Kagome's immediate response was to turn her back to Sesshoumaru so he couldn't see her face. She felt heat spreading from her cheeks all the way down her neck. Did she want to 'take in his aura again?' Absolutely! But she hadn't expected him to suggest doing it again so soon. She had been sure it was nowhere near as enjoyable for him as it was for her. After all, she was human, and demons like Sesshoumaru weren't exactly known for being the biggest fans of her kind. Maybe he just wanted to get it over with as soon as possible so he could leave her at the village. After bringing Kagome home, he feels responsible and is doing the honorable thing by sticking around. Yes, that had to be the reason.
Without turning around, Kagome nodded yes, and then signed, "Please put a shirt on before coming downstairs." She quickly exited the room, closing the door behind her.
Sesshoumaru watched Kagome leave, noting the embarrassment and nervousness in her scent. Her reaction puzzled him, but he shrugged and retrieved a plain white shirt from the pile of clothes Mrs. Higurashi had provided and pulled it on. Adjusting the fabric, he made his way downstairs.
In the dining room, Kagome joined her family, trying to push the thought of kissing Sesshoumaru again in just a few hours from her mind. Souta signed excitedly about his day to her, and Mrs. Higurashi moved about the kitchen, the smell of dinner wafting through the house.
When Sesshoumaru finally entered the room, Kagome's heart skipped a beat. He looked composed and regal as always, even in just a t-shirt and sweats. He took a seat across from Kagome at the table, and she couldn't help but steal shy glances at him.
The majority of the conversation during the meal was in JSL, and Sesshoumaru found himself preferring this method of communication. Even as a pup, he had never enjoyed speaking with others, but there was something about using his hands instead of his voice that appealed to him. It felt more deliberate, unclouded by false tones.
Souta's hands moved rapidly, his excitement contagious as he finally had someone else to talk to about his day, school, and hobbies. Sesshoumaru watched with interest, patiently waiting until the teen finished before asking follow-up questions or inquiring about a sign he hadn't seen before. Mrs. Higurashi occasionally chimed in to translate, but for the most part, she sat back and enjoyed the lively atmosphere. It was rare these days to see her son so open and talkative, and the sight made her heart soar.
As the meal drew to a close, the warmth of the conversation lingered. Sesshoumaru's presence had brought a new dynamic to their family, one that was welcomed and embraced.
After dinner, as they cleared the table, Mrs. Higurashi pulled Kagome aside. "How are you feeling, sweetheart?"
Kagome smiled. "I'm doing much better, Mom. Thank you."
Her mother's eyes sparkled with relief. "I'm so glad. And Sesshoumaru… he's been a great help, hasn't he?" She signed.
Kagome nodded, glancing over at the demon lord in the living room, looking at all the video games Souta was showing him. "Yes, he has. I don't know what I would have done without him." It was a strange thing to admit.
Mrs. Higurashi gave her daughter a knowing smile and patted her hand. "You two seem very close."
Kagome blushed, but there was no denying the truth in her mother's words. "Yes, we've… grown close."
As the evening drew to a close, Kagome excused herself to her room. She considered changing pajamas, but ultimately decided to just sleep in what she already had on and sat on the edge of her bed. Grabbing mokomoko, buried her hands in it and began to pet the fur while waiting for the demon lord.
When Mrs. Higurashi had finally ushered Souta to bed, Sesshoumaru was left alone in the living room. His hands began to twitch, he was oddly eager to go upstairs to Kagome. Just as he was about to head that way, the older woman returned with a bottle of sake and two cups.
"Join me for a drink," she said, not waiting for him to answer before turning around and heading back into the kitchen.
Sesshoumaru followed her and took a seat across from Mrs. Higurashi at the kitchen table. She poured them a generous amount of the spirit, and they both took a drink, sitting in silence for a moment until she finally broke it.
"Will you be taking Kagome back through the well tomorrow?" she asked, her face remaining neutral, showing no indication of how she felt about it.
"Yes," Sesshoumaru answered with a deep rumble. With her head wound no longer an issue, he saw no reason for them to stay.
Mrs. Higurashi nodded and took another sip of her drink. "And will she go back to traveling with Inuyasha?" This time she did not hide her displeasure. It seemed that every time something terrible happened to Kagome, it was while she was with the half-demon. In the beginning, Mrs. Higurashi had trusted Inuyasha and treated him like family. But over the years his unclothed behavior toward her daughter had not gone unnoticed.
The question caused Sesshoumaru to set his glass down on the table with more force than necessary. "No."
Though he still blamed himself for the centipede attack, Sesshoumaru had no intention of allowing Inuyasha anywhere near Kagome. The half-demon had lost that right the moment he abandoned her after the battle with Naraku.
