A/N: So, it's been a minute. Sorry for the wait, but this chapter has been a beast. Thanks for the continued support. your reviews, alerts and faves have kept me going over all these months. With that, I hope you all enjoy this conclusion. There is a short epilogue to follow.
Warnings: Of course.
Disclaimer: Don't own, don't profit.
Beta'd by: The wonderful, amazing, and altogether fabulous Itabitaboo.
"Naruto?" Sasuke asked, his voice a shocked whisper. The clay fell, completely forgotten, from his hands and landed with a muted thud on the dirt floor. He could scarcely believe his eyes and, for a panicked moment, considered the possibility that he had finally gone insane. Or worse. "Have I died?" he asked clumsily, in a language he hadn't spoken for over a year.
Naruto huffed a light laugh. "No, Sasuke," he answered softly, taking another step into the room.
Sasuke mirrored the movement, taking his own tentative steps past the potters' wheel and stopping just short of the other man. His wide and disbelieving eyes ran from Naruto's well-worn boots, up the legs wrapped in patched leather, over a soiled linen tunic and stopped at his face. He looked beyond the unfamiliar features—the shaggy, straw-colored hair and rugged beard—to peer into those sapphire eyes, fringed in golden lashes.
He remembered those eyes. Though the exact hue had become lost to him in the recent months, he had no doubt that those eyes belonged to his lover. The Roman. Naruto.
He reached out with a trembling hand. His clay-stained fingers hovered just in front of Naruto's mouth, aching to touch the chapped lips but terrified the man would dissolve into nothingness the moment he made contact.
"Are you real, Naruto?" Sasuke asked, his voice shaking as badly as his fingers. "Because if you are just a figment of my imagination, I don't think I will survive losing you again."
Those blue eyes shimmered and darkened. Sasuke sucked in a ragged breath as Naruto reached up to take his lingering hand and press it to his mouth. His lips pursed against Sasuke's fingertips, placing an imperceptible kiss against the pads.
Sasuke stepped closer and dragged his hand over Naruto's face, reacquainting himself with the gentle rise of Naruto's cheek and the dip of his temple. He brushed his thumb over Naruto's brow before sinking his fingers into thick hair. Lifting himself up onto the balls of his feet and pulling Naruto's head forward, Sasuke guided their mouths together.
The kiss was hesitant and unsure. Sasuke didn't close his eyes for fear the man before him could still vanish at any moment. Then an arm wrapped around him, crushing him against a hard chest. Sasuke could feel the hammering of Naruto's heart against his ribs.
He was real. This was real.
Sasuke's eyes finally slid shut as he focused on the slide of their lips. His other hand sank into Naruto's hair, clenching and twisting the locks between his fingers. Some strangled sound of ecstatic relief escaped from him as the embrace grew rougher, needier.
A shout from outside penetrated the cramped hut and with it came the realization that the door was open. Sasuke's brow crinkled in frustration, but he refused to separate himself from Naruto's mouth.
"Not here," Sasuke murmured against hungry lips.
Stumbling backwards, he guided them towards the mudroom, allthewhile ravenously slanting his head and curling his tongue around Naruto's. They fell through the curtain and rolled along the shelves of clay. Naruto's eyes cracked open to make a quick assessment of the dark space and he wasted no time in grabbing Sasuke around the waist to plant him on a shelf. Immediately, and naturally, Sasuke brought his legs around Naruto's hips, his robe riding high up his thighs to accommodate. Naruto's hands slipped down and found their way under the layers of linen to stroke along smooth skin.
"Gods… Sasuke," Naruto panted, dragging his mouth along the man's jaw and lower. He kissed and suckled and gnawed at the pale column of Sasuke's neck. Running his tongue over Sasuke's throat as it undulated in time with heavy breaths, Naruto felt euphoric. The months he'd spent searching a long and cold trail, the nights he'd spent desperate and alone, the constant doubt and dogged determination had all finally culminated in this moment. This glorious moment, where he was able to wrap his arms around Sasuke and feel the slender frame quake under the same torrent of emotion.
Sasuke buried his face into Naruto's neck, inhaling deeply and savoring the scent. There was a hint of leather and a faint mineral tang mixed with the strong musk of sweat. The familiar and heady aroma immediately stirred Sasuke's arousal and he moaned wantonly, suddenly desiring nothing more in this world than to bend over and receive this man.
It was as Sasuke's shaking hands began to hastily unlace the front of Naruto's pants that a voice called out from the main room. "Hello? Sasuke?"
Sasuke cringed, baring his teeth against Naruto's skin. "No," he groaned. Damn you, Tarou. Not now!
Grudgingly, but understandingly, Naruto pulled away. Sasuke slid off the shelf and tried to smooth his robe down, but found a persistent tent just below the sash. Grumbling foreign curses, Sasuke fiddled with the fabric until his erection was mostly obscured.
"I'll get rid of him," Sasuke whispered, then turned and let his eyes roam over Naruto's form in a lingering gaze. "Stay here."
Sasuke shouldered past the curtain and stood before Tarou with an irritated scowl and a haughtily cocked hip. "What is it now, Tarou?"
Offering a smile that acknowledged none of Sasuke's hostility, Tarou answered, "I need a new pitcher. It seems my old one has a crack."
Sasuke could feel the corner of his eye twitch. He nodded his head towards a shelf on his left. "We have a variety to choose from. Please make your selection and leave."
Tarou gave the row a cursory glance before turning back to Sasuke with a small shake of his head. "I'm afraid none of those will do," he said in mock exasperation. "The one I want has a gentle curve," he continued, his voice adopting a soft, suggestive quality. Tarou moved forward, placing a hand on Sasuke's waist. He ignored Sasuke's furious glare, focusing instead on the mouth drawn into a thin line. "With succulent, pouting lips."
When Tarou reached up to trace the seam of Sasuke's pursed mouth, he was surprised to have both his hands fiercely batted away. Sasuke's voice trembled with the restraint to keep from yelling. "I've grown tired of these games, Tarou. I will not deny that I may have harbored some feelings for you," Sasuke very nearly spat the word. "—but that was a lifetime ago. Go back to your wife and try to salvage your honor. I am not your vessel."
Looking shocked and seriously wounded, Tarou took a step back. Sasuke was always feisty in his refusal of Tarou's advances, but he was never so vehement. Something had changed.
"Sasuke, what—" Tarou's voice was cut off by a disturbance in the mudroom.
Both men redirected their attention to the curtain as a blond man came stumbling out, covering his head and cursing unintelligibly. Teyaki followed close behind, wielding a spade. He swung and landed a hit soundly on the back of Naruto's thigh, causing him to fall to one knee.
"Who are you?" Teyaki shouted, hefting his spade once more. "A thief? A scout? What do you want? Don't you dare move if you want to keep your head attached!"
As the man continued to assault him in a language he could neither understand nor speak, Naruto growled, "I swear, old man... If you hit me one more time—" He turned sharply to scream back into Teyaki's fuming face. "I don't know what you are saying!"
Sasuke ran to intercept them before any serious bodily harm was done. He wedged himself between his uncle and Naruto and took hold of the spade's handle. "Stop," he said sternly. "I know him. He is no threat, Teyaki."
Shifting his eyes from the stranger to his nephew, Teyaki took a reluctant step back. Sasuke encouraged him to lower his makeshift weapon and gave a short, respectful bow when he complied. He turned back only once he was certain the majority of the hostility had dissipated. Naruto was lifting himself to his feet when Sasuke hurried over to inspect him for injuries.
"Are you alright?" he whispered, running his hands over Naruto's torso.
"Fine," Naruto answered tersely, brushing Sasuke's fluttering hands away. The flash of disappointment in Sasuke's eyes made him immediately regret the action. He took the man by the wrists and answered more gently, "I'm fine, Sasuke."
Tarou watched the exchange with a discerning eye. The scene screamed of intimacy, but only if one knew what they were looking for. He saw the lingering touches and possessive heat of their gaze. He no longer needed an explanation for Sasuke's aggressive rejection.
Stepping off to the side, Tarou indiscriminately chose a pitcher from the shelf of similar vessels. He opened his mouth to bid a farewell, but decided against it. Tarou left the hut with a sense of grief for his unrequited lust, because he would not delude himself by calling this feeling 'love'. He'd leave Sasuke to find his happiness, for whatever this blond man could offer was, surely, well-deserved and sincere.
Inside the hut, Sasuke noticed Tarou's quiet retreat. He offered Naruto a small, almost apologetic smile and turned to Teyaki who was still eyeing the stranger suspiciously.
"Why don't you put that down," Sasuke said, glancing to the spade still held in a firm grip.
Teyaki looked at the tool in his hands and grumbled as he set it against the wall. He turned back and, addressing Sasuke alone, said, "You can never be too careful these days. More and more people are coming from the mainland, and they're not all friendly."
Sasuke fought the urge to scowl. He understood his uncle to be paranoid, especially since the raid on their village. In recent months, at Shisui's insistence, he'd tried to adopt the idea of opening relations to other villages, but he was wary. "I know, Teyaki," Sasuke said quietly, adopting an empathetic tone—something he'd learned from his many talks with his cousin. "But Naruto is my friend. He's come from Rome to visit me, not to receive a concussion."
Teyaki's mouth pulled into a faint sneer. "You can apologize for me."
Sasuke nodded, mostly exasperated but also mildly amused by his uncle's stubbornness. "Of course. And I'm sure you won't mind if I leave early today."
Teyaki waved him off dismissively and turned back to the mudroom, grabbing his spade along the way. Sasuke returned to Naruto and felt his heart flutter nervously in chest. He bade the man to follow as he quickly moved out of the hut and down the lesser used paths that ran between the village center and the home he shared with Shisui.
Sasuke wasn't surprised to find the small house empty, but he still thanked the gods for small favors. He knew he would have to make a formal introduction to his family eventually, but first he needed some time alone with Naruto. They had many things to say… and do. Rummaging through his belongings, Sasuke quickly filled a roughly woven bag.
"What are you doing?" Naruto asked, bemused by Sasuke's hurried activity.
