"I was worried about you," she reminded him. "You hadn't been to the den because of your meeting up north, so I figured I'd save you the trip."
"And you missed me," he said, fangs flashing as he backed her up against the bed.
"A little." Her chin rose in defiance, knowing precisely what he was trying to do and unwilling to be the only one to reveal their secrets.
"Enough to climb into my bed without an invitation."
She reached up, tracing the marks on his face. "Did I need one?"
Sesshoumaru leaned into the touch, then caught her wrist, placing a kiss against her pulse. "No."
She shivered. "That's a relief. It would be kind of weird to ask you every night."
"But you would."
"I would." Only the hand on her hip kept her from falling onto the bed, and she wrinkled her nose. "I told you; the other room smelled wrong."
"Because you wish to claim me."
"No. It's because—what?" She gave him a startled look as he released her, not giving her the chance to catch herself as she fell onto the bed.
He knelt between her legs, hands on either side of her, silver hair falling over one shoulder like a curtain. "Scent is one of the first signs of a youkai's preference in a mate. The other room displeases you because I have never been in it."
Apprehension mixed with anticipation as she looked up at him, desire pooling low in her stomach. She hadn't been able to get this very image out of her head, but helping him sleep had been the last thing on her mind.