Chapter Twenty-eight
The Tashio swore violently. "What do you mean, you cannot find him?" he asked in a dangerously low voice when the person on the other end of the line went silent.
"He has disappeared, Tashio-sama," the young man managed to get out. After this, he decided, he would find another job. With the news out about the Tashio, he couldn't use him for a reference. But given the guy's unleashed temper, he'd rather flip burgers at WacDonald's than lose his head!
Without waiting for more, the phone was slammed down. All around him, servants scuttled to pack. He had been given a week to vacate the premises. Exactly the amount of time before the tournament, when his lands would be handed over to some upstart.
Izayoi had collapsed into tears at the news of his punishment, afraid that she would once more live among the dirty common people of her birth. He had consoled her with the knowledge that he was still wealthy and still had resources to call upon. Resources that had not been drained by the payment to Naraku.
Naraku, his bastard son.
Consigning him to the lowest layer of hell, the Tashio's thoughts grew dark. The hanyou had certainly played him for a fool. Plotting behind his back for kami knew what purpose, Naraku had risen within his own territories, appointed by himself to a position of authority, even! Next to Sesshoumaru, Naraku was now regarded in the greatest of disdain.
He will not get away with this, the Tashio vowed. Whether or not it had been his intention, Naraku was responsible for his downfall. For now, however, revenge would wait. No doubt his other bastard son would have claimed the miko bitch and taken the wish. That left the tournament as the only avenue through which to reclaim that which was his.
If the gods truly worked in his favor, Sesshoumaru would hold to his plans. Then, and only then, could he face him in honorable combat and prove to the impudent pup just who was Alpha.
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"Have you considered the repercussions of the trial?" Carefully picking his way through the conversation, Kouga paced before the seated Daiyoukai. At Sesshoumaru's side, Kagome watched the ookami with concerned eyes.
"What?" she finally asked when it appeared that Sesshoumaru had no intention of doing so. The trial had been speedily executed just yesterday. Naraku had disappeared shortly after her release from the hospital, but using hair samples that had been left behind, it had been determined through DNA tests that he was the offspring of the Tashio.
Ironclad evidence in place, the Tashio hadn't stood a chance against the Lords' tribunal. He had been stripped of his lands and ordered to pay a fine of over three million yen to the absent Naraku as recompense for his failure to act as a father to the hanyou.
Jidai, Inc., Sesshoumaru had later explained to Kagome, would be worthless as soon as the Tashio's trial became public knowledge. Not only due to the scandal, but also the loss of yen. It was no secret that Naraku would be from paid from company funds. Stock prices would plummet and executives would be frantic to escape with their golden parachutes.
The only upside to the entire debacle of the trial was that Sesshoumaru hadn't been forced to testify against his father. The DNA, coupled with the Northern Lord's summary of the letter as told to him by Sesshoumaru, had sufficed. The Eastern and Southern Lords had been content to be led by Taro in the sentencing.
Kouga cut a clawed hand through the air as he continued to stare at the seated male. "She will be in danger from him now."
"She will be safe," Sesshoumaru stated sharply. The ookami treaded on thin ice by insinuating that he, Sesshoumaru, had not already weighed the issues surrounding his female's protection.
A fairly impressive growl rumbled past Kagome's lips. "Would someone tell me what all the double talk is about?"
"Calm yourself, Kagome," Sesshoumaru said warningly. "You know what the doctor said." She had only been released a little over a week ago. Her boss had allowed her vacation time to be extended to help in her healing. However, with everything that had happened, the doctor had warned that time off of work might not be enough to allow her to fully recuperate. She needed rest, and a completely stress-free lifestyle.
Huffing, Kagome sank in to the velvety cushion of the blue couch. "I wouldn't get worked up if you would just tell me what is going on."
Acknowledging the truth in that statement, Sesshoumaru opened his mouth to reply but was cut off.
"Father thinks he'll go after you," Kouga explained impatiently.
Kagome blinked. "Who?" She turned to Sesshoumaru. "Is he talking about your father?" A short nod answered her. "Why? What did I do to him?" Perplexed, she struggled to find a reason behind this new threat. Other than Sesshoumaru choosing her, she hadn't done anything personally against the Tashio. At least, she didn't think she had.
Having delivered the message and assured that the Daiyoukai was cognizant to the threat now levied against Kagome, Kouga decided to leave. "I know you worry for her health, Sesshoumaru, but it needs to be done. The sooner the better, for all concerned, in fact. Truly mated, she will hold no appeal to him, thusly ensuring that she and the jewel will be safe."
Scowling, Sesshoumaru gave a short nod of his head in acknowledgement of the unwanted advice. "This I already know, wolf."
"Then I will take my leave." Kouga bowed to Kagome before nodding to Sesshoumaru.
