Touru to Shidou/Touru and Shidou

~*~*~*~Touru

We didn’t have a lot of time to ourselves the next week. Finals were coming up, and while ranks were final, for the most part, there was still the chance that things could change so we had to take them semi seriously. By the time we took our shower at night, we were both barely awake, between work and school and studying. I didn’t write as much while studying, or not as much that didn’t have to do with school. We barely had time and energy to kiss each other before we were falling asleep. We went to see Joseph together on Tuesday and talked about our weekend. I mentioned to Shidou I wanted to learn to drive and he suggested Pop teach me, that he’d be too nervous to teach me. My computer fund was again redirected, but this time to a car. I almost had enough for a computer, this time, too, but being able to visit him when I wanted to was more important. My old machine still worked, even if it was almost four years old. I set up time with Pop after finals to practice driving.

Saturday afternoon, Shidou came into the kitchen where I was studying biology from the room where he’d been working on English. He pulled the book away from me, “If you don’t get in the room, naked on the bed, I’m going to pick you up and take you there.”

“Only if we can try something,” I said, a little nervous.

“What?” he asked, looking like he was having a hard time containing himself.

“I want you to tie my hands to the bed,” I said, trying to be calm, but my lip found its way between my teeth.

He blinked at me a couple of times, “You want to be tied down?”

“Only my hands,” I said, feeling like I was rushing when I said it.

“You’re sure?” he said, lifting me from the chair.

“Yes. I want to try it.”

“You’ll tell me if you don’t like it?”

“Yes.”

He stood there, looking at me. “If you want, we can try it. What do we use?”

I kissed him, my hands running through his hair, pulling his mouth close to mine. His hands went to my butt and he held me close. I could feel the heat off his body, off his shaft, as he held me close. I pulled away and led him to the room and pulled open my shirt drawer. From the back, I pulled out a cord, thicker than string, but thinner than rope. I licked my lips and handed it to him and then led him to the bed.

“You’re prepared,” he commented almost dryly.

I shook my head, “I have it for different projects. I think it came from a tent.”

We sat on the bed, facing each other. He held my chin and kissed me before taking my hands and crossing them in his lap. I had a hard time taking a breath as he wrapped the rope around my wrists, binding them together. I looked at his face and when he looked up at me, he gasped. “What?” I asked, my voice faint and breathy to my own ears.

“You look so aroused,” he answered, pressing my hands up as he pushed me back into the bed. “You look absolutely fucking turned on.” I felt him doing something with the rope over my head and then he kissed me. I tugged on my arms and they wouldn’t come down and I kissed him back enthusiastically. He pulled away from me, panting, “You really like this, don’t you?”

“Yeah,” I managed to answer. I didn’t want to talk, I wanted him to do stuff to me.

He grinned, “Wanna try something else, too? You can say no if it’s too much.”

“What?” I whined. I didn’t want to talk.

He bent over and whispered in my ear, “How would you like to be blindfolded, too?”

A shock traveled through my body, “You’ve been playing online.”

“Yeah. Wanna try it?” His face was so close to mine. I kissed him, arching away from the bed as much as I could as he pulled back. “Answer, then you can kiss me.”

“Yeah,” I replied with some enthusiasm.

He took off his shirt and belatedly realized I still had mine on. “Oops,” he laughed, tying his shirt over my eyes. Then, all I could feel of him was him straddling my waist. I was acutely aware of the heat off his body, his breathing, his scent, everything that made him that was normally blurred by sight. I felt him bend over, I felt the bed move as he put his hands on either side of my body. I felt him breathing over me before he whispered, “I love you.”

I started to answer, but he kissed me, lightly, barely brushing my lips with his. It was an electric shock through my system. I gasped and he kissed me again, just as lightly.

~*~*~*~Shidou

He was amazing to watch. I could see him trembling with anticipation. I had been watching his bookmarks, watching those files that he’d saved. He’d told me he’d gotten ideas from the internet and I wanted to see what kind of ideas they were so maybe I could surprise him sometime. I didn’t want to hurt him, but he looked incredibly excited to be bound and his response to being blindfolded was encouraging. I took my time exploring his lips, never kissing him very deeply, just enough to let him know I was there. He moaned and groaned deliciously, trying to follow me as I pulled back from him. I really should have thought about his shirt, but I’d remember next time. I was sure there’d be a next time as long as he enjoyed himself and I would make sure he did.

