Tender Love

'inner thoughts'

Chapter 8

It was dark and far into the night, the only means of light coming from the small fire, still burning eagerly in the hearth, when Inuyasha awoke in the master bedchamber. She had only meant to rest for a short time but now as she sat up, she realized with a start that the house had a deadly quiet about it.

She pulled her legs to the side of the bed slipped into her slippers. 'Why didn't Mina awaken me?' she questioned herself. 'Surely it must be past the dinner hour.' She got to her feet and left the room. She felt her stomach growl in hunger and was going to see if Mina was still in the kitchen.

Just as Inuyasha was about to take the last step on the stairs, Mina approached her coming from the kitchen area. "Mina, why didn't you wake me for dinner?"

"Lord Sesshomaru told me not to disturb your rest, princess," said the fox demoness.

"Oh, that was kind of him." She smiled. "Do you think I can get something to eat now or do I have to wait until morning?" she whined prettily.

"Of course, but Lord Sesshomaru said to come let him know when you woke, and he would bring you your tray himself."

"Really?" Inuyasha asked, looking thoughtfully at the woman. 'What could be his reason for being so kind and concerned to me?'

Mina nodded her head knowingly. "Yes princess, he said for you to stay in your room, and he'd bring your dinner right up."

"Well, I guess I have no choice, but Mina please be sure to put plenty on my plate. For some reason, I am quite famished."

"I sure will," Mina said laughing. "Now hurry back upstairs."

“Oh Mina, what about Shippo?”

“He’s already in bed and sound asleep.” The elderly demoness snickered. “It seems the little fellow wore himself out playing.”

“Good.” She smiled and went back upstairs.

Inuyasha went back to her room, sat down at the dressing table and started brushing her long, silver tresses. She could not figure out what had brought about Sesshomaru's good mood or kindness toward her, but she had to admit she did prefer kindness to his overbearing and brutal behavior of the other night. As she sat there, deep in thought, Sesshomaru entered the room carrying a large tray laden with delicious smelling food.

He stopped short when he saw the sight in front of him. Never before had he seen a woman such as this, her hair tumbling about her shoulders and a look upon her face which was that of a goddess of some faraway haven.

"You look beautiful, sitting there like that Inuyasha," he said in a voice which even surprised himself with its warmth and feeling.

Inuyasha turned about with a start. She had not heard the door open and had not expected him to enter without knocking first.

Sesshomaru took in the surprised look on her face and misread it for fear. He tried at once to calm her. "I did not mean to frighten you. I brought you a tray. I hope you were able to have a nice nap this afternoon."

"I would really have preferred to have dined downstairs," she said trying to appear cool and calm.

"Inuyasha, let us not argue and fight this night. I only wished for you to get some rest. You looked rather tired this morning, and I do not wish for you to take ill."

She looked upon him not being able to suppress a small smile at his standing there holding the tray of food and acting as though she were his only concern. He did not appear anything like the Sesshomaru Aoki she had met only a few days ago. "I am sorry if I sounded rash and I must admit I have not been sleeping too well lately, so I do thank you for your concern.”

Sesshomaru set the tray on a small low-sitting table and knelt down on the cushion. Inuyasha had come from the vanity table and knelt on the cushion on the other side of the table. "Is something bothering you? Are you displeased here in my home?" he asked with concern, his dark amber eyes seeming to bore into her very soul.

"Oh no! I love it here I already feel as though I belong. It is only that it is all new to me. I will be fine in time I am sure," she answered truthfully.

"Good. I am relieved to hear you find no fault with your new home. Now, my dearest, you should eat your dinner. Mina will be very angry if you don't eat everything on your plate."

Inuyasha giggled at this. "Believe me. I know what you mean. I definitely do not want Mina angry again. She treats me as if I were a child, but I must confess I really do like her."

As she knelt before her tray and laughed, Sesshomaru watched Inuyasha with a yearning look. With her pale green yukata and her silver curls cascading down her back, he could not suppress the thought of how it would feel to have that satin skin beneath his hands and to caress those silky curls. Without thinking he reached out and started to finger her silver bangs across her forehead.

Inuyasha looked up from her plate and saw the passion and warmth that were beginning to grow in the depths of his eyes. They sat for a time, each lost in the tenderness and feeling seen in the other's eyes.

Finally Sesshomaru broke away from her gaze and from his thoughts and asked softly, "Would you prefer to eat alone or would you care to talk while you dine?"

Inuyasha could not bear the thought of his leaving and ventured, "If you are not busy, I would love some company."

