InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Youkai and the Exterminator ❯ Chapter TwentyTwo ( Chapter 22 )

Chapter TwentyTwo

 

 

Sesshomaru was dozing, asleep almost as he lounged in a chair next to the fire. The evenings were growing colder, sign of the change in seasons coming. It mattered not as he was comfortable where he was.

 

Sango was curled in his lap, not unlike the cat-demon that was so devoted to her. The demon lord's eyes were half closed, his hand lazily reaching out to stroke her dark hair, wandering affectionately over her skin. She stirred in her sleep, his human woman, stretching as she settled into position with her head tucked just under his chin.

 

His fingers stroked her cheek, feeling the slight warmth of a healing bruise. A scowl of annoyance crossed his perfect features when he detected the faint swelling of injury. Hisuni had gotten off far too easy in his estimation; he deserved a painful death for his boldness in striking his lord's mate. Sango murmured softly, dreaming, or maybe reacting to the barest flicker of his anger.

 

It was good, he thought, that he could read her body, even her dreams at this point. And she was bonding fast to him in response; the child within her had taken zealously to its gestational home. As time went on, the demon blood of the child would cause her senses to sharpen, bind her to him with its instincts and demands.

 

He would take excellent care of his mate, knowing already the difficulty human women could experience in bearing a demon's child.

 

Contemplating that he decided again, as if he needed further confirmation that he had chosen well. Sango was strong, physically and mentally; she would be a fine mother. Never had he believed he would find himself so attached to a female and a human at that. It amazed him, this depth of feeling she inspired in him.

 

At first, he had been tempted to dismiss his emotions as either simple lust or possessiveness. So even a demon lord could be wrong about himself it seemed. Having her lie quietly in his lap, trusting him to be her protector and lord, was every bit as satisfying as bedding her.

 

An amused smile whispered on his lips. Not that he had any intention of ever giving up bedding her.

 

His sharp senses detected movement outside his door. Even half asleep and relaxed like this he could not help but be aware of his surroundings. Identification came easily and he sat still as the door of his private study was quietly opened and the little girl entered. The first time she'd done something like this he'd been irritated beyond words, thinking it presumptuous and an invasion of his privacy.

 

He hadn't turned her away either, merely watched the young girl until she fell asleep before calling someone to return her to her room.

 

Sesshomaru thought he had a better understanding of her motivations now. Rin was simply seeking comfort and he was the only source of it for her. Ironic that a feared youkai lord would become the center of the world to a tiny human. It hadn't been his intention or his plan when he'd spared her. Tenseiga had compelled him, pure and simple. It had been some months before he'd figured out why.

 

The sword that was a mystery and a vexation had answered some ancient magic inside of him. Somehow Rin had drawn from his cold soul a shred of compassion, a whisper of pity, a bare sliver of remorse when he'd seen her mangled corpse. It had been enough to ignite Tenseiga, the very first time the blade had ever called him, Sesshomaru, answer to it. He'd been furious...and fascinated.

 

Now he watched her impassively as she slowly approached, raising her hand and putting her fingers in her mouth as she stared at Sango. Questions she didn't have the words to ask were in her eyes as Rin drew closer until she was standing beside him. Patiently, he waited for the child to process this unusual development in her world until Rin finally raised her gaze to his.

 

“Rin. Are you having trouble sleeping?”

 

She nodded, not taking her eyes from Sango's relaxed face. His lips curled slightly in amusement. “Are you surprised to find her here?”

 

The girl glanced at him before nodding again. She took her fingers out of her mouth to speak. “Did she have trouble sleeping too?”

 

Sesshomaru didn't answer immediately, thinking about where he wanted to go with his response. “I don't believe so. She is here because I wished it and also that she wished it.”

 

Lazily, he waved the girl closer until she was within his reach. His pale hand reached to touch a bit of the child's dark hair. “Do you like having Sango and Kohaku here?”

 

Rin smiled, looking less confused and tentative at the mention of the boy's name. “Yes, Sesshomaru-sama,” she answered quietly. Her large eyes met his, questioning. “Are they going to stay with us for always now? Like Rin stays here?”

 

“I do hope they choose to,” he said lightly, glancing down at Sango. He wouldn't tell Rin that Kohaku really had little choice; he had become more certain than ever that Tenseiga's proximity was necessary to keep the boy alive. In theory at least, the boy should be able to go where he wished, only that he should return regularly to the sword's side.

