A/N: I sincerely apologize for how long this chapter took. I got seriously stuck, then with how life is right now, I was not in the mood to write something happy and romantic. But I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't post another story until this one was done. Please enjoy. I'm thinking about making a post-series series. Would anyone be interested? I may try my hand at more smut.

Please heed the rating, mature content.

Chapter 5

The impending return of his demonic power always felt strange. It happened every month, had happened, for his entire life; he always knew when exactly dawn was approaching. His skin would tingle, much the same as when a limb fell asleep, his heart would race, every muscle in his body would tense, his whole being readying itself for the influx of everything. He found that trying to concentrate on one of his senses during the change would overload that sense, so he'd try to calm himself before the dawn broke.

This time, however, he wanted all of his senses overloaded. The way Kagome had faded during their kiss at sunset had made him crave her all the more. He needed the first things he smelled, heard, saw, touched, and tasted to be her...preferably all at once. He welcomed his every sense being overcome.

He'd hardly shifted in the intervening few hours since Kagome had fallen asleep in his arms. He was leaning against the tree, Kagome's head tucked against his neck. She was drooling slightly on his bare skin, but he didn't mind. Her steady, warm, rhythmic, puffs of breath were comforting and meditative.

A warm feeling filled his chest. This was his now. He could have her drool against his neck, sleep on his chest like this whenever he wanted. He ran his fingers through her hair, still awed. She hummed contentedly and mumbled what could have been his name. His damn human ears could barely make out the breathy sounds.

As much as he wanted to stay exactly as he was, dawn was rapidly approaching, and he had promised...but how should he wake her? A dozen lecherous thoughts filled his head, but he settled on something simple. He nuzzled her with his cheek and whispered her name.

Her hand was uncoordinated from sleep, but that did not stop the tremors of pleasure that ran through him as her fingers caressed his chest. She yawned, trying to burry her head deeper into the crook of his neck, "Is it dawn yet?"

"Almost."

She blinked at him sleepily and pulled away, absently wiping the corner of her mouth before blushing and running the sleeve of his suiken against the spot she had laid against. She ducked her head, "Sorry..."

He scoffed, "If it'd bothered me, I would've moved you."

Kagome looked down at herself, she was still cocooned in his armor, "I hope you weren't cold."

He shook his head, "You're really warm." A thought struck him, "Were you cold?" He could have moved closer to the fire, but he'd been comfortable.

She shook her head, smiling, "You're really warm, too.

He looked up, the glow of the impending sunrise was now visible. He swallowed, suddenly nervous for no reason. He his eyes returned to her, her face was flushed with a bright smile.

She shifted her body to a better angle and cupped his face. Her lips parted a fraction, and she slowly leaned in for a gentle kiss.

He did not allow it to stay gentle for more than a moment. One arm pulled her tighter against his chest while the other cradled her head. Any moment now...

And then he transformed.

He gasped, perhaps moaned, as his senses returned. A growl reverberated at the back of his throat at the taste of her. His nostrils flared as he was finally able to analyze their makeshift camp. The scent of him and her blended into them and there was no mistaking what had happened in the preceding hours. Her skin was even covered in his scent. Usually, it was only her hands and clothes, but now every bit of her was claimed by him. No demon could ever question. They belonged to each other.

He pulled back, leaning his forehead against hers, chuckling. His skin tingled from her spiritual power. He let his tongue glide along his fangs, savoring, and sighed, "Kagome."

She was smiling, "Inuyasha."

So...now what?

He didn't know where to start. Where they just going to have sex? Should they kiss more first? Did she still want to wait? How should he ask? Should he ask? Maybe he was supposed to wait for her? Maybe she was waiting for him?

Her eyes were fixated on something above him. He was about to question her, when her hands were suddenly at the base of his ears. His eyes slammed closed, rolling to the back of his head, as a deep groan escaped his throat before he could control himself. The rough bark of the tree at his back was the only thing keeping him upright. He melted under her touch, and was instantly very hard.

Well, he had his answer: they were going to get right to it, then.

He felt Kagome shifting, but his eyes wouldn't open as she continued the exquisite torture on his ears. Her breath against his right ear had him shuddering, the appendage flicking madly of it's own volition. She whispered his name and took the tip into her mouth.

He clutched her tightly, it felt the same! Exactly, perfectly sensitive, with the exception of one major detail. As she was nibbling along the outer edge of his right, she continued to massage the base of his left. His entire body was consumed by want and need and pleasure. Then, the fact that he could smell her properly again, almost sent him over the edge. She smelled of happiness and arousal, and him. It was everything he never believed would happen outside his dreams.

She swapped ears, massaging his right, while her mouth worked magic on his left.

He was completely at her mercy.