Eyes following the departing youkai, Kagome digested the odd conversation that had flowed over her head. After the door shut behind the departing ookami, her heart clenched in realization. "He could want a wish. That's what Kouga was worried about, wasn't it? That your father would force me to make a wish on the jewel for him?"
Sesshoumaru sighed lowly. His temple began to pound in waning of an impending headache. "I will not allow it." The last thing he wanted was to be pressed into taking her merely to protect her.
Voice slightly shrill, Kagome shot back, "How can you prevent it? You can't be with me all the time, and going on what everyone has said about him, he's not stupid. On top of that, he's also insanely powerful."
Stung into replying to the barb, he scowled. "Do you doubt me?"
She groaned before rolling her eyes. "It isn't a matter of doubting you, Sesshoumaru, but of being realistic about the situation. One," she began, ticking off on her fingers as she spoke, "we have the jewel. A jewel that is capable of granting any wish. Two: he happens to be in dire straits and could very possibly be desperate enough to want said wish for himself. And three: it takes a miko to make the wish; one who could be induced to, uh, join with the youkai to use it." Daring him to refute her, she added, "As disgusting as it seems, according to you, he seems to think he's the kamis gift to women. He could just think highly enough of himself to believe I could be seduced. Did I miss anything?"
Running a hand through his hair, Sesshoumaru's jaw clenched in irritation. "What do you want me to say?" Grappling with his emotions, a dangerous mix of futile anger at his absent father and aggravation that she would press him on this, his eyes narrowed on the woman beside him.
"Don't look at me like that, Sesshoumaru," Kagome lectured. "This is not a mess of our making, and I don't expect you to have all the answers. With this, though, even I know the perfect solution to the problem of your father. You are just too stubborn to admit it," she admonished him.
Given her recent health scare, she understood his reticence in resuming physical relations with her. But, by Kami, she knew he was capable of being careful. They weren't going to be running around doing cartwheels! It was either he mated her willingly, or she would take matters into her own hands.
Setting her features mulishly, Kagome crossed her arms over her chest. "Do you want him to try to force himself on me?" It was a low blow, but she was desperate to force him to acknowledge the error in waiting. "Because, I have a feeling that is what could happen. There aren't very many mikos just laying around waiting to be plucked up to grant jewel wishes."
Enraged by the question, Sesshoumaru leapt to his feet. "He will not touch you!" he roared.
Following him, Kagome stood before her male. "I know he wouldn't, Sesshoumaru," she placated. "You would protect me. But that won't stop him from trying. You could get hurt, or any number of things could go wrong. I don't want that to happen when it could be avoided."
"Damn it, Kagome, I won't have our mating be about some jewel!" he ground out. Breathing heavily with the effort of maintaining a semblance of calm, Sesshoumaru didn't miss the widening of her eyes.
"Is that why you hesitate?" Not allowing him a chance to reply, Kagome chuckled. "You are being silly." He scowled at the insult. She wrapped her arms about his waist, and the brewing irritation melted away. "Sesshoumaru, we are going to mate. We would have already if I hadn't been injured. Right?"
Returning the embrace, Sesshoumaru gently lifted her into his arms. He carried her back to the couch. Settling her in his lap after claiming a seat, he sighed. "Kagome…"
Silencing him with a soft kiss, she smiled whimsically before murmuring, "I know the circumstances could be better. But don't you dare think that a mating between us would ever be about a jewel. Granted, you will need to make the wish to prevent your father from using it, but I am more than willing to give you whatever you want. Can't you think of it as a mating present from me to you, a bonus, rather than the reason behind the mating itself?"
Tilting his head to the side, he watched her warily. "You would give me whatever I want?" Something about her casual admission buried itself in his heart.
She bit her lip, blushing. "Surely you must know by now that I'd do anything for you. I love you," she said simply. "Love doesn't come with addendums or conditions. At least mine doesn't." She watched him with mysterious eyes. "Can't you say the same?"
Thrown off track by the surge of warmth that accompanied her words, Sesshoumaru nodded soundlessly. He had known she was a loyal person; but, day by day, he had come to truly appreciate how unique she was. He could trust her in a way he had never thought to anticipate. The scorn of others had only pushed her closer to him His physical limitations were understood, even appreciated. He had saved her life and had been saved in turn. She had even given him her soul, her Vow, and he wanted to prove himself to her, just as she had him.
"Sesshoumaru?" Disturbed by the muted gold of his gaze, Kagome reached up to run her fingers through the soft fur of his neck.
"You were never just a wish to me," he admitted, the words tripping from his mouth before he could call them back. Once they were out, however, and he saw the way her lips curved upwards in response while her eyes sparkled, Sesshoumaru wouldn't take them back even if he could. "I had used my father's demands as a reason to approach you, rather than admit to my personal interest in procuring you as my mate."
