Burn For Me by Sereia

Chapter 1

Prompts: Happy Anniversary, first kiss, "burn for me", "are you blushing?", sleep intimacy, secret surprises, comfort/care, mated bliss

..::**::..

Kagome picked at the remainder of their picnic; most of the sweets had been devoured before the seal on the sake had even been broken. Inuyasha had learned to hold his liquor, but she was glad Kouga was there to reign him in when necessary.

Especially when he started singing.

"Dog-breath, I love ya, but you can't sing worth shit," he said, shoving a piece of fish into his mouth to drown him out. Kagome chuckled, giving him a grateful smile, then subtly moved the sake out of reach.

"Keh! Not like we're doing anything else worthwhile," Inuyasha groused.

"We're celebrating," Sango admonished, tugging softly on his ear. "Don't be an ass."

"That's like telling him not to breathe," Kouga grinned.

"Oi! I ain't going to stay if yer just gonna insult me—" Both Sango and Kouga silenced him with a kiss on either cheek, leaving him a blubbering mess as his face turned red.

"Works every time," Miroku mused, tapping his cup against Kagome's.

"And yet it never gets old." She'd missed so much in the three years she'd been gone, using the six after that to re-establish what she'd lost. Inuyasha had found solace in Kouga, allowing the wolf prince to drag him out on pack hunts to take his mind off their missing friend.

But it hadn't been until Sango had joined that they'd realized just how ignorant they'd been in their attraction to each other. Inuyasha was all bluster, but he was loyal to a fault, going up against anyone who gave Sango a sideways look—including Kouga.

It had started innocuous enough; Inuyasha began defending her every chance he got once she'd decided to join their hunts as a change of pace from rebuilding the slayer village, and Kouga had seen the opportunity to play match-maker, not realizing until the last minute that they reason he was so put off by Inuyasha's behaviour was due to full-blown jealousy.

Sango hadn't put up with any of it and quickly put them both in their place. She'd forced them into close contact, surprising everyone by seducing them as she did so, leaving them to trail after her when she'd claimed it a one-time affair.

Kagome knew better. She could sense the love between them—they weren't fooling anyone with their not-so-subtle glances at each other—and though she wasn't jealous of their choice in partners, she still longed for the companionship.

But that was a whole other story.

How they'd roped Sesshoumaru into joining them in the first place was beyond her. She should've known, considering Rin had shown up. It was around the time when Sesshoumaru checked in with her, though Kagome assumed he'd just hand over his usual gift and then leave. But it seemed Rin had more pull with him than any of them thought, as he'd agreed to stay after only a few whispered pleas.

He hadn't touched any of the food but eventually relented when Kagome offered him some of the sake, claiming it was a youkai blend. She'd wanted something special for the occasion. It wasn't a significant anniversary, but it had been a while since she'd splurged on anything for herself, and the merchant had sworn the taste would be long-lasting.

"We should play a game!" Shippou said, making her jump. Rin immediately agreed, going through a list of possibilities, the group eventually settling on hide and seek. Inuyasha had tried to argue, claiming it was child's play, but Sango leaned closer and whispered in his ear, a dark blush spilling onto his cheeks.

"Imma hold you to that, wench." It sounded like more of a pet name than an insult with how he'd said it, and Sango blew him a kiss.

"Since the celebration is for Kagome, she should be it," Miroku announced. Everyone agreed, and they quickly scattered, Kagome shaking her head as she covered her eyes. She counted slowly, wanting to give them enough time to find a hiding place.

"I do not see the point in this game," Sesshoumaru said. She shouldn't have been surprised that he hadn't moved, but she shivered at the proximity nonetheless.

"It's just for fun," she replied, calling out the final numbers.

"It seems like they are having more fun than you. You were not given the choice in your role in it."

Kagome shrugged. "Someone has to be it. Besides, I like having everyone here to celebrate." She pulled her hands away, her smile only widening at his raised eyebrow. "It's been six years since I—"

"I am well aware of how long it has been since you returned, miko." Something in the way he said it had her pausing, lingering, instead of going after the others. "Though I question their ability to track time. I had thought it an active human pastime."

