To all you SasuSaku lovers out there... ENJOY!

Chapter 10: Bliss

Sakura's POV

"Hey, Sasuke, I'm going to need some help," I said warily into my phone while looking out the window. Fifty stories below there was a swarm of paparazzi, and I could only imagine what the building was doing to keep them off the property.

"Alright, I'm on my way." We hung up and I ran a hand through my hair, stressed. I looked around the room in dismay then shook my head and focused. Ino wondered why I didn't become an actress... Well, one part was that, quite frankly, the paparazzi overwhelmed me. Most people would be flattered, but I felt plain anxious just by their mere presence, and not in a good way.

I grabbed one of my large bags, threw some clothes and shoes into it, then changed into street clothes. I put on skinny jeans, a light camisole, a baggy off-the-shoulder grey sweater, and slouch boots. I made sure to also put on a pair of huge sunglasses. "It's all about looking like you want them there," my mother once told me. "No matter how much you want them gone, make sure you always look just right for the cameras. It helps your image, which helps your sanity."

I held a remote up to my window-wall, making the blinds fall from the ceiling to the ground, completely blocking any view in or out of the glass. Satisfied, I replaced the remote, grabbed my things, then walked out of my penthouse, being sure to lock everything up. I wasn't planning to come back until the cameras were gone.

When I stepped out of the elevator the building attendant immediately rushed up to me. "Miss Sakura, we're so sorry, we're doing our best to keep them out but the law only goes so far as to keep them out of the building. It doesn't keep them from doing that," he indicated the entrance. I grimaced at the sight. Lights were flashing everywhere and it was starting to give me a headache. I could hear faint shouts too, calling my name from the other side of the glass.

"Can they see me right now?" I asked.

"No, Miss, the windows are tinted from the outside. They can't see a thing."

"That's a relief," I took off my shades and rubbed the bridge of my nose. My phone vibrated in my hand and I looked at the text that was displayed: I'm down the block, walking up now.

I put my sunglasses back on. "Well, wish me luck."

"Good luck, Miss Sakura!" the attendant called after me as I made my way to the door. Pushing it open, I remembered to keep my head high and locked up my phobia. The flashing bulbs got to me, and for a second I just stood there, being forced to drink it all in.

I was brought back to reality by Sasuke, who was making his way past the shouting cameramen to get to me. I walked down the steps of the building, meeting him at the bottom. He put his arm around my shoulders and hustled me past the paparazzi, who followed. We didn't speak for a few more seconds as we reached his black Mercedes CL 65 AMG.

He got into the driver's seat and I practically collapsed into the passenger seat next to him, plopping my bag down on my lap. "Sasuke, you are my hero, I swear."

"What happened?" Sasuke asked patiently as he sped down the street, getting us farther and farther away from the paparazzi with each second.

"My parent's script got leaked!" I groaned.

"That's unfortunate. Will it ruin their film?"

"Probably not. My mom told me that it was one of three they prepared and were going to choose from to use in the next project. But the good news is that whoever leaked it leaked the one they had already ruled out."

"That's good. Why would the paparazzi be following you?"

I turned in my seat to face him. "See, that's the whole thing! I don't even know why they would be going after me when they could bother the actors or screenwriters or whoever else! I just don't get it."

Sasuke reached a hand out and ruffled my hair. "Well, good news. They're probably not going to follow you for the rest of today. I'll make sure of that."

I sighed, reaching to turn on the radio. "Thanks, Sasuke," I said, and sincerely meant it.

We reached Sasuke's building within five minutes. When we walked into his loft, I sat down on his couch, placing my bag next to me. Then I thought of something, and turned my upper body around to face him. "Sasuke, quick, what am I thinking?" I grinned.

"Hmm, you want to escape?" he set his keys down on the console table next to the door and hung up his coat.

I stood up, walking around the couch to follow him into his kitchen, taking a seat on a barstool.

"Yup!"

"And what were you thinking of for this getaway?"

"Well... How about we go trail running? Nature's as good as a true escape, isn't it?"

He laughed. "Alright."

I smiled and jumped off the stool, walking back out to the living room to grab clothes from my bag. I went into the powder room and changed into a ribbed tank and running shorts. Checking my reflection in the mirror, I pulled my hair back into a high ponytail, then threw on a light windbreaker to ward off the chill.

"Ready to go?" Sasuke asked me as I walked out of the powder room. He had on running shorts and a windbreaker like mine, hands in his pockets.

