Chapter Eleven:

It seems like the entire day has already gone by, but when I glance at the large clock above the door in Sasuke's office, it only says eleven-thirty.

About a half hour ago, I paused from work after getting a text from Lee. He told me he'd be at my apartment around one. I didn't understand why he wanted to be earlier for dinner, but he said he had something special planned, so I had agreed.

Sasuke's been in meetings all day, and the last two clients, Yuki and Hinata, were just about to leave. Their meeting with Sasuke had taken the longest, by far. I catch a glimpse of the women as they leave, heading towards the elevator, and there are both very pretty. I get a feeling in my throat and I have to swallow it down as Sasuke turns and heads for his office.

They were wearing an awful lot of makeup... And those short skirts… Phew, you could never even hope to fit into something so small, Sakura… if that's what Sasuke's into, then you're shit outta luck.

Maybe Sasuke's personal meetings are just to fuck some pretty girls… They certainly had enough time in there for plenty of exercises…

After locking myself out for the second time during one of his meetings, Sasuke Uchiha eventually decided to have me prop open the door instead of continuously having to get up and unlock it for me. So now, I can see out into the hallway, as the elevator closes behind the women, and Sasuke walks towards me.

I quickly realize that I'm lounging in his chair and I stand up, almost knocking a lamp off of his desk. I straighten myself out and look over at him.

"I've organized the papers, like you asked," I quickly say, but he doesn't reply right away. Instead, he walks right past me and sits down, leaning back and looking at the ceiling. He sighs and I sigh as well, a light smile on my face. "Now you can go home and relax," I add cheerfully, happy with the day's work that I put in. All in all, I feel like I really helped him out today. I worked tirelessly for the past few hours, and for once I'm proud of myself.

"You think I can just go home and relax?" he said, and I barely caught it, he spoke so softly.

"You have more work to do?" I frown. It's Sunday, but he probably never gets a free moment, what with running a company and all. I can't help but feel bad for him.

"I have a dinner meeting with some old friends…" He trails off, and then looks at me. I feel myself blush from just his dark gaze. "Do you have time to get some lunch? To discuss what you'll be doing tomorrow and the following day if Temari is still unavailable?"

"I'm terribly sorry, but I have to meet a friend of mine back at my apartment in about an hour."

"What about dinner?"

"I'm busy tonight as well…"

Uh, oh. It sounds like I'm brushing him off… again… If I was going to tell him about the last time I turned him down for dinner, now would be the perfect time. And I have nothing to lose. This conversation just got awkward anyway.

"Oh, Mr. Uchiha. I was meaning to tell you something earlier, but I forgot. The other day, when it was raining outside…" I have to pause to take a breath. His eyes on me are intimidating as hell. I get the image in my head of the elderly man from this morning. Is Sasuke Uchiha looking at me like that? Does he want me to feel uneasy? "Well, I said I couldn't make dinner with you because it would have been tonight… and I had already made plans with one of my friends for tonight… It wasn't that I didn't want to go with you…"

I instantly feel like an idiot. I shouldn't have said that. I'm looking at the ground because I can't stand locking eyes with him anymore. But I know he's still looking at me. I wish I could tell what he's thinking.

"It's fine."

I look up when I hear him stand up and ruffle some papers on his desk. He looks around at a few of them and see's one of my neater piles. He picks it up and I recognize it as a pile of unsigned papers for contracts and such. He starts to head for the door.

"Suigetsu should be coming to lock up in a few. You can go home."

"Wait," I say, and instantly regret it, yet again. I don't know what I'm going to say. I know what I want to say, but I don't want to say it.

Just say it. There's no going back now. Unless you want to just stand there and look like an idiot while he waits for you to say absolutely nothing.

