Disclaimer: I do not own any of the following characters.

Chapter 2

"Miss Higarashi?" Rin's voice flittered through the intercom.

Kagome glanced quickly away from her computer screen to land on the speaker. Almost as if Rin had known, the young assistant finished, "Mr. Takagi is here."

Kagome cleared her throat and shut her eyes. The night before had not gone as she had intended it. If that hanyou's pride hadn't felt wounded, they would have already made a collective step in the right direction. He had surprised her with his kind words of gratitude. And for those few peaceful moments, she felt appreciated. Sure, her employees were all well taken care of and were thankful for her willingness to listen to their wants. But each meeting had always ended with them leaving with a rushed smile and scampering legs. No one dared to interrupt her, so that had intrigued her too. Even his passion for his work had impressed her to the point that it maintained her silence.

Her expression darkened. Oh, it had been going smoothly until that smug smile of his. Something he had probably done without even noticing, judging by his reaction to her dismissal. It had been there though. His pride was huge, ego probably bigger. There were things the miko could handle: those two traits were not them.

Sighing, she composed herself and straightened in her chair. "Fine." It was final, curt, and she stilled herself for the half-demon.

The hanyou walked through the large doors, his demeanor not betraying the previous night nor anything that was going on in his thoughts.

Kagome lingeringly took in his appearance. Well, there are some things he could be proud of.

Inuyasha was extremely good looking: from his long silver hair to those golden amber eyes. And even though she nearly fried the puppy when he smirked the way he had the night before, she couldn't help but think that the expression was deliciously sexy as it played on his lips. Lost in her thoughts, the woman hadn't noticed how intently she was watching him until he paused in mid-step and locked eyes with her.

And then an instinctual smile crept onto his face. His eyes turned molten and his posture shifted to predatory as he continued making his way to her.

Damn it, Kagome ripped her gaze from his. Her heart had picked up the slightest, but after a moment of coaxing it with her magic, it slowed to the steady rhythm that was her. Goddamn youkais, she wanted to grumble beneath her breath.

It was a constant struggle working with them. And vice versa, she knew. For them it was all about dominating her. Her very existence was a challenge to theirs. And for her? Well, she had a tendency to fantasize too much about being dominated. Humans were bland compared to them. If it was a miko thing, she wasn't sure. She didn't bother with others of her kind - they were too high headed. Constantly thinking how much better they were to others. It frustrated her. Did she think she stood above others? Yes. But it was not due to her magic. It was due to her self confidence that she could handle any obstacle thrown at her. Almost any.

"Kagome," Inuyasha's voice slashed through her thoughts and she slightly flexed the muscles in her thighs. Even his voice was tempting.

"Good afternoon, Inuyasha." She masked her words slightly with her power. Once in a while, she silently thanked, she could rely on her magic to support her.

Feeling it was safe to look at him again, she turned her gaze to the hanyou. And bit the inside of her cheek, immediately regretting the glance. Why is he so damn sexy?

He was leaning forward, his body relaxing against the chair he was meant to sit in. He was much different than his brother – the proper and controlled Sesshomaru. Kagome cleared her throat to hide a laugh. Inuyasha was much different than his older brother. But he was just as delicious looking as him.

"Hey," Inuyasha started and looked around him as if he could find words in the office for his use. Kagome tilted her head, amused. "I wanted to apologize. I was just so- it's been everything to me for the past three years."

Kagome blinked at his admission and began to feel like a complete ass for what she did, even more so for what she had said. But even while the Kagome on the inside yearned to apologize in understanding, the CEO wasn't about to allow her to stoop down to that level.

She simply nodded and gestured to the seat. He hesitated as if waiting for her to say anything, but when he saw she had nothing to offer, he sighed and complied. He does learn quickly.

She picked her words carefully, watching him and tapping slightly into his aura to make sure he was still calm and willing to listen. "I'm sure it was frustrating to hear my decision, but rather than reacting the way you did, I was hoping you would have allowed me to finish." She paused, allowing a moment of silence if he decided to interrupt her.

Noticing he didn't, she continued a little more comfortably, "I want to work with you, Mr. Takagi. You were right last night: you are the scientist. And I am the business side of it. But in order to better my company, I need to understand your work. You'll come to find that I'm extremely hands on. I enjoy working alongside in the lab. But I also want scientists - such as yourself - to see and understand the business side." When she finished, she let the words settle in. It was always a surprise to those who she had bought. They always assumed it was a simple trade off of product for money. Kagome didn't work like that. And it was what made her business so fruitful: she was just as passionate as those who had made discoveries or who had invented new technologies.

