Bound by Corruption by BelovedStranger

Addiction

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Word Count: 2,971

AN HOUR LATER found Kagome at the ravine situated on the far outskirts of her village, where she’d first noticed the smoke the day her village went up in flames. She was careful not to think about it. Towering above her was the stone walls of the cliffs, and though the morning was bright, the sun’s rays had yet to eclipse the rocky edge, leaving the bottom of the ravine in shadow.

Gooseflesh rose along her arms, but her body’s reaction was due more to the fact that she was pressed up against a very naked inugami than the chill of the air. Equally unclothed, skin pressed against skin as Sesshomaru held her against his side with a hand around her hip.

“I don’t know why we couldn’t get dressed first before coming here,” she mumbled, feeling her face heat as she directed her grumbling to her toes.

She felt him move. Lifting her. Instinct had her grabbing for his shoulders on a gasp of surprise when she found herself cradled in his arms. When her nose brushed his cheek, she jerking back. Her breathe caught at the look in his eyes. Like he wanted nothing more than to devour he—again.

She ducked her head, only to see that her breasts were on full display. With a high-pitched eep, she curled an arm over her exposed flesh, while her other hand covered the dark curls at the apex of her thighs.

“Shy, aijin?”

His teasing made Kagome choked on embarrassment, unable to respond, Then, she felt him nuzzle the top of her head as his cloud brought them to the edge of the river, where Sesshomaru stepped in. If the cold bothered him, she couldn’t detect even the slightest trimmer.

He answered her earlier grumbling as the water began crawling up his long legs with each step. “There is little point dressing when we would be undressing moments later. You did wish to bathe, did you not? Or…” His voice dropped, husky. “Do you prefer to keep my scent upon you? I would not be averse to retaining the scent of you upon my person, aijin.” She heard him draw in a lung full of air, felt his muscular chest expand and contract. “You smell divine.”

She spoke without thinking. “All I can smell is you.” Once the words were spoken, she wished she hadn’t, but it was true. The scent of his musk was in every breath she breathed, infiltrated her senses.

Before he could respond to her shocking forwardness, she wriggled in his arms. “You can put me down now.”

“Allow me to assist you in your ablutions.”

A strangled sound erupted from her throat. “I can manage!”

“Hn, disappointing.”

That one word had the strangest effect on her. She didn’t want to disappoint him. Kagome opened her mouth to take back what she’d said, to hear him call her a good girl again, before sanity saved her, helping her to bite back the insane impulse.

He lowered her legs into the water slowly, forcing her to rub her front against his, to feel all of him against all of her.

“Jerk,” she muttered upon release, quick to move away. Despite the icy chill of the water, her blood heated in response to his seduction. She heard his chuckle, the sound masculine, satisfied.

She winced, having moved too fast. There was a notable sting between her thighs. She was thankful her back was turned, so Sesshomaru missed the telltale sign of discomfort. She had no intention of revealing her soreness to him—because of why. When she hesitantly touched the tender area, she felt their combined fluids. It was sticky compared to the water submerging her.

The water was clear, revealing a smear of blood on her palm. Her innocence—lost. No. She’d given it away. To an inugami. Willingly. Eagerly. The water took away all sign of the deed, but not the imprint Sesshomaru left upon her. Inside her. She could still feel him, his hands—his mouth—everywhere.

She’d given herself to a man—male?—she didn’t love. Shoulders hunched, shame assaulted her. What had she done?

Nothing Kikyo hadn’t done, and more. Her mind was quick to defend her own actions. Did Kikyo even love Inuyasha? Judgement came swift on justification’s heels, before her shame intensified. Did it really matter? Kagome was not so naive to believe that sex equated to love, that many marriages were based on practicalities rather than dependent upon mutual affection.

Who was she to judge her sister? Especially now, when love had made no impact on her own willing embrace of carnal delights with Sesshomaru. 

Sesshomaru’s words of yesterday rang in her ears. “Life is too short, aijin, to deny yourself happiness just because someone else claims you are not worth having it.”

She blinked. He’d spoken of happiness. Not love.

If she could not have love, was happiness enough?

Had she been happy when they’d… Another flush heated her face as the answer came to her. Happiness couldn’t even begin to describe how she’d felt while in Sesshomaru’s arms. She’d never known how violent passion could be, how pleasurable. Such hunger…

The addiction of desire. Ice entered her veins, cooling the heat of remembered yearnings, of desperate want. What Sesshomaru had shown her, given her, was terrifying in its intensity. She should avoid it at all cost, before it was too late. Before she couldn’t breathe without thinking of the inugami and his wicked touch. Yet, the thought of never experiencing the heights of ecstasy again sent her pulse galloping; panicked.

Seeking an escape from such disturbing thoughts, she flung her gaze around. Taking in the river, the ravine. Only to remembered. The last time she’d been here, she’d been sitting on the riverbank. It had been night, the sky clear and bright with stars. She’d been able to see the smoke… Kagome shock her head, and looked up to the sky, determined.

Daylight.