His answer seemed to please Mrs. Higurashi, who smiled brightly at him. She finished the last of her sake and stood, gathering his empty cup as well. "Good. I can sleep better knowing Kagome has someone to protect her."
She said the words so casually that their impact almost blew past him. No one had ever trusted him to protect anything or anyone before. Rin had been an anomaly, choosing to stay by his side of her own free will. Over the years, he had grown fond of her and ensured she was cared for and had the basic necessities. But for someone to entrust him solely with the well-being of another had never happened before. Even when his late father had asked if he had anyone to protect, back then it had been an easy question to answer. But now…
Mrs. Higurashi's hand on his shoulder pulled him from his thoughts. She gave it a light squeeze before saying, "You are welcome to sleep in my father-in-law's room on the first floor. I set up the spare futon there this morning. He won't be back for another few weeks."
The demon nodded and watched as she headed upstairs to her room opposite Kagome's. He sat for a moment longer, unsure how he felt about the unexpected trust she had placed in him.
Mrs. Higurashi had turned off all the lights except one in the kitchen before going to bed. Still unsure how this 'electricity' worked, Sesshoumaru decided to leave the light on and headed upstairs. He moved silently up the dark staircase and down the hall. The door to Kagome's room was slightly ajar, and the only light source was coming from a lamp on her desk. He pushed the door open and found the priestess sitting on her bed, toying with his demonic pelt. Not wanting to startle her, he sent a small pulse of his power out. It seemed to work because she immediately dropped mokomoko and turned to look at him with wide blue eyes.
This was it, Kagome thought as she watched him enter the room and close the door behind him. She wasn't sure why she felt more nervous than last time.
Sesshoumaru took a seat next to her and gently removed his fur from her lap. He didn't need his superior senses to see that she was tense and nervous. He recalled the strange article he had read that morning, which suggested a few methods to ensure one's partner was relaxed before initiating intimacy.
As he began to lean in closer to her, Kagome stiffened and had to resist backing away. He must have noticed, because he placed a hand behind her head, keeping her still. His face was now only inches from hers, so she squeezed her eyes shut and opened her mouth, expecting his lips to meet hers. But to her surprise, his lips did not touch hers. Instead, they brush along the side of her jaw. Sesshoumaru began to lightly kiss and nip his way down to her neck. The unexpected action was having the intended effect on Kagome. She felt herself relaxing, turning her head slightly to give him better access to the exposed area. With her dark mane braided and out of the way, it was easy for him to explore her neck without any obstacles.
Kagome's breath hitched as Sesshoumaru's lips traveled along her skin, each kiss and bite sending shivers down her spine. The warmth of his breath contrasted with the cool air in the room, creating a tingling sensation that spread throughout her body.
Sesshoumaru's hand moved from behind her head to gently caress her back. He could feel her heartbeat quicken under his fingertips, and it pleased him to know his plan was working. He continued his gentle assault on her neck, savoring the taste of her skin and the way her body responded to him.
When he touched a particularly sensitive spot at the base of her neck near her collarbone, Kagome couldn't suppress the needy whine that formed in the back of her throat. Her reaction made Sesshoumaru linger there, gently sucking the area. In response, she grabbed hold of the front of his shirt and let out a rather loud moan.
He gave her neck one last powerful pull before running his tongue over the spot to soothe the abused flesh. He didn't give Kagome a chance to recover, lifting her small body to straddle his lap and covering her parted lips with his own.
Strong hands held her in place by the neck and hip as Sesshoumaru began to push his power into her. He felt her try to resist and pull away, but he refused to let her flee.
This time, her reiki responded quickly to him, attempting to fight back. She was much stronger now, which was a good sign. But he needed her mind to accept him before her body would yield to his power.
Sesshoumaru stopped the flow of his aura into her and let it surround her body instead. He pulled away from her lips, allowing Kagome to draw in a much-needed breath, and returned to her neck.
A clawed hand traveled down her hip to her bare thigh, reminding Sesshoumaru of the night she had climbed into his lap at his camp, trying to retrieve a book from him. Even then he had found her soft curves pleasing.
Kagome felt like she was drowning. Every part of her was being consumed by the demon lord. The hand on her naked thigh was kneading and caressing while his mouth suckled on her neck. The combination was causing a pleasurable heat to form in her lower belly.
Sesshoumaru's touch was both possessive and tender, his aura wrapping around her like a protective cocoon. His kisses trailed up and down her neck, each one leaving her craving more of his touch.
Kagome's breathing became shallow and rapid as the heat in her belly grew. She felt his strong, steady heartbeat against her hands as they ran up and down his chest.
