Miroku turned his head and kissed her. He put his hand on her waist and pulled her towards him so they were pressed chest to chest and he put his arm around her and cupped her bottom through her dress, loving the moan she gave as he did so.

Raising the fabric, he felt smooth, warm skin, and then moved his hand up enough until he felt her thong.

"Miroku…" Sango said, pulling back slightly, searching his face for something.

"Do you want me to stop?" he asked.

Sango shook her head no, and then showed him exactly what she wanted, pressing her mouth back against his, and started to work on the buttons of his shirt with her right hand. Once it was open, she spread her hand out over his chest, feeling the muscles beneath her fingers.

"Wow, you're pretty built for a schoolteacher," she giggled.

He raised a brow. "I work out, I'll have you know. City boys have muscles, too."

"So it would seem," she answered. "Are we going to stay dressed, then?"

Miroku reached behind her and unzipped her dress. She let him pull it off, and lay next to him in just her bra and thong. She was lithe and slightly muscular, testament to her many years of ranch work.

"Lovely Sango, you are so beautiful," he murmured, looking into her eyes before pressing kisses to her neck and shoulders, working his way down.

"Thank you, but you seem to be wearing too many clothes," she smiled.

"Your wish is my command, my lady." Miroku stood up, removing his clothing, making just a bit of show for her. She watched him with an appreciative gaze.

"Come here," she whispered, holding out a hand in invitation.

"Are you sure," he asked, hesitating. He wanted this to be good for her, so much was riding on this marriage, but he genuinely cared about her and her needs.

"I'm fine. I've had plenty of good counselling, and you're not my first since the attack. Come here," she commanded, desire lighting her face.

At this, he took her hand and allowed her to pull him down to her. Again they kissed, and this time Miroku squeezed her breast, kneading it gently through her bra, and pinching the nipple when it pebbled under his hand.

Sango gasped and arched into him, clearly approving. Emboldened, he licked and kissed his way down until he could suck the little peak into his mouth, right through the satin.

Sango wasn't idle, her hands had pushed his shirt down his arms and she was stroking every bit of skin she could reach. Her nails bit into him with every little nip, and she was quickly becoming desperate.

She let her head fall back in bliss as he slipped one hand inside her thong and he began to touch her with his fingers. He worked her into frenzy, where her hips were grinding against his hand and she was begging him for more.

He tugged her thong off and returned quickly, this time lowering his head between her legs. "Is this all right with you?" he asked.

Sango could only nod. He wasted no time, but set to work with skill and passion. In minutes she was crying out his name as her first orgasm overtook her. He didn't stop there, but drove her to another and then a third before she pushed his head away.

"No more," she gasped.

He threw her a wholly male grin of satisfaction. "Good?"

"You could say that," she replied, wryly. Her hair was damp and her skin glowed. She looked like a woman who had been thoroughly loved, but he wasn't done yet.

"Ready for round two?" he asked, crawling back up her body.

She welcomed him eagerly, and he kissed her deeply as he guided himself inside of her. He started out slowly, but as she began to writhe and mewl beneath him he increased his pace. Sensing she was close, he reached down and massaged her clit with one hand. It was all she needed. In seconds, she came apart in his arms, and he quickly followed her.

Miroku tucked her into him as he rolled onto his side, and held her close. He kissed the top of her head and didn't say anything, he just held her. He'd never imagined that she would be so eager and responsive, and he was deeply grateful and hopeful for the both of them.

"That was amazing, thank you," she whispered.

He kissed her temple. "It was my pleasure."

"I'd like to do it again," she told him, blushing.

"I think I can manage that," he told her. "But how about a bath first?"

"Yes, please!" she agreed, and let him pull her out of bed and carry her to the oversized tub in the corner.

SSSSSSSSSssssss

Sango and Miroku returned to the ranch a couple of days later, and every time he looked at her, she'd blush. It had been a very busy weekend for them both. They had dinner that night with Kohaku in the dining room, and Miroku was working up the nerve to ask the boy if he'd like to go fishing with him the next day.

About halfway through the meal, Kohaku threw his napkin down and left the table without asking to be excused. "Kohaku!" his sister cried, shocked. She glanced over at Miroku looking apologetic. "I'm sorry. I don't know what's wrong with him. I'll talk to him after dinner."

He was loathe to interfere, but he knew that he had to start sometime. "Let me talk to him for a few minutes. This may be a man to man type of situation. If it's not, I'll make myself scarce while you deal with it, okay?"

Sango looked unsure for a moment, and then finally nodded. Miroku got up and went upstairs to the boy's bedroom. He knocked on the door.

"Go away," Kohaku shouted. Miroku tried the doorknob, and it wasn't locked, so he let himself in.

"I said go away," the boy snarled, glaring over his shoulder as he lay on his bed.

"Just let me talk to you for a few minutes, and then I'll leave, I'll even go get your sister for you, if you want," Miroku told him.

"No. Don't do that," Kohaku said. Miroku sat next to him for a minute, and didn't say anything, the boy looked like he was about to cry, and he didn't want to upset him worse.

"I miss him," the young man finally said. Miroku knew immediately who he was talking about.

"I know, we all do," Miroku said. "It's okay to cry. It takes a stronger man to show his tears, then to hide it and pretend he doesn't feel."

"Grandpa used to say that," Kohaku said, sniffling. "He told me to call him that, Grandpa Mushin. He liked you a lot. I know why he wanted the two of you to get married, he told me once he though my sister and you would be perfect for each other. I just wish he hadn't died to make it happen."

"I know," Miroku said. "I wish that, too. I would have come to visit this summer and I would have met your sister then. I wish he'd been here, too."

"He should have gone to the doctor!" the boy cried. "Sango tried and tried to get him to go, but he wouldn't. He said he was fine. But he wasn't." The tears were very close now, clogging his throat and thickening his words.

They sat in silence for a few moments, then Kohaku asked, "Would you have asked her out, when you came in the summer?"

"I don't know, maybe," Miroku answered him honestly. "She is a very attractive woman, and I like her a great deal."

"My sister is the best. She took care of me and didn't leave me behind, even when it would have been easier for her," Kohaku told him.

"No one's leaving you behind now, either," Miroku said. "We're all moving forward together. This may not have been the way we wanted things to turn out, but if we try, we can become a great family."

Kohaku turned to look at him then. He seemed very young. "You think so?"

Miroku ruffled his hair, unable to resist. "Are you kidding? You're a great kid, your sister is amazing, and I'm so far off the charts of awesome they can't even measure me. How could we not make this work?"

Kohaku groaned at his boasting, but did sit up.

"Do you want to come finish dinner?" Miroku asked him. "Kaede made banana pudding for dessert."

"Banana pudding? All right!" And with a bounce, the boy was out the door. "Come on, Miroku. First one down gets the first serving!"

And Miroku smiled as he hurried to follow. Maybe things would be fine after all.