-Twenty Five-

Rin woke gasping, then clutched her stomach when it ached painfully, radiating throughout her torso. She groaned and fell back into the pillows that surrounded her head. Her body was so tired and . . . Wait. Pillows?

Rin sat up again and her nose bumped another. Her eyes stared into those golden orbs. Without thinking, Rin opened her mouth and let out a piercing scream. She fought against the intruder. She yelled something she couldn't understand herself as she swung her fists blindly.

"I am here, Rin. I am here. They are gone-dead. You are safe."

Rin froze and stared at the speaker-her own mate sat at the edge of the bed, holding both her wrists in one hand. His free hand reached out to her. She didn't flinch away; instead she leaned toward his touch and nearly whimpered when his skin touched hers.

Awkwardly, she moved her body so she could sit on his lap, his hand still held her cheek, caressing it softly. Her own hands curled around his shirt, terrified that this was all a dream and she could lose him, but if she held on tight enough, he would stay with her.

"Rin, I need to know what you remember," he spoke, softer than he ever had before, so as not to frighten her. "Do you know who did this to you?"

Rin's mind and body froze. Did she know who did this to her?

Her eyes landed to the front seat, where a man with a shocking head of white hair sat . . .

Rin shook her head. "No."

"You don't remember anything?"

"No."

"Who kidnapped you?"

"Don't know. Never saw face," Rin mumbled into his chest.

"Stop lying, mate."

Rin tensed. "Not lying, dog."

Gently, but with some force, Sesshomaru switched positions. She ended up straddling his lap. She tried to bury her face into his shoulder again, but he held her upright.

"Tell me. Now."

She shook her head numbly. Rin didn't want her mate to think of her or his father in a bad light. The kidnapper's words haunted her brain.

"Ha! How could you think that the Lord of the Western Lands was going to allow his only heir to mate with a pathetic human?

Rin's eyes shined with tears. What did she believe? Did his father truly want her out of the picture? Was the kidnap a set up for another test? Or did InuTaisho not even know? Was he truly just setting up a test and it got out of hand? Rin didn't know what to believe. But she didn't want Sesshomaru enraged and away from her side, so she played dumb in order to keep him near her and not on a killing rampage throughout the Council.

Rin's body shuddered with the incoming tears. She held strong throughout the real/fake kidnapping. Now, she could let down the facade and be the helpless girl she was desperate to let out.

But her body-naturally defensive and stubborn-didn't allow a single tear to fall down her possibly scarred cheeks. Nope. Instead, her blood started to boil and her brows furrowed. Where did this anger come from. Her body grew hot with the rage. Startled, Rin gasped and stared at Sesshomaru.

"Stop," he whispered.

"I haven't done anything."

"That's the point. You're taking my anger, whether knowingly or not. I can you taking it away from me. I will not allow that."

"You don't allow a lot of things," Rin growled.

"Do not use my own anger against me, mate."

"Why not? It feels kind of good getting mad at you for getting mad at me."

His fingers bit into her skin. "Stop it, Rin."

"I'm not doing anything!" she hissed.

"Yes, you are. Stop trying to protect me from my own emotions. That's not your job. It's mine."

"And what is my job? To sit around and let you handle the hard stuff? No, thank you. Your job is to calm the fuck down and just be with me for five seconds without getting butt-hurt about something so little."

"Finding out who fucking took you is not a little matter, Rin. Now, I demand you release your anger back to me before you lose control."

"Lose control? Demand? What else do you demand of me, Sesshomaru? Maybe if I was a demon like you, I'd be able to control shit and save my own damn self from those assholes. Is that what you demand? Me to be someone that I'm not. I know what your father thinks of me-I know I'm not exactly mate material. But I'm fucking trying, Sesshomaru. What more do you want from me?" Rin was ranting for no apparent reason, but it felt mighty good to let it all out. All her frustration and fears were on the table; now it was Sesshomaru's turn to lay it all out.

