Work Text:
How we know we are loved
Kagome turned the key slowly, listening to any sounds coming from inside. It was oddly quiet as she pushed the door open. “Maybe he didn’t forget,” she mumbled, her heart beating faster in excitement. It was Valentine’s Day, but so far, there had been no flowers, no chocolate, and no surprise visit to her office during the day. She nibbled on her plump bottom lip as she took off her coat, hanging it on the rack before making her way over to the kitchen. Maybe he had cooked a romantic dinner for them.
Kagome cocked her head to the side as she stared into the room. There was no food, no candles lit for an amorous setting; the kitchen was pitch black with no mate of hers in sight. A little sigh left her, sadness gathering in the pit of her stomach. She knew he didn’t care much about human traditions, especially ones he deemed “silly and sentimental”, but after a day of coworkers bragging about their partners and their sweet, romantic gestures, there had been a budding hope that Sesshoumaru would surprise her nonetheless.
She pulled her phone out of her pocket, seeing a new message from him. I’ll be home late. Order something without me.
Great, now she wouldn’t even spend the rest of the day with him. “No sex on Valentine’s Day,” she mumbled, a dry laugh escaping her lips. “Just like my time being single.”
Not in the mood for food, Kagome walked upstairs after pouring herself a glass of wine and turned on the faucet of the bathtub. Adding some fragrances, she watched as bubbles foamed on the surface, steam rising from the hot water. She lit up some candles and settled into her bath with a pleased hum.
Leaning her head against the edge of the tub, she closed her eyes, letting her muscles relax after a day full of meetings and zoom calls.
After a few minutes, she grabbed her loofah, letting it glide over her skin. A gasp left her as her nipples hardened under the touch of the sponge. Biting her lip, she went lower, bending her knees as she rubbed it over the sensitive bundle of nerves between her thighs.
A moan echoed off the tiles as she teased herself, her second hand playing with her breasts.
“Sessh,” she whimpered, wishing her mate were the one touching her. She rarely ever needed to play with herself; Sesshoumaru always made sure she found her release first–and that didn’t mean only once before he took his fill.
Kagome paused in her movements, sitting up and resting her chin on her knees. “He always makes sure I can barely walk after our lovemaking.” It wasn’t just the passion they shared. True, the former Lord of the Western Lands wasn’t one for flowers, gifts, or chocolates, but not once since they were mated had she not felt loved by him.
“It has been almost four years now,” Kagome mumbled, and even when they were just dating, Sesshoumaru had been attentive to her wishes and needs.
Every morning she woke up with a kiss on her temple as he left early to open his shop. Whenever she made oatmeal raisin cookies sprinkled with dark chocolate, his favourites, her mate always made sure to give her the last one of the batch. He still took her on dates, to a restaurant, the movies, or a picnic in the park.
“He always says how much he loves spending time with me,” Kagome said, her heart squeezing in tenderness.
As the water began to cool, Kagome got out of the tub, wrapping herself in her fluffiest bathrobe. Passing the door to her small office on the way to the bedroom, she paused. Turning on the light, she peeked into the room, a smile spreading over her face. There, in the upper left corner of her laptop, was a sticky note. She padded over to her desk, peeling off the yellow paper. Don’t forget to eat something. S.
Tears brimmed at the corner of her eyes as she opened the top drawer. It overflowed with the same yellow notes she often found when she started her work. She grabbed a few, thumping through his messages. I am going to miss you. Have a wonderful day. I can’t wait to have you tonight. I left you a sandwich in the fridge.
Kagome pulled the notes to her chest, blinking away the tears. She had collected them for weeks if not months, not able to throw them into the bin, but only realising now how much these little notes meant to her. She carefully put them back, adding the new one, too, before shutting the drawer and walking into their bedroom.
