He'd made a grave error.
Inuyasha had pressured him into offering up his services as a private tutor, claiming there was an up-and-coming prodigy who'd just entered his field struggling with her recent wave of classes.
"You're the best there is," his brother insisted. "And trust me, she'd gonna give you a run for yer money, but I don't want her flunking out on a technicality."
"If this is another of Mother's harebrained match-making schemes—"
Inuyasha waved him off. "Keh, the old bat is still pouting that the last one didn't work."
Sesshoumaru leaned back in his chair, rolling his eyes behind a pair of glasses that did little for his vision. "It is her own fault for attempting a ball in this day and age. Life is not a fairy tale where damsels lose their shoes or awake from a simple kiss."
Shoving his hands into his pockets—it was still odd to see him in jeans rather than his fire rat—his brother propped himself up against his office door. "No one in their right mind would think digging up old bones and bowls as a romantic gesture. She just wants to do well in school."
He clicked his tongue. Becoming a professor of archaeology wasn't ideal, but he was currently caught up in paperwork and bureaucracy for his next location, and waiting didn't pay the bills. Plus, the university had been after him for years to teach a few courses, so until the permits came through, he was stuck behind a desk, grading papers.
"She'll pay you if you need it."
He pursed his lips, pushing his glasses back up on his nose, glamour firmly in place. "If she is as bright as you say she is, I doubt it will take more than one session." His brother nodded, offering up a few different options for times and days, Sesshoumaru eventually agreeing that a mid-afternoon on a weekday would be the most appropriate.
It would give the student fewer opportunities to misconstrue his intentions that way.
Sesshoumaru scowled at the small pile of dirty dishes in his sink. His home was modest, though secluded, keeping him away from the constant buzz of the city. The whole reason he'd chosen this field was it increased the likelihood of working alone.
It also kept his mother's requests for grandchildren at bay for most of the year, though she'd recently discovered his unlisted business number and had nearly cost him his job with how often she'd called him during school hours.
Though, if he'd given in to her latest request, perhaps he wouldn't have found himself in the current predicament of hiding in his kitchen.
He wasn't so sure his mother hadn't had a hand in it, but it was more likely this was all due to his brother's interference. He'd had one too many drinks after they'd all managed to escape the devastation of the Second World War and let it slip that he'd found his brother's miko fascinating.
Fascinating. That was all he'd said, but his brother had never let it go, needling him for information and a timeline as to why he'd come to that conclusion.
And now she was asleep on his couch.
Cursing under his breath, he silently finished with the dishes, leaving them next to the sink while they dried. She'd been the prodigy Inuyasha spoke of, though he'd somehow neglected to fill him in on her identity until she'd shown up at his house.
He'd barely been able to find his tongue when she smiled at him. And she'd done it often. Often enough that his mind had raced with possibilities, torturing him while he attempted to keep his composure, offering up formulaic solutions to the problems in her textbooks.
They'd poured over them for hours, the delight of finding someone who understood preventing her from leaving, even when her stomach signalled it was well past dinner. He'd stupidly offered to make her something, the fatigue from the hours of studying disappearing as she perked up in interest.
It had been simple, nothing more than gyoza and some pickled vegetables, but she'd raved about it until his cheeks burned, and he'd retreated to the kitchen to clean up. He hadn't meant to leave her alone for so long, but when he returned, he found her stretched out on his couch, one arm tucked under her head in a makeshift pillow.
He'd collected what was left of her dishes, careful not to make any noise lest he disturb her, and now he was at a loss for what to do next. She couldn't stay—she'd been here too long as it was—but he knew how little sleep students got, and based on her course load, he doubted she was getting enough.
Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair. It was shorter now—the upkeep when it was long was extensive, and he had better things to spend his money on—but she'd encouraged him to remove the glamour very quickly after she arrived.
He idly wondered if his brother knew he'd never been able to say no to her. This had to be a cruel prank; why else would Inuyasha have sent her here?
She sighed softly, curling more into herself, and another sigh had the lingering scent of honeyed citrus filling his lungs. This was why she needed to leave. He hadn't noticed it at first, what with the shock of seeing her again overriding his senses, but she'd insisted on a tour of his home first, and now he could smell her everywhere.
He'd have to bleach the entire house to be rid of her.
Jaw clenching, he approached the couch, kneeling next to her with the intent of shaking her awake, but the sight of her relaxed features had his stomach doing somersaults, and the most he managed was brushing a wayward lock of hair out of her face. Her skin was smooth to the touch, and he couldn't pull away, the backs of his claws sliding along her jawline to her neck.
