9:35AM

He stared incredulously at her as she licked the semen off her hand. This entire ordeal was something he could not quite believe. He had not expected her to make the first move. Nor had he expected himself to be ok with it. His very nature called out to be the Alpha. That he had allowed her to initiate physical intimacy as well as claim him as she straddled him, it should have gone against every fiber of his being.

But instead, he had thoroughly enjoyed the way she took control. He had allowed himself to simply sit back and be pleasured. Her words still echoed in his mind. 'Warm.' When was the last time someone had referred to him as warm? Even as a child he had always been calculating and logical. During his adolescence, he had been a bit more rambunctious, but even then, he was never referred to as a warm being. She brought about parts of him that he didn't even know he had.

"Hmm, I thought it would have a stronger taste…" She mused. He took her soiled hand and wiped it clean with the sleeve of his kimono. She blushed and let him do as he pleased.

He kept her hand in his, committing to memory the lines that ran through the palm of her hand.

"Sesshoumaru?" She questioned.

He looked up and his eyes softened. He could feel the shift in his shoulders as they let go of the weight they had been carrying. For so long he had been burdened with icy perfection. He had grown calloused to the warmth of others, and closed off from his own, so intent on being above all emotion, so intent on not falling into the same doom as his father.

He traced the lines of her palm with his claw. Rin had been the only one before to seek his touch. She had not been afraid of the deadly claws that adorned his hand. She had reached out and grabbed it, giving him what little warmth she could offer. At first he had felt uncomfortable, not used to such displays, but little by little, she had melted his icy barrier, warming up his heart every time she held his hand. He had been certain that she would be the only one who could penetrate through the icy exterior, but he had been wrong.

Where Rin had melted a little spot for her to crawl under the ice barrier and keep him warm, Kagome had taken fire to the entire structure, melting out a door with which to drag him through, stealing him from the icy blockade and presenting him with the Sun's warm, embracing, rays.

He lifted her palm and brought it up to his cheek again, sniffing at her wrists where he could see and hear her thumping pulse. He closed his eyes to take in the full bouquet of her scent. Wildflowers, sunshine, a summer's breeze, heady arousal - sweet like honey and just as thick in the air, and that still unnamed scent that he was beginning to think was her very own invention. He kissed her wrist and opened his eyes to look into hers.

Her own eyes were softened, as if she could feel the emotions and confusion rolling through him. He cupped her cheek, and guided her lips to his.

They closed their eyes and their lips parted against each others. His hands wound down to her waist where he wrapped them around her and pulled her as close as he could. Her own hands stayed crushed between their bodies, her fingers kneading at his chest and abdomen.

He broke the kiss to nuzzle her neck, leaving a scent trail marking her as his to all with superior senses. His teeth ached to break through the skin and mark her permanently as his own, but he refused to condemn her to a life of secrecy and lies. This would have to do for now.

She sighed blissfully against his shoulder and he gave her a tiny nibble, just enough to leave the impression of his teeth on her soft skin. She replied in kind, her teeth sinking into his firm skin, as she nipped him in return. His tongue ran over the bite, soothing her reddening skin.

He could feel her tongue running over the bite she inflicted, her mouth gently sucking against his skin. His beast approved of her attempt at marking him as hers and his hand reached down to give her bottom a tender squeeze in appreciation. She rolled her hips against him, and he clamped down on her neck to keep her from moving. She whimpered out in annoyance but he kept her still, it was not time for that just yet.

He lifted his head and guided her to do the same. Her eyes were half lidded in anticipated pleasure. He held her gaze while the haze in them cleared up.

"Sesshoumaru?" She questioned again.

He gave her a small, sincere smile. "Thank you." He replied.

She smiled back and gave him a peck on his cheek. "You're welcome."