"Well, I have nothing better to do than to entertain you, I assure you," he answered relieved she had not sent him from the room.

"Did you, Shippo and Sya dine together this evening?" Inuyasha questioned, trying to break the silence that fell over the conversation.

"Yes, we did, and I must say I was tempted to have Mina awaken you and summon you down to join us." He growled softly. "Shippo was okay. I understood his behavior since he is a child. But that woman . . . I do not know why, but I don't seem to get on too well with your cousin."

"My cousin?" She nearly choked on a piece of meat. "Believe me when I tell you she is nothing to me except my stepmother's niece, and a leech," she said angry that anyone would think Sya was remotely related to her. "My mother was human and my father is a dog demon from Japan."

"That's right. I remember father telling me about Lord Akemi Yamamaru. Father told me that he was his dearest friend and that he is a wonderful man." He mentally licked his lips as Inuyasha twirled some noodles around her chopsticks and raised it to her coral lips. Pulling himself from the erotic sight, he cleared his throat and continued. "If that is the case then why on earth did she come with you to Japan?"

Inuyasha frowned up at him. "I thought I told you. My stepmother wanted her along with me out of her way. So, my father and that woman sent her with me."

"You seem to have had very little choice in any of the decisions concerning your welfare," Sesshomaru stated reflectively.

Inuyasha looked up from her plate, ready to rebuke him for his words and to defend herself, thinking he was making fun of her as he had the first night they had been alone. But when she looked into his face she met only tenderness. "No, I really did not have anything to say on any of the matters which led me to Japan," she answered softly, returning to her meal.

"So, do you plan on visiting your relatives here?"

Inuyasha snorted. "Hell no!"

Sesshoamru arched one fine brow in question to her behavior.

"Have you forgotten. I am a lowly half breed. According to father, those pure bred snobs made it clear to him before he married my mother," she said, "if he mated that weak human and produced a vile half breed beast. They would disown him from the family. Well, since my father controls the eastern half of China. He really didn't give a damn what they did. As far as he was concern, he had no family and I agree with him one hundred percent."

Sesshomaru knelt quietly looking at her and wondering to himself how this small wisp of a woman could have gotten into his blood so quickly. His few days in the mountain with his friend Koga had been a disaster. Wherever he went and whatever he did, her image would come floating into his mind. And then when he had went to visit Totosai, the old demon had told him of her reluctance to make the voyage and of her aversion to mating. He had raged at himself for the way he had accused her of wanting a wealthy demon lord and trapping him into mating. All of this he had falsely accused her of, but then there had been Naraku. He knew Naraku well and he did not think he accused her falsely in this one area, but then again he could not be sure. She had neither denied nor admitted it.

"Inuyasha!" he said so loudly that Inuyasha jumped in her seat. "I am sorry I shouted, I only wished to apologize for my behavior of the other evening. I have not been able to get it out of my head. The terrible things that I said to you but you must understand my reasons. First, let me tell you I am a very powerful demon and I have never liked being forced into anything against my will. I did not wish for this mating. It was forced upon me by my father."

Inuyasha placed her chopsticks down and started to speak feeling her anger start to rise. "And did you think I would want to mate some demon I had never heard of."

"Please let me finish," Sesshomaru said softly, holding up one hand. "Yes, I must admit I did believe you wanted this mating, but while I was visiting Totosai, he told me of your reluctance to come to Japan.”

"He told you? But why would you not believe me?" she asking, her face turning pale.

"I do not really know why I did not believe you, and I do apologize for it. I have a bad temper and when I get something formed in my head I just turn angry instead of thinking clearly. I really do hope you will forgive me for treating you in such a harsh manner," he beseeched, his eyes almost pleading.

Inuyasha tilted her head to the side slightly and thought about what he had said. 'Do I have a right to be angry? I myself had been forced into doing things against my will.’ She sighed and looked at her mate. ‘I probably would have acted the same way. If I was a man.' She gave Sesshomaru a small smile. "I do forgive you, and I understand perfectly how you must have felt. I only wish I were a man and could give vent to my own anger and feelings."

He arched a delicate brow at her as though to say, you seem to vent your anger quite well from what I’ve seen.

Sesshomaru laughed in a relieved voice, he could not fathom why this woman's forgiveness had meant so much to him. It was as if he had been holding his breath awaiting her answer. "Thank you, Inuyasha, it means a lot to me knowing that you can forgive my cruel behavior and can understand my reasons. But for now I had better bid you a good night and let you finish your dinner."

