InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Youkai and the Exterminator ❯ Chapter TwentyNine ( Chapter 29 )

Chapter TwentyNine

 

 

Rin felt sad as she walked by herself along the corridor. Everyone was upset about something; she didn't know what had happened to make things go wrong. Something bad happened between Sesshomaru-sama and Kohaku's sister. Rin didn't know how to make it better, but she sure wished she did.

 

Kohaku was unhappy too and didn't want to play with her. She offered to keep him company in his room, but the boy had shook his head and said that he wanted to be alone. She supposed he was sad that his sister had left; she knew how much he loved her and wanted to be with her. Rin sighed, trailing her fingers along the cold stone and feeling very lonely. Didn't Sesshomaru-sama want to be with Sango? Didn't he want her to make him happy?

 

Rin herself felt very disappointed, she hadn't said a word to anyone, but she'd thought a lot about Sango since she'd first realized the exterminator was someone important to her Sesshomaru-sama. If Sango and Kohaku came to live at the fortress, it would almost be like having a family of her own again. Kohaku was close enough in age to really be her brother and Sango was so kind and pretty.

 

Rin had desperately hoped that someday, maybe, the exterminator would let her call her mama. Rin had missed her own mother ever since she'd lost her; somehow even time had failed to heal that stinging feeling behind her eyelids. She told herself that she was fine, that she didn't need a parent really. She had Makiko to look after her, Sesshomaru-sama made sure that she'd never feel afraid again.

 

It wasn't the same as having a mother and a family of her own. She wasn't brave enough to ask Sesshomaru if she could call him father even he did care for her in his own cold and distant way. If the rumors were true, Kohaku's sister was going to have a baby and that baby would be Sesshomaru-sama's baby too. If the baby could call him father, maybe he wouldn't mind if Rin did too.

 

It was confusing, but at least Kohaku was here. It was a strange thing to be the only human child living at the fortress. Everyone was kind to her, at least everyone on the staff. There were lords and nobles she knew better than to approach, but not all of them were like that. Hiromi-san for instance, she had always been polite and even given her pretty trinkets to play with. Rin was still a little suspicious of highborn youkai that seemed to accept her.

 

It was far more likely that they feared angering Sesshomaru-sama than they felt any kindness towards a human brat. Makiko and Jano were the exceptions to that, but both of them had no reason to pretend to be kind if they weren't. That was the opinion Rin had formed of most of the staff. They might have to tolerate her, but they didn't have go out of their way to be kind and most of them did.

 

Rin looked up, seeing a familiar shape at the end of the corridor and smiled. The day was looking up, there was someone that had to play with her, whether he liked it or not. "Jaken-sama!" she squealed.

 

The imp looked frightened, then annoyed as she rushed up to squeeze him. "Let me go, infernal brat," he yelled.

 

She set him down and glared at him, pretending to be angry. "Where have you been, Jaken?" she demanded. "I've been looking for you for days and nobody knew where you were!"

 

He brushed himself off, looking up at her with distrustful yellow eyes. "I know when to make myself absent," he said loftily. "As soon as Jano brought those...people...here with him, I knew it was a dark day indeed for this fortress."

 

"Why?" she asked, fascinated. "Was it because Inuyasha hits you?"

 

"No," he said, huffing to himself.

 

"Was it because Miroku threatened to exorcise you?"

 

He glared at her, foolish child. "No," he said. "It was..."

 

"Because Kagome was going to purify you?" the girl asked excitedly. That would definitely be worth seeing.

 

"No," he shouted at last. "It was because of that disgusting human woman that had her foul claws into Sesshomaru-sama! It is not my place to say, but I was never as happy as when he finally ran her out of here! A revolting thing, having a human mistress in this place. It was shameful!"

 

Rin sat back, her mouth dropping open in surprise. "Jaken, don't say that about Sango. She was nice and very kind. I liked her and I wanted her to stay."

 

The imp looked disgusted and brushed the girl away. "You don't understand," he said, giving her a condescending smirk. "That woman probably thought she belonged here and she doesn't! Just because Sesshomaru-sama chose to favor her with his attention, and I do not know why, is no reason to go strutting around here and causing problems! Did you see poor Hisuni-sama's face? Over a human woman!"

 

Rin flushed. "You hate humans so much, Jaken." It hurt and the imp had never made his dislike so clear. She thought that she annoyed him, but she didn't realize he hated her for being human.

