bad boy

Disclaimer: Don’t own “Inuyasha” or “Dragonball Z” either. No monies were collected for the writing of this fan fiction-just loads of reviews from some awesome peeps. Thanks everyone!

There is some citrus content in this chapter so be warned! If you don’t like lemony content, if you’re underage, STOP READING this story. Please. I have a plot but I do add citrusy flavorings.

badboy

by kittie le sabre

Part 1 of 12

Sesshoumaru was calmly exhaling a wreath of perfumed smoke as he watched the scene unfold in front of him. The Leader of The Assassins was casually relaxing upon a blood-red leather chaise inside of an observation room. He’d decided to come to this room after Veronique had called him the second time.

A completely naked Jennifer Thompson was suspended and bound with rope.

The rope was made of silk velvet and skillfully tied around her torso, over her shoulders and under her arm pits, crossing her round full breasts to corset her waist, then downward on either side of her inner thighs. The way the rope was tied accentuated her shaved vulva and her firm buttocks since her legs were propped wide open. The rope was secured at the middle of her back and attached to a harness that was supporting her weight. She was suspended in midair off the ground several feel in the air.

Floating upward mid-air was Prince Vegeta, and his henchmen, Radditz and Nappa. The Saiyan no Ouiji was shirtless and dressed in formfitting black pants and shiny black leather boots. Radditz and Nappa were both naked; their muscular bodies gleaming with sweat, their massive erections engorged as they barely suppressed their urge to brutally penetrate the ningen female.

Vegeta used his ki to levitate the bound woman, lowering her legs, moving them up and outward. The harness would support most of her weight so she didn’t have to strain to remain in the pose he wanted. He made a signal and his men advanced upon her; her eyes grew wider with a mixture of excitement and fear.

The leader of The Assassins calmly observed it all. The gaijin female enjoyed the role of the victim. She was the one in control, which allowed her to give into her most debased desires without guilt.

Sesshoumaru suppressed his boredom and forced himself to focus on the level of ki that the Saiyans were generating. It was going to be a long night for her.

Nappa floated behind her, his large hands upon her narrow hips as Radditz floated to the position between her spread legs. Nappa spread the cheeks of her bottom wide and was teasing her with the head of his erection while Radditz mimicked his partner’s actions at her slick opening.

“I bet this Earth whore has never had a Saiyan before!” Radditz exclaimed loudly.

“Let alone two!” Nappa added, lowering his brows.

Vegeta snarled angrily at the pair, “Get on with it! You’re wasting my time! We have to be back to our ship in 3 hours! Sesshoumaru-sama has a few things to discuss with me personally!”

“Hai, Vegeta-dono!” The two hastily replied.

Nappa grabbed the large head of his cock, his fingers spreading her saturated petals wider so that he could insert the broad tip into her opening. She twitched and gasped, protesting even as Radditz tapped his hard erection against her rear. The second Saiyan didn’t waste anytime spreading the moons of her behind and pushing himself into the rear entry of her body. He skillfully paused and advanced until he was lodged completely and it was obvious that Jennifer was no novice to anal penetration. By this time, Nappa had pushed his hips forward, pressing his cock into her slit until he was seated. The double penetration caused her to shudder and moan at being stretched by such massive girths. Vegeta’s ki held her immobile and he waited as the two males started a rhythm inside of the mewling woman’s body while all she could do was submit to the increasing thrusts that caused her to slightly swing back and forth between their bodies. The sounds of wetness and the slapping of skin upon skin grew louder and louder as the trio sweated and groaned in the throes of utter carnality.

Vegeta smirked, pleased at the effect of his intimidation which did little to curb their lust and most likely heightened it. “Hn.” He turned away, floating down to the ground and exiting the chamber to join Sesshoumaru in the observation room.

“I would like to leave you with a parting gift, Prince Vegeta-,” Sesshoumaru murmured but before he could complete his sentence a gentle knock upon the door interrupted the pair.

Vegeta frowned in displeasure but accepted his host’s polite regrets at the interruption. He decided to return his attention to the display before him, of his bodyguards dallying with the ningen female. She was holding up quite well.