"Do you have any other clothes with you?" Sasuke asked, turning and looking Naruto up and down dubiously. When Naruto shook his head, Sasuke crossed the room to rifle through Shisui's robes. While his cousin wasn't nearly as wide as Naruto, he was at least as tall. His clothes would be slightly better fitting. "It isn't ideal," he said ambiguously, "but it will have to do until we can get you something better."
"Sasuke," Naruto said, his tone demanding attention as he repeated, "what are you doing?"
Shoving the borrowed robe into his bag, Sasuke turned and regarded Naruto with an impish expression that immediately had the blond's blood heating. He hefted the sack onto his shoulder and sauntered up to Naruto, swaying his hips just enough to ensnare undivided attention.
"I thought I'd take you for a bath," Sasuke whispered, his tone thick and laced with intent. He placed a hand on the broad chest before him and lifted himself until his breath tickled Naruto's lips. He dragged a finger up Naruto's chest and neck and then across the hard, scruffy edge of his chin. With a seductive blaze in his eyes, Sasuke pulled back. "Follow me."
Naruto did just that, anxiously and excitedly, as Sasuke led them away from the village and into the forest. They traveled across rocky, gently sloping terrain peppered liberally with tall, lean trees that filtered the sun into golden strips. The ground was covered in a thick moss and dense ferns that would have seemed impenetrable if it weren't for their malleable nature. Beyond their breathing, the only sounds were those of nature—the soft chirp of birds, the gentle gurgle of water and the occasional rustle of soft spring leaves in the wind.
Sasuke wove through the foliage effortlessly, following no discernible path, until finally stopping at a plateau. The trees grew thicker here, their wide boughs blocking out even more of the sun. Naruto came to a stop beside Sasuke and followed his gaze to the milky, blue-green pool at their feet. Wisps of steam floated up, curling in the breeze and fading into the air.
Sasuke dropped his bag to the mossy earth and pulled out a few choice implements—a razor, shears, and a clay vessel that he himself had made. Holding his tools, Sasuke turned to regard Naruto with a familiarly haughty expression.
"How may I service you?" he asked, his eyes lighting mischievously despite his attempts to appear coy.
"Uh..." Naruto croaked. He didn't know what to make of the display. Was Sasuke teasing him? Was this the only way he knew how to behave? Or was it just a matter of comfort—picking up where they had left off?
Naruto studied Sasuke's face. How was it that eyes so dark could shine so brightly, that lips could pout and smirk simultaneously? He didn't understand it, but in that moment he realized he didn't need to. It didn't matter what game Sasuke was playing at. All that mattered was that he was playing at all, that they were there... together.
Seeing that Naruto was nonplussed, Sasuke simpered, "Perhaps a shave and a haircut?" When Naruto nodded dumbly, Sasuke gestured to a nearby stump. "Please, sit."
The moment Naruto settled himself onto the makeshift bench, Sasuke was upon him. With one hand, he carded his fingers through the blond hair and, with the other, he snipped away. Tufts of gold drifted to the ground as Sasuke cut the unruly mane into a tight crop. Naruto's eyes drifted closed as he relished the sensation of Sasuke's hands gently caressing his scalp. He'd spent many nights dreaming of those hands, imagining every possible way they could touch him. But his fantasies had failed him. They never provided him with the deeper sensation. He was never able to recreate the fulfillment those hands offered. Beyond pleasure or satisfaction, in those hands—Sasuke's true flesh and bone hands—Naruto was home.
"That's better," Sasuke said, carding his fingers through the soft, flaxen pelt. "Now, what to do about that beard?"
Naruto opened his eyes in time to watch as Sasuke came around the stump and languidly slid into his lap. From the clay vessel, Sasuke filled his hand with oil and slowly he began to apply it. Naruto's nostrils flared as they filled with the strange, earthy scent of the oil. It was pungent, not as floral as he was used to, but neither was it unpleasant. His thoughts were quickly redirected to the glide of Sasuke's hand over his jaw and down his neck. Sasuke noted the way Naruto's pulse jumped against his fingers as they spread the oil across his throat. His own heart seemed to thrum in time.
It was miraculous, how Sasuke managed to keep his hands steady. Every muscle in his body was wound tight with anticipation. Maintaining this calm façade required far too much work and if he let his focus stray for even a moment, he'd forget to breathe.
Sasuke brought the razor to Naruto's skin at a precise angle. He tilted back Naruto's head before slowly running the blade across his cheek and down the curve of his jaw. Carefully, Sasuke wiped the blade off on his thigh, finding the fabric of his robe adequate for the task. Naruto's hands snaked around Sasuke's slender waist and rubbed firmly across his back, forcing him to double his efforts to concentrate on the movement of the razor.
Sliding his thumb under Naruto's chin, Sasuke turned his attention to the coarse hair adorning Naruto's throat. He could feel the other's gaze on him, peering out from under blond lashes. In the quiet and closeness of the moment, Sasuke's heart began to drum an excited, erratic rhythm against his ribs. He had to fight the tremble in his hand, lest he slice into Naruto's beautiful, bronze skin.
Risking a nic, Naruto softly stated, "Your hair is longer."
Sasuke's eyes flicked up and his brow tweaked in slight confusion. Of all the things to say, that seemed terribly trivial. Focusing back on the path of the blade, he nodded. "Yes."
Naruto lowered his face to look Sasuke squarely in the eye. "I missed you," he said with a veracity that resounded in Sasuke's core.
But Sasuke didn't respond. Instead, with one final, shaky swipe, he whisked away the last of Naruto's overgrowth. As Sasuke pulled his hand back, Naruto reached up and snagged his wrist. Under his thumb, he could feel a quickened pulse. Sucking in a ragged breath, Sasuke loosened his grip and let the razor fall to the ground. His hand wasn't empty for long though. Their fingers intertwined naturally.
Naruto leaned forward until his mouth ghosted against Sasuke's. "I missed the feel of your lips," he whispered.
Sasuke tried and failed to suppress a violent shiver. Naruto felt the tremor in his lap and his free hand clutched at the loose fabric of Sasuke's robe. His tongue came out to gently prod at Sasuke's bottom lip. Languidly, he slid the tip of the muscle across the sensitive flesh. Sasuke's tongue responded instinctively, slipping out of his mouth to flick against Naruto's. But before their lips could seal the embrace, Sasuke pulled back.
He stood and gestured to the hot spring. "And now, for your bath," Sasuke said, floundering in his attempts to be coy. His quiet voice and bashfully averted eyes couldn't hide the gentle heave of his chest or the prominent bulge under his robe.
Without Sasuke, Naruto's lap felt cold and empty. He wanted nothing more than to grab the man by that outstretched arm and yank him back into place. Nonetheless, he decided to play along. "I must undress first," he stated teasingly as he stood.
Running his eyes up and down Naruto's frame, Sasuke replied, "Of course." When the man made no move to disrobe, though, Sasuke ventured, "Do you need assistance?"
The ghost of a smirk pulled at Naruto's lips. "I've been traveling hard and my muscles are quite sore."
Sasuke nodded in feigned acquiescence and stepped up to him. His gaze traveled over Naruto once again, this time assessing where to begin. He decided to start with the stained tunic. Sasuke ran his hands up the firm stomach and chest, then slid them back down Naruto's sides. He tugged the fabric loose from the waist of Naruto's pants and slowly pushed it up. The newly revealed skin called to him and Sasuke pressed himself against the toned body as he ran the shirt up Naruto's raised arms and eventually over his head. The garment was unceremoniously tossed aside.
Next came Naruto's boots. Sasuke gracefully fell to his knees and unfastened the buckles. Naruto shifted his weight from one foot to the other as the cumbersome footgear was removed.
Sasuke looked up from his position on the ground and was reminded, with blinding clarity, of his first encounter with Naruto. It seemed so very long ago that he had put his trembling hands on the Roman with an excited nausea. Now, as he dragged his hands up leather-clad thighs, his excitement was a violent, barely controlled beast that wanted to rend the pants apart and mount the hard, throbbing prize within. Somehow, Sasuke managed to keep his calm as he slipped his fingers between the laces, loosening them enough to allow for exploration under the leather. Slowly, as to savor the feel of firm muscle under his palms, Sasuke slid his hands around Naruto's hips. They found purchase on strong, round buttocks and squeezed gently, testing the pliable flesh. A shudder of ecstasy burst through Sasuke. It started in his chest, where it stole his breath; then seeped into his gut, causing his stomach to flip; and finally settled deep in his loins, where it throbbed incessantly.
Sasuke's hands didn't linger there, as he would have no doubt lost the last few remaining threads of control to the insatiable fire of his lust. He dragged his palms down the thick pillars of Naruto's legs until the well-worn leather pooled at Naruto's feet.
He stole a quick glance at the nude form before him. Lines of muscle and sun-kissed skin filled his vision. As did Naruto's ruddy and plump cock, which hung half hard between his legs. Sasuke felt a sudden flood of salivation and forced himself to look away.
This charade was torture. An act of masochism, the likes of which he'd never previously performed. Yet, somehow, it made the entire experience so much more titillating.
He returned to his feet and stepped back, sweeping his arm out in gesture to the spring. Naruto tested the water with his toe and found it pleasantly hot, much warmer than the basins of the thermae. There seemed to be a natural progression of rocky outcrops, or perhaps they were steps that had been carved by the villagers many years ago. Either way, the path descended until Naruto was submerged to mid-thigh.
Sasuke still stood at the edge of the pool, having made no move to enter. Naruto turned to him and smiled playfully. "I cannot be expected to bathe myself," he said in a somewhat condescending manner, strikingly similar to that which he'd used on the day of their first and fated meeting.
Sasuke had to purse his lips to keep from smirking. "Of course not," he replied before turning back to his bag to collect a rough washing cloth.
Sasuke returned to the water's edge and began to undress, drawing the process out with clearly lewd intention. He started with the leather strap holding back his hair and pulled it loose, allowing the thick black curtain to tumble to his shoulders. He frowned a little, and ran a hand through his hair self-consciously. Naruto had never seen him with long hair, he didn't know if the Roman would find it too feminine. A brief glance at Naruto's face immediately settled his doubt. The man wore an expression of excited approval. Sasuke's lips quirked into a small smile as he moved to untie the sash of his robe. It fell away with a gentle whisper and was followed shortly by the soft thump of his robe.