A frown furrowed her brow, and she completely forgot about the game. "What do you mean?"

He took a long sip from his cup, eyes on the sleek porcelain instead of her. "If you truly measure the moon cycles in years, then the actual anniversary of your return was three days prior." Silence settled between them as she stared, trying to make sense of what he'd just said.

He sounded so sure, so logical, but it made no sense. How would he know something like that unless he was keeping track of it?

Apprehension crawled up her spine, a single seed of hope taking root in her heart, but she couldn't form the words, licking her lips as she continued to stare at him. In the end, he slowly rose to his feet, pale silks barely ruffling even though he'd forgone his armour.

"I wish you luck in finding your prey, miko," he said, still refusing to meet her gaze. "Tell Rin that I—" Kagome shot to her feet and grabbed his hand, darting a quick look toward where her friends had run off, then dragged him in the opposite direction.

She couldn't let this go.

Not now. Not when it was burning so close to the surface.

She half expected him to argue or pull away from her, but the silence continued as she pulled him into the trees, trying to put as much distance—and foliage—between them and everyone else.

"How do you know how long I've been back?" she asked, finally finding her voice. His hand was still in hers, but they'd stopped moving, her chest heaving slightly.

"It is inconsequential—"

"No, it's not!" she said, whirling around. "It's very consequential!" If he'd been counting the days since she'd come back through the well, then it could mean everything. The slight intrigue from when he'd first arrived washed away, leaving him a blank slate, and Kagome's heart twisted painfully as regret saturated her aura.

This was why she'd never said anything—why she'd kept their interactions to passing moments in the village.

Why she'd never let herself hope.

Swallowing heavily, she released his hand. "Sorry, I misunderstood. I thought that maybe—" She shook her head, then bowed slightly. "Nevermind. I'm glad you stopped by today. Thank you for joining our little celebration before returning to your duties." She tried to make her feet move, but they remained rooted to the ground, so she silently pleaded he would just turn around and leave.

When he didn't, the silence became too much, and she let out a forced laugh. "I mean, if you wanted to spend time with me, all you had to do was ask." There, that would do it. He'd scoff and then blow her off, and they could go back to what they'd been before.

Nothing.

Gritting her teeth, she raised her head, steeling herself for his reaction, her eyes widening in shock as colour dusted the tips of his ears. "Are you blushing?" she blurted, almost kicking herself for being so blatant.

Her hands reached out and grabbed the sleeves of his haori, refusing to let him escape until he'd actually dismissed her. There was no sneer, no brandishing of claws, not even a brush off, and Kagome stood her ground, raising her chin even as her knees threatened to buckle.

His gaze was blank but unblinking, and she once again tried for levity. "If you don't say anything, I will kiss you." How many times could she push him before he retaliated?

The mask cracked, and her heart skipped a beat as his eyes slid to her mouth. "You would dare try as such?"

"Only because you haven't yet," she challenged, fisting his collar and pulling him closer. "And because you're still here."

"You are the one holding onto my person, miko."

"Kagome," she said. It was an automatic response, one she'd repeated a million times to anyone who'd referred to her by station, but she'd refused to do it with him, keeping up that one final barrier to secure the safety of her heart—and her sanity.

He met her gaze once more, the electricity between them only growing. "Kagome."

She visibly shuddered, then pulled him the rest of the way down, claiming his mouth as her arms slid around his neck. His growl reverberated through her entire body a moment before he pinned her to the nearest tree. Kagome slanted her head, teasing his bottom lip, then moaning as the taste of winter storms and temptation exploded on her tongue.

She'd dreamed of this, yearned for it, but had long given up on it ever happening, and her head spun, their bodies pressed together in all the right places. She pulled back for air, his name leaving her lips in a heated gasp before he claimed them again, plundering deeply as her hands sunk into his hair.