"I would like to… go for dinner with you… if you'd still like to repay me…"

Before Inner Sakura can yell at me for that last part, Sasuke starts walking towards me and I freeze up, staring at the space on the floor between my feet. When his black shoes come into my view, I can't help but look up. His neck is right in my face, and I can see each outline of his muscles under his skin, right down to his collarbone and slightly below the collar of his white, buttoned-down shirt. I can't raise my eyes and I feel like an idiot, staring at his chest and neck.

"Miss Haruno."

I gulp, but something in the way he speaks makes Inner Sakura cheer and I gain a bit of confidence. Not enough to look up at his face, which is probably only a couple inches from mine. But it's enough to speak in reply.

"You called me Sakura before."

"Would you prefer that?"

"Yes."

Another moment of silence passes, and Inner Sakura screams for me to just look up, into those beautiful dark orbs. But I can't. I'm still frozen, my confidence slipping away with each passing second.

"What about me?" he asks.

"What do you mean?" I swallow hard and blink twice, my lips parting slightly. I can smell him and I instantly need to inhale to get more.

"Would you call me Sasuke if I asked?"

"That would be… very unprofessional of me."

"So is asking me to dinner, Sakura."

You asked first…

I close my lips to swallow again and my tongue darts out to wet them. My whole mouth suddenly feels dry and I have to close my eyes for a moment from the pressure I'm experiencing.

"I'm sorry. I… I shouldn't have said that."

"No?"

I don't know what he wants me to say, but he's not moving. He's still standing directly in front of me, and he's got to know the effect he's having on me. I figure my face gives everything away, even if I'm not looking at him.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Mr. Uchiha," I say quickly, and I move to step away and free myself, but his hand lands on the side of my arm. He's not rough, and I pause because his hand is on me, not because he's pulling me back.

"You don't want to call me by my name?"

I can't find my voice, and I'm staring at his chest again. I take a chance and look up a little. I see his throat, his small Adam's apple, and then I see his chin. I'm so close I can see that he must have shaved last night, and to keep his look, he'll probably have to shave tomorrow morning as well. He lets out a breath and I can feel it in my hair. I can smell it, too and it's lovely. I catch a glimpse of his lower lip and I can't help myself. I lift my eyes to watch his mouth.

His lips are dark. And they're parted. I can watch him breath. I can see his chest rising when he inhales, and I wait to watch his exhale, and I lower my eyes to his chest again to watch his next breath, but it never comes. He's perfectly still. I look back up at his mouth again. Is he not breathing?

But then his lips part again and he exhales. I slowly breathe in his sweet scent and I can't help but smile a little. And then his hand is under my chin and he lifts my head. My eyes are instantly brought to his and before I can blink, his mouth descends upon mine. I gasp, and he exhales, and I find myself taking in his air—and surprisingly, it calms me. My body almost goes limp as he begins to move his lips on mine, his hand steady under my chin. My eyes are open and I watch his face for a moment in shock. His eyes are closed and I let my eyelids fall to match him.

I haven't kissed any men in my life, but something about the way his lips move on mine tell me that Sasuke Uchiha is far from inexperienced. And physically, I can't even begin to imagine anything better. His lips are soft and gentle. It feels like brushing and pushing and pulsing all at once and I soon realize that I haven't responded. I'm still frozen. I part my lips slightly and I feel him smile against me.

"There you go," he whispers, and I have to open my eyes to look at his face. His eyes are still closed, and I get the feeling he's keeping them like that on purpose. Probably because if he opens them, I might get scared and pull away, and he knows this. His eyes just have that effect on me, but I also feel that they're beautiful, and a part of me wants to look at them anyway.

I work up some old courage and move my lips again, parting them slightly further and applying a bit of pressure. The only things I have to work with are movie scenes and what he's doing, and I find myself trying to mimic how his lips are moving. I can't get it right, though, so I stick with opening them and closing them slowly, with a bit of pressure against him. His light smile is the only thing preventing me from thinking that I'm doing an awful job.

