Across the Ages

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Chapter Thirty Six

Sesshoumaru awoke to warm softness in his arms, the sweet scent of woman in his nostrils. He pulled the body closer and nuzzled in her hair. He was quite content and let a low soothing rumble erupt from his chest. Without a doubt she would now be his.

Ayeka felt the soft vibration against her back and slowly blinked her eyes open, silver hair trailed over her pillows, reminding her that the night had been no dream. A hard, hot body lay curled around her own and she stretched back into it.

Sesshoumaru rolled her to face him, taking in the sleep warmed cheeks of his soon to be mate. "Good morning" he murmured. She rubbed her eyes with little fists and covered her mouth as she yawned, "Morning" she replied. He liked seeing her this way, cuddled against him.

Ayeka turned to the window and noticed that dawn was breaking. She had men to train. She untangled their limbs and stood. Sesshoumaru's eyes went wide for a moment and she reached her hands to her head. She swore softly at the tangled knots at the back of her head.

He rose himself and made a good show of running his claws through his own unmussed locks. She growled at him and he smiled. "Hurry and dress Ayeka, we have much to do today" he said then. She nodded her agreement, "We are to have a new company arriving today, I will probably be in the yards all day" she muttered.

His head snapped in her direction, "That is not what I meant" he told her. She eyed him in curiousity as she worked the mess of her hair back into order. "What else is there?" she asked him. He growled softly at her, "We must send word out of ceremony to make us mates, we need to have you fitted for new gowns and wedding finery, we have to decide when it will be done." he pointed out.

Ayeka stood silent for a moment, "Oh those things can wait. After all you haven't won me yet" she reminded him. Sesshoumaru wanted to choke the life out of her, how dare she stand there and be flippant over this most serious affair.

Stalking across the room toward her, he towered over her. The set of his jaw told her he was angry but she leaned up and kissed his cheek. "Don't be spoiled Sesshoumaru. I have a mind of my own and until you understand that I will not concede".

His growl was enough to make the hairs on the back of her neck raise. Ayeka, however would not back down. "I am aware that you have a mind of your own, despite the illogical thought patterns you display" he rumbled at her. Her eyes flashed, "I'll see you in the yards my lord, have a wonderful day" she snapped, effectively dismissing him.

Sesshoumaru grabbed her elbow and spun the infuriating woman into his embrace, "You are mine make no mistake my lady" he spat a second before he crushed her against his chest, his mouth sealing over hers, robbig her of breath and argument.

By the time Ayeka had recovered, he was gone from her rooms. She dressed and stomped down the dining hall. The Taisho had already departed but Ryu sat at table pushing his meal around absently. "Ryu, haven't you been told not to play with your food?" she asked lightly as she entered the room.

Ryu looked up at her with bleary eyes. she moved to stand beside him in concern, "Ryu" she asked, dropping her hand to his brow, "Are you ill?". The wolf caught the faint scent of Sesshoumaru on her, it was a usual thing of course. However, this morning it was far too spicy to be from usual contact.

Ryu stepped back from her, "I'm fine Ayeka. I didn't get much sleep last night is all" he told her. He didn't mention that is was the thought of her with the dog that kept him awake. He tried to imagine her life with him. Sesshoumaru was powerful and hell, he wasn't bad looking. But he was so cold and emotionless. Ayeka would be better served with someone warm and bright like her.

Ayeka wasn't sure that Ryu was fine at all. He was pale, with dim shadows under his eyes. "Perhaps you should see the healers" she ventured. Ryu shook his head. Ayeka let the servants set her meal before her and watched her friend. Oh yes there was something wrong with him.

"Ryu, come on I will walk you there" she offered. Ryu snapped at her, growling as he'd never done before. Her eyes went wide at his actions and she sank back into her seat. "Ryu?". The wolf got himself under control. He was ashamed that he'd reacted so badly.

With a sigh, he reached out to her. "Ayeka, forgive me. I should not have been that way" he said quielty. She nodded, pushing the barely touched food away. "I hope that you feel better" she said softly as she stood and headed for the yards.

Sesshoumaru was already drilling, she could hear his clear voice carrying over the morning. His men were damn near perfection. As he called commands they moved as one, same lines, same motions. It was a sight to behold. Her own men were extremely well trained but even she noticed some lag at times. It was never so with him though.

