Chapter 21-Stealing Away
Much to her relief, that evening's dinner went smoothly and everyone was behaved—well, aside from Temari's incessant arguing with the waiter that her rib skewers were grossly undercooked.
Matsuri found herself snickering at the antics of the other woman. She often wondered how Shikamaru Nara managed to handle Temari so easily; in fact, he was probably the only person alive who was capable of diffusing her temper successfully without getting the shit knocked out of him!
Clearly, Temari's love and respect for him went beyond the limits of her volatile nature and Matsuri admired the contentment and completeness the two found in one another—being with each other came effortlessly for them it seemed…she couldn't help but envy that.
When dinner drew to a close, the last details for the wedding ceremony had been ironed out and Temari smiled, content with the outcome.
The blond was a bit on edge; after all, her wedding was in just two days and it was almost hard to believe that all the work an effort they'd put into preparations, would indeed be enough to pull it off!
Temari always had a tendency to over-think every step; it's what made her an exceptional strategist and it had been the first aspect of her personality that drew Shikamaru's attraction. Unfortunately, it also made her a terrible bride-to-be because releasing the control to someone else was like pulling teeth! But with Ino's designer sense, Hinata's limitless patience and Matsuri's excellent organization skills, everything had fallen into place perfectly!
As the foursome exited the lounge, the sun was beginning to set and the blond Sand kunoichi let out a yawn, leaning heavily against Shikamaru for support.
"I've never felt so accomplished…yet so exhausted in all my life! And it's not physical exhaustion either, it's like—my mind is completely drained!"
Matsuri who strolled quietly beside the couple, offered a soft smile to her best friend. "It's understandable, Temari-sama but look at it this way—you still have fourty-eight hours until your wedding and you have everything done!"
"Hmm." The blonde smiled a sleepy smile, reaching out and squeezing the younger woman's hand. "I wouldn't have been able to do any of this without you…not without destroying at least half the village by now."
The dark-eyed Nara snorted humorously, earning a pinch to his ribs by his weary fiancé and even a modest smirk from his future brother-in-law.
Matsuri threw her head back, laughing good naturedly and gave Temari's hand one final squeeze before releasing it as the group came to where the road split off in two directions.
"Well I'm out, guys—I'll see you early tomorrow so don't worry about the rehearsal, Temari, it will be perfect."
The couple slowed to a stop, eyeing the brunette curiously. "It's only seven in the evening, Matsuri-chan." Nara furrowed his brows at her curiously as he absently slung an arm over his fiance's shoulders and pulled her closer against his side.
"Are you sure you won't join us for some tea and Shogi, Mat? It is really early still, Shika's right, why don't you—"
But the brunette was shaking her head, holding up a hand in polite protest as she took a step back from the group. "It's alright, Temari; I appreciate it but I'm really just tired—I've been running non-stop the last two days…not that I'm complaining!" She amended quickly after catching Temari's disgruntled sneer.
"I just would really like a bit of time to rest for now so I can…hit the ground running tomorrow." Her dark eyes briefly snapped to the impassive redhead standing on the other side of Nara but she forced her gaze away.
"Well alright then I mean…as long as you are sure….?"
Matsuri nodded, smiling lightly at the pair. "You two have fun okay?" She whirled around, sashaying away before turning a sly smile over her shoulder at them. "Just don't do anything that I wouldn't do, kay?"
With that, Temari's cheeks turned as red as a tomato and Shikamaru muttered something awkward under his breath, shifting uncomfortably and running a hand around the back of his neck.
Matsuri hummed a farewell before turning away once more and flicking her wrist in a wave without looking back.
She hadn't made it very far however before she felt a presence coming up beside her and her suspicions were confirmed when a cool, pale hand took hold of her elbow and gently guided her down the street.
Black eyes snapped to the side and were met with tousled flaming hair and the profile of a strong jaw, high cheekbones and piercing jade eyes fixed straight ahead, expressionless.
She bit her lip uncertainly and looked away.
Was he just walking her home?
Was he wanting to talk to her?
Or was there another motive behind his curious behavior as he held her arm gently, guiding her safely along the somewhat busy road.
