unedited/ not proofread (6/23/21)

Sakura

For a brewery tour, it wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be. Don't get me wrong, I didn't think it would be terrible, but for someone who isn't a beer drinker, I didn't expect much. Maybe it was the tour guide and her obviously day-drunk antics. Maybe it was because it was a welcome distraction from work and the work crew being so in my business lately. Or maybe it was the company I was with.

Sasuke Uchiha is many things. He's honest. He's someone with a quiet intimidating aura. He can be uptight. But with all this, he's also sneaky. He's not the showy type at all, but I felt the warmth of his hand on mine whenever no one was looking—when the brewery tour guide's eyes were on the barrels stacked upon each other, when other people in the tour were focused on their beer taste discussion, when we walked slower than the rest and his fingers would intertwine with mine. And as soon as someone paid any attention to us, that warmth disappeared, leaving only remnants until I could feel it again.

Normally, I'd feel the rise of irritation at myself for actually enjoying that feeling, of having a great time playing hooky with the very same man I thought had no fun bone in his body. But it never came. Instead, I think of it fondly. And thinking of it that way should annoy me, too. It doesn't, either.

No one but Sasuke and I knew about our little lunch getaway, or the little brewery date after, or the taxi ride together back to our apartment building. And having those moments without the project in the back of my mind is refreshing.

That feeling only lasted until the next day at work where everyone's constant hovering and throwing of suggestions reminded me just how caught up people are in this. Luckily, I'm saved by the fact that I have a meeting with Tsunade right before Ino and the others could get the chance to pounce. I know Ino is going to start interrogating me, especially since I avoided her calls and texts yesterday.

But I take the stairs just in case they're by the elevator doors waiting for me since they know I have this meeting.

Thank you to whoever had the idea to have one of the emergency staircases be at the very back corner that no one ever goes to.

I close the door behind me and take in a breath, relieved I hadn't run into anyone on the way here. But, like last time I was here, I realize I'm not alone.

Walking up the steps is Sasuke, a hand in his pocket as he stops for a moment. He must've heard someone come in. He looks up, and I can see the relief in his shoulders as he sees me.

"Well, well. Two days in a row," he says, a knowing glint in his eyes telling me that he's here for the very same reason.

"Can you blame me?"

Sasuke shakes his head as he walks up the steps to where I stand. "The dog and the idiot wouldn't leave me alone. Figured you'd have a similar morning."

We start strolling up together, filling in what would be a silent room with the sounds of our voices echoing and bouncing off the cement walls.

"Actually, I made sure to get in extra early today, so I wouldn't have to deal with them first thing in the morning. Dropped my stuff in my office and high-tailed it here before they could spot me."

"Explains why I didn't see you right when I walked out the door."

"Aw, missed me that much?" I tease.

As I expected, my chaff is met with an eye roll, and that's all it takes to make me break out into a grin. I've come to realize just how much I enjoy our back and forth. The predictability of our responses is a comforting feeling, letting me know that things are right. Instead of the thinly veiled animosity that it used to be, it's more of a sign of our camaraderie.

As much as two people who've slept together can be comrades, I guess. Not to say that isn't possible, but I never really thought of myself as someone like that. To me, sex always meant to push people to the next step in their intimacy, in their relationship, and I never did it so eagerly with someone I thought I loathed.

Sex.

How could I have forgotten?

Our bet. We had a bet. We have a bet.

It hasn't even been weeks since that incident in the dressing room, and here I am letting that fact slip my mind. I should be angrier with myself. Knowing myself and my pride, especially regarding Sasuke, I wouldn't have forgotten.

But the fact of the matter is that I'm not upset. On the contrary, I'm pretty relaxed. Not having to think so hard when he's around is a relief, and not having that looming in my mind whenever he's close lifts some of the stress around this project off of my shoulders.

Maybe it's because of the circus this project has become. I'm getting tired of what everyone wants to or is pushing me to do just to get the upper hand. Granted, things didn't start spiraling out of control until that little hidden camera stunt I pulled on Sasuke for the second date, there's not a doubt in my mind since so many people, including our coworkers, have become so invested in besting the other that it would have naturally come to this regardless.

