Kouga was making a bad habit out of sneaking into Kagome's room at night. She never once turned him away, though. It was in those rare moments when the world slept that Kouga actually found himself making real ground with her. There were no distractions. He didn't have to worry about Sango with her violet tendencies towards him, nor her monstrous troop of little children following him around. He didn't have to worry about Inuyasha's gloomy expression that had the scent of guilt pouring from Kagome.

That guilt was growing less and less as the weeks passed by.

He didn't have to worry about anything but the woman in his arms.

Patience, Kouga told himself. His inner Wolf howled at the knowledge that Kagome was finally in his grasp, ready and willing, but not yet his. Why was she? She should be. TAKE HER. MARK HER. Kouga held himself in check, silently warning his Wolf—slow and steady. If Kagome had been of his Wolf Tribe he would have already laid claim to her body and soul. She wouldn't have had a choice in the matter. She would have learned to accept it. But he didn't want that for Kagome. He wanted her to want him just like she was now. He wanted to hear the single word of omission pass her lips.

Yes.

God's help him, when had he become such a softy?

Would she come live with him in the Mountains with his Pack? Or would she prefer the life of civilization that she now had? Looking at the hut over their heads he could imagine her way of life, but built by his own hands. But he also knew that he would be forever restless if he wasn't in the wilderness. He needed the freedom of the open spaces. The forests, the vast lands and the mountains. The crisp air far above looking down on his lands. He needed to be free—because he was wild. He saw the same wildness in Kagome.

He saw the soul of a fierce warrior. He saw her need for freedom. She was just as wild as he was. Looking down at the pale face snuggled against his bare chest and the dark hair against her cheeks, his arms tightened around her. If that's what Kagome wanted, he would try. He would give her everything the mutt-face couldn't. That and so much more.

She was changing before his very eyes as the days passed. How could she possibly grow any more beautiful? As the days wore on and the secret nights even longer, he couldn't get over the glow of her skin that most pregnant women seemed to carry. He noticed the subtle changes, her visible stomach, the curvier hips, the heavier breasts. She would feed their child there.

Kagome was so small, though. It was obvious she was pregnant and in human terms she would perhaps be considered in the earlier stages. From his experience, most Wolf-Demon pregnancies were far more developed. His nose told him nothing was wrong. Kagome was just...human.

Kouga gave a rough rumble of contentment in his chest and buried his face in her hair, tugging her tighter against his body. He felt her respond in kind, her body waking until she was stretching in his arms. Her back moved against his chest, her sexy little bottom cushioning his groin.

Down, boy. He warned against the warmth that started to grow in that particular area.

She had been fast asleep when he had climbed through the bedroom window, but that hadn't deterred him. He had lifted the covers and slipped in beside her, drawing her back against his chest.

"Mmm..." Her sweet voice reached his ears, muffled from the lingering effects of sleep.

"Mmhm." Kouga agreed.

How did he do that, Kagome had to wonder. Sneaking in without her realizing it. Not that she minded. She liked waking up to the feel of his warm arms surrounding her, holding her so tight. Inuyasha never once crossed her mind for once.

Any other Demonic aura would have woken her instantly, but Kouga's never seemed to register. Oh, she felt him during the day but...maybe she was just too tired at the end of the day to really pay attention. She didn't care. She didn't open her eyes, just relished in the feel of his arms holding her. "I could get used to this." She murmured.

"You can." Kouga's breath teased the skin at the nape of her neck.

She would never have to worry about him running off to someone else. Kouga had never run off to be with anyone else. No matter how many times she scolded him and denied him. Would this really be so bad? Kagome wanted to forget her past. She wanted to move on. But...but what?

She gave another sleepy sigh when one of Kouga's hands drifted down to her stomach, his fingers inching below the hem of her shirt and beneath. He spread his fingers wide over her stomach. She grew still and bit her bottom lip.

"You never let me see you. Why?" He wanted to see every inch of her changing body everyday and it had nothing to do with his sexual want of her. He never would understand the human's modesty. He never did sense fear from Kagome when he touched her abdomen, but he did get a whiff of embarrassment.

"I'm getting fat." Kagome said uneasily and Kouga paused.

Had she really just said that? Did she really think...

Kouga shifted back from Kagome and pulled his arm out from beneath her and then rolled her onto her back. He leaned over her. Why on earth would she think such a thing? "You. Are. Not." He insinuated each word smoothly. "You're even more beautiful now because of the life growing inside you." His hand shifted down over her stomach again, palming the warmth of their unborn child.

Kagome bit her bottom lip again.

Kouga gave a wry grin. "You're even more beautiful when you do that."

"What?"

"This." Kouga said because, well, he saw an opportunity and took it. He leaned down and kissed her.

Kagome melted beneath him, instant and spontaneous, not even trying to evade the press of his lips. But her eyes flew open when she felt the stinging nip of his fangs against her bottom lip. Oh. That.

That nervous habit of hers.

"So I suggest you stop." Kouga lamented, his blue eyes teasing.

Kagome was silent; she was already biting her bottom lip before she realized it. It was so natural a habit that she didn't even realize when she did it. Even when she realized, she couldn't help but prod... "Why?" Her conscious nudged at her. She knew why.

"Because..." Kouga said as he suddenly braced an arm on the pillow above her head and moved the other out from between their bodies. He slowly dropped his body down against hers, careful of his weight against her midsection. His lips curved, a flash of white and fangs peaking out when her hands touched his shoulders. With his body lying against hers, there was no mistaking the hardness pressing between her thighs. "...that's why."

Oh...Oh. That turned him on? That should have angered her, what he was doing. But honestly, they were past that. They were obviously past all of that. There were constant stolen kisses and lingering caresses on Kouga's part. She knew what Kouga wanted in the long run and he never did hide what he wanted. He wanted everything.

