Tease
Ch.15
Sesshoumaru pulled up at the school and parked. Before he even stepped on the sidewalk, he saw his adoptive daughter coming toward him in a full sprint.
"Daddy, look! Look!" Rin ran into her father's arms and shoved a certificate in his chest.
Sesshoumari took a step back, holding Rin in place. He knelt and checked the certificate.
"I won the spelling bee! Out of everyone in the class, I spelled the most words!" Rin blurted out in one breath.
"Very good, Rin. I'm very proud of you sweetheart," Sesshoumaru answered, "How should we celebrate?"
Rin pulled him back toward the school's entrance. Kagome waved goodbye to a set of students. She gave Rin a wide smile before turning her gaze to Sesshoumaru.
"I take it from that expression, you heard the good news," Kagome chuckled.
Sesshoumaru smirked back and nodded.
"Daddy said we could celebrate. Could you and Shippo come over for dinner? We could play with Ah and Un and eat ice cream and cookies and watch movies and-"
"Let's remember it's still a school night, Rin. You still have a strict bedtime. However, if Miss Kagome is amenable to it, we may discuss a sleepover."
"Miss Kagome and Shippo can spend the night?"
"If she'd like," Sesshoumaru responded nonchalantly.
The suggestion sounded innocent enough, but Kagome could defect the demon's devilish inference. Kagome smiled even bigger. Who was she to deny the children a fun sleepover and if all went well she could have a little fun herself.
Kagome turned to Shippo, "Hey there, bud. What do you say to a sleepover tonight at the Taisho's?"
Sesshoumaru stretched out on his chaise lounge and shut his eyes. Even without sight, he could pinpoint Rin perfectly. She'd spent the better part of the afternoon running barefoot after Ah and Un and delighting in the dogs' wet kisses. The man's phone pinged and he sat up. Sesshoumaru walked inside and opened his front door just as Kagome's car pulled into the driveway.
Kagome stepped out the car and unbuckled Shippo from his booster seat.
"You shouldn't be texting and driving, Kagome," Sesshoumaru reprimanded lightly. He didn't need to check his phone to know the notice had come from her.
"I was already parking when I sent it!" Kagome responded, handing Shippo a bag of his clothes.
She walked up to the entrance. Sesshoumaru allowed Shippo through, directing him to the backyard, but blocked his guardian.
"Hey what gives?"
"Parking is not parked, Kagome. You seem to forget I was an officer because you never seem to follow the rules."
Kagome pressed closer against him, "Are you going to punish me, Officer?"
She grazed her hand along the zipper of his pants. Sesshoumaru caught her wrists and drew the woman into a kiss. He pulled her into his home and pulled his lips away.
"Little tease," Sesshoumaru chuckled, "Don't start what you don't finish."
He nipped tenderly at her bottom lip and Kagome whimpered, molding herself to his towering form. Growing more bold, Sesshoumaru ran his fingers through Kagome's hair before pushing the locks aside to suckle on her neck. Kagome released a shuddered moan, biting her lip.
"God, Sesshoumaru, not there," she gasped out, working to keep her voice low for the kids' sakes.
The demon's hand drifted down Kagome's back and cupped her butt, earning him a sultry mew from his ebony haired vixen. Sesshoumaru's ears twitched and he stepped away, putting his hands to his side. Kagome pouted, wondering if the man's shyer nature was taking hold once more. Slowly the approach of padded paws drew her attention. Ah and Un ran into the house and skidded to a stop into front of Kagome with a ball gripped in Ah's mouth. Rin ran in after them.
"Miss Kagome, did you want to play catch with us? Shippo's too scared of the dogs."
"Of course, sweetie," Kagome answered, holding out her hand, innocent façade back in place.
Ah dropped the ball in her palm and the great danes ran outside, fully expecting the humans to follow behind. Sesshoumaru caught her arm gently and pulled her into one final kiss.
