test driver, she wasn’t exactly sure what her position at MJS would be or if she even had one. She’d have to ask Miho after her wedding, no use stressing her out about it now.

“Waiting for me like a good Master?”

Rose smiled a little sinisterly at the sudden panic on his face as he realised what it must look like him standing there and Rose showing up at that moment. He quickly composed himself and pushed off the pillar and leisurely walked towards her.

“Don’t get too big for your pommy boots. I just needed some air, that party is too loud.”

Rose linked her arm through Minato’s and ignored him. The gesture completely innocent on her part, she didn’t do it because she wanted to touch him, more because he was something familiar in the unknown. It may have been inconsiderate of Rose to do something so casually and not consider his feelings but she looked up at him and he didn’t look the least bit concerned or affected by it, just simply allowing it. As if he understood.  

It wasn’t as if she was afraid to walk into a party, it was more that while Miho hadn’t arrived she was the sole representative of MJS. And with Rose’s abrasive, blunt and somewhat lacklustre personality, it could negatively affect the others and MJS.

“Sorry, Mr Man of the hour,” Rose rolled her eyes, “Congrats on your article’s success by the way.”

She began to walk as she spoke, walking into the party would bode better with Minato than on her own, he could introduce her rather than she introduce herself. Especially, since as far as she was aware Minato was the only person other than Miho that she’d know at this event.

That wasn’t true and Rose was going to find that out very shortly.

The reason for the event was thanks to Minato’s article on MJS. The magazine had sold so many copies that they had to increase production. Rose remembered on a day of one of their trysts, Minato bringing her a copy of the magazine not long after it hit the shelves.

It was a really good article, tasteful and conveyed how professional and how much dedication everyone at MJS put in to finding each person the perfect match. Minato had a way with words that was quite impressive, he was a smooth talker under that arrogant side to him.

“Thanks, I couldn’t have done it without you,” Minato rubbed the back of his neck a little shyly as they walked through one set of doors. “And Miss Fujiwara.”

Rose nodded, that was true. Although, he should be thanking Miho more so than her. But Miho wasn’t here yet so she would accept it on Miho’s behalf.

The noise of the party started to ring loudly in their ears as they walked further down a corridor. Rose let Minato lead her, her last time at Seasonelle she barely managed to navigate the many different floors and corridors.

Although, they were still on the ground floor, makes for an easy escape – And Rose might just need it.

Words were sparse between Rose and Minato as they stood outside the doors to what Rose assumed was where the party was being held. It was awkward, they didn’t actually talk all that much. They just let their bodies consume each other.  

But it was comfortable that way. There was no reason to get attached when they didn’t know very much about each other. That’s why their fuck buddy relationship worked so well.

And now that it was over, they had to figure out what they were to each other which was the awkward part. Perfect strangers or friends?

It wasn’t like either of them disliked the other, after all – there was a mutual connection there through their lonely hearts and that connection wasn’t just through the insatiable lust to consume and be consumed sexually.

“Are we just gonna stand in front of the doors all night?”

Rose asked as she loosened the already loose hold she had of his bicep. She looked up at Minato and saw his brow was creased and his expression looked like he was having an internal war with himself. Perhaps he too was trying to figure their situation out.

“Showing up and looking like that after breaking off our ‘friends with benefits’ relationship,” Minato paused and pinched the bridge of his nose. “You’re really making it hard for me, literally.”

Rose chuckled.

There was no malice in his words, no underlying anger or upset with Rose and her decision just sexual frustration.

“Did you want me to show up in jeans and a t-shirt?”

Rose nudged his arm intending to make a joke of the situation.

“Wouldn’t have made a difference, I know what you look like underneath them,” Minato shrugged and looked down at Rose. “Although, I’m not sure I’m looking forward to every guy in that room creeping on you, so maybe jeans and t-shirt would have been better.”

“You’re being incredibly honest today.”

Minato shrugged.

“Shall we?”

Minato gestured as he placed his hand on the door, ready to push it open. Rose nodded back letting go of his arm and smoothing down her dress, she needed to get this over with so she could go back to figuring her love life out.

Lucky for Rose, when Minato pushed the door open, the atmosphere wasn’t as formal as she was expecting. This wasn’t a grand entrance and people weren’t staring or whispering as she stepped over the threshold and into what she thought was going to be hell.

Rose let out the breath she hadn’t realised she was holding and she scanned the room, searching mostly for Miho hoping that she was already here although she knew she wouldn’t be.

There were groups of people casually drinking and laughing and enjoying the success of their top dog editor. It was funny really, out of everyone that should be happy, the man of the hour looked like he was pouting.

“Minato, there you are!”

An all too familiar voice came from the right of them.

“Where have you been hiding? This is your party.”

The voice grew louder as he approached and Rose had almost forgotten that Minato and Shusei were from the same magazine.

“Went out for fresh air and bumped into this one.”

Minato had turned towards Shusei and motioned with his head backwards to Rose who was shielded from view by Minato’s broad upper body. Rose took that as her cue to step from behind Minato and into view.

“Hey.”

Rose said, her smile pleased to see him but wishing it was in a different environment.

“Rose! Minato said he didn’t think you were coming.”

Shusei stepped forward, bypassing Minato’s protective stance and ignoring the glare from his best friend. He bowed at Rose and she stared blankly back at him. Formal greetings like this were another of Rose’s least favourite things. Especially after being around three women who weren’t originally from Japan and didn’t use such greetings with people they were friends with or familiarly acquainted with.

“Don’t do that,” Rose said, touching his arm lightly. “I didn’t know if I was either, but Miho said I had to come.”

“Of course you did.”

Minato said, throwing his 2 cents into the conversation rather than watching idly.

“Minato’s right. Without you and Miss Fujiwara, the top dog wouldn’t have been able to write his article and the big bosses wouldn’t have thrown this party for us.”