Not caring to put on her pyjamas, she scrambled under the blanket, a shiver running down her spine. The bed felt too cold, too empty without Sesshoumaru. Tucked into his arms, cocooned in safety and warmth, was another thing she relished. A sigh left her as she grabbed his pillow, pressing her face into it–drawing a deep breath; the faint smell of pine and mint tickled her nose.
“I wish I had demon senses.” Hugging the pillow closer to her chest, Kagome closed her eyes as she snuggled deeper into the bedding.
She woke up from slumber some time later as the mattress next to her dipped low, and a muscular arm pulled her back against a chest. She turned around, peering up at her mate from under her dark lashes. The moon outside provided just enough light for her to make out his features, the softness in his golden eyes and the gentle smile as he looked at her.
Kagome let her hand graze over his cheek hesitantly, fingertips dancing over his magenta stripes.
“Tell me about one thing of your day,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to her open palm.
A laugh bubbled up in her chest that sounded more like a choked-up sob as tears pooled in her eyes. This. It was another one of his things. At night, when they had gone to bed, he asked about one detail of her day–something that had made her laugh, cry, or bothered her.
“You love me,” Kagome murmured, wonder colouring her tone. “You love me.”
Sesshoumaru raised a delicate brow, tilting his head to the side in question.
“The morning kiss, all the notes, the food, the-the–” her voice faded out as the tears flowed down her cheeks, pressing her face into his chest.
He rumbled soothingly, tightening his hold around her back. “Of course I love you.” Sesshoumaru kissed the top of her raven locks. “Did you doubt that?”
Kagome shook her head vehemently, looking up at him, little hiccups leaving her as she answered. “N-No, I k-know that.”
Sesshoumaru gently brushed away her tears with the pad of his thumb. “But?” he prompted softly.
Kagome bit her lip, suddenly embarrassed at her previous disappointment of missing a gift. “It is Valentine’s Day and–”
“Ah, you had hoped for, what is it? Flowers?” he asked, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.
She felt her cheeks heating up, hiding her face at his neck. “I thought I would,” she admitted quietly, “after everyone talked about their gifts at work, but–” she pressed a soft kiss to the underside of his jaw. “–I realised that I don’t need it. You show me every day how I am loved. I only really missed you today.”
Sesshoumaru hummed, satisfied. “Then I am glad. Because I know nothing about flowers.”
Kagome giggled, snuggling closer into his arms. She almost fell back to sleep as a thought occurred to her, eyes opening wide in horror. She pulled back a bit, staring at him.“You know I love you too, right?”
Sesshoumaru blinked for a few seconds before he burst out laughing, a deep rumbling sound that shook his whole body. “Oh, my mate.” Mirth danced in his eyes before he kissed her, tangling their tongues sensually. “Of course, I know that.” He pressed his brow against hers.
“But I don’t leave you notes, share my strawberries with you, or–” another chuckle interrupted her.
Sesshoumaru pressed soft kisses on her cheeks, murmuring, “I know it whenever you look at me,” the tip of her nose, “I can feel it in every one of your touches,” the corner of her mouth, “The way you smile in the morning after I kiss you,” before claiming her lips anew. “Or how your face lights up when I come home.”
“Really?” Kagome bit her lip, racking her brain to find those little things he did for her. No, they were not little because they meant so much to her, making her feel loved, cherished and appreciated.
“You bake my favourite cookies”, he reminded her, catching up on her line of thoughts. “You let me sleep longer on the weekends, making fresh coffee in the meantime. You know how I hate doing the dishes, and not once in all the years did I have to clean a cup.”
“And–” Sesshoumaru rolled them over, hovering over her as he settled between her legs, “–you always listen, giving me your undivided attention. That is how I know to be loved.”
Kagome smiled up at him, her hands playing with his silver tresses that cascaded around them. “I could make you some cookies tomorrow morning,” she whispered softly.
Sesshoumaru smiled, a devilish glint flashing in his eyes, hands ghosting over her naked skin.
“Now, let me show you how much I love you.”