Disclaimer: I don't own any of these Naruto characters.

Note: This is dedicated to Breena Kaye, who asked me for a Shikamaru story. Sorry, I know this wasn't what you were expecting, darlin'. ;)

Closer

By Raine Ishida

Chapter One

He would be lying if he said he didn't like when she danced with him. He would be lying if he said he didn't like when she put her arms around his neck and pulled herself against him, moving to the music. Against his body. He didn't mind at all. And he wasn't lying.

She was a curious sort. She didn't say much, not at first. She didn't have to. Her body said enough. He'd spotted her on the dance floor, dancing alone, but enjoying herself. She'd glanced up and met his eyes, smiling and waving him over with a beckoning finger. He couldn't help himself. Her brown eyes had called to him, begged him to come to her, to see what she was all about.

She'd introduced herself as Tenten, and asked his name. "Shikamaru," she purred with a sultry grin. "That's a mouthful." And then she just kept dancing. Deep into the heat of the night, she just kept dancing. And he let her. He let her hang on to him. And while he let her hold on, she let him as well. He knew it wasn't exactly his place to put his hands all over her body while they danced, but she hadn't slapped him yet. In fact, her smile was continuous.

And he was single again anyway.

Temari had broken up with him for what she said would be 'the last time'. Sure. He knew what that meant. It meant she had time to be pissy and angry about nothing, so he was going to go out and have some fun until she was ready to stop being a child. How was it that she was such a child when she was three years his senior? Shikamaru ground his teeth and scowled. Tenten's free hand found his face and cupped his cheek in her palm.

"Don't look so tense. Relax a little, would you? We're here to have fun." Her voice was like a drug. It made him dizzy, the way she purred it into his ear, sending shivers down his spine. It was a cheap thrill, really, but he was overdosing. He wanted to hear her speak again.

"Do you have a girlfriend?" she asked him a little while later. By then he'd stopped roaming. His hands had settled on her hips and lower back and they weren't moving. They were keeping her with him.

He shook his head. "No, I don't have a girlfriend," he replied. He studied her face, trying to discern her expression. Her eyes were full of many emotions: mischief, amusement, power, lust… He liked them all. They gave him a thrill. Her lips were painted with gloss, her mouth full with only the corners turned up in a slight smile.

"That's good," she murmured. The next thing he knew he was being dragged out the exit and into the back alleyway. A lot of space between them still hadn't accumulated, and he knew that the cold air on his skin wouldn't be welcomed. He was, by that time, accustomed to her body heat against him.

She grinned as he frowned. "Where are we going?"

"My place?" she asked, pulling away from him slightly, but still holding one of his hands. "It's close."

"Yeah, sure," he said, ignoring the warning bell that sounded in the back of his brain. The warning bell that told him not to go home with strange girls. The warning bell, however, wasn't ringing as loud as the bell that rang below his belt. That bell was a lot louder, and easier to listen to. So it was that one he would heed.

Following her aimlessly, Shikamaru watched her walk with purpose, even as she'd turn and give him a flirtatious grin every now and again.

Ten minutes from the club and she was unlocking the door of a humble apartment. She'd closed the door and put down her keys and before he'd even had a chance to look around her body heat had returned to him. Her face was so very close now, he could just reach up and tilt her head…

"Nervous?" she whispered. Shikamaru grinned and took her hips, holding her tightly.

"Hey. Who's running this show?"

She grinned once more as he leaned forward and captured her lips with his, completing the cycle of stranger kissing stranger. Her lips were sweet, her mouth altogether pleasant. Her kiss dizzied his head until he couldn't think, and when he was able to think straight, he was in her bed.

He frowned, lifting the covers and discovering that he wasn't dressed. His clothes were in an arrayed heap on the floor, he noticed, across the room. Had they had sex? He didn't remember. She hadn't drugged him, had she? He really wished she hadn't. He was certain he'd wanted to remember an experience like that with her. At least, he hoped he did. He hoped they'd been safe. But where was she, anyway?

She walked into the room and smiled when she saw that he was awake. "Hey."