"Must you leave so soon? I am not really tired, and the only other people I ever get to talk to besides Mina are my two friends, Sango and Miroku." Inuyasha implored him to stay.

He settled back in his spot and decided to ask her a question that had been rattling around in his head for a while. "Do you know what Lady Fu's plans are?" he asked.

Inuyasha snorted. "To sponge off the hospitality of my mate until she finds a mate of her own." She sighed looking anywhere but in his piercing amber eyes. "I know this must be a terrible burden to you all of a sudden being thrown into a mating and then having a house guest also."

He shook his head negative. "Lady Fu is no trouble at all. As you know, this castle is so large there could be a hundred extra guests and no one would be aware of it unless they made their presence known.”

"I am glad you feel this way. I would not wish to be the cause of any extra trouble," she replied sweetly.

Sesshomaru stood. "I am really glad to have you here, Inuyasha, if you can believe me after the unforgivable way I behaved."

Inuyasha smiled and rose from her cushion. "I thank you for your kind concern about my rest and for bringing my meal. The food was delicious."

"You are welcome," he said with a small smile. He stood looking at this vision of beauty standing before him. "Inuyasha your beauty overwhelms my senses," he murmured in a low husky voice.

Inuyasha blushed deeply and started to feel faint because of the closeness of this strong virile man. Before she knew what had taken place she found herself in the circle of his arms.

"My love," he whispered as he held her tightly and softly stroked the length of her back.

Inuyasha's senses reeled at the touch of his body and the sensuous feeling of his strong hands. Before she knew what was happening Sesshomaru had bent down and scooped her up into his arms. When he started toward the large bed, Inuyasha regained some of her senses. "Sesshomaru, please put me down," she begged in a frightened voice.

"Hush, my love. I shall love you and make you forget all about that vile pirate, Naraku."

Inuyasha stiffened in his arms with these words. "Put me down this minute!" she shouted and pushed against his chest with all her strength. "You shall not touch me. You are worse than any demon or human I have ever had the misfortune of meeting!"

"Oh?" he raised one dark, fine brow. "But you are wrong, my sweet. You are my mate if you still remember, and I shall have my husbandly rights of the mating bed and I shall have them tonight."

When she saw his intent, Inuyasha started struggling in his grasp and calling him every foul name she could think of.

He ignored her futile attempts at escaping and made his way to the bed and threw her in the middle.

Seeing her chance to escape, she scampered to the other side, but her attempt was in vain, for Sesshomaru had anticipated her move and threw himself on top of her. "I am master here, Yasha, and you will find I have my own way and get what I want in my own house."

"No, please, don't do this," she cried with tears streaming down her soft downy cheeks. In her struggles her yukata had opened revealing to his hungry eyes the soft creamy mounds of her breasts.

Sesshomaru looked at her eyes which were tightly shut and desire streamed through his groin. He had never in his life wanted any woman as much as he wanted this one. "Inuyasha do not fight me in this," he whispered into her soft doggy ears letting his tongue trace the inside. "I shall have my way and it would prove much easier if you would calm yourself and enjoy."

A sensuous shivered went down her spine as she could smell the lust radiating in thick waves from him. "Never!" she opened her eyes to glare at him with such disdain. Sesshomaru nearly released her. Her voice was filled with loathing and scorn. "Do you hear me? I will never willingly submit to a cold hearted, vulgar, vile-"

Before she could finish her rant Sesshomaru's lips pressed against hers in a searing kiss.

At the touch of his lips against her own Inuyasha tried in vain to break his hold upon her. She knew all too well the power those lips had upon her, and she was determined not to be an easy prey for him. But alas, all too soon the sensation of his lips and his probing tongue made Inuyasha's mind swim and her body start to respond of its own will.

Sesshomaru could sense her resistance waning and he deepened the kiss.

Inuyasha's body was ablaze with sensations she had never known before. She strained toward him as his hands caressed her body and his lips made a trail of soft kisses down her soft neck to her taut breasts. Inuyasha never knew when or how Sesshomaru had relieved her of her robe; all she knew was the feeling of this godlike demon atop her.

Sesshomaru's eyes held a soft glow as he looked down at the lovely body beneath him. "You have the most beautiful body I have ever laid eyes on," he whispered softly, as he nibbled lovingly at the furry white ear. "You were made for love, my Yasha, and I shall show you all the delights of your body.”

At his words, Inuyasha felt a shiver of passion run through her and her body waited in anticipation for what was next to come.

Sesshomaru shed his clothes as he kissed and caressed her body. "My Yasha, I want you with every fiber of my being," he said softly as he raised his body over hers and spread her thighs tenderly.