Shusei smiled, that same beautiful boyish smile with a hint of mischievousness she remembered from about a month or so ago. Rose smiled back, she was happy to learn that after he picked one of the matches Miho and Rose had chosen for him, they began dating almost a week or so later.

“Did you get the flowers I sent you?”

Rose nodded, she remembered when they arrived at MJS. She had never seen such a large arrangement of flowers. All roses. Mostly red but there were a few white ones, it was beautiful and before reading the card attached to them, she somehow knew they were from Shusei.

“They were beautiful. I think that was the first time I’d received flowers.” Rose smiled.

Shusei had leaned in to have this private conversation, although the music and chatter of other guests probably masked their conversation very easily. But with a quick glance over Shusei’s shoulder at Minato, she could see that the closeness of them both pissed him off.  

“Shusei.”

A monotone voice came from behind Rose. She looked up to the sky scraper of a guy behind her and her heart nearly fell out her ass.

“Ah, Kaoru. Don’t worry, I found Minato.”

Out of every god damn crazy fucking coincidence in the world.

Rose was pretty short stood amongst these three men but she now wished she was even shorter or better yet, she wished she was invisible.

Noticing her gaze Kaoru looked down.

“Rose?”

“Hi.”

Rose said, her voice coming out as shocked as she looked.

“How do you know each other?”

Minato’s voice boomed through the awkward atmosphere.

But that was a question neither of them could answer without lawyers becoming involved.

-FLASHBACK-

Rose sat in the restaurant verified as a ‘safe place’ by Takao and H. Her client was sat opposite her, his face stoic but expressionless at the same time.

He read over the menu, aware but not phased by Rose’s gaze as if he was completely used to the attention of eyes on him.

His face was handsome and his eyes intense as he read over each meal option. Messy black locks, that looked untouched as if he’d just woken up, framed his chiselled bone structure. His upper body, even though he was sat down, still towered over Rose’s. He could certainly be a model if he wanted to be.

Yet, he was a journalist – that seemed to not to like to talk. Rose had a little chuckle in her head of the irony of a not so talkative journalist.

Which in reality didn’t bode well for the observer – who also wasn’t an extraordinary conversationalist. But this was work and she needed to know more about him in order to find his perfect match. And that required talking.

But first, the waitress arrived to take their orders.

Rose hadn’t even looked at the menu once, she was too buy gawking at her client. So she ordered the same as him – it sounded good enough. And all she really needed was something to fill the gas tank. It’s not like she enjoyed food all that much, unless it was with Ryosuke.

Rose shook her head, now was not the time to think about her childhood friend.

She was working.

“You okay?”

Rose’s head snapped up to the looming presence opposite her.

Staring at his expressionless face made Rose’s heart thud against her chest once. He was handsome while he was staring at his menu, he was even more handsome when he was directing his attention directly at her.

She wondered briefly why so many handsome men come to MJS. They clearly would have no problem finding a girlfriend.

“Yeah, sorry,” Rose said ignoring her own thoughts. “So Mr Kirishima, a journalist huh? That must be interesting?”

“Mm, it can be.”

And that was all the response Rose got. Well, getting him to open up will be pretty hard.

He didn’t seem uninterested or disappointed in her being his partner for the date scenario. More like he was just a quiet and reserved person. And Rose could respect that since she was similar in many ways. But that respect was only to a degree, she had a job to do after all.

“You can call me Kaoru.”

Rose was a little shocked as he shifted his gaze a little bashfully.

“You can call me Rose.”

She said back, looking directly at him and smiling as sweet as was possible for her.

“Rose.”

He repeated, an almost smile playing on his own lips.

After the awkward second introductions were made, things seemed to drastically change. The atmosphere wasn’t nearly as intense – more relaxed even with the silence.

“What are you looking for in a future bride?”

Rose asked, she toyed with the idea of getting her notebook out but that seemed too formal for a date. She could make mental notes for now.

“Likes cats.”

Kaoru said after a brief moment of him furrow browed and thinking hard.

Rose did a little squeal in her head – all animals were great but cats and dogs for Rose were like her kryptonite.

“Do you have a cat?”

Rose asked – definitely for the profile and not for her own sake…

“Yeah, her name is Tama.”

Kaoru smiled fondly as if she was in front of him right now and Rose’s hand that was fiddling with the edge of the napkin twitched slightly. His smile was unexpected but so beautiful.  

“Do you have a picture? If you don’t mind showing me of course.”

Rose asked, a little more eagerly than she had intended and it showed as Kaoru let out a dry chuckle as he reached for his phone in his pocket.  

He said nothing but complied with Rose’s request and it took him less than second to pass his phone over the table to her.

Rose’s hand damn near snatched the device out of his hand before he’d even reached it to her. She gave a small smile as an apology but quickly turned her attention to the screen.

A fluffy little grey tabby curled up in what looked like Kaoru’s lap – Rose hadn’t had a chance to look at that area yet but she assumed. She looked soft and sweet and totally comfortable being around him.

“You can tell how much she loves and trusts you even though she’s sleeping. She’s so cute.”

Rose smiled, her heart warm but also a little envious. Her parents never allowed her to have a pet. Before they moved away, they couldn’t afford one and always joked that Ryosuke was her pet anyway. And when they could – they didn’t think Rose was capable of looking after something when she was still so young. Eventually Rose just gave up on the idea all together.

She could get one now. But was that really fair when she was working and studying all the time? No, it wasn’t. Maybe after her degree.

“Do you have any pets?”

“No.”

Rose shook her head, mostly to get rid of the slight tinge of green lacing her bloodstream and passed his phone back over to him.

“I’m too busy and won’t be able to take proper care of one.”

Kaoru looked at Rose for a long moment. It was like he was looking at her for the first time. And Rose stared back, unable to look away from his hypnotising gaze.

“Are there any other qualities you’d like her to have?”

“Who, Tama?”

“Tama?”

