The fire was blazing high again as Kakashi sat next to it, deep in thought. He glanced quickly in Iruka's direct, a hunched back wrapped in blankets was all he could see but it still caused a throb in his groin that he had to work to suppress, but it was getting easier now, adrenalin long gone and lust fading – exhaustion was creeping in. Flames jumped and twisted, constantly moving as he watched them dance. How could he make such a stupid mistake again. Why did he have to push things? He'd wrapped Iruka up in so much feeling so he wouldn't be able to think straight, wouldn't be able to reject him, say no. But he'd seen the look on Iruka's face, the hesitation and uncertainty, he knew if he pushed it all the way he'd regret it, because Iruka would regret it. There'd be awkwardness in the morning, he'd be embarrassed, but unable to get away until they returned to the village, and once there, he'd avoid Kakashi, do everything he could to avoid talking him, be polite, but distant to him when they did meet. It was probably going to be like that now anyway, now that he'd had time to think straight, he'd be wondering what on earth he'd just done. How could I be so stupid!? He glanced over at Iruka again. He wasn't sleeping, he should be sleeping, but his hunched form was way too tense. Kakashi let out a sad, resigned sigh.

Iruka tensed at the tingle that went down his back at the sound from Kakashi. He couldn't sleep, he couldn't think, he just stared blindly at the cabin wall. Every time he closed his eyes, Kakashi was there, touching him, kissing him, it made his body heat up and the throbbing start. If he couldn't close his eyes, how could he sleep? He didn't know how long he lay there, acutely aware of the presence behind him, every noise, every move, he sensed it. He wished he could numb his feelings for a while, just so he could think straight, but every time he tried, another image popped into his head, if he didn't know any better he'd think Kakashi had put a jutsu on him. He tried to keep track of time, just for something to do, it seemed to drag on forever, but he had the sneaking suspicion that only an hour or two had actually passed. Eventually Iruka gave up, it was obvious he wasn't going to get any sleep, at least he may as well give Kakashi a chance to do so.

Kakashi looked up as Iruka rolled out of his blankets and stood up, he looked wide awake, which he was of course. "My turn," Iruka announced as he crouched by the fire a safe distance from Kakashi.

"You haven't slept," Kakashi accused quietly. A stony wall of silence greeted him. Deciding there was no point in trying to argue, and he was about to fall asleep on his feet anyway, he sighed quietly to himself and lay down, wrapping himself in blankets.

Iruka didn't take his eyes off the fire until Kakashi's near silent breaths were deep and steady, then he found he couldn't keep his eyes off Kakashi. He'd put his top back on and his mask covered his face again. Iruka still couldn't quite believe it, all of it was barely believable, but of all of it, that part he still thought he must have dreamt. He'd seen Kakashi's face! He pictured what he'd seen in his head and tried to view it objectively. He had a narrow chin with an angular jaw, which gave it a shape that was considered pleasing by current fashion, the nose was straight, no obvious signs of being broken like some ninja, other than that there was little about it. His mouth was wide, the upper lip was thin, and pointed, the lower lip fuller and rounded, and it always seemed about to tug up into a smile, which changed Kakashi's typical expression of boredom to mischievous intent. And his grin! Whether hidden previously behind the mask or just never having occurred in Iruka's presence, it gave Kakashi an expression of mischievous delight, which was not something Iruka ever expected to see on Kakashi's face.

"I pretty much forced this on you, which I shouldn't have, you must feel pretty conflicted. You should stop and think about it, I won't do anything to try and influence you...well, except just one more..."

Iruka had been confused, he still was in fact, but those words, that last kiss! Maybe Kakashi was trying to manipulate him, entice him with that last touch of lips. But the way he said it, he just wanted one last thing from Iruka, just in case this was the last chance he got – the kiss, it wasn't hard, or demanding, or erotic, no tongue or anything, just a touch, just his touch he'd wanted, Iruka's. And he'd stopped, he'd stopped as soon as he saw Iruka was confused and uncomfortable, and...and Iruka wanted that. Not the stopping, no, he wanted the consideration, he wanted a lover who was aware of when he was uncomfortable, and would stop when he wanted, even when the other obviously wanted to continue. A lover?

He was still staring at Kakashi wrapped up by the fire with his head closest to Iruka, close enough for Iruka to nearly be able to reach out and touch him. Iruka wanted to touch him, now. The urge was so strong it took him by surprise, he fought it at first, then decided why? Quietly he shuffled over so he was sitting close by Kakashi's head, then hesitantly he reached out a hand. Lightly, very lightly, he traced a finger down Kakashi's face. His skin was so hot to touch, how could he sleep being so close to the fire? Iruka's side was burning from the heat. Gently, he placed his hand against Kakashi's face, feeling the skin and the bone and the muscle beneath his palm.