I nodded. We walked out the door, took the elevator down to the resident parking garage, and got back into his car. I was a little fidgety the whole ride there, still fazed from the paparazzi encounter.

We drove along a winding road once we got closer to the nature reserve. Eventually we parked in a small parking lot hidden by trees, one of the many scattered around the park.

"Where are we running today?" Sasuke asked as I did a few leg stretches, warming up.

"Let's take that trail that goes along the river. I really like that one."

"Yes ma'am," Sasuke smiled at me. We jogged in about 1.5 miles on flat trail. The sun was coming out; it was promising a nice, warm day. The flat trail ended at a grove and the trail split into three. Sasuke and I took the one on the very right, which ran along a small creek. The incline became more dramatic and I started to breathe harder, pumping my legs and easily keeping up with Sasuke despite him having the advantage over me, what with the longer legs and all.

We only paused once during our run to the top, taking that time for me to remove my windbreaker and for Sasuke to take off his shirt. When he lifted the fabric over his head and bundled the shirt up then stuck it in the waistband of his running shorts, I couldn't help it. I admired his strong, muscular arms and defined chest, wondering why I had never noticed how good looking my friend was. He seemed to notice me semi-checking him out, because when my eyes returned to his face he raised his eyebrow suggestively at me. Laughing, I whipped his side lightly with my windbreaker then started running again. He quickly caught up to me and we fell into step with each other, making our way past other hikers and joggers.

We reached the top after about five and a half miles of uphill running. "The top" was actually a plateau of sorts, a flat bit of land at the top of the mountain. There were no trees up here, giving us a view of the entire city. It was a dazzling sight.

"I bet it looks better at night," Sasuke said, sitting down next to me on the only bench located at this vista point. "When the lights are all on, I mean."

"Yeah, I'm sure you're right. I can't believe these hills are so close. It always seems like nature's so far away when you're in the city."

"Mmm. Look, I can see Haruno Tower," Sasuke pointed to one of the many tall buildings in Upper Konoha.

I shivered. "I wonder if those paparazzi are still there."

"I'm sure they've left by now, since they saw you leave. They'd have no reason to stay," he said to me. I smiled up at him in response, then looked out to the city again.

"Thank you," I breathed.

"For what?" He asked quizzically.

"For everything. Being my prince in shining armor this morning… For going on this run with me… Just everything."

To my surprise he put his arm around me. Immediately after the skin of his arm touched my shoulders, my whole body warmed up. I turned my head away a little to hide my slight blush. "You don't have to thank me for anything, Sakura. You know I'm always here for you, if you want me."

Recovering, I turned my head back to face him. He was looking directly at me and I felt shy and couldn't meet his eyes, so instead I opted to look down at his collarbone. "Of course I want you…" My cheeks grew hot as I realized what I had just said. "Sasuke, I'm sorry I—"

"Don't apologize. I understand," Sasuke laughed slightly, then held me closer. We sat on that bench like that for a while, my head resting on his chest with his arm around me. I was glad that we didn't move for a while. It gave me some important time to think about what was happening.

Was… Was I really doing this? Was I really getting this close to Sasuke? I tried to imagine life with Sasuke as something other than my best friend. My brain couldn't come up with anything, seeing as I had never considered it before that day on the roof of my parents' building. Ino had told me to go for it. I had held back in my mind. But sitting here with Sasuke at the top of a mountain felt so… right for some reason. I was kind of shocked by how perfect it was. He smelled like good 'ole Sasuke, my best friend. Sasuke, my level-headed buddy. Sasuke, the guy who saved me from the paparazzi. Sasuke, the guy who I was starting to fall for.

Tires screeched in my head. Fall for? Did I really just think that? I was definitely not falling in love with Sasuke….. right? … But what was this feeling inside me? Why did I say that I wanted him? How come I never considered him as more than a friend before? Why did I feel so confused? I needed a chance to work out my changing feelings.

Trying not to break the moment, I tilted my head up slightly. "Sasuke?"

"Hm?" He tilted his head down to look at me and I realized just how close our faces were. I didn't think I had ever been that close to him before.

"Can I spend the night at your place tonight? I don't want to go back home; I just can't do that to the building staff. They were busy enough as is, and holding off the camera guys was a huge deal and—"

"Of course you can stay over. You don't even have to have a reason to ask," he grinned at me. I had to look away again to hide my blush. I shouldn't have rambled. It's not like I'd never crashed at his loft before. Why did I feel the sudden need to have to explain myself? I've never had to explain myself to Sasuke before. He just kind of… got me.