 

Better than a death sentence, it wasn't as if the boy were a prisoner.

 

As for Sango, she was now his mate. Why would she ever want to leave?

 

Rin seemed to be content with his answer and turned to leave after shyly touching his sleeve. “I'm going to go back to bed,” she informed him, yawning sleepily.

 

Sesshomaru had turned back to watching the fire when he felt Sango stir. “That was very sweet of you,” she murmured.

 

His hand touched her face, tipping her chin up to meet his gaze. “You were awake,” he said, not a question, just a statement of fact.

 

“Of course,” she smiled up at him, pleasure in her dark eyes. “Does she often come to see you at night?”

 

He considered the question. “She has nightmares,” he said in a thoughtful tone. “Not as often as she used to, but still some.”

 

Sango's expression grew serious. “Nightmares of what?” She knew nothing of the human child her demon lord had acquired.

 

His hand played lazily in her hair. “Wolves. She dreams of wolves and they terrify her. With good reason, as it was wolves that killed her.”

 

Sango sat straight up in his lap, surprised beyond words. “Killed her? Sesshomaru, that's...I don't understand.”

 

“Tenseiga,” he whispered, drawing her back down to his chest. “How else?”

 

Of course, she thought, leaning her cheek against his chest to listen to the slow, steady rhythm of his heart. It was easy to forget, even with Kohaku, her mind didn't want to accept the fact that he had died and been brought back. It chilled her thinking of that sword, grateful as she was to its mystical powers.

 

It seemed impossible that any creature should have dominion over life and death. Sesshomaru did, when and where he chose, with a katana made from his father's fang. Just like Tessaiga, only for opposite purposes. One to destroy, one to heal. One to protect, one to preserve. The power to conquer in one hand and the power to rescue in the other.

 

Her fingers laced with his as she thought about it, it was beyond her experience to explain. She wondered at the motivations of the infamous daiyoukai who had the pair of blades forged and then left them to his sons, setting the brothers against each other inadvertently or for some unknown reason that she had no way to divine.

 

In either case, she knew better than to ask, it being a somewhat sore subject with her mate even if he had given up the idea of murdering his younger brother. For the moment anyway. It amused her that their battles had always been in some way interrupted, keeping them from the necessity of killing each other.

 

And when Sesshomaru had had the advantage, he'd walked away. That had been something she'd never quite comprehended, it went against everything she'd been taught regarding youkai nature. A demon should be by definition opportunistic, certainly not capable of displaying any sense of mercy.

 

Sango sighed to herself, mercy from a youkai was every bit as unlikely as the fact that a demon exterminator now found herself at home in that youkai's lap, with his fingers tracing designs down her back and his breath warm in her hair. Slowly she tilted her head back, inviting him to kiss her.

 

Not one to deny his mate's wishes, Sesshomaru complied, brushing her lips with his so gently that it felt like a feathered touch of silk against her skin, warming her breath with his own as her lips parted.

 

Sesshomaru's eyes closed as her tongue traced over his lips, probing gently between them with a sweet abandon. Relaxed, he allowed her exploration, her hands coming up to cup his face and her fingers lacing into his hair. Sango's kiss deepened, her lips compelling, her tongue drawing his with increasingly demanding pressure. As her kisses became more insistent, hungry for him, he could smell Sango's arousal building. Her scent intensified and started to burn into his senses.

 

He found himself smiling when he heard the first whimper, the whispers of her desire pulled from her throat. Sango's hands were trailing down his neck to his chest, slipping aside his clothing so her mouth could drop against his skin and taste him.

 

She felt that her desire was almost compulsive. Now that she'd started, she didn't know how she could stop herself. Everything about him, his pale skin, his warm, spicy scent, made her want him more and unable to control her hands and tongue as they caressed him. A low, deep rumble started somewhere in his chest, a contented growl, the lazy satisfied purr of a pleased and affectionate creature. She wanted to hear more, she wanted to hear him call for her, whisper her name over and over like a mantra, and she moved her hand down between them and flushed with anticipation at his sudden hiss of excitement and pleasure.

 

His arm swung around behind her, hauling her up against him as he sat straight up, making her turn in his lap and her knees straddling him as he stared into her eyes. She caught her breath at that intense expression and quite forgot what she was about to say. His eyes were molten, full of desire for her and the union between them.