Naruto watched with hungry and utterly unapologetic eyes as Sasuke stripped. He was pleased to see the untarnished, alabaster skin of his dreams and even more excited by the addition of muscle to Sasuke's limbs. While he'd never appeared unhealthy in Rome, it was clear that Sasuke's physique had been stunted. Naruto's gaze moved down the lean planes of Sasuke's torso and hovered on the impressive erection that sprouted from a dark patch of hair. That was a peculiar sight. Puers were always fully shaved. And even though it appeared that Sasuke had maintained his habit of shaving his legs and under his arms, he had chosen to let this one area grow. Naruto stared unabashedly, scrutinizing this oddly fascinating feature. The bush was short and tidy and obviously well manicured. Really, it was just another testament to Sasuke's maturity. For the first time in years, Naruto felt his gut clench in arousal.
Sasuke stepped into the pool and Naruto forced himself to pull his eyes away from the gently swaying cock. The water rippled and lapped as Sasuke approached and Naruto turned to present him with his broad back.
Sasuke scrubbed Naruto's shoulders in small circles. Every so often, he would dip the cloth into the milky pool and wring it out over Naruto's back. The water would trickle down in translucent streams, following the lines of muscle, and steam would curl off his skin. Sasuke found himself irrationally jealous of these thin wisps as they caressed tan flesh. He longed to be that close, to seep into Naruto's skin and exist, even temporarily, on the heat of his body.
Subconsciously, he moved closer, until he could feel the radiating warmth. Their bodies would brush occasionally, as was inevitable at such close proximity.
Turning his head, Naruto commented over his shoulder, "You are standing far too close, Sasuke. Where is your sense of propriety?"
"Apologies," Sasuke replied, though he did not move. He fought to maintain the rouse as he moved the wet cloth up and down Naruto's sides.
"And while we're on the subject of propriety," Naruto continued, tone still light and teasing, "one might consider your current state of arousal to be rather unprofessional."
Sasuke pressed himself even closer, allowing his hard length to dig into Naruto's hip. "Apologies," he repeated, this time with a defiant bite.
Sasuke was baiting him, Naruto understood. He knew that Sasuke was trying to coerce him into ending this farce, as if this were a game and the man that gave in first would be declared the loser. But how could he lose if ending the game meant claiming Sasuke's luscious body? Such an idea was too ludicrous to even consider.
"Well," Naruto said in a low drawl, "I suppose I could forgive this breach in etiquette, so long as you are thorough."
Sasuke shuddered as the dark voice vibrated against his chest. "Yes, sir," he replied, the slight warble in his voice betraying his excitement.
He slid his hands around the strong, tapered torso, giving them leave to explore Naruto's chest at their leisure. The cloth made lazy circles over his sternum and down the corrugated plane of his stomach, while dexterous fingers teased nipples and tickled down his side. As far as hygiene was concerned, Sasuke was doing a deplorable job, but Naruto couldn't bring himself to complain and Sasuke couldn't be bothered to care.
The rediscovery of Naruto's body continued as one of Sasuke's hands traced along a prominent collarbone, finding and stroking the hollow above it. The other hand, the one burdened with the rough cloth, located the junction of thigh and pelvis and began a lackadaisical scrub. Sasuke closed his eyes, ignoring the surrounding forest and focusing his senses on feeling.
Deprived of vision, his imagination began to feed him delicious scenes. Naruto's body became a vast, decadent buffet, which Sasuke yearned to devour. The line between fantasy and reality began to blur as Sasuke opened his mouth to gnaw on Naruto's shoulder. Soon, Sasuke's tongue became an aid to the task of bathing. It laved across the expanse of Naruto's back, paying special attention to the occasional ridge of scar tissue that marred the otherwise perfect flesh.
Unable to deny himself any longer, Sasuke brought his hand between Naruto's legs. He found the root of Naruto's exceptional arousal and wrapped his cloth-covered hand around it. The sensation was a coarse glide that, despite the friction—or, perhaps, because of it—was quite spectacular.
Naruto let his head fall back as he groaned and jerked his hips into the rough tug on his length. He'd been deprived of this for too long—the feel of Sasuke's body pressing against his, the masterful way the man touched him. He'd forgotten how his blood sang through his veins at the whisper of a touch, or how his lungs momentarily seized when those teasing hands laid upon him in earnest.
Sasuke's tongue concluded its journey from the nape of Naruto's neck to the shell of his ear. His voice trembled as soft words ghosted over Naruto's skin. "Perhaps this too requires the attention of my mouth." Sasuke gave a demonstrative pull on Naruto's rigid cock and the blond grunted his assent.
Sasuke slid his lithe form around to Naruto's front, then sank into the pool until the opalescent water lapped against his ribs and Naruto's cock twitched before his lips. He stroked the turgid length twice more before shifting his hand to guide the rough cloth between Naruto's sac and thigh. While he gently scrubbed behind the heavy pouch, Sasuke leaned forward to drag his tongue along the wrinkled flesh. He began an oral massage, employing his entire mouth to provide the most sensation. His tongue lapped, teeth grazed and lips nibbled. He suckled one tightly-drawn testicle, then slowly—and with much reverence—pulled it into his mouth.
The view from his knees was mostly obscured by the blushing, swollen cock suspended just before his nose. But that didn't stop Sasuke from peering up the plane of Naruto's torso. He stared through the haze of lust that clouded his vision and found himself drowning in a tempestuous sea of azure. In Naruto's eyes, he saw a storm of desire and gratitude writhing atop an undercurrent of love. Entranced as he was, Sasuke still managed to curl his tongue around the malleable testicle in his mouth. The turgid length above him twitched, the glistening head swelling past the barrier of its sheath.
Naruto groaned appreciatively, his eyes slipping closed. Now freed from the heated gaze, Sasuke directed his attention to Naruto's swollen and needy anatomy. He lavished Naruto's sac with sloppy, wet kisses and trailed his tongue round and round the thick base of his cock. Sasuke gripped his lover's hips firmly and nuzzled into him, burying his nose into short, curly hair and inhaling deeply. The subsequent groan that crawled out from Sasuke's throat was thick and wanton and utterly vulgar. It forced a stream of pearly liquid from the lips of Naruto's slit. Sasuke drew another open-mouthed breath and held it, letting the heady scent of sweat and arousal permeate his lungs. His heart. His soul.
"Gods, Naruto," he whispered against the straining erection. He let his tongue fall out and trace up the veiny shaft. The muscle found a streak of precum and followed it to the sensitive delta of Naruto's frenulum. As if discovering the source of this tangy, salty treasure for the first time, Sasuke hummed in delight. He wrapped his lips firmly around the tip and began to suckle. His tongue played with the delicious slit—dipping in, flicking and swirling—and coaxed out more of the heady elixir. He lapped it up with the fervor of a starved man.
Naruto cracked his eyes open to watch as Sasuke greedily consumed him. He put his hands on Sasuke's shoulders, anchoring himself for the storm of pleasure he was certain loomed on the horizon.
Slowly and deliberately, Sasuke began to bob, each time taking in a little more of Naruto's length. He laved the pulsing shaft, reacquainting himself with the smooth, velvety feel against his tongue.
There was a time, so long ago, when Sasuke had taken the liberty of mapping out Naruto's most sensitive areas. Now, as he pressed his tongue into the thick vein at the base of Naruto's cock, Sasuke was quite pleased to discover that he remembered every single one.
Naruto, too, was elated that Sasuke had committed this information to memory. He dragged a hand up from the man's shoulder and gently cupped the base of his neck, encouraging Sasuke to take him deeper. And Sasuke obliged eagerly. Naruto's fingers curled into the ebony locks as his tip glided back across Sasuke's ridged palette to nestle against his throat. Taking a breath and fighting his natural urge to gag, Sasuke swallowed. Naruto made a strangled sound of pleasure as the smooth walls constricted around him. Sasuke pulled back, sucking voraciously as he did so. He bobbed a few times, still maintaining his hollowed cheeks, then descended once more to take Naruto down to the root. This time, the sound that escaped the Roman was a graveled howl that sounded vaguely similar to Sasuke's name.
Sasuke decided it was time end it, time to shatter Naruto down to his core and consume his essence.
He concentrated a hard and fast bob on the swollen head and brought his hands in to twist and fondle and grope everything not covered by his mouth. The resulting assault had Naruto jerking and shaking, moaning and screaming. His left leg began to tremble violently, but Naruto was only marginally aware of his very real risk of collapse.
Then, as the onslaught reached its peak, he brought both fists into Sasuke's long hair, doubled over, and came. He thrust weakly into Sasuke's waiting mouth and spilled for what felt like an eternity. Sasuke swallowed what he could and let the rest dribble out the corners of his mouth. After a few shaky breaths, Naruto stumbled back and sank into the water.
As he wiped the viscous remnants from his chin, Sasuke appraised Naruto's satiated state. The man was submerged up to his shoulders, and what remained above water was flushed from heat and arousal. Naruto leaned back against the side of the pool, finding a comfortable position against the smooth stone, and brought a hand to his face.
"Sasuke..." He heaved the name, sounding almost delirious with pleasure. "I could die in your mouth, Sasuke."
Creeping forward on his knees, Sasuke smirked. "I sincerely hope you don't."
He settled into the blond's lap, straddling his waist and wrapping his arms around Naruto's neck. It felt like his natural place, where he belonged. He lowered his face to the bronze column and brandished the skin with soft kisses. His lips trailed from the hollow of Naruto's throat, over sinewy muscle, and up behind his ear.
Sasuke tightened his arms, pulled himself flush against Naruto's hard body and sighed heavily. "I missed you so much," he whispered. There was an ache in his voice, an elation subdued by seasons of grief.
Naruto answered with a firm embrace, running his large, soothing hands up and down Sasuke's back. "I know, Sasuke," he said, offering his own commiserating kisses. "This last year was my own personal hell."
