He stops them at the edge of the trees.

It comes out of nowhere, that brief, prick of spider lightning. And then, unexpected, it washes over and melts into her, his hand sliding up her chest and then her neck before grasping her chin and tipping it back.

"Sesshoumaru, what—"

Perfect, sculpted lips press to hers.

Kagome's mind goes blank. He kisses her hard. Slow. His hand lingers at her throat, boiling her blood in her veins as he sweeps her mouth and steals her breath.

One moment stretches into a thousand.

And a thousand moments meld into one.