 

Jaken dropped his gaze and looked away. The truth was the girl had grown on him and he had no wish to hurt her. As much as he wished his lord would find a suitable, human, family to give the girl to, he never would have caused her harm. It was all Rin's fault that Sesshomaru had ever been taken with that woman; she was the one who had fallen off the cliff in the first place. He told her not to get so close!

 

She never listened to him, never had, merrily going along her way and smiling at his lord with those big eyes. Then, horror of horrors, his lord had taken an interest in another human female and for carnal reasons! The shame of it all, Jaken didn't know how to express it. His lord had the pick, very best choice of any number of youkai females with impeccable breeding. Those were the females that were suited to bear his heir, not a weak, filthy human woman who exterminated demons.

 

"As I was saying," he said, assuming the role of venerable elder educating ignorant child. "Rin, you should not have become attached to her in the first place. It was inappropriate of her to come here, damn Jano anyway."

 

Rin raised her eyebrows. She didn't think Jaken would say 'damn Jano' if the bodyguard was standing in front of him.

 

Jaken sniffed, obviously not realizing that the girl knew him better. "I decided to make myself absent so I wouldn't have to witness what was going on. The very idea of a youkai exterminator being mate to a lord of Sesshomaru-sama's status was ridiculous. And to have a hanyou child by her? You mark my words, Rin. There must have been a foul spell placed upon him to ever consider such a revolting thing."

 

The imp staggered as the girl suddenly crashed into him, slamming the small demon into the wall. "It was not a bad thing," the young girl shouted. "It was a good thing and I wanted Sesshomaru-sama to be happy! Didn't you see how she was crying when she left? She loved him!"

 

Jaken stared as Rin tore herself away from him, sobbing as she ran down the corridor as fast as her legs could take her. Humans and their emotions, he didn't understand it. He was simply stating the obvious. If that fool woman had been stupid enough to fall in love with someone who was so obviously her superior, she deserved whatever heartbreak she had incurred.

 

He straightened his robes and composed himself as best he could. Really, the way they let that child take on was disgraceful.

 

oOo

 

He'd been watching from the shadows of the next corridor, knowing that neither Rin nor Jaken had the ability to sense his presence if he did not wish it so. Sesshomaru's face didn't react to the scene he'd just witnessed although he found himself annoyed by Jaken's words more than Rin's impulsive behavior.

 

It was not the imp's place to make judgments regarding his personal life and he didn't appreciate Jaken's airing of the matter to his young ward. Rin was a child; she had no business disturbing herself about what was none of her affair. He made a mental note to speak to Jaken about curbing his tongue. Or losing it permanently.

 

Still, one could not deny that Jaken was simply voicing an opinion that was no doubt held by many of his own people. Was it not ridiculous for a youkai such as himself to have ever taken up with a woman like Sango?

 

At the very least, he could have been expected to explore such appetites in private, not publicly acknowledging the relationship as he had. But he'd been so damned angry when Hisuni had dared strike her, he could not deny that the instincts that blow had inspired were protective and possessive as any demon would have towards one he considered his mate. It still made him pulse with anger and he had effectively ended the relationship himself.

 

Hadn't he? Sesshomaru scowled briefly and continued on to his study. He needed quiet, time for contemplation and reflection, that was it. Although in the three days she'd been gone he'd had ample time for nothing else. And still his nose twitched hopefully when he entered his bedroom, searching for the faintest trace of her scent.

 

Like an addiction, he thought in disgust. He truly had no patience for himself these days and had sent the housekeeping staff into his rooms with the intention of removing all traces of the woman. It was impossible to sleep with such reminders of the humiliation he'd endured. Not that he had slept and gave a silent thanks to the youkai blood that meant he could do without rest until it suited him.

 

Damn her to hell, he had important things to consider. An invader in his territory, Naraku's plots and plans, the machinations of the court and the amount of trouble his hanyou brother had managed to stir in just a few days of being here.

 

Hanyou brother. Sesshomaru swept into his rooms with an uncharacteristic display of anger, using a sharp blast of youki to slam the door behind him. His study was empty; his personal staff was avoiding him. Just as well. He had no wish to look at them; they came to his bidding and not the other way around. He decided he had been too lax lately, too forgiving of minor indiscretions and familiarity. That would stop immediately.