He yanked her off the ground, and Kagome willingly wrapped her legs around his waist, putting his thick arousal exactly where she wanted it. There were still too many layers in the way, but she was more concerned with how he was still a willing participant.

Uncaring of their location, she ground against him, moaning at the friction when he returned the favour. Tearing his mouth away only to bury his face in the crook of her neck, he growled again. "If you do not tell me to stop—"

"Don't you dare," she said, thighs clenching against his hips. "If you don't keep going, I'll hunt you down myself." It must've been the right thing to say as his hands delved under her kimono, deadly claws slicing through her underwear.

"I would relish the chase," he murmured, "but I would not last that long."

"Me neither." She rolled her body against him to emphasize her point, trying to find that delicious friction again. "I want you. I've always wanted you—" Fangs grazed her skin, biting down hard enough that stars burst behind her eyes, and she bucked, the coil inside her tightening dangerously.

Youki spiked, curling around her ankles before sliding under her clothes. Gasping, Kagome arched again, the tendrils teasing the underside of her breasts. The touch was warm and unyielding, leading her closer and closer to a precipice she'd only ever dreamed of being on, the silk of her kimono rasping against the hardened peaks of her nipples.

"Sesshoumaru—please—" His tongue swirled over the indentations of his teeth before yanking open the folds of her kimono, somehow resisting the urge to cut her bra off and shoving it out of the way instead.

His mouth latched onto a breast, not giving her a moment's reprieve as he sucked hard, her body nearly bowing against the tree. She gripped his hair, pushing against his face as she cried out. His tongue swirled as electricity shot through her, and Kagome could barely think straight, focusing on the sensations instead of coherent thought.

There would be time for that later.

He released her breast only long enough to bite off two of his claws, immediately latching onto the other as he found her slick folds and plunged his fingers inside. The intrusion sent Kagome careening over the edge, inner walls clamping down on him as her head fell back against the tree.

He was so close, yet not close enough, fingers pumping into her as she tried to catch her breath. "Sesshoumaru—"

"It is not nearly enough," he said, thumb brushing over the bundle of nerves at the top of her opening, the heat already building again. She shook her head, trying to agree but unable to form words as he worked her toward another climax.

It would never be enough.

Biting her lip, she reached between them, finding his erection through his clothes and gripping him firmly. The hiccup in his movements told her he was just as affected, and she tried to find the opening, wanting to feel him.

"Please," she whispered, pulling desperately at the silk as he pressed his thumb into her clit. "I need you inside me."

She felt his control snap.

A snarl echoed in her ears as he yanked his fingers out of her, the fabric of his haori barely parting before his cock sprang free, heated flesh sliding along her opening and causing her to cry out. Pupils dilating, she gripped him firmly, coating him in her arousal before watching as the head disappeared inside her.

She nearly climaxed on the spot.

"I love you," she whispered, close enough to feel the shudder that wracked his body.

"How long I have waited to hear those words," he said, voice muffled against the crook of her neck. Tilting his head back with her free hand, she kissed him thoroughly, slowly releasing his cock as he sank into her. The pressure was immense, stretching her to the limits, but she took every inch, walls clenching tightly around him.

He stayed like that, keeping his hips still as she adjusted, all the while entangling their tongues, allowing the heat to simmer and build. It nearly drove her insane, his claws biting into her thighs to keep her from moving.

Sensing her distress, he pulled back enough to meet her gaze, her retort dying at the sight of crimson-tinged gold. "Once will not be enough, Kagome. Allow your body the time it needs so that we can prolong this encounter."

"It wouldn't need to if you'd said something earlier," she pouted, sucking in a deep breath as she forced herself to relax.

"I will accept all the blame," he replied, stroking her hips. "But you must do something for me first." The request was barely more than a rumble, the gold in his eyes almost completely gone as her muscles finally yielded, Sesshoumaru bottoming out inside her.

"Anything," she whispered, heart hammering in her chest at the thought of what was to come next.

"Burn for me." And then he was thrusting, hips slamming against hers each time, and Kagome lost all train of thought. She'd likely have fallen to the ground had she been standing and was grateful for his firm grip, uncaring that the tree bark was digging into her back.