"I haven't forgotten your little note. I bought condoms," he whispered.
Kagome grinned and walked hand in hand with the dog demon. Ayame had been right. Sesshoumaru may have started reserved, but now he showed more and more of his enticing cogent behavior that made her weak. She jogged outside and tossed the ball.
"Ok Ah, Un, fetch!"
Sesshoumaru stretched on his lounger and cracked open an eye, "You don't want to play, Shippo?"
Shippo sat on the edge of the lounger, bouncing lightly, "The dogs are much bigger than me and I'm too small to play catch."
"That isn't true." Sesshoumaru retorted, sitting up.
Shippo didn't speak, swinging his feet over the edge of the chairs. Sesshoumaru watched Kagome and Rin toss the ball back and forth with Ah and Uh traipsing between the two.
"Looks like Ah and Un are getting tired finally," Sesshoumaru commented.
Shippo nodded, but stayed in his seat.
Sesshoumaru stood, "Do you watch a lot of baseball or go to the games?"
The kit looked up, "I like to watch it on TV or when the other kids play, but I've never seen a game in person. I wanted to try out for the little league, but it cost too much money and the coach said I was too small to be good in any positions."
"You would be a good second baser. You have quick reflexes and good speed for a child your age. If you have a decent throw, that would be a good spot for you," Sesshoumaru responded, "Wait here."
Sesshoumaru left and returned with a ball and mitt as well as a small picture. He handed the ball and the picture to Shippo.
"See? I wasn't much bigger than you and I played second base."
"You were tiny!" Shippo grinned, tossing the ball in the air lightly.
"Hey, watch it," Sesshoumaru teased.
Sesshoumaru placed on the mitt and motioned for Shippo to follow him to the center of the backyard. Rin skipped over to the two. Kagome followed suit.
"Daddy, can I learn too?" Rin asked, hands clasped, "I want to be a famous baseball player!"
"I thought you wanted to be a teacher, Rin," Sesshoumaru responded.
"I can do both!"
"Very well then," the demon chuckled, "Come here and I'll teach you both."
Body like a god and intellect to match; he was a sight to behold. As Kagome studied him in his game of catch with the kids, he was quickly on his way to the father of the year title as well. Shippo threw the ball, hitting the center of Sesshoumaru's mitt perfectly. Kagome cheered and clapped from the sidelines.
"That was perfect, Shippo! Way to go!"
Sesshoumaru threw the ball at Rin gently, "Your turn, Rin."
Rin flung the ball as hard as she could. It went left and nearly over Sesshoumaru's shoulder before he caught it.
"You're getting better, Rin," her father encouraged, "You and Shippo keep practicing ok?"
Sesshoumaru kissed Rin's forehead and handed her the ball. He made his way over to Kagome, lifting her up from the lounger and into his arms.
"Hey!" the teacher giggled, "I was sitting there!"
Sesshoumaru sat and drew Kagome onto his lap, "Precisely; that was my seat."
Sesshoumaru wrapped his arms around Kagome's waist and tucked his chin on the crook of her shoulder. Kagome turned slightly, meeting Sesshoumaru's golden eyes.
"You're pretty stingy with the seating for someone whose family has the biggest investing company in Japan."
Sesshoumaru's smile ebbed away and he sat up straighter, "I was going to talk to you about that."
"Right after I told you about my brother," Kagome offered.
"You don't speak on your family much?"
Kagome focused her attention on the kids, curling her feet under her thighs, "Did Kikyo say anything?"
"She only mentioned that you would want to tell me about your past yourself," Sesshoumaru responded, "Would you rather finish the conversation inside? We'll still see the kids from the window."
Kagome nodded. Sesshoumaru led her to the kitchen, grabbing two waters from the fridge. Kagome sat on the couch.
"There's not much to it. My dad died when I was too young to remember and it was just my mom and I for a while. We struggled a bit, but we were happy. Once day she met my stepfather and they had Souta. I didn't really fit with the new family so I went to live with my grandpa."