Sasuke pulled back and looked questioningly into Naruto's clear, cerulean eyes. "What does that mean?"
"Hmm?" Naruto responded as he distractedly twirled Sasuke's hair between his fingers.
"Hell," Sasuke prompted. "What is that?"
Naruto's brow crinkled, then smoothed with realization. Sometimes he forgot that they came from such vastly different worlds. Their time together wasn't often spent discussing politics or religion, especially when the language of their bodies was so fluent. Naruto smiled sadly and brought his hand up to card his fingers through ebony locks. "It's a Christian concept, where the souls of the damned go to be tortured for eternity."
Sasuke blinked at the vivid explanation. 'Hell'? he thought. It was an apt description of the pain he'd felt. Leaving Rome and putting empire after empire between them had been an excruciating torment. And each day had been an exercise in emotional flagellation.
"We don't have anything like that," Sasuke replied quietly. His expression turned pensive as his eyes dropped to trace the contour of Naruto's lips. "The spirits of the dead cannot be punished, unless they are forgotten. Then, they degenerate in agony. They become lost and wild." He brought his gaze back up to Naruto's and continued in earnest, "I vowed to never forget you, Naruto. And I didn't. I never will."
The significance of the words may have been lost on Naruto—it wasn't a familiar concept, after all—but the burning sincerity in Sasuke's eyes spoke volumes. Responding in the only way that felt right, Naruto cupped the back of Sasuke's head and pulled him forward.
The gentle brush of lips lasted for a few heartbeats, until the embrace emboldened and grew forceful. Naruto's tongued plied itself between Sasuke's lips and found an eager partner waiting. Their heads slanted in perfect tandem to deepen the kiss and allow for their twisting tongues to dance in a flourish of sybaritic desire.
The embrace healed in ways words never could. Years of heartache and desolation were erased by the gentle caress of tongues. Burning need was soothed by the slip of hands over skin. Even the thunderous desire they shared was dampened by the din of their wanton moans.
Sasuke was the first to pull back, taking a ragged breath as he did so. "I can't believe—" he whispered, his quaking voice forced out between the kisses he planted across Naruto's face, "—you're here. How...did you even...get...here?"
Naruto grabbed Sasuke's head to steady him. His blue eyes were positively ravenous as he answered, "Later, Sasuke. I don't wish to waste any more time talking."
Sasuke's response was a single, excited gulp. He kept his eyes trained on Naruto's as he reached down into the water between their bodies. Naruto's thick cock was easy to locate in the cloudy pool, straining towards the surface as it was. A small, impish smile crossed Sasuke's lips as he took hold of the length and lifted himself up on his knees. He took his time positioning himself, guiding the length between his legs to press between his cheeks.
He was nearly trembling with the the ferocious pounding of his heart. His breathing shortened into small, nervous gasps. It'd been so long that he wasn't entirely sure he'd be able to bear it.
Naruto rolled his hips in gentle persuasion, prodding against the sweet pucker. Sasuke felt an elation wash over him, flooding his vision with white and sending his senses reeling. He was suddenly light-headed and giddy with anticipation.
"It's going to be tight," Sasuke heard himself saying, his voice rasping through his excitement.
Naruto slid his hands down the gentle taper of Sasuke's torso, dipping them beneath the water and gripping either side of Sasuke's supple ass. He pulled at the cheeks, parting them and making more room for his questing cockhead.
"I'll go slowly," Naruto said with such a soft tone that it sounded like a vow to Sasuke's ears. "Come here."
Sasuke leaned forward and wrapped his arms tightly around Naruto's neck. The feel of Naruto's mouth against his was only a mild distraction to the persistent nudge against his hole. Sasuke could feel his body resisting, even as he urged himself to relax.
As promised, Naruto breeched him slowly, giving Sasuke time to accustom himself to the stretch. Still, he whimpered against the lips pressing urgently against his own. As the crown pushed ever inward, Sasuke felt himself tense, his fingers digging crescents into Naruto's shoulders. As he carved his way into Sasuke's body, Naruto could feel the walls squeezing against him, fighting him, attempting to evacuate him. But he would not allow that, not when he was nearly half-sheathed. With a silent apology, he bit down on Sasuke's lip and thrust up, burying himself to the hilt.
Sasuke pulled back on a cry, his eyes clenched shut against a rush of tears. He forced himself to ignore the pain and instead focused on the fullness. He concentrated on the stretch and the hot flesh that caused it. He remembered how long he had been without this and slowly began to relax.
Naruto could feel the walls loosening around him. It took great effort to repress the urge to thrust again, but he managed. Instead, he brought a hand out of the water to stroke Sasuke's flushed cheek.
"Are you alright?" Naruto asked as he pushed back an errant strand of hair from Sasuke's face.
Sasuke heaved a breath that bordered on a soft groan and nodded. "Yes," he answered, once he was sure his voice would sound even moderately convincing.
He took another cleansing breath and opened his eyes to meet a concerned, blue gaze. Seeing the look of consternation on Naruto's face, Sasuke's heart clenched. He smiled softly and placed a light, chaste kiss on Naruto's mouth.
"I'm going to move now," Sasuke said, though there was a clear hesitation in his voice.
The first tentative roll of hips sent bolts of pleasure coursing through Sasuke, starting at the singularity of their union and radiating out. Sasuke bit down on his lip and repeated the action with slightly more vigor. The stretch was almost too much to bear, even as he continued to slowly buck up and down. He felt dangerously taut and exquisitely full. The clap of water against his body was a salacious applause to his ever-increasing movement.
"Ahh.. Naaah...oh..." Sasuke's attempts to speak crumbled into unintelligible grunts and groans as his head fell back, exposing his long, pale neck. Naruto took immediate advantage, pulling Sasuke into him and attaching his lips firmly to the grumbling throat. "Ahhh," another moan vibrated against Naruto's lips.
"Yes, Sasuke." Naruto agreed wholeheartedly to the unarticulated thoughts of his lover. For, surely, the sound of pleasure could not be denied.
Sasuke let some of his weight fall back, to settle more directly over the pillar of flesh impaling his depths. He found leverage with his knees and lifted himself higher, relishing in the sweet friction along his chute. Taking a breath, Sasuke began a slow descent—alternating between a gentle rise and deeper fall—until, after what felt like half a lifetime, he was fully seated once more.
"I'd forgotten…" Sasuke murmured breathlessly as he lifted himself up once more. He rolled his hips leisurely as he slid back down the thick shaft. He looked at Naruto with familiar lust-laden eyes. "I'd forgotten," he repeated, "what it was like to have you inside me."
Naruto dragged his hands across the smooth expanse of Sasuke's back, encouraging him to arch back and change angles once again. Sasuke sighed approvingly and began to bounce, gasping at the spectacular burst of ecstasy as Naruto's cock drove deeper.
"Wh—nghh...What is it like?" Naruto asked, failing to hold back his moans despite his best efforts.
"It feels like… like…uungh" Sasuke groaned, half exasperated and half ecstatic. "I don't know the words."
Naruto cupped Sasuke's sides and offered support for the frenetic pace the man had set. "Try," he ordered.
Sasuke shook his head, flicking his dampened ebony locks away from his face. Naruto's eyes fell from Sasuke's face and landed on the elegant stretch of ivory throat. He could see the pulse that thrummed just under the skin and leaned forward to swipe at it with his tongue.
"Sasuke," Naruto husked, his teeth scraping against the flesh in warning.
Between the driving force of bliss and his own rapidly dissolving vocabulary, Sasuke managed a weakly moaned, "Hot and… f-full."
Naruto's lips curved against the pale neck. "Tell me more," he growled, tightening his grip on Sasuke's hips.
Clenching his teeth against a cry, Sasuke clawed at Naruto's shoulders. He could hardly breathe, let alone speak. Frantically, Sasuke searched his pleasure addled mind for words—any words—but all he could find were grunts and moans.
"What else, Sasuke?" Naruto rumbled low and dangerously, lips still pressed against Sasuke's throat. He forced Sasuke onto his cock harder and faster, until he reached such a blistering pace that he himself was at risk of falling off the edge.
"I-I don't… know," Sasuke keened, but he knew Naruto wouldn't be satisfied with that answer. From deep within his core, he dredged up the only words that seemed worthy. "Perfect. Whole. C-complete," Sasuke answered, his voice raw and breathless. "Naruto… I feel complete when you're inside me."
Naruto loosened his grip around Sasuke's hips and the rhythm slowed to a languorous roll. Panting and still trying to regain his senses, Sasuke wilted against the hard body, letting his forehead rest against Naruto's.
Naruto, too, was fighting for breath. His throat felt constricted, his chest weighed down. He brought his hands out of the water to cup the sides of Sasuke' face, pulling him back so he could properly look into the hooded, onyx eyes. He was met with the startling vision of twin pools darker than the night sky and twinkling, not with stars but with unspoken truths. Love, honesty, and apprehension shone through the blanket of passion and need that consumed the depths.
"Sasuke…" Naruto whispered in a tone normally reserved for prayer.
That wasn't entirely inappropriate. This was a moment of consecration, where the two of them became one. Whole. Complete. Just as Sasuke had said in his aching bliss.
The kiss that followed put all their previous embraces to shame. It was a deep, long, slow exploration—as if Naruto was trying to taste the very essence of Sasuke's soul. Their bodies melded together. Their moans passed from one to the other and back. And somewhere in the heat of the exchange, their spirits merged. The sensation was as undeniable as the slide of their tongues. There was a heat of fusion in their chests that gave way to a dense pit in the stomach. That, almost nauseating sensation, was replaced by a surge of transcendental euphoria that left them feeling inexplicably lighter.
Naruto felt a wetness on his cheeks and, for the life of him, he couldn't tell who the tears belonged to.
Reluctantly pulling himself away, Naruto gathered Sasuke's trembling form in his arms. Carefully, as not to dislodge himself from Sasuke's depths, he stood. Sasuke's grip tightened, his legs wrapped themselves around Naruto's waist, and his eyes widened as he had enough sense about him to realize he was being lifted out of the pool. Then the world was spinning and he was being deposited on the ground.