I stood up, Sasuke doing the same. "Ready for the run down?" I asked him, returning to my normal, confident self.

"Born ready," was his cheesy reply. I mock punched him in the arm before we started jogging again. Going downhill was always my favorite part. It wasn't running so much as flying. Instead of pushing myself up, my legs were catching my body as gravity did its work.

We made it down the mountain in half the time it took to go up it and then jogged the flat trail 1.5 miles back to the car.

"Damn, that felt good," I panted, taking up the passenger seat. Sasuke put his shirt on again before getting into the driver's spot and starting the car.

While on the highway, I tapped my fingers to the beat of the latest Eminem song on the black leather interior of the car.

We made it back to Sasuke's pad and I was glad to discover that there were no swarms of cameramen outside of his loft. I really have to stop being so paranoid about that. I thought to myself as Sasuke unlocked his door, motioning for me to step inside before him.

"I'm going to shower," I announced, walking down the hallway, pulling the elastic out of my hair. In the guest bathroom, I started the water and opened up the cabinet under the sink, pulling out some of my spare shampoo I kept there, just for times like this. I stripped and stepped under the hot water, washing away all the sweat and dirt from the trail running.

I sighed as my muscles untwined from the heat of the water, then reluctantly shut it off. Grabbing a towel from the towel rack just outside the shower door, I stepped out and dried myself. I wrapped it around my body and ran my fingers through my hair. Deciding that it needed to be blow dried, I plugged in a blower and dried my hair. Once I was changed into the clothes I had worn earlier that day, I walked out of the bathroom and into the living room.

Sasuke wasn't anywhere around, so I went over to his computer desk and sat down, logging into the Guest profile and pulling up Facebook. I was typing in a reply to a private message when a voice in my ear startled me.

"Hey there," Sasuke said huskily in my ear, making me jump and turn around abruptly.

"Holy shit, Sasuke, you scared me!" I was breathing hard, trying to calm down. He chuckled softly and that was when I noticed he was only wearing a towel around his waist, having showered at the same time I was. My eyes grazed over his six-pack, glanced at his defined arms, then my eyes met his. He was smirking, obviously seeing the previous direction of my eyes.

Blushing, I stood up and put my hand on his chest to push him away. I was about to put some weight into it until something very unexpected happened. Sasuke raised his own hand and held it over mine, keeping my hand on his chest. My heart began to accelerate and I knew that I should have said some witty remark or laughed or something, but all that came out was "uh".

A heavy blush started to form across my face and I titled my head down, pink hair falling across my eyes. With his other hand, Sasuke brushed back my hair and lifted my head up to his. My eyes flicked to his lips as he began to lean in. I didn't panic, but started to lean in too.

We were so close, so close. Our breaths were beginning to intertwine as we brought our heads closer together. We teased, pulling back slightly right when the other was going in, building up the mood. His hands moved down to my waist, holding me there. The hand I had on his chest snaked up his shoulder and met my other hand around his neck. I had to get up on my tiptoes a little bit to do this, which brought us even closer together.

Right before I thought I would blow up or go crazy, Sasuke's and my lips connected. At first it was just a brush of skin, then it deepened into something more. We shared several sweet, soft kisses. All the while I was thinking, Am I really doing this? Kissing Sasuke? It had never, ever, been something I considered. But as I was doing it now, I realized it felt right. I didn't feel shy around him, whispering his name against his lips and feeling them curve up in a smile. I traced little circles on his back, and he pulled away, disconnecting our bodies except for our intertwined fingers. We stood facing each other, the sunset streaming in from the window, covering Sasuke and me in a dark, warm light.

"When?" Was all I was able to whisper.

"Three days ago, on your roof. Then again last night, at the gala," he smiled down at me. That was all I needed to hear. I pushed him up against his desk, taking charge. I brought his face down to mine, our lips meeting. My tongue darted out to lick his bottom lip, asking to be let in. He easily complied and our kiss became hotter. My hands trailed up and down his chest and abs, reacting to the movement of his own hands, which were tangled up in my hair.

Needing breath, we broke apart and Sasuke moved his mouth to my neck, trailing kisses down my shoulder. I sighed in contentment, eyes closed. I felt Sasuke's lips move back up my neck then he pulled back.