 

“Didn't anyone ever tell you not to tease a demon?” he growled softly.

 

Her back relaxed into an easy curve against his palm, bringing her body forward until her breasts were pressed against his chest. Mischief in her eyes, she smiled ever so faintly. “No, Sesshomaru-sama. No one ever told me such a thing. Will you please show me why?”

 

oOo

 

Someone was knocking. Someone was banging on his door, rousing the monk out of an uneasy sleep. “Just a minute,” he muttered, cursing whoever was on the other side of that door. He'd just finally gotten himself to sleep, after several hours of lying on his bed and feeling frustrated, not to mention sorry for himself.

 

Miroku wasn't usually given to such bouts of introspection, but he was starting to feel a little bit forgotten, pushed to the side and rejected like an unacceptable relative that no one wanted to have visit. That wasn't fair to his friends, but it didn't change the fact. Inuyasha had been dragged away by a gorgeous woman, even Sango and Kagome had disappeared and left him to his own devices.

 

Which was why his face was a little sore, but that wasn't something all that unusual. He'd finally managed to talk himself out of his bad mood and into a more circumspect view, relaxing his body with mediation until his mind became quiet and he was able to rest. Now some fool was on the other side of the door, demanding that he come to find out what new crisis had been dropped upon the members of his little traveling party.

 

The knocking was growing more insistent, hard staccato against the wooden door and Miroku grumbled to himself as he shrugged into his robes so he would be decent and composed when he met this new challenge.

 

“Just a minute,” he called out, louder this time and sounding annoyed even to his own ears. You'd think one night would be free of conflict and the agitations of inuyoukai.

 

He yanked open the door and was momentarily surprised to see Makiko standing there, arms folded firmly across her chest, her hair pulled back in a sensible cluster of braids. Unusual hair, that one, he thought absently before composing his expression into Virtuous Monk.

 

“Can I help you?” he inquired pleasantly, bowing slightly to the annoyed looking woman.

 

There was a slight flush over her pale features, a depth of irritation in her dark eyes. “You most certainly cannot help me,” she said evenly. His face showed only gentle concern. “It is because of your actions that I'm here, houshi-sama. It has been brought to my attention that you've been taking liberties with the female members of my staff.”

 

Uh oh, he thought, withdrawing slightly in case she was going to belt him. No help for it, he decided, realizing that any excuse he might make would be met with scorn. My hand slipped...more than once. The young lady must be mistaken; I only meant to assist her. It was only an affectionate touch; I am a holy man after all, Makiko. How dare you accuse me of such perversions, you insult my vows and my calling?

 

Her angry glare made the words die in his mouth and Miroku only lowered his eyes and sighed heavily. “I apologize,” he murmured, offering her a sincere bow. Sincere enough for the circumstances anyway. “I was out of line.”

 

“I'll agree with that,” she muttered looking away. “It's not me that you need to apologize to, houshi-sama,” Makiko said formally. “It's the young ladies that you violated with your attentions that deserve your contrition.”

 

“Violated?” he echoed, his eyes growing wide. “That's a little strong, don't you think? I certainly didn't mean for them to feel violated.” Apparently this was a little different from tickling some pretty village maid. Maybe inuyoukai took serious offense to a casual brush of his hand.

 

Only he hadn't casually brushed them, he recalled fondly. It was more of a delicious exploration of the firm, well-rounded backsides, his hand contracting again as he thought about the soft, womanly curves he'd illicitly sampled.

 

“Houshi-sama!” Makiko snapped, not liking the way the human's attention seemed to be wandering. Now that he was looking at her again, Makiko tried to keep her expression as stern as she could under the circumstances.

 

“I don't know how such behavior is viewed among humans,” she began, her eyes narrowing slightly. “But among inuyoukai such advances are improper. The girls who serve in this fortress are under my supervision and my protection. I feel it my duty to inform you that such...lewd actions will not be permitted.”

 

“I understand,” he said evenly. Just one more rejection to round out a perfect evening, he decided sourly. “I will do my best to mend my behavior.”

 

Miroku made as if to shut the door but Makiko threw up her hand to stop him. “I don't think you understand the gravity of the situation,” she said coldly, her eyes glittering at him. “Under inuyoukai law, the young ladies you touched have every right to demand satisfaction.”