"Kagome," her name was a breathy whine that escaped between inarticulate gasps.

She hummed questioningly, but didn't stop.

He growled, torn between wanting her to continue and wanting to reciprocate. With a growl, he lifted her enough so that her mouth was no longer on his ear, but her breasts were directly in line with his own mouth. She hadn't tied his suiken closed, her shifting had left her exposed. With a satisfied growl, he took one, suckling and teasing. It was Kagome's turn to gasp and writhe. Her hands continued their gentile rubbing on the base of his ears.

When he was satisfied that both her breasts had been given adequate attention, he lowered her to kiss her lips. He smiled, "What do you want to do?"

She was breathing hard, still hadn't opened her eyes. "There's something I didn't ask for last night." She whispered.

Something she hadn't asked for?! He was instantly curious. "What is it?"

She suddenly sobered, swallowing. Her eyes were wide, as if she hadn't meant to say that out loud.

He could smell the anxiety rolling off her, feel the change in her body temperature. He wanted to scream at her to stop being embarrassed! How often did he need to say it?! "Stop thinking. I can smell your nervousness now. After everything last night, how can you still be embarrassed?"

She sighed, "It's just so ingrained, I guess. To be shy and embarrassed about liking sex." She looked into his eyes boldly, "Maybe with enough practice and experience I won't be?"

He kissed her roughly, "Yes," he growled. "Tell me."

He watched her courage evaporate, she looked away again, "Well, I, you could...you know how I..." she seemed to be searching for the right words.

He was getting impatient. "Just say it!"

"You could use your tongue like you did your fingers!"

Inuyasha stared at her, she clamped her mouth shut and looked away. "My tongue?" He asked.

His nose filled with the acrid scent of sadness, her face was crumpled in shame.

He instantly knew that he needed to say something to reassure her, but he didn't know what. The only thoughts in his mind were that his tongue was nowhere near as long or as dexterous as his fingers, how was it supposed to work? That didn't matter, he needed to say something! "That would feel good?"

She shrugged, her response was mumbled, "Eri said it was the best thing she'd ever felt."

Okay...he wracked his brain, "And I would...just do the same thing as I did with my fingers?"

She shook her head. "You don't have to."

That isn't what he'd asked! "Kagome, look at me." She did. "Tell me why you're embarrassed or scared or whatever."

"You can smell so much better now! What if...maybe I should clean up first?"

He couldn't stop a sharp burst of laughter, she looked angry enough to yell the command. "That's what you're worried about?! Kagome, you bathe every day! You're the cleanest person in the whole village!"

"But you hesitated!"

"Yeah, I was trying to figure out how my tongue was supposed to do that!"

She looked confused, giving a simple, "Oh," as if that hadn't crossed her mind. She looked at him shyly, "I don't smell bad?"

Damn him for ever saying he didn't like her scent all those years ago! Hadn't he told her, even then, that he'd lied?! "Do you know what you smell like?"

Her nose wrinkled, "No."

"Like you and me and pleasure and what we did last night," his voice was gathering more of an animalistic growl as he continued. "I've always wanted you to smell like this."

She seemed taken aback, "I don't smell sweaty or dirty?"

"A little like sweat," he admitted, "but...it's you. You always smell good."

She was blushing a soft smile, "Your nose is so sensitive, I worry."

He scoffed again, "You worry too much." He stood quickly, lifting her easily as he moved closer to smoldering remains of the fire. He kissed her lightly before laying her down, she was chewing her bottom lip nervously. She simply reeked of fear. He hated it.

"We don't have to do anything," he started, "if you're scared, I...I don't want you do anything that makes you scared. I can wait."

She reached out to him and he knelt beside her. Her face was bright red, "There's a thing, to do before sex. What this is. It's supposed to make you...feel ready. To put you in the mood."

They had been here all night, weren't they already in the "mood?"

"You don't always have to have sex after, but...it's called: foreplay."

"Foreplay?"

She took a deep breath and met his eyes, "Yes. The stuff we did last night, what we're about to do. It...when you kiss me I'm not nervous! I just want you to keep kissing me and touching me. That's what I mean, it makes me ready."

He grinned widely, understanding, "Why didn't you say so, idiot." She gave him an annoyed look. He grinned, flashing his fangs until she rolled her eyes and returned his smile. He let his smile drop, so that she would see the sincerity of his next statement, "Kagome, I always want to kiss you. It makes me less nervous, too. Cause, you know," he shrugged, looking away and mumbling the last few words, "I'm nervous, too."

"Oh?" She teased.

A soft growl of irritation rumbled in his chest, "Just, can I kiss you now or what?"

She laughed and pulled lightly at his hair. "Yes."