I kissed his chin, using my nose to make him look up. He gave a shuddering gasp as he rolled his head back into the bed, baring his throat to me. I continued to lightly tease him, barely touching him, but his reactions were incredible to watch. His whole body seemed to be vibrating under me.

Without touching his skin, I pulled his shirt up and he arched away from the bed, letting me pull it over his arms. I sat back, on my knees, not touching him as I looked at him. His skin glowed, his muscles trembled, he breathed open mouth, harshly panting. I bent over him, my hands on the bed, not touching him and blew softly over his neck. He groaned loudly and pushed his head back into the bed. I moved close to his ear, “Are you enjoying yourself?”

His answer was more of a moan than a word, but it sounded positive. I touched the tip of his ear that showed under my shirt with my tongue and he moaned again, louder. I wondered where on his body would produce the loudest noises and began to explore to find out. I kept my touch light, barely brushing his skin with my lips and tongue. It was fun, almost like being with a new lover in the body of the one I held so dear. Every reaction was amplified. When I licked at one of his nipples, he practically screamed and pressed his chest into my mouth.

I didn’t stay there, though. I had more surprises in store for him. I slid down his body, carefully undoing his jeans so that I touched his skin as little as possible. When I tugged on the fabric, he lifted his hips, letting me pull them off. I followed, going over the end of the bed, leaving him naked and very delicious looking on the bed. His voice shuddered and he called, “Shidou?”

“I’m here, my love. I won’t leave you.”

His body relaxed into the bed and he whispered, “I love you.”

I pulled my pants down, making the zipper as loud as I could. I saw him gasp, his hips rocking a little as he licked his lips. When I got my jeans off, I trailed them over his body and he moaned. I rattled the drawer and pulled out a couple of condoms and a glove, setting them on his chest and watching as he breathed quicker, his dick dancing in anticipation. It was hard not to bend over and suck him down, but I had a plan. I pulled out the lube and got back on the bed, straddling his legs, making him bring them together, though he had them spread wide for me. He whimpered, but I picked up a condom and trailed it along his body, drawing the corner of the package over his shaft very lightly. His breath shuddered out of his body and his hips rolled, trying to get more contact. I bent over and blew gently along his shaft and watched the ripples travel though his entire body. He sighed, only to shudder again when I drew the glove down his body, leaving a condom on his chest.

What I wanted to do next would take a little coordination, but I was sure I could do it. I opened the condom, and unrolled it a little to add a couple of drops of lube before putting it in my mouth. The latex tasted nasty, but I could deal with that long enough to do what I wanted, and it was definitely worth the bad taste. I also put the glove on and lubed it well. I bent over, using my ungloved hand to guide Touru’s erection into my mouth and into the condom while reaching over and beginning to prepare myself. It took a little bit of work, but I managed to get the condom on him. He was starting to scream, starting to pant, starting to thrust into my mouth. I managed to work two fingers into myself and began moaning around him. I was almost ready. I let him out of my mouth and crawled up his legs until I was over his hips and then used the hand that had been in my ass to guide his dick into me. I lowered myself slowly, enjoying as he screamed and panted and called my name.

~*~*~*~Touru

Gods, gods, gods, he was gonna…holy…gods! I couldn’t think as his body slid down me, so tight, so incredibly hot. I felt his body shift and then he took his shirt off my head. “You need a wet dream,” he managed to groan and it sounded like it took a lot for him to say that. He then began to rock slowly over my hips. I stared at him, barely able to comprehend, only fully aware that it felt so good. He began to moan louder and my body decided to help him make more of those sounds. My hips rocked into his motions and he groaned my name. He tossed his head back and reached back to hold my legs. Some of his hair clung to his forehead, the rest looked almost drenched. His hands squeezed and released my legs in time to his rocking. He rode me and I bucked into him, our motions getting faster and harder. I heard him scream my name and looked down to see his shaft pulse out his come onto my stomach. His muscles clenched around me and I screamed as my body convulsed into his.

He was on my chest, panting, dripping sweat onto me. He pushed himself up, “I’m not finished with you, yet.”

“No?” I managed to ask.

“This is what you get for neglecting me for a week. This is your punishment.” He grinned a little and pushed himself up, sliding off of me as he did. He took the condom off my chest and then said, “On your knees.”

