A/N: I am truly flattered to receive much more attention than I ever expected. I have never received this much attention for my fanfic, even when I was writing Waker's Pearl and Dear Mr. Dino. Even my parents are happy, haha. This is extraordinary! Thank you!
I have finals till end of June. So I will update at the first week of July!
I don't own Naruto.
"Bu-but..." Hinata stammered, "I-I need to repay you!"
"Repay...me?" Sasuke dropped his gentle grip on the back of her neck and stared at her incredulously, "Leuke, we are husband and wife now." He then looked at her calmly, "And I am not a debt collector." His eyes were gentle, despite what could have been a dishonorable insinuation. Not all debt collectors were bad, but they definitely had a dishonorable, unfavorable reputations among the people.
Lying side to side on their narrow bed, Hinata didn't know what to say, "I-I know, but..."
Then what would be the reason you decided to marry me? If it's not for bedding me? She wanted to ask, but the question couldn't leave her throat. She was not smart or clever with household chores, nor was she outstandingly beautiful. What could he see that made him think she was worthy to keep? Did he really mean it when he said it didn't matter to him as long as they were with each other, or did he have some kind of different motive? Perhaps, he, in his understandable blindness of youth, thought that relationships could continue through pity or patronizing heroism.
She was scared of catching him in his lie or folly. But his lie was so sweet she wanted to believe in it.
He chuckled and wrapped his left arm around her. Hinata started at his intimacy and blushed at his laughter that made him look so free-spirited, "You have a funny way of speaking, Leuke. It almost seems as if you are from an entirely different world."
Different world. Yes, she was from a different world.
Long ash brown hair flitted in the back of her memory.
A cold chill ran across her body. She reminded herself that she should be more careful in her choice of words. Sasuke had intuition.
But she felt the need to ask him how he noticed her strangeness. She will remember to be more shrewd next time. "Ho-how?"
"First, nobody calls 'sex' a 'duty.'" A scoff. "Duty is more like putting food on the table."
Hinata was listening to him intently. She played with her fingers in nervousness as they lied side by side, nose to nose. Sasuke watched her with a blank expression that reflected something like curiosity, and Hinata fought the urge to push back his dark fringes with her fingers. His hair kept getting on his eyes, and she was worried.
Then he reached out his outstretched hand and touched her bare shoulder. Goosebumps rose at his heated touch. Hinata's breath quickened, her round pale irises stared at Sasuke's smoldering coal eyes. After holding her shoulder, his hand sought the soft flesh of her underarm and slid underneath, touching the side of her rib. She felt his large hot hand getting an inch closer to her breasts. If his hand slid downward, he would be groping her. Hinata felt her breath quicken as he approached closer and the uncontrollable warmth that spread through her body, and her eyes stared at his firm lips that parted slightly. His warm breath landed softly on her plush lips. His eyes darkened with desire she was more used to seeing in milky eyes like her own. Hinata has never seen his obsidian eyes this close, since he asked her to marry him.
His hand slid downward, tantalizingly near her round breast, and Hinata started. What she had feared and at the same time was anticipating was happening. Sasuke's index finger lazily drew circles above her nipple hiding underneath her dress. As he continued, she soon found herself wanting to feel his fingers directly on her skin, not through the fabric.
She closed her eyes and tried to suppress her squirms at his teasing, "umm..." But she was affected and the way her back arched pushed her firm breasts higher. As an answer to her tacit request, he cupped her left breast with his large hand.
Hinata's pulse quickened at his hard, firm grasp, and her nerves instantly went on high alert as he approached her closer. When he squeezed her left breast, Hinata flinched lightly and opened her eyes and met his unshakable dark gaze. His face wore a serious, unreadable expression, but somehow she was not scared. Even though his eyes were unreadable, they were filled with emotions. But the emotions felt like a mystery. Then she felt her body relax little by little until his other hand reached for the linen strap of her pink dress and slid it down her shoulder, revealing her pale generous breasts thrust high with her dark nipples. If there was one thing about her body that she wasn't so ashamed of—may she even say proud of— it was the color and shape of her breasts.
She peered into his eyes, hoping Sasuke would like them.
Sasuke's hand stretched out and cupped her right breast that was finally bare and exposed to his sight. He grabbed her right breast and felt the skin with his rough fingers as if it was a fruit. At the sudden sensation of his hot hand that groped her, Hinata's eyes snapped wide open but she took deep breaths to ease into his touch.
Then Hinata felt his hands move under her dress, hitching up her skirt. He huskily whispered "Leuke..."
She blushed and bit the bottom of her lip. She lowered her eyes in embarrassment.