"Took you long enough."
Sesshoumaru jerked back in surprise, youki sputtering as she smirked at him, blue eyes fluttering open. Heart beating wildly in his chest, it took him a moment to collect himself, though he couldn't get his legs to work. "You were not asleep."
"Nope." Heat returned to his face, darkening the stripes on his cheeks as she continued to stare at him unblinking. She propped herself up on one elbow. "Not that archaeology isn't fascinating, but the fact that I've been here for hours and you haven't tried anything is a little disappointing."
His eyes narrowed at the word, rage cutting through the embarrassment. So, his brother had sought to get back at him by bringing in the miko in a sick game of revenge. He refused to fall victim to it.
"You are welcome to leave anytime," he ground out, slowly getting to his feet.
She seemed genuinely surprised by his reaction, and it stalled his movements long enough for her to grab his wrist. "Why would I want to do that? Especially after it took me so long to get into your program?"
He stiffened at her touch, willing her to let go before his heart burst. "Whatever my brother has put you up to, miko, I will compensate you for—"
She swung her legs off the couch but didn't stand up, instead yanking him closer and forcing him to bend over her. "He hasn't put me up to anything! I really am interested in archaeology, but only because you are."
His cleansing breath did little to help, drowning him in her scent, and his hands clenched into fists. "You do not find it fascinating," he said.
She raised a brow. "Why not?" Blue eyes lit up in excitement. "It's like hunting for buried treasure! I used to do it with my dad before I fell down the well—"
"You used that word to taunt me," he stated, cutting her off.
A frown marred her brow. "What's wrong with fascinating?" He tried to pull away, but she held fast, raising her chin defiantly. "Why can't I use that word, Sesshoumaru?"
He nearly sagged at the sound of his name on her tongue, and it took everything in him to keep his head from falling onto her shoulder. "It is one I have used to describe you."
Both brows raised this time, and he shuddered as a seductive smile tugged at her lips. "Have you? Well, isn't that—" She smirked more. "—fascinating." The pad of her thumb brushed the stripes around his wrist, and the desire he'd been fighting coiled in his stomach as her other hand slid up his chest.
"Miko—"
"Don't you think it's odd that I would go into the same field as someone who's world-renowned? I mean, if I was trying to make a name for myself, there are a million other things I could've done with my life." Her fingers brushed the back of his neck, and he gripped the back of the couch for support.
"You just said you enjoyed doing it with your father." There'd been no deceit in her scent, so it hadn't been something she'd fabricated to stay in his good graces, but the alternative was something he'd never considered.
"That got me in the door," she said, pulling him closer. "You're what kept me coming back." Their noses were almost touching now, breath mingling as she smiled up at him. "I had been planning on stealing your pelt while I was here, but I'm not sure where you keep it. And I figured climbing into your bed might be a little presumptuous."
Golden eyes widened, and she rubbed their noses together, the touch slow and deliberate. There was no way she was suggesting—
"Are you really not going to make a move?" she said, exasperated. "You've been making eyes at me all night and just told me you think I'm fascinating. Either kiss me or sit down so I can kiss you." He must've hesitated a moment too long as she grabbed a fistful of his shirt and yanked him down, claiming his lips for herself.
The moment she opened her mouth, he knew he was sunk, the potent flavour of honey and longing bursting onto his tongue. His moan was met with one of her own, and he finally released the couch, caging her in as one hand gripped the back of her head.
She was more than fascinating, she was intoxicating. And he doubted he'd ever be able to get enough. Her hands flattened on his chest as she tilted her head for more, and he pulled away only far enough to allow her air.
She licked her lips, the smirk still firmly in place, though it was more teasing this time. "Was that so hard?" she asked again.
Sesshoumaru growled, head still spinning. "Everything is hard with you."
She chuckled. "Poor baby. Guess I'll have to spend the night to make it up to you." He jerked again, cursing as his knees hit the floor, and her laughter only increased before she ran her fingers through her hair. "It's your fault for making me wait this long."
"I can assure you, miko," he said, finally finding some semblance of dignity. "I have waited far longer."
She cupped his face, stroking the marks on his cheeks. "All the more reason for us not to waste any more time, then." This kiss was sweeter than its predecessor, though no less potent, her eyes half-lidded when she pulled back. "I can still wear your pelt if you like."
He groaned, finally giving in to the temptation and resting his forehead on her shoulder. If she didn't kill him tonight, she'd likely spend the rest of their lives bringing him closer to the grave. He shook his head, now knowing he was completely insane because he was actually looking forward to it.
Perhaps he'd cancel tomorrow's lecture.