Kouga took a breath in order to calm himself. He hadn't read her wrong, Kagome was avoiding looking at him. Everything from her tense posture to her jerky actions led him to believe nothing else. He tried not to growl thinking about it.
Flexing his knuckles, he watched her skirt around him as she dashed back to his room. Kouga turned away before any of her companions could catch his expression.
Kagome had kissed him and was she there now regretting it. He followed her out, walking slowly to bring his nerves down. Perhaps she didn't want to admit it to her human friends. While Kouga knew when things were private, the idea that she would want to hide it didn't sit well with him. Why wouldn't it? Was she ashamed to admit that she'd finally given into a mere wolf-princes advances? No, she was the one who made the advance on him. And he didn't care much for the human friends but they should know he was wolf demon royalty. So much more honorable than a half-breed.
Kouga stiffened. He would not be shown up by a stupid dog. Not when Kagome finally returned some bit of his affection for her.
He found the girl in his room, bending over her yellow bag to tug at one of the straps. She almost jumped when she felt him behind her.
"Kouga." Twisting around, she put a hand to her chest. "Hey." She breathed out and hesitated.
Kouga forced a breath again, trying to force his nerves still, but when her scent engulfed him it didn't help.
Kouga didn't speak at first and Kagome knew why. She tried not to cringe at the expression he gave her. Her heart pounded uncomfortably and she tried to steel her nerves. Why was this so hard?
"What's wrong?" She finally settled on a cop-out and regretted when it left her lips.
Kouga took up for her. Reaching out, he used an index finger to push her chin up to look at him. He looked over her eyes, unable to pinpoint exactly what she was thinking. Having no luck, he growled.
"You tell me. You kiss me last night and now you won't even look at me?"
The words hurt. Kagome could almost feel the strain in his voice. Breaking free of his hand, she jerked forward and launched herself into his arms. Wrapping her arms, she could feel him stiffened. His hands didn't touch her, staying awkwardly at his sides.
"I don't regret kissing you last night." She found it easier to confess into his chest. Twisting her head around, she rested her cheek on his armor. She felt him shift uncomfortably but Kagome ignored it. "It's not that. If that's what you're thinking. But I'm not ready to deal with Inuyasha yet. And if everyone finds out I'm not sure what I'll do."
Kagome's thoughts followed her words one by one. And maybe it wasn't just that. Maybe it was because she'd really never been very intimate with anyone and didn't really know how to deal. Inuyasha, once or twice but that only came down to acting like it didn't happen the next day.
She suddenly felt Kouga rest his hands on her shoulders and she let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. Pulling away, Kagome looked back up at him. The wolf-prince's face had cleared of that intense look but had cleared out to something else. Relief? Kagome tried to guess but there was such a mix of emotions that Kagome couldn't quite understand.
She watched him for a moment, trying to discern the thoughts that played across his face. Kouga's lips formed a line and he waited a moment. Finally he opened his mouth, and almost whispered.
"I understand." He kept his composure.
Kouga reached back out and cupped her cheek.
"Still, you shouldn't worry about that stupid puppy." He said firmly but there was no aggression in his tone.
Kagome saw the change of the intensity in his eyes. He leaned forward a second later and kissed her again. Kagome's cheeks flushed and her heart flipped backwards on her. His lips were soft but searched hers with a solid pressure. Kagome tilted her head back and he took the opportunity of better access. Pressing harder, he wrapped an arm around her so she wouldn't be backed into the wall. Her long raven hair swept over his arm and sent a jolt through his body.
Kagome let her eyes shut and tried to keep her thoughts at bay. She tried to just enjoy the moment before her inevitable doubts would catch up on her. But she kept reminding herself.
Kouga was the one that was there for her. Kouga loved her. The mantra kept her still until he pulled away, his blue eyes burning into her own.
The tension that had knotted at Kouga slowly dispersed over the few moments and left him with a clearer head. Of course she was worried about the mutt. He didn't need her to tell him to know that. But at least Kagome hadn't regretted kissing him. His heart twitched at the thought when he kept holding the girl for a moment longer.
He wasn't going to be able to ignore this and let Kagome go like he usually did. His youkai instincts burned in the back of his mind, but he kept his rational thoughts focused on one thing. Kagome was coming to him and she would be his. Kouga didn't have to remind himself that he already acknowledged the stupid mutt wouldn't get in his way.
As for her friends, Kouga would leave that up to her. He let his constricting grip on her fall away and skimmed his eyes over her pouted lips and flushed cheeks. She opened her mouth to say something but hesitated.
"That'll do for now." Kouga spoke for her. His mood had lightened considerable and his muscles relaxed themselves.
Almost with a mutual acknowledgement, Kagome nodded and reached down to grab her bag. Her heart was still thumping loudly and she absently tugged at the strap. Breathing in the cleared air, Kagome gave him a brilliant smile and left the room.
Kouga waited a second after her. Trying to clear his face, he slowly walked behind her. He could wait.
For his Kagome.
~*~
Wow, this chapter was hard to write. I wasn't sure how I wanted to go about it. Anyways, happy labor day and if you guys want to see the ever changing status of updates check out my profile. It's my mission to keep that up to date.
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