Sesshoumaru sat down next to her, eyeing the woman intently. Kagome sipped dutifully on her water, avoiding his gaze.
"Didn't fit in? What does that mean exactly?"
"It means he hit women and I didn't want to be hit," Kagome admitted softly.
Sesshoumaru's expression softened. For a moment neither spoke. Kagome cracked a smile.
"He loved Souta though; he never raised a hand toward him and Souta's the sweetest boy you would meet so it's not all bad."
Sesshoumaru placed feather-light kiss on Kagome's lips, loving the pink glow emitting for her cheeks.
"How old is Souta now?"
"He just turned 13 so hopefully he stays sweet into his teens," Kagome joked, "Enough about that though. How were you as a teen?"
Sesshoumaru leaned back in the couch, "Difficult to manage at times, not wild per say, but rebellious."
Kagome folded her arms, "You? Mr. Prim and proper were rebellious? That, I don't believe."
The dog demon smirked, "You can thank military school for that. It's actually why I hesitated to tell you about Taisho Corp. In my teens I was...less discriminate with whom I shared a bed."
"Oh, you were a regular manwhore."
"In so many words," Sesshoumaru answered, "I slept with one girl, Yura. She claimed she was pregnant with my child. She wrote to my father that her baby was heir to my family's fortune and tried to extort my father by promising to keep it out of the public eye."
"She wanted you to pay her to keep the baby a secret?"
Sesshoumaru nodded, taking a swig of water, "The company was expanding. Teen parents weren't really good for the brand. My father covered all her expenses until the baby was born and then-"
"Then what?"
Sesshoumaru set his drink down, "The child wasn't mine."
Kagome listened intently, watching the flaxen orbs swirl, replaying the memory in his mind.
"That had to be a relief, though right?"
Sesshoumaru sighed, "In a way, yes, but the idea had grown on me, being a father. I wanted to turn my life around so when the time came, I would be prepared. My father wanted to ensure that so he enrolled me in a military academy, hoping it would straighten me up to go to college and run the company. Instead, I graduated early and enrolled in the police academy."
"Giving him a whole new reason to be upset," Kagome quipped.
"Truthfully, he still holds out hope," Sesshoumaru chuckled, "However, as a shareholder financially speaking, I have little reason to work there. I live very comfortably."
Kagome smiled, "You, know I wondered how a young cop afforded such a nice bachelor's pad in a nice neighborhood. So did your father want to be a grandpa?"
Sesshoumaru smiled, "When I was younger, hell no. Now he wants nothing more than more grandchildren. He spoils Rin constantly. He never acted like this with Yura. Maybe he could already tell, but after her I realized how many people would lie and con for money. To protect my family's legacy, I elected to say nothing at first."
Kagome waved away any concerns of offense, "You met me in a strip club. Of course you weren't going to bring up your money! You're smart to protect yourself, Sesshoumaru."
"As are you, but going forward, no secrets," Sesshoumaru said.
"Less secrets," Kagome amended, "A girl has to keep some mystery."
Sesshoumaru chuckled shaking his head. Kagome looked away. Telling Sesshoumaru a little about her family was one thing; that was in the past, but she wasn't ready to part with all her secrets yet. She doubted he would be so nonchalant if he learned what she and Bankotsu did for money. He was a saint, but a straight-laced saint. His hardship and hers were not the same and that much shone through in their stories. She was an eclipse in his otherwise sunny life, a blemish. If he saw her for what she was...Kagome shook those thoughts of inadequacy away. She offered Sesshoumaru another smile and stood hastily.
"I'll go get the kids; it's time for dinner anyway."
I cannot believe how long it's been since I updated this story, but I am getting back to my stories. Most of this story has actually been written out so hopefully the updating will go by a little sooner once I finish Bound. Please review (your words seriously motivate me, even if I don't always reply back) and stay tuned!