She didn't care about anything except for him, every touch pushing her closer to the edge. And she went willingly, unable to do anything but. She tried to roll her body against his, but he only pinned her harder, slamming into her as he let out a warning growl.

Kagome was unrepentant, wrenching the collar of his haori apart so she could explore the expanse of his chest. If he was going to take his fill, so was she. Slashes of magenta caught her eye, raising high over his hips, and she let reiki pool around her fingers, tracing the marks with her power.

His hips snapped forward as he gasped, eyes blazing. "Do you have any idea—"

"I know exactly what I'm doing," she said, lifting her chin. "And you started it." She did it again, dragging her nails down his chest, the same sensation sliding along the stripes on his hips, his wrists, his—

Pain shot through her as his fangs sank into her neck, lights flashing in front of her eyes as reiki exploded, reaching out for his youki in a calculated dance. Their powers intertwined, mingling until there was no difference, no end, between them, leaving her warm and tingly and spent.

"Sesshoumaru," she whimpered breathlessly, barely able to hold herself up.

"Mate."

She shuddered down to her core, tilting her head to the side to give him better access, his tongue sliding over her skin as he soothed her abused flesh. She was fading fast, her body being forced to its limits, but she tugged softly on his hair. "You didn't have to—"

The stark disbelief on his face was jarring, but he quickly stifled it, narrowing his eyes. "Is it not what you wanted?"

"Of course! I just—"

He pressed their foreheads together, and warmth spread through her and along their newly formed bond. "Then waiting was pointless."

She managed to cup his face, thumbs sliding along the stripes on his cheeks as exhaustion nagged at her. "Don't let me go."

"I would never."

She smiled up at him, nuzzling the underside of his jaw before finally letting darkness claim her.

..::**::..

She felt him before she was fully awake, turning into his touch as her eyes fluttered open, expecting to still be in the forest. The hissing sound she assumed was the wind gnawed at her senses, and she inhaled deeply, the scent of sulphur making her sit up in shock.

His pelt fell from her shoulders, her body plastered against his on the edge of a luscious hot spring. Water gurgled over smooth rock, bubbling under a layer of mist as the sun set on the horizon.

Kagome looked up at him in confusion, and he tucked a dark wave behind her ear. "I assumed you would require a bath when you woke."

And just like that, she fell for him all over again.

She kissed him before he could steal the moment from her, smiling against his mouth as his arm tightened around her waist. The heat was already simmering, only made worse by his wandering hands, but she quickly pulled away, mischief dancing in her eyes. Detangling herself from him, she bade him to get to his feet, keeping their fingers intertwined as she led him toward the spring.

"You will not be able to bathe properly if I join you," he said, though he didn't pull away.

"Isn't that the point?" she asked, her grin slowly morphing into a seductive smirk. Now that she had his attention, she wasn't about to let it go to waste, almost cackling when he slung her over his shoulder and waded into the spring.

"The West has not gained a lady but a seductress," he mused, settling them against the embankment, his claws running through her hair.

Kagome shook her head. "The seductress is only for you."

"I would hope so."

She turned in his lap, content to just be held, even with the remarks she'd just made. "I wish we'd figured this out sooner."

Sesshoumaru tilted her chin up, placing a kiss on her brow before claiming her lips. Her arms snaked around his neck as she pressed against him. "I will gladly go through it all again to find myself in this moment."

Kagome pursed her lips. "I'm too impatient for that."

"I am aware, mate." He cupped her thighs as she straddled him.

She leaned in, nipping at the tip of his ear before whispering, "Aren't you impatient, too?"

His pupils dilated, his erection already straining between them. "If it involves you, I will always be impatient."

"Good. We have a lot of time to make up for." Reaching down, she traced the stripes only meant for her, positioning him at her entrance before sliding down with a groan. His claws pricked her skin as she moved, keeping himself still as she set the pace, ignoring his instincts as they screamed at him to claim her again.

They had a new anniversary to celebrate.