Sesshoumaru stepped out into the corridor, aware that it was Veronique awaiting him. In the gloom he could clearly see her. Veronique was a puma youkai. Quite tall for a female, she was lithe with velvety-dark mocha skin. Her heavy hair was twisted into umber spirals that cascaded to a miniscule waist. The formfitting leather and mesh body suit hinted at the strength and power of her body. Not only did she oversee the dungeons, she was also an Enforcer and Regulator for The Assassins.

She peered at him with eerie eyes the color of ash and did not hesitate as she bowed and respectfully addressed him.

“Sesshoumaru-dono, there are matters that require your immediate attention. Gomen nasai for this intrusion.”

His silence was the signal for her to continue.

“My Lord, Karran has escaped.” Veronique noted his displeasure and hastily supplied him with the details. “One of Naraku’s spies assisted her in leaving here. Kane assigned him to Karran as her personal bodyguard and escort. There are also items that have been stolen and are missing from your brother’s private rooms.”

“Inuyasha will have to confirm this. Have Kane prepared for execution. I can assume that Akago has already left the premises with Karran. If he returns, do not treat him any differently. He is more useful to us here.” Sesshoumaru finished rattling off his instructions and Veronique lingered after he was done.

“Is there something more, Veronique-san?”

“Hai, Sesshoumaru-dono,” she swallowed and stated, “the main reason that I am here is to report that your brother-”

“Half-brother.”

“Your half-brother has returned with Dante-dono and Jaken-sama. They have also brought the girl and the others with them.”

“I will arrive within the hour,” Sesshoumaru informed her and walked away to resume his role as host.

Veronique bowed and departed at this curt dismissal.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Karran quickly dug into her purse for a lighter as she rushed past a loitering group of smokers standing just outside the café where she was meeting a prospective ‘business partner’. She forced her hand to stop trembling as she raised the flame to the end of her cigarette. If she didn’t regain her poise, she was going to fuck this up royally and she couldn’t afford to do that simply because her ass was on the line.

After Akago had helped her escape, she found herself in the back seat of a limo with the vile hanyou and the assistant principle. She recalled the incident with disgust and dismay.

“Karran, there is a price for saving you from Sesshoumaru’s dungeons of course,” Naraku had murmured while Onigumo leered at her yet remained silent.

“Of course,” she cautiously repeated, fighting not to yank down her large t-shirt in a defensive manner. Onigumo’s eyes blatantly undressed her and she wanted to slice him into ribbons for his disrespect.

“Your assistance is required in finding Tsubaki-san. She is missing and may have allied herself with someone questionable. We need to learn her whereabouts. Soon.”

“Anything else?” Karran knew she was making a deal with the devil but she’d find a way out of it. She always did.

“Yes, you will meet with someone who may be of use to us at a later. Take this with you.” Naraku handed her a large envelope. “The meeting is for later this afternoon. Do not be late.”

“What is this?”

“Collateral,” Naraku smirked, motioning for her to get out of the limo when it came to a halt. “Do not open it.”

Karran suppressed her rage but got out of the car. She failed to escape the slimy caress of Onigumo’s fingers stroking over her bare limbs.

Now she was waiting outside in the humid air for someone that could and might recognize her. Several minutes ticked away as sipped her iced-latte and finished her second cigarette.

“Karran?”

She looked up into the face of the last person she expected to see.

“What are you doing here?”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Dante was running out of patience. He refused to entertain this unruly bunch when there were more important things for him to do. Wasn’t it enough they had engineered the escape from Kanna’s henchmen?

Dante was stunned that no one had come after them. The ease in which they’d landed the helicopter and picked up the entire group surprised him. However, he was not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.

The real problems had come into play when after everyone had tidied up and eaten, his friends had attempted to attend to Inuyasha’s gunshot wounds. There had been a debate between the hanyou and Kagome about whisking him to the emergency room. Inuyasha had insisted that there was no need to bring the authorities into the matter (since a report would be made) because he was already healing. His reasoning didn’t appeal to the young miko and the pair had been arguing ever since.

Nazuna was quietly sitting on a cocktail cushion on the opposite side of the room. Shippou was playing with his Nintendo, while Sango and Miroku quietly stood near the windows looking outside on the lush gardens below. Jaken was busy making a series of phone calls that mainly consisted of what was going on while they were out, and attempting to locate his master.

