Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or its characters: Rumiko Takahashi, and those she's given rights to, does.

I do, however, own the story itself, lol, though I do not profit in any way from the writing or posting of this story in any way. This disclaimer is for the entirety of this fic.

De Sidere: ch 5: Runaway Train

Contentment overtook them, despite their hunger. Some time ago, Inuyasha had gotten up to start a small cooking fire, but not even the promise of sweetened rice, cold by now, could pull them from the sanctuary of their love nest.

There was little embarrassment between them now, nothing that hinted at shame or regret as they huddled together, still naked beneath their shared sleeping bag.

Lovers, she thought…

It was unbearably erotic, and so utterly surreal.

The thought that this might ever actually happen between them had never really crossed her mind. They'd always taken that fatal step back, like a rubberband stretched unbearably tight as they struggled against its pull, only to be snapped back together when the tension became too much to sustain.

When temptation pulled them together in the night while the others slept, his shyness, or hers, however, had always won out. The slightest sound sent them running from the embrace both so desperately wanted, always one step forward, and two steps back.

She'd wanted him, loved him, for so many years now, but so much had always stood between them.

Dreams, however, were another matter entirely. They were countless, so many so often that cold baths in frigid streams had seemed her only respite from the burning desire those dreams would cause.

But after tonight, she knew those dreams would be horribly lacking in comparison to the way he alone had made her feel.

While normally they would have forced themselves away, something about this one room shack they'd stumbled into had felt so...right. This place felt safe, and the urge to take that final step with Inuyasha was something Kagome simply couldn't ignore anymore.

'We should stop," Inuyasha had whispered, "before I can't.' His desperate admission had emboldened her. She could still feel the defiance in her heart, the absolute refusal she felt at the thought of taking yet another step back from a moment they both had wanted so desperately.

'I don't want to stop, Inuyasha,' she'd confided, before pulling his shirt open, watching as it slid over his shoulders, and down his arms. She could still feel the ripple of muscle beneath her hand when she'd reached to touch him that first time.

She'd seen him half dressed many times over the course of their time together, bandaging his wounds from one battle or another.

But this…

This had been different.

This was intimacy, not necessity. She knew, because she could still hear his whispered plea for her love, just as clearly as she could hear her own admission that he already had it.

The memory of what they'd shared, several times over, left her feeling wanton. The thought of his touch alone sent her heart racing like a runaway freight train, its tracks moving toward a certain southern junction of her anatomy.

And when she thought of his kiss, she knew that the proverbial brakes on her runaway train couldn't stop the speed with which she fell.

She'd never known addiction, never dallied in the drugs of her time. But his kiss, his taste, left her craving more, an insatiable desire that she knew she could never shake.

And she didn't want to.

She'd never known that being this intimate with Inuyasha would leave her feeling so unbelievably content, yet still desperately wanting more.

The space around them felt warm. Not even the wind seemed able to intrude on the aftermath of their lovemaking. The storm outside raged on, and never in her life had she found herself hoping that it would never subside, that somehow she could remain in Inuyasha's embrace forever. Or that this night would never end.

She felt thoroughly loved, and so endearingly cherished. No kiss they'd ever shared during their brief interludes while the others slept could have prepared her for the heat that seemed to burn her from the inside out, just as his kisses tonight had.

"You smell delicious," Inuyasha murmured, his breath warming the shell of her ear as he rolled her beneath him. "You'll be the death of me if you continue thinking whatever thoughts are calling my body to yours."

Kagome smiled, her fingers rising to trace the jagged amethyst markings beginning to darken on his cheeks.

Again.

"I can't help it," she whispered, her mouth lifting and tilting as his lowered to take her lips in yet another tender kiss.

"I love this place, Inuyasha," she sighed as his lips traced the curve of her jaw, light nips following the gentle slope of her neck to her collarbone.

'Then it's yours,' he promised huskily, his mouth falling to the dip between her breast and the inside edge of her shoulder.

"Ours," she corrected softly, delighted when his head lifted, his reddish gaze studying her, gauging her seriousness. A smile stretched across his mouth, fangs glistening in the dying firelight, and her heart rate tripled.

He looked so deliciously dangerous, so viciously lethal.

And in that moment, Kagome knew that no other being alive could make her feel so sinfully aroused, or so wickedly wanton.

How could she possibly resist the temptation of being so completely ravaged by a demon who wore his love of her so openly in his hellish gaze?

A/N: I hope you like the chapter and the story thus far. I am terribly sorry for the delay in posting. My health took a hard left, a vicious right, then a downward spiral for a few weeks and kept me from the computer as, honestly, I simply feel awful.

But I wanted to post something so I could let you all know that I am still here and still determined to continue writing for as long as you'll have me, lol.

Many, many thanks to those who have read and/or reviewed my stories- even the older ones that are in serious need of an overhaul, lol. Your kindness always brightens my day. Please don't hesitate to let me know your thoughts on any of the stories, no matter how old they are, as I am thrilled to know that both old and new are being read and hopefully enjoyed, lol.

Your reviews and favs brought much-needed smiles to my face on days when I was struggling just to get out of bed and they also gave me something to look forward to. I appreciate each and every single one of you guys more than you could ever know.

Thank you all for being so incredibly awesome in taking the time to read my works and in continuing to support my writing.

HUGS

Neisha