Sasuke looked at her face and then started stroking her plump thighs with his large hands. His hands studied the smooth texture of her thighs and squeezed the plump flesh. Hinata has always wished for her thighs to be slimmer like the huntress Sakura, so the way he touched her surprised her. Albeit, a rather pleasant surprise. A small part of her always worried if he would be disappointed in her figure on the nuptial night. Instead of narrowing in disappointment or loathing as she expected, his dark eyes seemed mesmerized by how much flesh he could grasp in his hands.
She felt his warm hand clasp over her pale, taut thighs, and then curve over her butt. Suddenly, he pressed his fingers onto her thighs and yanked her hips closer to his body. Her core felt the unmistakable solid ridge of his erection pressing against her. Hinata's eyes snapped open when she felt that he was hard, and the knowledge panicked her for an instant. Even if he was still fully clad, she could feel his size and her face paled. She wondered, were all men like this?
Sasuke looked at her fearful expression carefully, "I would never hurt you, Leuke."
She looked at him with apprehension and a slight resentment in her eyes. Even though she knew it was not his fault for being so well endowed, she couldn't help but blame him just a little bit for the inevitable pain to come.
But as insane as she thought herself and this situation to be—marrying someone she hardly knew—she believed in him. She believed that he would never hurt her.
Sasuke's lips crinkled in uneasiness as he saw the fear and blame in her eyes, and Hinata couldn't help but notice how sweet and defenseless he looked being apologetic.
But despite the sweet look of innocence she believed him to show, his hands moved as if they had a will of their own.
His hands explored the crevice of her buttocks, starting from the bottom of her spine down to her weeping slit. His index finger poked on the end of her feminine lips and her hips bucked in response.
Hinata started and writhed helplessly as she felt his hands molding the soft globes of her buttocks. His hand moved between her legs, and Hinata instinctively clamped her legs tightly together. Unrelenting, his hand squeezed in, to feel the sweet core that was hidden away from sight. At the tight friction she felt when he squeezed his two fingers between her legs, Hinata gasped and then saw his lips curve into a smile. He didn't push his fingers inside her body but the feel of his fingers squeezed snugly between her thighs, his fingertips pressed onto her sensitive clit sent her into a state of fervent want. She looked at his face, his broad shoulders, and slightly damp muscular chest. She wanted him too. Despite all the royal protocols that were drilled into her and mandatory lessons about how a chaste lady should act, she had no choice but to admit that she wanted him.
His dark eyes with pupils so black that they looked like night stared into her face. Hinata blushed and wondered how her face would look right now. Probably, her face was distorted in ugliness, she thought.
Then she winced with a grunt and backed off slightly, as she felt his thumb press harder on the tiny pearl of her nub. His hand ruthlessly stimulated her clit, and the added friction of her thighs pressed against each other made her buck involuntarily and her center ooze with fluids. A tear formed in her eye, "Sasuke...", asking him what this all meant. Why was she feeling so much at his touch?When his hand shifted against her, between her thighs, the friction made the throbbing sensation between her legs swell.
"Sasuke," she breathed, "gentle..." It was more as a plea.
His dark eyebrows arched in agony, telling her it was killing him but he desperately reined in with his self control and pulled his fingers out.
He pulled his fingers away from her clit, letting Hinata breathe in relief and collapse sweetly into his arms with all the trust she had. He rested his cheek by the side of her head. He murmured, "you are doing well." They looked like lovers in every single way. His fingertips rested carefully on her thighs. His dark eyes seemed hungry, desperate, and yearning as his hot breath descended on her ears.
However, the sweet moment where she relaxed in his arms ceased to an abrupt halt when his muscled arms encircled her waist and yanked her closer towards him, pressing her body flushed against his. He caged her lithe body in his long sinewy arms like a beast clutching a little prey. Hinata's pearly eyes widened at such sudden display of possessiveness. One moment, Sasuke would be caring and gentle, treating her as a porcelain doll. Next, he acted as if he had hardly any self control left.
Her hands gently pushed on his strenom.
Sensing her urge to struggle, his arms wound her closer, wrapping around her waist, and tightening his grip. His sudden movements communicated his barely restrained animalistic need, and Hinata unwittingly let out a soft, plaintive sigh at the suffocating heat and tightness that engulfed her.
At the sound of her sigh, Sasuke froze and released her from his tight embrace as if he came back to his senses. He rose above her, his hands splayed open by either side of her head, his arms and legs caging her beneath him on his bed. Finding a place to settle, his fingertips descended and then gingerly pressed onto her thighs. Hinata's milky eyes looked up to his face in the mixed feelings of trust and fear. When he saw her face, he suddenly grabbed her thighs he has been caressing and opened her legs widely.
Without hesitation, his hand reached to her center and pulled down the white slip of fabric that was wrapped around her pelvis and waist.
Hinata's eyes widened, "Sa-Sasuke...". Her lips trembled. She knew this was going to eventually happen, but she couldn't help but feel scared.
Keeping his reassuring gaze fixed on her, he approached her bare clit, and Hinata's eyes widened when he suddenly lowered himself and pressed his hot mouth to her pink folds.