When she felt the pressure of his arousal trying to make entry between her thighs Inuyasha's eyes widened at the realization of what was about to happen and she tried one last time to pull herself free, but to no avail.

Sesshomaru looked down into her frightened eyes the moment he thrusted his hardened length into the body which he so lustfully craved. With his first plunge into her unwilling body Inuyasha gave a sharp cry of pain and Sesshomaru realized that his mate was indeed a virgin; but at the same time he told himself it was far too late for him to stop now.

Inuyasha felt as if she were being torn apart at his first thrust and tears streamed down her face.

Sesshomaru looked into her tear-stained face as he slowly moved back and forth. "I am sorry, love, it will be better as we go along, try to relax," he whispered softly into her ear and nipped it.

After the first pain of losing her virginity, Inuyasha felt her own body starting to respond to his. She started to strain toward him and move with the same rhythmic pressure as his body. She searched her mind for the answer to her thoughts. 'How could my body betray me, and want this beast's touch and kisses?' After this brief mind-searching, she lost all reason and her thoughts flew from her head. All she was aware of was the pleasure she was receiving from him. She felt a fire in the depths of her body and she knew only that this flame had a need to be quenched.

But all too quickly Sesshomaru gave a large sigh of pleasure coating her inside with his essence and relaxed upon her soft yielding body.

It was some time before Sesshomaru spoke. "Inuyasha, my sweet, I have never known a woman more beautiful or more passionate than you. I am sorry for the things I accused you of, but I promise you I shall make it up to you in a thousand different ways."

"I do not want you to make anything up to me," she said sobbing and pushing against his chest. "You take my body by force and treat me as a common whore and then you expect me to forgive you? Never! I would have given willingly that which you have taken by force, if you had only been kind and gentle. But no, you have forced me and accused me of all kinds of vile things that were false. Well, my lord, now that you have taken that which you desired, I wish only for you to leave me the hell alone."

"No. I shall not leave you alone neither will I leave this room. I think it's best you start getting use to the idea of my presence in this bed from now on,” he replied chillingly looking deep into her golden eyes which were shooting sparks of fire from their depths. "I must confess I did not find the idea of mating too pleasing at the beginning, but now that I have tasted the joys of your beauty I find the idea more than enticing. And for you, lying here and acting as if you were sourly set upon, must I remind you of your responses to my kisses and caresses? I know you are a woman of passion even if you do not, and I also know it will only be a short time before you become a real woman and know the full joy that my body has to offer you."

Inuyasha could not bear to hear his words and turned her head so as not to see him, and to shut out his condemning voice. She felt the guilt of her body's betrayal and shut her eyes tightly, wishing to forget.

"Do not turn your head from that which I speak," he said tenderly turning her head around and caressing her fragile jaw line. "Let your body glory in its union with mine, Inuyasha, for I shall not leave you and I shall always be here to share this bed with you."

Inuyasha lay sobbing and not daring to look into those piercing amber eyes above her.

Sesshomaru's large, strong hands, which were as gentle as a butterfly's touch, softly stroked her nipples, which rose tautly in anticipation. "This time, I shall take my time and you shall know the pleasure my body can give.”

Inuyasha was about to protest but her words were smothered by Sesshomaru's lips taking her mouth. She could feel her resistance already waning and her body melting from the fires beginning to grow within her.

"I shall love you as I have never loved another before," he said releasing his lips from hers to whisper in her ear. "You are like a goddess who only needs the first fires of love to make you complete."

Inuyasha could only sigh and shiver from the sensations of heat cursing through her veins. She arched her back off the bed stroking her body against the smooth hard length of his body. She moaned as he nipped and sucked at her neck. His tongue left a scorching wet trail down her neck to flick over her left nipple. Sesshomaru sucked and tugged at the erect nub while he stroked and pinched the other.

Inuyasha gasped and moaned as she felt an intense fire burning between her thighs. She dug her claws into the sheets ripping the silk material to shreds. Biting her bottom lip, she felt the fire spread to her belly. “Sess,” she said panting out. “I . . . I.” She could not say any more as she felt a tingling go throughout her entire body. She raised one hand and began to tentatively run her fingers up and down his spine. She smiled inwardly as she felt a shiver run through his powerful body. Her eyes bled red as she raised her other hand and boldly squeezed one of the firm globes of his ass.

The demon lord groaned and stared into the crimson lust filled eyes of his mate. He watched as her fangs grew long and he could feel her claws digging into his flesh. His own eyes had turned red and filled with lust. He lowered his head to her neck and lap the silken flesh. Her skin tasted like honey, and he had to taste more as his tongue swiped across her skin once again.

