Itachi is not entirely sure how he got in this position. There are boundaries that he is sure existed and were established. He is pretty sure he was very explicit when he explained where things started and stopped. Maybe.

But then Sakura sashays across his living room in black leggings and a cropped sweater, balancing on tiptoes to hang a Christmas ornament on the tree. Sasuke digs through boxes to get the rest of the garland from last year. Naruto busily wraps things around the handrail of the stairs. Leaving Itachi with two choices: go over there and help her or continue watching her purposely struggle.

She is definitely doing it on purpose. Itachi has been around enough women to know. He has been around Sakura enough to identify what this sultry behavior is. Those seemingly innocent actions could be her just being herself. Itachi may have believed that she really was just participating in getting their house ready for the holiday season. Except, this is the second time she tried to hang something far too high. The second time she does so in full view of him when the other two are busy or far enough away that they can't assist. The more she reaches, the higher that stupid little cropped sweater goes.

"Almost…" she mutters to herself, nearly tapping the branch she wants.

Itachi is not above just sitting there observing her struggle. And he's also not above delivering her precisely what she wants. If only for her to realize that it's not in her best interest to play with him.

But Sasuke's in the living room, and Naruto's just a few steps away. Neither of them seems to witness the way Sakura's toying with that ornament that most definitely can go on the branch just below.

She sinks back down to her feet, placing her hands on her hips and gazing up at the tree as if it'll get shorter somehow. Itachi's assembling the remains of what would be a little nutcracker set that sits on their mantle.

Sakura sighs and pivots her weight to one hip. Itachi is…admittedly entertained. Because there were boundaries, and she's so obviously trying to flirt with them that it's funny.

"Let's try this again." Sakura declares.

She reaches up again. Itachi lays down the Christmas decoration in his hands and pulls himself off the sofa. She's not that short. The tree isn't that tall. The ornament isn't that far from its destination. But Itachi isn't above proving a point. So without warning and with full knowledge of what's happening, he lets her know that he knows what she's doing.

Sakura inhales when his arms circle her thighs, just under her hips and her butt, then lifts so she's just barely off the floor.

Fingers grasp his forearm, Sakura leans so her back rests against his chest. Itachi tightens his grip to ensure she's secure. The woman in question doesn't even turn around as if she already knows it's him. Her butt sits just above his waist. Itachi almost forgot how good she smells up close. Sakura's toying with hooking the metallic gold ball on their fake Christmas tree. So Itachi squeezes her thighs to get her to hurry up. And Sakura, in response, unhooks the thing then goes for a branch that's much higher and further to the right. Which has the very interesting effect of making that tiny little sweater raise and her body shift and Itachi adjusting the position of his arms and her ass to keep her up. He has half a mind to drag his teeth over the exposed curve of her back, so she's caught off guard like he was. But Sakura's tilting back, patting his arm to be let down. Itachi takes his time easing her back to her feet but doesn't let go. Instead, he inclines his head over her shoulder. Sakura shifts just enough so she can see him.

"Are you done?" he asks.

"For now," she says.

Sakura's about to take a step back, but he moves before she can, going back to his little assembly station on the table. Sakura moves to help Sasuke hang more garland.

Itachi understands one hundred percent that neither of them was talking about hanging Christmas decorations.

When they finish, and the four of them have their fill of chicken and tofu meatball soup, Itachi's the first to declare he's getting ready for bed.

"Alright," Sasuke says, drawing himself up from the floor. "We can clean this."

Naruto's stretching his arms over his head, and Sakura observes him from her outstretched position on the floor.

"You're not going to watch the movie with us?" Naruto inquires.

Pink brows raise in question, wondering as well if he's going to stay with them. Itachi notices then call her bluff from earlier by giving her his full attention and eye contact, completely ignoring Naruto when he answers.

"No," Itachi says coolly and nods behind him, "I'm going to bed."

Even from her spot on the floor, Itachi catches the redness at the tip of her ears. Sakura quickly looks elsewhere. Itachi hums to himself because of course she wouldn't take it that far. Only acting as if she would because that is Sakura's way. She tests waters but never gets in them, just close enough to create the illusion before fluttering away. Leaving men who don't know what they're doing wondering and waiting.

When she makes no move to get up, Itachi starts his retreat towards the stairs. "Maybe next time, Naruto."

Satisfied that he's put her little game to rest, Itachi rubs a hand through his hair on his way upstairs, sighing to himself in the process. It's been a while since he's held a woman in his arms like that. Admittedly Sakura is attractive. He isn't completely unaffected by having her pressed against him like that. Flexing his fingers, Itachi allows himself to think through scenarios then let them go as he takes the last step to the small hallway upstairs.

"Ah, Sakura-chan are you going to bed too?" Naruto whined.

Itachi stops in his tracks right in front of his bedroom door. Did she really…?

Sakura's slightly shaky voice filters halfway up the stairs. "N-no, I'm going to take a shower in the guest room before you get to it."

"That's going to take forever! What about the movie?"

She huffs. Itachi grins, that little minx. "We can do that after. Plus, Sasuke's cleaning up. We have plenty of time."

Itachi listens as she jogs up the stairs, waiting until he's sure she's at the top to open his door. When she gets in the hall, he disappears into the darkness.

Honestly, Itachi didn't think she'd come. Sakura's always testing the waters. So he tests her resolve, leaving the bedroom door open while removing his shirt on the way to his ensuite bathroom to take a shower.

A/N: Mistakes may or may not have been made.

-CeCe^^