Subtle understanding seeped into her eyes, hands still gripping his arms, but there was also insecurity—and the need for reassurance. "Why would it do that?" she whispered, licking her lips.

"Because it knew there would be no safer place for you," he replied. He brushed her hair away from her face, the back of his claws sliding through the tangled curls. "If the threat had followed, I would have gladly laid down my life to protect you."

"Why?" He gave her a pointed look, and she flushed darkly, beating at his chest. "You've never said anything! Never given me any clues you felt that way!"

"I thought you were tied to my brother. Would you have said anything if the roles had been reversed and I had been the one betrothed to your kin?"

She pursed her lips. "I mean, I basically told Inuyasha I'd stay with him even when he was running after Kikyou, so maybe?"

Sesshoumaru snorted. "Then you are a braver creature than I." They shared a chuckle, her hands flattening on his chest as she steadied herself.

"Is that the only reason you've been avoiding me while I've been here?" she asked.

"I was worried spending too much time in your presence would give something away." His lips tightened into a straight line. "Or that I may do something foolish."

"Like?" That unfamiliar tension continued to rise, and Sesshoumaru suddenly realized she still hadn't pulled away.

"You wish for a list?"

Her fingers traced the stripes on his hips, her cheeks turning a similar colour. "I'd rather you show me."

His body was already painfully erect from her proximity, the tautness only made worse by her tentative touch. "Why?" His voice was guttural, and he was rewarded with a shiver.

"Because I was sent to you," she replied. "Clearly, my power knew something I didn't—or hadn't admitted to. Yet."

Yet. Such a wonderful word. Full of potential and possibilities.

He ran his fingers through her hair again, tugging on the dark strands to tilt her head back as her tongue flicked out along her bottom lip. He followed it with his eyes, cupping her jaw as he pulled her closer. But it was the miko that closed the distance, going up on tiptoe to press their lips together.

As he knew it would, one taste was not enough, tongues tangling as he took his fill. A low growl vibrated in his chest as she buried her hands in his hair, nails dragging across his scalp.

Her name came out as a gasp, and he watched as her eyes darkened to indigo, the scent of her arousal making his head spin. "You should call me that more often," she whispered, pulling him down before he could form a coherent thought.

One hand travelled down his chest, wrapping around him through his pants, and Sesshoumaru's legs went out from under him, leaving them in a tangled mess on the damp sand.

He pulled back to protest, though instincts couldn't understand why, but his haori had slipped from her shoulders, showing off creamy skin, and as her fingers wrapped around him again, he leaned forward, nuzzling her clavicle.

"You're not going to stop me, are you?" she asked, already breathless.

"I would sooner die," he whispered against her skin, hips jerking when she squeezed him.

"Then touch me more." The plea was soft and needy, pulling him out of his desperate fog as she traced the twin stripes on either side of his length.

He shuddered, claws digging into her hips. "Kagome—"

"Please."

Gold bled crimson, and he yanked his haori down to reveal more of her body, one hand cupping a breast as he bit off two of his claws. Silk had bunched around her hips, and he delved between the folds, teasing sensitive flesh before sliding a finger inside her.

She arched, muscles clenching around the intrusion, and she rested her head on his shoulder, pumping him firmly. A second finger soon joined, pressing firmly against a particular spot that had her moaning in his ear.

The only sound was the waves behind them and their heavy breathing, their mouths finding each other as she slid forward, nudging his hand out of the way. Sesshoumaru hissed as her core slid along his length, one hand gripping her hip as the other dug into the sand.

"Kagome—" He jerked as she shifted again. "Let us go inside."

She shook her head. "That'll take too long." Digging her toes into the sand, she raised herself up, face flushed as they watched his head disappear inside her. Sesshoumaru's eyes nearly rolled back in his head as she adjusted, then slid down the rest of the way.

All the air left his lungs as he met her gaze, and she offered him a warm smile, then cupped his face. Whimpering as her lips moulded to his, he thrust up, swallowing her gasp as he did it again. He leaned back, taking her with him to give them more space, finding a steady rhythm as the coil in his stomach tightened.

Her nails dug into his shoulders before she pulled back, his haori slung around her elbows as her hands flattened on his chest, and she pushed down into each thrust. Dark curls bounced around her shoulders as she moaned, muscles clenching every time she moved up.

She was a vision, sunlight encircling her head like a halo as she tossed it back in pleasure. "You feel so good," she moaned, slamming her hips down harder. He would've told her the same if he could form words, but the fever reached its pitch, and he grabbed her, holding her still as he thrust up.

The sound of his name was his undoing, her arms wrapped around his neck as fire consumed them both, waves of pleasure matching the veracity of those crashing upon the shore. Chests heaving, Sesshoumaru nuzzled her neck, refusing to release her for even a moment at the risk of it being a dream, but she sighed contently, doing the same to his temple before placing a kiss to the moon on his brow.

"You can't ignore me now."