He jumped and jerked his hand away when he saw a grey eye staring at him. "Kakashi!" He almost yelped, "You were getting so hot by the fire I thought..." He stopped, why was he lying? That was not the way he wanted this to go. Kakashi sat up and tucked a kunai back in its hidden holster, had he been sleeping with it out or got it out as a reaction to a presence so close to him when he woke? Iruka felt stupid, of course it was reckless to wake a highly trained ninja in such a way, he was just lucky Kakashi had his wits about him when he woke rather than stab now, questions later. "I'm sorry Kakashi" Iruka babbled, "I didn't think to – I don't know why I – that was so stupid, I'm sorry!"

Kakashi however, didn't seem in the least bit bothered, "Did you want something Iruka?"

"What? Oh, no. I mean yes. I mean..." Iruka had the sense to shut himself up. In the meanwhile Kakashi was starting to look mildly baffled, so instead of using words which were obviously beyond Iruka at the moment, he tried actions. Slowly, careful not to do anything that might surprise Kakashi in any way, he reached for his face. Kakashi stared intently at Iruka's hand moving towards him with his full focus, then jumped to Iruka's face when the hand disappeared from view round his neck. Iruka was watching nervously for Kakashi's response, but his gaze was so piercing he couldn't hold it for long, and dropped to his mask as he nervously leaned in close. He paused when he felt Kakashi's light breath on his face, waiting for Kakashi to move, to react, but he was still as a rock. Iruka wanted to look up at his face but found he didn't dare, instead he closed his eyes and took the plunge. The presence of the mask was somewhat infuriating to Iruka when the last time they'd kissed he'd had full lip contact, and he wanted it again, but Kakashi still hadn't moved, and he wasn't sure he dared pull the mask down himself. For a long time he kissed Kakashi like that, but when there was still no response, he started to get worried, and confused. He pulled away to look at Kakashi to find him staring back.

"Kakashi..." he started.

"Iruka."

"I want to..." he couldn't explain what he wanted, there were no words.

Kakashi held his gaze for a long moment, before he moved across the small distance between them. Just before the masked lips touched him Iruka pulled back a bit having decided what he wanted to say while Kakashi froze.

"I want you." Iruka breathed. There was a momentary pause before a hand pulled Iruka's head hard against Kakashi's mouth, while another wrapped around his waist and pulled him close, pressing their bodies together. Kakashi's mouth was all over his face, yet it never seemed to leave his mouth, and he liked that. Still, he found a moment to get out a "Mask!" and it was gone, he let out an appreciative noise at the contact of lips and tongue. Kakashi's hand's were as busy as his mouth, caressing and touching all over, his face, his neck, chest, arms, stomach, back. One spent most of its time firmly gripping his rear. Not feeling quite so bold, Iruka's hand spent most of their time ensuring Kakashi's mouth didn't stray far from his own. Kakashi was almost feverish, his body was hot to touch, weather from the fire or fuelled by his lust Iruka didn't know, probably both. Apparently unhappy with their current position Kakashi's hands gripped behind Iruka's thighs and pulled them out from his kneeling position and placed him on his back, Iruka gripped Kakashi's waist between his knees.

"Iruka." Kakashi growled.

"Uh-huh?" Iruka responded. But Kakashi didn't really seem to want anything in particular as he nipped and licked his way down Iruka's throat until material barred his access to skin. He emitted another growl before pulling Iruka's top off almost violently, then was biting his way along Iruka's collar bone and back up his shoulder to latch onto the purple mark he'd already made. Kakashi's bites were starting to get painful and his actions almost violent, he placed a hand on Kakashi's chest and pushed gently, saying his name. It was the slight tremor in Iruka's voice that caught Kakashi's attention and he let go of his hold, he was breathing hard as he pulled back to look at the teeth marks he'd left on the bruise. He looked up to see Iruka's wide eyed, wary expression and was mortified. He pulled away to sit on his heels, running a shaky hand through his mess of hair. Iruka was propped up on his elbows watching him, not quite sure what was going on.

"Iruka, I'm so sorry," Kakashi said as he stared at the marks he'd left on Iruka's skin, "I didn't meant to hurt you, it's just you make me..." He stopped, there were no excuses for losing control, he'd already nearly scared Iruka off once, and now he'd come back willingly, wanting, Kakashi could hardly believe it, he didn't want to stop, to let go in case Iruka changed his mind.

Make him what? Iruka wondered, he wanted to know. "Make you what?" he asked.

Finally Kakashi looked at his face, "Lose control," he admitted. The confession pleased Iruka, to know he made Kakashi feel so strongly. "But we'll take it slow now" Kakashi promised.