She assembled her men and began morning drills. Her own voice rising over the fortress as she called commands in rapid succession. When the drills were complete, she dispatched men to see to various duties and she went to the soldier's quarters to see the newcomers.

She was right. She did spend all day covering the basics with them. There were a few men that were highly insulted to be taking orders from a woman. They made it clear too. Ayeka gritted her teeth, just what she needed. She ordered the men into the tilt yard. If they didn't want to obey a woman they could fight one.

Sesshoumaru noticed the small group of men gathering in the yard and then Ayeka was stomping her way into the yard. Her anger snapped off her like electricity. He called a halt to his own training, placing a captain in charge to continue it. He made his way quickly the ring. Ayeka was glaring at the men before her. Sesshoumaru knew that look all too well. "General Ayeka!" he boomed across the yard, all eyes settled on him and most of the soldiers bowed to him as he passed. He glared at the new ones who seemed to not know who he was. He'd deal with them presently.

"General Ayeka, what is going on here?" he asked. She glared at him, how dare he interfere. "Not a great deal my lord," she said to him then, "There are some men here who do not want to follow orders from a woman". Sesshoumaru let his eyes move over them in silent regard.

"What then, is your plan?" he asked her. She wanted to kick him, it was the same as always knock some sense into them, "Well, if they don't want to obey a woman they can have their asses handed to them by one" she snapped, her gaze fixed on her intended targets.

He could tell that she was far too angry to fight with them. She'd hurt at least one of the badly in this mood. "I have a better idea" he said then. Her green gaze slid to him. "Fight me instead". She shook her head, "I am not here to fight with you, they need to learn the lesson" she insisted. Fight him? So she could lose to him in public. Ha! Not likely.

Sesshoumaru nodded his acceptance, "Do try not to injure them too badly Ayeka" he reminded her and stood back to watch. A moment later he called for the men to attack her at once. Six against one, hardly fair, but Ayeka was hardly the usual case.

The arrogant young men charged her and Ayeka spun and twisted, leaping and slashing, using the flat of her blade to deliver sound and painful slaps to the offenders. It was over nearly as quickly as it began. Sesshoumaru watched her artfully avoid blows and soon the youngsters were sprawled on the ground, groaning.

Ayeka stood over them like an avenging angel, "Get up" she commanded heartlessly. They groaned and lay on the ground. "Get up this minute and report to your sections or I will finish what I started. I have no use for arrogant layabouts and neither does the Taisho. I am your general and now your conquerer, you will yeild to me or you will leave this house". Her voice was colder than the chilled winds that blew around them.

The men got up and hurried as best the could to see her bidding done. she turned eyes on the men who had gathered to watch. "Get back to work you mangy dogs!" she called half heartedly. They snorted with amusement and went back to their duties.

Sesshoumaru remained in place and she glared up at him, "Do not interfere in my training again" she told him coldly, "You undermine my authority in this place". He arched a silver brow, "No, I doubt that is the case. However your temper was up and I feared you might injure one of them". She sheathed her blade and turned away from him, "I am, as always in control of myself".

Sesshoumaru let her brush past him before he whispered, "You weren't last night". Her blush blossomed in an instant and she spun to face him. "That...was..well...different!" she hissed at him. He tilted his head back and stared at the sky. "It will be again". She left him in the yard, heading up to her chambers to bathe and dress for dinner.

The meal was quiet enough, she ate a little here and there. Ryu seemed to be feeling better and she was glad of that. She listened to the Taisho talk about his hopes for the army and training goals he wished to see put into action with his men. His generals nodded, they would see it done.

Ayeka heard the bawdy stories being passed around the hall and looked at Taisho. He understood that she wanted to be excused. He patted her hand, "Good night Ayeka" he told her. She rose and bowed to the men at the table, "Good night my lords" she said then.

Ayeka was asleep when Sesshoumaru made his way into her rooms. Her slow heartbeat, the soft steady rhythm of her breath. He stood beside the bed, removing his clothing. She woke at the rustle of clothing and the lifting of the blankets. He was pleased to see that she was nude as well.

Sesshoumaru slid into bed behind her and pulled her close, her little feet slipping between his muscled calves. "Woman!" he barked, "You are cold". She giggled softly at his complaint. she pressed her cooler body back against him. He chafed her shoulders. He thought it was warm enough, but her body was cool to the touch.