 

Sesshomaru considered that a bit of fresh air would do well at the moment; he was unusually restless and had no intention of prowling the halls. It wasn't his habit to do so and people would talk. And there was enough to talk about; he'd broken every rule he'd ever made about keeping his private affairs discreet.

 

What had ever possessed him? The imp was right about one thing; he must have been under a spell. It would have to be a powerful bit of magic, being daiyoukai and not susceptible to such ploys. Was it possible that was the true reason for his unbearable attraction the human woman? That he, Sesshomaru, had been seduced by a spell?

 

You are not in the habit of deceiving yourself, he thought angrily, climbing the last few stairs until he reached the top of the tower. I do not lie and rationalize my actions, the demon lord told himself. It was a physical lust, a biological reaction somehow. Curiosity satisfied, he had no intention of ever letting himself be so misled again.

 

It was hard enough to accept that he'd let himself be made a fool for a female, made weak with longing for another's touch. Quite honestly, how could he be expected to endure it?

 

He raised his eyes to the sky and drank in the texture of the setting sun, watching as the golden glow deepened to crimson, nestling behind the mountains that surrounded his valley. It had been such a long time since he'd known that kind of peace, the utter contentment that he'd experienced with Sango. He wasn't sentimental by nature; among demons there was little enough sentiment.

 

He didn't need to feel that way. He should be ashamed of his weakness and the way his hand had always curved towards her, hungry for the mere brush of her dark hair against his skin. Pathetic, really, to allow himself to be affected like that.

 

If he'd had any brains about him at all, he would have slain her after that first coupling. That would have ensured that he never hungered for her. It would have been cold and cruel and very much a youkai to have taken her hard in passion that first night, let her screams of ecstasy ring against his ears and then reach down, caress that delicate white throat and slowly squeeze the life from it as he filled her with his essence. That would have been a demon's way of dealing with his desire for a mortal's flesh.

 

Instead he'd buried himself in her so deep he hadn't felt the danger, didn't see the signs. Wrapping his form around hers as she'd slept, whispering endearments like a love struck fool, what in the world had he been thinking? Wasn't he a proud youkai lord? Didn't he discard all living things as merely tools for his use? He had no use for weak emotions, but he had embraced them just the same and let the siren song of desire whisper to him, dare him. Tempt him to give in this time and let himself be seduced by the possibility of being loved.

 

A soft step behind him drew his attention from these reflections and Sesshomaru decided that it was about time to make things utterly clear. There was only one way to resolve this matter to his satisfaction; simply sending her away wasn't going to be enough. If she'd loved him, she would have stayed. To hell with her desire for revenge and her need for Naraku's blood. If she was foolish enough to put that abomination above him, she had left him no choice.

 

He had been angry; he had dealt with it appropriately. Let her follow her path of duty, he sneered to himself. He was youkai and he could be very patient when he wanted. Sango had to know that he could have forced her to stay; even his damnable half brother couldn't have helped her escape from the fortress if he had desired to prevent it.

 

Then there was the matter of her brother. A lesser creature wouldn't have hesitated to use Kohaku to ensure the sister's obedience. Turn the boy out and he'd surely die, Sesshomaru felt that reality like an instinct in his bones. Tenseiga would not allow it, but the threat could have been made.

 

No. He was not so low or so cowardly as to think he could compel a woman's heart by threatening the one thing that he knew she held precious. Play that hand and he would have no honor whatsoever and might as well be Naraku. He'd thought about it, contemplated his options and calculated with his cool demon's mind what would serve him best. No denying it, whatever Sango wanted or thought she was doing when she'd snared his emotions, it wasn't over.

 

She still belonged to him. He didn't need a mortal's idea of love.

 

She carried his child and Sesshomaru felt a powerful instinct to preserve that bond. No, it didn't matter that the child was hanyou, half human and would never be pure youkai. The child also belonged to him as much as its mother did. That was his choice and if any fool dared try to assign that choice a sentimental or emotional reasoning behind it, Sesshomaru would not hesitate to punish that speaker with death. Nor was he about to drag her back by the hair, as some wretched human male would do.

 

Absolutely not. When the time was right, she would beg him to take her back and that was as it should be. Until that time, when they both were ready to resume the relationship under his rules, she would have to be watched over, protected. As if he could count on his brother for that. Sesshomaru smiled. He would assign a more seasoned guardian for his mate.