She giggled. It was funny how he thought he was imparting a great secret. The truth had proclaimed itself when he had turned his back on his father's demands to ditch her. Obviously, he had to have had ulterior motives, in this case masking his own interest rather than put himself out on a limb emotionally, to agree with the Tashio's plan. One did not move Sesshoumaru to do anything unless he wanted it for his own reasons. Obscure or not.
Rather than point that out, Kagome settled for saying, "I know. And using the jewel won't cheapen our mating, either. You did say that mating would endow me with some of your power; a protective embrace, as it were, of your essence. Using the jewel would be just another case of our mating protecting me," she added, not above a little manipulation to prod him in the right direction.
He grinned wryly. "You think to manage me?" He was not above using sneaky tactics to get his way in terms of protecting her. It shouldn't be surprising to find that trait shared between them. It was endearing, really. Even if it meant he would need to be on his guard in the future against his mate's subtle maneuverings. Already willingly entangled with her, he had no desire to find himself submitting to her every whim. The woman needed a keeper, not a hapless pup.
Smiling winningly, Kagome hummed innocently. "I would never assume you could be so easily managed, my darling Daiyoukai."
He smirked. "But it will not stop you from trying, I am sure," he drawled.
She grinned, unabashedly unrepentant. "I'll stop when you do."
A slow grin spread across his features even as he attempted to remain serious. "Wench."
"Stud," she fired back.
He blinked. "Stud?"
She shrugged. "If you insist on calling me a wench, then I'll call you a stud. I could use hunk, I suppose, but it doesn't have that vaguely insulting tone that I'm trying to capture."
"You are incorrigible." He shifted, his hands settled about her hips and readjusted her until she straddled him. "What of your shoulder? Does it pain you?" Grasping at straws now, he threw out his last defense.
She sighed. "You know perfectly well that it doesn't. The pain meds and the numbing cream have taken care of that." Forestalling any more hurdles, she added, "Besides the wish, am I being too forward in admitting that I want you to make love to me?" Tantalizing memories of their joined release, so beautiful and wantonly glorious, had plagued her dreams. What would it feel like, she had then wondered, to feel him inside, stretching and filling that unbearably empty place within her? Even now, just thinking about it caused a low ache to make itself known in her nether regions.
Immediately reacting to her husky admission, Sesshoumaru's already swollen member hardened painfully. He hissed between clenched teeth. "You tempt me beyond all imagining." Grazing the soft skin of her neck with the deadly points of his fangs, he surrendered to her alluring revelation.
"The jewel," she pointed out shakily when his hands drifted to the outer curve of her thigh.
He smiled against her skin, nipping her ear in reprimand for interrupting him. Calloused palms slid over the generous curve of her backside. "We will discuss it after our mating."
Body heating at the suggestive movement of his finger as it traced the indent between her buttocks before sliding over her fabric-covered womanhood, Kagome licked her lips and squirmed. "After?"
"After," he affirmed before claiming her mouth. He nibbled on the plump lower lip. Hard pants brushed against his cheek as she gave in to him completely. His tongue soothed the faintly bruised flesh.
"Here?" she managed to get out breathlessly, unable to keep the obvious excitement from the query. With everything seemingly against them, she needed this. She wanted to know him fully, to hold him deep within her. To touch him in ways that no one ever had, or ever would.
Growling softly under his breath, Sesshoumaru shifted and stood. Legs wrapped about his waist, Kagome clung to him, unwilling to lose contact with his hard warmth. Nipping at his chin, fingers delving into the fur of his neck, Kagome fairly purred in anticipation.
Hands on her bottom, Sesshoumaru supported her weight as he walked them to the bed. When she shifted, hands on his shoulders to lever herself up, and drew his bottom lip into her mouth to suckle upon, his knees threatened to buckle. Kagome chuckled huskily when he managed to land on the bed rather than the floor. "It's only fair," she said. "I get weak-kneed just by looking at you."
His already formidable arousal twitched in burning admiration for her honesty. Shifting her to the side, he watched her for any sign of discomfort. "Have you no guile?"
Grinning shamelessly, Kagome asked, "Am I supposed to pretend I don't like what I see?" He already knew what she had to offer and had proven he liked what he had seen. Was she to hold onto a feeling of shyness that she no longer felt around him, knowing that he loved her body as much as she delighted in his?
It would certainly make it easier on him to maintain control, Sesshoumaru mused. He should have known that she would prove as uninhibited in love as she did in life. Not that he objected. Far from it. He would simply have to grow accustomed to walking around in a state of semi-arousal.