Naruto kissed him frantically from his lips, across his jaw, up to his temple and back. The furious attack of lips journeyed down Sasuke's neck and across to his shoulder, where teeth applied themselves. It was as Naruto's incisors dug their way into Sasuke's skin that the thrusting began.
Naruto set a slow, though bone-shatteringly hard, pace. He pounded into Sasuke like a man possessed, as if he had something to prove.
"I love you, Sasuke."
And there it was. The reason behind the fervor, the zeal, the demonstration. As Sasuke's body jostled against the grass, he understood that Naruto would not stop until those softly grunted words were etched into his being. Naruto was determined to fuck him until his marrow ached with the proof of The Roman's love.
That was fine. In truth, Sasuke expected no less. And so, it was with a soft smile that Sasuke hooked his legs over Naruto's shoulders and braced himself for the onslaught.
Naruto was on his knees and elbows, rutting more like a beast than a man. He tangled his hands in the black mane splayed out upon the ground, held on as if they were reigns, and rode Sasuke with furious abandon.
Sasuke's hands clawed the soft earth as Naruto buried himself deeper and faster. He sighed in short-lived relief when Naruto pulled out, then sucked in a gasping breath when he rammed back in. His body was ignited by passion and burning with a need for these hard thrusts to never, ever end.
Between the sloppy clash of their mouths, Sasuke tried to speak. Most attempts ended in disarticulated grunts and moans, but eventually he managed a ragged, "Yes! Harder, Narut-to, ahh... Please, yes!"
And, though mostly delirious from lust, Naruto obliged. He sat back on his heels and pulled Sasuke's thighs tight to his stomach. Peering down between pale calves, Naruto smiled roguishly. He raised himself onto his knees and slid his hands to Sasuke's hips, cradling him gently for a moment. And only a moment.
Naruto didn't waste time building up tempo. He crashed his pelvis against Sasuke's ass with a wild rhythm that barely kept time with his racing pulse. Sasuke cried out in surprise, clenched his eyes shut and saw bursts of stars flare up against his lids. The angle was perfect, or tortuous, depending on how he wanted to describe the blistering, blissful agony that followed with every deep, driving thrust.
Sasuke's howls of pleasure sounded especially feral as they rang through the trees. The birds fled and all the creatures of the forest kept a wide berth. Even the gentle breeze seemed to have stilled. All that remained was the clap of flesh and the primal grunts of two men utterly lost to the throes of passion.
Naruto slipped a hand off Sasuke's hip and wrapped it tightly around his profusely weeping length. He pumped quickly, matching his increasingly erratic thrusts, and Sasuke arched further off the ground with a gravelled moan. Euphoric curses fell from his lips in a nonsensical combination of languages. His voice cracked and strained as he bellowed louder and louder, until finally the coil snapped. His body was bowed and rigid, his fingers clenched in the mossy earth, and his cock very nearly thrashing in Naruto's hand as it spilled and spilled.
Allthewhile, Naruto pounded into the clenching vice of Sasuke's ass, whose orgasm had forced the inner muscles to undulate as the hot chute milked Naruto's aching cock masterfully. He came to the rich sound of Sasuke's cries and joined him with a deep, rumbling moan.
As the purge slowly ceased, the edges of Naruto's vision darkened. Sated euphoria washed through him, leaving him boneless. Gracelessly, he collapsed on top of Sasuke, pinning the man to the dirt.
Sasuke let out an indignant oomph, as Naruto's body sprawled out on top of his. He extracted his hands from the dirt and wrapped them around Naruto's back. He could feel a warm puff of breath on his neck and the faint tremble of exhausted muscles under his palms.
"Naruto," Sasuke grunted. When he received no reply, he tried again more forcefully. "Naruto!"
There was a low grumble in response, but no attempts to move. Sasuke called up what strength he had left and managed to push Naruto up and over, until the man rolled onto the ground. He leaned over and traced his fingers along Naruto's flushed cheek. Bleary, glassy, azure eyes blinked open and Naruto's mouth tilted into a tired smile.
Sasuke bent down to place a gentle kiss on the upturned lips. He peered back up into Naruto's eyes and offered his own, tremulous smile. "I love you, too."
The second dip in the hot spring was considerably more productive than the first. They scrubbed themselves properly, washing off the remnants of their coupling and cleaned those places previously neglected.
Climbing out of the spring, Sasuke gathered his robe from the ground. He slipped into it with a simper, casting a quick glance over to Naruto. As he tied the sash around his waist, he felt a wave of giddiness wash over him.
Naruto watched from the edge of the pool with a small, amused smile on his lips. He rather enjoyed the tint of pink staining Sasuke's cheeks and wondered what thoughts could have produced such a shade. Sasuke turned and hastily tied back his hair before bending to the ground to collect his tools. Naruto's smile stretched into an appreciative leer as he admired the round rump Sasuke had poised in the air.
When he turned back, Sasuke was holding a bundle of linen and beckoned for Naruto with a nod of his head. Begrudgingly, the man stood from the pool and sauntered over. The effort required for Sasuke to keep his eyes above Naruto's navel was greater than he would care to admit.
He shook out the robe and held it open while Naruto eyed it questioningly. He'd never worn any such garment. He slipped one arm into the sleeve and let Sasuke wrap it around his back before slipping into the other one. Adept hands wrapped him snugly, then tied the sash in such a way that it laid flat against the robe.
As Sasuke had rightly assumed, the robe was long enough to graze Naruto's calves, though it was considerably tighter than normal around his thick frame. And when he shrugged into the fabric, Sasuke could plainly see the muscles shifting beneath. It was a wholly indecent sight. Sasuke blinked the arousal from his eyes and cleared his throat.
"Is this acceptable?" Naruto asked with barely concealed temerity.
Sasuke sniffed, petulant and falsely indifferent at the same time. "It will do for now."
They began a slow trek back to the village, taking their time to meander through the trees and wind their way down the the hill. There was a lingering intimacy in the fleeting glances they shared and the scant space between them as they walked.
"Are you sure you want to do this today?" Sasuke asked as they neared the village. Naruto had insisted that he wanted to meet Sasuke's family, but Sasuke himself was hesitant. "I'm sure you're tired."
"I'm sure you're tired too," Naruto replied with a smirk and a tweak of his brow.
Sasuke leveled a haughty glare on the blond. "I'm being serious, Naruto."
Naruto's grin grew and his eyes lit with mirth. "So am I."
Sasuke huffed in irritation and hastened his pace. Naruto chuckled and reached out, snagging the man by the crook of the arm. Pulling him close, closer than was strictly appropriate, Naruto offered a conciliatory apology.
"Truly, Sasuke," he said, "I don't see the benefit in waiting. Surely, they've already heard of my arrival. We may as well get on with the introductions."
Sasuke couldn't offer much in way of protest. The longer they waited, the more awkward it would be, but he was dreading the formality. He huffed in resignation, his acceptance clear in the purse of his lips.
Sasuke's gaze drifted up to the clear sky. The sun was past its zenith but still hung high in the sky. It would be some time yet before his father and brother returned home. It would be best, Sasuke decided, to hide out in the interim.
"I'll introduce you at dinner," he said to Naruto as they entered the house. "It will be a formal affair, tedious and boring—oh—"
Sasuke stuttered and stumbled to a halt. Shisui looked over from where he was busying himself folding a freshly laundered robe. He quirked his mouth in a soft simper. "Sasuke. Are you surprised to see me? In my own house?"
Sasuke's eyes darted down and back nervously. "Shisui," he said, his voice a shade above a whisper. "I thought you'd still be out."
"Sorry to disappoint," Shisui answered without a hint of remorse. He stowed his clothes and turned. He looked beyond his cousin, to the blond man that towered in the doorway. "So the rumors are true."
There was a fleeting flicker of Sasuke's gaze to the side, before his eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What do you mean?"
"The village is a buzz. People are saying a barbarian came traipsing in, looking wild and dangerous." Shisui answered, and gave Naruto a long appraising look. "He looks clean and calm to me."
Sasuke tried to keep his voice level, suppressing his natural defensiveness. "He'd been traveling. It's only natural he'd look a little unkempt. I took him to the spring for a bath."
Shisui's eyes flicked across Sasuke from head to toe before his mouth curved impishly. "No doubt, Sasuke," he replied smoothly. He brought his hand up and Sasuke almost flinched as fingers tangled briefly in his hair. When Shisui pulled back, the held out a long blade of grass for inspection. "I'm sure you took care of his needs quite dutifully."
Heat flared across Sasuke's cheeks as he fumbled for a response. "Yes. Well, you see—"
Shisui flicked the offending blade to the ground and waved his hand dismissively. "I'm sure I don't want to know."
Naruto shifted uncomfortably. He could hear the distress in Sasuke's voice. He leaned towards Sasuke's ear and hissed, "What's he saying?"
"Nothing of consequence," Sasuke answered, rather deadpan. "Just being an ass."
Despite his ignorance of the tongue, Shisui was smart enough to catch his cousin's annoyed tone. He snorted softly in response.
"Ah," Naruto replied. "Are you going to introduce us?"
Sasuke felt a muscle in his jaw twitch under the strain of frustration. "You've already met."
Naruto sighed and Sasuke could feel the unspoken irritation in the puff of breath. After another moment of stubborn defiance, he relented. This would only be a whisper of what was to come during dinner and it would probably serve them well to have Shisui's support while the rest of the family stared on with scrutiny.
Sasuke stepped aside and gestured for Naruto to move forward. "Shisui," He addressed his cousin with a tone he reserved for formal situations. "—this is Naruto. An acquaintance from my time in Rome." To Naruto, he softly instructed, "When being introduced, it is polite to bow and remain stooped until reciprocation."
Naruto's eyes flicked over to Sasuke briefly. He remembered receiving similar instructions in Rome. He ducked low and waited. Above his head, Shisui gave Sasuke a curious look, not a true smirk or dubious quirk of his brow but, rather, something of amused interest.
At last, he returned the gesture. "Naruto," he answered, speaking the name carefully and correctly. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you."
Naruto straightened and looked to Sasuke for a translation, which was given verbatim. "Finally?" he asked in response. "Sasuke, what have you been saying about me?"
