Just a heads-up: We are now entering into sexy time territory...

Chapter 23: Exploration

Naruto discovered that one of the best things he loved about having Hinata in his life was testing his limits. She'd allowed him to touch her body, and he took every opportunity he could.

When they were out on their dates or just together in town, he liked putting his hand on the small of her back whenever the opportunity presented itself. To the outside, it looked very dignified, something men did with their ladies. But if he could just finagle it a little bit, he could actually put his ring and pinky fingers right on the top curve of her buttock without her noticing it.

"Naruto, I know what you're doing," she said calmly, but there was a glimmer of amusement in her eyes as she shot him a sideways look.

He grinned back at her. "Sure, but that doesn't sound like you're telling me to stop it, though."

She didn't say anything, but her lips twitched as they continued walking down the Konoha street. They were on their way to the archives to pick up documents that Shikamaru had needed for a letter he was drafting to the other kages. Hinata knew where they were since it had been part of her previous training.

Naruto was done with his mission and had just gotten back. He was tagging along because he had nothing else better to do.

"We're out in public," she warned him.

He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her closer to his body, his hand still on the small of her back. His mouth close to her ear, he whispered, "We're out in public."

His tone dropped suggestively. "When you're done, how about we get out of public and be indoors then?"

She flushed but raised a brow, and her gaze on him was speculative. "Okay."

She'd called his bluff; his breath caught in surprise.

"I'll be done in an hour. I'll be at your place then."

"Really?!" His voice came out in a higher pitch than he'd like.

Naruto had barely gotten his apartment clean when she knocked at the door. She'd been prompt, arriving at the appointed time.

He'd pulled her in as soon as he opened the door. She walked straight into his waiting arms and his seeking mouth. They stood in the entranceway for a few minutes kissing, his hands busy kneading her back, dropping down to cup the curve of her butt. When she didn't protest, he pulled her closer and pressed her against the lower half of his body.

She gasped then, but she continued kissing him. All this time, her arms had been wrapped around his back, her hands gripping his shirt. When he'd brought their bodies together, she'd slowly moved her hands to his hips and then moved back to experimentally cup and then squeeze his butt. She ran her hands up to his lower back, directly onto his skin, under his t-shirt, then the tips of her fingers were suddenly under the garters of his underwear.

"Hinata!" he squeaked in surprise, his lips still pressed against hers.

He suddenly felt faint.

Naruto broke the kiss and dragged in a deep breath. He looked at her flushed face, her pink lips, and her eyes so drowsy, looking at him like she wanted to do more.

"I need to sit down," he said.

She blinked. Then she looked down and realized she still had her boots on and they were still standing at his entranceway.

She laughed. "Do you want to invite me in for tea?"

It worked, dispelling a little bit of the fog of lust that lingered over both of them. Naruto's head cleared enough to make him realize that this was the first time she'd ever been in his apartment.

"Right!" he said with an embarrassed laugh. "Come in!"

And he dragged her into the living room where he'd meant to serve her some of the tea she'd suggested. Instead, he found himself sitting on the couch with Hinata's legs draped over his thighs as she sat leaning her right side against him. Her face was upturned, her lips opened to his curious mouth.

"Hinata, are you really okay with this?" he whispered, unable to believe that his shy Hinata was letting him run his hands all over her bare skin.

"Yes," she said with a sigh, but her lavender eyes were a little bit apprehensive. "And you are, too? Anything goes?"

He laughed. "I'll do whatever you want me to do."

"We're just going to explore, right?" she asked shyly as he looked into her rosy face.

"Anything! Whatever you want to do. I'll follow your lead," he said, trying to be cool, but he had serious doubts about his self-control.

At his words, she slowly took off her shirt, but she'd kept her bra on. She was still wearing her shorts. And his eyes nearly crossed as he finally saw what she'd been hiding underneath her clothes. She was beautiful, looking lush and velvety underneath the evening sunlight reflecting off her dewy skin.

Though he knew it would be dangerous, he'd taken off his shirt, too, because she'd asked him to.

"I just want to feel your skin against mine," she said, her voice full of curiosity, letting her fingers flit on his chest, one hand on his back as she hugged him.

"You feel so nice," she murmured with a sigh.

She did, too. Her skin was so soft but he could see the scars from her years of training and fighting. Still, as he slid his palms all over her midriff, they didn't diminish her beauty. The scent of her, apples and cinnamon, also filled his lungs, fanning his lust.

He knew she could probably feel him growing hard underneath her thighs, but she wasn't complaining and didn't mention anything as her mouth left his. She feathered his cheek and his neck with kisses, then she was at his shoulder, nipping lightly with her teeth and licking with her tongue.

Hinata...liked to explore with her mouth, he suddenly realized. His imagination went into overdrive.

Naruto was hot and feverish, and burning up more as he slowly ran his hands up her arms, then along her shoulders and slowly trailed his fingers down to her breasts.