Her fingers nimbly unbuttoned his shirt before impatiently tugging at the lapels to urge him to remove it. Moving to obey the silent demand, he watched with a dry mouth as she kneeled to pull her own shirt over her head and threw it on the floor. Unhooking her bra, that too followed the shirt to land sprawled on the floor. A flash of white caught his eye, and he frowned at the sight of the bandage.
This time, there were no rosy blushes as she moved closer, intending to make him forget about her injury. She smiled seductively, and an answering heat threatened to swallow him whole. Breasts bouncing, she then shimmied her pants down and over her hips, taking her underwear with it as she kicked the fabric off.
Shirt still half-way on, Sesshoumaru was brought back to reality by the pout on her full lips. "Do you need help?" she asked. He was taking a long time, and she was ready now!
At the goading, he narrowed his eyes. She was certainly ready, rushing even. The button-down shirt floated to land on top of her small pile of clothing to be followed by his undershirt. As he reached for the belt buckle, her small hands stopped him.
Kagome bit her bottom lip. "Let me." He nodded, and she slowly unbuckled it before drawing the strip of leather from the loops. That out of the way, she dropped it over the side of the bed before turning back to him. Fingers tracedthe bulge made obvious beneath the khaki fabric as she popped the snap on the pants before lowering the zipper. A rumbling growl followed her actions. Her body answered in a rush of heated warmth that flowed to her womanly center.
"Do you like it when I touch you?" she asked, innocently eager to please him. Her fingers tingled deliciously with every tantalizing stroke, firing nerve endings in her entire body.
He snorted. As if she had to ask. "What do you think?"
Taking him seriously, Kagome eyed her lover's groin. "I think you might like it as much as I do." Without preamble, she tugged the pants and boxers down. Jutting proudly, his arousal seemed to swell further before her eyes.
Before he could shift to remove the clothing entirely, she wrapped her fingers about his hard girth. Stilling immediately, a snarl burst forth from deep within his chest. Ignoring it to explore this alien part of him, the flesh that had been made to pleasure her, Kagome tightened her fingers experimentally. The smooth skin, the only part of him that was without fur, beckoned her closer.
A large vein grew from the root of his groin and traveled the length of his arousal. She was astounded to feel the pulse of blood beneath the pads of her fingers, and she lightly followed its path to the heavy sac below. Curiously twining her fingers in the downy fur there, Kagome delighted in how soft it was. The pained grunt that followed her exploration had her attention diverted to his pinched features.
Awash in heat, Sesshoumaru trembled with the force of his need. Her fingers, those delicate digits, were torturing him to the point of embarrassing himself. "Enough," he commanded when she looked up. He drew her hands away from him, knowing that if she continued, he wouldn't last.
"But I-" she began, only to be cut off by his lips slamming onto her own. Tongue invading her mouth, Sesshoumaru swallowed her protestation. Both moaned into the kiss, knowing that, this time, there would be no interruptions. No more waiting.
Gripping her shoulders, careful of her old wound, Sesshoumaru guided her to lay back on the bed. He drew a pillow up to support her back and to keep the weight off her wound. Once he had her situated to his satisfaction, Sesshoumaru sat back on the balls of his feet to enjoy the sight of her flushed body sprawled in decadent surrender.
The dark curls at the apex of her thighs drew his eyes as they glistened wetly in the dim lighting. His nostrils flared with the force of the musky aroma of feminine arousal as she watched him with eyes filled with need.
Following his gaze, Kagome shifted her legs apart, baring herself to his eyes fully in invitation for him to fill her without an iota of hesitation. She wanted him and she would never waste time on false modesty. This was no stranger, but her mate and lover. That was all she cared about. "Sesshoumaru," she begged in a broken whisper, "Please."
He was lost, Sesshoumaru decided as his body clenched in response to her plea and the sight of the moist folds of her womanhood. Utterly and completely enthralled. Blood roared in his ears, muffling even the sound of his breathing as it grew into a steady growling pant.
She cried out in relief when he fell upon her, fingers wrapping about her hips to pull her closer. Latching onto a furled nipple, he suckled the flesh, drawing deeply, and elicited a loud moan as her fingers clenched in his hair.
Undulating beneath his weight, Kagome slid her legs up to cradle his large form between her soft thighs. Pressing her feet into the bedding for leverage, she rubbed against his arousal in an attempt at appeasing the ache of her need. The smooth skin of his erection as it teased her folds coupled with the way the fur of his body caressed her naked body soon had her mewling helplessly.
Pulling away from the puckered nipple, Sesshoumaru hungrily laved the neglected flesh of its twin. Fingers plucked at the nipple he had already worshipped into an almost painful bud. The power beneath his skin boiled in response to her overheated body with every brush of her wet folds against his straining arousal, begging to be released in order to finally return the mate claim of his female. Not yet, he told himself. He wanted to hold out as long as he could, to prolong their first mating until she would never forget it.
