Between The Lines
By: Maggz
Disclaimer: InuYasha and Co. © Rumiko Takahashi
Chapter 8
Kagome and Kouga made it back to the apartment, carrying a case of beer between them instead of the twelve-pack Kagome had originally mentioned. They were laughing easily as they walked up the steps, she holding one end of the case, he the other.
Stopping at the liquor store on their way home, they'd both been nervous but not willing to admit it, even to themselves.
Kagome; because she knew how she responded to him now, she didn't really understand it, no man had ever affected her the way Kouga was starting to and she wasn't even very sure she liked it an awful lot - yet the response of her body to him was strong, and the response of her mind was nearly as powerful. She knew some of it had to be due to her feelings about her work, about her art. Finding a subject so magnetic, so strong was bound to make her flip out a bit and she guessed that in all the time she'd been sketching and painting, she'd never came upon someone that could touch her spirit so powerfully without even trying. THAT was a basic fact she was sure of…
Kouga had no idea at all what he was capable of doing to her IF she allowed it. She didn't WANT to allow it, the price was too high to pay… too much control lost, too much of herself lost to one person and it nearly terrified her. Yet, she really, really liked him as person! She liked the gentle sparring they affected, she liked the teasing and she thought him incredibly handsome as well as very intelligent. He had a very strong personality, something that had come thru on the photos quite well.
Understandably, Kagome was a bit nervous…
Kouga; he, for the life of him just couldn't get his head round the girl and THAT made him nervous. He'd never in his life, so far, met a girl that was capable of turning him into mash. In the time he'd come to know her, he was willing to bet she'd been on his mind every waking moment, not to MENTION the fucking dreams! WAS it all because she represented what he couldn't have? WAS that it? Damn it! He knew she was attracted to him… he'd seen the signs - the blushes, the shy glances, the smiles, and the way she just seemed to absorb him - he was SURE that was the artist in her, yet it unnerved him to no end! It was as if she knew everything about him without him telling her a thing and THAT made him very uneasy.
Then the way she just turned away from him without a care. How could she just DO that? If she felt the sexual pull, the attraction, as strongly as HE did and he had no reason to doubt that she did then just HOW did she turn her back on it? He was finding it harder and harder to keep his distance. If the dream had told him ANYTHING at all, it had revealed at least that to him.
It wasn't supposed to be this way, was it? It was supposed to be laughs and teasing, touches and glances, kisses and whispers, and finally making love.
And then THAT thought just bugged the ever living shit out of him… Making LOVE? Since when had he EVER called banging, "Making love"? Jeez, he DID have a problem and her name was KAGOME.
Yes, Kouga was nervous as well and with good reason.
They sat the beer on the kitchen table and Kouga tore open the box, setting most of them into the near empty fridge. He glanced up at her as he leaned back toward the table to grab a few more to put away and saw her studying him and his stomach flipped. He smiled, she smiled back. He grabbed one and tossed it to her quickly. She caught it with one hand. He laughed. She popped the top and drained nearly half of it as he watched, his mouth agape.
She lowered the can and wiped the back of her hand across her lips.
"I swear to God if you belch, Kagome, I'll get down on my knee and propose to you RIGHT NOW!", he said firmly.
She looked at him wide eyed for a minute and then started to laugh… and the longer she laughed, the louder she got. It wasn't long before Kouga was laughing right along with her.
"S... ssssstop, Kouga… shhhhhhhhhhhh!!", she giggled, her hand over her mouth as she tried to gain control. Her belly ached with the force of her giggles and his answering laugh wasn't helping.
God! He was striking when he laughed!
THAT thought sobered her and with a few remaining giggles, she tipped the can and finished off the beer. He raised a brow, still chuckling and reached for another, pitching it to her. She caught it and threw him the empty one, watching as he turned and made a perfect two point shot toward the dustbin. She applauded him soundly and popped the top of the second beer.
"You better get a MOVE on, Kouga. I'm beating you!", she laughed and turned away from him to go back to her room. He finished stocking the fridge and grabbing himself a cold one, kicked his boots off and made his way back down the hallway.
Normally, her door remained closed when she was in her room. Catching it opened surprised him and he stepped back a bit, his curiosity getting the better of him. What he saw made his knees nearly buckle, his tummy flutter and his breathing grow rapid at once. Not expecting him to follow her down the hallway, he supposed, she'd went into her room and removed her pink sweater to treat the stains of the spilled wine, he was sure. She was turned in profile, her concentration on the stain. His eyes wandered smooth, tanned skin. Long raven hair falling over her shoulders and the brilliant white satin of her simple bra assaulted his senses. The flatness of her browned belly caused him to catch his breath, the little belly button capturing him and flinging him outward.
