Contracting Love

A/N: Okay, I know I haven't posted in a long *long* time, but with finals, graduation, and moving, I've been just a little bit busy. Luckily, I saw my bestest best friend this weekend and she yelled at me for not posting. Seriously. She threatened my life. I know this chapter is a really short one, and I was gonna combine it with the next chapter, but it would have been just too long. Leave me a review. I'm not particularly proud of this chapter. My muse still hasn't returned fully. But, there's a lot of happy goodness to come, I promise!

As always, reviews are welcomed, encouraged, and appreciated.
Kiss Kiss!

Contracting Love
By Ashes

Chapter 9: Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds?

Friday.

Named after the Norse Goddess of Love, Freya, it was the one day in the office where everyone got the most done. Sango was so busy preparing for the weekend that she forgot all her troubles from the previous day. After Miroku's phone call, she'd managed to work herself into exhaustion and had practically fallen into bed the night before. The office buzzed with activity as everyone tried to get as much accomplished as was humanly possible so they could cut out early and start the weekend off right.

Six o'clock came and Sango was headed out the door to shower and change before meeting Miroku, Kagome yipping softly at her heals about how she was going on the prowl tonight to look for her next exboyfriend.

After a lingering shower, during which she probably used up all the hot water in the building for the next six hours, she blow-dried and styled her hair, put on the perfect makeup, and slipped into a sexy little number she was sure would make Miroku's jaw drop to the ground.

Examining herself in the mirror, she found that the dress complimented her figure perfectly. Tight in the bosom and strapless, the dress flowed into an elegant A-line above-knee diagonal hemline which showed off her shapely legs. She turned from side to side, noting how the shape of the dress showed off her rounded buttocks and elegant breasts. The diamond stud earrings with matching necklace added just the right amount of flash to the simple outfit while her hair fell in waves down her back.

"Perfect," she said triumphantly to her reflection. Kirara meowed from her spot on the bed. She looked at the yellow tabby and grinned. "What do you think, Kirara? Think Miroku will be drooling over me?" The cat meowed in agreement.

Grabbing her black handbag and slipping on her strappy heels, she headed for the door. "Don't wait up for me!" she called to her feline housemate as the door closed behind her.

Kirara yawned and stretched before settling herself more comfortably on the bed.

***

La Luna's was not the type of restaurant that catered to anyone who could afford to spend less than a grand on dinner. Soft red carpet glided across the floor as gold and crimson French baroque wallpaper danced on the walls under the soft glow of wall fixtures cleverly wired to glow like candlelight. Everywhere, elegantly dressed members of New York City's elite stood chatting about politics or sat over gorgeously presented food in the hopes of catching up on the latest gossip.

Sango entered hesitantly, feeling naked under her black shawl that was draped around her shoulders. She clutched her handbag unnecessarily tight and pretended not to notices the few openly curious looks being thrown in her direction.

**I don't belong here**, she thought, her uneasiness growing. She looked around at the glittering throng before her, searching for deep blue eyes, but finding none.

A young man in a tuxedo approached her, his face far too serious for one so young.

**He's probably come to escort me out of the restaurant. Is it that obvious that I don't belong?**

"Excuse me, Miss Tajiya?"

She blinked, momentarily speechless. Okay, so he'd come to kick her out *and* knew who she was?

"Uh...yes?"

The young man smiled and bowed. "My name is Geoffrey. Your table is ready, so if you'll follow me, please?"

Somewhat dazed, and more than a little self-conscious, Sango followed Geoffrey through the restaurant. A few curious socialites glanced her way but most ignored her. The tables were made of a luscious cherry wood and were set with gold and burgundy settings. Against the wall were the more expensive tables, arranged as circular booths and closed off, all except for a modest doorway, to allow for more privacy.

Geoffrey lead her to one of the closed off booths in the far right corner. Out of the darkened corner came the most devastatingly handsome man she'd ever seen. Dressed in a black tuxedo with his hair pulled back, his sapphire eyes looked almost black in the dim candlelight. A breathtakingly charming smile graced his lips, a hint of mischief playing at the corners.

**He looks good enough to eat,** she thought.

***

He watched her like a predator stalking its prey as she followed Geoffrey through the restaurant to his table. He hadn't even known her a week and yet this woman seemed to be able to stir his blood as no other woman ever had. All he had to do was think her name and he was instantly hard. No woman had ever made him feel this way before.