Sasuke moved his face right in front of mine, looking me right in the eyes. I could see so many things in them, desire, awe, amusement, and something deeper than that. I was about to kiss him again when Sasuke's home phone rang loud and clear through the loft.

Laughing at his pissed-off look, I reached behind him and unhooked the phone from the console on the desk. "Hello, Sasuke Uchiha's residence," I said, all secretary-like.

The person on the line said something that I didn't catch because at the same time Sasuke was kissing my neck again, whispering, "You're one sexy secretary," against my skin, causing my vision to blur a bit and my mind to go haywire for a second.

"Sorry, could you please repeat that?" I said into the phone, hoping my voice sounded normal, despite how tingly Sasuke was making me.

"I saaaaid, 'Cool, you're at Sasuke's already, can we come over?'" the voice said impatiently.

I was mightily distracted by the nipping thing Sasuke was doing to my earlobe. "Uhhhh, who is this?"

"You don't even recognize my voice? Sakura, it's Ino! You sound… You know what, Naruto and I are already on our way over there. See you soon," she hung up.

Sasuke sighed and moved to the side so I could replace the phone back on its dock. "Ino and Naruto are coming over," I said to him. "Maybe you should put on some clothes." I smirked, letting my eyes rake over his body one last time, not bothering to be discreet about it anymore.

"Well, you don't sound like you really want me to…" He trailed off, pulling me close. I laughed and slapped his arm playfully.

"You're right, I don't, but for the sake of your guests you should probably cover up."

He sighed and let me go. I returned to the computer to finish typing my message into Facebook and he walked towards his room. After sending the message, I logged out and stood up, walking over to the window that looked out to the street. Right then, about three blocks down, I saw an orange Lamborghini zoom down the street. It weaved recklessly down the busy city street and turned into the driveway that led to the guest parking of this building.

I smiled and shook my head, thinking Naruto's whipping out his big guns now! He rarely ever drove the thing, preferring to keep it in perfect condition inside his garage, only driving it to the most expensive parties and other places that required a sick ride. I loved showing up with him and Sasuke to those parties, making the biggest scene when we arrived in an orange Lambo as opposed to the cliché stretch limo, and driving ourselves rather than hiring a chauffeur. More class, more style.

I met them by the elevator. Through the glass I could see Naruto putting away his spare keycard into his pocket. The elevator could go straight up to Sasuke's loft, but only if it was presented with the right card. Sasuke had given the two of us spares a long time ago. I could also see Ino chatting next to him, but I couldn't hear what she was saying until the elevator chimed and the doors opened.

"—I love those doors! They're more like wings than doors, really—Oh hey Sakura! Don't you just love Naruto's Lambo? So much better than that silver Lexus he always drives around, don't you think?" she smiled at me, making me laugh.

"You sound like Naruto when he first bought it," Sasuke said, walking back into the living room from the hallway. I looked back at him, grateful to see that he was dressed in jeans and a button-down.

"Ahhhh!" Naruto sighed loudly as he plopped himself down on the couch. Sasuke joined him and they engaged in a conversation about guy stuff.

I turned to Ino. "Are you hungry?" I asked her.

"Yeah, kind of. I'm sort of craving pancakes. Is that weird?" She responded.

"You know, craving junk is a sign of pregnancy. Anything you and Naruto haven't been telling us?" I raised my eyebrow in mock suspicion.

Ino's eyes grew wide, and I was expecting a quip or remark or some witty comeback, but all she mumbled was, "Na… Naruto and I haven't…" She trailed off awkwardly. I took her by the shoulders and led her into the kitchen and sat her on a stool.

"Oh, Ino, you know I was just playing. So breakfast for dinner then?" I asked her, searching Sasuke's pantry to pancake mix. Ino nodded in reply.

"Guys, we're making pancakes, waffles, eggs, toast, and bacon for dinner, okay?" I shouted.

Instead of a reply, Naruto walked into the kitchen, Sasuke following then leaning coolly against the doorframe. "You're cooking, Sakura? Why don't we just go out?" Naruto asked, sitting himself next to Ino on a barstool.

I turned around from the pantry. "I don't really want to go outside… My parents' script got leaked this morning." I said in response.

"Yeah, and I had to rescue her from the paparazzi too," Sasuke added from the doorway. I twisted my hands uncomfortably behind my back.

"You're afraid of the paparazzi?" Ino asked me, wide-eyed.