He must've caught his breath, made a sound. He wasn't even sure, but he felt the heat of her gaze on him and reluctantly looked up into her eyes. Her face was flushed, her eyes bright and wide. He couldn't help it, he lowered his gaze once more to her breasts and found he was in a near trance. Her rapid breathing moved the sweet little mounds up and down -the stiff tips of her erect nipples peeking through the thin, tight fabric of the bra making him lick across his lips and sigh.
"Kouga?", she whispered then cleared her throat, trying once more.
"Kouga?", stronger this time.
"Mmmmm?", he answered sluggishly.
"Kouga?", she stepped closer to him and he nearly moaned, catching himself before he let it slip from his throat.
"Will you wet this for me? There's some club soda in the fridge for just this kind of thing.", she said and was surprised to find her voice sounded steady, calm even.
"Mmm, yeah…", he said, his eyes lifting to hers, going to her lips then to her eyes again. She placed the sweater into his hand and smiled.
"Never seen boobs before?", she grinned.
"No… Yes… I mean… shit, Kagome!", he croaked, turning on his heel and stalking back up the hallway. "Put a damned SHIRT on!", he called back gruffly over his shoulder and she took a deep breath and let it go.
"Whew! Close one." she whispered and peeled her bra off quickly, her eyes darting toward the door in case he decided to make a repeat appearance. Grabbing an old t-shirt of InuYasha's out of her dresser drawer, she pulled it over her head and grabbed her drawing pad as well as her pencils.
He met her coming back down the hall, his eyes on her chest, her face flushed.
"Where you going now?", he asked as he held up two more beers.
"Into the living room to sketch you.", she said.
"I thought we'd do it in here… your room?", he said as he nodded toward her bedroom door.
"Oh REALLY?", she said, giving him a look and he groaned.
"Kagome, look, if I'd wanted to put the moves on you, I'd have done it two minutes ago when you were standing RIGHT here in front of me without your sweater. Right?", he asked, his eyes lowering to her breasts once more.
"I suppose…", she said, letting him talk.
"So can't you just sketch me on the bed?", he asked. "I'm tired!"
"Dear God! OK, Kouga. FINE!", she said and turned away from him, going back into her room.
He watched her set up her things on the desk and saw the envelope of photos there as she arranged things.
"Can I see the pictures?", he asked.
"Sure.", she said, sliding them toward him.
He picked them up, looking slowly through them and when he got to the last one, he looked up at her with a grin.
"These are great! I mean, you made me look GOOD!", he laughed.
"I didn't make you look good, Kouga. You're already easy on the eyes!", she smiled back.
"Not THIS good! This is… wow! You're brilliant!", he said and she laughed, holding her hands out for the pictures.
"Hey, where are the ones I took of you?", he asked.
She reached back and tapped her finger on the desk. Underneath her sketch pad lay the two photos he'd taken and he reached around her to pick them up.
She closed her eyes, feeling the nearness of his body as his chest brushed hers, wondering just WHAT he would do if she pulled her arms around that strong neck of his and held on tight.
He moved back and looked down at the pictures in his hand.
"Can I have these?", he asked, looking up at her.
"Dartboard background, firing range practice? I don't care.", she laughed.
"Thanks, I'm gonna go put them in my room before you change your mind. I don't trust you, you know.", he said and with that, walked past her and into his room. She could hear him rambling about and decided to make herself comfortable.
Stepping out of her shoes, she kicked them into her closet and then unbuttoned her jeans, sliding them down her hips and to the floor. She bent to pick them up and standing up, placed them onto her closet shelf.
Kouga had placed the pictures of her on his bedside table, then decided to change clothes. She hadn't told him what to wear or just what she was sketching but he planned to be comfortable when she did it.
He grabbed the shorts he'd worn that afternoon and undressed quickly before pulling them on. Looking back at the pictures of her on the table, he picked them up and placed them INSIDE the table. No, he didn't trust her. She'd walk right in and take them back if she got pissed at him, of that he was sure. With a laugh, he grabbed his beer and made his way across the hallway and back to her room.
She was standing, her back to him, looking down at her sketches, flipping through them one by one. He saw she'd slipped out of her jeans and wondered briefly if she wore anything besides her panties underneath the big t-shirt that covered her down to her knees.