Inuyasha was lost in her lust as she felt Sesshomaru’s hand grasp her hand that was caressing his back and moved it to his groin. “Touch me, beloved,” he said huskily. She wrapped her hand around his cock and gasped. It was steel wrapped in silk. She moaned as his lips pressed against hers in an intense kiss.

As she continued to stroke the hot, hard length in her hands, she writhed beneath him spreading her thighs in invitation to take her again. She had to have him inside her. Breaking the kiss, she panted, “Take me, my mate. I burn to feel you inside of me again.” Boldly she pressed the head of his erection to her entrance.

Sesshomaru growled and thrust forward burying himself deep within her striking a spot inside her that made every nerve inside her want to explode. Inuyasha moaned in bliss at the feel of this powerful demon inside her. She found herself responding eagerly to his every thrust and circled her arms tightly around his neck. She was soon swept up into a whirlpool of brilliant embers bursting within her body. She strained her body into his thrusts and was totally consumed by the feeling of belonging to this man completely. With each thrust he made certain to strike that secret spot inside her that made his young mate shiver and sink her claws deep into the flesh of his back. And as they neared their completion, Sesshomaru bared his fangs and buried them into Inuyasha’s neck marking her as his mate for the world to see. Upon feeling his fangs sink into her flesh, Inuyasha buried her fangs into his neck as well as her orgasm ripped through her body. He sunk his fangs deeper into Inuyasha's neck as the walls of her inside tightened around his cock and Sesshomaru spewed his essence into her willing body.

Releasing each other from the grip of their fangs, both demons lap the blood away from the mating marks. Sesshomaru looked into his mate’s wonder filled eyes and kissed her soft lips, knowing he had brought her to fulfillment. He lay holding her tightly while rubbing his hand through her soft silver hair.

"I had no idea it would be like this," she said breathlessly.

"Indeed, but now I have had the sweetness of your body I am afraid you shall have to fend me off night and day," he said burying his nose in her hair.

She giggled and nuzzled her nose against his neck inhaling his scent. Musk. His masculine scent was making her dizzy with desire. "It is you who will have to fend me off. I have grown quite fond of your lovemaking," she answered wickedly and gently ran her tongue over the mating mark sending tiny shivers of pleasure through his body.

"Oh? Does the wench play a different tune now that she has had the pleasure of my body?" He kissed the top of her head. "I shall never grow tired of the delicious fruits of your wonderful body and I must say it would prove awfully tiring to have to result to force each night," he said laughing and she laughed along with him.

They lay there quietly for a time each content with the feeling of the other close by.

It seemed to Inuyasha an eternity had passed before Sesshomaru spoke. "Did you have anyone whom you were fond of in China?"

"No," she answered truthfully. "My father claimed I was much too picky in my choice of men."

"I'm glad to hear that my sweet for you shall find I am an extremely possessive dog demon and will destroy anyone who would dare to take what is mine."

Inuyasha looked at him with widened eyes. "And am I one of your possessions, my lord?"

"You are my most prized possession," he said staring into her golden eyes seriously. "For you, I would give up everything I own."

"Oh Sesshy." She pressed her lips against his in a chaste kiss and snuggled closer to him, happy to feel the security of his arms around her. They were silent for a while before Inuyasha spoke up. "What are you thinking?"

"I have to confess you have captured my heart and my soul. I am yours now and through eternity and no other shall know that which I promise only to you." He kissed her softly on the lips.

"I did not know such a mean, cold-hearted, vile monster such as you could be so tamed by a mere hanyou such as me." She said teasingly.

"Nor did I, my sweet. And never call yourself such a disgusting, hateful name. You are the lady of the west, my mate. Whatever spell you have placed on me has turned me into a blundering fool. I could not even go about my business without a vision of you appearing in my head. Your face has been haunting me day and night since I first laid eyes upon you."

"Sorry if I have been tormenting you," Inuyasha said playfully nipping at his neck. "But I do think I shall keep haunting you."

"Since you are going to keep me up all night. Let's put those luscious lips of yours to better use." Sesshomaru nipped and sucked at her bottom lip until she moaned in bliss.

The night continued to be filled with their lovemaking and whispered words. Inuyasha was thrilled by Sesshomaru's knowing hands titillating the secret places of her body. And Sesshomaru could hardly contain himself when Inuyasha reached out to explore her first male body. Neither found sleep until the early hours of the morning, when the dawn light was streaming through the curtains.