A/N: I know it's been a reeeeeeaaaallly long time since I've updated this story, but I've been super busy with life. University is going well, I have a new man in my life, and I've been looking for a job forever. I hope this chapter is at least a little bit satisfying, even if it doesn't have the kind of action it usually does.

I warn you, if you do not like sexually explicit stories complete with vulgar language, this story is not for you. If you do not like the idea of adultery, this story is not for you (One reader has felt the need to judge my story based on this one fact, and it's pissing me off). I appreciate any comments regarding structure and content. If you have any suggestions, go ahead and give them. I LOVE constructive criticism. If you are going to flame or troll me, don't even bother commenting.

THANKS!

Your Unmotivated Genius,

Kate

Chapter 3

Exile

Shikaku lay in his bed, his eyes closed, but his mind still very active. He couldn't sleep. He had so much swirling around in his head. First and foremost, he thought about her; the woman who tempted him. Temari. His thoughts were angry at first, but deep down, he still craved her body. He wanted to touch her again. He wanted to feel her silky skin under his fingers. He needed to. He ached with the need. He didn't look at his wife the same. She seemed like a kind of food he got tired of. She annoyed him now. He hadn't been able to look his son in the eye, but whether or not the boy noticed, he didn't show. Shikaku couldn't help but wonder if the woman he had left in the dessert had the same problem as him...

Temari groaned audibly before rolling over in her bed for the nth time that night. Her loins were burning with need, and she knew it was because of the man she found in the desert. He made her crazy. There were times when she flushed bright red in the middle of a meeting because her mind drifted to their activities together. She craved him so much that she found her mind drifting to him more and more often. She needed a release from this need she felt. As she rolled over once again, she couldn't help but wonder if Shikaku felt the same way.

She had been exiled from Eden; banished from the haven that was his body. She had to do something. She had to get back into his life somehow. She was miserable. She was suffering. There had to be a way...

He had been tempted by her and he had liked it – loved it. He wanted her again. He wanted the utopia that he had experienced in the desert. He needed her more than he ever needed anything before. The problem was, he couldn't. He had a wife and a son and a village. He couldn't find her and have her. He was exiled from Eden...

Temari was tired of not sleeping. She was tired of always thinking of him and never getting anything done. She couldn't live like this. It had been weeks since she watched him leave. She had to see him; But how?

Her mind drifted through the possibilities at light speed. Her brother could organize a mission for them..? No, that would be too easy for him to decline. Perhaps she could go on a liaison mission and just "happen" to cross his path...? That would be too complicated and he would probably avoid her. These possibilities kept swirling through her head until she found what she needed. Shikamaru: his son. The kid was so much like his father, but lacked the life experience and the maturity to interest her like the older man did. She had flirted with him and toyed with him for her own amusement, and maybe one day she could have loved him, but that was all over now. She had tasted a forbidden fruit, and she liked it. Shikaku was deliciously sexy with his gruff voice, scarred body, strong arms and sculpted chest. He had the experience and knowledge that she needed from a man and Shikamaru would be the key to getting this. How? She would use the boy's attraction to her to get to his father. She would hang around him, turn on the flirt tenfold, and make him fall hard for her. Then, she would hang around his house more and more often, seeing his father secretly when the rest of the household was asleep.

It was perfect.

The first step was getting to Konoha. She would speak to her brother about it. As the Kazekage, Gaara could give her any mission she asked for, no matter how silly. She would propose a village relations meeting and go to Konoha under the ruse of getting to know more about the village and the country as a whole. She would seduce Shikamaru and this would give her complete access to his home and to his father. She just hoped with all of her heart that Shikaku was not going on any missions yet after his ordeal.

With an excited sigh, Temari closed her eyes and fell asleep immediately. For the first time in weeks, she slept soundly, dreaming of what lay ahead of her. Soon enough, she would be near him again.

Shikamaru sighed quite dramatically, picking earwax out of his ear as the Hokage lectured him about being a good guide. He was being given another silly mission of showing the Suna liaison around Konoha. As if she didn't know her way around already. Regardless, Tsunade made this mission seem extra important. There was something about making a good impression. He honestly didn't feel like hearing it. The Liaison, Temari, would just bitch at him the whole time anyway, putting her hands on those round hips of hers and glaring at him with those deep, blue-green eyes...

The Nara sighed again, this time more wistfully. Tsunade, unfortunately, took it as an insult and screamed at him just a little louder, however possible that was. Shikamaru only rolled his eyes and nodded, before taking his leave like the coward he was. As he got outside, he lit up a cigarette, inhaling deeply and savouring the nicotine rush that always calmed his nerves. Temari was to arrive in roughly half an hour. If he valued his life, he had better get to the gates pronto. The Suna princess liked to be early. He couldn't imagine why, though. Being early was never good for anyone. It inconvenienced him, and if he was on time, she would be angry and accuse him of being late and it would inconvenience both of them. 'How Troublesome...' he thought

Shikamaru arrived at the village gates in only a few minutes, strolling up to the open doors casually, both hands buried deep in his pants pockets. He looked around lazily for a moment, seeing nobody but the gate guards in the immediate area. He sighed and gazed longingly at the fluffy clouds floating slowly up in the sky. How he wished he could be up there instead of here, waiting to be bitched out for something or another. He couldn't help but be excited to have her around again though. The woman was the perfect mental sparring partner for Shikamaru. She pushed his buttons and he pushed hers. It kept him constantly on his toes and ready to throw back a witty insult in response to hers. Not only that, but he had to admit to himself that she was pretty nice on the eyes; scary, but nice.