She had beautiful legs, strongly muscled and firm. Shapely and sexy. Tanned. The curve of her bum underneath the shirt made him want to touch her there, squeeze her… and he closed his eyes and prayed for the patience and virtue of a saint. He was going to need it.
She turned around, saw him there and smiled. He saw her eyes flit over his chest and down to his shorts and back up quickly. So he WAS right, she DID have an interest in him and he was just going to have to wait her out. Fine! He could do that, no problem at all.
"This ok?", he asked, spreading his arms wide and indicating his lack of clothing.
"It's fine. You should get used to being somewhat bare before we do the last sketches. Get on the bed.", she said and he grinned.
"Kouga, don't make this hard.", she said and then giggled, but held up her hand. "And whatever is ready to come out of your filthy male mouth, just keep it locked behind those beautiful lips of yours. I do NOT want to hear it!", she said as she slid down into her chair.
He sank onto the bed, laying back with his hands behind his head.
"I KNOW you don't think it's gonna be THAT easy on you!", she said with a frown as she picked up her pad.
"So, what do I do then? You tell me!", he said.
"Hmmmm…", she said and got up from the chair, laid her pad onto the desk and placed her knee at the edge of the mattress.
His eyes went to her bare knee and he reached out a tentative hand to stroke over the caramel colored skin. But she was quicker than he was, clamping a hand over his wrist and squeezing hard.
"No funny stuff, Kouga. I mean it. I'm working here. Stop!", she frowned down at him.
"Well, fuck!", he fumed and sat up looking at her.
"Lie back… only… lie on your side and… yeah… like that…", she said as he laid down. "Now, let me see. For the time being I want you to grab my pillow and tuck it under your chin. When I get your face the way I want it I'll probably change your position.", she said and watched as he did as she told him.
"Good boy.", she said softly and he smiled, he couldn't help it. It sounded good to his ears and he'd take it anyway he could get it.
"Ok, that's good. Now, any special requests on music or can I pick?", she asked.
"You pick tonight, I'll do the honors next time.", he said and watched her as she reached up for her CD's. She selected one and slid it into the player and smiled at him.
"Ok, here we goooooo… Don't you go to sleep!", she said.
"Can I drink my beer?", he asked.
"Sure. I'll tell you when I need perfect stillness from you. Go ahead.", she said.
"Would you hand it over then?", he asked.
She looked to where he was pointing and with a sigh, got up from her chair and picked up the beer from her dresser.
"You better be worth all this fuss, Kouga! I ought to be at the top of my class just for what I have to put up with from you!", she fussed but handed him the beer anyway.
"Thanks sweetness.", he said and took a long sip, belching loudly.
"How romantic.", she said rolling her eyes and he laughed and drank more.
She sat back down and grabbed her pad, looking at him.
"Drink!", he said.
She grabbed her beer and drank deeply from it, then sat it down and looked at him. He was grinning at her.
"Do it!", he said.
"NO!", she answered.
"You can't.", he teased.
"I WON'T!", she replied.
"Aww, Kagome!", he laughed.
"Hush it, Kouga. I'm not going to turn you on further OR risk being proposed to if I burp for you so just hush!", she laughed. "Now one more sip and you must be still for just a minute.", she said, narrowing her eyes and getting to work.
Many beers later, many bathroom breaks gone by, her CD collection played ¼ of the way through…
"So why didn't you draw InuYasha?", Kouga asked, turning to his side and looking down at her laying beside him on the bed.
"I have! You saw!!! SEE?" she pointed toward the wall.
"I mean for THIS.", he said and pointed at himself, then her sketch pad that lay between them.
"I can't. Just…couldn't.", she said and turned away from him to grab her beer. He watched her as she reached for the beer, stretching for it, her shirt riding up her legs. He was almost chanting for her to stretch just a bit farther, just a glimpse of her panties then she sank back and took a long sip and sat the beer by the bed.
"Tell me about your girlfriend, Romeo.", she said and turned toward him.
"No.", he said, frowning. He reached over behind him for his own beer and finished it off in one swift pull.
"Yes.", she said.
"No.",
"Yes, Kouga.", she insisted.
"Why?", he asked.
"I want to know.", she said.
"Oh well, no problem then. Why didn't you just SAY so?", he said sarcastically.
"I gotta pee.", he said suddenly and got up, stumbling over his feet.