Clouds obscured her view of the blue sky but it was day, not night. Neither was there smoke rising in the distance that had heralded the end of all she’d held dear.

Neither was she alone.

Her musing always came back to him. She swallowed thickly, afraid that it was already too late. That she was already attached.

Trying to be covert, she chanced a glance over her shoulder, peering at Sesshomaru from the corner of her eye. He’d moved away from her, his back facing her, giving her the privacy she’d wanted. Privacy she was denying him. Her wet hands cupped her cheeks. Shyness. Embarrassment. She should look away… Her lips parted on a silent gasp as he moved his hair over his shoulder, revealing the wide, muscular expanse of his back.

His skin was alabaster white, as though the sun dared not leave even a hint of a mark. Nor had she. Even with all her clawing and the hard press of her grasping hands, Sesshomaru didn’t bear a single mark after their intimate activities. Unlike her.

She didn’t have to look down to see the red scrapes along her breasts left by his fangs, or the bruises along her hips and thighs from his strong grip, and every time she moved her head even the barest centimeter, she felt his bite at her neck. He’d left his mark on her. Part of her was miffed that he possessed none from her. The thought was shocking. Kagome splashed cold water on her face, hoping to cool her perverse musings.

Who was this carnal creature she’d become? To want to leave evidence across her lover’s body of her every touch?

She blinked. Lover.

Her wet palms connected with her face with a stinging slap, a soft groan escaping her, unbidden.

“Are you unwell, aijin?”

Kagome shivered, lying to herself that it was the chill of the river that caused the delicate shudder and not the low timbre of the inugami’s voice. She felt his gaze bore into her like a physical caress. Unable to look at him, now with his attention was upon her, she shook her head in answer, hiding her wince behind her hands when the movement pulled on the wound on her neck. His mark.

Least he persist with questioning her, and not wholly comfortable being nude in his presence despite their earlier…closeness, Kagome lurched deeper into the river, before diving in. Breath held, she scrubbed her flesh with the sandy soil and pebbled rocks. The primal part of her that mourned the loss of his scent upon her flesh only made her ministrations harsher, rougher. As if she could wash away what they’d done, what she’d allowed to happen.

What she’d started.

Bubbles escaped her mouth on another groan of mortification and regret. Physically, they’d been as close as one could be with another, sharing each desperate breath, their bodies fused intimately. The things he’d done. The things she’d done! The scandalous words he’d spoken. The words he’d made her say to him. Worse of all were the demands she’d made to him, the desperate pleas she’d uttered without prompting, on her own volition.

She could still hear her own heated cries and Sesshomaru’s answering growls and snarls.

Lungs burning, Kagome kicked off from the river’s bed and broke the surface with a harsh gasp, before greedily sucking in gulps of air. In that moment, the sky decided to open up. While she’d been under water, the clouds had thickened, darkening.

A cry of despair was ripped from her throat. “No!” With a quick glare up at the sky, droplets stinging her eyes, she wailed, “Not now!”

They were supposed to continue following Kikyo’s trail now that Sesshomaru had rested after casting his time spell. Would the weather impede their search? Though, if his virility was any indication, she wondered if he’d been as drained as he’d displayed after nearly falling on her and passing out. He seemed to have recovered rather quickly, she inwardly groused, feeling churlish for her own weakness where he was concerned. Doubts plagued her.

The memory of Kikyo in Inuyasha’s arms returned to taunt her.

Shame and guilt fought with burning defiance. She’d been raised to uphold certain values, but if Kikyo could so easily turn her back on societal expectations, why couldn’t she?

Sesshomaru’s words intruded upon the confusing war waging within her. “Calm down, aijin.”

That was absolutely the wrong thing for him to say to her. “Calm down?” She stared at him incredulous. “I have to—”

“Find Kikyo,” he interrupted with maddening calm. As though her worries were trivial, that any delay in locating Kikyo was of no concern. “Yes, I know.”

Kagome opened her mouth before closing it. Despite herself, she felt a hint of worry—for him. “Are you… Will you be able to use that spell again? To find—” she was about to say Kikyo but quickly amended it to, “—our siblings?” She sensed the inugami’s annoyance whenever she mentioned her sister, wondered at it, only to assume her singlemindedness was getting on his nerve. She couldn’t blame him, not when they had a contract, which was surely on the forefront of his mind.

She felt the blood drain from her head, making her dizzy.

Their contract.

A memory arose, invading. That first day, after he’d saved her at the Inu no Kami’s temple, she’d asked him, “What—what do I owe you?”

His answer had been shocking, horrifying. “Your innocence.”

“I’m a miko! Carnal relations are forbidden!” 

“You mistake me. I do not speak of that virgin body of yours; though, in time, you will gift it to me freely. Eagerly, even.”

Kagome lifted a hand to her stomach, feeling sick.

Sesshomaru was at her side in an instant, hand beneath her elbow. “Aijin, you appear unwell. What ails you?”

She shook her head, unable—unwilling—to answer honestly. “I just need to find them.” She turned her head up to meet his gaze, ignoring the rain sprinkling her face. “How will we?”