Rose cocked her head before realising that he thought they were still talking about his cat.

“Oh, no I meant your future bride.”

He looked down again, his brow furrowing once more.

Rose rested her head on her hand as she watched him think. Perhaps he hadn’t actually thought that much about his future bride. He was only twenty-six after all, there was still plenty of time for him to figure out what he wanted.

The food came an interrupted both of their train of thoughts.

Dinner was quiet.

Rose ate whatever it was on her plate. Not really noticing the taste – like she expected, it tasted of nothing. Kaoru ate too, sitting tall and stoic.

Dinner really was quiet.

But somehow it was comfortably quiet, not intense or awkward, just quiet. The last question Rose had asked hadn’t been answered but she almost didn’t want him to. She could see the pain in his eyes each time he lost himself in thought. She didn’t want him to hurt.

She was not the person who could take that pain away. Maybe she could find someone to heal him though.

A broken heart needed patience and understanding. Rose knew that and she hadn’t even had her heart broken. Although she often wondered if she had a heart anymore. But she remembered to write it down in her report.

After dinner, they went up to the hotel room – Rose wondered if Miho had anything to do with this rule rather than H and Takao. Save money on expenses like travel and such. She wasn’t a cheap skate by any means, but with the increase on security since the stalker incident. Money was considerably a lot tighter.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Rose got out her sketchbook while Kaoru went and looked out the window at the beautiful view of Tokyo.

One flick of Rose’s pencil and she was off. She got lost in her drawing and in Kaoru’s profile. He was every artist’s dream – so beautiful on the outside but what was underneath the surface she wanted to scratch away with her pencil and capture completely. There was something so soft about him despite the distance he keeps between himself and other people. And maybe if Rose and he had met under different circumstances, she may actually want to close the distance.

“Oh, god damn it.”

Rose snarled in a English as she pressed too hard on the page and the led in her pencil snapped clean off.

“You speak English?”

Kaoru said suddenly, making Rose remember that she was working. She wondered how long she had been immersed in her drawing for a second before answering.

“Um, not a lot. One of the girls I work with is from England. She curses in English all the time and I kind of learnt it from her.”

Rose chuckled remembering H chunter and swear in English over that Butler she was having disagreeables with.

“Do you?”

Rose looked up briefly before she went in search for another pencil.

“Mhm. German too.”

Rose’s head snapped up again.

“No way? My other co-worker is German.”

Rose’s eyes sparkled with mischievousness as she stared up at Kaoru who was now facing her with his back leaning against the window.

“How do you say ‘Lost any knickers today?’ in German?”

Kaoru looked at Rose, if he was confused it certainly didn’t show on his face.

“Heute schon dein Hoschen verloren?”

He spoke clearly but it went straight over Rose’s head.

“Hut shun dein Hosen verlor?”

Kaoru laughed, the first human like emotion she had seen on his face other than when he was talking about his cat. And that made her smile, instead of being embarrassed about her terrible attempt at speaking German.

“Nice try. But not quite,” He said after he finished laughing and came to sit next to her on the bed. “Heute.”

“Heute.”

Rose repeated.

“Schon.”

“Schon.”

“Dein.”

“Dein.”

“Hoschen.”

“Hoschen.”

“Verloren.”

“Verloren.”

Rose kind of regretted asking him to teach her such a long sentence. German was so much more difficult than she had anticipated.

“Now say the whole thing.” He instructed.

“Heute schon dein Hoschen verloren?”

Kaoru smiled and patted Rose on the head. If this was anyone else she would feel incredibly patronised by this gesture but somehow she knew this was his way of saying ‘well done’ without actually having to say it.

Rose repeated a few times until she was sure she had it memorized – she even wrote it down, after finding her pen.

“Okay, how do you say ‘A Butler knows how to service their Master.’ In English?”

Rose knew what ‘Butler’ and ‘Master’ were in English. She just needed to fit them into a sentence. Plus, she knew this would piss H off and she’d go off into an angry tangent and they were kind of amusing to watch.

Seems like Miho was rubbing off onto Rose.

“A Butler knows how to service their Master.”

“A Butler knows how to service their Master.”

Rose repeated not needing any more help than that. She wasn’t fluent in English by any means but she could string an almost sentence together. Kind of.

“You got that easy.”

Rose beamed at Kaoru, her mischievousness satisfied for the time being. She’d say them as soon as she saw the girls the next day.

“Thanks, I can’t wait to use them!”

She looked at Kaoru who was now looking at her sketchbook that she had placed in between them while she wrote down notes for her language lessons.

“Ah. Sorry, I kind of draw people without asking. My hands kind of have a mind of their own.”

Again, Kaoru’s face was back into ‘expressionless’ and he was harder to read than Goto. She wasn’t really sorry, but she learned it was probably better to apologise in case he didn’t like the idea of being the subject of her artistry.

Before Rose had time to apologise again or offer to rip up the drawing, she was on her back. Kaoru’s large hands wrapped tightly around her wrists which he had pinned either side of her face. One of his knees lodged between her thighs.

If Rose wasn’t here for the purpose she was and didn’t want to sleep with him, she would had kneed him straight in the crotch. Rose didn’t push the sex part of the date scenario because it wasn’t like he had to and she couldn’t read him well enough for any signs that he did. But she also wasn’t going to stop him if he wanted to.

She wanted to say something, to ask him if he was okay, to check he actually wanted to go through with it. But he kissed her before she could.  

While his hold on her was rough and tight, his kiss was as gentle as kitten kisses. And Rose found herself moaning at the contrast. It was something that turned her on so much.

She clenched her fists, her fingers that had been desperate to capture the tornado of his beauty on paper now itching to just touch him. To feel the sparks of his feelings surge through her.

Clothes were shed quickly. Kaoru taking full control. Undressing her then himself.

Rose made a mental note that he liked to take the lead.