"Hurry up. I want to hear a story.", she said and smiled, turning to her tummy.
He came back into the room and sighed.
"Kagome. I can see your butt. Cover it!", he said and crawled back onto the bed.
"No.", she mumbled into the pillow.
"Can I touch then?", he asked and lifted his hand to her bottom.
"If you touch me, I'll break your hand, Kouga.", she said and looked over at him.
"Damn, Kagome.", he said and stretched onto his back.
"That light hurts my eyes, turn if off and tell me the story of the lovely Kouga and his broken heart.", she said.
"You turn it off. You'll have to get up and go pee in a minute anyway… turn it off.", he said.
"You're so right. I gotta go pee. Be right back.", she said, grabbing her sketch pad as she inched off the bed very slowly.
"Kouga? DID you get me drunk on purpose? Cause I will NOT sleep with you and I mean it!", she frowned, laying her pad on the desk.
"You couldn't MAKE me sleep with you if you tried, now go on.", he said.
"Wanna bet?", she said and giggling stumbled out of her room toward the bathroom.
He heard her in the kitchen and propped up on his elbows wondering just what in the hell she was up to.
She came back to the bedroom, frowning and he laughed.
"What's wrong, Kagome?", he asked as he watched her switch off the lights and turn on her lava lamp as well as the rotating pattern lamp.
"Ah, this is nice. Are you trying to seduce me, baby?", he chuckled as she climbed back onto the bed with him.
"Shut up.", she said.
"What were you doing in the kitchen?, he asked.
"I was looking for that stuff InuYasha bought to go in hot chocolate. That spray cream… you know what I'm talking about Kouga!", she said.
"Whatever did you need THAT for?", he asked, laughing.
"I was gonna spray it all over myself and let you lick it off me, then tell me that you couldn't be MADE to sleep with me!", she huffed.
A shiver ran over his entire body at her words and though he knew she was drunk and not really aware of what she was saying, he knew something had changed… or just that maybe her inhibitions with him, with closeness, had dropped away because of the effects of the alcohol.
"Would you, Kouga?", she asked and yawned, surprising him by snuggling up against him.
"Would I?", he asked, his body reacting at her nearness.
"Lick me?", she asked and he groaned. "You can at least KISS me, can't you?", she asked.
"Can I.", he replied.
"Are you asking?", she yawned once more and he turned fully toward her, pulling his arm behind her head to cradle it.
"I suppose. Yes, I'm asking. Can I kiss you, Kagome?", he asked, looking at her.
"Yes, Kouga. You can kiss me. But that's all. No funny stuff!", she said and tapped his nose with her finger.
He moved closer to her then, positioning himself over her nearly. One hand held her head, the hair soft against his palm. The other was at her waist and he slid it down her hip and to the outside of her thigh.
"I said no funny stuff, Kouga. THAT makes my belly feel funny when you DO that!", she frowned up at him.
"It makes mine feel funny too, baby.", he said as he lowered his mouth to hers.
"Mmmm.", she moaned against his mouth as he moved his lips over hers. The kiss was sweet, fragrant with the taste of alcohol between the two of them. He felt her hands on his waist and pushed himself against her hip. The hand on her thigh slid up and down slowly and he felt her part her legs just a fraction of an inch making him nearly go mad.
She was kissing him back, no doubt about it. Her mouth had opened underneath his and he slid his tongue eagerly into its warmth. He felt her draw back from him a bit then and he cursed himself… cursed her… cursed the alcohol but blessed it as well.
"Sweet Kagome…", he whispered against her mouth and placed tiny little kisses over every soft inch.
She opened her eyes to look at him and he saw the trust, the want, the fear, and the need. He kissed her nose and moved his hand back to her waist.
"Nice kiss.", he said and lay back against the pillow, taking deep breaths, wondering how he was going to manage the rest of the night. He moved to sit up and felt her leg slide over his.
"Don't, please.", she whispered, her eyes shining in the dim glow of the lamps.
"You want me here?", he asked.
"I do. Please don't be mad.", she begged, her eyes luminous.
He turned back toward her and felt her snuggle herself against him once more, her hands against his chest.
"Thank you, Kouga…", she yawned.
"Thank me for what?", he asked, his own eyelids drooping even as other parts of his body refused to lie calmly down. But what could you do?
"Nice… I like…", she murmured. "You… when you say… say baby", she said softly and he felt the press of her lips against his neck, the release of her lips and her soft sigh as he closed his eyes to sleep as well.