They reached the apartment and Matsuri was about to turn and bid him good evening but Gaara surprised her when he released her arm and simply walked on ahead of her until he reached the door.
She shook her head, mildly confused but decided to put that thought away for now and reached for her keys instead.
Once again, the Kazekage left her in bewilderment when he wordlessly took the keys from her and unlocked the door, holding it open for her.
She looked up at him, furtively—his countenance still an expressionless mask that gave away nothing.
"Uhm, t-thank you Gaara-sama." She murmured softly as she walked past him into the house.
In a split second, the Kazekage's composure faltered and he pressed the front of his body against Matsuri's back, pushing her across the threshold before slamming the door behind them.
One second, Matsuri was reeling from the sensation of a solid body pressing into her back and in the next, she was yanked by the arm, whirled around and a hot mouth crushed hers in a bruising kiss.
Since the moment he saw her, he'd been aching to get her alone and once the door had fallen shut, he refused to wait a second longer.
His arm curled possessively around her tiny waist and with his free hand, he cradled the back of her neck, tipping her head back to further deepen the kiss.
He could feel her body shivering and melting in his embrace and the flaming haired man couldn't hold back a smirk.
Slipping her hands between them, she weakly pushed against him. "G-Gaara…" She protested against his lips but the redheaded Kazekage growled impatiently, sealing her protests with a demanding press of his lips and slipping his tongue into her mouth.
Her eyes snapped open and she gasped through her nose.
Then, his tongue tangled sensuously with hers and shimmering black eyes fluttered closed as a moan tumbled from her lips.
Her reaction excited him and his arms tightened around her painfully as he pinned her bodily against the wall.
His lips separated from hers just enough for him to speak. "I—have been—desolate without you; that is—the only way I know how to describe it."
The girl gave a curious kind of little smile and tilted her head at him wonderingly. "I—h-have you been practicing putting emotions into words, Gaara-sama?"
He stared at her blankly for several seconds before catching something of a teasing glint in her eyes which he returned with a semblance of a dark, broody scowl. "You are purposely distracting me."
She blinked wide-eyed at him, surprised. "I—you think I'm avoiding you?"
"Are you?"
Direct as always.
"I wouldn't say so, no."
Something miniscule and with a hint of excitement, flashed in the depths of his eyes, yet his expression remained as flawlessly stoic as ever.
"Then enough of your senseless chatter, Matsuri."
She gaped at him, stunned at his seemingly blunt rudeness and she wondered if he were truly irritated, or was it his half-hearted attempt at humor?
Jade eyes roamed her body from top to bottom before a hand pressed shamelessly against the bared small of her back while the other snaked itself up the length of her arm, along her shoulder and up to her jawline. Fingers curled in a demanding hold at the apex of her chin and her head was tilted back—a bit sharply—as she was forced to meet cool, calculating jade orbs.
"The dress—you wear it well…although a bit too carelessly for my liking."
She blinked owlishly but said nothing.
His fingers curled then, the tips of them kneading into the flesh of her exposed back as his face drew closer to hers, eyes unflinching as if to prove a point. "There are few men who would be capable of keeping their eyes off of you, dressed as you are—even fewer would be prudent enough to keep their hands to themselves."
Her body shuddered and she hadn't the presence of mind to suppress it; not right now, not with the way he was holding her…
So close,
His hands touching her so openly and brazenly—as if he took pride in an assumed right to be possessive.
Floundering for something significant to say, her mind drew up empty save for, "T-There is nothing wrong with this d-dress I don't think—it barely shows anything, Gaara-sama—I d-don't see how it matters to you at any rate or—why you would even notice something so frivolous?"
The hand at her back suddenly stiffened and then curled around her hip in that all-too-familiar possessive hold of his and this time, his impassive expression broke and he growled through gritted teeth as he buried his face against her neck.
"It matters. I notice because I am an observant man; more than that, I am a shinobi and the Kazekage of Suna; I will not tolerate any coveting what is mine."
Matsuri balked at that; was…was Gaara-sama jealous?!
He dragged his lips across her shoulder, choosing to leave a bite mark just below her collarbone before licking a fiery trail up her throat to her cheek.
