Fastidious by thetroll

Chapter 1

Kagome grits her teeth as Sesshomaru runs a cloth along the edges of the door to their home. Ever since he'd shown up and all but invited himself into her home and her life, he's been a menace in more ways than one.

Sure, she thinks, watching his backside for a moment, he's got a nice butt, but it's not enough to offset him acting like one.

"Do you see?" Sesshomaru turns to her, holding up the cloth that has a few specks of dirt on it.

"Yes, I can see," she retorts, crossing her arms.

"You did not clean—" he continues sternly.

"I did." She reminds herself to breathe. "I went over that space twice, Sesshomaru."

He eyes the cloth. "This would suggest otherwise, mate."

She hates it when he calls her mate in disagreements like this. It always feels more like he's pulling rank than being affectionate. "So I missed a few specks of dirt. Sue me."

Sesshomaru is well used to her modern phrases by now and continues as though he understands. "It is more than a few specks, mate—"

"It's like five." She gives him a mulish look, feeling more childish by the moment. Something about the way he expresses his disappointment just gets to her; she can't quite explain why. "That's basically a few."

"Few implies one or two," he counters, his expression triumphant when she groans. 

"Now you're just being difficult." Her annoyance is shifting then into the famous temper she's worked so hard to control. "If you want to have the house clean to your standards, then do it yourself."

"I am merely attempting to educate you on proper—" He begins, but stops short when she narrows her eyes.

"Finish that sentence," she grits out. "I dare you." 

Sesshomaru sets aside the cloth. "I will finish the cleaning later." Before she can reply, he's suddenly lifting her in the air and carrying her over to their futons.

"Hey!" she protests, pushing lightly at him. "Put me down—"

"Quiet, mate." Now his smirk is maddeningly attractive as he sets her down on the bedding. "Allow me to instruct you in other, more pleasurable ways."

She wants to protest, but he knows all of her weaknesses. The damn daiyokai and his damn arrogance, she thinks, as she pulls him closer. He's so difficult—

But then his fingers find her and, she thinks, there's some use after all for that high and mighty attitude of his and that sinful voice that is now whispering naughty things in her ear instead of lecturing her.

It's a much better use for his voice.