After clothes were gone. He held her again, this time he was on his side, his arm under her head as she laid on her back. It wasn’t quite as dominating as his first intimate touch but still wonderful all the same. There was something more than just sex lingering in his touches and Rose had to wonder if maybe he was imagining someone else.

His fingers that had left marks around her wrists were now dancing with persistence down her bare stomach. His lips hovered over her ear and his hot and heavy breaths echoed through her ear drums right down to her nether regions.

He was slightly teasing in the lowering dips of his fingers that immediately retreated back upwards when Rose’s body began to tremble with anticipation.

Small growls escaped from her to show her frustration and desperation to be touched lower than her belly button. And Kaoru chuckled sadistically in her ear as his response but seemed just as frustrated with his own teasing and made a beeline for her pussy.

The first touch was bliss on its own. His large finger pad touching her bundle of nerves with little to no pressure but it felt good. Then he began to move his finger anti-clockwise and it was so good even the narrator had trouble thinking of a word to describe the pleasure Rose was feeling.

He did this for a possibly twenty seconds, making her clit swell with desire before he moved his digits lower. Sliding his fingers through her wet folds and collecting some of her wetness onto his fingertips as lubricant before teasing her open.

Rose turned her head towards Kaoru when his finger was inside her. His digits were long and certainly reached further than anyone else’s fingers ever could. She wanted to say something, make an innuendo or some dirty talk but when their eyes locked, he began to move and broke Rose’s train of thought.

He knew what he was doing. He could read Rose better than she would have given him credit for. Especially after only meeting twice and barely speaking at all. That explains how he can be journalist without having to talk much.

The first few pumps of his wrist were soft but quickly gave way to faster and slightly rougher ones. Rose’s cries increased with each thrust and she needed to grab onto him, thankfully her hand was level with his crotch, she pressed her palm softly against his cock.

Already fully stood to attention.

That stuttered his continuous wrist action but he didn’t stop. He slowed his pace and waited for Rose to wrap her fingers around his length – which by the way matched his height, although was a little girthier than expected, and start to stroke him before he continued the previous speed of his movements.

Harmonies of their moans and deep breaths began to fill the room. The air con that was blowing silently in the air was null and void with the amount of heat radiating off them both.

They were still staring at each other while they continued. Kaoru occasionally kissing Rose or resting his forehead against hers when their paces began to pick up.

“Are, are you close?”

Kaoru whispered against her sweaty forehead.

“Y-yes.”

Rose replied, her hips bucking against his hand. Her eyes shutting ready to fall into abandoned bliss when he moved his hand so his palm grazed against her clit with his thrusts.

But she didn’t.

Kaoru removed his hand from her and untangled himself from their position.

Rose was almost there and then poof. She could feel the rush of blood circulating to her orgasm starting to thin. She opened her eyes when she felt the bed dip and his warmth leave her.

He padded over to where he’d thrown his trousers, searched through one pocket and then the other before pulling out a little foil packet and then returning to her.

“From reading the rules, this is over once I cum right?”

Rose stared at him for a moment before nodding her head slowly. That was the rule Miho and Jazz came up with. But Rose had heard many stories of them breaking their own rule.

The sadistic flicker in his eyes made an appearance for the first time. It made the blood in her veins thicken and head straight back to her pussy.

“Seems unfair if you get to cum as many times as you like but I only get to cum once.”

He smirked and Rose couldn’t hide the surprise on her face. She liked to pride herself in being able to read people very well. But Kaoru seemed to have become a master of poker face.

He ripped the foil, tossed it and rolled the condom over his cock. Rose watched, the anticipation making her heart thud hard against her chest.

Kaoru rolled Rose onto her front, her torso laid flat on the bed as he raised her ass upwards. When he was sure Rose was comfortable, he ran his cock from her clit to her entrance and back again before he sheathed himself inside her. Fractionally pushing her up the bed.

“No cumming without permission.”

Kaoru said and Rose nodded and whispered a ‘yes’ into the bedsheets.

Rose had experienced orgasm denial many times. It was one of Kyobashi’s favourite kinks and he specifically enjoyed teasing Rose about how much she actually loved it as well. Which she did but admitting it to Kyobashi was the same as admitting to Ota that he made a good piece of art.

Painful.

He was relentless from his entrance. His hips were fast and brutal with their thrusting. The sound of skin slapping against skin was loud and echoed throughout the room.

The soft and subtle moans that were once occupying Rose’s windpipe were now dry and hoarse as she nearly screamed with each pound from his hips. When he introduced his well-practiced fingers strumming a perfect rhythm on her clit, he was making it damn near impossible not to cum.  

When Rose would feel her orgasm coming close, Kaoru would feel it too. The increase of the clench of her walls surrounding him and he would stop and change position.

They ended up going at it for hours – against the wall, the window (curtains closed, Rose remembered that even in the heat of the moment), she rode him, she gave him a blowjob, he ate her pussy, each time they both felt their orgasms right around the corner they would deny themselves it.

Kaoru’s stamina was impressive, even with Rose’s alarm blaring in her bag that the date was over. They continued. Until finally, in the missionary position, kissing and holding onto each other’s hand in an almost loving hold. They came, Rose first followed seconds later by Kaoru.

In the end she didn’t need to ask for permission, it was like after how long they had been going at it, it didn’t matter anymore.

It was strange, after they’d cleaned up and got dressed. Kaoru was exactly how he was when they first met in the restaurant but he seemed a little lighter and like he wasn’t brooding anymore.

He handed her the drawing back that ended up somewhere on the hotel room floor.

“I want this when you’ve finished.”

He said, rubbing the back of his neck once Rose had accepted the sketchbook off of him. She looked at her drawing and tried to understand what about it made Kaoru make his move. She couldn’t see it, but she was often told she captured parts of people that they thought they’d mastered at masking.

“You got it.”