Yesterday afternoon was a rare one, one where I didn't have to look over my shoulder for spectators to overanalyze my every move just because I would be standing next to him. And of all people to spend it with, it's with the very same guy that, before, I would have blamed my predicament on. Wrongly so, I know now.

Sasuke's the only other person in the building who'd know exactly how I feel, and in a sense, that's what's comforting. But that doesn't explain everything. Hopefully, it isn't just me, but I feel there's been a shift as of late. Mainly because instead of hurling insults at each other just to get a rise out of one another, it's become a routine that I, oddly enough, look forward to.

I almost laugh at the thought. Sounds a little masochistic, but I mean that it's fun. It's just banter between… friends? If we can call ourselves that.

"You're oddly quiet."

Before I can overthink, I hear his voice. I look up and see his face peering into mine, curiosity in his eyes and something else I can't describe.

"Just thinking."

"Thinking," he parrots as he places his hands in his pockets.

"What? I can't think?"

"Thinking's one thing. Worrying's another."

"I look worried?"

He raises a brow before we stop in front of the door. He turns his body to face mine before lifting a finger and poking the space between my eyebrows. "I don't usually see lines here."

"Lines?" I bring my hands up to my forehead in an exaggerated manner. "Are you saying I have wrinkles?!"

He sighs, rolling his eyes yet again. I can't help but smile.

"Relax. I know I don't."

Shaking his head, he opens the door. "You're-"

"Ridiculous, I know."

I am. It's ridiculous I purposefully acted like a fool, so he wouldn't notice how warm my cheeks got when he got close.

Something's definitely changing.

This isn't how I thought this meeting would go.

"A beach date?"

"Were you not notified of the poll yesterday?"

I do my best not to let my thoughts show on my face. Telling your boss, let alone the CEO of the mass media company that owns the publication you work for, that you left work before you were supposed to is definitely not a good idea.

"In any case," Tsunade continues. "It's all been planned courtesy of Kurenai and Kakashi. You two are set for tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" I balk. "So soon? What about our workload?"

Kurenai raises a hand. "I'm looking over the articles and the meeting tomorrow, so you're covered."

Sasuke looks like he wants to interject, but Kakashi beats him to it.

"And your workload's been dealt with."

Sasuke doesn't look too pleased with not being notified about it. Frankly, I'm not either.

"Why do you two look so surprised? I'm pretty sure I called Ino and told her to relay the message to you since I couldn't reach your office phone."

I shut my mouth. Well, that must be why she was calling me nonstop. And, once the meeting is over, I check the messages I desperately avoided looking at.

Did you get the shits or what, bighead?
PICK UP YOUR PHONE
Where tf are you?
Ugh, seriously, now I'm getting worried
If you need some diarrhea medicine, text me back you whoreee
Anyway, they're deciding your next date via a poll.
Asked around and a guard saw you leaving with Sasuke hmmm?
No wonder you aren't answering lmaooo
Your ass owes me details!
Beach date's next! You better buy a sexy ass bikini!
Ino

Dear God, why me?

After the day I just had, I deserve a drink.

I did my best to avoid the specifics with Ino, but she knows I went out and played hooky with Sasuke, so she's bound to ask again. Fortunately for me, she didn't say a word to TenTen or Hinata yet. Actually, it's thanks to the fact that Ino and the girls were too busy with their work to pester me as much as I thought they would. They did, however, blast the group chat with 'strategy' discussions.

I love my friends, I really do, but wow, I've only just realized just how competitive Kunoichi is against Shinobi. This project has become less men vs women and more so a battle between publications.

Tsunade doesn't look bothered by it in the slightest, and neither did Kurenai nor Kakashi based on how they seemed in the meeting this morning. If anything, they must be happy since it's boosting sales and company morale.

I look for a specific bottle of red and find it on the bottom of my small counter wine rack. Opening the drawer, I expect to find the corkscrew where it should be, but instead, my hand finds a piping tip. Spending all of five minutes looking for the damn thing, I sigh, exasperated as I lean onto the counter coming up empty.

Just great.

Staring at the ceiling, my mind wanders back to my train of thought back in the stairwell, and one word echoes in my mind like our conversating in those walls.