Inuyasha sat back, processing. It was funny how he was. He was so free in allowing his emotions to cross his face, even when he might not be aware of it happening. She watched as the realization finally hit him.

"You want me to show you?" he finally asked, nodding slowly as if still attempting to understand completely why on earth the woman in front of him would waste her time.

Kagome smiled, and it shocked Inuyasha on how much that smile made him feel light and giddy.

"I want the four of us to work extremely close to each other. I want to be welcomed into the labs I am having prepared on the 15th floor. And I want you to feel comfortable walking into my office and asking any monetary question you may have. I want us to work together." She lowered her gaze and sighed. It was such a human reaction she was surprised by herself for letting it slip through. No matter, she thought and re-gathered.

"All I'm asking is for some trust and cooperation." Her brown eyes settled on his gold and they sat silently for a few seconds.

"The four of us?" He asked, breaking the spell between them.

"Yourself, Sesshomaru, your lab assistant and me."

Inuyasha considered her words and then shot up. "Kagome, I would like to take you to lunch."

Her eyes widened by the proclamation and she shook her head, "I'm sorry?"

His unadulterated grin spread from ear to ear. He really does look like a puppy.

"If you want to work by me, then it means we're working together. And if that's the case, lunch is on me. It's tradition in my lab. And I would like to share that with you," Inuyasha's brows furrowed at the end of his little speech. What are you thinking, the hanyou reprimanded himself.

Kagome saw the inward conflict play on his face, and she smiled at him. "Then dinner can be on me."

He's so entertaining. She smirked, enjoying how uncomfortable the half-demon was by her. This could be fun.

Her own brows furrowed the slightest when she realized: It could be a little too fun.

Inuyasha had no idea what he was doing. Well, he knew he was driving. He was also very much aware of the miko sitting in his car''s passenger seat. What in the seven hells did you think when you blurted that out?

Inuyasha could smack himself against a tree. He hadn't been thinking.

Oh well, he shot a sly glance her way and took a deep breath. She smelled delectable. He could taste her in his mouth. No wonder she had stiffened when getting in his car and no wonder her office was so large. Dealing with demons must have constantly put her on edge, what with their heightened senses.

Kagome sat still, hands clasped in her lap, and unblinking eyes facing straight ahead. She could feel the danger level rise within the vehicle. What were you thinking? Her thoughts echoed Inuyasha's unknowingly and she snapped her head to the window adjacent to her, staring at the blurred objects the hanyou whooshed by at only a speed a demon could feel comfortable with.

At least she isn't scared. His claws tightened around the gearshift. Why did she have to be so fucking hot? The hanyou couldn't help himself with her. Back in her office he had nearly lost his mind when she was staring at him, and the demon running through his veins had beckoned for him to force her to submit. It's why he hadn't sat down right away, trying to distract her enough so he could adjust himself and calm the pulsing desire between his legs.

At the thought of it, he could feel his blood burn for her. He cleared his throat and attempted at idle conversation, "So what would you like to eat?"

Kagome's response was quick, "What would you?"

You, he silently pleaded. But he was sure that wouldn't go very well. "I'm not picky."

"Neither am I," she agreed, not once letting go of her self-control.

Raising a brow quizzically, he blurted out, "I thought mikos were vegans."

He could feel how uncomfortable that had made her. Was he not meant to mention it? Were they all meant to pretend it wasn't a known fact? He would've figured it out eventually even if his brother hadn't mentioned anything. Hell, if he had done more research on the woman himself he would have found it in an article. All species lived in a peaceful time, so what was the big deal?

Kagome's words were pursed against her lips as she answered, "No, it's a common misconception."

"Did I say something wrong," Inuyasha asked, turning his attention briefly from the road to her small frame.

Kagome looked at him then, her stormy brown eyes casting a shadow over his gold. And then he was lost in her. There were no words to explain how it happened. His world enveloped into that dark emptiness and he found himself cascading through browns and blacks; there was a heat surrounding him that radiated from her, drawing him deeper into the void. He felt so safe. So free. He was never going to leave.

The miko hadn't meant to do it. She tried, desperately, to pull him back out from her mental abyss - to no avail. Cursing herself, she focused her magic on the moving vehicle they were both in and managed to guide it to a complete stop to the side of the road and shut the engine off before giving her attention to the half demon before her.

Shifting in her seat, she unbuckled and faced him head on. "Inuyasha." She called his name, softly at first with the hopes of eliciting a semblance of a response.

Nothing.

His eyes had lost their golden luster, instead she stared into a brown that mirrored her own.