Rose closed her sketchbook and put it back in her bag. Satisfied physically and with how the date scenario went.

-BACK TO THE PRESENT.-

“She found my cat.”

Kaoru suddenly said, making Rose blink twice, remembering how she couldn’t walk properly for the next two days thanks to him, before going along with the story.

“Yeah, she was stuck up a tree meowing at me, so I got her down.”

Rose smiled slightly, as Minato stared at her, then looked to Kaoru for further explanation.

“I was looking for Tama and bumped into her getting her down from the tree.”

Kaoru shrugged, his face that emotionless canvas it was when Rose first met him. Suppose it was good that he had the face he did especially when these kind of situations pop up. He gave nothing away that he was lying.

Shusei however, smiled a little more than necessary as if he knew. Which he probably did. After all, he knew how MJS worked better than Minato. And he also knew that Rose was a test driver, which Minato didn’t.

“It’s great that we don’t need to introduce you or anything but we should probably introduce her to the Chief, don’t you think Minato?”

Shusei smiled at Rose for a second before looking at Minato.

Rose wasn’t that phased but was still grateful for Shusei’s attempt to change the subject. She’d been in more awkward situations than this before but she had to be careful what she said and who she said it to. If she somehow accidently breached MJS protocol that could cause some major trouble.

“I guess, just keep an eye on Yuasa. We all know he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

Minato began to walk away, Shusei following behind, leaving Rose with Kaoru.

“Thank you for the picture.”

He said patting Rose on the shoulder before following the direction of Minato and Shusei. Rose walked behind him. She knew her little legs wouldn’t be able to keep up with his pace so she didn’t bother. She was actually surprised when he slowed down to walk beside her.

“It’s really good. When you have your own exhibit can I write a piece on it?”

Kaoru asked and Rose found herself smiling in response.

“Sure, you might be waiting around a while though. With work and doing art projects I don’t get much chance to do pieces for myself.”

They continued to walk, leisurely following Shusei and Minato as they hunted down this ‘chief’.

“Oh, thank you for teaching me the German and English phrases. They went down wonderfully.”

Rose chuckled as she remembered the way both the girls reacted.

-MINI FLASHBACK-

“Hey Jazz, Heute schon dein Hoschen verloren?”

Rose said as soon as she walked through the office doors to MJS. She had been reciting these phrases the entire journey to work. Nothing would be worse than missing the pun because of mispronouncing a word or leaving out a word entirely so the sentence didn’t make sense.

Jazz, H and Izumi were all stood around his desk. Prime time for using the sentences in their natives tongues. Two of her victims in one place, it was perfect.  

“What the hell did you just say?”

Rose grinned before repeating the phrase Kaoru had taught her.

“I, I don’t know whether to be impressed or insulted that you know how to say that? Who taught you?”

Rose tapped her nose, implying that is was a secret.

“Avoiding the question huh? Guess it must be a few then?”

Rose shrugged her shoulders.

“I’ll have you know, now that I am happily in a relationship, I don’t lose them. Just misplace them in various places in the apartment.”

Rose laughed but then her attention turned to H and Izumi who were staring at them with a questioning eye.

“H, I figured out the solution to your Butler problems.”

Rose smiled, although it wasn’t a smile of sincerity, more of mischief. H eyed her, clearly expecting something unhelpful to come from Rose’s lips.

“A butler knows how to service their Master,” Rose said clearly in English “So you just have to become his Master.” The second part of her sentence was in Japanese.

Rose was surprised that nothing came flying at her like a pen or a ball of paper or Izumi – H was like the Hulk when she was angry. She didn’t hold back and that was something Rose loved about her. Women were still so reserved in Japan – not expressing the extent of their feelings. So coming across likeminded women was one in a million chance. But here she was surrounded by three of them.

“You’ve been waiting to use these since you learnt them, haven’t you?”

H said rolling her eyes hard at Rose before laughing at the grin she had plastered on her face.

Overall, it was a success. Neither were offended, quite the opposite they both seemed pretty impressed. Rose needed to thank Kaoru again for the language lessons.

-BACK TO THE PRESENT-

“Heh, I’m glad. You didn’t screw up the pronunciation then?”

Rose raised her eyebrow, the little tease in Kaoru’s tone was a nice change from the deep monotone voice she had grown to think was the only tone to his voice. She was also a little surprised by how chirpy and talkative he seemed in comparison to when they met.

He was obviously in love with the girl whose profile he picked. That was good.

“Heute schon dein Hoschen verloren?”

Rose said, proud that even though she had used them and probably wouldn’t have need to say them again, she still could remember and pronounce them correctly.

“Impressive.”

Kaoru acknowledged.

“Ah, Rose. Over here.”

Rose turned to the direction of Shusei’s voice and saw him waving to her through a crowd of a couple of people.

“After you.”

Kaoru said, waiting for Rose to walk before he did.

Considering this was an event that she didn’t particularly want to come to nor did she want to be the sole representative of MJS. She was actually not hating it – she nearly forgot she was in a dress, nearly. Yet she still couldn’t wait for Miho to arrive.

Smiling as nicely as she could she stood next to Shusei and Minato and looked between them before looking to the other man they were with.

Rose’s heart had already nearly fallen out of her ass when she bumped into to Kaoru. Now it definitely had.

Her eyes widened but she kept a small smile on her face. The look on his face was professional despite his eyes widening the same as Rose’s.

“Rose, this is out editor in Chief – Akiyoshi Zaizen.”

Minato said and Rose nodded and bowed slightly. She had already admitted to meeting Shusei and Kaoru under false pretences, surely none of them would buy it if she made up another little lie about how she knew their boss.

Best to play dumb.  

“Nice to meet you, I’m Rose, from MJS matchmaking and wedding planning agency.”

Rose introduced herself even though he knew EXACTLY who she was.

“Pleased to meet you. Thank you for allowing one of our journalists to write a piece on your business.”