Sasuke coughed nervously, a multitude of emotions—mostly variants of embarrassment—flickering in his eyes. "I may have... erm," He cleared his throat and managed to choke out, "I mentioned the nature of our association."
Naruto's eyes narrowed somewhat. "And how did you describe this association, exactly?"
Sasuke averted his eyes as he mumbled an answer.
"What was that?"
"Lovers!" Sasuke spat, then took a breath to repeat with more composure. "I told him we were lovers. That you were a patron, but over time…" He let their shared memories speak for themselves.
Naruto seemed to contemplate this for a moment before he queried, "So, he knows of our relationship?" Sasuke nodded his answer. "Does anybody else?"
Once again, Sasuke nodded grudgingly. "My brother, Itachi. They are both discreet men, Naruto. You needn't worry about it."
Naruto hummed noncommittally, then turned back to Shisui. The man wore a small, placid smile that matched his gentle eyes. Naruto felt a sense of implicit trust—not something he was used to. He inclined his head and said, "Thank him for his hospitality."
Sasuke did so and Shisui's smile brightened. "What a cordial man," he said, casting a teasing look to Sasuke. "It's a wonder he tolerates you." Sasuke seemed content to illustrate Shisui's point with a huff and eye roll. Shisui looked Naruto up and down one more time before a small frown settled on his brow. "Is that my robe?"
Naruto sat cross-legged next to Sasuke, trying to ignore the awkwardness that stifled the atmosphere. Next to him, Shisui radiated a sense of calm despite the stiffness of his posture. He was grateful for the respite in tension, however sparse.
Fugaku hadn't deigned to look his way after the initial introduction. Naruto feared he had done something wrong—perhaps he hadn't bowed low or long enough. Sasuke assured him that he had done everything correctly and that it was just his father's nature.
Mikoto served the men, gently placing bowls of rice and plates of delicately sliced fish in front of them. It wasn't an extravagant fare, the kind that would normally be served to guests. Sasuke wondered if that was meant as a slight against Naruto, but shrugged off the idea. He'd prefer to believe it was the lack of advanced notice that excused the simple meal.
Naruto looked hesitantly at his plate, then slid his gaze over to Sasuke, looking askance at him as he whispered, "It isn't cooked."
Sasuke leaned towards him and hissed, "It's fine. Eat it."
With a doubt clearly creasing his brow, Naruto reached for his plate. Sasuke caught his hand and placed it back on his knee. With his eyes, he gestured vaguely to Fugaku and sharply shook his head. Naruto nodded in understanding. It would be rude to begin eating before the head of the house. Inwardly, he cursed. He should have known that.
A new wave of tension rolled across the table before Fugaku reached for his bowl and dipped his fingers into his rice. Once the family was firmly ensconced in the act of eating, Naruto felt the tightness ease from his muscles. He ate, albeit cautiously. The rice was tender and filling, but the fish still caused him some concern. It tasted fresh, but he'd known too many men to fall ill after consuming undercooked or spoiled fish. Nonetheless, he cleaned his plate. He didn't want to appear rude.
Throughout the meal, Naruto could feel a piercing gaze on him and lifted his eyes to see Itachi staring intently at him. If Fugaku's disregard caused him unease, then Itachi's cold glare lanced him with anxiety. At length, he leaned towards Sasuke and softly asked, "Why does your brother stare like that?"
Sasuke flicked his gaze up from his rice to Itachi and back. "He resents you," he answered simply.
Naruto's brow furrowed. "What?" he whispered sharply. "Why? I've done nothing to him."
Sasuke paused in chewing. He cast a sidelong glance at Naruto and swallowed. He seemed to consider his response before rolling his shoulders in an overtly nonchalant fashion. Naruto quickly realized he wasn't going to appreciate the answer.
"No. It's because I told him that I'd wished he'd never found me," Sasuke answered, his voice blunt and unapologetic. He looked to Naruto fully and continued with an air of brutal honesty, "I told him I would have rather been with you, than be back here."
Naruto's expression opened to reveal a combination of awe and regret. The words sounded sweet to his ears, though they were no doubt bitter to Itachi. "You shouldn't have said that, Sasuke," he chastised, though it tasted a lie.
Sasuke nodded in agreement and turned his attention back to his rice. "Perhaps. But it's the truth."
Looking back at Itachi now, Naruto felt his anxiety being slowly replaced by guilt. He refused to be a wedge between brothers. Naruto turned back to Sasuke with a set brow. "Tell him I am sorry," he said, his voice quiet but stern.
Sasuke shot him a disbelieving look. "What? Why?"
"Because I am responsible, even if indirectly," Naruto answered with absolute surety. When Sasuke didn't immediately acquiesce, he turned his attention across the table. "Itachi," he said, then paused as all attention suddenly focused on him. Naruto felt his pulse quicken under the scrutiny of so many eyes. Awkwardly, he kowtowed. He wasn't used to prostrating himself and didn't have much experience in apologizing, but he felt a need to mend the bond shared by the three of them. "I understand that our paths crossed under unfortunate circumstances. Please forgive any of the harsh words your brother may have said while under duress."
Itachi stared at Naruto's stooped form. His confused expression shifted to Sasuke, imploring him for an answer. "What did he say?"
Sasuke answered as best he could, though he stumbled over the direct translation. The sincerity of the words had shocked him and he tried his best to convey the tone. It was a strange apology, if it could even be called that. More a plea for absolution. Through the warming of his eyes, it was obvious that Itachi accepted the meaning as it was intended.
"Thank you, Naruto," Itachi answered. Knowing that his response would seal the moment, he continued, "It is an admirable man that seeks forgiveness when he is not at fault."
Naruto looked up through his lashes as Sasuke relayed his brother's words. Itachi's head was inclined, his eyes downcast. Pulling himself up once again, Naruto felt a lighter, renewed atmosphere fill the space around the table. All tension seemed to have dissipated and for the first time all night, Sasuke smiled. Even Fugaku's features softened. Naruto relaxed his shoulders, feeling a weight lift from him.
The evening concluded with a brief discussion of sleeping arrangements. Careful not to insinuate the dubious nature of their relationship, Sasuke and Shisui convinced the others that there would be adequate accommodations in the house they shared. It would be cramped, but not uncomfortable. Only Itachi gave a perfunctory huff at the suggestion, which Sasuke chose to ignore.
On the path leading to his house, Shisui did feel it necessary to address a concern. "I truly do not mind Naruto staying with us for the time being," he said reassuringly. "But I must ask that you refrain…" the words seemed to die on his tongue, though the implication still made itself known.
Sasuke nodded knowingly. "Of course, Shisui. We're not animals after all. We can control ourselves." He cast a look over his shoulder to Naruto, who immediately flashed him a smile. There was absolutely nothing lascivious or conspiratory in the brief exchange, but Sasuke couldn't help the jump in his pulse. He turned back to his cousin and mumbled, "I'll have him sleep on the floor."
Shisui was unable to control the snort of a laugh that escaped him.
As days passed, an awkward routine evolved. Shisui made several trips to the coast, still negotiating terms of a brokerage with a mainland merchant. Sasuke returned to his apprenticeship, spending the majority of his day at the potter's wheel. Allthewhile, Naruto found himself adrift in a strange village with no purpose.
When he could no longer tolerate the boredom of Shisui's house, Naruto would wander the main road where men and women would gawk and children would follow him in a giggling herd. Eventually, the novelty of his presence wore off and he was effectively ignored. A few children would still follow him and attempt conversation. They seemed fascinated by his yellow hair and sky-blue eyes.
The village was pleasant enough—quiet and well-maintained. It lacked the refinement of most Western settlements and reminded him of his homeland before Rome encroached on the gentle rolling hills. But it still wasn't what he had imagined. In his dreams, Naruto had Sasuke all to himself. They lived in seclusion, feeding off each other's bodies and never fearing interruption. In reality, the village was ever present, the people oppressive. As it was, they stole little more than chaste kisses in the morning before forcing on a platonic veneer.
Naruto could feel his control unraveling every time he looked at Sasuke. With each lingering glance, he felt tension coil in his gut. And on the tenth day, the coil snapped.
Sasuke was returning from a long day at the kiln, learning the finer details of firing clay. His face was flushed from long exposure to the heat and sweat caused his robe to cling to his chest. He crossed the threshold to the house and parted the cloth above his sternum, revealing a swatch of glowing alabaster skin. He wasn't even aware of Naruto, laying reclined on the mattress, let alone the way the man clenched his jaw in a vain effort of restraint.
"Sasuke..." Naruto growled, low and suggestive.
Black eyes drifted down to him and met the ferocious cobalt with uncertain apprehension. His hand dropped to his side and he took a step back as Naruto raised himself up. He crowded Sasuke, towering over him and pressing his forehead against the shorter man's. It was an act of dominance that Naruto rarely displayed outside of confrontation. Naruto wrapped his hands around the slim, linen-clad waist of his lover-cum-roommate and drove him back into the wall.
A feverish assault followed, all warm lips and rough hands. Naruto pressed forward, pinning Sasuke tighter to the wall and grinding his burgeoning erection against the pliant body. A combination of surprise and thinly veiled arousal halted any of Sasuke's thoughts before they could even take shape. He succumbed to the heat around him and growing within him.
Questing fingers tangled in Sasuke's sash and Naruto stilled his mouth as he concentrated on dispatching the offending fabric. The moment was enough to clear Sasuke's mind and he grappled for Naruto's hands, pulling them away.
"We can't, Naruto," Sasuke said, his voice rasping through his throat.
Naruto paused, considering Sasuke's words for a fleeting moment. His lips twitched with the ghost of a smile, before he leaned forward and resumed a passionate flurry of kissing. Sasuke pushed him back more forcefully, determined to regain control before he lost it completely.
"What, Sasuke?" Naruto huffed in frustration.
"Somebody could hear us," Sasuke answered, straightening his robe and smoothing the fabric down over his chest.
Naruto persisted, nuzzling back into the pale column of Sasuke's neck. "Then we should stay quiet."