Dante prayed that Sesshoumaru would soon arrive to put a stop their bickering. It was already approaching the wee hours of the morning and he had a raging headache. He gritted his teeth. He didn’t get to kill anyone on this rescue. Jaken with his bad piloting and screeching voice had forced him to keep his hands away from Ebony and Ivory. Lucia had cursed him out about not calling her back to confirm that he was alive and unharmed. Could it get any worse? He didn’t want to contemplate the possibility.

“Inuyasha, why don’t you lay down for a moment? You baka, you’re still weak from blood loss!” Kagome was yanking him by the arm and attempting to get him to rest on a nearby chaise. Of course, Inuyasha was in no way amenable to the suggestion or her attempts.

“Let go! I’m fine!” He disengaged himself from her grasp so abruptly it caused her to stagger backwards.

“Osuwari!” She felt guilty for doing that to him, aware that he was still in pain but there was no other way she could get him to cooperate long enough to tend to him. He needed help.

“Wench!”

Kagome’s face flushed and the past twelve hours came crashing down on her exhausted mind and body. How dare he?? After everything that he had done to her!

The groping! The sexual compromises!-(she chose to ignore that she enjoyed their encounters). The blackmail! Sango’s kidnapping! Miroku’s capture! Shippou’s blown up Hummer! Almost getting killed by Kanna’s henchman! Inuyasha’s turning full demon!

HOW DARE HE!

The insult resulted in a series of “Osuwari” commands, which had him in a prone, groaning and lying face down in the plush carpet of Sesshoumaru’s receiving room. Miroku, Sango, Shippou, Jaken and Nazuna (even Dante) all grimaced at Inuyasha’s pain and backed away from Kagome’s rage. For several minutes following, the room was deadly, except for the sound of Inuyasha’s moans and Kagome’s exhalations resulting from her anger while she attended him with the first aid kit that Veronqiue had provided.

“Perhaps we should have warned him,” Miroku suggested to Sango. “It has been a trying day for everyone.”

Sango stared at him for several moments with a serious expression. “Domo.”

Miroku was puzzled and it showed on his expressive countenance. She gripped his arm, gazing into his eyes. He did not deserve her; not after what he’d done. Even if it had all been for her, would she ever forgive him? Would she see it as betrayal? He’d let her go because of Kanna, and then later, had slept with another woman. Would it matter to her that it was all done to save her life?

He took her hand in his and held it with reverence, forcing himself to look into her fathomless eyes brimming with emotion. “You can thank me by staying safe and alive, aijin. I want your health and happiness above all else. Remember that.”

Whatever response Sango would have given him was delayed momentarily.

The doors opened and Sesshoumaru calmly strolled in, impeccable as ever with a bored expression on his aristocratic visage.

Everyone immediately began speaking all at once, until Dante curtly silenced them all with an impatient bellow. He’d noted that Sesshoumaru was ready to slaughter everyone in the room, including him. The more lifeless he became, the more deadly were his intentions.

Time to act fast.

“Silence!”

The group quieted at the menace and authority Dante exhibited.

“There is barely enough time to disclose everything that has happened. I strongly suggest that one person speak, and that the rest of you, just shut the fuck up. Is that clear?”

Everyone’s continued silence was agreement enough. Sesshoumaru quirked an eyebrow at his best friend who shrugged nonchalantly, then abruptly turned his attention to the kitsune.

“Shippou. Speak.”

Shippou gulped, not at all happy to be in the presence of The Assassins’ leader. He dared to peer over at Inuyasha who merely folded his arms and muttered, “Keh”, before nodding at his underling to comply.

Dante wasn’t remotely interested in the proceedings but figured he’d better stick around in the event things became violent and bloody. They usually did.

Shippou rushed into a brief explanation on everything that had occurred from the time he’d recorded Miroku’s ‘meeting’ with Karran to the when he met up with his boss at Kagome’s house to drive them to Kanna’s lair to save Sango. Sesshoumaru played the recording of Miroku’s ‘tryst’ with Karran. An embarrassed Nazuna was called next to fill in the blanks. By the time she was done, Sango was staring incredulously at Miroku. Miroku knew that he didn’t have a prayer anywhere in the universe of saving his ass.

“So that how you knew where to find me Miroku?” Sango demanded.

When he was unable to reply to her question, for fear of incriminating himself further, Jaken began to explain how Miroku had broken up with her to save her from Kanna and then later engaged in the tryst with Karran to gain the needed information to locate and save her. Sango visibly paled, her eyes glistened.