His tongue touched her clit in fast, gentle series of licks. With long laps, his tongue glided all over her slit. His tongue poked at her clit in small gentle thrusts. She felt him kiss her feminine lips and her ears registered the loud sound of a long drawn out suck as his lips dragged along her labia.
"Aah! Sa-sasuke!" Her voice came out louder than she wanted. Hinata's body twisted and she gasped, but his grip on her thighs only tightened more as his tongue ploughed her insides in long, teasing strokes. She felt her walls tighten furiously at the intruding muscle. Her hands trembled, stretched out, begging for a boulder to hold onto. While sucking on her, he looked at her hands that lost their way and grabbed her wrist and guided her to his shoulder.
Hinata gratefully grabbed his shoulders and arched her back. Sasuke gazed up at her for a moment, her reddened neck and gorgeous breasts with rose-brown nipples. Then he went back to prodding on her clit with his tongue, nodding his head. This time she screamed. Liquid oozed down the crevice of her thighs that shivered in the aftermath.
After stimulating her clit with his tongue, he rose and Hinata looked up at him dazed. The moonlight from their single window illuminated the high planes of his face while the shadow accentuated the shape of his his nose and lips. She saw him languorously lick the side of his mouth of his tongue. His eyes were fogged up with desire, and she felt confused and addled with mind-numbing pleasure. She felt heat spread across her face, especially concentrated near her eyes.
His dark hair fell across his eyes as his gaze fell to her core. Then grabbing her by the waist, he slowly thrust his clothed erection against her, in and out, mimicking the thrusts between a man and woman. Hinata blushed at his directness but she couldn't take her eyes away. As he thrust, he was communicating what he wanted to do to her. And as strange as it sounded, Hinata thought that if it was Sasuke, she was willing too. Someone who was no more than a stranger several weeks ago. Someone who would've passed by her without much thought if they met in the streets. She imagined him selling hunting game and herself buying livestock for temple sacrifices. They would never have crossed paths in ordinary circumstances. But she was letting him do these intimate things to her.
In an abrupt motion, Sasuke held down her throat with his fingers. His fingers pulled her chin downward, forcing her to open her mouth. When Hinata opened her mouth, her pink tongue poking out, unaware of his intentions, he charged at her in a suffocating kiss. He varied the angle of his fervent kisses he poured onto her. His kisses were not sweet and tender at first; his kisses were rough and searing. She was sure that by the end her lips will be red and swollen. His molten tongue glided across hers in her mouth. Hinata cried and he swallowed her cries through their joined mouths and stubbornly continued to press his tongue onto hers. He nodded and groaned in satisfaction and Hinata had no choice but to follow his lead and nod along as he deepened his kiss.
She moaned, and suddenly when Sasuke started exploring her mouth, she remembered Neji.
It was a fleeting thought, but she suddenly remembered Neji's kisses. How he stretched her over his bed and towered over her as she pushed on his right shoulder timidly. She remembered how at the waning of the seemingly endless pounding, when she would sigh in relief at overcoming this ordeal that took her breath and stole her senses, Neji would suddenly reach out his hand and hold the back of her neck. He pulled her lips close to him. Then he would force her mouth open with his index finger that dug in between her lips and then delve into her. When she whimpered, her throat already hoarse from screaming, he snaked his hand through her hair and grabbed the back of her head. His and her saliva trickled down her jaw. He placed his mouth on hers as if hungry and desperate. As if he was her lover, and after pounding her hard and fast and harshly like a whore, the protocol was a long fervent, tender, soft kiss—as soft as Neji could be. She was confused and scared, because she couldn't bring herself to understand. Why after ravaging her throughout her cries, he would sum the whole deed up with a long kiss. It confused her. It confounded her.
Sasuke's tongue was long and hot as she remembered Neji's to be. She arched her back as he held her throat and put his mouth on hers. Sounds of suckling emitted from their lips, and she heard a low gutteral moan of approval from the back of his throat. Feeling a spark of joy that she pleased him, she felt her stiff body moving on its own in ecstasy. As a response, his hands touched her throat gently in appreciation. She felt the curve of his smile against her lips and was awed to see him look so happy. His usually harsh looking dark eyes that glared in concentration softened and a red blush suffused over his cheeks as he smiled. The way his eyes shone under the moonlight stole her breath away, and the rough edged hunter looked like an teenage boy having a time of his life.
He murmured , "you look...so alive."
Sasuke's hand covered the side of her face and Hinata felt her heart pounding in her ears. For the first time in a long while, she made the most open-hearted smile.
Then he pulled away-lips, hands, hips, everything.
When Sasuke suddenly pulled away, Hinata whimpered at the loss and her hands reached out to pull him back. She felt like a kitten that was fed milk and cuddled suddenly being dropped to the cold floor.
