It wasn't the worst thing he could've done; a simple no would've left her pride intact and allowed her to keep the offer to herself. If he'd laughed—Kagome winced at the thought. Sesshoumaru wasn't known for wearing his emotions on his sleeve, even after 500 years, but if he'd been the same person from back then, it would've been the best way to get under her skin.

Instead, his gaze had travelled over her body, slowly enough to leave her squirming, before leaning in close, his breath wafting past her ear as he told her they'd have to wait until the party died down before disappearing, lest their hosts discover their absence.

She'd nodded numbly, almost sagging in relief as he'd gone back to his punch, and she'd told him to find her when he was ready to leave.

He'd continued to watch her throughout the evening, smirking over the rim of his glass, and it had soon become a game, each one waiting to see which of them would look away first. She'd lost the first few rounds, not knowing how to deal with Sesshoumaru staring at her, but the fact that he was boosted her confidence, and there'd been crimson specks in his eyes by the time he'd dragged her out the front door.

She'd been captivated by his desperation, unable to keep his hands to himself even as they rode the elevator up to her apartment, and she wasn't sure if her clothes were still in one piece. But she'd given as much he had, anticipation gnawing at her and leaving her dizzy as she'd let him through the doorway.

She hadn't even had the chance to apologize for the mess. All she could remember was the way he'd pinned her against the wall, how his fangs had dragged over her skin with each sound she made, and she'd never been so glad that he didn't have to hide behind the concealment of a glamour.

She'd been free to explore each stripe—and he had a lot more than she'd originally thought. Simple fascination had bloomed into something much more potent as the night wore on, and as she finally poked her head out from under the blankets, she started to wonder how she'd be able to face him.

Stretching again, she flushed as parts of her body ached, then sighed. At least he'd made a lasting impression, even if it had only been one time. Her curiosity was now satiated so that she could get on with—

Kagome frowned at the soft buzzing sound coming from her bathroom, straining to figure out where it was coming from. She was pretty sure her phone was still in the purse she'd brought to Kouga and Sango's, and it was too constant to be her ringer, anyway. It suddenly stopped, and she dove back under the blankets as realization dawned.

Sesshoumaru was still here.