He bowed back. The politeness something Rose remembered well.

-FLASHBACK-

“Thank you for joining me this evening.”

Akiyoshi said, standing when Rose reached him at the bar he was sat at.

“The pleasure is all mine.”

Rose responded before going to pull a chair out to sit but Akiyoshi beat her to it and pulled it out for her and gracefully sliding her close but not too close to the bar once she had sat comfortably before reseating himself.

“What would you like to drink?” he asked.

“Whiskey please.”

Rose said and smiled at the little bit of shock on his face when she’d asked for such a ‘strong’ drink. He ordered both of them a drink and sat silently as the bartender poured them and then once the bartender had gone to serve some other customers, he turned slightly to Rose.

“This is my first date in a while, so please forgive my awkwardness.”

He said twisting the glass in his hand.

Rose smiled at him, the honesty from him was nice. He looked incredibly put together and sure of himself from first glance but she could see the fidgeting as signs as nerves.

It was cute.

“You’re not awkward at all.”

Rose smiled, he was six years older than her and maybe in his age and lack of dating lacked the confidence of her previous clients.

“But we should probably get all the ‘work talk’ out the way if you want this to be more like a date.” Rose said.

Although much of these conversations would have been had back at the office with Miho, it was best Rose had a clear idea of what kind of person he was and the kind of woman he’d like to end up with. Not just what she’s like in the sack.

He nodded his agreement and turned more fully and confidently towards her.

“What would you like your future wife to be like?”

Rose took a dainty sip from her whisky – which wasn’t her usual style of drinking but she had to be fully alert to be able to remember everything he said.

“She has to be patient and understand I am married to my job first.”

Patience, important for other reasons too.

“I don’t mind if she can’t cook since I can but she has to be willing to learn. I can think of nothing more homely than being stood side by side with my wife cooking dinner.”

He seemed a little bashful at his comment but continued anyway.

“She has to have drive and passion.”

“Are we talking about towards her goals or in the bedroom?”

Rose asked deadpan. It was a serious question after all.

Akiyoshi however was caught by surprise and a light sheen of beer that he’d sipped into his mouth sprayed out from between his lips and all over the bar surface. And he grabbed a napkin from the dispenser next to them to clean it up.

Rose cocked her head. Really? Twenty-nine years old and a woman saying something like that had him all shook? He was like a blushing virgin and somehow it reminded her of Ryosuke and she found herself smiling without even meaning to.

“Um, well both I guess.”

He answered as he scrunched up the used napkin.

“Well what about her appearance? Short, tall, curvy, skinny, ass, boobs?”

“I don’t have a ‘type’ when it comes to looks. She just has to be confident in herself and her appearance. That makes a woman one hundred times more beautiful.”

Rose nodded, she agreed. Nothing was sexier than a woman who loved herself.

“You for example are not the type of beautiful the media portrays.”

He started before Rose interrupted.

“Watch it.”

She glared but there was no anger behind her gaze but he wasn’t afraid of her reaction. He was right though, she wasn’t the type of girl you’d see in all the magazines and called the face of ‘2017’. She was sat with him in a plain pair of black jeans and a tucked in white polo shirt with bright red hair and simple make-up.

Not exactly what you see on the cover of magazines or on mainstream tv shows.

“But you are so beautiful because you are confident in what you have.”

Rose’s eyes widened slightly. Two compliments in one sentence. This guy was a real smooth talker and it looked like he didn’t even know it.

“Thank you.” Rose smiled.

“No need.” Akiyoshi smiled back.

This was more like a date than any of her other clients. It felt almost easy talking to Akiyoshi about anything, like when she was with Ryosuke.

You seriously need to stop thinking about him when you’re working, girl. Otherwise these weird feelings of guilt in the pit of your stomach are gonna make that whisky come back up straight into Akiyoshi’s face. – said the narrator to Rose.

“Shall we?”

Akiyoshi said bringing Rose out of her internal conversation with the narrator. He’d offered Rose his arm after they’d finished their drinks and like a true gentleman escorted her perfectly up to the hotel room.

Rose was quite amazed by how gentle, patient and kind he was to her. Once in the hotel room, he took her bag and her jacket and placed them sensibly and carefully on a chair by the door. They say romance is dead but Akiyoshi clearly didn’t get the memo.

Normally, Rose would have started drawing her client by now, this was the first time she hadn’t had her sketchbook close to her – especially when such a delicious model was stood in front of her.

She hadn’t really noticed in the dimly lit bar just how incredibly built he was. His shoulders were broad and looked toned and muscular. His neck was long and pale. She licked her lips thinking about how beautiful a pattern of hickeys would look on is skin.

Drawing him is a must.

“Feel free to say no to this request,” Rose started, heading towards her bag. “But would you mind if I draw you?”

Rose wasn’t one to normally ask for permission before drawing. She had a bad habit of letting her inspiration take hold of her before common sense. But with how polite Akiyoshi was, she had at the front of her mind the curtsey to ask first.

“That, that might be the first and probably the last time someone has asked to draw me.”

He said, a little unsure on the question and the answer he wanted to give.

“If you’d agree, I’d ask you to be my model all the time.”

Rose said evenly.

“That’s a big compliment from an artist.”

He nodded.

Rose nodded with him. It was a big compliment – she didn’t just draw anyone. There was something in everyone she met recently that made her want to draw. The inspiration hitting her like a truck and if she let it pass by she wouldn’t be able to create anything worthwhile.

“I don’t have problem with it but I can’t guarantee I’ll be a good subject.”

Akiyoshi seated himself on the edge of the bed while Rose shifted the chair into a good position and got out her equipment.

“That position doesn’t look comfortable, here.”

Before seating herself, Rose walked over to where Akiyoshi sat and encouraged him to sit against the headboard. He’d be much more comfortable and that would make his expression better.

She tipped his chin slightly up towards her as she stood over him. She had intended to move his face into a position where she could capture the length of his neck.