“Sesshoumaru-san, may I please use your phone, please?” Sango queried softly, not looking at Miroku.

He offered her a curt nod, gesturing across the room at a desk nearby with a cordless phone.

“Domo arigatou,” she said, hastily bowed and turned to cross the room.

“You may use the sitting room for privacy,” Sesshoumaru informed her, gesturing towards a door that led to a smaller chamber.

“Arigatou, you are a generous host, Sesshoumaru-san,” Sango said.

Sesshoumaru calmly studied her, while everyone else in the room was eerily quiet.

Kagome’s heart went out to her friend. It could not be easy hearing that Kanna had wanted Miroku and that he’d had sex with other women-whether it was his fault or not. She didn’t dare attempt to glance over at Inuyasha. It was too much right now.

As Sango passed him, Miroku reached out towards her and she stepped away from him. His violet gaze became shuttered at her response. She addressed the room at large, but he knew the comment was directed at him.

“I am going to call Kuranosuke. I need him to come and pick me up. I don’t think we should get the police involved.”

Miroku felt as if a poisoned dagger had been plunged into his heart. He didn’t release a breath until the door had closed behind her. His resolve was firm. She was alive, and she was safe. He had to sacrifice their love and let her go back to Kuranosuke, so be it.


Inside the sitting room, Sango collapsed into a silently weeping heap upon the floor. She was not worth the price he had paid! First her brother, now this!

No, it was best if she went back to her life with the Elite. It was the coward’s way but the safest way; let him believe she hated him for what had happened.

Composing herself after several minutes had gone by, she dialed Kuranosuke’s cell number and cheerily greeting him, putting the past several hours from her mind.

While back in the study, the inu youkai leader addressed the group.

“Midoriko High is in danger,” Sesshoumaru curtly stated. “The Spiders are about to bring us all, youkai and ningen, into jeopardy. We are almost out of time.” He paused, not interested in the response to the announcement, to speak to his brother, “Inuyasha, you will see that Higurashi-san and the other are safely escorted home.”

He added, in the ancient inu youkai tongue-
: Tsubaki is at large, after asking The Assassins for protection. She has gone into hiding:

: Kiss my ass, Sesshoumaru!:

: Take the girl home, baka. Or shall I inform her of who Nazuna is to you?:

: Grr…I’ll gut your sorry ass, here and now, if you say one fucking thing!:

: Enough, bakamon! I need more information on this “Deimos” being. His presence is a wild card. Kanna, Kikyou and Sheena have vanished. He may be behind this:

: Whatever, fuck-face. It’s no loss those three whores have gone :

: Go. Waste no more of my time:

The hanyou snorted and turned away from his half-brother, catching the gleam of approval in Dante’s eyes. He’d never understood that guy. Dante tilted his head toward the door. That was Inuyasha’s cue to remove everyone not involved with club business from the room. He nearly snapped off his brother’s head again, but he suppressed his anger at Sesshoumaru’s highhanded behavior. The asshole didn’t need to remind him of Nazuna’s presence either. Fuck.

It was of no consequence. He was planning on letting Kagome go. His involvement with her had endangered her life. It was hard for him to admit that she was the one. His mate. There was no other way to redeem himself now except to free her from the blackmail he’d forced on her. Too much was at stake.

Hell, Miroku had let Sango go. It was destroying his friend but it was a necessary evil. Everyone had to sacrifice something for the one they cared about. Yes, he cared about Kagome. He needed her; but he would place her safety and her needs before his own.

He felt her. She was standing close behind him, worry in her beautiful dark eyes. Her hand rested upon his arm.

“Inuyasha, are you all right?” A slight frown marred the smooth perfection of her skin.

He choked down the emotion that welled up inside of him. No, he didn’t deserve a creature as lovely and perfect as her. His corrupt youkai blood had caused him to view everything amorally. His past experience with Nazuna had hardened his heart. But within the space of more than a day, Kagome had changed all of that. Amazing.

“Nothing’s wrong, wench. C’mon, I gotta drive you and Nazuna home.” He called over his shoulder, “Shippou, Miroku, stay here until I get back. Call the others.”

Kagome wasn’t buying his act. Something was terribly wrong. He was still in pain from his injuries and his brother had ordered him to take them all home.