 

“What?” Miroku felt a little shiver of fear go up his spine. Was he about to have the hell beaten out of him by a couple of angry youkai females? Or worse, were their mates or brothers going to do the deed for them? Nervously, he pulled at his collar and swallowed. Surely they weren't going to really hurt him? How much satisfaction did a couple of lighthearted gropes deserve?

 

“Makiko-san,” he said politely, thinking it might be a good idea to throw himself on her mercy, if she had any, that was. “I don't know how I can apologize for my indiscretions. I completely admit myself to be in the wrong and I promise to not do anything like that again.”

 

He swallowed anxiously. “What...uh...satisfaction will they demand?”

 

Her eyebrow rose at his genuine concern, obviously the young man had realized that he'd pushed his luck, and their hospitality a little too far. “I accept that you will no longer be making advances against any more of my household staff,” she said, her tone easing considerably.

 

His expression turned hopeful and Makiko let her voice go hard again. “As for satisfaction, you'll have to give that to the young females you wronged. Aiko! Zumi!”

 

Miroku choked when two of his earlier victims came to their mistress' side and looked at him with stern and uncompromising eyes. The girls stood silently, glaring at him until he felt the slight flush creep up his neck and make his ears burn. It was embarrassing, but he wasn't too proud to beg.

 

“Good ladies,” he said formally, bowing again. “I sincerely apologize for any liberties I may have taken with you and most humbly throw myself on your mercy.”

 

“Mercy?” Aiko asked, looking over at her sister.

 

Makiko's faint grin answered her. “You'll have to decide if you want to let him off easy, Aiko,” she said, smirking and exchanging a wink with Zumi. “I will remind you that humans are much more fragile than inuyoukai, even the males. Please do take care and not damage the houshi-sama. At least no more than necessary, I don't want to find him in the infirmary tomorrow.”

 

“Yes, mistress,” Zumi said demurely, looking at the floor. “We promise to be careful.”

 

Now that's not unpromising, Miroku decided. Maybe they'd just slap him around a bit to get the point across. He felt the safest course would be to not resist. They had to have some sense of compassion, didn't they? Otherwise they would have torn out his throat when he first touched them.

 

Miroku wasn't looking forward to a beating, but he was sure that he could endure it if they weren't going to try to kill him. He could tolerate pain fairly well, after all, how many times had he groped Sango and felt the taste of her Hiraikotsu across his head?

 

Aiko suddenly pushed him, her hands on his shoulders propelling him forcefully into the room as Zumi followed, turning swiftly to close the door. Aiko continued her somewhat gentle shove until she backed Miroku across the room and pushed him when the back of his legs touched the strange raised bed. Not for the first time, he pondered the unusual furnishing of this place but sank down onto the softness, his hands limp at his sides.

 

It seemed like a dream, two angry women coming to demand he pay for getting too familiar with their bodies. It had to happen someday, Mushiin had warned him about the universe paying him back for his sins. Like the old drunkard had any business lecturing him when it came to indiscretion.

 

Aiko planted hands on her hips and surveyed the nervous human. This was going to be fun, she thought, a wicked smile starting to play on her lips. His scent said that he was scared, more than a little intimidated, probably realizing that he deserved some kind of punishment for his wandering hands.

 

Zumi leaned over her shoulder languidly as she stared at Miroku with an unreadable, but intense expression. “Did you want to go first, Aiko?” she asked.

 

Aiko nodded slightly, already getting into the spirit of the moment as she watched the human squirm under their eyes. “I don't mind,” she said easily, raising her claws to her lips and licking at the blunt tips. Such a pity, these could hardly even leave scratches.

 

“Unless you want to go first,” she said generously, her eyes twinkling a little as she looked at Zumi.

 

Miroku swallowed hard, his throat was dry. They were going to take turns beating him up? Aiko stared at him, meeting his eyes.

 

“Are you scared of us, houshi-sama?”

 

A man had to have some dignity. He composed his features and closed his eyes in resignation. “Not at all, dear ladies. I'm certain I deserve what you're going to do, I am prepared to endure as long as I can.”

 

“Gods, I hope so,” Aiko said, her voice a throaty purr. Miroku's eyes snapped open, and then his mouth fell open as the girl moved closer, her fingers playing with the fastenings of her yukata. Zumi had a mischievous grin and licked her lips at him in a fashion he had no trouble interpreting.

 

Were they serious? He had to be mistaken, there was no way in hell, no way on earth, no way under the grace of Buddha himself that these two meant to...