It took me a moment before I figured out what he meant. He was stroking himself, touching me, too. “My knees?” I asked.

His hand left me, “On your knees, yes.”

I could feel excitement beginning to course through me again. We’d never tried sex without looking at each other, without holding each other. It was difficult, but I managed to get onto my knees with my arms still tied over my head. I was already partially hard when I did and he moved to kneel behind me. He was there for some time without touching me and I tried to see what he was doing. Then, his lips began touching me, kissing my butt lightly. I moaned, rubbing my face into the bed. It felt so good for him to kiss me there. His hands held my hips and he kept kissing me, little moans rising from his throat, joining mine. He kissed up my back slowly, his hands massaging my sides as he went. He reached my shoulders and I felt his shaft pressing against me. “Do you want me to prepare you?” he asked, his breath tickling over my skin.

“No,” I breathed. I could feel myself relaxing. I didn’t want this to stay slow and gentle. I wanted him to…

I lost my train of thought as he shoved all the way into me. My head went back and I screamed his name. I was in a daze. It felt like I was floating just out of my skin. I think I heard him calling my name. “It’s good, so good,” I managed to say.

~*~*~*~Shidou

I don’t know why I entered him so fast. It was almost like his body was pulling me in. I froze, calling to him. When he moaned that he felt good, my stomach relaxed and I could breathe again. I brought a hand up and caressed his hair, threading my fingers through it. He pressed his head back into my hand and I whispered in his ear, “Do you want me to put you through the wall?” He moaned and pressed back into me. I thought I heard him say please, but I wasn’t sure. I tightened my hold on his hair and pressed him forward with my hips. “I didn’t hear your answer,” I growled.

This time, he gasped, “Please, please do it.”

I pulled back a little, keeping my chest on his back and shoved forward. He moaned loudly. “You’re sure?” I asked, pulling back on his hair.

He groaned, “Yes, please.” His voice sounded oddly disconnected, as if it weren’t really part of him, but his hips pressed into me and everything else about his body looked like he was enjoying himself.

I pushed away from his back, keeping ahold of his hair with one hand and his hip with the other, “Then, I guess we’ll have to see how strong the wall is, won’t we?” I pulled almost all the way out of him and slammed forward as hard as I could. He screamed and his body tightened around me. His hands went to the headboard and I could see the muscles in his arms working to keep his body from being moved as I continued to thrust into him.

His body loosened around me, allowing me to move freely in and out of his body. For some reason, that was wrong. He needed to be tighter to really enjoy this, some part of my brain decided, though I don’t know why or which part. With the hand on his ass, I smacked his hip. He squealed and tightened around me. “Like that, my little slut?” Did I just say that?

“Yes, yes, more,” he babbled, his muscles working around my shaft as I kept moving in him, trying to move him.

I smacked his ass again, a little harder, “Like that, you whore?”

He screamed, “Yes!”

The more I hit him, the more I called him filthy names, the hotter and tighter his body became, the more he pushed back to meet my thrusts, the more he screamed. Finally, I couldn’t take it any longer. I grabbed his hair with both hands and let myself thrust into him as hard as I could. He cried out and his body clamped down on me and I screamed for him as I came. Vaguely, I heard him call my name and I think I felt him come.

The next thing I knew for sure, we were flat on the bed, me still in him, panting and sweating. My muscles shook and it was all I could do to move so I wasn’t in him any more. “My arms,” he said, his voice sounding very abused.

I kissed his shoulder and managed to reach up and work the knot loose. It took a lot, but I managed to roll off him and then roll him to face me so I could untie his hands. His whole body was limp, his eyes barely able to focus. “Are you okay, Love?” I whispered, and it hurt to talk, my throat was sore.

He tried to nod and then whispered, “Yeah. That was really good.” When his hands were free, he laid one on my cheek. “Shouldn’t do that too often, though,” he grinned a little.

I held his hand, “Why’s that?”

“Neighbors might worry, and,” he pulled his hand off my cheek and held it where I could see his wrists, “ligature marks.” There were bright red marks where the rope had been. “Also,” he added, letting his hand fall to the bed, “I do like holding you, too.”

I picked up his hand and kissed his wrist softly, “I like holding you too, but variety is fun.”