Friend.

I can call us that, right? I mean, he's certainly not an acquaintance now, that's for sure. Why am I thinking so hard about this anyway? Why overcomplicate things? I sigh. Who am I kidding? It's obvious why I'm overanalyzing. The office atmosphere's caught up to me.

The wine bottle is still on the counter, and I straighten up. Well, since I can't find the damn screw, I have a neighbor I know for sure has one. Lending me one is what a friendly neighbor would do, right?

Grabbing the bottle, I make my way to the door and out to the hallway before I can think myself out of it. I've had enough of my own conscience for today. Knocking twice, the door opens not long after.

White shirt, black loungewear pants, and… Well, that's new. He looks a little disheveled. Looks like I'm not the only one that had a shit day.

He raises a brow and glances at the wine bottle in my hand. "What's this?"

Instinctively, I say, "I'm pretty sure you know what a bottle of red wine looks like, Sasuke."

He doesn't even bother to retort, but I can tell he's amused despite his tired appearance. Just another sign of the shift in our dynamic. "The wine, Sakura?"

"I couldn't find my corkscrew. Mind if I borrow yours?"

He turns to his kitchen before pausing and looking back at me. "That depends on whether or not you're willing to share."

"The wine? I'm surprised you don't have some yourself."

"Ran out of my favorite bottle. If I recall correctly, the one I had in your apartment wasn't too bad. It's the same brand, right?"

The day we…

"Yeah. Sure."

He motions for me to enter, and once I step foot in, the door closes behind me. I look around the space. It's organized, clean, his monochrome choice of colors meets my sight and I bite my lip before I can comment on it. His laptop is on the counter, the screen still bright, and a glass of water on a coaster a short distance away from it. He must have been doing some work even in this hour.

I hear a drawer opening. "Surprised I haven't heard you complain about my color preferences yet."

I turn to his direction and find him holding up the thing I came here for. "Gotta keep you on your toes."

"Should I be afraid?"

"Very." I chuckle as I walk to his side and place the bottle on the counter. "I take it your day was as bad as mine."

"What gave it away?" Sarcasm drips in his voice.

"You know, normally, I'd be ecstatic for a day off to go to the beach, but I feel the exact opposite about tomorrow."

He scoffs. "I wouldn't go as far to call it a day off. It's a work trip."

"A work trip we have to document, might I add." The sigh I let out is heavy and exactly what I needed. "Where are your wine glasses?"

"The cupboard nearest to the fridge."

I grab two glasses and place them on the surface. There's a soft 'pop' when he removes the cork, and finally, the glasses aren't empty.

"Cheers," I say before downing the red liquid.

"If you were going to drink like that, I'd have suggested something stronger."

"And suffer through a hangover during tomorrow's date? No way."

He shrugs.

"It's tempting, but we're still in competition here."

"Which one?"

Confused, I pout. "For the magazine?"

"So you're forfeiting?"

Oh.

I laugh. "Never said that."

"Worth a try," Sasuke says before taking a long sip. "What bothered you all day? You looked deep in thought from the start this morning."

"What bothered me, huh?" I ponder as I put the glass down. I lift myself onto the counter to take a seat, letting my legs dangle. "Same thing as yesterday. It got old fast. I assume it's the same for you."

He nods, nursing his drink. "I'm not fond of the ceaseless attention."

"I don't know if you've noticed, Sasuke, but you garner attention regardless of the project."

"Throwing compliments now. You are keeping me on my toes."

I scrunch up my nose at him. "You know what I mean."

To my surprise, I see a hint of a smile on his lips. A smile, not a smirk.

"Is that a smile, Uchiha?"

"It's not like I don't smile, Haruno."

"Not very often."

"I'd have thought you of all people would have seen it more than others."

"A smirk doesn't count."

"And what does?"

I take another sip of wine, eyeing him from the rim of the glass. "Last time I saw you genuinely smile was-" I stop myself from continuing. The last time was in that dressing room. And I'm pretty sure before that it was in my apartment. Both times we were in far from innocent positions.

"Mind in the gutter?"

"Shut up."