Kagome tossed her head to the side, ebony hair fanned wildly against the stark white of the pillow. She tugged on his hair, trying to urge him to move up, straining to tell him with each arch of her back that she was ready, that she wanted him now. He ignored her prompting, and she was moved to drastic measures.
Reaching between their bodies, Kagome grabbed hold of the swollen shaft as it rubbed against her and squeezed. Hard. "Now!" she hissed warningly.
Howling in the pleasure-pain of her demanding caress, Sesshoumaru lost complete control. Wildly surging forward, he sheathed himself in her body with one smooth stroke. She gasped at the pain of the breaching, muscles protesting the too-swift invasion.
"Damn it, Kagome," Sesshoumaru cursed as he struggled to take in air and resist the need to move. He had known it would be painful and hadn't wanted to hurt her. Her heat surrounded him, enticing him to nudge forward, to bury every inch within her body's tight grip. Teeth gritted, he held back. Waiting for a sign to continue, his throbbing shaft begged for completion.
Panting into his chest, some of the mindless need cleared with the painful reality of his entrance, Kagome blinked back tears. "I didn't think it would hurt that much," she whispered in apology.
Sensing her upset, Sesshoumaru's irritation faded. "Hush," he admonished. Leaning down to nuzzle her cheek, he claimed her lips in a heady kiss. Softly nibbling her bottom lip, he entered her mouth as she opened for him. Twining their tongues together, stroking and delving in an imitation of what he longed to do within the paradise of her silky cavern, Sesshoumaru didn't let up until her fingers eased their hold on his neck.
She was panting for another reason entirely when he broke it off to groan into her hair. She shifted minutely and was rewarded with a shaft of tingling pleasure that overrode the faint twinges of discomfort that yet remained. She would definitely be sore in the morning, she decided, but not now.
Instinctively pulling her thighs even higher, opening herself further to him as they fell open, Kagome gasped as the movement heralded a shiver-inducing caress against her swollen clitoris. Sesshoumaru tensed further, muscles bunching and locking beneath his skin. "Again," he ordered huskily.
She complied, and soon he was pulling out slightly with each rub of her swollen pleasure bud against the taut flesh just above the root of his arousal. Both shuddered with the joint sensation. Fingers digging into his back, Kagome grabbed fistfuls of fur to stabilize herself as he began to pull out further, almost leaving her body entirely, before sliding home once more.
Mewling helplessly as he picked up the pace, trying desperately to keep up with him as her hips moved to the rhythm he set, Kagome felt her head swim as her body begged for more. Latching onto his shoulder as the sensations grew almost too intense for her to bear, dull teeth bit into flesh to hold in the screams begging to be let out.
Stiffening in response to the passionate assault, Sesshoumaru wondered hazily if she knew what that did to him. Surging forward, skin crawling with the need to release as the wet furnace of her body engulfed him in its vice-like grip once more, Sesshoumaru knew he wouldn't last much longer.
Tilting her hips upward with his hands, they were both rewarded with a deeper penetration. He shuddered, muscles spasming with the effort it took to not release. Wrapping his arm under her hips to hold her in place, his free hand reached between their bodies and plucked at her clitoris. At the same time, he pulled out and surged back in with as much force as he dared.
She screeched into his fur and bit down even harder as she came apart in his arms. Snarling in pleasure, Sesshoumaru let go and spilled inside of her welcoming body as her muscles clenched and spasmed around his girth. Muscles shivered and locked alternately as the moment seemed to be stretched out indefinitely.
Staring up at him, Kagome was lost in admiration for the primal beauty of his release. She had done that, her body had given him this, she thought in pleasured pride as his release mixed with the fluids that he had so skillfully coaxed from her body to slide between her thighs.
Until, finally, he was released from the euphoria of their shared bliss. Dropping to the side, he pulled her to follow him rather than break their connection. His mate nestled against his side, without wasting a moment, he released the power surging sluggishly within his blood, the youki gathered yet also subdued by his release. Kagome stiffened as his youki invaded her still shivering body, but then relaxed as the heat of his power soothed her muscles and flowed over her mind and heart to permanently settle within her.
Minutes passed as he shared his power with her, content to simply lay there as the connection built and strengthened. When he determined that she had enough, the flow of youki was cut off. Kagome yawned sleepily into his chest, rubbing her nose in the thick fur there. He smiled tenderly at his mate. "Sleep, Kagome. The day can wait."
Smiling up at him, she snuggled closer. "Will you stay with me?" she asked.
"There is no where else I would rather be," he promised. Within minutes, both were soundly asleep.
