The soundtrack to this chapter and a must-hear is Coldplay's X & Y, the CD, but the song you must listen to while reading this chapter is the title track X & Y...it fits the chapter perfectly!

Sesshomaru laid Kagome on the pile of furs and stooped to look into her face. Her eyelids drooped and she shifted a little so that she could still see him. He looked weary and suddenly Kagome was just aware of how much older he was. She was a relative pup compared to the centuries he'd lived. He looked so alone sitting there that Kagome could not stop herself from caressing his cheek. He flinched slightly before turning into her hand.

"Are you tired?" He asked, as he grasped her hand and began to softly sniff her wrist.

"Not really, more worn than anything."

"Would you like a bath?" Sesshomaru referred to the large tub behind him, already filled with hot water. The priestess had been about to enjoy a long bath when they'd arrived.

"Yeah, that would be good." Kagome stood with his help and stared when he began to disrobe. She tried her best not to look too scared; it wasn't as if she hadn't done this before. She had...with Bankotsu...twice. Then the whole Naraku thing and she hadn't had the heart to consummate with anyone else.

Sesshomaru knew that Kagome was frightened and automatically sought to soothe her. He stepped close, basically unaware of his nudity as only demons can be, and lay his hand on her cheek. He leaned down and kissed her forehead, then her nose, then both cheeks. Finally he kissed her lips and Kagome unwillingly felt her body respond. It arched up to him, allowing him to fully wrap her in his arms.

While Kagome was blissfully unaware, Sesshomaru undid the buttons on her pants and started to pull her shirt over her head. Unfortunately this required the kiss to end and that would mean awareness on her part. Best to make it quick.

Sesshomaru whipped her shirt over her head and started to pull her back, but the removal had startled her and she jumped back. "Sesshomaru..."

Sesshomaru pulled her close and just held her close. Her heart was beating frantically and he wasn't sure that was healthy for a human. She panted slightly and meekly tried to free herself. There wasn't anywhere to go however so she eventually calmed down.

I'm frightened.

"I know. I will not hurt you."

Promise?

"Yes. I promise. I would never do anything to hurt you," Sesshomaru held her tighter then slowly released her. She just stood there for a moment, her arms crossed, hiding her breasts from him, before slowly pushing down and stepping out of her pants. She was now as naked as Sesshomaru. She had mentally prepared herself for what was to come next.

Sesshomaru did not ask her to mate right then and there however. Instead he picked her up and carried her to the large tub, stepped in and slowly sank into the water with her. He gritted his teeth at the slightly too hot water and felt a grain of satisfaction when Kagome did the same.

"It's hot in here."

"It is meant to be."

"Why are we bathing Sesshomaru?"

"I seek to rid your body of all other scents before putting mine on you?"

"Is that all?"

"You are skittish, I seek to calm you," Sesshomaru said softly as Kagome began to melt and relax against his chest. She made idle designs on his leg where it was raised out of the water to accommodate her cradling.

The heat from the bath lulled both into a false sense of camaraderie and they both began to feel...things...Kagome smiled a little as Sesshomaru idly used a sponge to soap her back. She had sat up in the water on top of him and from where he leaned back he used his long limbs to wash her body. She held up her hair and felt the cold air cause her body to break out in goose bumps and tighten.

"What are these?"

"Goose bumps. You...er...humans get them when they get cold. Do demons have them?"

"No, we do not get cold." Sesshomaru leaned forward and kissed the nape of her neck, where an abundance of "goose bumps" were raising. Kagome stiffened a little before moaning a little. Sesshomaru smiled as she did so, knowing that her resistance to him was little more than words now. She wanted him as he wanted her.

Sesshomaru soaped Kagome's hair and instructed her to lean back. As she rested her head in the water, just above his stomach, she looked at him, her blue eyes sparkling. She was enjoying herself. Sesshomaru carefully ran his hands through her hair removing all the suds. Kagome laughed as one such sud flew up and popped on Sesshomaru's nose. He sneezed and Kagome laughed harder.

Sesshomaru leaned back as Kagome slid up his body and into his arms. He pulled her close so that their heads were side by side, and he could look into her eyes. Then he slid his hand up her ribcage and caressed the underside of her breast. She stopped laughing and her eyes darkened. She slowly leaned over and kissed Sesshomaru, wrapping her arm around his neck and bringing him closer. As he continued to caress her with one hand, the other slid down and tested her readiness. Let's just say the water wasn't the only thing wet. Kagome arched into his hand and Sesshomaru had the briefest glimpse of the passion hidden in this woman before she pushed his hand away.

Kagome turned in the water and straddled Sesshomaru. They stared at each other for a minute before moving again. He didn't want to pressure her, and she didn't want to provoke him too much. She didn't want him losing control like some demons did during mating.

Kagome slowly touched Sesshomaru's chest and smiled when he mimicked her movement. She leaned down and kissed his chin, and he did the same with her. Kagome wrapped her hand around a strand of her hair and gently pulled. This he did not mimic, but instead looked at her oddly. She tugged again and he tugged back.