"My father?" he almost whispered.

"What about him?"

"He did this to you?"

Rin squashed the surprise before it fully took over. She can't let him find out. It has to be kept a secret until she found of the truth. She'll talk to InuTaisho and the fucking Council if she had to. She chose her words carefully when she spoke again.

"No. Some cute ass bastard did this to me. I was a fool to think I could trust him."

Rin was suddenly pinned back on the bed. Sesshomaru held her wrists above her head in one hand. The other held her chin.

"What did you say, mate?"

"What, about my hot kidnapper? He tricked me and I-" the rest of the sentence was cut off when a pair of lips attacked hers. Rin thought in the back of her mind Success! Subject changed!

She knew the comment of whether her kidnapper was cute or hot would send her mate off the edge. She needed a distraction and this one was perfect. When the time comes, she'd tell her mate who it was that set the whole thing up. But that time wasn't now. It would be later, after the heat that was building up in her was satisfied, Rin would tell Sesshomaru all that he asked. But first, she needed the comfort and solidness that was her demon mate.

They battled for dominance with their tongues. Rin let her mate win that battle, but the war was far from over. Using all her weight, she rolled him and straddled his hips. He sat up immediately, trying to rotate her back onto the bed. She refused to budge, but instead, tore away his buttoned up shirt. In return, he removed the only piece of clothing Rin was almost positive she had on-one of his plain white t-shirts. She could tell her underwear was on underneath, but was certain her bra was removed because her nipples beaded against the fabric, sensitive and waiting.

Once the shirt was removed, Rin's hot skin was kissed by a cold draft. She hugged Sesshomaru closer to her, grinding her hips against him suggestively. His moan into her mouth had her smiling in between kissing.

Before she could blink, Rin was flipped onto her back and Sesshomaru kissed his way down her jaw, throat. His lips brushed her nipple, teasing and soft. Rin whimpered silently. This man was to be the death of her.

Sesshomaru slowly removed her damp underwear to reveal all her glory. It wasn't a second before he slipped one finger, and then two inside of her. Rin gasped with excitement, her body tuned with his hand as he pumped in a third finger, filling her.

Another second blinked by and Sesshomaru was laying on top of her, finally pantless.

Rin lifted her hips and felt his hard excitement against her stomach. Her eyes lit up with passion as she gazed into his tinted-red orbs.

The look he gave her was one of permission. She nodded eagerly. He entered her, slowly at first. His exposed shoulder caught in her mouth when he didn't move as fast and hard as she wanted. She bit down, not enough to draw blood, but enough for him to get the hint.

She stretched with the size of him-a large pinch and then pure bliss. Rin's body matched his pace, even though she wanted faster. He took her slow, but hard. Rin relished the moment, her heat boiled in her stomach and burst throughout her body.

With a final thrust, both their bodies shivered as they found release-Rin whispered his name while he simply let out an animalistic growl.

Just when she thought it was over, her body tired and slightly cramped, she felt Sesshomaru grow stiff again inside her, causing her body to respond immediately. Her lips turned up into a grin. Words she never expected to slip off her tongue passed through her lips, "This time, we do it my way."

. . . }{ . . .

They lay there, silently holding each other. After a second time, Sesshomaru refused to go another round, even after Rin tried to persuade him with all she had. He claimed he lost control and shouldn't have taken advantage of her.

"But you didn't," Rin cooed, still in her bliss.

"You are injured, mate. You cannot handle the aggressions of my demon behavior. I could harm you, mate."

"That's two mates in three sentences. Remind me later to come up with a better nickname for you. Right now, don't kill my sweet buzz or I will never touch you again."

His nose buried into her hair and she wrapped her arms even more tightly around him.

"Sesshy," she murmured.

He growled softly. "Mate."

She grinned. "What did you mean when you said I take your anger from you? I was too angry to ask you then."

"Since I've marked you, mate, you can possess my emotions and possibly my powers."

