Maybe it was a good thing time flowed differently here. She could focus more on him instead of how much of it was passing without either of them leaving the bed.
He'd taken her invitation seriously, only allowing her enough rest to reset her system before he was pulling her beneath him, or above him, or some other position that had her toes curling and body arching.
It almost felt like he craved her as much as she did him.
Every time she whispered his name, his power would pulse, and Kagome had to admit, at least to herself, that she did it on purpose. There had been so little of it when she first arrived, the dead plants creeping along the outside of the castle proving how long it had been since power had flowed through their roots.
There were sure to have been other ways to recharge him, but she was selfish enough to want a piece of him for herself. If only for a moment. She tried to turn on her side, but his arm was clamped firmly around her waist, keeping her from moving more than an inch away, and she hummed softly, settling back against him.
"You were told that you would not be able to escape," he said, placing a kiss between her shoulder blades. The hand spanned wide on her stomach, drawing slow circles on her skin.
"I wasn't trying to, Your Highness."
"A likely story." His tone was teasing, as hers had been, and she tilted her head slightly, showing off more of her neck. It seemed to be his favourite part of her, though only just with how much his hands roamed the rest of her body.
"I'm honestly not sure if my legs even work," she admitted, glancing down as she flexed her toes. "You might've broken me."
His lips brushed the nape of her neck. "Then I will fix you."
"I'm sure you will," she muttered. His hand dipped lower, sliding along her thigh as he pulled them apart. She was already so accustomed to his touch, giving him free rein as she snaked an arm up and around his neck to brace herself.
He slid between her folds. Once. Twice. Then he was inside her again, a moan escaping as she spread her legs wider. Turning her head, she caught his mouth mid-thrust, enjoying how her submission had him hesitating.
His dominance was a given—she had the scratch marks to prove it—but every time she gave in within a fight, he seemed to question her motives, uncertainty swirling within amber depths a moment before they turned crimson.
She liked those moments best.
The beast was closest to the surface then, claws and fangs pricking skin. Even now, they dug into her thighs as she clenched around him, and she covered his hand with her own, encouraging him to keep going.
Hips bucked, and he started thrusting again. "I will never get my fill of you," he growled.
"I don't want you to." The heat built quickly, just as it had before, and soon they were both gasping, teetering on the edge of release. He hooked an arm under her leg, lifting it high for a better angle, and Kagome cried out, nails digging into the back of his neck.
It never ceased to amaze her how many ways he could send her over the edge. She couldn't be sure if he preferred the build-up or the release, as his hands were no less idle, but maybe it was just her reaction to him that he enjoyed.
She certainly enjoyed his.
"You feel so good," she crooned, needing more friction. "You always know where to touch me."
His pelvis slapped against her ass. "That will happen when one dreams about you as many times as I have," he whispered.
She used her grip on his neck to press back against him, rolling her entire body. "I've dreamt about you too. Though they were never as vivid as this." Her dreams had never even come close, but her teenage defiance and the fact that she'd been convinced her entire adventure was made up were likely the cause.
She could feel him holding back again, and she sent a tendril of reiki up his spine. It was enough to remind him of the task at hand, and he slammed into her, youki delving between her breasts and adding to the already intense heat from how wide he'd spread her.
His name on her lips was his undoing, as she knew it would be, and she revelled in the power she had over him. It wasn't much, at least not right now, but it was enough.
Their breathing soon slowed, and she knew there would be a few minutes before his head cleared, so she twisted in his arms as best she could, kissing him soundly. He was still shuddering behind her, inside her, and the kiss only prolonged it. She'd do it any way she could, but all too soon, he was pulling away.
"How is it you have evaded me for so long, yet now refuse to leave my side?" He sounded truly curious, and it pained her to think about how long he'd been a victim of the spell he was under.
"You finally caught me," she hedged. "There's no point in escaping now."
His eyes narrowed, and he forced her onto her back, no less intimidating without clothes. "You are different than before."
"Is that a bad thing?" she asked. Now she was curious, wondering just how much she'd changed since he'd last seen her—truly seen her.
He loomed over her, brushing her hair away from her face. She tried to catch his hand, but he pinned her with an intense stare. Something in her shifted, and she knew submission wasn't the answer. Not this time.
She raised her chin, staring back, unblinking. She knew he wanted her—their activities for the past however long proved that—but now she had to convince him that there was more to it than sexual attraction.
As potent as that was.
She flushed under his scrutiny but kept their gazes locked, unwilling to let this opportunity pass her by. Steeling her nerves for any possible rejection, she reached up with one hand, cupping his jaw. "It's me. I'm really here."
His eyes narrowed. "They all say that."
"Look at me, Sesshoumaru," she urged. "You know it's me." She released the seal on her power again, letting him into the core of her, and she watched as his pupils dilated. "None of the others let you get this close. None of them were this vivid. This real." She sat up, and he didn't back away this time. "None of them looked like me."
His hand was hesitant as he cupped her cheek, eyes searching. She leaned into the touch, covering his fingers with her own. Her gaze never wavered, breath hitching as he leaned closer. She remained still for his inspection, power lingering on the outskirts of his aura if he tried to escape.
Kagome couldn't contain her snort at that thought. She'd been the one trying to escape since she got here. How the tables had turned.
