Chapter Nine
DISCLAIMER: I Don't Own Naruto!
I woke up the next morning exactly like I had fallen asleep, laying halfway on top of Sasuke who had his arms wrapped snugly around me, pinning me to his still naked chest. A blush crept onto my cheeks and I looked around nervously, not wanting to wake him but desperate to get off of him and out of his bed so I could breathe.
Sasuke stirred, his arms suddenly squeezing me too tight and I gasped for breath and wiggled against his hold. His hands then began curiously roaming across my back and then lower, then his fingers clutched his shirt I was wearing and his eyes sprang open to find me laying there on top of him, my face right above his. A sly smirk came to his lips and his eyes darkened lustfully, heating my cheeks even more.
"Well, hey there..." His husky voice was deeper than normal and vibrated through my very being.
"Hi." I squeaked and this time when I tried to free myself, he let me go reluctantly.
I slid over in his bed until I was just out of his reach and he leaned up, propping himself on his elbows and regarded me with a look of dismay on his face. My throat was so dry I thought I wouldn't make it another minute without water but I was rooted to the spot by his gaze. I just couldn't find it in myself to move.
"It's going to take longer than I figured but I will break you out of that shell of yours." He seemed confident and I swallowed hard, not knowing how to take his proclamation.
"I-I'm sorry!"
I wanted him to understand how unusual this was for me but he seemed to think I was the unusual one being that he stared at me as if I was two-headed. I didn't doubt that he was probably having just as much difficulty trying to figure me out as I was having trying to understand him and the way he made me feel.
"Stop worrying too much." He told me with a chuckle, lifting his right hand towards me and poking me dead in the center of my forehead.
I reached up and rubbed the spot he'd poked as he got out of bed and stretched, flexing muscles I wasn't aware he had. I had to look away as I stated to feel faint, my face was still burning and I hated that I couldn't control myself around him. Sure he was drop dead gorgeous... Every single inch of him...
"If you're feeling up to it, I'd like to take you and your friend out today. You should go to her and I'll meet you downstairs to take you to your apartment... I'm guessing you need some clothes."
I was facing away from Sasuke but I felt his eyes on me and I knew good and well he was thinking about me wearing his shirt but he never mentioned it and after another minute I felt composed enough to face him so I turned on the bed to find him just standing there, watching me. How could I ever get used to him when he always has such an unnerving sense about him.
"Her name is Ino... And she has her car so we can just go ahead and you can come when you're ready."
Sasuke frowned and I was sure he was about to protest but instead he nodded in agreement. "Okay, then I'll see you soon." He gave me a brief smile before turning on his heel and heading into his bathroom.
I walked over to the chair that I'd left my clothes in and quickly stepped into my pants. Leaving his room just like that, with his T-shirt on I hurried to the theater room where I found Ino passed out and I quickly shook her awake.
"Damn it, Sakura!" She screeched. "I was in the middle of a very important dream!"
I rolled my eyes but wasn't surprised by this because Ino had dreams pretty often and she was always ill when I interrupted one of them but we didn't have time for that right now, we had to hurry so I explained what Sasuke had suggested and we got on our way, hoping to have time to get ready before he made it to our apartment.
"So what do you think he's planning?" Ino asked while she brushed her long blonde hair, straight out of the shower. I was still in the bath and I sighed deeply, wishing I had at least an idea, but I had nothing.
"There's no telling." Was all I could think of answering and Ino looked over at me, her eyes narrowed as she made her way to the door. I raised a brow, curious of the look she was giving me. "What?"
"Don't mind it..." She smiled deviously at me before leaving the bathroom.
Sometimes she didn't make sense but I loved her anyway.
Just as I was stepping out of the tub Ino re-entered the bathroom, dressed in her scrubs as if she were going to work which she had most certainly better not be doing.
"What are you doing?" I almost shouted as I wrapped a towel tightly around myself.
"What does it look like, I'm going to work."
"I thought you were off today!" I glared at her through the mirror and she rolled her eyes in return.
"I never said that." She mused and began skillfully braiding her hair, like she did mine often.
Maybe it was true that I had only assumed she would be free to go with us but now I wasn't sure what to do and a part of me just wanted to hide in my bedroom and not even attempt to face Sasuke again today but another part of me that seemed even stronger already wanted to see him again.
"I already picked out your outfit, it's on your bed."
I left the bathroom, my face scrunched in mock disgust. It was scared to even imagine what she might have laid out for me but I wasn't disappointed. Ino always had a way at choosing clothes that made me feel both sexy and yet not revealing in an uncomfortable way. The skirt was silky and black and the red short-sleeved blouse fit my nicely and had cute frilly layers that I found rather distracting. My favorite part was the red party heels that matched my shirt perfectly.
"I don't have long, I can't be late you know!" Ino was in my room all of a sudden and dragging me out and across the hall into her room.
I didn't even have time to question her as she made quick work of blow-drying my long thick hair and then led me to her dresser which was over loaded with makeup. Just then the doorbell rang and my heart skipped a beat. He was here already.
"Hurry up, I trust you can finish this, I'll let him in on my way out. Love you!"
With that, Ino was gone and it took me a moment to recover myself to be able to add a light touch of blush to my cheeks and some hot red lipstick. I never liked heavy makeup but I wouldn't mind wearing lipstick everyday. I didn't dread on the thought long before I hurried out of the room knowing Sasuke was waiting.