Her eyes bugged as a sudden thought struck her full force. Gah! Her grandpa! Souta! Kaede! They probably thought she was dead! Oh no! And she hadn’t done any of her homework! She didn’t have the assignments either!

“Kagome, you look sick,” Shippou observed, a worried look in his green eyes. “Inuyasha, you better hurry. Kagome looks ready to pass out.”

“Let’s go, wench,” Inuyasha ordered, grabbing Kagome by the arm to push her towards the door. He figured that Nazuna would follow. Right now, he wasn’t of the mind to address her directly. It was just easier to ignore her.

Nazuna observed from her perch on the window sill the concerned panic flickering across the hanyou’s face. She squelched the malicious resentment and jealousy. He was hers once. It didn’t matter that it was her choice to destroy everything between them at the behest of her family. It was easier to let him go; he hadn’t cared about another since. He had not replaced her. This girl was different. It was hard giving him up to another. It was obvious that he cared for Kagome.

‘She must be really special to help him get beyond what happened between us,’ Nazuna mused, bitterness burning her heart. She got up to follow them out of the room.

When they reached the garage, Inuyasha automatically opened the passenger door first, gesturing for Kagome to get into the black Lexus SUV. Nazuna deliberately misinterpreted the situation and stepped forward, cutting the other girl off.

“Oi! What in the fuck are you doing, Nazuna??” Inuyasha bellowed.

“Inuyasha!” Kagome blushed, taken aback by his rude behavior towards the girl. “Nazuna, please get in. I’ll sit in the back.” This girl had helped saved Sango. Why was he being so nasty to her?

“Keh! Nazuna get your ass in the back seat! You know damn well I wasn’t motioning for you to get in the front with me!”

Nazuna’s temper flared up. “You never had a problem with me sitting in the front seat with you before, you jerk!”

“Since when?”

“When we were together! I know she’s part of the Elite set and not one of us! She should sit in the back!”

Inuyasha growled and cursed, stepped toward Nazuna, but Kagome cut him off quietly saying, “It’s okay. I’ll sit in the back.”

Before he could protest, Kagome had already climbed into the back seat. Nazuna smirked and climbed in front dismissing the glare of rage he threw in her direction.

The trio drove in silence for 20 minutes until Nazuna realized that he was dropping her off first. She didn’t protest his decision. There would be later time to talk to Kagome. Higurashi was Hojo’s girlfriend; she had no place in their world. She didn’t belong to The Mikos, Assassins, Fangs, or Spiders. She had been exposed to too much already, but the clubs would ensure that she kept her mouth closed.

Nazuna had jeopardized enough by risking everything to save Sango. Maybe if Kagome were not human, she could deal with Inuyasha’s involvement with her better.

The Lexus SUV lurched to a halt outside a large stately town house. Inuyasha didn’t bother glancing in her direction.

“Get out.”

Nazuna knew by the tone of his voice not to rgue. She quickly murmured a “thanks” and “good-night” and got out, rushing up to her front door.

“Get up here.”

Kagome jumped in front, noticing that his voice was now more a growl of rage and tension. This wasn’t the time to dispute anything with him.

Inuyasha waited a few moments until she was inside, then sped off. They were driving for several moments, when he spoke.

“Kagome.”

“Hai.”

“What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing.”

“Liar.”

“I’m not lying!”

He took a brief look in her direction, seeing her flushed features and her full lips drawn tight. She didn’t deserve to catch more of his bullshit her way. Nazuna had wanted Kagome to know there had been something between them.

Maybe it was time to tell her the truth. To tell her everything before he let her go forever. He owed her that much.

The rest of the trip to her house was in silence. They stopped in front of her door, noticing that a light was coming from the back of the house.

Kagome grabbed the door to get out, but it remained locked. She frowned at Inuyasha.

“Let me out.”

“No.”

Kagome knew that the subduing spell would be the easiest way to get him to comply, but they were in a confined space. She sighed.

“Kagome,” he said, “look at me.” She didn’t. “Please.”

The plea did her in. She turned to look at him, and was swallowed up by his golden-rich eyes. There was sadness and other emotions she didn’t understand in them. She didn’t dare try to.

“Kagome,” he sighed, “I need to explain why I’ve been such a bastard to you-”

“No-”

“Yes, I do. Don’t interrupt again.”