 

For mate she was, until he chose otherwise. Mate and child, what kind of inuyoukai would he be to simply let them escape?

 

"Jano," he said sharply, thinking he'd let his bodyguard wait long enough.

 

"My lord." Jano's voice was completely neutral, waiting. He'd been expecting the summons for three days; he'd barely slept himself from anticipating what his lord was going to order.

 

"Find her. Follow her. Make sure no harm comes to her or my child. If you fail, do not return."

 

Jano nodded. "I understand, my lord."

 

Sesshomaru turned, the dying sunlight catching his eyes and throwing ghosts of his father's visage into the air. "I mean that, Jano," he said in a low, dangerous voice. "If harm comes to her, expect worse from me."

 

He didn't need to be told twice. "I understand," Jano answered harshly. There were things you questioned and things you didn't. Three days ago he'd wanted to scream at Sesshomaru for his stupidity in letting Sango leave like that, thinking she meant nothing to the demon lord.

 

Two days ago, he'd begun to reconsider and wonder if they truly weren't better off without each other. Sango didn't need someone who would discard her cruelly and Sesshomaru was far too set in his ways to change for the sake of a woman.

 

Yesterday, he'd reversed his decision and realized that his lifelong friend and lord needed her more than he could imagine, more than he could even guess and Jano burned hot then cold with dread of this summons. Either he'd be ordered to bring her back against her will, a daunting task as Sango was a stubborn as a demon and deadly in her own skilled way.

 

Ordered to bring her back or ordered to hunt her down, he didn't relish the thought.

 

This morning he'd sat in the cold light of the early dawn and asked himself what he'd do if he were Sesshomaru and refusing to admit how much in love with a human woman he was. That hit a little too close to home for him, thinking of his own mistakes, and that's when he'd understood.

 

Sessh couldn't let go any more than he could, you didn't challenge a dog demon when it came to being tenacious and you didn't fuck with his mate. Not and keep your fingers or your head. That resolved, he'd waited until Sessh was ready to call on him. It was definitely about to get messy and Jano was exactly the kind of person you wanted around when it did.

 

oOo

 

Makiko found that she was deeply annoyed herself. Her staff was too busy gossiping about Sesshomaru-sama's situation to get their jobs done. The only member of her staff that didn't care about it seemed to be her sister, Aiko. The girl was pouting over the fact that the young houshi-sama had departed with the other humans and the hanyou-sama. It seemed she'd taken to the young man and was annoyed that he'd had to leave before she could make another attempt at getting to know him.

 

Privately, she thought that Aiko had gotten to know Miroku intimately enough for both their sanity. She'd actually felt guilty when she'd seen the monk's battered face, realizing that her sister had taken her instructions very literally.

 

Now she was also feeling guilty about her own involvement with the fortress' rumor mill. What had seemed to be a fun idea to get back at Jano had turned on her. She'd been asked by no less that five people that morning if she really planned to leave the fortress. Makiko blushed, overhearing a cluster of young maids whispering that the head of staff was hopelessly in love with Jano-san, had been soundly rejected by said Jano-san and despairing of losing her true love.

 

She was absolutely going to kill Aiko.

 

Makiko had never mentioned being in love with Jano, she'd told Aiko to spread the rumor that she was leaving because Jano had made an ass of himself by declaring his love for her. That would have been much more satisfying in her opinion. Now half the staff was upset because she was going to leave and worried that no one would take her place, the fortress would fall into chaos, and Sesshomaru-sama would sack the entire housekeeping staff for incompetence.

 

The other half, Makiko scowled to herself, speculated that it was a cover story and Makiko was really running off because she was in love the lord's younger brother and wanted to follow him.

 

She snorted, that one actually amused her somewhat. Still, no one needed to forget their duties over it. Makiko thought that she'd rather the staff speculated on her love life rather than endlessly rehash what had happened in the courtyard. The idiots had to go an attack each other, so much for any sense of self-restraint.

 

About what she'd expected out of Kouga and Inuyasha, but she'd thought the human females to be more reasonable. Then there was the kitsune and Rin getting involved and the lot of them had better be glad that Rin hadn't been injured in the fracas.

