Contracting Love

A/N: Well, I promised you some limey-goodness, so here it is! Consider yourself warned.
Also, about the title of the last chapter, yeah, I know it’s about LSD. But you must look deeper than that, Grasshopper, to find the true meaning of…stuff. I don’t know what the hell I’m talking about. But, yeah. I know what the song’s about.
P.S: I just have to say that it cracks me up that someone called Miroku2235 left me a review for this story. Seriously, that cracks my shit up! Dude, you rock my socks, just because you have a cool name.
As always, reviews are welcomed, encouraged, and appreciated.
Kiss Kiss!

P.P.S: Just so I don't confuse anyone, because I tend to do that, contrary to the title this chapter is not about baseball. It's a metaphore. (ooh, i hope that didn't sound mean. I really hope it doesn't, i just don't want anyone to be mislead by the title again and then be dissapointed or something. sorry!) :-)

Contracting Love
By Ashes

Chapter 10: Rounding Third, Tagged Out

“I don’t know about this, Miroku. This might be creeping into the realm of ‘over the line’.”

Dinner had been beautiful. The soft candlelight, private setting, and the sex appeal of her dinner partner had made Sango wish she actually *could* do as Kagome had suggested and jump his bones as soon as they got back to her place. Unfortunately for her, she couldn’t do that. The startling revelation that Miroku had actually gone to the lengths of buying her an engagement ring to go along with their little charade sobered her of any lusty thoughts she might have considered entertaining. The ring was beautiful, the likes of which she’d someday hoped to have. She was surprised to find that the thought of it coming from Miroku made her heart sore.

But that wasn’t to be.

Not in real life, anyway. The ring was only a prop in their elaborate game. It didn’t mean anything, not really.

During the cab ride to her place Miroku had told her that the after dinner entertainment would consist of the third and final lesson before the reunion.

**“What’s lesson number three?”

**“Physical contact.” He’d smiled wickedly as she’d worried her lip. “In order for people to believe our little lie of being madly in love, we’re going to have to show them that we can’t get enough of each other. The easiest way to do that is with physical contact.”**

Her heart ached when he had called it a lie. Sango wasn’t sure anymore if it *was* a lie. Miroku had stirred up emotions she’d thought long buried. He’d brought out a side of her that she didn’t know existed. But if it was all just a lie...

She’d changed from her black dress into a comfortable pair of jeans and a loose button up shirt. Throwing her hair up in a messy bun, she walked out into the living room where Miroku was lounging on the couch.

He was devastating. His black tux jacket lay on the back of the couch, his tie laying on top of it. He’d unbuttoned the first three buttons on his tux shirt and smiled invitingly at her as she stared at him.

She shook herself out of the trance. “I mean, people aren’t really going to expect us to do more than hold hands and the occasional peck on the cheek, right?”

He rose from the couch and stared toward her. Sango’s eyes grew wide as he skimmed his knuckles against her cheek and smiled. “No, Sango,” he said softly. “They may not expect more than that from us, but to make it convincing we must give them more.”

“But-”

He pressed a finger to her lips, his eyes turning serious. “You hired me to play the role of your fiancé. You want this to be convincing?” After a brief hesitation, she nodded. His eyes softened. “Then just trust me, Sango.”

“Okay.” He visibly relaxed. “But,” she said, putting a hand to his chest, “we need some rules.”

He chuckled, amused. “Okay. What kind of rules?”

“Rule number one: nothing under the bra or panties.”

Miroku grinned and circled behind her, snaking his hand up her side. “Are you sure, Sango?” His voice was deep and husky, making her shiver.

She took a deep breath to gain her bearings. How did he do that!? “Yes. I’m sure. Rule number two: no kissing.”

He nuzzled her neck. “Not even a little?” She shook her head. “And why not any kissing, Sango?”

Gods, she loved the way he said her name. “Because…” **Because every time you kiss me I forget about everything else.** “Because… Because I am a strong, independent, beautiful, smart, sexy woman and I say so!”

Miroku chuckled softly in her ear. “Very good, Sango. Now, rule number three: lights out.”