“No doubt about that,” he grinned and then yawned. I yawned in response and he whispered, “Nap, shower, then more studying.”

I pulled him close to me, “Sounds like a plan.” I was asleep before I knew it.

~*~*~*~Touru

I felt like I’d been run over and that they then backed up to make sure they did a thorough job. My back hurt, my scalp hurt, my legs hurt, I hurt all over, but at the same time, I felt really good, too. Shidou’s arms tightened around me as I lay on his chest and I groaned. “How are you, Love?” he asked, his voice still sounding ragged.

“My body hates me and I want to do it again, just not right now,” I answered, moving so I could look at him.

He smiled at me, “Yeah, I don’t think I could do it again right now, either. I’m kinda sore, too.” He reached for my hands and pulled one up so he could look at my wrists. I had rather interesting looking bruises around them. “I wonder if we could use something else to tie you up with though.”

“Do you want to be tied up?” I asked, hoping he wouldn’t because I didn’t think I’d be comfortable that way.

“No, not really. Maybe have my hands tied, but not tied to anything,” he answered and I breathed a sigh of relief. He ran his hand through my hair and pulled me to his lips, kissing me softly, “If it makes you uncomfortable, Love, we don’t have to do it.”

“Same here,” I answered, kissing him lightly. I groaned as my body protested any movement, “I really did like that, but I hurt.”

He moved slowly to stand up, holding a hand out for me. I managed to get to my knees and crawl over to him, leaning against him before I put my feet on the floor. I looked over my shoulder at the bed, “We’re gonna need to change the sheets.”

“After we bathe,” he countered, leading me into the bathroom.

“Bathe?” I asked as he left me to go into the hall.

He came back with towels and a washrag. “Yeah, bathe. We’re going to take a bath and I’m going to work on your back some.” He turned on the water in the tub and in the sink. With the wash cloth, he gently cleaned my body where I was just starting to itch from his come drying there. He also cleaned between my legs so very gently that it didn’t hurt. While he was washing there, he knelt and kissed my butt again.

“That feels really good,” I murmured, caressing his hair.

“I got that idea from how you reacted,” he whispered, his lips brushing my skin as he spoke. He stood up and started washing himself and I took the rag away from him. “You’re more sore than I am,” he protested.

“I want to,” I answered, kneeling. It hurt, but I wanted to show him what it felt like to have warm lips on his ass. I pushed his hips and he turned. I looked up and I could see him twisted around, watching me. While meeting his eyes, I licked his butt, drawing my tongue up slowly. He groaned and put a hand on my head. I broke eye contact and began kissing him in earnest, holding his hips while I sampled all I could reach.

“Touru,” he whispered and I looked up. “Stop, Love. Neither of us is up for more today.”

I nodded and sat back on my heels, panting. My dick thought it might be up for more, but the rest of my body disagreed. He turned and I could see that he was having the same conflict with his body. He reached down to me and I held his hand. He pulled me up and kissed me softly before turning and guiding me into the tub. He turned off the water and we sat down gingerly, trying not to abuse sore areas and to avoid too much weight to more delicate areas. When we were settled, Shidou gently caressed my body, his hands massaging my abdomen and chest. He hugged me several times. I sighed and leaned into his shoulder, my hands on his arms. After a while, he nudged me, “Lean over your legs.” He pushed me and helped me move. It wasn’t very comfortable to move, but once I was draped over my legs, it was okay. He rubbed my back firmly. It was like he knew where I hurt the most and what kind of touch I needed to feel better. When I was relaxed and as pain free as one bath was going to get me, he leaned over my back and wrapped his arms around me, “I love it when you let me take care of you.”

I rubbed his arms, “You do a good job of it, my love.”

He sighed, “What do you want to do for senior week?”

“I dunno. I hadn’t really thought of it. I don’t want to go on the trip, though. That’d get to weird and all with the teachers around and stuff, we wouldn’t get to do anything, y’know?”

“Yeah. I didn’t want to go to an amusement park, either, even before we got together. It’s just not my thing. Is there anything you’d like to do?”

“Could we go see my family again? And I could show you around town, too.”

He hugged me, “We could do that. Is there anything else you’d like to do?”

I hummed and started laughing, “Let’s watch that stuff together and have more wild and crazy sex.”