Kagome gripped onto his limp hands. "Hanyou," she said slightly louder than before, sending a sizzle of electricity from her to him.

His fingers twitched.

Her eyes didn't betray the hope that rose up. This isn't going to be like before, she promised to herself and tightened her grip on him.

Again, in a stronger tone and leaning closer in, "Inuyasha."

For the briefest moment, a flicker of gold flashed through his iris. More of that warm hope crystallized inside her. She was going to pull him out. Please, God, let me pull him back.

She tucked her legs beneath her, and moved her hands to rest on the hanyou's shoulders.

"Inuyasha." She said again, her voice commanding, enriched with a safer magic than what had devoured his spirit.

"Ka-", was all he got out, the gold lingering longer that time before averting back to the sea of brown.

Long gone was her patience.

"Goddamnit, Inuyasha. Get back here! Now!" She slapped his face between her hands as she leaned herself close enough so that their breaths mixed.

There was no response to it, and she shut her eyes, hating the brown that stared back at her. She pressed her forward against his. Pushing hard, she shook as she willed for the gold to reappear. For his spirit to seep back into his body.

"Come back, hanyou." She whispered above his mouth, her tongue slightly flicking his parted lips as she licked her own.

She saw a sharp flash of white and gold spark between them behind her eyelids. She ignored it, her whole attention on her grip on him and her body shuddering from the pull of her magic towards him.

"Kagome?"

The soft whisper echoed in the silent car.

Kagome's shoulders relaxed slightly as she pulled back just enough to see his eyes.

Gold. Beautiful gold stared back at her and she let out a deep breath, not realizing how long she had been holding it.

She took heavy gulps of air, refusing to let him go.

That was too close. Too damn close. She was almost ready to pull away when clawed, chilled hands settled on top of hers.

She looked at him with sorrow that almost broke Inuyasha again. He hadn't known what happened to him; all he knew was that she was the first thing that entered his mind before opening his eyes, only to find her millimeters away from him. And he could taste her on his mouth. She was sweet, as sweet as sugar water.

He wanted to drink her up.

Judging by her raw emotions she was displaying before him, something very bad had happened. And, suddenly, he didn't want to live anymore wondering what she would feel like against him. He didn't want to ask "what ifs." He wanted to experience those "ifs" - wanted her.

Slowly, he ran his fingers across her arm, watching as goose-bumps spread to her shoulders. His claw traced its way up to her face, and he grazed it against her pink lips. "Kagome?"

He was asking for permission, she knew. Her heart slammed against her ribs, her stomach curling in on itself: did she want him to?

Looking at his mouth, she nodded to herself and him. Yes, she did.

With an eagerness that scared them both, their lips met. Feverishly they entangled themselves in the front seat of the car. Kagome managed to move atop of him, her rear resting against the steering wheel.

His hands were all over. Cupping her face, wrapping around her neck, tugging at her hair, stroking her back and squeezing her underside. It still wasn't enough for him. He wanted more. So much more that the confines of the vehicle couldn't provide them with. He growled into the kiss, and she moaned through parted lips before he latched on to them again.

Kagome's body was melting into him. And she couldn't control it. It had been too close. Too close to swallowing his soul up and taking it into the curse she carried with her. She shook the thoughts away. He hadn't been taken though. He had come back. She had brought him back. A loud groan escaped her when he thrust his hips up against her parted thighs. She wanted more, just like him.

But we can't. She heard the thought and pushed it back.

It was persistent. Stop. We need to stop.

Whimpering against him, she yanked her bruised mouth from his, the taste of his tongue still deliciously on hers. His hands stopped their scurrying and squeezing and she sighed through her panting.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, nuzzling his face into her neck. Her smell was intoxicating. It was like Mother Nature come to life. Electricity, moist air, and musky arousal. The latter was definitely what he enjoyed the most about it at that moment.

She softly ran her hands through his hair, more for her own comfort than his. He really is a puppy, she smiled sadly before resting herself against his head. She saw his dog-ears flatten down and without a second thought she planted a kiss on one. "I'm sorry." She muttered it so low even at this close of a proximity it was hard for him to hear.

He pulled back, and the concern in his eyes broke the last of her internal defenses. She was going to give into the hanyou. She felt it deep down where she dripped with need.

Not now. She held on to the words. And looked past him to help sooth herself.

"Hey," he called out and nudged her chin.

Brown met gold and he smiled lazily. "Let's go eat."

A/N: Thank you all so much for the reviews, favorites and follows! :) I'm looking at Sunday as being my official update day. Force me to keep it going! Until next time: peace and love.