She moved her feet and he growled at her, "They are like ice, what have you been doing?" he demanded. She rolled over to curl against his chest. "Laying here sleeping" she told him. His hand came up to cup her cheek and she stretched her body to press against his. The chill hard tips of her breasts brushing agianst his.

He kissed her slowly, softly. Igniting those fires in her belly. His tongue slipping against hers in the lightest caress he could give. She moaned into his mouth, earning a growl of approval. His hand slipped into the softeness of her hair and she clung to him as he rolled onto his back.

She found herself straddling him and looking down into his face. He stared up at her, his eyes soft. She was all too aware of him. His length was behind her, brushing against her backside. His hands moved up to brush over her shoulders and downward, claws dancing over pink peaks, catching her nipples between his fingers, he rolled and squeezed at them.

She moaned, her head falling back, her breasts jutting out and upward. His hands moved to her hips and lifted her. He shifted until his erection was positioned against her heat. She gasped at the very intimate contact. "You promised" she panted out. He nodded and sat up, wrapping his arms around her and pressing her chest to his. His mouth moved over hers with dominant, drugging kisses.

He licked his way along her throat, nipping across her shoulders and collarbone. She clasped his head to her, her free hand moving over his wide back in gentle caresses. He dipped his head to lave her breasts with heated kisses, she bit back a soft cry when his mouth closed over one peak.

His fangs danced around the peaked bud and when she shifted slightly in his lap he growled softly. The vibrations carrying through those pearly white points into her own flesh. She whimpered at the feeling and Sesshoumaru felt her core grow moist against his length.

His hands moved to cup her bottom and pulled her against him, letting her press against him and then slide down his length. Her eyes went wide at the touch, locking with his. He repeated the action and saw the color of passion rise on her skin. He nipped a kiss at her botom lip, her hands moved to his shoulders to brace herself. Slowly she moved against him, feeling the tide of sensation move through her.

His soft growls indicated that he liked it as much as she did. He adjusted her once more and moved her fully against his hardness. The head of his erection pressing against the pearl of her passion on each stroke. Ayeka took over from there, moving against him wantonly. Grinding her lower hand against his. He held on to her hips forcing her to slow her movements. He didn't want to come just yet.

She whimpered against him, wanting to feel it, that amazing swirl of color and light that he had shown her. Already the coil was tightnening in her stomach, that ache swelling within her. She bit her lip to keep quiet but Sesshoumaru wanted to hear her, and his tongue snaked out to tap against her teeth. She relaxed her jaw and the soft mewls of want rose into the air.

He let her speed up, and mere moments later her body grew tense with her first release. Sesshoumaru kept moving slowly against her, wringing smaller orgasms from her wonderful body. Their lower halves were slick with her passion and he slid more easily between the folds of her sex.

He moved faster now, listening to her whimpers, feeling her little nails bite into his shoulders. He was close now, very close. His hand crept between them, thumb dancing over her swollen bead. Her head fell back and her back arched, nearly bringing him inside of her. Sesshoumaru held her tightly as the nearly painful but welcome wave of release rocketed through him and his seed erupted against the soft flesh of her sex and his belly.

He recovered a moment later and carried her as they were to the bath. They washed one another gently in the steaming water. Once finished, he lounged against the wall of the bath, and Ayeka sat between his spread legs, leaning against his chest. His arms wrapped around her tightly.

"Why?" she asked softly. He purred against her ear. "You wonder why I touch you in such ways" he finished for her. She nodded. He grunted, "I am getting you used to my touch so that when you want pleasure you will seek me out. I am also laying my scent on you. Once I take you the scent will be stronger, and will never fade. It will meld with your own. It is a way of demon males to mark a female before he takes her fully. It is a mark of intent" he explained. she nodded sleepily against him.

So life went in this way for several weeks. Each night he would touch her and she would cry out in her pleasure and every morning she would walk to the window and point at the sun. Reminding him that she still could refuse him.

Three more times the Taisho had asked if she'd have his son and her answer was always the same, "Not just yet". Sesshoumaru felt her weakening and victory was close at hand, however she was driving his mad. He wanted her, his beast recognized her as it's mate and Sesshoumaru grappled with himself nearly every night, to uphold his promise to her.