She laughed. "Mine?"

Sesshomaru understood what she wanted. "Yours. I am yours."

"Good," Kagome said, serious in a second. She leaned over and kissed him, not gently, not softly. It was a solid, deep kiss that caused Sesshomaru's toes to curl. Sesshomaru wrapped his arms around Kagome's waist and brought her close, enabling their entire bodies to touch. They did not stop kissing when Kagome began to caress him, nor did they stop when Sesshomaru began to rub himself against her.

Kagome finally leaned back and smiled. Then, rising above him, she lowered herself to him and began to move. As Sesshomaru watched the beautiful miko ride him, he felt the first stirrings of an emotion he hadn't felt in a long time...love. He could very well love this woman, and give his own life for her's. When had that happened?

Kagome, on the other hand, couldn't think at all. She was concentrating on the sensations of the act, not the emotions. She could feel the waves of the water mimic the pleasure inside her and unconsciously she raised her arms above her head as she began to move faster.

Sesshomaru gripped her hips and watched her pump through half-closed eyes. He panted slightly as he felt himself begin to lose control. She was like a goddess above him, moving with grace and completely shaking the foundations of his life. As they both began to soar to that great top, Sesshomaru felt his control snap. He lifted himself and Kagome out of the tub and over the side.

Once on the floor, they rolled until Sesshomaru was the one on top. Kagome, surprised but not overly so, braced her hands against his chest to keep his from crushing her in the movement. When they finally had regained some sense of equilibrium, Sesshomaru began to move inside her. Now he was in control and the rhythm was a lot faster than the one Kagome had used. Kagome felt herself began to climb to an orgasm again and listened as Sesshomaru began to pant above her.

Sesshomaru leaned down and nipped at Kagome's neck, causing her eyes to jump open. "Mine."

Kagome nodded as much as she could pressed against the floor. "Yours."

Sesshomaru gave a particularly deep thrust and smiled evilly when Kagome gasped. "Mine."

"Yours."

Sesshomaru sensed that she was about to "finish" and did what all demons did at the time of climax; he marked. He swooped down and bit into Kagome's neck, not a little nip, but a full on bite that caused the already sensitive Kagome to scream and come. Sesshomaru kept pumping until he too came, spurring Kagome into a second orgasm as well.

As Kagome began to slowly fall, Sesshomaru rolled to keep his weight from hurting her. He pulled her close and felt when the goose bumps began to raise on her skin. Reaching over he pulled one of the many furs around them.

"Wow...that was nice."

"You sound surprised."

"Well, with Bankotsu," Sesshomaru's arm tightened around her at the mention of her one former lover, "it was painful the first time, and quick the second. This was...different."

Sesshomaru smiled. "I try."

"You succeed."

Sesshomaru smiled at Kagome. "Did I hurt you? My size is somewhat daunting."

"You stretched me a little, but it felt good." Sesshomaru smiled and relaxed into self-contentment. "Don't get all egotistical." Kagome laughed as she lightly punched him on the arm. "So are we...good?"

"We are mated."

Didn't expect it to feel like this.

"Like what?"

"Huh?"

"Didn't expect it to feel like what?"

"I didn't say anything," Kagome replied sitting up.

Sesshomaru thought for a moment before explaining. "During the mating ceremony and the aura opening rite, you were speaking to me mentally. I didn't know if it was permanent." Sesshomaru pulled the tired Kagome back down to him before she could get up and pace this idea out of her system. "We will deal with it later."

"I could always speak to lesser demons with my mind, but never higher ones."

"Our mating has made you more powerful Kagome; this has to do with that. But we must sleep."

Kagome snuggled into his warmth. "We battle tomorrow, right?"

Sesshomaru brushed a kiss over the top of Kagome's hair. "Yes...we battle."

Okay, so just bought Coldplay's X & Y. As if you couldn't tell right? It's great! I recommend it to everyone...

Okay, so to my reviewers...yes, I didn't wait for twenty reviews...couldn't stop myself...

royal blueKitsune: You weren't the first person to review last chapter...losing your touch...Romania? Is that a real country? Know any cute vampires? (Sorry, couldn't help myself) Are you a gypsy? That would BE AWESOME!

Shel: Well, not really a lemon...don't know what to call it...what the hell is a lemon?

NekoYasha101: Is that a good thing or bad? I didn't want this to be like the other FFs on here...I wanted it to go my way! My way or the highway!

Brittany: What do you mean weird? I didn't think it was weird...is my story weird? Is that a good thing?

Kogasgirl142: See, not really a lemon...WHAT THE HELL IS A LEMON!

Special thanks to SubaruWings, Angel-Assain, SexySesshomaru52, and daegogurl619 for reviewing...yeah...not many reviews but I'm on the story alert list of like thirty people so people must like it...