A big THANK YOU to my amazingly fast and freaking awesome editor. Theblackroseofkonoha, or Yuki, as preferred, according to her profile, is my idol. You rock my socks as usual.
What's the longest word in the dictionary?
The fire warmed her skin until she was almost roasting. His breathing fanned out at a loose, even pace into her hair. She had fallen asleep now with the back of her head supported by his shoulder. His arm prevented her from falling over, acting like a protective barrier.
Staring into the fire, he traced circles absently on her knees. Sometimes his fingers would drag a little down her thigh, but he'd catch himself and immediately move his hand away. She eventually shifted and cuddled into him in her sleep. He smirked at the pure innocence that made up her face as she snuggled in.
His arms looped around her, pulling her close. It was then that he sighed in defeat. Like hell would he ever admit it, but in all honesty, he was growing attached to this girl. She was just a favor for the old man, but was quickly becoming more.
If he wanted to keep his life going on the same track it was before she came into the picture, he'd have to create some boundaries. Again, he looked down into the face of the porcelain-skinned heiress and sighed.
One more night and then he'd make the boundaries. Maybe.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
She stretched her legs out from their tightly bound position close to her chest and let out a wide yawn. Her eyes squinted their way open and took in the burnt out wood in front of her as well as the sand she was laying in.
The blanket she was wrapped in was being tugged at from behind. She rolled with it and was unraveled with a thud. But as the morning chill brushed at her stomach and thighs, she still was in her underwear!
Very much awake now, she made a desperate grab for the towel that was pulled away and created a temporary cocoon.
"Why'd you take my towel?!" She moaned in embarrassment at the teen who was at fault.
"Honestly, I forgot you didn't have anything under. We need to get moving. George has some major work to do today so we need to get back." He was standing against the barely risen sun, making his silhouette appear...softer? She shook her head, reminding herself that this was a total pervert who drank beer, didn't have an address and well, was him. Big no-no.
"Whatever." She grumbled.
"He's already on board. Let's get a move on." He nudged her with his foot until a pleasant stream of profanities trailed from her lips. She rose to her feet, still clutching the towel close to her form.
"We have to swim out again?"
"Yep."
"Dammit.."
They waded into the water, Sakura shivering from the extra nippy temperature. The towel was in Sasuke's hand, him holding it overhead. Soon enough, they had swum to the boat's side. Sasuke hauled himself up with ease while Sakura...didn't.
He sighed at her pathetic attempts to bring herself over the tall sides and with one tug had practically tossed her in. She turned away and snatched the towel back without missing a beat. Grumbling the whole way, she went below deck into the kitchen/bathroom/living room/bedroom to sit down in a bolted chair.
She looked around in the stuffy hole of a room to find her clothes. A flash of pale yellow in a mix of neutral towels and shirts caught her attention. Wasting no time, she got to her knees and tugged it out. Her shirt. A smile relieved her of the grim frown she was previously sporting.
With the top of the pile of towels spread out in front of her, Sakura debated whether to pull her shirt on or clean up this mess first..
She dropped her own towel and hastily worked her head into it-
Creeaaaak...
The shirt was dangling around her neck as she stood there paralyzed in her underwear with her back to the cabin door. Which... someone had just opened.
"Orange isn't really your color."
"Sasuke..." Her voice was dangerously low as and her mood sank like an anchor when she heard him stifle back a laugh.
"Toodles." He bid her flatly as he shut the door.
She continued to pull the shirt over her body and began searching for her jean capris. Finally she spotted them under some of the towels.
So what if my underwear are orange? He's not even supposed to have seen them! And toodles? What the fudge is that about!? So now he's got sunshine coming outta his ass!! I don't think so!
She huffed with the intensity of a bull and stacked the towels back up roughly. She mentally noted to get a manicure, no French tips, as she took a glimpse at her hands opening back up the door. The sun was floating just above the horizon, spreading a layer of light above the water.
Lost in the natural beauty of it that no plasma television or fifty-thousand dollar dress could replicate, she was oblivious to the figure behind her.
"Sakura!" A booming voice cheered.
She jumped, startled. "Oh, hi George. Thank you very much for allowing me to spend time on this... great vessel." Never would the business-produced greetings and thank yous leave her system.
"Your very welcome! It was a pleasure having you aboard!" His smile was anything but phony. She could only dream of being able to smile so genuinely.
Grraaoowwlll... "Um, I'm sorry, um!" Her face reddened at her stomach's sudden outburst of noise.
"Ha ha ha!! No worries, darling! You are just a tad hungry, is all! I'll get some toast toasting and break out the old fashioned orange juice. Would you go let Sasuke know?" He asked, already heading back in to cook up their 'gourmet' meal.
She sighed, not able to voice her objection to the kind giant. The ladder took her up to the top where Sasuke was steering them back. She noticed he had his skinny jeans back on, but his fluttering and tissue-thin boxers were still imprinted in her mind.
"George is fixing up breakfast," She mumbled.
"Hn." A sudden gush of wind caused her to lose her balance, but she caught herself before she fell.
"I guess I'll go-"
"C'mere." He beckoned.
Slightly curious, she approached his side. He was gently grinning into the sun, not visibly acknowledging her there.
Without any warning, his arm hooked around her neck by the crook of his elbow and crashed her head into his chest.
"What the hell!" She yelled, but her voice was muffled in his shirt.
He chuckled, his voice vibrating down in the chambers of his chest. She felt them and stopped struggling, a faint blush peaking through. Sasuke loosened his hold and let his arm perch itself on her shoulder.
When he felt her limb rest at his waist with her head resting still on his chest, his grin softened into a knowing yet still inflated ego smile. Lost in his small win, he reached into his back pocket with his steering hand for his extra prize.
He placed it between his lips and lit it up with the lighter he also held in his hand. Once he put the lighter back in his pocket and took hold of the wheel again, she looked up in shock and disgust.
"You smoke?" She asked, her voice showing she was absolutely offended.
"No, I just like to place a white stick in my mouth and taste it sizzle." His sarcasm was dry, desperately trying to take the edge off of her oncoming attacks.
"Sasuke," her body peeling off of his. "That will kill you. You can't... It's practically suicide."
He was surprised she wasn't sternly lecturing him or yelling like most other non-smokers would. It only intrigued him more about her and feel like dog doodie.
"Hn." A thick wisp of smoke poured from his lips and was quickly pulled away in the breeze. The bitter sweet smell of the nicotine packed cigarette was caught in her nostrils. Still, she didn't allow the tempting scent to pull her toward an early death or even worse..wrinkles.
"Fine. God, you're such a sick bastard." She had intended to walk away and allow him to feel guilty about his avoidable addiction, but instead found herself fitting her body into his side again. Must be the morning chill, which, by the way, was extra chilly.
"Hn." His arm wrapped around her just below the shoulder with his hand working to warm her up and ward away the raised goosebumps.
The longest word in the dictionary is 'smiles'. It has a 'mile' between the two 's's. Hee hee!
Come on, guys! Even if it's just a "cool chapter!" or "love it" or maybe (hopefully not, but still) "hate it, you suck, go fall down a well", just review!! I haven't been getting many and it's really sad (to me). So make me smile and I'll be sure to load this up with future fluff or whatever you want!!
...wow, it sounds like I'm truly begging. That's...pathetic.. -.-;
happy unbirthday
--frumpyrox