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Humming while she washed the dinner dishes, Kagome was reminded of the activities of earlier that day by the faint twinge between her legs. It wasn't painful; more of a simple discomfort.
It had been wonderful, she recalled while sighing dreamily. Just thinking about the moment of release, of the expression of complete bliss that had crossed Sesshoumaru's face, had her shifting again as heat pooled in her stomach.
A quick glance over her shoulder confirmed that he was still busy at his laptop. Jaken had called, waking them up with the information that Jidai, Inc. had already taken a hit in the market. Many of the stockholders were running to Sesshoumaru to salvage their funds.
Given the fact that he felt a small bit of responsibility for their immediate financial problems, the Daiyoukai had flipped open his laptop and gone to work. After a fast shower, Kagome had amused herself with her own laptop, a gift that had been delivered yesterday from the store thatSesshoumaru had bought it from. Dinner time had rolled around, and he had been enticed into enjoying the simple meal of beef and rice that she had made.
Now, though, Kagome thought, she had been patient enough and wanted some of his time. Given her still recovering nether regions, she had something quite different in mind. The only question was whether or not he'd go along with it. She hoped so. She wanted to see him the way he had been earlier again.
Folding the towel she had used to dry the dishes, Kagome placed it on the counter before turning to cross the floor until she reached the couch. Seated upon it, Sesshoumaru looked up as she cleared her throat.
"Do you need something?" he asked. The scent of her arousal tickled his nose; he willed himself to ignore it as he had all his other urges throughout the day. The work had been a much needed distraction. She was still sore, and he was no beast to ravage her body. At least, not until she could take it without pain.
Biting her lip, Kagome kneeled between his feet. He moved the laptop so that he could see her more clearly, then she took it from him to set on the floor. Unsure how to voice her question, Kagome leaned forward and propped her elbows on his thighs. She played with the buckle of his belt nervously.
Swallowing a groan, Sesshoumaru pulled her hand away from its dangerous location. "You are still sore," he reminded her lest he forget himself.
Nodding, Kagome latched onto the words. "I am. Couldn't you-I mean, don't you-" Frustrated with her inability to vocalize what she could so easily show physically, Kagome scowled.
Stroking the hair away from her neck, Sesshoumaru's thumb slid across the smooth skin soothingly. Her next words shocked him so completely he froze in place.
"Could I give you release?" Smiling happily as she managed to get it out with only a minimum of blushing, Kagome elaborated, "I mean, I want you to show me everything you like. I did love seeing you when you, you know, and I like making you feel good."
Heart beating irregularly, he croaked out, "This would please you?" Kami, where was the hesitation he had heard most females harbored about sex? She was, just Kagome. At least he would never be in doubt as to what she wanted.
"Oh yes," she breathed out, as eager as a child promised an early birthday gift. "It would please me greatly. I want to know your body as well as I know my own."
Shifting to lean against the couch back, Sesshoumaru regarded her steadily. There were many things which would please him, but he didn't yet know where she would draw a line. What things were pleasing to her, and what would disgust her? He was working off his instincts as surely as she was. "Do what you would, you needn't ask," he said, giving her free rein to explore, yet avoiding the risk of suggesting something she might find repellant.
Biting her lip in indecision, Kagome tapped a finger against his belt. "Will you take this off, please?" She didn't have first hand experience with love making, but there were some things that one couldn't help but learn about. Whispers and health classes tended to take the mystery out of it. She only hoped some of her naiveté would melt away along with her innocence. It was a bother not to get innuendo when it was thrown right at her because she didn't connect the allusion to its true meaning.
For right now, she wanted to know what it felt like to take him into her mouth. To taste that part of him. To see if she could give him release with nothing but her tongue, lips, and hands to stroke him. She wanted to bury her nose in the soft fur that cushioned his sac and breath deeply of his masculine odor, knowing that it was hers. That he was hers, and that only she would ever know him thusly.
Just thinking about it already had her uncomfortably moist, but she paid it no mind.
Manfully refraining from fumbling or moving in crass haste, he complied with her request. Sesshoumaru couldn't deny that he was, indeed, eager to see what she had planned. He would make sure that he wasn't the only one to receive pleasure, of course, but she needn't know that yet. Her desire was something to be nurtured, though judging on the almost rabid way in which she watched his every movement in the removal of his belt, it would not be a hardship.
Without waiting for him to turn around from laying the belt across the couch back, Kagome went to work on the snap and zipper of his trousers. They had a lifetime to explore each other, but her burning attention was focused solely on his burgeoning arousal right now. Tugging, she managing to slide the trousers and boxers to his knees when Sesshoumaru lifted himself slightly from the couch to aid her.