He stepped out from behind her and sauntered over to the light switch. A flick of his wrist and the room was instantly plunged into almost total darkness. Light filtered in through the windows from the street lamps outside, and Sango’s eyes adjusted quickly. She watched as he walked over to the windows and pulled down the blinds. Her heart rate increased as he pulled the opaque curtains shut, her pupils dilating as wide as they would go. It was almost pitch black in her apartment now.

With the lack of light to see by, Sango’s other senses were heightened to an extreme. She could hear the rustling of Miroku’s clothing as he approached her and the steady intake of breath as he inhaled and exhaled. His scent permeated her body, making her shiver with the smells of aftershave and that which was uniquely him. She felt his hand brush her arm.

“So, um, why no lights?” Her voice shook. Sango struggled to regain some kind of control as Miroku’s hands slid to her waist.

“You blush far too easily, Sango.” His voice was silky and he breathed into her ear. “You must get used to feeling my hands on your body, otherwise they are liable to think it’s the first time I’ve ever touched you.”

“I don’t think-”

“Don’t think, Sango. Just feel.” Miroku sighed heavily. “What happened to you not resisting me anymore?”

She stiffened. “I’m not resisting, I’m just…”

Gently he turned her around to face him and, although Sango couldn’t see his face, she could clearly hear the pleading in his voice. “I would never do anything to hurt you, Sango. You can trust me.”

He cupped her cheek in his hand, massaging the line of her jaw with his thumb. His heart ached. He wanted her so much to trust him. He knew that after Saturday he would loose her forever, but if he could just get her to trust him, maybe he could give them both some pleasant memories to part with.

He’d never cared before if a woman trusted him with her body. Most women just used him and threw him away. Sango, once again, had proven herself different from those high-society bitches. Sure, she was using him, but in a completely different way. She didn’t want him for his body or his sexual prowess. And, while that thought did send a huge blow to his ego, it only made him want her more.

He’d learned more about Naraku from her over dinner. He’d been the worst kind of cruel to her and it was the kind of wound she’d never fully healed from. He wanted desperately to heal them for her. It was partially their dinner conversation that prompted him to decide that Lesson Number 3 was indeed necessary.

She was such an incredible woman, and he’d be damned if he’d let her think she was so undesirable that no man could ever want her, as Naraku had claimed. This would be his opportunity to show her just how much *he* wanted her, even if she could never truly know it.

So he’d come up with Lesson Number 3, a.k.a. Operation Confidence-boost. He’d make her see just how beautiful she was, even if it killed him.

He felt her lips pull up in a gentle smile. He loved her smile. For a moment he regretted turning the lights out since now he couldn’t see her reactions. But this was going to be much more fun in the dark.

“All right, Miroku. I trust you.”

He swallowed thickly. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” she said confidently.

“Okay.” He nodded, knowing she couldn’t see him. “Now, the way this will work is that I am going to touch you and then you will touch me in the same place. Like if I touch your arm,” he placed a hand on her left bicep, “then you touch my arm.”

Hesitantly she placed a warm hand on his left bicep. He hadn’t realized he’d been holding his breath until he let it go. “Very good, Sango.”

He slid his hand up the length of her arm and caressed her neck. Sango’s touch, though questioning, mimicked his as best as she could manage. From her neck he moved down her back, forcing her to take a step closer. Her touch grew more confident. Grinning, he took the opportunity to trail his hand down to her butt, squeezing lightly. Sango gave a startled yelp, making him chuckle. He gave his own startled cry when he felt her hand do the same to him. He couldn’t see it, but he was sure she was grinning like a fool.

As soon as the wicked thought formed in his mind he acted on it, bringing his other hand up to cup the other cheek and giving both sides a firm squeeze. Sango jumped and tried to get out of his grasp, but that only served to bring her firmly up against Miroku’s chest. His body reverberated with a half-eaten moan before he brought his mouth down to hers.

He pressed her into his quickly forming erection, enticing a moan from deep in her throat. His hands slipped up her shirt as his mouth trailed wet kisses down the exposed skin of her neck.