"You're fanning yourself."

"It's the wine."

"You're not a lightweight."

"Are you usually this nosy?"

"You're not very good at deflecting."

"You're not being a very good host."

"Host?"

"I'm a house guest, hello?"

"You came here to ask for a favor."

"I came here because I needed a screw."

He smirks.

"Corkscrew." I correct myself.

"Right."

"I'm being serious." Laughter bubbles through my words, the absurdity of the conversation catching up to me. "Is it weird if I say how oddly enough, this is the highlight of my day?"

"You enjoy engaging in juvenile back and forth?"

"A juvenile back and forth you participated in." I nudge his shoulder with my free hand. "But seriously, this beats evading nosy coworkers and even nosier best friends that found out I snuck out with you yesterday."

"Yamanaka found out?"

"A guard saw us, apparently. If it wasn't for the fact she was more or less booked today, I would have been interrogated all afternoon."

"You wouldn't have told her?"

"Nope. Aside from the obvious, I just… didn't want anyone to know. Especially since everyone seems to just know our business."

He finishes the last of his drink. "Or think they know."

I peer closer. "Not so different for you today?"

"It seems like they think their job is making sure I top you."

"Now was that intentional or..?"

"I thought I'd follow your lead for a change. Keep you on your toes."

This time, it's me rolling my eyes. It doesn't stop me from smiling though. This new side of him I'm seeing is very much welcome.

Playing hooky yesterday did more than let us escape from the office. Our conversations and time together yesterday were something we needed.

"As for work," he continues. "It looks like people think their job is to pester me rather than actually writing articles worth publishing."

"Is that why you're still doing work this late?"

"An influx of bad articles."

"Yikes. No wonder you look so worn out." I grab the wine bottle and offer it to him. "Help yourself to some more."

He takes the bottle from me.

"This is the first I've ever seen you so… Unkempt."

"It'd be odd if I was in a suit this late."

"Well, you do have a point."

"And it's not like I'm a robot. I have my days."

"Could have fooled me. Before all this, I'm pretty sure 'robot' was in my list of possible reasons why you're you."

"And luckily for you, you know firsthand I'm not." The corner of his lips lifts.

"Now whose mind's in the gutter?"

"You're infectious."

"Thank you."

"And have considerably good taste in wine."

"Now, that is a compliment." I grin. "Always good to have that one stocked."

"You always have more than one bottle of it despite the fact you live alone?"

"I like to get ahead."

"Funny, so do I."

I burst out laughing. "And now, you're being ridiculous."

"As I've said, you're infectious."

"Rubbing off on you, now, huh?"

I can see his eyes darken. "Perhaps."

Oh.

Biting my lip, I try to look away. Looks like this back and forth is taking a turn. And right then, it dawns on me. Have we just been flirting this whole time? The suggestive banter, the way I've been scooting closer to where he stands, and even the dimly lit room with wine suggest this setting to be something more than a little drink with a neighbor.

Then again, I could still be overthinking things. But what if I'm not? Throughout our conversation, I haven't really thought much about it until this second, the flow of our words coming out so naturally that it didn't occur to my mind to do so.

I realize he is awfully close to me, and there isn't a single part of me that wants to move away. And my mind wanders back to the bet. I could have sworn my determination to win was stronger, but looking back, it really is just a promise for more masked as a challenge.

"You're thinking again."

"I always think."

"I know you do." He leans in closer. "But what you're thinking about now, I don't know."

"Do you really want to know?"

"I wouldn't be asking if I didn't."

I don't know what exactly to say, so I opt to bring something else up. I look around the room, then back to him. "Seems oddly familiar, doesn't it?"

He watches me carefully as I take his glass from him and drink what's left of it. He must not mind since he doesn't say anything about it.

"Wine in the kitchen, one of us looking less presentable than the other. The difference is I didn't storm into your apartment angrily as you did."

With a shake of his head, he takes his glass from me and puts it down. "No. Instead, you came here looking for a screw."

"Corkscrew! And don't act like I said that on purpose."

"A few weeks with you, and it's kind of hard to tell."

"You're playing off it instead of telling me I'm ridiculous first thing, though. Admit it, you like that I'm rubbing off on you."