When I turned around the corner at the end of the hallway leading to the living room, he was sitting on the couch waiting patiently. His eyebrows raised at the sight of me and he stood without hesitation. Two steps and his huge frame was towering over me. His eyes studied my face for the longest minute of my life while he ran his fingers slowly through my hair.
"You're so beautiful..." He murmured in my ear before trailing his lips down my neck, sending my heart rate into overdrive. His hot breath against my skin left me trembling in his arms until he suddenly lifted his head as if he'd just realized something. "If we don't go now, we may never leave."
Coming to my senses I squirmed out of his hold and got my purse. "What are you waiting on?" I asked, already at the door and waiting even though I still had no idea where we were going.
"I want you to join me tonight." Sasuke told me once we were in his car and on the road. I turned to look him questioningly, a little confused being that I was already with him.
"Where?" I asked, feeling as if it was a significant enough question.
"To the club, there's a special party tonight and I'd like you to accompany me as my date."
"D-date?" I flushed as his eyes met mine briefly before returning to the road.
"Why do you sound so surprised? You are mine." He stated so matter-of-factly that I was left speechless and gaping at him. "Wouldn't it be only natural for you to be my date?"
As taken aback as I was, I had no interest in turning him down or even arguing with him and after a silent moment, I found myself chuckling lightly at myself. I may or may not ever understand Sasuke and my own feelings towards him but either way I was glad he was in my life and I had no intention of letting him go now or anytime soon.
"Your friend will be there." He added thoughtfully and I looked over at him once more with a sigh.
"Ino," I corrected, feeling a little grateful that she would be there as well.
"I'm not good with names." He muttered noncommittally and my brows furrowed.
"It's not that hard to remember." I chided and he glanced over at me, a sly grin on his beautiful face.
"I never said I didn't remember it." He said, confusing me on a whole different level. "If it bothers you, I will use her name though."
I didn't understand what he was saying but I didn't really want to question him either so I just shrugged indifferently and looked out the window, curious as to what Sasuke could have planned for us to do until tonight but I didn't really care as long as I could be with him.
We had a quick breakfast and got right back on the road. I was no longer able to hide my curiosity so I turned to Sasuke, leaning a little closer towards him.
"So where are we going?"
"There's a vineyard not much further up the road, I thought you would enjoy the tour they're having today. You will get to try a variety of wine and even learn how it's made."
I was impressed, I'd never imagined Sasuke was the type of man to select such an activity but it was quite thrilling. I have never been to a vineyard and I knew it would be beautiful and trying out different wines would most certainly be a fun experience.
"That sounds like a lot of fun, I'm excited. Thank you, Sasuke."
He gave me a fleeting glance and reached over to take my hand in his which was warm and comforting in a way. I was glad to be with him because he gave me so much hope that it would be terrible for me to just throw it away.
The vineyard itself was beautiful. The tour started there and then led throughout each of the wine-making facilities where we were briefed on the entire process and even got to help make some of our own. The actual wine-tasting didn't start until we were back outside and sitting at a small table where we were each served one of their finest wines.
"I never expected this to be this much fun." I giggled after the first glass.
"Me either." Sasuke smirked, his eyes on me.
Every couple of minutes we were served with a different wine until we'd had them all and I even had a slight buzz. Once it was over, we remained at the small table and sat quietly, admiring each other for the longest time until Sasuke was finally the one to break the silence.
"If it's okay with you I thought we could have dinner and then go to the club early so I can take care of a few things..."
I nodded being that I found no reason to argue. "Okay."
He stood and I scrambled to my feet as well, taking his offered hand as soon as I noticed it. We walked back to his car hand in hand and I could only hope that tonight would go well. I hoped this 'party' wouldn't be anything too hectic but I had no idea what to expect; I just knew I would be sticking close to Sasuke and hoping I didn't have to socialize with anyone but him and Ino. Somehow though, I already knew that wasn't going to happen.
The restaurant we stopped for dinner couldn't have been any better. The food was delicious and the servers were more than friendly, but not in a weird way. We didn't talk much and I was kind of excited to get to see his club without such a huge crowd of people. We would be there at least an hour before that party started and I hoped to actually get a good look around while he did whatever it was he needed to do.
The ride there however was much longer than I'd expected and Sasuke informed me that others would be arriving within a half an hour at the most. I wasn't looking forward to seeing a crowd of people so soon but I followed Sasuke inside his club excitedly nonetheless.
"I might not be able to show you around until later tonight..." Sasuke seemed a little disappointed as he pulled me along with him.
"Oh, it's fine!" I told him honestly, I could see the place anytime anyway... At least that's what he told me before.
Sasuke paused in the middle of the club and embraced me tightly against his body, taking me by surprise. My breath hitched when his hands came to my face and the tips of his fingers inched into my hair, tickling my scalp. He leaned down and I gasped as his soft lips barely brushed against mine once, twice and again and again until I was putty in his arms which now were wrapped firmly around my waist. Completely lost to him I found myself clinging to him and trying to capture his lips that continued to taunt me. A frustrated groan left me he kept his lips out of reach each time I went in to kiss him only to return them teasingly to mine, not bothering to conceal his smirk.
"Hn. So cute... So distracting," Sasuke teased, resorting in my face immediately darkening to the shade of my hot red lipstick. "Come, now; before I lose it."