And then he moves his lips differently. He takes my bottom lip between his and gives a light suck. I jump, but I like it. Then he moves and does the same with my upper lip. He guides my mouth by his hand under my chin, moving me wherever he wants me.

I don't know how long it lasts, but a high-pitched ding from the elevator enters our space and Sasuke Uchiha quickly steps back and clears his throat. I stand there stupidly, my eyes glued to the ground. I hear the elevator door open, then close, and then footsteps.

"You guys going home?" Suigetsu comes into the office. "I just finished cleaning up downstairs. I'll lock up when I'm finished."

"Thank you," Sasuke quickly replies. And then he grabs his pile of papers off his desk again and heads out the door. "Miss Haruno, are you coming?" he calls, and I look up to find him at the end of the hall, waiting in front of the open elevator door. I grab my purse off the floor beneath his desk and run down the hall. He removes his hand from the door and I watch it close in anticipation and fear, mixed at the same time and with equal potency.

As soon as the door shuts, Sasuke hits the first floor button. I can't help but turn to him, and I notice that his eyes are closed and he's focusing on something. His breathing, maybe? I don't even care about mine and I know my heart is beating fast. I look back at the floor, knowing that I can't let my eyes wander right now. All I can think about is how gentle he had been. There was no force in his kiss. It was all gentle butterflies and light movements. It had been… pleasantly… perfect. I can't even find the right words for it. It was a perfect first kiss. That's all I could come up with.

"So, about that dinner…" he says, and I quickly look up at him, despite what my inner self has to say about it.

"Tomorrow night?" I know I answered him too quickly, but I don't care. I want this, and he should know that I want this.

His eyes are still closed and he chuckles. I can't help but lift the corner of my mouth in response. He's kind of cute when he smiles… Innocent almost, but then I remember the kiss and I know that he's far from innocent. I don't know how I know, but that's just what comes to mind. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm too chicken to ask him right now.

The elevator doors open and Sasuke motions with his hand for me to step out first. I do and then I hear his footsteps behind me.

"You sure you can't do lunch today?" he asks, and for a moment I consider calling Lee and telling him to be later, but I know he made some kind of plans for the two of us, and I really don't want to let him down like that.

"Tomorrow," I say.

"Monday…" He trails off and I wonder if he's upset with me for not being able to free up my schedule for him.

He's probably not used to girls who turn him down and then refuse to free their schedules for him. He thinks you're stupid or unwilling, probably. Or girls just do whatever he asks and he's mad at you…

I know Inner Sakura is wrong at this point. Not after that kiss. Sasuke Uchiha might be a player, but the look in his eyes reveals that he's thinking. And he wouldn't be thinking unless he cared about this. At least, I certainly hope he cares…

"All right. Tomorrow night. I'll call you. We can take my car or you can drive behind me, if you want to be able to leave when you please… Not that I'll be trying to keep you or anything like that." He smirks.

"That sounds perfect…" I whisper, hoping I don't sound like an idiot. The idea of following him sounds safer, but there's something about the idea of me being in the passenger seat, too. Something… adventurous… dangerous. Something about me literally putting my life in his hands and letting him take me wherever he wants… With no promise that I'll ever return.

"Do I scare you?" he suddenly asks, and I look up at him, taken back by his question. "There are those beautiful eyes…" I blush and look down again. "Is that why you don't like to look at me? Or is it something else?"

"A little…" I admit, answering only his first question. I leave my gaze on the tiled floor. We've made our way to the front doors and I barely even took notice of where I was walking.

"Why?"

It takes me a few seconds to be able to think clearly. "Your eyes. And the way you stand. And speak. And now that you've… uhm, done that… I'm a little… self-conscious, I guess…" I don't know why I'm telling him the truth as it comes to me, but it's done now so I just stand there silent, looking at the floor like an idiot, as usual.

Sasuke laughs a little and I feel my face heat up.

"It's all right. I get that from most people. I'm used to it by now, but I really wish you didn't feel that way."

"Sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for. I should be apologizing, if anything. I don't do it on purpose. I wouldn't want you to be uncomfortable around me. If there was a way to stop it, I would."

"It's okay."

Sasuke smirks and I catch a glimpse of it out of the corner of my eye. I take a chance and look up at him again. He's staring right at me and I try to hold his gaze with confidence.

"Sakura… you don't have to be self-conscious, either."

I gulp.

He liked it? He liked it?! But I had no idea what the fuck was happening!

"Tomorrow then," I say, and he holds his smirk.

"Tomorrow. Sakura."

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As soon as I pull into the parking lot of the dorm, my phone vibrates in my back pocket. I open it and frown.

"On my way"

But why? I just left work…

I shake my head. It's Lee. For a moment, I thought it was Sasuke Uchiha, and it startled me. After all, why would he be on his way over here? That was just silly. I quickly type out a general response and head for the dorm building after locking my car and grabbing my purse.

"How'd it go?" Ino asks as soon as I step into the room. "Did he forgive you for calling him an asshole this morning?"

"We have dinner tomorrow night," I quickly say, and I'm unable to hide the excitement in my voice. Ino stares at me for only a couple of seconds before a wicked smile spread across her perfect red lips.

"Are you. Fucking. Kidding me?" She runs over to me and grabs my one hand, forcing me to drop my purse on the floor. "You actually did it? Tell me you were the one to ask him! Please, tell me you asked Sasuke Uchiha to dinner!"

I just nod and Ino squeals, rolling her eyes and jumping up and down. "You have to give me every detail!" she screeches and I have to laugh. My mouth opens wide and I can't help but let out a very unattractive giggle, and this sends Ino into another fit of laughter. We stand there for a minute laughing like idiots before Ino violently shakes the hand she's holding.

"Ow!" I yell at her through another laugh.

"Tell me how it went. What happened? How did you ask him? You had to have told him about your little misunderstanding the other night, right?"

"Yea, I told him…" I trail off, remembering how he kissed me.

"Aaaaand?"

"And then… I asked him if he still wanted to go."

"And he said yes!"

"Actually…" I pause and Ino is on the edge of her seat. She squeezes my hand to the point where I'm lucky it didn't shatter. "He, uhm… kissed me."

Ino's mouth slowly expands until the biggest smile covers her face. And then she screams at me.

"Sakura Haruno! You got kissed by Sasuke Fucking Uchiha? Was it amazing? Was he perfect? Tell me what happened!" She starts dancing in place and shaking my hand up and down in a wide arc, and I can't help but laugh again.

"He was…" I pause to giggle like a little girl. "Very gentle."

"What a fucking gentleman!"

"Ino!" I shout, laughing again. She won't stop smiling, and I can't help but catch it, too.

"What else? Did he use his tongue? What did those lips…" she shivers with mock-bliss, "…feel like?" And I have to think for a moment before answering her. All my mind can register is how peaceful the moment had been.

"Soft… tender."

"I would've pegged him for a rough kind of lover. Wouldn't you think that? That's what I always imagined him to be, at least. I would've never guessed he was a sweetheart… Aww! That's adorable! I'm so happy for you! We have to celebrate!"

I laugh. "But I have dinner with Lee and he'll be here in about twenty minutes.""

"Are you sure Sasuke is okay with you going out with another man?" She eyes me playfully.

"Oh, Ino. It's just Lee."

"Did you tell him?"

"Sasuke? Why would I tell him about my plans?"

"What if it makes him… jealous? Trying to play hard-to-get?" She winks at me and I roll my eyes.

"I have to go get ready." I turn and head to the bathroom.

"Sakura and Sasuke sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G."

"Oh, plug it, Ino-pig!" I call, and we both laugh.

Sasuke has nothing to worry about. I'm more than excited to have dinner with him. And… it's still just Lee. He's nothing more than an old friend.