"Hi," he greeted her cautiously. She was wearing a satin robe, closed but not tightly. It only fell to her knees. As far as he could tell, which wasn't much for the darkness, she wasn't dressed either. But he could be imagining things. He knew he wanted to be.

"Did we…?" he started asking. She crawled onto the bed next to him and smiled.

"Yes. And it was incredible. Don't you remember?"

"No," Shikamaru said, frowning. Disappointed. "What time is it?"

"Three."

He jumped, startled. The next day already?!

"In the morning," Tenten said, taking his hands and laughing. Shikamaru's heart settled a little bit and he breathed easier.

"Wow. Did I pass out or something?"

"You were exhausted after. I thought it best not to bother you. But now that you're awake…"

He pursed his lips. What was she going to suggest? His heart began to pound again. Oh please, oh please…

"I'm not keeping you here if you need to be somewhere," she started. "But I wouldn't mind if you stayed. I'm sure you'd enjoy yourself a lot more here. There are still many hours of the night to be had."

There it was. That coy smile, the gentle squeezing of his palms as she let go of his hands. Permission.

She stood and walked into what he assumed was her bathroom, and closed the door. She rustled around some, and then opened the door, still smiling that coy, same smile. She turned the light off and returned to the bed. He remained sitting up, watching her.

"What?" she asked, with a soft smile.

He took her wrist and pulled her closer, so she was against his chest. "I really wish I'd remembered it."

"There's always a second act," she whispered, her breath sweet against his lips. Toothpaste? Probably. But cinnamon flavoured? Interesting. Spicy.

She kissed him then, slowly, sweetly. Her lips tasted incredible. There was that cinnamon flavour again. With expert fingers, he undid the knot at her waist and slipped the silky robe off. Her skin was pale, smooth and perfect. He smirked. "I'm sorry I don't remember this the first time." His eyes roved over her. "Really sorry."

Tenten smiled and trailed her index finger down his chest. "Well then. We'll just have to make this time very memorable."

…

Naruto choked on his coffee when Shikamaru walked into the kitchen.

"Oh man! What the hell happened to you?!"

Shikamaru frowned and covered his neck. He knew what was there. She'd left hickeys all over him. Lucky for him, most of them were covered by his shirt. "Shut up."

"Seriously? Is that where you were last night? Was it awesome? Who is she?"

Shikamaru sat down across from his roommate at the kitchen table and smirked, recalling the events he could remember. "Yeah. It was…weird, but definitely awesome."

"Did you know her?"

"Nope."

"That's unlike you," Naruto replied with a raised brow, taking another swig of coffee.

"Says the kid who doesn't experiment at all."

Naruto grinned, laughing. "I don't have to experiment. I've already landed myself some permanence. It might do you some good to do the same."

Shikamaru stood up and began to fix himself some coffee. "Yeah, but at least my dalliances are with women."

Naruto snorted. "Don't knock it 'til you try it."

"I'd rather not, thanks."

Shikamaru sat in silence at the table for a few minutes before Naruto slurped the last of his coffee and set the cup on the table with a loud bang. "So are you going to see her again?"

Shikamaru shrugged. "I'm not sure I want to. She's a bit freaky for my tastes."

"Freaky's not all bad," Naruto said with a grin.

"No, but…she's like…freaky-freaky."

"Like chains and whips and crap?" Naruto asked with a raised brow.

"Probably. I got out of there before she could try anything but…she has a few locked cupboards and stuff and I didn't want to take my chances."

"Maybe she's just a secretive person."

"Who brings unusual people home to experiment on them," Shikamaru said without expression.

Naruto stood and left the newspaper for his roommate. "Here. Look at some bad news. Might do you some good."

"Where are you going?"

"Sasuke's taking me out for lunch," the blond replied.

Shikamaru glanced at the clock. "But it's not…oh crap! When did it end up being 11am?"

"Since you took a million years to get home." Naruto put his hands on Shikamaru's shoulders. "Now go have a shower and wash her off of you, then do something to forget about her. It was a fun, though stupid, idea at the time. I'll see you later."

Shikamaru put his forehead on the table, groaning as Naruto bid him goodbye for the day.

"What did I get myself into last night…?"

…

Okay. So chapter 2 won't be as…um. Sexual. I promise. ^^