Without preamble, her fingers wrapped around the revealed prize. Pushing his shirt up with the other hand, she leaned forward and sighed into the soft fur of his sac. Running her cheek along the hard length that had begun pulsing once more within her grasp, Kagome inhaled deeply of the musky aroma that would forever be engraved in her mind as being simply him.
A fine tremor overtaking his hands, Sesshoumaru bit back a crude oath when he consigned his shirt to the trash and ripped it down the middle rather than mess with the buttons. His view unimpeded now with the fabric pushed out of the way, a fierce snarl built up in his chest at the sight of her hedonistic enjoyment. Her chest rose and fell on a huge breath, and his heart pounded to know that, even with dulled human senses, she took pleasure in his scent as he did inhers.
Both hands now free, Kagome glanced up to see him watching her as she cupped his softness within her palms. Lids lowered to half-mast in response to the gentle massage of her fingers upon his tender flesh. Tugging experimentally, she was rewarded with a strangled moan. Kagome smiled shakily as her body reacted to his obvious pleasure.
"I like touching you, knowing that I am making you feel good. It pleases me," she murmured huskily as her palms left his sac to stroke the hard length before her. "Will you taste as good as you smell?" she wondered out loud.
He jumped in her hands, growing impossibly hard with the softly uttered words. Kami, she could bring him to orgasm with only her voice if she kept it up. She was a truly sensual creature, unhindered by the taboos that seemed to plague most of humanity. His, he crowed mentally as his blood sang her name, she was all his. And then her soft lips closed over him and all thought fled before the sweet torment.
Rolling her tongue over the bulbous tip, she coaxed a few drops to fall upon her tongue. Slightly salty, yet, oh-so-deliciously male, was the best description Kagome could come up with for how he tasted. Unable to draw his entire length into her mouth, Kagome sighed around the hard flesh. On bent knees, she scooted closer and wrapped her fingers around the base of his arousal. Drawing back, she released him to study the way her fingers looked wrapped around his hardness. Smiling at the way his stomach muscles clenched with each movement of her hands, Kagome leaned forward to catch the traces of liquid that she had managed to milk from his taut body.
He was reduced to panting, unable to contain the way the muscles in his legs jerked and his skin itched in unrelieved tension. What she lacked in experience, his mate certainly made up for in sheer, hedonistic, enthusiasm. Pumping him between licking up each drop coaxed forth by her untutored if completely effective assault, Kagome began rocking on her knees, her body unconsciously seeking relief of her own arousal.
Lips swollen, cheeks flushed and eyes flared with newfound knowledge and pure wanton desire, Kagome's gaze flitted upward and was ensnared by the nearly crimson one that had been waiting for her. She almost swooned from the lusty smirk that sprouted on his face as he pulled her hands away from him. "My turn," he murmured in a voice roughened by desire.
She pouted sexily. "Who said I was done?" She wanted him to lose control, to give over to the sensations she could feel running beneath his skin. And she wanted to watch him tremble and shout, growl and snarl.
He paused, appearing to contemplate her disappointment before offering, "Then we can both have what we want."
Willing to trust him in this, Kagome gripped his hard shaft and squeezed lovingly. "What do you want of me?" she asked, resuming pumping him as the addiction to his flesh took root in her.
Rather than answer, Sesshoumaru displaced her as he slid to lay back fully on the couch cushions. Urging her into place with his hands, he commanded, "Undress."
Disrobing fully only took a minute, and soon Kagome stared down on him questioningly. He grinned wickedly. "Come here," he beckoned with an outstretched hand. She obeyed instantly and gasped as he lifted her effortlessly and turned her in one smooth movement until she straddled his neck and stared down on his body. "Oh, Kami," she whispered, shocked by her new position, but assuming correctly what he wanted. Glancing at him over her shoulder, barely able to see anything other than his eyes around the curve of her behind, she whispered, "You want to-While I?"
Amused at the reappearance of her shyness, Sesshoumaru answered by pulling her closer. Surrounded by her scent, he growled his pleasure before his tongue snaked out to taste the beckoning honey that had tempted him hours ago. Her thighs shivered within his grasp and her head fell back as she mewled helplessly at the lewdly tender kiss.
Appetite gnawing for more, his tongue delved into her heat to retrieve the breathless moans and pleasure-filled sighs.
"Sesshoumaru," she whispered in wonder as her muscles clamped onto his tongue, attempting to draw him in deeper.
She began to shiver uncontrollably as he lapped at the wet petals of her feminine flower. Unable to hold herself up, Kagome fell forward, catching herself on his thighs. Panting as he continued to work her until a fine sheen of sweat began to break out all over her body, she watched in awe as the swollen head of his arousal began to seep the evidence of his enjoyment. Groaning, she stretched forward to take him into her mouth once more, to devour him as ravenously as he was her.