She nodded.

Kagome wasn’t quite prepared to hear his story. He talked about his parents, about being hanyou and the racism and rejection he faced. He talked about how he started The Fangs, and how he met Nazuna. She listened with his pain dulling her heart as he told her about the relationship with Nazuna and the lost baby. His pain was still there as he offered in detail the countless flings he had, the women he used and discarded and how heartless and empty he’d become.

Kagome was astonished to hear that he’d noticed her years before but had felt unworthy of her. How he had admired her from afar and had always wanted to protect her. It sent warmth through her heart. She understood what had motivated him to sexually dominate her. He resented not having a place with her; her affiliation with Hojo and the Elite group; his exile because he was a hanyou. The anger at the fact she would never have him, that she would reject him.

But nothing could prepare Kagome for his next words. Nothing could prepare her for the pain that lanced through her.

“Kagome…” he was looking into her eyes with something akin to worship mingled with despair. “Kagome, I’ve put you in danger. The very thing I tried not to do by keeping away from you all of these years. I vowed to protect you. I allowed my possessive emotions to drive me over the edge.”

He swallowed the lump in his throat. Something suspiciously like tears glittered in his eyes.

“Kagome…y-you’re free. No more calls. No messages. No more meetings. No more blackmail. I’ll make sure you have the pictures and the negatives. The camera and disks will all be destroyed. I swore to protect you, and-and…”

“Inuyasha,” all she could say was his name. She was free? But why wasn’t she happy? Why was her heart in agony? After everything he’d done to her. Why wasn’t she rejoicing? She didn’t want to examine her feelings. Not now, not when he was letting her go.

The porch light came on and the door opened. Kaede was standing on the step, anxiously awaiting her. She patiently stood there, watching the truck.

“You better go inside.”

“How-?”

“Sesshoumaru had his people call her earlier. They probably called again to let her know we would be arriving any moment.”

“Oh.”

“Sayonara, Kagome,” he murmured softly, after hitting the locks to open the doors.

Kagome didn’t trust herself to speak. The air in her lungs was squeezed close. Her vocal chords were strangled by the pain she felt. She could only nod and get out of the car. She didn’t trust herself to thank him or to say good-bye.

Inuyasha waited as she staggered up to the walkway. The sun was emerging from over the top of the roof, warming the cool stillness of the trees, the bleu-gray clouds. The golden warmth reflected in her eyes, dancing along her velvety skin and deep hair as she peered over her shoulder at him one last time before Kaede swept her into a hug and into the house. He returned the elderly caretaker’s wave before pulling off once the door had closed.

All he could think about as he drove home was how beautiful she had looked. How good she had felt in his arms. The taste of her. The scent of her flesh, her arousal, her hair. Her sensuality. Her submission. The fine line between desire and pain he experienced with her. Her strength. Her compassion. Her defiance. Her courage. Her resilience.

He could see the illuminating purity of her aura mingling with the light of the new day. She was an angel.

Angels were far above youkai. Beyond the reach of hanyou filth like him.

Best he remembered his place.


A/n: Yes, I know it’s been far too long for an update. I am currently working on the next installment. It will be much sooner than this one. I want to say thank you for nominating this story in the Inuyasha Fanguild for Best Crossover. Thank you for all the support, the emails, and the reviews. Writers are nothing without an audience. This chapter is dedicated to everyone who has loved, reviewed, and supported this story. For all the fans of Inuyasha and the fanfiction, to all the writers of fanfiction. Thanks again everyone.


Recommended Reading on Media Miner (sorry I need to play catch up on AFF)-some of these may be on AFF (possibly under different author names w/the same title)

“The Pearl” by asiancherries: This is a Rin x Sesshoumaru continuation fanfic with loads or realism, strong OC’s and descriptive historical accents. It is also very dark and grim, so be warned. She’s quite picturesque and is gifted in making you “see” each scene as it happens.

“Sympathy For the Devil” by Devon Masterson-Bond: Another Rin x Sess fic and totally sci-fi AU but quite interesting. Like me, the author could use a good beta but it doesn’t take away from the narrative.

“Midnight Passions” by mariangela: A Inu/Kag/Sess triangle vampire pic that has intrigue, well-written lemons and brilliant character connections.