"Do I amuse you?" he asked, his other hand grabbing a fistful of her hair. He loomed over her, forcing her head to bend back so she could meet his gaze.
"You do a lot of things," she admitted. "Amuse, aggravate, abandon." His expression gave nothing away, but she could feel the potency of his displeasure. The electricity singed her senses, and she watched as amber eyes widened in surprise before her hand found the stripes on his hip. "Arouse."
Power surged and she found herself on her back once more, lethal claws around her neck. "You do not fear me."
Kagome shook her head. "Never."
"Why?" Fingers tensed against her skin as he wrestled with his confusion, and she stroked the marks on his wrist.
"You never gave me a reason to."
His aura darkened. "I gave you every reason to."
She shook her head, pressing on his arm to force him to come closer. "You never wanted me to fear you, Sesshoumaru. Even in the beginning." There had been surprise when he'd first shown up in her bedroom after wishing Souta away, but even being forced into the bowels of Meikyuu had never stirred anything but determination within her chest.
She reached up with her spare hand, running her fingers through his hair before purposely stroking the crest of his ears. There was a soft rumble from his chest, and the edge of her mouth quirked.
"You refused all of my gifts," he said, eyes fluttering closed.
"I'm not supposed to accept anything from you," she reminded him.
"You are not meant to boast, either. Yet you did so at every encounter." He'd finally relaxed, settling between her thighs as she continued to comb his hair.
"I was fifteen. All teenagers are full of piss and vinegar at that age. We think the world revolves around us."
He hadn't released her neck, thumb stroking a pulse point. "And now?" He rocked his hips against her, eliciting a gasp before she arched off the bed.
"Now?" she asked, mind spinning.
He leaned closer, tongue dragging along her collarbone. "What are you full of now?"
Kagome shuddered, body rolling as she tried to chase the friction. "Depends on what you're offering." She struggled to stay coherent, wanting an honest answer, but his hips surged forward, locking their bodies together. She cried out, nails digging into the sheets as she adjusted to the intrusion.
She should've been used to it by now, but every time felt different; scents and sensations shifted with each wave of power, curling her toes and heating her blood. There was a fleeting thought of biting off more than she could chew, but her hands had a mind of their own, already reaching for him and pulling him down.
She'd been worried he'd only be interested in the more carnal acts, but he was just as obsessed with touching her as she was with him. Already panting, it didn't take much before their tongues were as tangled as their limbs, moans interrupted between nips and bites.
Her fingers found the stripes on his shoulders—a new set since their confrontation a decade prior—and she dragged her nails down to the magenta tips, pulling away with a gasp as he swelled within her.
The added pressure had her careening over the edge, muscles clamping down as his name was ripped from her mouth. Youki rose to suppress her, but her instincts were as honed as is, reiki sparking in tandem.
The resulting shockwave had him shuddering, claws lengthening before tearing through the sheets. He tried to pull away, to keep her from danger, but Kagome's hold only tightened, her power mimicking his until they couldn't tell where one ended and the other began. Scents were stronger, colours were brighter, and she was forced to close her eyes to block out the light.
She focused on the sound of his ragged breathing, air wafting past her ear as he came down from the high. Her legs were definitely numb now. And yet, she was reluctant to release him. His uncertainty had taken root in her heart, and she wouldn't survive if he looked at her with that deadpan, unknowing expression he'd had when she first arrived.
She must have whimpered when he attempted to adjust their position because he chuckled in her ear, one arm snaking under her as he turned on his side. She ended up sprawled across his chest, his face still buried in her hair, legs intertwined.
"Sesshoumaru—"
A growl cut her off, claws digging into her hip. "Desist in using that name."
Her heart clenched in panic. "You gave it to me. Freely," she argued.
His scoff ruffled her bangs, and he leaned back against his pelt. "Something I am regretting."
She sat up enough to meet his gaze, trepidation souring her aura until she saw his soft expression. He'd never looked at her like that before. "Why?" she breathed.
"There is power in names, Kagome." His lips quirked at her involuntary shiver. "I am unable to concentrate when you use mine." The relief that shot through her at his admission had laughter bubbling over, and she kissed him soundly. It was slow and deliberate, much unlike the rush of need that had gripped them since the night prior, but it had heat building all the same. "You require rest," he said, tucking her head under his chin.
"We both do," she replied, not giving him an inch. He had to stay close. She had to keep him close. Their proximity, sexual or otherwise, was the key to breaking the spell that had been placed on him.
He sighed softly, and she tensed in preparation for the incoming fight, but he simply wrapped his pelt around her, shielding her from the elements. "You always were a demanding creature."
"I learn from the best," she said, tilting her head enough to kiss the underside of his chin. Amber eyes narrowed, but his skeptical expression was washed away when her lips met the mark on his brow. His arm tightened around her waist, and she finally settled against him. "Stay with me," she pleaded, uncaring of how desperate she sounded. She'd reclaim her pride tomorrow. For now, she needed him close.
Secure.
Safe.
"You are fortunate I enjoy your company so much," he huffed.
More laughter escaped. "Do you?"
"For now." Their power continued to mingle, but it was more like a protective cocoon, keeping them from being disturbed by the outside world. "See that my opinion does not change."
Kagome smiled against his chest, finally allowing sleep to claim her. "Yes, Your Highness."