Rin suddenly felt giddy. "I can become a big white dog, too!"

Sesshomaru frowned. "No, mate. That's a power only full dog demons possess."

"Will I get cute ears like InuYasha."

"Do not mention that imbecile."

Imbecile. That's what he called me. Rin shook her head to get rid of the images.

"Mate," Sesshomaru practically purred.

Rin smiled. "I'm hungry. Make me food."

He growled, louder this time. "I will not be order, Rin."

"Do it, Fluffy. Or else."

An eyebrow raised. "My mate seems to think she can threaten me."

"I can."

"Pray, tell me your threats."

Rin giggled. She liked playful Sesshomaru. She hasn't seen him as often as she liked-or never at all.

"No touching." With that, Rin lifted the arm of her mate off her and scooted away toward the foot of the bed where a silk robe was awaiting her. She slipped it on and stood from the bed. She crossed her arms and tapped her foot, mocking impatience. "I'm waiting, Fido."

Before Rin could tap her foot again, Sesshomaru was suddenly up and slipping on a pair of light gray sweats that hung dangerously low on his hips. He's not playing fair.

Rin continued to tap her foot after the momentary distraction.

"Still waiting . . ." She huffed. Her right ankle was still bruised, but better than earlier. Her stomach ached, but it was more with excitement than pain.

Sesshomaru stepped toward her, arms reaching for her. She sidestepped them and backed out of the room.

"Mate," he said in warning.

"Too late!" Rin squealed as she ran down the hall, halfway down the stairs, only to be caught by her demon. He must've allowed her the full five second head start before coming after her. Otherwise, she'd have never make it out the door.

She giggled like a little girl as Sesshomaru carried her over his shoulder the rest of the way down. Without thinking, she slapped his ass, only to have her own slapped in return. She yelped with excitement. Her ribs sat right on his shoulder bone and when she started to laugh fully, the pain became overwhelming-no longer excitement, just pure pain.

Rin hissed at the injury and Sesshomaru immediately repositioned her until she stood in front of him. He examined her entire body, his eyes stilling at her ribs, which she clutched with both hands.

"I'm fine. Just a little sore."

"We never should have-"

"Don't even say it, Sesshy. Or else . . ." She held up a finger at him and pointed to the hands on her hips, then wagged her finger side to side, clearly indicating the no-touching-rule if he killed her happiness.

He scowled and then flicked his head up to look over her. Instinctively, he pulled her to his side, almost behind him, but not quite.

The front doors opened, sunlight pouring into the hall, almost blinding her. Rin watched as Jaken hustled into the hall and began blubbering excuses and murmuring apologies.

"He just came, my lord. I didn't know. I'm deeply sorry. I didn't-" he was cut off when another figure appeared in sunlit doors. His silhouette was outlined and looked almost like her mate's, but then, as he came closer, Rin gasped and pull herself fully behind her mate, clutching him around his waist with both hands, her fingers digging into his abs. She was trembling all over. She wanted to run, but she felt safest with her mate.

Mr. Taisho spoke then, "I'm glad to see she's looking better, son."

Rin tightened her grip. Sesshomaru gently touched her hands, almost as if asking her to release him. She refused.

Suddenly, Sesshomaru tensed. "You . . ."

And then, he attacked.

. . . }{ . . .

Author's Note:

Hey! Hi! Hello!

I'm so dead if you're reading this Author's Note, because you all probably want to kill me because it's another CLIFFHANGER. But I was feeling generous and decided to upload another chapter WITHIN A WEEK of updating. Aren't I somewhat, kinda, maybe nice. :))

Love you all!

Hope you still kind, maybe, sorta love me too!

Bahaha!

Willow

PS!

I am wondering if y'all want to make me some really cool book covers, because mine SUCKS. So, make one and post it on my Facebook page and I'll feature it on my profile page as well. Maybe even dedicate a chapter to you with the link to your cover! Yay! :)

Love youuuuu!