Sesshomaru stared at her for a long moment before releasing her arm and answering. “Further spellcasting is unnecessary. All we must do is locate the bandit’s stronghold. Your sister desires vengeance. Her likely course would be to attack the heart, where the criminals’ feel the strongest, the safest.”

Then he was walking away, and Kagome followed, exiting the river where they came upon their clothes that he’d so thoughtfully brought along. She’d been surprised that—like their feet—their clothes didn’t fall through the clouds he commanded to fly them around. She grimaced. Their clothes were soaked. And muddy, she learned after lifting her haori, the white fabric ruined.

Seeing no other alternative, she began dressing. “How can you be sure? They could be anywhere. Wait!” Her head turned towards Sesshomaru, too fast. Pain lanced her. A small, pained gasp left her as she reached for her neck.

Sesshomaru was suddenly there, his large palm removing her hand. Then he was leaning down, inspecting the injury.

“You bit me,” she accused.

Sesshomaru was unrepentant. “You enjoyed it.”

Kagome looked away, denying herself the pleasure of ogling his naked chest that was right there, tempting her to touch, to lean in and press her lips against. To kiss the flat bud of his nipple. If she were to flick one with her tongue, would he enjoy it as much as she had when he had done the same to her?

The image shocked her, but not as much at the sensation of his tongue, a rough rasp, along the puncture marks on her shoulder. She gasped, flinching away. It hurt in the most erotic ways. What was wrong with her?!

“Hold, aijin.” Hands grasped her hips, keeping her in place. “Let me soothe you.”

“This isn’t soothing,” she refuted, biting back a moan.

Unsurprising, he ignored her.

The drag of his tongue was languid, calling up memories that flooded her core with heat, with renewed wetness between her thighs. His touch thrilled her, while her body’s response scared her.

Addiction.

Desperate for distraction, she asked, “What if they’d followed Onigumo and his men?”

A mistake.

Fangs nipped at her. She gasped even as he demanded, “Never say that name.”

She swallowed thickly, her mind going hazy when he returned to lapping at her skin. Sesshomaru’s breath was hot on her cool flesh, making her shiver. From cold, she assured herself, denying the surge of desire.

“It is doubtful they followed his trail. You resided with those humans for days, tending to Onigumo.” The name was a growl, vicious, ugly.

Was he…jealous?

The thought was so absurd she nearly laughed, only to bite back a moan of delight at his continual ministrations, her nerves catching fire.

“Had your sister followed them, the trail would have led inevitably to you. Even now, you’d be reunited, but she is nowhere to be seen.”

Instead, Kagome was with Sesshomaru. Her breath caught. Had Kikyo found her in the town, she never would have lain with Sesshomaru, would never have experienced such unimaginable delight.

The thought made her…somber.

It was then she knew with unquestionable certainty. Despite the guilt and shame, she knew she would have regretted it more had she never experienced such rapture—in his arms. Along with new awareness came a sense of loss when Sesshomaru stepped away. Kagome was hard-pressed not to reach for him, to make further demands for him to continue. Instead, her nails bit into her palms, focusing on what was more important. Finding Kikyo.

Still, she could not prevent a longing glance in his direction. Perversely, she watched him dress from the corner of her eye. Facing her, he bent over to grab his garments. Kagome found herself enrapt by the flex of his abs, and that tantalizing silver trail leading to his—

She quickly looked away, lamenting over the fact that she hadn’t had the place of mind to touch those small hairs. Where they as soft as they looked?

Focus!

She had to clear her throat before she could speak. It did little good. Her words were too breathy. “Do you know where the bandits’ stronghold is?”

“I do not.” Before his answer could deflate her spirit, he continued. “It would appear you will be visiting the spirit world after all.”

Wearing her wet and muddy haori, Kagome almost dropped her hakama. “The spirit world? Why do we—”

He sighed, silencing her. “Must you always question me?”

She shoved her feet into the wide pantlegs, grumbling. “I wouldn’t have to always question you if you’d just tell me what you have in mind.”

Sesshomaru surprised her by responding. “I have a contact who may have the answers we seek. It is the fastest, most efficient way of locating our wayward siblings.” She could hear the disdain in his voice, and guessed it was directed towards his half-brother. She could even understand his prejudice.

Hanyou were despised by both humans and daemons, belonging nowhere. Until Kikyo. She’d accepted a hanyou. Perhaps, even loved him.

If Kikyo could love a half-daemon, perhaps it was permissible for her too—

No. Just no. Kagome refused to finish that thought. It was the epitome of foolishness. She had to press it upon her mind, her very subconscious, that sex did not equate to any deeper feelings.

“If the thought of journeying to the spirit world is too distressing, aijin—”

It was her turn to interrupt. “No, no! You just…surprised me, is all. I’ve never been to the spirit world.”

She finished dressing, and grimaced. With her garments on, all the warmth seemed to have left her. If she didn’t get out of the rain soon and find a way to dry and warm herself, she’d have even more to worry about.