He wanted her now? That deep blush darkened her cheeks. "I'm pregnant." As if that wasn't obvious enough.

"And?"

And? "I'm pregnant." Kagome stressed—why did she find that 'and' a little too hot? Would he really...

"So?" Kouga gave a soft laugh. The pure innocence and naive way in which she stared up at him warmed his heart. "Kagome..." The birds were coming to life outside, signaling the morning but he'd be damned if he left just yet. "I have a lot to teach you." Her blush before was nothing compared to the one that covered her all the way down to her shoulders.

His silly little Mate...if only she knew the things they could still do...the thoughts didn't help the throbbing between his thighs. If anything it worsened.

When he took her he didn't want anything between them. No blackmail, no drunken nights that blurred his memory. He wanted just the two of them. As much as he wanted that right now, he had no intentions of following through on the pulsing rhythm between his thighs. But Kagome was making that very difficult when she kept biting her bottom lip like that...

He knew it wasn't on purpose, but still.

He leaned down and kissed her again. For both their sakes she really shouldn't kiss him back. But she did. Her soft sigh was lost against his lips and he settled over her more fully. His palm disappeared fully under the hem of her shirt and began to push the material up to her ribcage. The thought came again, she was so small to be at her stage in Demon pregnancy. Humans were strange creatures. "You don't have to be ashamed of your body. This is natural. I'd love you regardless."

I'd love you regardless.

Kagome's heart went into overtime at the confession. Did he even realize what he'd just said. He loved her. Kouga had never been shy in his emotions...but he said it. She watched as he braced his arms and then slowly pushed to his knees. His eyes followed the movement, moving down to where her stomach was bared. Kagome didn't move.

How could she think she was anything but beautiful? Kouga cupped the smooth roundness of her barely discernible stomach and then leaned down and kissed the center right above her belly button. "I love seeing you like this, don't you understand? Knowing you're carrying my pup." If he could have his way, he would keep Kagome like this. They would have a never ending brood of pups to keep his line going. Kagome might not ever leave the bedroom, but Kouga didn't have a problem with that. He was sure that Kagome wouldn't, either.

Kagome leaned up on her elbows to watch his dark head bent over her rounded stomach. The sight of that did something to her. The sight of both dark hands holding her stomach from either side—cherishing her. Cherishing the life they had created.

You don't have to stop. She remembered saying those words to him when he had climbed through her window and things had gotten a little too out of control with them. She knew he hadn't wanted to stop. But he had for her. It was like a slow seduction playing before her eyes with words and with his body. Kouga was saying and doing all the right things, but denying himself the most ultimate.

Why was it so hard to just give him what he wanted? He would most certainly make it worth her while. She would never have to wonder or doubt. Why?

Heartache was a bitch.

Kouga's fingers gliding up and down her right calf suddenly drew her attention and a shiver raced down her spine. Up and down, up and down. His long tan fingers circled her ankle and she watched in silence as his body shifted lower on the bed, his shoulders between her thighs. He turned his head and nudged his nose at the material of her shorts and then bit her inner thigh.

Kagome gasped.

Really, did she expect him not to make a move when he was in bed with her? Foolish Mate, his Wolf rumbled in satisfaction. Kouga and his inner Wolf both knew this woman was hurting. His woman ached from something she should never have experienced and he was going to have to pick up the pieces. He was more than willing. He was going to win her over one way or the other.

Kagome gasped again as she felt the stinging suction of Kouga's mouth against her delicate skin. Lord, what was he doing...it sent a hot little thrill through her. That turned into a brief piercing pain when she felt him BITE her. His canines broke the surface and she felt him latch, sucking hard at her thigh. She felt him release her and then his tongue sweeping over the bruised surface, catching the slow roll of blood. It didn't even occur to her to be disgusted by the sight.

Kouga stared down at the bruised flesh and the canine punctures and then looked up at Kagome with burning eyes and a leering grin. "I can't leave my Mark on you the way I want, but I will leave you with this." It would heal, much to his disappointment, but at least she would carry it for a while.

Kagome stared, the temperature in her body rising. FUCK.

His nostrils flared and his grin widened, though his eyes lacked any form of amusement. There was only burning heat in the depth of his blue eyes. His eyes locked with hers as he fisted his clawed hands in the material of shorts and tugged. Her chest rose in uneven breathes as she watched. She couldn't say a damn thing. What was he doing? The material slid over her hips, lower over her thighs and she gulped.

Pale morning light was just beginning to flood past the windowsill, but Kagome was still grateful for the semi darkness that still engulfed most of the room.

As if Kouga couldn't see a damn thing.

"Kouga—" Kagome whispered.

Knock knock. The familiar sound of Sango's knuckles rapped against the door. "Kagome?" Kagome had long since started locking the door since Kouga had started his nightly visits. She tensed at the sudden intrusion. And then gasped when Kouga gripped the back of her thighs and pushed her legs upward and dove between. He licked her. She fell back against the pillows, her eyes growing wide as her gasp filled the room. "Whatareyou—" Kagome's words blurred together and then she gave a soft cry when Kouga thrust his tongue inside her.

Another knock and Kouga's mouth opened wider, his tongue tasting every inch of her. He never let go of the back of her thighs. He growled against her and her thighs clenched against his hands. God help her. And then just as suddenly as he had started, he stopped. He peeled himself away from her and readjusted her shorts back up over her hips as his tongue slid over his damp lips.

His grin wicked, obvious erection and all, he swung a leg over the windowsill and started to climb out. "See you in a few." Kouga said with a wink and then disappeared from sight.

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