Sasuke shrugged away from the contact. "I'm serious, Naruto. It's too risky."
"Who cares if they discover us?" The frustration in Naruto's voice was beginning to gain an angry edge. "They will know soon enough anyway."
"No, Naruto." Sasuke shook his head vehemently. "They can never find out. The dishonor it would bring to my family is unbearable."
"Dishonor?" Naruto asked. There was an incredulity in his tone that chilled the air around them. The energy of his ebbing arousal was turning caustic with each word of protest. "Sasuke, who cares about honor? We aren't staying here forever, living under your cousin's roof."
Sasuke felt the air leave his lungs in a rush. His eyes widened with uncertainty and a hint of fear. "Are you saying you want me leave my family?"
Naruto felt a twinge of guilt at the blanched pallor of Sasuke's face. How could things have twisted so quickly? These weren't the words they should be sharing. He took a cleansing breath, bringing a softness back to his voice. "I am saying I want to be with you. Here or elsewhere makes no difference to me, as long as we are together."
Sasuke still looked shaken, worry etched into his brow. "Naruto, I can't—I don't know..."
Naruto took a step back, the muscles in his jaw clenching around a single word. "Fine."
"What are you doing?" Sasuke asked, the concern in his eyes matching the warble in his voice.
"Giving you some time to decide how to finish that sentence," Naruto said, his voice distant and terse. He turned sharply and exited the room before Sasuke could object.
All the air seemed to follow Naruto out the door. Sasuke felt his chest constrict and he battled for breath even as his heart raced.
Shisui stood outside the doorway, listening to the raised voices. He waited a moment after Naruto stormed out, all impotent anger and dejection, before entering the house. "Lovers' quarrel?" he asked, his teasing tone salting Sasuke's flayed heart.
Sasuke blinked at the unexpected sight of his cousin. He masked his pain with a sneer and snapped, "Now is not the time."
"What's wrong?" Shisui asked, his demeanor immediately shifting as he placed a commiserating hand on Sasuke's shoulder.
"Naruto..." Sasuke answered with a shake of his head, his voice low and trembling. Shisui watched as Sasuke lowered his eyes, conveying something reminiscent to shame. "He's upset."
"About?"
"This," Sasuke huffed, gesturing vaguely around him. "It isn't exactly the situation he'd imagined. He wants more than I can give him. He deserves more." There was guilt woven throughout Sasuke's words. His eyes pinched with a pain Shisui had hoped he'd never see again.
"Sasuke..." he murmured. It was a gentle entreat.
Sasuke turned from his cousin's soft eyes. He felt lost in the torrent of his emotions, adrift in his own sea of doubt and self reproach. "I don't know what to do, Shisui," he said, almost pleading. "I want to be with him. Every drop of blood in my body yearns for him. But I fear giving myself over to him with so many eyes watching." Sasuke frowned as he looked into Shisui's eyes and saw a sad glimmer of understanding. "Would it be better to let him leave?" he asked tremulously, almost as if he feared the answer. "It would certainly be more merciful than dragging this out."
Shisui's brow crinkled into a deep frown. He understood what Sasuke was trying to do—attempting to convince himself this was the solution. But it was a coward's answer, and he wouldn't sit idly by while Sasuke deserted his heart.
"Stop, Sasuke," Shisui ordered, his voice firm and unequivocal. "Don't be so rash. There may be other options you haven't considered."
"Like what?" Sasuke asked, equally curious and cautious.
Shisui ran a contemplative knuckle over his lips. "Let me worry about that," he said with quiet confidence. His expression sharpened, his voice gaining an assertive edge. "I was going to visit my merchant contact tomorrow, but I can leave tonight. Take the time to spend alone with Naruto. Bed him, if that's what he needs. But don't make any decisions yet."
"Shisui..." Sasuke murmured. The tempest of confusion and uncertainty was once again quelled by Shisui's calm, steady nature. All he could offer in return was a firm nod and a gleam of promise in the depth of his eyes. "Thank you."
Shisui left shortly after, packing a small bag and relieving a neighbor of his mare, promising to return by midday. Along the road, just beyond the last hut, Shisui saw a lone figure standing tall in the whispering, wild grass. He slowed to a trot and watched as the Roman turned his face from the fading glow of the sun, to the road. The gentle, rhythmic clop of hooves slowed to a stop and Shisui cast a meaningful look at the blond. Naruto returned the unflinching stare, his arms crossed over his broad chest in a gesture that seemed more habitual than defensive. They acknowledged each other in mutual silence, lacking a shared tongue and finding no value in words. Shisui broke the gaze first, clicking his tongue and prompting the horse into motion. He looked to Naruto one last time, nodding back to the village with the quirk of a smile. Naruto's brow tweaked at the subtle gesture, his arms lowering to his sides.
Naruto pursed his lips as he turned his attention to the village. Past the throng of huts and shops that lined the main road, towards the western edge of the residences, his heart ached. Sasuke would be there, possibly pacing but more likely sitting slouched and sullen, as he tried to smooth out the existence that Naruto had so thoroughly wrinkled with his reappearance.
It was true that he had never intended to come between Sasuke and his family, but neither had he intended to be relegated to such a platonic role. He hadn't traveled across the continent to take a vow of celibacy. And he knew he wasn't the only one suffering. He'd seen the fleeting, heated glances Sasuke cast his way. He felt the way the onyx eyes burned into his flesh when no one else was looking. But fear had leashed Sasuke's desire and now it threatened the fragile foundation their budding relationship stood upon. It was vastly unfair, but unless another answer made itself known, Sasuke would inevitably have to choose.
Naruto sighed heavily, the weight of the breath matching that in his chest. Slowly, he began the short walk back to the village. He kept his eyes forward, trained on his destination—the source of his bliss and his torment. Sasuke.
When he pulled the door open, there were a number of things Naruto was prepared to see. The sight that greeted him was nothing like he expected. It put even his basest fantasies to shame.
Flames flickered in the hearth, though they were not the source of the heat that flooded Naruto's body. Before the crackling fire, Sasuke sat on an assortment of fur rugs. He looked utterly debauched—his hair loose and tousled, his thin linen robe partially open and slipping off one shoulder. The thought that this was all pretense flitted through Naruto's mind, but he paid it no heed. Sasuke slid his hand along a soft, chestnut pelt next to his demurely folded legs. It was a beckoning gesture and Naruto didn't hesitate to comply.
He slipped out of his sandals and crossed the meager room in a few long strides. He stopped in front of Sasuke and looked down, admiring the smooth curve of the exposed shoulder and the soft shadows that pooled above Sasuke's clavicle and the hollow of his throat. Obsidian eyes stared back up, glowing in the warmth of the fire and inviting him to sit.
Naruto sank to the floor and swayed into Sasuke's frame, bracing himself with one hand on the ground while the other wrapped around the slight curve of Sasuke's waist. He nuzzled under Sasuke's jaw, his lips ghosting the man's thrumming pulse. Tilting his head back, Sasuke bared his throat, offering his flesh for Naruto's perusal.
He felt humid breath caress his skin, followed by the pressure of lips and gentle slide of tongue. The hand perched just above his hip tightened and pulled him closer. Sasuke moved his hand and skimmed the tips of his fingers along the muscle of Naruto's forearm. It was a subtle gesture, but it had the effect of completing the tentative embrace.
Naruto's thumb rubbed a tantalizing circle against Sasuke's waist, driving out a soft moan. Sasuke's breath caught in his throat and when released, it was accompanied by an unplanned flood of words. "I can't lose you again."
Despite the rasp of his voice, Sasuke's words pierced the veil of lust. Naruto pulled back, leaving Sasuke's neck to tingle, cold and neglected. His azure eyes darkened, softened, became fathomless. He licked his lips, wetting them in preparation for his reply.
"You won't," he said simply. Pressing his forehead against Sasuke's, he sighed deeply. "But I need more of you Sasuke. All of you."
Sasuke's hands stroked up the ropey muscles of Naruto's arms, skimmed over his neck and gripped just under his jaw. He pressed his cheek against Naruto's and whispered, letting his words curl like smoke, "Then take me."
Gently, Sasuke was laid back onto the patchwork of furs lining the floor. He gazed up, soft and longingly, as Naruto knelt over him and slowly slid his fingers under the hem of his robe. The fabric parted further, revealing a pristine expanse of ivory skin and one rosy nipple already peaked and pebbled in anticipation. Naruto bent his head and blazed a trail of lingering kisses from Sasuke's jaw, down his throat and over his gently heaving chest. Full lips parted over the hard nipple, taking it between his teeth to worry lightly. A muffled sigh of pleasure encouraged him and his tongue flicked teasingly against the taut flesh.
Naruto's mouth continued to assault Sasuke's body, pressing increasingly needy kisses against skin and dragging his tongue over the hills and valleys of ribs. The more he explored, the more he revealed until Sasuke's robe lay open and his nude form glowed under the warmth of orange flame.
Sitting back on his heels, Naruto unfastened his sash and shrugged out of his own robe. Soft shadows settled between lines of muscle, hinting at strength, and Naruto's natural golden hues gleamed in the warm fire-light. A small, appreciative smile curled Sasuke's lips as his eyes raked up and down Naruto's frame; his cock twitched excitedly against his stomach. Naruto caught the movement and his gaze slid down, settling on the ruddy, pulsing length. He reached out, running a finger up the shaft and staring intently, as if he'd never handled a man's cock before.
Closing his eyes, Sasuke spread his thighs and arched up into the touch, offering himself without hesitation. He expected to feel Naruto's fingers slip between his legs, to search out his entrance and tease him. So when he felt the humid caress of breath and gentle glide of lips against his swollen tip, his eyes snapped open. Sasuke gasped at the unprecedented sensation enveloping his cockhead. Heat bloomed, spreading from the nexus of Naruto's mouth on his flesh to leave him flushed and tingling.