He'd been dreaming of them ever since he'd discovered they existed. And they were just as heavenly as he'd expected them to be. Her skin was creamy, but rosy now as his fingers dipped into her bra and started kneading. She gasped, and her arms came up, tightened around his neck. She buried her face against his shoulder and he felt her teeth on his skin again, causing him to scrape his thumb against her sensitive nipple.

He did it again to the other nipple, and her back arched, pushing her breast closer to his hand, and her butt pressed too hard against the buttons of his orange sweats. Her breath came out in a soft cry of pleasure.

It was all too much for his already overly-stimulated body.

He'd barely been able to say, "Sorry!" when suddenly he'd grasped her and flung her abruptly onto the couch. He'd quickly run to the bathroom. A few minutes later, he came out in a t-shirt and a new pair of pants.

"Oh," Hinata said, clearly puzzled by the new change of clothes.

And then it hit her.

"Oh!" She was flushing and laughing at the same time.

At the sound of her soft laughter, his face went red. His ears were burning.

"Should I put my shirt back on?" she asked.

He nodded fervently. "Please," he croaked.

"How about that tea, then?" Hinata asked when she had her top back on.

He took a deep breath and walked to the kitchen. He came back later with two cups of tea.

From then on, Naruto had insisted that exploration indoors had to be done strictly with clothes on.

Hinata was discovering that she had a devil inside her when it came to Naruto. She didn't know what it was that made her want to test out outrageous things, to let go of her shyness as she experimented with shocking him. It was probably because she was answering the same call that lurked within him. He was just as bad when it came to kissing her and touching her. He was constantly surprising her whenever he reached out to plant a kiss on her mouth or anywhere else on her body.

But mostly, though, it was joy overflowing out of her, this need to touch and kiss him. She'd waited for years to feel him, to kiss him. Hell, even just to look and speak to him without falling apart. She'd worked hard to kill her shyness and apprehension and was happy to see that he responded just as freely to her touch.

She blossomed under the warmth of his unconditional love, feeling free as they both discovered each other, physically and also emotionally as the things that made them tick came out in the open. It was a different kind of confidence, to know that his love for her would never waver as he encouraged her to become bolder.

She missed him every time she left for her missions, but she always looked forward to her homecoming.

On one of these longer missions, she came home to find Naruto waiting for her at the gates, his hands in his pockets but his lovable grin always there to welcome her home.

She ran to him and he was ready with his hug. But Hinata wanted more so she jumped into his arms and wrapped her legs around his waist as she planted her lips over his. Her hands cupped his jaw with pressure, forcing him to open his mouth wider. He gasped and she tasted him on her lips and on her tongue. Whatever he'd just eaten was sweet.

Hinata didn't care that they were outside. She'd been away for so long. She missed him and she wanted him to know it.

"Yo, get a room! Can you guys not wait to go home before you start sucking face?!" Kiba said with disgust. "Hinata, seriously. I know it's you who's egging him on."

She laughed. "Sorry, Kiba!"

Akamaru gave a howl and a "Woof!" that sounded like a scold.

She chuckled and grinned at the dog. "Sorry, Akamaru!"

"Hinata," Shino said, a reprimand in his normally cool tone. "This is embarrassing. Why? Because it's awkward for your teammates to see you kissing Naruto."

She laughed again. "Sorry, Shino!"

"But guys, I'm back home in Konoha. I'm just so happy!" she said as Naruto continued holding her and she sighed into his neck.

The three men shared a look over her head. She missed the silent exchange between them as the boys of Team Eight passed their responsibility on to Naruto.

Be good to her, or you're dead.

Naruto's grin was tinted red, but he nodded, completely understanding.

Hinata sighed again then lifted her face off his shoulder. She met Naruto's eyes in his adorably embarrassed face and couldn't resist pressing her lips against his again. He closed his eyes and breathed out. His hands tightened on her butt.

"Ugh!" Kiba said in a revolted tone as he turned around. Her teammates muttered their good-byes and quickly left the couple kissing on the street.

"Welcome home," Naruto said with a dazed look when she finally broke the kiss and jumped down from his arms.

Two weeks later, they were in his living room again, on the sofa. Hinata sat across his lap facing him, a knee each pressed against his hips. Her lips were slowly skimming down the side of his neck, his head was thrown back, leaning against the wall. His eyes were squeezed shut. Naruto kept his hands loose on her butt even though he wanted to press her closer to his body.

Recently, she'd been initiating the touching, and he wasn't going to question his luck.

But his breath came out in a sudden hiss as Hinata leaned into his chest and pressed hers against his. She was fully clothed, but he could feel her bra scraping against his shirt. The heat of her breasts was warming his skin. Her hands were under his shirt, busily roaming across his back.

"Hinata, I have to take you home," he said with a low groan even as his body felt lethargic. He didn't want to move, but he opened his eyes and glanced at the clock.

"Mmm," she only said. Her soft lips were now brushing against his ear, now pressing against his right sideburn. She breathed against his skin, at the short tendrils of hair next to his ear and kissed him there. Her hands were running up his arms and exploring his shoulders.