 

Her eyes narrowed in annoyance when Jano suddenly burst into the kitchen, scowling impartially as he scanned the room for her. Her maids, cooks, scullery, and stewards all stopped to watch as he stormed across the room like a thunderhead gathering for a storm. She planted her fists on her hips to glare threateningly at him, but he came on like she'd handed him her most polite smile instead. He grabbed her arm and nearly pulled her off her feet by hauling her towards her small office.

 

"Jano," she snarled, trying to yank herself free. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

 

He didn't answer and the staff started to babble in excitement when he dragged her to the door and pushed her inside. "I said we needed to talk!"

 

"Asshole," Makiko snapped, tearing her arm free. She was absolutely furious, she wanted to tear his skin off and use it for a dust rag. "How dare you..."

 

He held up his hand, scowling. "Is it true or not?"

 

Makiko rolled her eyes. "Is what true?" she shot back.

 

"I want to know if you're leaving."

 

Oh that. She turned away from him for a moment, then spun around and met his eyes. "You should know better than to listen to idle gossip."

 

"So it was all a lie?" he asked, his expression never flickering. "I have to say I'm disappointed."

 

She flushed. He had the nerve to be disappointed that she wasn't leaving. She should kill him. "Well I'm so sorry you're disappointed, Jano."

 

He grinned suddenly, turning his gaze away from her. "I guess it's wrong for me to assume something is true just because it's what I wanted."

 

Makiko shoved him hard. "Thanks, I'm glad to know I mean that much to you!"

 

Jano caught her wrists. "And here I was hoping that you'd miss me."

 

She got angrier as she twisted her wrists until he let go of her hands. "I'm not leaving, stupid!"

 

"I know," he murmured and caught her around the waist as he pulled her against him. "I was talking about the rumor that you were in love with me. What were you talking about?"

 

She stared at him. "You are the most complete moron, Jano. I am not in love with you!"

 

"So the rumor is true? You are leaving the fortress?"

 

"No," she shouted, breathing hard as she shoved him away, backing him into the wall. "I'm not leaving!"

 

He smirked and twisted to pin her against the wall instead. "You can't leave. You're in love with me and you'd be miserable without me. I can't let you do that to yourself."

 

Makiko forgot to be angry, she was confused as hell. She shook her head to clear it; distracted by the way his hand was wandering up her back as he embraced her. "What?"

 

"You really ask too many questions."

 

"You've really lost your mind."

 

"I know," he sighed. "I'm insanely in love with you, Makiko. I've been telling you that for years."

 

Makiko staggered a bit as he suddenly let her go. "I'll talk to you when I get back," he said mildly, giving her a lazy wink. "I've got to go chase down a woman that Sessh is not in love with and protect her with my life or face eternal damnation at his will."

 

He started to open the door and she saw about a half a dozen of her staff suddenly bolt away as if she couldn't tell they'd been listening at the door. She flushed with embarrassment and balled her fists. Oh no, he did not!

 

Makiko ran after him, clamping her hands down on Jano's arm, heedless of the entire kitchen staring at her in complete fascination. "You wanted to talk," she snarled and dragged him back into the office and kicked the door shut.

 

Jano folded his arms and smirked at her. "What did you want to talk about?"

 

She took a deep breath. "First of all, I don't love you. Second, I'm not leaving the fortress. Third, you are the most insensitive clod, the most insufferable lech, the most immature, spiteful, selfish, conceited, bullying and bragging useless prat that I have ever had the misfortune to know!"

 

He plopped down on her desk. "Is that all? Don't hold back, Makiko."

 

Growling, she advanced on him. "One more thing," she spat.

 

He grabbed her arms and yanked her close, trapped her hips with his knees as he sat holding her firmly in place. "One more thing," he repeated and kissed her. Makiko tensed to fight him off but found that she really didn't want to. Instead she closed her eyes, letting herself kiss him back.

 

He let go of her arms and she immediately wound them around his neck, lost in the pressure of their lips. He gasped suddenly and pulled back, taking her face in his hands and crushing her lips, his hands winding into her thick, braided hair and tightening. Her body went limp against his, holding herself upright by her forearms that braced against his shoulders. Makiko whispered something he didn't understand when they broke their kiss and Jano couldn't take it anymore.

 

Wordless now, he kissed her chin, letting his lips wander down her throat. It wasn't the right time, he had to get ready to leave as soon as possible and he sighed as he gently pressed her away from him.