Sasuke could sense the uncertainty as Naruto's tongue flicked tentatively against his crown and he encouraged the nascent touch with a breathless moan. He fought the overwhelming urge to jerk his hips, settling for a gentle gyration that appeased his desperate need for friction. Naruto grew bolder, taking more of him in and flattening his tongue to lap against the length. He tried to employ the techniques he recalled enjoying when receiving such treatment himself. Curling his tongue around the shaft, Naruto began to bob. His eyes flicked up the bowed plane of Sasuke's torso, seeking and finding approval as the man writhed in pleasure.
Like the explorers of antiquity, venturing into uncharted seas and across exotic lands, Naruto discovered Sasuke's hidden treasures. There was the silken texture of his turgid flesh, the supple lace of his veins and the tart ambrosia that seeped like honey from his slit. Naruto descended on the length until his nose nestled in short, dark curls. He inhaled deeply and took a long, slow draught on the shaft. It pulsed and swelled and nearly choked him, but Naruto persevered—swallowing around the length and gently caressing it in the hot, wet confines of his throat.
Sasuke clawed helplessly at the furs beneath him as a white-hot and all-consuming ecstasy crashed over him. He gasped, but the air that filled his lungs could not save him from drowning in the torrential sea of bliss. Stammering and shuddering, Sasuke managed a weak warning before his climax ripped through him, pouring out of him in a rush of moans and viscous streams. And Naruto, for all his desire to match Sasuke in this arena, coughed and sputtered as he pulled back and let the milky ropes splash down.
The sound of slow, sated breathing and the low crackle of the fire filled the air. Naruto found the edge of his discarded robe and brought it to Sasuke's skin, wiping the warm pools from his stomach. "I've never done that before," he said quietly, savoring the remnants of flavor that danced across his tongue as he spoke.
Sasuke hummed in acknowledgement. "I know," he replied, cracking an eye open and watching as Naruto focused his attention to the floor, looking unsure and slightly embarrassed. The expression was fragile and uncharacteristic, and Sasuke felt his heart clench. He raised himself up on his elbows and smiled, soft and reassuring as he said, "Not that it was obvious, Naruto. But I know you've never performed such an act."
He sat up further, tracing his hands up Naruto's arms and cupping him just under his jaw. He understood the meaning behind Naruto's demonstration, the implication of it. Roman men—honorable, virtuous and proper men—would never deign to reciprocate oral gratification, but Naruto was no longer bound by those constraints. He no longer belonged to Rome, he owed his allegiance to Sasuke. Peering deeply into Naruto's eyes and reflecting his sincerity in his own obsidian depths, he whispered, "Thank you."
Nudging forward, Sasuke caught Naruto's lips and slipped his tongue between them. He could taste the lingering bitterness and lapped inside Naruto's mouth, seeking more. Slanting his head and responding with equal ardor, Naruto wrapped his arms around Sasuke's lean frame and pulled him close. The air around them grew heavy, leaden with unspoken vows—promises of loyalty, love and devotion. Their future was still uncertain, but as night plunged the village into shadow, they knew they had eachother and that was an undeniable truth.
Naruto's hands wandered up and down the expanse of Sasuke's back, gliding over the ridge of his shoulder blades and down the valley of his spine. His fingers slipped into the cleft of his buttocks and began a familiar quest. Finding the object of his desire—the supple, puckered hole—Naruto began to stroke. The press of his fingertips against Sasuke's entrance was a silent request as he sought admission. A flex of muscle, the playful contraction of the ring, was his answer.
"Turn around," he ordered softly, his breath washing over Sasuke's mouth.
Running his tongue over Naruto's bottom lip one final time, Sasuke turned to face the hearth. He watched the flames sway and leap until a hand pressed between his shoulder blades and forced him onto his hands. He could feel Naruto shift behind him, scooting forward on his knees and nudging Sasuke's legs further apart. Hands swept down his sides, coming to rest on the slight curve of his hips, and Sasuke arched his back in a luxuriant display.
He reached forward, finding the small clay vessel he'd placed by the hearth earlier in the evening. "Use this," he said, looking back over his shoulder as he pushed the dish towards Naruto.
Naruto took the offering in his hand, hissing at the heat of the clay against his palm. The liquid shimmered as the vessel was tipped and it's contents allowed to drizzle out. Golden rivulets snaked across the alabaster landscape of Sasuke's skin, flowing over the curve of his ass and between his cheeks. Fingers followed, sliding along the oil and spreading it liberally against sensitive flesh. Sasuke bit back a whine as two thick fingers breached him, plumbing his depths with gentle twists and thrusts.
He began to rock back, matching the slow, teasing rhythm Naruto had set and pushing those fingers deeper, harder. They moved in tandem, working together to unravel Sasuke, leaving him a writhing, panting heap on the floor. He bucked back shamelessly, fucking himself with reckless abandon. Naruto's hand slipped off his hip, slid up his torso and tangled into the mane of midnight hair cascading over Sasuke's shoulder. He wrapped it around his fist and yanked. Face tilted up and throat stretched, Sasuke couldn't conceal his keen of pleasure or deep, guttural groan of ecstasy.
"Now," Sasuke demanded, low and husky. "Gods, Naruto. Now."
The hand in his hair twisted tighter, until Sasuke's scalp burned, as Naruto extracted his fingers from the hungry vice. He lined himself up, pressing firmly against the pliant hole and stilled. As much as he wanted to sheath himself in the tight heat, he managed to restrain himself, digging his fingers into Sasuke's hip and releasing his hair in favor of sliding his hand down the smooth expanse of Sasuke's back. With growing impatience, Sasuke whined and pushed back in an attempt to impale himself on the searing length that teased against his entrance.
With a slow and measured movement, Naruto plied himself past the tight ring. He took his time, savoring the firm muscle that spasmed around his length and the pillowy softness that enveloped him the deeper he sank. A wonderfully lewd sound escaped Sasuke—a child of aching pleasure and unmet need—as their bodies joined. Bending over Sasuke's kneeling form, Naruto wrapped his arms around the slender torso, embracing Sasuke tightly and resting his head in the crucible between Sasuke's shoulder blades.
There was a moment of stillness. Shaky breaths fanned across Sasuke's skin, the cadence matching his own rasps for air. A spark of something far deeper than affection and more intimate than their union flared between them, warming them stronger than the heat of the fire and bathing them in a rhapsody that belied the frantic beating of their hearts.
Smoothly and sluggishly, Naruto slid back. He basked in the cocoon of Sasuke's heat, relishing in the soft walls that fluttered lightly against his shaft as he slowly thrust back and forth. The languid movement seared Sasuke's nerves and he shuddered as he surrendered to the blissful agony.
It was hard for him to believe—when he was on all fours, clawing at the ground as Naruto's thick cock sawed in and out of him with such perfection—that he could possibly want anything else in his life. Family, vocation and honor all seemed so extraneous when Naruto filled his being with such intense, burning desire. Somewhere between his howls of pleasure, which scythed through the humid, lust-leaden air, a realization unfurled in Sasuke's mind. It was so elegantly simple and painfully obvious that, under different circumstances, Sasuke would have groused under his own ignorance.
He was still trying to fit into his old life. And as impossible as it was for him to slip back into the slot designated before Rome, he most certainly couldn't squeeze in Naruto as well. Everything he had thought was important and everything that he had been struggling to redefine since he returned no longer applied to the man he had become. It was as Shisui had said. He was free now to make his own choices and live life for himself. He just hadn't realized what that had meant before Naruto sauntered into the village. He'd been a ship dropped into the vast ocean, rudderless and without direction. So he tried to steer himself back towards his familiar past, but the squall of his heart made that effort futile. Naruto was an uncharted isle of potential—lush and fruitful, but not without hazards. Sasuke had been fighting the tide that pulled him ever closer to those golden shores, afraid of the unknown.
Now, as Naruto ramped up his pace and the pistoning of hips became more brutal, Sasuke understood that this island was his new home. This was where he belonged. He could hope for an easy alliance with his village and family, but he wouldn't abandon this paradise, whatever the cost.
The glide of calloused hands down his sides brought Sasuke back to the present, back to the small, fire-lit room and the ragged sounds of pleasure that echoed the sensation spreading through his core with each questing thrust. Gripping Sasuke's hips with a familiar pressure—firm enough to guide, yet still yielding against his flesh—Naruto's ardor transformed into a relentless pursual of completion. The base grunts that crawled from his throat flourished in the humid air, lending their wanton resonance to the hedonistic display as Sasuke arched his back and the golden flicker of flames chased shadows along his form. Naruto's fingers curled, tightened, and dragged Sasuke's hips back harder. His cock, swollen with his impending climax, pummeled Sasuke's chute, forcing him to bite into his own forearm to muffle his cries. His teeth marred the pale flesh with bruises, reddish crescents that would remind him of this night for days to come.
Naruto's sac cinched up as the coil of pleasure tightened and sank, becoming a dense and writhing ball of heat low in his stomach. One devastatingly hard thrust after another, he buried himself completely in the hot vice of Sasuke's ass until, at last, his orgasm shattered through him. His muscles seized, his ecstatic howl tangled around his tongue in attempt at his lover's name. Sasuke rocked back fervently, inner walls clenching and relaxing as he milked Naruto beyond completion and into a blissed out state of oblivion. He felt the grip on his hips slacken just before Naruto slumped back and slid out of him completely. For all his muscle and brawn and power, Naruto wilted to the floor like a spent maiden.
Sasuke twisted around to appraise the spent form that sprawled out across the furs. A fine sheen of sweat glowed at Naruto's hairline and his entire body was flushed and relaxed as his chest heaved deep, satiated breaths. Ignoring the warm trickle down the backs of his thighs, Sasuke laid down next to Naruto and wrapped an arm around his thick waist.
The air cooled and the fire eventually died down, but the heat of the night carried on in a tangled embrace of the bodies sprawled out on the floor. Few words were whispered, but their bond was reaffirmed in the gentle caress of lips and nonsensical patterns traced along skin. As they crawled onto the mattress and under the blankets, Sasuke relinquished himself to Naruto's strong embrace and found peace there. His eyes slid closed, his attention turning to the gentle press of firm chest to his back and the ghost of warm breath that tickled his nape. He found courage in the soft, sleepy nuzzle against his shoulder and knew that his life, wherever it may lead, would be complete so long as Naruto was by his side.