Lost in the taste of her, needing more, wanting more, Sesshoumaru reacted instantly to the thought that she was moving away. His arm slid around her waist and clamped her in place with an immovable grip. His tongue pressed into her folds even deeper, seeking the treasure hidden within, before withdrawing to tap against her swollen bud in little teasing patterns.
Groaning around his length, Kagome was rewarded with a surge of fluid that told her just how much he had liked it. Beneath her fingers, his thigh muscles twitched and danced uncontrollably; as uncontrollably as her own, in fact.
Helplessly grinding her hips into that wonderfully dexterous tongue, Kagome gasped as a finger joined it in stretching her wider, increasing the pressure as her entire lower body clenched in response to the welcome invasion. Uncontrollably undulating now, lips stretched almost painfully around his staff to encompass as much as she could in the wet heat of her mouth, her hands pumped him feverishly.
Snarling against her heat as she went wild above him, Sesshoumaru's release burst upon him. He roared into her spasming woman flesh, and she released him to scream out his name. The muscles in his stomach jerked with each pulse of seed that left his body. A white haze fell over his vision, blinding him momentarily with the force of the sexual euphoria that engulfed him in its embrace.
Almost wheezing with the aftereffect, Kagome slid around to drop into his arms. Sweaty, chin and chest sticky from his seed and exhausted, she had never felt so good. Breathing heavily, she groaned as his arms wrapped around her tightly. "We need a shower." She didn't have the energy to get up, though, that was for certain.
He chuckled and decided to take pity on her. After kicking off his pants, making a mental note to remove them fully next time, he carried her into the bathroom and set her down. Yawning, Kagome roused herself enough to return to the living area while he readied the shower. After retrieving their scattered clothing, she dumped them in the laundry basket.
Chore complete, Kagome wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned into his solid weight. "I love you," she whispered into his back after nuzzling into his shoulder.
Eyes soft as he turned around to return the embrace, Sesshoumaru stroked a hand through her tangled hair. "And I you. Come, let us wash. Then I will get your pills and redress the wound."
Groaning at the reminder, she gave in good-naturedly. The medicine and bandages were irritating, but he seemed to, oddly enough, enjoy playing nurse to her invalid patient. For that alone did she put up with the fuss.
Twenty minutes later, they emerged from the shower squeaky clean. Ignoring his command to rest in the living room while he dried his hair, Kagome picked up the spare hair dryer. "You do the front and I'll get the back," she decided after considering the quickest route.
Frowning slightly, he opened his mouth to argue, but his jaw snapped shut at the stern look she sent him. It was second nature for him to refuse aid in something so personal. His fur had been nothing but a badge of shame for so long that its grooming was something to be done alone and out of sight. At least, that was what he had thought.
Kagome wasn't having any of it, however, he realized. Bent over to dry his hair, the second dryer turned on behind him and he allowed it. Gentle fingers moved through his fur to fluff it and aid the warm air in evaporating the remaining moisture.
With her help, he was done within a half an hour rather than the standard hour. Reaching for the brush, he was beat to it by Kagome. "Come on. I'll brush your fur in the other room," she coaxed with a pleading smile.
Willingly led from the bathroom, he followed her docilely to the bed. The scent of their lovemaking was still fresh upon the air, and he took it into his lungs appreciatively. Kagome pulled back the covers and patted the bed beside her. Sesshoumaru settled down where she had indicated. Replete from their strenuous activity of an hour ago, clean, content in the knowledge that his mate was safe, surrounded by the scent of their joining, and lulled by the soft brush strokes through his fur, Sesshoumaru had never felt so relaxed. It was with great reluctance that he pulled away. "Your wound, Kagome," he reminded her as she protested.
She fell silent, and didn't speak again until he was wrapping the bandages over the redressed shoulder. "Sesshoumaru, I'm not on anything," she blurted out of the blue.
"On anything?" he queried while deftly tying off the bandage.
"To prevent getting pregnant," she clarified. Her shoulders stiffened in anticipation of his reaction. She hadn't even thought about it during their mating, but now, she could think of little else.
Stroking her back soothingly, Sesshoumaru lowered himself onto the bed beside her to draw her unresisting body into his arms. The covers were pulled over their nude bodies, and he kissed her brow. "One advantage to a youkai mate, Kagome. We control our potency. You will not get pregnant."
Sighing in relief, she snuggled into him. This time, he fell asleep first. Still thinking on all that had happened that day, Kagome was drawn to look over at him when he nosed the pillow, snuffling as the cool fabric slowly warmed before settling. A faint snore escaped from between slightly parted lips. Her heart swelled. He looked so peaceful laying there. So content.
She hoped it could last forever.
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