It was strange the effect she had on him. Miroku had known he was a man for a long time, ever since his father had died and he?d had to take on the role of being the man of the house, but Sango was the first woman to ever make him *feel* like a man. She made him want to claim her so that every other man would know that she was his. He wanted to protect her, take care of her.

He wanted to love her...

But the idea was foolish, and he knew it well. No woman could ever love him, not really. He was a whore, a male prostitute who sold his company and his body for money. He was tired of it, tired of the life he'd resigned himself to so many years ago. Sure, it was profitable, but he wanted nothing more than to lie with one woman for the rest of his life.

Maybe, just maybe...

He eyed her hungrily as she stopped in front of the hidden booth. Stepping out of the shadows just enough so that only she could see him, he smiled charmingly. He watched as her cheeks flushed and her body trembled. His smile widened, knowing that he was the cause of her agitation. Tearing his eyes away from her lush lips, he nodded to the waiter and slipped him the hundred with a handshake.

"Thank you, Geoff. That will be all."

The waiter bowed and left. Taking her arm, Miroku ushered her into the booth and then slid himself in across from her, lingering on the feel of her hand in his. He smiled longingly at her.

"So, how was your day, dear?" he teased.

She smiled in response. "Oh, you know. Same old, same old. You?"

"Oh, you know," he mimicked, sliding around and drawing her close for a soul searing kiss. "Mmm...," he said against her lips. "I've been waiting to do that all day."

Sango looked warily out into the restaurant. In the dim of the candlelight it was difficult to see her blushing, but the heat that radiated from her body told him she was doing just that. "Don't worry," he assured her, "they can?t see us."

"Are you sure?"

He nodded. "The light from the rest of the restaurant doesn't reach this far. And it's far too dark in here for them to see us. You're safe, love. Your reputation will go unspoiled."

She raised one delicate eyebrow. "With you around, I highly doubt that."

He feigned shock. "You wound me, my dear Sango. Don't you trust me?"

"About as far as I can throw you," she said, her eyes narrowing playfully.

His face grew solemn as he took one hand in his draping the other arm around her shoulder and gently stroking her bare arm. "In all seriousness, Sango, there is something I must tell you."

"What is it?" A feeling of dread crept up into her stomach.

He sighed heavily. "Last night, when I called you...I said that I was taking care of some last minute business. But...I wasn't."

"...You weren't."

"No." **Okay, here we go. Don't screw this up!** He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small blue velvet box.

Sango's heart began to race. Could this be what she thought it was? **Don't be an ass, Sango,** she chided. **Even if it is what you think it is, it doesn't mean anything. Not really. After all, you'd need an engagement ring to convince everyone, right**

**Yeah, but...can't I just pretend it's for real? Just for a little while?**

Miroku watched as a thousand emotions flittered across Sango's beautiful face. When he'd gone to pick out the ring at Tiffany's yesterday he'd had no idea what to look for. The salesgirl had seen his dilemma and had asked him to tell her about the woman he intended to buy the ring for. Miroku had found that there was practically no end to the virtues held by Sango Taijiya.

She was fire and light, she was music and laughter. She was strong, stronger than even she knew. She was the most beautiful woman he'd ever encountered, and it was not just her physical beauty he was attracted to. Miroku had been around plenty of attractive women. But Sango...

She was different.

Opening the box, he watched as Sango's breath caught in her throat.

Sango's heart stopped as Miroku took the ring from the box and placed it on the ring finger of her left hand. The diamond was brilliant, and huge at a half caret. Its brilliance sparkled in the dim candlelight. The white gold band fit perfectly around her slender finger. Miroku's hand sent shivers up her arm that had little to do with sex.

"What I was really doing," he whispered, "was looking for just the right thing to reflect your beauty. Unfortunately," he took her chin between his fingers and looked deep into her tear filled eyes, "I couldn't find anything that even came close. So I guess this will just have to do."

"It's...I..."

His eyes sparkled with amusement at her speechlessness. Pulling her closer, he planted a soft, chaste kiss on her mouth. "Do you like it?"

She admired the stone and worried her lip. Her eyes turned to the man before her, tears glistening in her eyes. "Yeah," she said. "It'll do just fine."

***

A/N: Lime in the next chapter. I promise.

P.S: Sorry for the formatting problem. I think I got it all.