Their eyes met in a shojo manga style ‘almost kiss moment’. But unlike those kinds of stories, Rose wasn’t one to shy away from a kissing scene.

BUT.

She also didn’t like making the first move with clients, it was their decision to make. Not hers.

“Can I kiss you?”

Rose grinned, that wasn’t the first move she was expecting. But it matched the way he acted the rest of the date. And it was insanely adorable. Like they were on a real date.

Even though she was smiling and not opposed to the idea in the slightest, Akiyoshi didn’t bring his face any closer to hers or attempt to bring hers to his until she voiced her consent.

“Yes.”

Wrapping his hand around her neck and under her hair, Akiyoshi brought Rose’s face lower until their lips met.

It was just a peck at first, then another and another, until pecks gave way to making out. Rose naturally gravitated to seating herself in his lap.  

Adjusting himself, to get her comfortable first before worrying about his own comfort was another mental note Rose made. He said he was married to his job first before a relationship but Rose could tell in his actions even if he was busy with work, he’d do anything to make sure his woman was aware of how much he cared and loved her.

The woman he ends up with was going to be cherished.

He was even so gracious as to ask permission by licking Rose’s bottom lip before their tongues made an appearance into their kiss.

Rose still wasn’t used to soft and gentle sex. She didn’t dislike it, but rough sex didn’t complicate feelings quite as much. And while Rose was fully aware she didn’t have feelings for Akiyoshi, everything he was doing was something that she had lacked experience in and made her a little nervous.

Not in a bad way.

His hands eventually wandered from her hair and trailed down her back until he reached her ass and softly grabbed onto her. Grinding her hips into his using her ass as leverage.

Rose broke the kiss.

“Ass man, huh?”

She pecked his lips and started to grind on him a little harder. She couldn’t help saying something to perhaps spice it up, she would claim to herself that it was to see all sides of his sexual preference but it was more for her own.

“With an ass like yours, I don’t know a man alive who wouldn’t be.”

Rose smirked, she wasn’t known for her outrageously big ass or even her boobs for that matter. But she prided herself on them both being firm, well-rounded and perky. She could thank practicing martial arts since she was eight for that.

“And here I thought you were being a gentleman all night, but you’ve been staring at my ass.”

Rose ran her fingers through his hair, tugging slightly so his head tilted and his neck was on show to her, all while she continued to grind. Enjoying when she increased the pressure on his lap and the soft groans that escaped him.

She kissed his neck once, then twice.

“You make it hard to be the perfect gentleman.”

He groaned into Rose’s shoulder. And she smiled into his neck before nipping at his skin. She wanted desperately to bite down on the plain canvas of his neck and leave a bright red mark that would evolve into a beautiful purple, yellow and red flower but she knew she couldn’t.

“I know, I can feel just how hard.”

Rose breathed into his neck. Every so often she could feel the bulge under her press into her and it was teasingly wonderful.

Abruptly and almighty growl escaped Akiyoshi as he rolled her onto her back and positioned himself above her. The sound he emitted reminded her of the roar of a male lion laying his claim to his territory. It was a sound she was sure he could make, but she wasn’t sure it was one he would make in the throes of passion.

Rose giggled in response, not squirming but move sensually under him. Acting as enticing as a dying wildebeest to the king of the African plains. Her hands slowly travelling over her own chest before moving up to his. The feel of the firmness of his pecs under his clothes was solid and soft at the same time.

God, he was hot.

Akiyoshi kissed Rose again, this time not asking for permission to initiate it or the use of his tongue. He wasn’t forceful but he was dominate.

Clothes were slowly shed, he took his time in appreciating each part of Rose that was exposed to him. He was still tentative in his actions, allowing her the time to react if she didn’t like something he was doing.

VERY tentative – noted.

Once Rose was naked under him, it was her turn to undress him. He was busy kissing her chest and making his way to her nipples and breasts but she stopped him and he let her.

She pushed him up until he was kneeling on the bed and she joined him in that position. Ridding him of each article of his clothing. He kept contact the entire time, making sure to kiss her at every opportunity that presented itself.

Once he was as naked as she was, she pushed him down onto his back.

So he was okay with relinquishing control and letting his partner hold the reigns – noted.

Before Rose chose her position, she scurried over to her bag to retrieve protection. While most of her clients were the ones to bring the condoms, it was always safe for her to have some on herself in case they ‘forgot’ one.

Straddling his thighs, she took hold of his cock. Giving him a fair amount of attention before she teased the condom over him.

Jazz would have been proud.

Straddling him once more but this time directly over his cock and with her back facing him – so her ass was in his eyeline, she placed herself against his cock and began to run her pussy up and down the length of his cock. Raising her hips and repeating when he growled sexily behind her and gripped onto her ass much harder than his previous touch.

“That feels so good.”

Rose smiled to herself and continued for a few more moments before the almost infuriating friction she was causing on herself was just no longer enough. She raised her hips high enough to break contact between their intimate parts and used her one hand to steady herself on his thigh while the other she used to hold his cock steady herself onto.

His tip stretched her open to make way for the rest of him. Rose’s head fell back with each inch that entered her. It seemed never ending, when she was sure she was at the last in there was more. When she finally rested her ass against his hips, she let out the breath she didn’t realise she was holding in.

“Shit.”

Rose breathed out but didn’t allow herself to enjoy the sensation of him filling her up.

She moved her hips, grinding once more in his lap before she leaned forward, gripping onto his knees and raising her hips and bringing them the same speed back down.

Akiyoshi was a proper ‘growler’, the animalistic noises that came from him each time Rose thrust herself up and down on him was spurring her on more and more. She kept a change of pace going, grinding then riding then back to grinding. Keeping him of his toes.

His grip on her hips and ass area was bordering on painful – just like Rose liked.