He laughed and hugged me again, “I like that, too. Sounds like a plan. Visiting family and wild sex. That has got to be the best plan for senior week.”

I laughed, “You forgot the porn.”

“That, too,” he laughed and then started tickling me.

I squirmed, laughing, trying to get away, sort of, in the tiny bathtub, “Not fair!”

He stopped, and kissed my shoulder, “Nope, not. In here, you could hurt me and not mean to. Have to try that later, though.” I could feel him chucking against my back as he lay on my back again. I felt him sigh, and then he said, “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you, too. How’s school been? How’s Jason and all?”

“You and Jason have a class together.” It sounded like he was pouting.

“How have your classes been, then?” I asked, rubbing his arms.

He nuzzled my back, “A few of the girls told me that if they’d known you were coming in a dress, they would have voted for us as prom royalty. A couple of guys agreed with them. We were talking at lunch.”

I laughed a little, “That would have gone over well.”

He hugged me tightly, “Yes, it would have, King o’ my heart.”

“I was in the dress, wouldn’t that make me the queen?” I teased him back.

“Only if you say it. I remember very well that you’re not a girl. And I’m glad, cause other wise, it’d be hard to give you a wet dream.”

I felt my cheeks get hot. “The water’s getting cold,” I finally managed to say.

“I still think it’s cute that you get embarrassed, Love.” He kissed my back, “You did like that, didn’t you?”

“Very much so. I hope we have time to give each other a lot more wet dreams before school starts again.”

His arms tightened around me, “So do I. I’m sure we will.”

I reached out and pulled the plug on the water and we both climbed out of the tub. I was still sore and he moved like he’d felt better, too. I wrapped myself in a towel and my stomach complained at me. Shidou grinned at me and I said, “Food then study.”

~*~*~*~Shidou

I grinned at Touru, “Yeah, sounds like a plan. What would you like?”

“Macaroni,” he answered, grinning at me.

“And how old are you?” I teased him.

“Nineteen in 70 days.”

“You’re counting?” I asked.

“No, not really. It’s just ten weeks from today.”

“I’m glad you told me, now I can make plans,” I grinned at him. He smiled back at me and I bent over to kiss him. “I love you. Do you need more of a massage?”

He hooked an arm over my neck, “No, not right now. I just need to move and stuff.”

I went into the kitchen and started the water boiling before getting my clothes from the bedroom. Touru was sitting on the bed, frowning. “What is it, Love?”

“I didn’t think about work and stuff when we were talking about senior week.” He sounded almost depressed.

“Dad already told me I could have it off if I wanted,” I replied, moving to sit next to him. “Have you talked to Pop about it?”

“No, today was the first I thought about it.

“Talk to Pop, then. Don’t worry about it. He’ll understand.”

“But, bills and stuff,” he started to whine and then looked away from me.

“Touru, I can help pay. I’m living here, too.” He hadn’t taken any money from me. The only things I paid for were things I bought without him around.

“But,” he began.

“No buts, Touru. I’m living here, I can help with the bills.”

“But,” he said again.

“No, Touru. I won’t listen anymore. I know you’re used to taking care of yourself, to being the only one you could rely on for most of the past year, but you have me, now. The whole reason Dad had me start early was so that I could contribute. I normally only work summers for him, when the students are gone and he needs the extra help.” I wrapped an arm around his shoulder. “Look, I know you’re trying to save money. I know you’d like a new computer and there’s probably a few other things you would like. I also know that part of your pay check goes to Dad and five hours are unpaid for counseling. Let me help you.”

“I’m making more than I did before. I’m fine,” he muttered, leaning against me.

“Then let me help you be better than fine. Let me help you get a new computer,” I leaned against his head.

“I want a car instead,” he said softly. “I want my license and a car so I can go and see you and my family without having you come all the way here and back. I also need to get a phone. Email isn’t going to be enough when you leave. I’ll need to hear your voice.”

I lifted his chin, “Tomorrow, we are getting you a phone. I am paying and you are not arguing. After we eat, we’re talking to Pop about senior week and you will start letting me help pay the bills.” I would not accept any arguments from him. He looked at me a long time and then nodded slowly. “I love you,” I said. “I don’t want you stressing when you don’t have to, okay?” I softened my voice so he’d know I wasn’t angry with him.