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Unfortunately, I'm distracted. I have been for the entire night. Lee's been going on and on about his life these past few years and he's been telling me stories about his college experiences and things about his parents and cousins and some girlfriends he's had. I feel bad, but I haven't been listening very much. Sasuke clouds my mind and all I can focus on is tomorrow night's dinner… and that kiss. Inner Sakura is certainly praying for another one of those. And Ino's idea that Sasuke seems more like a rough lover has me intrigued. I don't know what that entails, really, but Inner Sakura is begging me to try and find out. And I don't want to keep her waiting. The butterflies in my stomach are getting worse the closer tomorrow night gets.

Lee laughs a little, which give me a cue and I laugh in response.

"You like that?" he asks with a smile. "I knew you'd like that story."

I nod once with a big smile as a waitress comes and serves us our dessert. Lee ordered a small cherry cheesecake and I had ordered a death-by-chocolate slice of cake. I always had a weak spot for chocolate, and tonight is no exception. I dig in.

He'd taken me to dinner after a round of mini golf and a trip to a nearby bowling alley, which were apparently the things he had planned for our day out. Not that I minded. I loved to do those things back in high school. Lee and I used to go mini golfing all the time—almost every other weekend for four years. That was probably why he chose to do those things tonight. But I haven't played mini golf or gone bowling in years… Anyway, it was a nice blast from the past. He even drove me out of town for a bit to get ice cream. All in all, the day with Lee was enjoyable, but I'm still… distracted.

"Well, this is really great, seeing you again and catching up like this. I'm really happy you called. I was thinking about you, too, actually. When I got your voicemail I was so excited. To be honest, I thought you'd forgotten about me after moving away and everything."

"Oh, Lee. How could I forget about you? We grew up together." I laugh.

"Yea, but… When you called… and I realized that it made me really sad… thinking that you didn't remember me… You know, I got to thinking about certain things, and how my parents plan out my life. They've got everything under control. My future job, my college, my house, my car. And then I thought about it and I realized… something was missing from that picture. Something really important."

"And what's that?" I say with a smile, leaning forward to dig into more chocolate cake. When there's a long pause and he doesn't answer me, I stop eating and look up from my dessert. "What's the matter?"

"Oh, nothing. And what about you? I've been talking and talking this whole time and you've barely said anything. Why don't you talk about what you've been doing these past few years? I'd love to hear about it."

"It's really not that interesting—"

"Tell me. Please."

I pause. "O… kay. Sure. But I'm not as interesting as you are. I've just been in college for the past few years. I don't have stories, though. I don't do parties. I have no terrible exes. My parents are good, like always. Nothing new. I'm just excited to graduate in a few months. And then I'll start looking for a job." I shrug. "That's about it."

"Do you have any exes?" he asks.

"What, like, have I dated anyone? Nope. Still single as ever, Lee. You know me." I laugh, but his expression makes me stop. And an image of Sasuke comes to mind and I wonder if Sasuke would be a good thing to bring up right now. He would be something interesting to talk about, either way. I mentally shrug. "Well, there is this one guy…"

"Is? Like, currently?"

"Yea. I have dinner with him tomorrow. After class." Lee's eyebrow rises a bit and I laugh. "I don't know. I think I like him. But I can't tell him."

Who are you kidding? You like him a lot. And you don't have to think about it.

"Why not?" He leans forward.

"Because I'm not sure if he likes me back… I mean, really likes me back. I think he acts like it, but I feel like there's something else… I just can't put my finger on it…"

"I think he might…" Lee smirks. Are we talking about the same thing, here?

"And what makes you say that?"

"I don't know." He rolls his eyes and his smile gets wider. "What time do you get out of class tomorrow?"

"Me? Oh, uh, between three and four. Depends on what mood the professor is in. You probably know how that goes."

"Yea, you bet I do."

Lee throws me a wink and flashes a bright white smile. And I can't help but roll my eyes and laugh.