"Like hell I am! They just…." Ino gave me a look. "Okay, fine I guess I am a little scared of them." Ino laughed. "Hey! They can do some scary shit! Hordes of paparazzi and their stupid cameras can trample you.. and.." I trailed off, turning back to the pantry. Ino just kept snickering.

I sighed, dropping the matter. I grabbed the box of pancake and waffle mix, then placed it on the counter. Naruto hopped off the stool and walked to the other side of the counter. "Here, Sakura-chan, let me help you."

"Thanks, Naruto, but I'm good. Pancakes are easy," I smiled at him. He smiled back and shrugged, then he and Sasuke walked back out to the living room. Ino got up off her chair and walked over to the stove, turning on the air vent to maximum power with a devilish grin. I wearily pulled out the ingredients and a mixing bowl, and started to add the ingredients together as Ino rested her arms on the counter, looking up at me sweetly.

"Sooooo," she began, "What's this between you and Sasuke now?"

"What do you mean?" I said levelly.

"I meaaan, what was going on before I called?"

"I don't know what you're talking about…?" I cursed myself for letting that turn into a question.

"Sakura, I could practically hear it in your voice. You two were getting dooown!" Ino laughed. I was suddenly glad that she had turned on the vent loud enough that it made it impossible for her voice to carry on to the other room.

I blushed. "Okay, fine, yeah, we were kissing." I conceded, whipping the batter a little more forcefully than I needed to. Why was it so difficult talking about it?

"Kissing… Or making out?" Ino asked with a glint in her eyes. She winked at me and did a little dance when I blushed deeper. "Ooooh! Sakura-chan! You guys are totally naughty!"

"Hey, it didn't go any farther than that!" I tried to defend.

"Oh, but if I hadn't called, it probably would've." That got me thinking. What would have happened if Ino didn't call and her and Naruto didn't come over? Would Sasuke and I have gone further? "But anyway," she continued, "We're here now and I guess there's no turning back time. Oh well. Hey, want me to start making the waffles?"

"Yeah, sure," I said, distracted. We continued to make dinner for the four of us, making small talk about movies and music and fashion.

"Oh, oh my God. I can't watch this," I said, covering my eyes with my hands. The four of us were watching a hardcore action movie in Sasuke's entertainment room after dinner. The main guy was about to have his brains blown out by the bad guy, who had infiltrated the good guy's base.

Half an hour before, we were engaged in a heated argument over what were going to watch. It was Ino and me with Burlesque (we wanted to watch mainly because Cam Gigandet was in it, man he was a fine specimen of a man) versus the guys who wanted to watch the newest action movie that was scheduled to begin playing in theaters three days from now. We settled the row with an honest game of rock-paper-scissors, and the guys had won. So I called my parents and asked them to send me the unreleased movie, and they were able to hook me up with it.

It wasn't a bad movie, actually, and the suspense was soon over when the good guy was saved by the leading actress, a cliché timid-girl-gone-badass.

I snuggled closer to Sasuke, pulling up the blanket we shared up to my chin. Ino, sitting with Naruto on the other couch, saw my movement and winked at me with a small smile. I stuck my tongue out at her and focused on the movie again.

The credits rolled and I noticed Naruto check his phone for the time. "It's 2am. Wanna go back to my place?" He asked Ino.

"Mmm," she hummed and stood up with her boyfriend.

Naruto looked over to me, with a puzzled look as to why I was so close to Sasuke. "Sakura, I didn't see your car downstairs, do you want a ride back to the Tower?"

I shook my head. "No thanks, I actually think I'm staying here tonight. Thanks though!" I smiled at him. Naruto's frown deepened into confusion and a little suspicion.

We'll be leaving now," Ino shuffled Naruto towards the elevator. She stepped in with him and as their figures descended, she gave me a look saying I'll clue him in before they disappeared completely.

I stood up, reaching my arms over my head and stretching with a yawn. I walked to the dining room and started stacking up the dishes from dinner and bringing them over to the sink. About halfway there, Sasuke came up and took the stack from my hands, depositing them into the sink for me. "We'll worry about this tomorrow," he said, taking me hand and leading me to his bedroom. "You look exhausted."

"I am," I breathed out, then went over and sat on his bed. He lifted the covers and I slipped in, settling my head on the pillow. It smelled like him, and I breathed in deep, savoring his scent. He got in next to me, wrapping his arm around my waist and burying his face in my hair. I was too sleepy to blush.

"Gooooodnight." I sighed, then fell asleep to the sound of Sasuke's even breathing.