He started slow, watching her, letting his other senses guid him how he hadn't be able during the night. There were subtle shifts telling him what he needed. Small noises: hitches in her breath; the rhythm of her heart; that were imperceptible to human ears, but now were clear as day. If something was particularly enjoyable, there was a spike in the musky undertones of her scent that had him reeling.

Quickly, the scent of fear had vanished, replaced by...what had she once called it? Pheromones?

Carefully lowering her head to the ground, he trailed down her body, kissing, sucking, letting his tongue glide across her skin every so often savoring the salty taste. He wouldn't ever understand why she thought sweating was so terrible.

He shifted to better reach her lower body, letting one hand glide along her outer thigh. When he reached her knee, he lifted gently, slowly spreading her legs apart, so that he could settle between them. Another pang of fear swept through her scent, but when he looked to her face, it held a soft encouraging smile.

His claws gently caressed her legs as he leaned forward, his eyes glued to her face, and placed an open mouthed kiss just above her hip. She gave a subtle gasp, her eyes slipping closed as her head leaned back. One hand slid along her outer thigh, up to her hip, while the other carefully inched it's way from knee to inner thigh. Her body was taught, but the way she moved, widening her legs to allow him better access, was encouraging.

When he pressed a kiss where her leg met her hip, she let out a squeak. He couldn't help but chuckle. He ran his claws lightly over her inner thigh, causing her to shudder. Her scent no longer had spikes, it was now constant, a good sign. He kneeled the muscle of her leg gently; her hips began to rock.

"Please," she gasped, his eyes jumped up, her head was thrown back, hands were fisted in the material of his suiken.

He kissed her thigh, and brought his face to her center. Kissing the outer skin, he then used his fingers to open her, before carefully pressing his tongue against her. The reaction was instantaneous.

It wasn't a gasp or squeak or scream, but somehow all three at once. He studied her carefully for a moment, until he was satisfied that the sound had not been because of pain, before he repeated the action. The response was less pronounced, but still there. Slight tremors began to overtake her.

Allowing his tongue to carefully explore where she had guided his fingers only hours earlier, the spot with the...nerves? He found it quickly.

She cried out, he whole body arching. She was trying to say his name, at least that was what it sounded like. This was the reaction he'd wanted! The inarticulate cries we're getting more and more ragged. He sucked on the spot lightly, before allowing his fangs to drag lightly along the sensitive skin.

Suddenly, her cries cut off into a strangled gasp, her body going completely taught before falling limp. He pulled away slowly, watching in awe as she took deep shuddering gulps of air.

He suddenly felt that he had a better understanding of Miroku's tendencies. What man wouldn't want to experience this as often as possible? To see a woman completely overcome because of what they and they alone could do for them?

Inuyasha wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and moved to cradle Kagome's still shuddering form. He studied her with all of his senses. A smile lit his face, not a wicked grin or his trademark smirk, but a true contented smile. She was covered in a light sheen of sweat, that heady scent cloying in his noise, her panting slowly evening to deep breaths that was beginning to calm her racing heartbeat. He nearly laughed with joy, thrilled beyond all measure that he had caused every one of those reactions in her. He wanted to kiss her, but she was still oblivious to the world and he wouldn't take any second of that feeling from her. He could be patient just this once.

That patience was greatly rewarded when moments later, Kagome opened her eyes, still glazed and unfocused, she quickly reached up, hands on either side of his face and pulled him into a demanding kiss. He didn't try to hold back his laughter. He leaned back, a sarcastic, egocentric quip was on the tip of his tongue, but she beat him to it.

"I'd read..." she was still breathless, forcing out the words in a rush, "Eri told me! I didn't think...that was..." She sighed and spoke his name with such emotion, "Oh, Inuyasha! I didn't...that was..."

He found he didn't have a response other then a wide grin. "Yeah?" He asked, almost in disbelief.

She nodded, kissing him again, "Yeah."

She stood slowly, unsteadily; shrugging off his suiken, she held out her hand. He took it. She walked the few steps back to the base of the tree and laid his suiken down, "Ready?" she smiled. He swallowed, hands nervously fumbling with the ties of his hakama. He let them drop and stepped to her. She put her hands on his shoulders, then smoothed them down his chest, cause his eyes to slip half closed. "Have a seat," she whispered.

He sat, looking up at Kagome towering over him. She began rubbing his ears, the nervous tension he hadn't realized had been building started to melt away. He hadn't noticed her moving until her weight settled on his lap. He shuddered as her legs wrapped round him, her heels pressing into his back, squeezing him against her. "Like this?"

He couldn't breathe. Exactly like this. It was better than he had dared to imagine. He rested his forehead against her's and nodded, not trusting himself to speak, lest he ruin the moment.