 

Aiko dropped her clothes and Miroku forgot to breathe when Zumi moved in on him, gently pressing him back on the bed. Her breath tickled in his ears, her hands keeping him still as Aiko moved across his lap and started to pull up his robes.

 

“Just relax, little monk,” Zumi whispered, her tongue tracing his jaw line. “We will be as gentle as inuyoukai can be, but you will have to agree that we will not be easily satisfied.”

 

Gods above, he thought, his head spinning as demon lips closed over his and another demon's mouth was heading for more responsive territory. He closed his eyes, silently thanking Buddha for giving him mercy.

 

Buddha had better give him strength because even a holy man knew when he was in trouble and it looked to be a very long night indeed.

 

oOo

 

Jano was sleeping, his face pressed into the bed and one arm flung over the side. He'd gotten to bed quite late and he was desperately looking forward to a chance to catch up on his sleep. It was exhausting keeping this place in order sometimes, one thing after another had risen to his attention over the evening and when he'd finally been free to return to his quarters, he'd barely had the strength left to strip off his armor and the loose shirt he wore under it before flopping onto his face and closing his eyes.

 

So when he heard the sound of someone knocking on his door, he screwed his eyes shut even tighter and decided to ignore it.

 

“Jano! I know you can hear me!”

 

Damn her to a thousand hells, he thought crankily, shoving his face harder into the mattress. Whatever Makiko thought was important enough to wake him for couldn't be worth abandoning this sweet unconsciousness.

 

“Wake up, damn your lazy ass!”

 

You bitch, Jano fumed, rolling over and prying his eyelids open. Can't you manage a couple hours without howling at me? His gaze automatically went to the window; a scowl setting over his face when he realized it was still mostly dark outside. That meant that he'd been asleep barely an hour.

 

It was not his responsibility to handle every household set-to personally, what the fuck was the captain of the guard for? What the fuck did he train these fools to do if not keep order and security for five minutes while a man got his sleep? They wouldn't dare howl down Sessh's door over stupid squabbles and disputes. Wasn't that Makiko's job anyway?

 

“If you don't get up, I'm going to break the door down!”

 

He sat up, glaring at the door and half hoping she'd try it, just so he could have the satisfaction of watching her pick splinters out of her claws. Angrily, he pulled himself off the bed, throwing back his long, unbound hair. Jano stormed over to the door, hissing as he made his way across the room.

 

“Something had fucking better be on fire,” he snarled.

 

Makiko shoved her way into his room as soon as he opened the door, spinning around and glaring at him dramatically with her arms folded tight over her breasts. “We have a problem,” she said in a low, urgent tone.

 

“Yeah?” He rubbed his face, trying to clear the tiredness away so he could think. “What is it?”

 

“Kagome is missing.”

 

“Kagome?” he asked, honestly not understanding whom she meant. Then he remembered the human girl's name and stared at Makiko in confusion. “What do you mean by missing? Where'd she go?”

 

“If I knew that she wouldn't be missing,” Makiko snapped back. Gods, he was such an idiot, even half asleep he should make more sense.

 

“I've got a hysterical kitsune pup on my hands,” she said, her eyes fixing on him accusingly. “He woke up a half hour ago and ran right into the hall, screaming that Kagome was missing. I guess she must have left him at some point, but she never went back to her room.”

 

“You woke me up over that?” Jano demanded. Of all the stupid, ridiculous... “I can't believe you got me out of a sound sleep because Shippou had a panic attack. Did you even look for that girl before you came stomping up here?”

 

Makiko's eyes flashed. “Those humans are your responsibility,” she hissed, poking him in his bare chest with a sharp claw. “I thought you'd want to know that she didn't spend the night in her room.”

 

He yawned, already thinking of going back to bed. “Don't worry about it,” he growled, starting to grin to himself as he recalled the last time he'd seen Kagome. She didn't go back to her room, which meant she'd spent the night somewhere else.

 

Good girl, he thought with approval.

 

“You aren't in the least concerned?” Makiko asked, dropping her anger and annoyance. “Jano, that girl could be anywhere. She could be in trouble and we need to find out where she is!”

 

“Did you check Inuyasha's rooms?” Jano asked sweetly, enjoying the confused look on her face.

