Inspiration: "Text Me Merry Christmas" Straight No Chaser feat. Kristen Bell
Sequel to Jet Lag
As well off as he was, it wouldn't do him any good to trash his hotel room. There was a reputation to uphold, and rules to obey.
Sesshoumaru's fingers clenched around his glass to keep from throwing his phone at the wall. He'd cut it close with this particular trip, but if everything went well, it would mean a long-deserved break.
One he could spend with the woman he loved.
He'd promised her they'd spend Christmas together, given his word he'd be home within the week, but the meetings had dragged on, advisors and competition alike unsatisfied with insignificant nuances every day, and before he could blink, it was Christmas Eve.
He knew how much Christmas meant to her, had seen the trepidation on her face when she'd waved goodbye to him through the airport window. And yet he'd still gone.
He'd still left her.
Unable to stand it any longer, he hurled his glass against the opposite wall, the sound of shattering crystal not doing anything to calm his fractured nerves. The only reason his phone was still intact was that it was his only means of communication with her.
As if on cue, his screen lit up, a candid shot of Kagome playing amongst the waves smiling up at him.
Don't pout.
Mindful of his claws, he tapped the phone icon. "I am not pouting."
She laughed, the warmth of her voice doing much to dispel the frustration bubbling under his skin. "Meaning you're not currently sitting on your bed, glaring at the ceiling."
Sesshoumaru shifted his position, lying back against the headboard instead. "No."
"Liar." Her tone was soft and knowing, and he could almost see the telltale smile tugging at the right side of her mouth. "Have you eaten yet?"
"The last meeting only just concluded. I have not had time."
"What's stopping you now?"
"You." She laughed again, and he took a deep, cleansing breath. "I could not very well distract myself with food when I knew you would be calling." She'd been working extra shifts at the campus library, saving up for the final semester, though he had the feeling it was more to distract herself from his absence.
Just another thing he had to atone for.
"I'm sorry you had to wait so late. The delivery truck broke down yesterday, so we had last-minute inventory when it finally arrived." She sounded haggard, and Sesshoumaru wished for nothing more than to pull her close and ease the tension between her shoulders.
"I have told you before about apologizing. You could call in the middle of the night, and I would pick up the phone."
"Still trying to make up for when you did it to me?" Her friends took credit for setting them up, thinking the single 'I miss you' text had been enough to bridge the gap between friendship and something more.
Like they hadn't known each other for centuries.
"I seem to remember you being quite angry with me at the time," he said, leaning his head back as he focused on her voice and not the distance between them.
"Only because I didn't know it was you!" she argued, voice muffled for a moment before she returned the phone to her ear. "And because I'd spent half the night worrying I'd ruined our friendship."
His lips twitched. "I doubt there is anything you could do that would cause me to cease our communication."
"Same goes for you, you know."
Golden eyes narrowed, and he raked a hand through his hair. "I promised to—"
"It's a work thing, I understand," she said with a huff. "It's not like you're ditching me on purpose."
He growled, jamming his thumb into the screen to switch it to a video call, a frown furrowing his brows when it failed.
"Give a few minutes," she said. "I'm near the train, and the service is spotty."
"I wish to see you." The statement held more emotion than he'd intended, but his nerves were shot, and patience was at an all-time low.
"I know, but there's no point if the signal is going to cut out." At this point, he would take what he could get, distorted image or not. He'd been gone for three weeks, on a trip that was only supposed to be one at most, and desperation gnawed at him. He needed something more concrete, more substantial than just the sound of her voice.
Centuries of negotiations with the humans, and he still wasn't allowed to use his talents of flight outside the designated areas. If given a choice, he'd have already encased himself in a ball of light, forgoing the crowded security checks and weather delays that went along with regular air travel.
"Alright, I should be able to—" The rest of her statement was cut off by a loud knock at his door.
Sesshoumaru saw red, letting out a low growl.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Someone is going to lose their head," he snarled, wishing he had something else to throw. "I specifically told them I was not to be disturbed."
"Maybe it's important."
He bit back another snarl, reminding himself that she wasn't the one he was angry with. "Nothing is more important than you."
Kagome hummed softly. "I wish I could kiss you right now."
"The feeling is mutual." There was another knock, and Sesshoumaru shot up from his bed. "Allow me to dispose of this nuisance, and we will resume our conversation."
"Good. I made a formal appointment and expect it to be fulfilled." She laughed, the sound a balm to his soul even as he stalked towards the door.