"I love this spot right here," she murmured against his sideburn as she let his hair tickle her lips. "It's so soft."

Oh, god. It never failed to turn him on when she said things like that.

He glanced at the clock again. He had to take her home, but she showed no signs of stopping as she moved her mouth to his other sideburn.

Meanwhile, Naruto's mind and body were screaming.

I am shinobi, he thought desperately. He thought back to the first time she'd been to his apartment and the disaster then. He'd gotten a little bit better at controlling himself. It gave him confidence that maybe he could handle the more intense caresses she was giving him the bolder she got. They were steadily progressing in their relationship and someday, it might happen, when she was finally ready.

Shinobi. I can do this. I can bear this.

She bit his earlobe and he tensed.

Damn. Shinobi, remember!

Her hands moved to his abdomen, still under his shirt, trailing her fingers slowly, further down...

Shinobi! Shinobi … God, I have to endure!

"Hinata, please," he said, "we have to stop."

He didn't really know what he was saying. He was pleading for her to stop—but really, all he wanted was for her to continue.

She suddenly leaned back on his lap, taking the pressure of her luscious breasts off his chest but the movement pressed her buttocks more firmly into his thighs, making him squirm. She looked at him with a puzzled look in her eyes.

"I have to take you home," he squeaked. He was flushed. "Now."

His body was on fire. It was going to be another cold shower tonight when she left.

But she was looking at him with suspicion, not lust.

"Naruto, I feel like we've barely seen each other today."

He gulped. "Sorry, Hinata. I was a bit busy today so I didn't have time to pick you up earlier."

"You said that the last three times we went out, too. I feel like you don't want to spend time with me?"

Her eyes were peering into his, trying to read his mind. He could tell she was trying to gauge his blood flow with her byakugan even though she hadn't turned it on.

"No, that's not it!"

Be strong, Naruto, his mind screamed. Don't fall for her trick.

But her gaze was relentless. There was a slight narrowing of her eyes.

Then she played dirty. She became nice.

Her gentle nature came into force as her eyes softened, and concern puckered her brow. She bit her lower lip, and he could see in her eyes that something was clicking into place in her mind.

Her index fingers came up to that triangle, nervously tapping against each other.

Yup, he was dead.

In a small, tiny voice tinged with guilt, she asked, "If that's not it, then it's because all this touching is getting too heavy to deal with, isn't it? You're meeting with me later and later during the day so that we go on a date then you take me home straight away, right?"

Shit. She'd found him out.

His face was red, but he could only nod because he couldn't deny it.

In a defeated voice, she said, "I thought so. Naruto, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. I asked you to wait and you've been very understanding. Okay, I'll stop. It's just not fair to you."

She was about to get off his lap, but he gripped her legs.

"No!"

He tightened his arms around her, and she gasped, but she looked at him. Naruto laid both hands on her cheeks and said with all the strength he could muster, "I don't want you to stop touching me, Hinata. That's even worse. None of this is your fault. If you're not ready, you're not ready."

She sighed and hugged him again, hiding her face into his collarbone as she laid her forehead on his shoulder. "I love you. You're so kind. "

She raised her head and looked into his eyes. "I just need time to get used to the idea? Of having se-sex with you!" she blurted quickly before she broke contact when his eyes blazed at her and became too intense for her at the mention of the word. She leaned her forehead against his shoulder again, hiding her face.

He smiled into her hair. "I love you, too. Hinata. It's fine. I'll wait."

Even if it killed him. She'd waited for him all these years. The least he could do was wait for...months…hopefully, weeks...He swallowed. He just really hoped he wouldn't have to wait for years like she did.

Naruto hugged her, trying to reassure her, and looked at the clock. "I still have to take you home, though. It's getting late. I don't want to worry your family."

"Okay, but just one more kiss?" she asked.

He grinned at her. "Sure."

He grabbed her still fingers and kissed them, then he guided her hand to his back, under his shirt. "A quick kiss."

Hinata laughed.

She walked to her bedroom that night with a heavy heart, hating that she was causing Naruto so much discomfort. It was unreasonable of her to ask him to wait for so long. They were months into their relationship and she felt horrible that she'd asked him to be patient even as she'd been the one shamelessly caressing and kissing him.

Hinata flushed. The desire was there, but she just needed to get over her shyness when it came to losing her virginity. She wished there was a way to get over that hurdle.

She'd been so ready to give up her life when she'd jumped in to try to save him from Pain, but why was she hesitating when it came to sex? It was only natural, and she even wanted it. Her curiosity increased every time she discovered a part of his body that fascinated her. But the physical act made her feel scared.

Hinata closed her eyes and listened to her heart. She realized that she feared the unknown, the intimacy of baring her innermost self to his eyes. She just didn't know how he, but mostly how she, would react in the situation, when they would be touching each other with nothing on...

She sighed into her pillow, wishing she could just tell Naruto straight to his face that she wanted him to make love to her already.