Chocolate Smiles by Stella Mira

A Seductive Insinuation

Sunset Miko’s Once a Week Challenge

Prompt: Ancient

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I’m early…way too early…and definitely overdressed for the occasion. Kagome sighed, nerves frazzled, lips bitten, fingers plucking at the hem of her spring dress. She had tried on at least twenty outfits before she decided on the flowing one-piece she was wearing—color the fresh of the peach fruit and soft cotton, strapless, knee-high. Not to mention she had styled her hair five times and applied three different make-ups before she was satisfied. Hair gathered on a low bun at the nape of her neck and below her left ear, two wavy locks framing her cheekbones, two brushes of ink on her lashes and one gloss of coral on her lips.

“Kagome!” Emiko’s voice reached her ears, high-pitched and full of joy, then Kagome was being tackled on her old bench. A mass of dark curls and overexcitement engulfed her, tiny arms curling around her waist and an eruption of giggles. Kagome relaxed, laughed with her, drew the girl closer and tickled her silly. Emiko had a way to infect others with the purity of her laughter.

“Apologies, Kagome-san. I hope you did not have to wait long. I was delayed at work.”

A nerve pinched in her neck. Thick lashes rose slowly until she was falling into his eyes. Kagome loved his eyes, those dark coals, the heat living inside. His voice was becoming dangerously familiar and her name was molten on his tongue. She would never get used to this man’s voice, that raspy purr, the way he made her melt with nothing but naked sound. It was getting ridiculous.

“No worries. I didn’t wait long, and I would have come much earlier either way. I usually spend my afternoons reading here.” A smile licked the flesh of her lips, soft-tilted and whispering that she would have waited for hours to no end if that was what it took to see him.

Emiko crawled out of her lap then, inching towards Kagome’s backpack on the far end. In search of sweets no doubt. Kagome stifled a laugh.

“Ha—caught you this time, tiny thief! What do you have to say in your defense? Depending on your answer, I might have to subject you to the horrible punishment of…tickling you ‘til your last breath!” Fake threat and laughter sparkling in the blue of her eyes, she pulled Emiko back on her lap to commence with the grave tickling torture.

Before she had the chance to begin though, a victorious squeal echoed, and Kagome turned to see Akira sprinting away with the chocolate wafers she had made for today’s meeting. Emiko nimbly leapt out of Kagome’s arms to run after him, yelling at her brother to share his loot with her. Tremors coursed through her body until she could take it no more—Kagome broke out in a light fit of spasms and laughter at their cute antics.

“You little chocolate addicts!” She shook her fist at the notorious twins between laughs.

“Kagome-san.”

Kagome froze. There was something in the way he spoke her name…a stimulating rendition of the syllables that made her shiver and made her stop and she was seeking his eyes. Void in dark-hungry eyes. She stared at him curiously, breathlessly, as those eyes moved low on her body, stroking curves and dips beneath thin fabric. He lingered at the juncture of her hips and thighs…as if he could taste the hot pulse of blood burning inside.

What fueled this reaction? Was it her dolled up state? Her mouth fell open in shock when she saw what it was. It seemed Emiko in her hurry to pursue the delicious sweets had pushed her dress up her thighs…high up her thighs. What he saw was mortifying…that stretch of lace around slim hips, inches and inches of creamy skin laid bare. With clumsy, frantic hands, Kagome vied to cover her exposed flesh, apologies racing down her tongue.

“I—I am truly sorry! I didn’t mean to—didn’t realize I was flashing you!”

Sesshōmaru chuckled. Smokiness and the snare of that hunger.

“I am guessing Emiko is at fault yet again, Kagome-san. Though I do not feel the urge to apologize for this particular misdemeanor.”

It was so unapologetic, so blatantly insinuating, that her flush spread down to her collarbone and over the swells of her breasts and she hid her face in her hands.

“May I sit next to you?” Quiet, too deep to be mere amusement, too husky not to be.

Kagome needed to ask him what his occupation was soon—because right now, she would bet everything she owned that he was a professional host. The ancient dance between man and woman…he knew it well, too well.

“Please, I should have offered sooner.”

Sesshōmaru lowered himself into the bench, long legs crossed, arms resting against its wooden back, hard muscle bulging under the white of his dress shirt. Sinuous. Magnetic. Perfect skin, sharp angles, lids closed, he slanted his neck far back and sighed. Kagome was riveted by the cords in his throat, their rippling as he breathed, their tightening when he swallowed. Silence thickened with things that were too intimate, visceral thoughts of touch and skin and urge swelling in the space between.

“You look tired, Sesshōmaru-san. Long day at work? Where do you work, if you don’t mind my asking?” Kagome wanted to know him, but more than that, in this moment, she needed idle conversation…anything to take her mind off of him naked in her bed.

“Indeed. Today was quite a busy day.” His lids lifted with another sigh, and he turned to meet her eyes. “I am a lawyer, Kagome-san. May I ask what is your occupation?”

A grin split the seam of his mouth, languorous, dragging her mind back into the gutter. Her spring dress felt too tight under the weight of his eyes, her skin too hot, candle wax dripping on thin flesh. Inch by inch, drop by drop, it spilled and burned as he watched. It was clear that he appreciated her choice.

“I am still a student. My major is linguistics and my minor is history. I do work part time at a family restaurant, but it’s spring break, so I am not working currently.” Her voice came out whispery and full of breath.

“Then I am very fortunate to have met you during this time. I have all the time to get to know you better and keep you to myself if you are not preoccupied with studies and work.”

He laughed, and it was hedonic, the raw sexuality and promise in it. Kagome nearly fainted.

You may kill me before you have time to spend quality time with me if you keep this up…