She kissed him softly, massaging the base of his ears until he was again relaxed. His arms wound around her, one hand moving to cup the back of her head. Her hand slid down his chest, between their bodies. Her fingers curled around him stroking him a few times she repeated herself, "Ready?"

Yes. A thousand times, yes. But the only word that could pass his lips was, "Kagome."

He felt her shift, knew she was positioning them, but hadn't realized his eyes had slipped closed. She kissed him and before he could gather enough thought to open them he was suddenly enveloped in heat and sensation. He couldn't have opened his eyes if he had wanted to.

He needed more, but their position did not allow him much movement. It was slow, exquisite, torture; and he was not sure, but he may have let out an undignified, strangled cry, when he felt Kagome's hips finally flush against his. He shuddered, overwhelmed. It was too much. It wasn't enough. Suddenly, he was overcome with the need to move. Again, he tried to rock, but their position didn't allow it.

Then, Kagome shifted.

Stars whited out his vision in a way he hadn't thought possible with closed eyes. Her shifts were gentile, a barely-rocking, but it was plenty. He felt himself not building, but already about to release. What was he supposed to do? Miroku had told him something...he couldn't think. He didn't want to think. He tried to say her name, to warn her, but she was kissing him softly as she rocked, and he couldn't stop himself.

The feeling of bliss slowly faded, but Kagome was still holding him tightly, mumbling words of love and promises between gentile pecks she was placing all over his face.

When his vision cleared, it was as if he was suddenly doused in cold water. Kagome's face was pinched in pain; her brows together, jaw clenched, failing to hide behind a tight smile. His ears twitched at the sound of her labored breathing as it hissed through her teeth. He was hurting her! What horrible twist of fate could make something feel amazing to him, yet cause her pain?! He smoothed the hair from her face, calling her name softly. "I'm sorry," he whispered, filled with shame. Damn him. How could he?

She gave him a tight smile, shaking her head, "It isn't what you think," she said, but her tone clipped, so he didn't believe her. "It's more like...like when you hold something heavy for too long. Your muscles burn."

"That's still not a good feeling!" He blurted, he was suddenly very glad she had chosen this position, how much could he have hurt her if he'd been able to move as he'd instinctively wanted?!

He moved his hands to lift her off of his lap, but she grabbed them. "It started to feel good toward the end. I know it will feel good next time."

He felt himself slip from her, she gave a soft sigh. Next time? He had hurt her and she wanted to do that again?!

She smoothed hair away from his face, "I was expecting this. Please don't feel guilty. I talked to Sango, she told me what to expect. That why I suggested the foreplay."

"I didn't want to hurt you. I never want to hurt you."

"I know. You didn't."

He took a deep breath, trying to gauge how badly she was lying, but there was no blood in her scent. "You...there's not blood?"

She shook her head. "That doesn't always happen, you know."

He signed. "I wanted you to feel good, too."

Her fingers wrapped around the beads at his neck and yanked him so their noses were touching. "Hey, dog boy, listen to me. You didn't hurt me. You didn't do anything I didn't want. I am happy."

He replied softly, reluctantly, "Okay."

She shifted to stand, suddenly giggling.

"What's so funny?"

"I just had sex with you!"

Inuyasha scoffed, confused, "Yeah, so?"

"I never thought it'd be real!"

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Me either."

He shifted and stood, stomped out the last vestiges of the fire before snatching up their clothing and pulling Kagome into his arms. He was running before Kagome could speak.

She squealed, "We're naked! Where are you going?!"

He stopped after a few moments, the powerful scent should have given it away, even to her nose. "You said you were sore! Go soak. I'll clean these clothes."

She looked at the hot spring then back to him, "Will you join me when you're done?"

He stared at her in disbelief. Oh. He could do that now! "Yeah, I'll-I'll be quick."

He rinsed their clothing and returned within minutes. Laying the garments on a rock to dry.

The moment he slid into the water, Kagome embraced him. He allowed some of the tension to leave his shoulders.

"So, does this mean we're married in demon custom, now?"

He scoffed, "How the hell would I know? Ask Songo. She's the expert in that stuff. Not like I had any demons around to teach me that shit. Would you know human traditions if you weren't around to see them?"

She hummed, "I guess not."

You're not upset that we didn't wait for a ceremony? Isn't that really bad?"

"It isn't so bad where I'm from; besides, I've thought of myself as your wife since you asked. Are you?"

"I don't give a damn about traditions or any of that shit. Miroku made a stink about it, but only because he thought it would upset the rest of the village. We should probably do something."

"Something small. And soon. I don't want to go back to Kaede's. I want to sleep in your arms, every night."

"Yeah. I want that, too."

End