He sighs. "Do you have an innuendo quota you're supposed to fill for the night, is that it?"

"No." My smile begins to ebb. "But it's doing a good job of taking my mind off things."

"Which brings me back to my question." He moves closer, hands on the counter surface, caging my lap, making sure my gaze stays firmly on his. "What's in that head of yours?"

The intensity in his eyes, the sincerity I otherwise would have written off as something else had I not gotten to know him, the combination of the two has me clenching my thighs both to steel myself and as a reaction to his proximity. Memories flood my system, from my mind to my core, his scent triggers familiar sensations.

The wine has caught up with me, and so has our exchange. The innuendos may have been my subconscious telling me what I really wanted. Not like I needed it. I know I've been wanting this man since that first night, that first kiss in my apartment to the day after in the gym, that afternoon in my living room.

There's a spark hidden in the clouds of his eyes. Looking closely, I see it's there. Has it been there the entire time? "That night in my apartment."

"Yes?"

"This is almost a repeat except…"

"Use your words, Sakura."

"Shut up, I'm getting there."

There it is again. That hint of a smile.

"Kiss me."

"That's it?"

"Yeah."

I'm anticipating the kiss, so the touch of his lips on mine shouldn't be a shock, but the way the warm pleasure consumes my entire body, lips to toes, is a bit unexpected. It's happened before. Every time our lips meet, yet it always catches me off guard.

Sasuke tilts his head, nudging my lips open with his, and I sigh in pleasure as he deepens the kiss.

If that first kiss in my apartment was the beginning of the culmination of sexual frustration, this feels like it's marking something else entirely that I'm not sure I have the name for.

But I don't dwell on the thought. Instead, I give myself over to the feeling, to the kiss, lifting my arms to wrap around his neck, loving the waves of his hair between my fingers.

His hand cradles the back of my head as he explores my mouth, the kiss slow and thorough, and completely him.

His other hand makes the slow journey up my side, resting briefly on my waist to pull me in closer. My legs wrap around his waist, and we both gasp as the heel of his palm brushes the curve of my breast. Then, I remember, since I had nothing planned for the evening, I'm not wearing a bra.

Sasuke pulls back, gazing down at me. We're both breathing hard, and he looks as unbalanced as I feel at how quickly we went from a simple kiss to blistering want.

He lifts his hands so that my face is framed in both palms. "Sakura—"

Terrified that he's about to say something logical that will make all the kissing stop, I press my lips to his. "Please don't put some stodgy spin on this," I whisper against his mouth.

He lets out a quiet breath of amusement, not quite a chuckle, not a laugh, pulling back just slightly. "Stodgy?"

"Definition: prone to overthinking."

"I'm quite sure you've been the one overthinking all night." Sasuke slides his hands from my face down my shoulders to my hips, where his fingers curl possessively over my butt.

I nip his chin. "A little. Okay, yes."

His head dips as he brushes his lips against mine, teasing, refusing to deepen the kiss. "The reason being?"

"Stress."

"I can tell that's not the only thing bothering you."

My lips part to speak, but he's one step ahead of me, and the only thing that comes out is a surprised gasp as he sets his mouth against my throat and my head falls to the side.

"How are you feeling?" He asks, planting warm kisses along my neck.

"Right now? Never been better," I whisper. "But if you really wanted a serious conversation…"

"Distracted?"

"Very."

"This way you won't deflect."

"You're sneaky."

"Are you complaining?"

"No." I brace myself, forming the words in my mind. "I just think I'm ready to admit how ridiculous this bet is."

Sasuke pulls back, raising his eyebrows. He holds my gaze as his hands slide around to my front, fingers tracing the outer slope of my breasts lightly before withdrawing contact. His eyes meet mine again, the spark in his eyes turned to a flame, and now an inferno. "Really?"

"Really."

"That's a first."

"Lots of those with you."

He ponders over something for a moment before speaking again. "This would be the first time I'd say this too."

"Say what?"

He smirks. "I forfeit."

Notes:

A longer than usual chapter to make up for the long time no update lol. And yes, smut incoming next chapter jdfhjskfhkjsd