 

“No,” she confessed. “That puppy will go berserk when he finds out she's missing. I wanted a chance to find her before we had to tell him. Shippou wanted to go to him, but I managed to talk him into going to see Kohaku instead. Hopefully the boy has calmed him by now...why do you think she'd be in Inuyasha's rooms?”

 

“Because that's where I sent her,” Jano answered, grinning widely. “If she didn't go back to her own bed last night, I guess she got a better offer from the hanyou.”

 

Makiko looked lost, for someone usually on top of things, she was remarkably dim at the moment. “You sent her? I don't understand.”

 

Briefly, he outlined the conversation he'd had with Kagome the night before, looking pleased with himself that his little game had turned out to be successful. At least he assumed it was successful, not his fault if the puppy had been too dense to figure out what the girl wanted. After all, what could he do but give her a shove in the right direction? Better than sniveling to herself all night over what she thought was going on when it wasn't going on at all.

 

He was just getting to the part where he'd left the girl standing in front of Inuyasha's door when Makiko suddenly pulled back and hit him hard across the face with her open hand.

 

“You lecherous bastard!” Makiko swung again, this time he saw it coming and ducked away before she could pop him in the jaw. The woman's face was a mask of anger as she backed him across the room until he hit the wall. “Jano, you are an immoral pig!”

 

“What?” he demanded, still ducking her angry blows. “I didn't do anything, I just pointed her in the right direction!”

 

“You're still a pig and you know why!”

 

He caught her fist in his hand and glared at her. “Look, I know you think you rule this household with an iron fist, but it's not your damn business if they spent the night together. Don't get up my ass over what's not your problem in the first place!”

 

“That's not the point,” she snarled, fury burning in her eyes. “You tried to seduce that child!”

 

He gaped at her. “I did not, I just wanted to shake her up a little.”

 

Makiko growled, outright growled at him, her claws flexing as if she wanted to rip him to shreds. It was really kind of sexy, he had to admit. He had better sense than to say that though and watched her suspiciously as she made a visible effort to hold back her rage.

 

“Don't lie to me, Jano,” she said in a tight voice. “I know you better than that. You tried to get that girl, that child really, into bed. I can tell you're lying, so don't tell me that you weren't trying to lay her and she rejected you!”

 

“You are barking insane,” he snapped, shaking a finger at her. She batted his hand away, her face rosy with indignation. Jano was a little insulted, surely she didn't think he'd stoop that low over a human girl. He'd already learned the hard way that he should leave them be whenever possible.

 

“Makiko,” he said evenly, “you're way out of line here. I never put so much as a claw on her.” Well, not a claw, a tongue didn't count as a claw so he wasn't lying. And he just did it to prod her, to see what she'd do. He wouldn't have followed through even if she had responded to his casual advances.

 

It was just to get her confidence up so she'd have the nerve to do what she wanted. He'd seen enough of their interaction to understand that Kagome was painfully in love with that stupid hanyou. He'd also that Inuyasha was clueless about it, even if he did want her as any sane demon would.

 

Hell, he wouldn't have minded taking her himself if the situation had been different. Kagome was an appealing little creature in a lot of ways, but did Makiko think he'd go that far just for a quick rut?

 

Makiko did, he could tell already. Her angry gaze, the narrowed eyes and thinning lips. The delicate flush of anger on her cheeks and neck. He sighed.

 

“Honestly, Makiko. I didn't try anything.”

 

She scowled. “You can't blame me for thinking it,” she muttered, shooting daggers at him. “With your reputation with females, I wouldn't have been surprised you'd do something like that.”

 

Now he was pissed, he didn't deserve her scorn like this. Not by a long shot. “You should know better than to listen to gossip.”

 

“It's not gossip when it's the truth,” Makiko answered, smugly superior. “I'm not the one who's the talk of the household guard.”

 

“No, the rumors about you are completely different,” he said, hoping his snide tone would wipe that condescending look off her face. He knew his reputation, not entirely undeserved, more like the holdover from a very well misspent youth.

 

Damn it, she should give him some credit for being able to control himself.

 

“What rumors?” Makiko looked annoyed. “You're lying about that, I can always tell when you're lying. No one has the least possible, remotest reason to gossip about my personal life. I have a sense of discretion and dignity, unlike you and those other horny hounds!”

 

“Exactly my point,” Jano hissed. “What they say about you is the absolute truth!”

 

Makiko blinked at him. “What do you mean? What did they say?”