She was much too forgiving, never blaming him for being caught up with work, always welcoming him with open arms and a warm smile. If it took him all winter, he would make it up to her—not that she would accept it.
"I do not deserve you," he said aloud, fingers tightening around the phone as a third knock sounded.
"I know. But why now, specifically?"
He reached for the handle. Perhaps it was lucky she was on the phone with him. It would prevent him from maiming the person on the other side of the door. "Because you are—" His ire melted away as gold met sapphire, Kagome staring up at him, phone still against her ear.
There was snow stuck to her shoulders and hair, a small wheeled suitcase grasped tightly in her hand as she ended the call.
"You are here."
A soft smile touched her lips, eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I'm here." She nearly tripped from the force of him yanking her into the room, but any and all protests were silenced by his mouth on hers.
Her lips her cold, nose equally so, and Sesshoumaru took the time to warm her thoroughly, quickly dragging her bag inside the room before pinning her against the door. Kagome cupped his face, stroking the stripes on his cheeks as she went up on tiptoe.
"Told you I wanted to kiss you," she said, smiling when he finally allowed her to pull back.
"Is this why you have been working overtime?" he asked, already undoing her coat. She grinned, pulling her arms free of the sleeves and letting the heavy covering drop to the floor. "I would have purchased you a seat."
Kagome shook her head. "We didn't know it would take this long. And I wanted to surprise you." She yelped as he picked her up, ignoring her bags as he strode towards the bedroom.
"So the reason for the delay in your phone call was—"
She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him soundly before he lay her on the bed. "I had to say something believable. Helping Mama at the shrine or Souta with wrapping presents wouldn't have taken as long."
"You are a deceitful wench. I will enjoy paying you back for your lies," he said, burying his face in her hair.
"Promise?" A growl was his only response, pulling her close.
"Do you require sleep?" His voice was ragged, hands roaming as he disposed of their clothes.
"No. I slept on the plane."
"Good." He claimed her mouth again, sliding his body against hers before sinking into her. The entry was rough, desperate, but she never voiced a complaint, arching up against him as he adjusted the angle.
It was a series of jerky movements and breathy moans, neither of them lasting very long, more content with the proximity than anything else. His hands never left her, reaffirming his knowledge of the contours of her body, fangs and tongue dragging over her shoulders down to her breasts.
Sesshoumaru shuddered when she clenched around him, head already spinning. Her scent had always been intoxicating, more so when drenched in desire—his own personal aphrodisiac. She constantly wore her heart on her sleeve, but he took great pleasure in informing her about how obvious her attraction was, bringing a delightful blush to her cheeks.
Especially during times like this when it covered her entire body.
Hair nails dug into his back, spurring him on as she pleaded for more. He would give her the moon if he could, but for now, she would have to be content with the fever pitch he drove her toward, waves of pleasure washing over them as they crested together, chests heaving as limbs became heavy.
Sesshoumaru groaned, trying to move off her, but soft kisses peppered the underside of his jaw, her grip tightening. "I missed you so much." The barrage of affection continued until she caught the corner of his mouth, blunt teeth tugging at his bottom lip as she coaxed him into another toe-curling kiss.
"Next time, I will just bring you with me from the start," he said, pressing their foreheads together.
"Are you allowed to do that?"
He snorted. "I would like to see anyone say anything to the contrary."
She hummed softly, tapping her chin. "But then I'd spend the whole day sending you risqué photos of myself, trying to persuade you to come back to the room."
Golden eyes darkened to amber, tendrils of youki sliding over her hips and teasing her ribs. "Would you really?"
Kagome swallowed, skin roughened by goosebumps. "Maybe. I know you like it when I'm fresh out of the shower—"
Growling, he rolled them over, leaving her gasping as he thrust up as soon as she was stable. "Do not tempt me with that, Kagome."
"Isn't that the point?" she asked, lips curving up into a sultry smile. Claws pricked her thighs as she braced herself, slowly moving up and down.
"I cannot be held accountable for any broken furniture should you follow through with that promise."
"In here?" she asked. "Or in the boardroom when I text you in the middle of a meeting? I'd probably still be all wet, too. No time to dry off when I—" He thrust up again, and she lost her train of thought, more inclined to focus on the rhythm of his movements.
They continued to indulge in each other until dawn broke, Sesshoumaru leaving her exhausted but satiated as he headed to his first meeting of the day.
Kagome waited until his second meeting before following through on her threat, the fog on the mirror leaving little to the imagination. He never made it to the third.
It was a very Merry Christmas, indeed.