Oddly, when his tongue flicked out once again—licking a trail from the base of her cheek up to her temple, she didn't shudder away from it. Yes, it had been perhaps the strangest display of affection from him and even still, one she'd never even heard of before but something about it seemed so distinctly Gaara—the unique carelessness in the gesture and even the element of animalistic instinct, somehow struck Matsuri as both erotic and incredibly endearing.
"Mmm…you taste good." He murmured absently, causing her face to instantly erupt in flames and she let out an astonished 'eep!'.
"Umm…G-Gaara-sensei, you s-shouldn't be here I m-mean Temari-sama might—"
He licked the corner of her mouth, curious jade eyes meeting hers as he then licked his own lips, as if to relish the flavor of her skin.
She watched him, hypnotized.
Her knees grew weak.
"G-Gaara, please, I…"
He silenced her with a wet, hungry kiss, the sound of their lips separating and rejoining, echoed in the stillness of the empty apartment.
"If you want me—to leave, then I cannot rightly refuse you—however, I…I simply can't just…"
His words failed him, his eyes almost pleading as he met her hesitant gaze. "You ask me to stop, as if that would be so simple; you say I should leave, yet I see something in your eyes that says you want otherwise. Please explain this to me because I am confused."
She couldn't help but smile a little forlornly at him; the poor man was trying so hard to figure out his own emotions, while at the same time also attempting to decipher hers…yet here she was giving him mixed signals?
She could have smacked herself for being so thoughtless; he would likely think she had no interest in him and was simply placating him to buy herself enough time until he would finally leave her in peace.
How foolish they both had been; to think that that could have been even remotely close to the truth.
Without thinking, she reached up a hand and ruffled his hair before letting her fingers slip down the side of his face and rest against his cheek.
"Whatever you may be thinking…whatever thoughts of me not wanting you here, or simply tolerating you…banish them from your mind. None of it is true, Sensei and I'm…sorry if I have made you think so."
He was silent for a long moment before leaning into her touch and placing a soft kiss to her wrist. "I apologize that most of this and what it means, still eludes me, Matsuri; I know that…it cannot always be easy for you…worrying about what I may be thinking or what unknown feeling or thought resides behind my actions."
"You are trying your best, Sensei…" She reassured him, resting her head on his shoulder and breathing in his welcoming scent. "I have no right nor any desire to judge you. I never have, you know that."
Her soft curves pressing against him so secure and warm, brought a kind of weakness to the Kazekage's body and he shuddered and sighed all in one breath before engulfing this enchanting woman in his arms. "I do. And I have always been and will always be, so very grateful to you, Matsuri."
There was a rare warmth and depth to his voice that sent warmth spreading through her entire being and she snuggled deeper into his embrace before tilting her head up and placing a kiss on the tip of his chin.
She smiled prettily, sweetly.
"No need to thank me, I have always cherished you after all."
He was breathless, could think of nothing to say in the wake of her admission and so, he simply stared into her eyes.
"Temari-sama will be leaving Shikamaru's soon; you should go, Gaara-sama, at least before she gets too close."
He knew she was right, that it was probably best under the circumstances but a part of him still could not see how Temari knowing of their present relationship, would be such a bad thing…
Was it because he was Kazekage and Matsuri, his former student?
But 'former' meant 'no longer' in which case, that should no longer be an issue, concerning their present situation…should it?
He was confused. About so many things, it gave him a headache.
Yet, he was so very certain about other things, his determination so unshakeable that he wished he could just simply send the rest of it to hell and have no further worries.
His eyes met hers again and he simply nodded, deciding it was best to relent. For now.
One thing was for certain, his connection with Matsuri was unquestionable; what he felt for her was strong and deep and fierce and real and if nothing else made sense, being with her, wanting her and needing her would always be an indisputable fact.
Of this, he was sure, regardless of her own fears of Temari's or anyone else's opinion—to hell with them all he thought; only one thing mattered and it would always be her.
A rare smile graced the impassive countenance of the young Kazekage as he once again ducked out the window, bidding his lover farewell with an ardent, hungry kiss.
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Ooooookay, guys time to give me your thoughts on this one and what you wish to come?! Reviews!