 

"I really have to go," he whispered, tenderly holding her gaze.

 

"I know," she answered, wanting more from him. Makiko slowly backed away, trying to get the unbelievable tide of hormones under control. She wasn't angry this time, she understood and he understood and whatever had been standing between them had dissolved like a mist in the summer sun. His kisses had left a burning trail on her skin; a flush heat was racing through her veins.

 

Disappointment was washing cold down her backbone, but she made her hands obey her will, letting him go, backing away and pressing her shoulders against the wall. He got up from the desk slowly, loathing himself for being able to do it and fight back the hot waves of desire that were crashing down on them both. His hand was on the door; he needed to leave now if he wanted any hope of getting out of this room.

 

"Go," she whispered, as he opened the door. Curious eyes peered in, kitchen staff pretending not to be spying anyway. Jano shook himself and looked back at her.

 

"Oh fuck this," he said, suddenly realizing that he was a complete and utter moron.

 

He slammed the door again, ignoring the disappointed groans and sighs on the other side. Makiko laughed as he came back to her, sweeping her up and throwing her onto the desk. "I had always hoped for somewhere more romantic," he confided as he leaned over her.

 

Her hands wound into his black hair; her fingers untying the long topknot and letting the soft waves fall over his shoulders. "Don't be an idiot," she said, pulling him down on her for a vaporous kiss.

 

Jano forgot whatever he'd been thinking, her hands were pulling at his clothes, demanding and insisting that he pay attention. He fought to get his hands on her, each of them urgently trying to undress the other. She was breathing hard, her mouth urgent against his, finally getting his leather armor and shirt off, finding a concealed knife or two along the way and dropping them with a clatter to the stone floor.

 

Meanwhile, he'd managed to remove most of her outer garments and couldn't stop himself from kissing her breasts through the thin under layer of her yukata. He couldn't think straight, his hands shaking a little as he pulled her up, cradling her hips against his as she braced her arms on the sturdy little table and locked her legs around his. He moved forward, swallowing as he leaned in for a soft kiss just when someone started knocking at the door.

 

They froze, Makiko's eyes going wide as she stared over his shoulder at the door. "W...what?" she asked and wondered what they'd do if the suicidal fool on the other side of that door tried to enter at such a compromising moment.

 

"Sister?" Aiko's voice sounded muffled through the door. "Is...is everything okay? The girls are wondering what their duties are." There was a tense pause. "Sister?"

 

Jano waited, holding his breath. This was insane.

 

"Everyone has the afternoon off," Makiko suddenly shouted, almost barking the words as she bared her teeth at the door. Jano's jaw dropped open.

 

"Are you serious?" came Aiko's incredulous voice.

 

"She is," Jano snarled. "And I will personally dismember the next person that knocks on that door. You got that, Aiko or do I need to spell it out? Go the fuck away!"

 

Makiko snorted into his shoulder, her body shaking with silent laughter. "I don't believe this," she whispered, her eyes filling with tears of mirth and Jano just shook his head.

 

"That's the problem with this place, no damn privacy," he muttered.

 

Makiko snickered, leaned back languorously. "Where were we?"

 

"Here," he breathed, moving to kiss her again. His hands found their way to her bare skin; Makiko arched her back, drawing him closer. "Now," she hissed, kissing his chest and digging her claws into his back. She pressed her forehead into his chest, his hands bracing against the table and found her ready for him to enter her at last.

 

He nuzzled the top of her head with his chin before tipping her face up to his for a hard kiss. Jano hissed into her mouth, his fangs grazing her tongue as their bodies began to move as one. Time melted, minutes blending together in desperate abandon. Makiko whimpered urgently, pulling him against her, locking him to her with her knees and grinding against him.

 

"Oh gods," she gasped, throwing her head back and he stared down at her, riding the tide of her as Makiko suddenly surged, clutching him tightly. He held her against him, panting hot in her ear and snarled angrily almost, pushing hard against her as the table groaned under them and threatened to give way.

 

His legs were going weak, he couldn't think for a moment, nothing mattered as Makiko put her hands behind her, pushing against the table and lifting against him, pulling him to her with her legs and Jano cried out, his claws shredding the surface of her desk as he buried his face against her neck. Her hands came back to his face and stroked his hair back from his cheek as she tenderly whispered his name.