Sneaking a Peek by SunsetMiko

Honesty

Chapter 90 - Honesty

*Garnet* (Stella's Shiny Challenge)

The next morning, Kagome awoke with a gasp. She'd finally slept through the night, not waking due to her dreams thanks to Sesshoumaru's special tea, and she'd realized something. "It's not a dream," she murmured softly. "It's a memory."

Sesshoumaru tensed at her words from where he sat in the bed beside her. Did she finally remember what she'd said to him? Would she be angry that he didn't tell her, that he'd let her think it never happened?

"What is a memory?" he asked hesitantly.

A small smile pulled at Kagome's lips as she studied his face, seeing the nervousness there. "Tell me, Sesshoumaru, how do you really feel about me? The truth, please."

The taiyoukai looked her over, seeing the peaceful expression in her eyes. He realized that she wasn't freaking out. She seemed genuinely happy. Maybe that meant she was finally ready to hear what he'd known for ages. A weight lifted off his chest and a shadow of a smirk showed on his face.

"I love you, Kagome."

The miko's smile grew as she allowed his words to soak in. She'd never expected to hear such a thing pass his lips. He was a taiyoukai, a Lord that had responsibilities to his land and to his people. He couldn't go falling in love with a human woman, and yet he had.

"And what does this mean for our relationship?" she asked

Sesshoumaru paused for a moment, wondering if he should tell her. What if the knowledge that he desired her as his mate frightened her? He didn't want to push her away! Still, she'd asked him for the truth and he couldn't bring himself to lie to her face. He said a silent prayer that the next words to leave his mouth didn't ruin everything before replying.

"It means that I desire to make you my mate," he confessed.

"But... What about your lands? Your title?"

"They mean nothing compared to you. I can and will take a human woman as my mate and the other Lords and my people will simply have to get over it. So long as you will have me, that is."

*Onyx* (Stella's Shiny Challenge)

A smirk pulled at Kagome's lips, her confidence in their relationship growing exponentially. "I don't know about that," she said in that teasing tone that sent fire through his blood. "I mean, how do I know that you'd be a good mate?"

Sesshoumaru relaxed a great deal when he heard her flirty tone. He'd missed it recently, her playfulness lost to exhaustion, and he was thrilled to have it back. It also meant that she wasn't upset by his confession. He hadn't ruined things by speaking the words too soon. Perhaps this was the perfect time.

"What do you need proven?" he asked. "I would be willing to demonstrate my capabilities as a suitable mate," Sesshoumaru purred seductively.

Kagome laughed. "Being a good mate requires more than skills in the bedroom, skills that I haven't seen all of yet. I mean, sure, you're good with your fingers and your tongue, but who knows? You might be terrible at actual sex."

Sesshoumaru growled softly, irked by Kagome's insinuation that he was not skilled in the bedroom. It seemed as if she loved to poke that particular spot quite often.

"Don't you growl at me," she teased. "I know you've got a big enough boat, but do you have the motion of the ocean?"

The taiyoukai looked at her in utter confusion and Kagome couldn't help but laugh, the sound of which brought a smile to his lips. He'd missed her laughter almost as much as her flirtation.

"Even if you've got a big enough sword," she said, fighting down giggles, "you still need to know how to swing it."

Understanding her new phrasing better than her last, Sesshoumaru smirked. "I can assure you, I know how to swing my sword."

"Is that so? But it's been so long," she taunted. "You're out of practice. You might be rusty."

"Rusty? My 'sword'," he said, confused by her term, "is not rusty."

"Not literally rusty," she said with a laugh, "though that would be hilarious! Rusty as in out of practice. You sure you remember all the important moves?"

*Emerald* (Stella's Shiny Challenge)

"That is not something you forget," he flirted back. "And it has not been that long," Sesshoumaru added, still slightly annoyed by her choice of topic. His sexual prowess was not what he'd prefer she tease him about.

"How long has it been, then?" she asked, her tone suddenly innocent, all hints of teasing gone.

Sesshoumaru thought for a moment, trying to remember the last woman he'd been with. Once he determined that, he had to figure out just how long ago that had been. He quickly realized that it had, in fact, been that long. Too bad it was too late to beg out of this conversation. She'd asked him directly and she was waiting for an answer.

"Inuyasha had been pinned to the god tree for several years."

"How many years?" She sought clarification because she knew time moved differently for demons.

"Two," he said, regretting leading her to this line of questioning.

"So it's been fifty years?" she asked incredulously. "That's a long time!"

"Longer than I had thought it was," he confessed. "Still, I am certain that I have not forgotten how to please a woman."

"I think that's for me to decide, now, huh?"

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened. Did that mean she wanted to have sex with him?

Kagome laughed at the expression on the taiyoukai's face, unable to resist. He looked so shocked and yet so hopeful at the same time. She knew he had waited a very long time for her to be ready for sex, being more patient than most males might have been. Was she ready now? She really didn't know, but she did know she loved him and he loved her. He had no intention of ever leaving her, which made her feel very secure in their relationship. She might not be ready to be his mate yet, but the knowledge that he desired it made her happy.

"I love you, Sesshoumaru," she said softly, staring directly into his eyes. It might not be the first time she'd said it, but it was the first time she was sober, and he soaked it in, reveling in the feeling of his heart beating faster at her words.

"And I love you," he replied, all teasing gone from both of their tones.

"Soon," Kagome said, reaching out to take his hand. "I'll be ready to judge your skills soon," she added, that tone of hers returning. "I promise I won't keep you waiting much longer."