Sweat coated both of their skin as she rode him, it wasn’t until she felt his thighs begin to quiver under her that Rose slowed down.

At that moment Akiyoshi gripped her arm, she looked behind her and down at the heavenly body under her.

“Turn, turn around. I want to look at you.”

Rose like the authoritive tone to his voice, it was superior to that of anyone she had ever heard before and it was like music to her ears but there was a sweet fondness there as well. One that she could certainly get used to hearing but knew she couldn’t and wouldn’t.

She complied and rotated herself to face him without disconnecting him from her.

As soon as she was comfortable he sat up just enough to pull her down to his face for a long heated and slightly sloppy tongue and saliva dominating kiss.

His hips moved before hers, bucking up into her and encouraging her to move along with him – which she did, more than happily. And she encouraged him to use a hand to give some attention to her severely neglected clit.

They remained in this position until they both reached their orgasm. Their gazes locked, occasionally their lips and at one point their hands too.

By the way, she got to draw him after their tryst – well a certain part of him, until it filled full of blood and needed some relief. But Akiyoshi was a gentleman and made sure she came first both times.

-BACK TO THE PRESENT-  

“It was a great article. You have a good team.”

Rose smiled and bowed back.

“Of course it was a great article, who do you think wrote it?”

Minato looked down at Rose with that shit eating smirk of his and Rose wished she hadn’t complimented him in front of other people.

It was at that point looked around herself.

She had slept with four people that worked for Seasonelle. She couldn’t help but feel like that was some kind of achievement. But she couldn’t understand why had Miho not told her that they all worked for the same damn magazine and that they would all be at this damn party?

She was just glad that they all didn’t know that she had slept with them. She could just imagine the headline:

‘Rose bangs Seasonelle.’

Obviously they wouldn’t actually write that as an article but she wouldn’t be surprised if Miho made a ‘fake’ magazine with that as the headline now that she was aware she’d slept with the majority of the Seasonelle editorial team.

“Would you like a drink?”

Akiyoshi asked and Rose nodded.

He turned to the table behind him with the various amounts of liquor sitting on it. After pouring a drink he turned back and handed Rose her drink.

Whisky.

Uh-oh. They were playing the ‘perfect strangers’ role but he remembered the drink she chose at the bar. This was bad.

“Whisky’s a little strong for a lady don’t you think, Chief?”

Shusei questioned.

“Is he trying to get her drunk so he can have his way with her?”

A blond haired man said as he entered the group. Rose glared at him, she remembered him from the day she came to the Seasonelle. He made her hackles go up back then and this time he made her hackles go up and her claws come out.

“No, but isn’t it obvious I don’t drink the frilly girly shit that’s obviously in your glass?”

Rose growled but immediately regretted it when she remembered where she was and that she was here representing MJS.

“Woah, defensive Pommy jumping to the Chiefs rescue.”

Minato said a little taken aback and disgruntled by Rose’s change in loyalty and Master to no other than his Boss.

“Looks like she is a little fond of the boss.”

Shusei joined in on the teasing.

“Knock it off, all of you.”

Akiyoshi growled that made all the men recoil and zip their mouths shut. It was a similar type of growl to the sound she made when Rose was riding him. And she had to sip her whisky to stop herself from smirking.

“I apologise. These guys are idiots, is whisky okay? I’m sorry I just assumed it was your drink of choice.”

Rose smiled sincerely.

“Whisky is my poison, thank you.”

After the close call, they stood huddle in a group chatting and getting acquainted for quite a while. Minato seemed to read Rose pretty well every time the blonde she found out was called ‘Chiaki’ spoke or got to close to her, he would purposely put himself into the conversation or physically moved between them both.

Rose however was almost at the tipsy point – she’d lost count of how many drinks she’d had to cover up the intensity of the situation and the uncomfortableness she felt of being here without Miho. She could feel her skin getting hotter and getting redder. She decided that was a good time to stop drinking, she wasn’t sure getting drink around four people she’d slept with was a good idea.

Miho would be mad, so it would definitely be a bad idea.

Overall though, the alcohol had given her the confidence to enjoy this as much as she could. She was chatting away and getting to know each man when they were amongst friends and their peers.

It wasn’t until she was chatting to Minato that she noticed that people were staring at direction of the door. She couldn’t see what everyone was staring at. Everyone around her seemed like giants in comparison.

The huddle of Seasonelle journalists she was stood with were too interested in what was taking place by the door.

Eventually the cause of the commotion made herself know.

“Miho.”

Rose looked her boss up and down and realised why her boss had made a wave in the crowd.

“Am I drunk or is she wearing a cat woman suit?”

Rose said to no one in particular, but Minato moved next to her.

“No, she’s wearing a cat woman suit.”

Rose sighed.

“If I’d had known this was the reason she was going to be late, I wouldn’t have given her that suit as a Bachelorette party gift.”

Rose let out a slight chuckle, sometimes Miho could be so unpredictable.

She let out a breath happy her boss was finally here but still a little taken back by her extravagant entrance. However her gratefulness of her boss finally arriving was short lived when a copper haired male that was following behind her came into her line of sight.

“Ryo?!”

Rose nearly shouted but managed to capture her voice. Her surprise but happiness to see him was shown on her face, she couldn’t hide the smile that began to take hold of her lips as she watched him sheepishly look around the room until he looked directly at her, his gaze intense and unreadable.

Unreadable.

That didn’t make sense, he was always pretty easy to read.

“You’re welcome.”

Miho stated when she got close enough before she walked back the way she came.

“What the hell, Miho?”

Rose called after, but Minato put his hand on her shoulder as if to stop her and pointed in the direction of Ryosuke.

Whose gaze intensified when Minato touched her. He made his way towards her, his footsteps full of purpose.

“Akane, we’re leaving.”

Ryosuke grabbed her hand – the touch as rough as his tone, and then turned dragging her behind him leaving behind a whole room of confused journalists and publishers.