Flashes of memories spun through the dark-haired man's mind as he waited patiently for Temari to arrive. The images were from all their encounters. The Chuunin exams, where they fought, both flexing their mental muscles in an attempt to out-think the other; that sexy, mischievous smile when she saved his life; those long luscious legs crossed teasingly as he awaited news on his best friend's life, and her concerned look when she watched him cry like a wimp; the way her breath quickened just a little bit when he leaned in close to whisper a strategy for defeating another wind-user; walking through Konoha with her after a long day planning the Chuunin exams and sharing quick looks at one another... Every time he saw her, he felt like he was coming home, because like the saying went, the home is where the heart is, and she had his heart a long time ago.

Of course, the Nara was a coward, even now, after the death of his sensei. He would never be able to act on his feelings because he was too afraid of what she would say and how she would tease him. Did she like him the same way? Was she attracted to him like he was to her? Did she just think of him as a kid to amuse herself with? A woman like her had to have all the best guys chasing her. Why would she want someone like him? Shikamaru sighed longingly, staring at the clouds once more, and wishing he could live a simple life like they did. He just wanted to float along without a care in the world.

The Nara was snapped out of his calm oblivion when the sound of a familiar "humph" entered his ears. He opened one eye to look at the approaching woman and it took all his restraint to keep the other eye closed and his expression impassive. Her outfit was a lot different than the last time. She had forgone the traditional, professional kimono for a more form-fitting, sexy little dress. There was no more of her genin styled A-symmetrical look. This was all symmetry with fishnet and an unbelievably short skirt. Shikamaru practically began to salivate like she was a juicy piece of steak.

Keeping his face expressionless, Shikamaru sighed dramatically, before opening the other eye and stretching as if he had just woken from a good nap. He glanced at the sky to gauge the time, before speaking in a lazy, drawled tone, "You're only ten minutes early, woman. Do you have a fever or something?" His words drew a flicker of annoyance to her face, and he revelled in it for just a moment before turned away from her to begin walking into the village.

"Well I didn't want to be waiting around here for you to show up, Lazy-ass," she retorted hotly, her tone all hostility with only a hint of playfulness. Shikamaru loved this game they played. They walked side-by-side, but never came close enough to ever bump arms.

The pair reported to the Hokage immediately, before heading over to Temari's hotel room. The walk was so familiar that it allowed Shikamaru to zone out completely, with nothing but fantasies playing out in his mind's eye. With every step, his racing mind came up with a new scene.

Just as his pants were getting a little bit uncomfortable, the pair reached the hotel that Temari always stayed at. He approached the front desk with a lazy canter, and waited for the attendant to acknowledge them. Only when she looked up did Shikamaru speak, "I need Temari-sama's usual room, if you don't mind."

"I'm sorry, but that room is booked, Shikamaru-kun," the older woman squeaked, shaking her head sadly, "actually, all of our rooms are booked. Didn't you remember that the Hyuugas were staying here while the greater part of their clan home was repaired?"

Shikamaru audibly cursed, smacking the side of his head for his stupidity. He had forgotten all about the flood at the Hyuuga complex. How something that important could slip his mind could only be explained by his distraction.

"I... Well, I don't know what else we can do then. I forgot about the flooding," he paused, allowing idea after idea to cycle through his brain at top speed, "Well, I suppose the it's the only thing that can be done. Temari, you will have to crash at my place while you are here. My apartment is sectioned off, but it is attached to my family home. I hope you don't mind."

"Are you kidding me? I have to stay at your shitty apartment because the useless Hyuugas couldn't protect their own home from a little flooding? You have to be fucking kidding me, this is ridiculous. I am here on official business as liaison between Konoha and Sunagakure!" She fumed for a moment, her expression all hate, "I will be telling my brother of this."

As the pair turned and walked away, Temari smiled to herself, hiding it so Shikamaru could not see. This was perfect. She would be right next door to the person she had been fantasizing about for months. That sexy, scarred, fantastic man she fucked at the oasis. This could not be any better.

Temari was going to be with him again, if it killed her.

Teaser for the next chaper: Redemption

Temari pressed against him, pushing him firmly against the hard brick wall. Her breasts were round and full, peaking out of the top of her lavender tank top like over-ripe fruit ready for the picking. Her half-lidded, lust-filled eyes bore into him, as if she were staring into his very soul. She kissed him then, her lips attacking his in a passionate, desperate attempt to feel something. She forced her tongue into his mouth, tasting him and loving every moment of it. He tasted spicy with a little hint of tobacco, which was a strange combination. Their tongues wrestled like that for several moments before they pulled away for breath. In that split second, her mouth found his neck and she bit him, hard. Blood welled out of the wound and dripped into and around her mouth, creating red streaks on his tan skin. He cried out in pain, stifling it at the last second to keep the volume hushed. His hissed at her, enduring her attack with as much composure as he could.

Temari could feel the bulge in his pants pressing into her thigh as she pressed against him, but for some reason, it did not turn her on. It revolted her for some strange, unexplained reason. She had once considered Shikamaru a possible sexual partner for herself, and even imagined it in detail. That idea seemed silly now; almost perverse. How could she have ever thought Shikamaru was desirable in the slightest? He was a child three years her junior. He wasn't sexy or mature. He was boring.

She couldn't stop now though. She needed to keep this charade up while she wood Shikaku. If she let her true feeling show, the boy would know what was up and she would no longer be allowed in his home. She needed to stick around long enough to do what she needed to do to win back the one man she could never live without. Shikaku did what nobody in the world could do: he made her feel like a woman. Shikamaru was the key to his father, and she would not allow her feelings to stop her plan. She would have Shikaku; No matter what the cost was.