“I know,” he said softly, wrapping his arms around me and leaning into my shoulder. “I want to let you help, but I’m scared, too.”

“Why, Love?” I asked softly.

“What if something happens when you’re not here? I need to be able to handle it. I can’t just rely on you all the time.”

I hugged him tightly and could feel his tears on my shoulder. “Yes, you can, my love. If you need me, you can call me. That’s why we’re going to get a phone. You’ll also have my parents here for you, too. And, we’re not going to be separated that long, my love. It’s okay to rely on me some.” I hugged him tightly, “I want to be able to support you some, my beloved Touru. I want it so that when I get out of school and get established, that if you’re not published yet, that you can stay at home and write if you want to. I want to be able to take care of you. I know you can take care of yourself and of me, and I want to do the same for you.”

He sniffled, “I’ll make you a deal, then.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

“Until you go to school, we both will pay bills. I’ll show you what they are and we can work on splitting them and everything. During school, we’re on our own, basically. During summers, you’re coming here?” I nodded and he continued, “Then, for the summers, we’ll split again. When I finish, I’ll go there and take care of you because I’ll have Thalia’s money then and I’ll be able to work, too. When you graduate, until you’re established, we’ll split again. We can renegotiate later, if we need to.”

“I want to add a condition,” I countered. He looked at me, “If you need help during the school year or if I need help, we’ll call each other and see if we can help, right?”

“Yeah. Deal?” he asked, sitting up and holding out his hand.

“Deal,” I shook his hand and then pulled him in for a kiss. I then stood up, “I’ve got water on the stove.” I tossed the towel in the hamper and he ran his hand over my butt. I held his hand, “Not until you can move without wincing.”

He looked up at me, his eyes teasing and lust-filled at the same time, “We could always suck each other off again. I think we can manage that.”

I bent over and kissed him, “Maybe after we study some more. And you have a phone call to make.” I pulled on some boxers and a tee shirt before handing him my phone. I kissed him again before leaving the room. I left a little quickly, though. I was wanting to do more than kiss him again and I knew he wasn’t up for anymore just then.

~*~*~*~Touru

I called Pop and he agreed to time off during senior week. He asked how things were going and I told him some of our week, how we hadn’t had a lot of time to spend together. “Oh, that’s why you sound hoarse. I thought you might be getting sick.”

My face went hot and I stammered. “We also worked out finances and stuff.”

He laughed at me, “I’m glad to hear that. Do you still want to have a driving lesson on Saturday? And Mom is pestering me to ask when you boys want to come over for dinner.”

“Saturday is good. We can go up on Sunday. Let me ask him, but I think Tuesday’s probably best.” I managed to get up without too much groaning and walked to the door, “Shidou, is Tuesday good to visit your parents for dinner?”

“Yeah, Tuesday’s fine.”

I turned back to the phone and finished making arrangements for both dinner and driving. We’d go Friday during lunch for my permit since I’d be working all day Friday. My last day of finals was Thursday. Shidou had a final Friday morning, though. While we ate, we discussed our schedule for the week, actually planning time to have together so that we would be able to survive a little less frustrated until the weekend. My face was hot most of the time and he teased me about blushing. It’s just a little embarrassing scheduling time to have sex with your boyfriend around work and school and everything else. We also planned out our schedule for senior week and I’d email Alana and make sure it was okay to stay a couple nights with her. After we ate, I cleaned the dishes while he stripped the bed and then we made the bed and went back to studying. My body was starting not to hate me anymore at that point.

It was almost ten when Shidou came back into the kitchen, “Come to bed with me, Love.”

I was going to protest that I needed more time when I looked at him. He wanted me, he needed me. I didn’t look away from his eyes as I stood and crossed the kitchen. He held me gently as he kissed me. His kisses weren’t deep, but they held a lot in them. Very gently, he led me to the room and placed me on the bed. I sighed, surrendering to whatever he wanted. He laid on top of me, kissing me, his hands caressing my body. Very slowly, he removed our clothes and rubbed our bodies together. He made love to me without penetrating me. I loved that we could have wild orgasms and then be so gentle with each other, too. It was thrilling and comforting. Warmth spread, seeming to spill from my body to his and back as we moaned our release. He told me to stay in the bed while he got up and got a wash cloth and cleaned us both off. We then fell asleep, me on his chest while he caressed my hair.