 

He grinned wickedly. “That you are in dire need of being bent over and fucked hard.”

 

“Y…you…bastard!” She was sputtering, incoherent with fury

 

“It's the damn truth,” he snapped back, liking the way her eyes glittered. Damn the woman for being such an uptight cold bitch anyway.

 

“So I need bent over and fucked hard,” she said sarcastically, letting venom seep into her tone. “And I suppose you're just the one to do it, Jano?”

 

He spread his hands helplessly, unable to keep the smirk out of his voice. “Is that a request?” he taunted her.

 

“Fine,” Makiko hissed. “If that's the only way to get you to leave me alone, we'll do just that.”

 

Jano stared at her as she started struggling out of her prim and plain yukata. Frankly, he was shocked, he'd expected her to storm out of his room in anger or disgust, not strip down to her bare skin and challenge him to lay her right there.

 

Finally, she dropped everything and stepped out of her clothes, stubbornly angry and naked before him. “So what's it going to be, Jano?” she asked, her eyes dark and unreadable. “You want me on my knees or up against the wall? Your choice.”

 

Wordless, he didn't know what to do for a minute. She had him frozen to the floor both by her words and her insane actions. Not to mention that she was every bit as beautiful as he'd thought. Her skin was pale as milk, her breasts high and firm, tipped with deep rosy nipples that were standing to attention like a pair of honor guards on display.

 

He raked his eyes over her, ignoring the faint flush of embarrassment that wanted to creep over her cheeks as he drank in her body with his eyes. The long slender legs he wanted to wrap around his waist, the dark nest of curls where they joined. She had him in awe and Jano thought for a minute he was going to just die from the pressure of wanting her so much.

 

Instead, he willed his feet to move, advancing on her like a predator in the forest. Makiko's chin rose defiantly, unwilling to submit as ever. Her lips parted and he watched as the tip of her tongue darted out to lick at them, anticipating.

 

Jano growled harshly as he pulled her up against him and crushed her lips with his own, feeling her startled surprise before matching him with an aggressive response. Her chest pressed into his, skin against skin as he held her tight, devouring her lips, his tongue invading her mouth to attack hers, grinding her against him like he'd never be able to let go of her.

 

Desire flooded her, pooling between her legs like liquid heat. Her body was suddenly on fire and Makiko was shocked by the overwhelming effect he had on her senses. She rocked her hips against his, snarling in the back of her throat and trying to nip at his tongue. It was like she was drowning in his kiss.

 

She honestly couldn't breathe and broke away from him with a gasp. Jano pulled her to him, barely letting her keep her feet. She wanted him now, the argument didn't matter anymore, and she wanted to feel him like she'd never wanted another lover before.

So she was in shock when he suddenly yanked away, reached for the door and shoved her hard out into the hall. Still panting and breathless, she stared at him in bewilderment.

 

Jano didn't know where he'd gotten the strength to push her away when every part of his body was on fire for her, had been for bloody years, but she'd always rebuffed him. Sometimes seriously, sometimes snidely, but she'd always pushed him away until now. Now that she was willing, he found it wasn't going to be enough.

 

He raised his eyes to her startled gaze and tried to grin, but found he'd never felt less like smiling in his life.

 

Instead his voice was harsh, rasping in his throat. “It's gone too far between us, Makiko. As badly as I think you need a good hard rut and I plan on being the one to give it to you, it won't be like this. I'm not going to fuck you just to get it out of the way. We'd hate each other for it later.

 

“That's why I must decline your offer.”

 

She jumped when he shut the door in her face, flinching almost, shocked and mortified. How dare he turn her down after all these years? How many times had he asked her, how many times had she pushed him away? It wasn't fair, not now that he'd made her want him! She realized she was standing stark naked in the passage then and fury filled her.

 

“Jano, you son of a bitch, give me back my clothes!”

 

The door yanked open suddenly and Makiko was hit in the face by a wad of fabric before the door slammed shut again. Her hands shaking, she pulled her yukata over her shoulders and started to hurry down the hall before anyone saw her so disheveled. Oh, he was going to pay for this!

 

Inside his room, Jano had leaned against the door, slowly sliding down until he reached the floor. He was an idiot and hit the door with the back of his skull to distract himself from the overwhelming stupidity of his actions.

 

He had turned her down.

 

He hoped to hell it was going to be worth it someday.