“You broke rule number two.” Her voice was throaty and soft, her hands continuing to mimic his movements as they trailed under his shirt and began caressing his hot flesh.

“I don’t suppose you’d be willing to let me break rule number one as well, would you?”

She actually had to think about that one before she answered. In the end, the temptation proved too great for her to deny him outright. Instead, she settled on, “I’ll think about it.”

“Don’t think too much, Sango,” he breathed in her ear. One hand crept up and began undoing the buttons on her shirt. His fingers caressed the soft skin between her breasts. “Just touch me. Let me touch you. I won’t hurt you, Sango. I just want to touch you. You’re so beautiful.” Those last words sounded almost painful. “Please…”

“I…” Words failed her as he kissed the tops of each breast and slowly slid her shirt off her shoulders. She heard the soft rustle as it hit the floor and goose bumps covered her body.

Against her will her hands found their way to his shirt and made quick work of the buttons. Miroku impatiently threw it to the floor, eager for his hands to return to her body. His mouth worked on her shoulders and neck while his hands trailed ripples of pleasure down her spine and up her sides. He captured her mouth in a toe curling kiss.

Before she could stop herself, Sango trailed her hands down his solid chest to his pants and deftly undid the clasp and zipper. They fell to the floor as she reached for the waistband of his boxer shorts, intending them to share the same fate as his pants. Miroku’s hand around her wrist stopped her and they stood there frozen and panting.

Miroku was the first to recover his voice, clearing his throat before he spoke. When he finally managed, his voice was ragged and breathy. “Not yet, Sango.” He *had* to get control of the situation, and fast, or else he was going to loose what little control he’d had in the first place.

Slowly, he circled behind her, releasing her hand from his grasp and moving his hands down to the button of her jeans. “Just let me touch you.” The button popped free as he opened her jeans and slid the zipper down. “Let me show you how beautiful you are, how desirable.” Her pants fell to the floor. “Let me please you.”

She nodded her consent and felt Miroku sink down onto the couch. He pulled her to sit on his lap, adjusting so they were both comfortable.

“Lean back into me, Sango.”

She did and felt the strength of his erection pressed against her butt, his bare chest against her back. His hands, which she knew held enormous strength, were tender against her sensitive skin, sending flames with the wake of his touch. He caressed her flat stomach, then moved to cup both breasts in his large hands. The rough lace of her bra only heightened her sensitivity as he massaged.

Without missing a beat he slipped one hand down her bra and gently squeezed while his other hand trailed down her stomach and rubbed small circles. Sango moaned and arched at his touch. He placed small, tender kisses against her neck and shoulders as his chest heaved against her.

His hand slipped lower, urging her legs apart so that she straddled him. His light touches teased her inner thigh before heading higher to rub the dampness of her panties. And there he stayed, licking and squeezing and teasing her until she was wound so tight she thought she would snap.

Sweat gathered on Miroku’s brow as Sango moaned and writhed on top of him. It was taking every ounce of self-control he had not to rip off her underwear and plunge himself into her. This woman, who tried to pawn herself off as boring and plain, was turning out to be an absolute tiger. She urged him on, showing her with her body language what she wanted.

And she was growing impatient.

Unsatisfied with their current state of dress, but unwilling to alter it for fear she would tell him to stop, Miroku decided on the next best thing. He moved his hand to tease the tender flesh above the waist band of her underwear.

“You are so beautiful, Sango,” he breathed. He inched the tips of his fingers under the waistband. “Let me touch you.” She nodded, gasping for air and arching into his hand. “Say it, Sango. Tell me what you want.”

“I want…” Her voice shook.

“You want…?”

“I need…”

“You need…?”

“Touch me…please…”

He slid his hand lower. They moaned simultaneously as his finger came in contact with her clit. He rubbed the slick wetness around her, making her arch her back. Slow circles made her whimper for more as he stimulated the tight bundle of nerves. She brought her arm up and grasped the back of his head, needing more of him but unable to form the words.