Sesshoumaru could sense the priestess finally submitting to him, her reiki gradually softening its resistance. His hand on her thigh continued its gentle caresses, the warmth of her skin under his palm had him crooning into her throat. He reveled in the way her body responded to his touch, the way her breath hitched and her muscles tensed and relaxed under his hands and mouth.
His aura pulsed gently around her, a reassuring presence that enveloped her completely. He returned to her lips, kissing her deeply, his tongue eagerly exploring her mouth.
Kagome's body responded in kind, her own energy reaching out to him. The sensation of their auras mingling was like nothing she had ever felt before—intense, intimate, and unbelievably arousing. Her hands slid up to wrap around his neck, pulling him closer as she gave herself over to the moment.
Sesshoumaru's grip on her neck tightened slightly, his fingers digging into her flesh in a way that sent another wave of heat coursing through her. He could feel her surrender, the way her body melted into his, and it ignited something primal within him. He wanted to do more than just kiss her, to feel every inch of her silky soft skin.
His hand slid further up her thigh, the claws grazing her skin just enough to send a thrill of anticipation through her. She arched her back, pressing herself closer to him when he grabbed her rear, giving it a rough squeeze. The combination of her tongue thrusting into her mouth and fingertips slipping under the bottom of her shorts had Kagome involuntarily rocking her hips forward.
As their kiss deepened and her core brushed against his growing bulge. It caused Sesshoumaru to accidentally bite her bottom lip, his fangs breaking the delicate skin. He pulled back instantly, soothing the small wound with his tongue. The taste of her pure blood was intoxicating. He gazed into her dazed ocean eyes, moving his hand from her neck to run his thumb gently over the now sealed cut.
He leaned in again, this time pushing his aura into her with ease and no resistance. Her hands buried themselves into his hair, pulling him closer. Sesshoumaru felt her body begin to droop and weaken in his hold, so he shifted his grip, still supporting her with one hand firmly holding her ass while the other wrapped around her waist. With a fluid motion, he turned them so that she lay flat on the bed, with him hovering over her.
Pulling away slightly, Sesshoumaru found Kagome breathless and struggling to keep her eyes open. Her face was flushed, her lips swollen from their kiss, and a large bruise was forming on her neck. He leaned in and nuzzled the side of her face, starting a purr-like rumble deep in his chest. The soothing sound seemed to resonate through her and he felt her body going limp.
The hand on her rear slowly dragged up the back of her thigh, bringing her leg to rest on his hip. The intimate position only heightened his own desire as he struggled to keep himself under control. Her scent, now mingled with his, was filled with their combined arousal making it difficult to pull away. He was no virgin, but the act of mating was not something he had ever explored recreationally. Being in heat or rut was common among his kind, leading to the need to relieve such urges. It was always seen as a necessity to calm his beast. But at this moment, he was not in rut and the female beneath him was not in heat. Yet, he found himself yearning for more. To feel more of her supple body in his hands, to smell her delicious scent, and taste every inch of her flush skin.
Sesshoumaru allowed himself a moment to simply breathe her in as she began to drift off to sleep. He slowly released his hold on Kagome and lifted her up just enough to pull back the blanket and gently tucked her in under it. Mokomoko was still on the bed, so he spread it across her creating a furry white barrier that added an extra layer of warmth and protection. As the soft, silken texture of his pelt enveloped her, Kagome instinctively snuggled into it, a contented sigh escaping her lips.
Sesshoumaru watched her for a moment longer. She looked so peaceful, so trusting, and it stirred something deep within him. He gently brushed a few stray strands of hair from her face, his fingers trailing down and traced the large bruise forming on her neck.
Once he fully moved away from her, Sesshoumaru sat down on the floor with his back against the bed. He closed his eyes and ran his tongue across his fangs, still tasting the faint trace of her blood. The spiciness of her holy powers mingled with the sweetness of her essence, and he found himself craving more.
Turning his head, Sesshoumaru looked at Kagome, who was now in a deep sleep and snoring gently. The sight of her cuddling his pelt brought a rare smile to his face, calming his urges. The thought of spending the night so far away from her, even in another room, did not sit well with him. At least he had the connection through mokomoko. Turning back around, he settled himself more comfortably on the floor and unconsciously tightened the fur around Kagome.
Fighting to stay awake, Sesshoumaru's mind drifted to what awaited them on the other side of the well. He hoped they would not encounter his half-brother or the slayer before leaving the village. Perhaps the priestess's hearing would return before they met her old companions. Shaking his head to clear these thoughts, he reminded himself that those were worries for tomorrow. For now, he could have a restful sleep knowing Kagome was safe and healing.