Miroku growled deep in his throat as he thrust his hips against her. His hand left her breast and rested against her stomach, holding her firmly but gently as they rubbed against each other. Needing to feel more of her, he moved down her folds and slipped one finger into her.

Sango cried out and lurched forward, gripping the edge of the couch as hard as she could. Miroku leaned forward, pressing the side of his face against the back of her neck and tightening his grip around her waist. He pumped into her, gritting his teeth in an attempt to maintain some control. She cried out a second time as he slipped another finger in her, using his thumb to tease her swollen nub.

He could feel her getting close. “That’s it, Sango. Let me feel you. Come for me.”

“No,” she panted, “I can’t. I…”

“Yes, you can.” He pushed deeper. She moaned, bringing a satisfied smirk to his face. “Come for me, love.”

“I…I…”

The phone rang.

They froze, temporarily stunned.

**Oh, just fucking perfect!** Miroku ground his teeth as he listened to the shrill sounds of the ringing phone and Sango’s erratic breathing. His own breathing was ragged, but he managed to growl out, “Don’t answer that.”

The answering machine came on with a loud beep. “Hey, um, Sango?” It was Kagome, a rather drunk sounding Kagome. “I kinda need a favor? When you get this message. I kinda…um…lost my wallet and…”

Sango groaned and dropped her head. **Damnit, Kagome, sometimes you have the *worst* timing!** She looked longingly over her shoulder into fierce blue eyes. “I have to get this.” He nodded, but it was clear he wasn’t too keen on the idea.

Sighing, he leaned back into the couch and released her. Her legs weak, she stumbled over to the phone and picked up the receiver. Kagome was in the middle of explaining to her machine exactly *how* she had lost her wallet in the first place.

“Kags?”

“Sango? Oh! Thank gods you’re there! I was seriously starting to think I was going to have to hitchhike back to my apartment. Are you okay? You sound kinda…irritated or something.”

“Well…” she looked longingly over at Miroku. She could barely see him in the dim light, but she could see enough to watch him slowly lick his fingers. She shivered, noting that he was still fully erect. She turned away hurriedly before she said to hell with it and hung up on her best friend. “I was kinda in the middle of something.”

Kagome was silent for several minutes. “Ohmygod.” Sango rolled her eyes. “I forgot you were having dinner with Mr. Booty-licious tonight.”

“Yeah.”

“…Is he over there right now?”

“Yeah.”

“Is he naked?”

She hesitated. “Mostly…”

“Ohmygod, Sango, I am *so* sorry! Man, I feel like such an ass! I’ll do whatever it takes to make it up to you, I swear!”

“It’s okay, Kagome.” Not really. “Where are you, I’ll come pick you up.”

***

Miroku watched Sango as she spoke with Kagome. His eyes had mostly adjusted to the darkness and he could see her standing by the phone. At that moment, he’d never hated a phone more in his life.

Sango finally hung up and walked back toward him. She sighed and he could see the look of longing on her face. She’d hated being interrupted as much as he had.

He smiled, knowing that she could see that much of him. “So,” he said, trying to sound relaxed, “what’s the verdict?”

“Kagome lost her wallet and doesn’t have enough cash for a cab ride home,” she said, disappointedly. “I have to go pick her up.”

He rose and rested a hand against her cheek, smiling wickedly. “Then we will just have to finish this another time.”

That sounded like a promise…

***

After they had both dressed, Miroku walked with Sango out of the building and called them both cabs.

He pulled her into his arms for a soul searing kiss. He smiled at her sigh of contentment. “Remind me to kill Kagome next time I see her?”

“Get in line, buster. I get a shot at her first.”

One more kiss and two reluctant goodbyes later and Miroku watched as Sango rode off into the night. He sighed, raking a hand through his hair.

“I need a shower,” he said as he got into his own cab. Somehow, though, he doubted just one shower would be enough.

***

A/N: And with that, I need a cigarette...

I don’t know…I think I could have done more with this one…What do you guys think? Criticism, as long as it’s *constructive* (that‘s the key word), is always welcomed.

Weak ending, too. …grr…