"Not yet, Leuke," he sighed as he hastily pulled down his trousers, "wait-" he gently pried away her begging hands with much agony in his face, telling her he really didn't want to refuse his wife.
He took off his clothes, and his bare beauty has smitten her. His tan thighs bulged with the muscles he earned as a hunter and wild scavenger and Hinata's eyes widened and cheeks blushed as she saw his cock. His abdominal muscles that looked chiseled like a bronze statue, rippled at Hinata's blatant gaze.
Then he positioned himself between her pale thighs.
He planted his hands by both sides of her head and went into her slowly. Hinata winced, and a tear formed in her eye. She still felt greatly unprepared for the steady intrusion of his size. He was very well endowed with a huge schlong. Her hands gripped on the bed covering.
"Leuke-," he huffed, and his voice was raspy as if he was being choked. For the first time, she heard him stutter, "I-I like you..."
Then he lowered himself and placed his lips on hers. As he moved his hips, he separated his mouth from hers and inclined his sweaty forehead on hers, "I always wanted to do this to you-I always wanted to kiss you-putting my cock inside you-"
Hinata blushed like a fire was set on her face at his honesty. But instead of feeling embarrassed or indignant like some high class ladies would feel at such crassness, warmth and bliss bloomed in her chest and colors started to burst in her sight. Sasuke wanted to kiss her. Sasuke fantasized about being inside her as if she was some beautiful woman. This was the first time any man admitted such physical attraction, and it flattered her than disgust her. The most physical contact she and Sasuke held was when he held her hand in the moonflower festival. Even when he asked her to marry him, she wondered if he just thought of her as just a comfortable figure to be with and doubted if he would ever find her lovely. So she was overwhelmed and flattered to know that someone she held in such high esteem wanted to kiss her. Such honesty coming from such a stoic but lovable man melted her heart.
As he planted both hands by her hips and thrust into her, he said with a tinge of regret in his face, "I... didn't want to do this to you or say that sort of thing until you were ready."
"But..." he smothered her with another rough kiss.
When he stopped his kisses and pummeled into her, she marveled at the look of clear regret and remorse in his face. He seemed at loss himself and didn't know what to do with his actions. Thankfully, soon his thrusts didn't feel as painful as they did in the beginning. Sasuke acted on impulse and was ashamed of pulling her into his arms and moving into her in forceful thrusts, but Hinata wanted to tell him that she was fine.She wanted to stroke his tortured looking face and comfort him by saying that it was all okay. That she was perfectly willing and he had nothing to be sorry about. She suddenly felt the extreme desire to even give his cheek a gentle pinch. But she couldn't because of the onset of his powerful thrusts that pushed at her threshold of pleasure.
The onslaught of his thrusts transitioned into hard pounding that made it difficult for her hands to reach his face and her thought to make clear directions.
"Leuke-I'm sorry-" her pale eyes looked at him weakly at his confession. His hands interlaced with hers and pinned both of her hands by her side. Abruptly, she felt him thrust even deeper within her in a single stroke. Her milky eyes widened and her breath caught in her throat. He was so deep.
He was simply not strong enough; he moved in a reckless abandon, pushing himself violently into her sweet depths. The outrageously obscene sounds of wet flesh slapping against each other echoed in the air, mingling with her pants and his grunts.
Sasuke molded Hinata's breasts in his hands, and he approached one and his tongue swirled around a rosy, hardened nipple, and Hinata's back arched as she cried. Sasuke suckled on the nipple in his mouth as his hand lightly squeezed her breast. He rubbed a finger over her other nipple, causing Hinata's body to twitch and her hand rose to cover his hand that touched her breast. Sasuke flicked his tongue over her nipple as he continued to rub his finger over the other.
Then he stopped his touches on her breasts and rose to watch her face as he slid his length in and out of her, rubbing against her insides. He grabbed both of her wrists in his single hand and watched her facial expressions, puckered in discomfort and pleasure. Hianta twisted and squirmed in the movements of his hips at the overwhelming sensations. She felt her insides clamp on him, squeezing his sheath between her wet dripping walls. His brows furrowed as if he was in pain.
He grunted. Her wrists trapped in his single grip, she shook her head frantically, begging him to stop, to slow down, as she feared she would break. "Sasuke, pl-please-ah!" Her teary milky eyes glanced to the side where she placed the pretty yellow flowers he got for her.
The golden freesias that he gave her and were affectionately watered by her everyday in the morning were placed in a oblong shaped clay vase. The flowers bowed their heads as the man kept thrusting above her in heat. As Sasuke kept panting above her and impaling her, Hinata couldn't help but realize that this was the same man who got her flowers . He was on the verge of breaking her. As he impaled her again and again, she cried out as her body bobbed up and down. "Ah, Sasuke—I-" She begged him to return to the sweet Sasuke who had given her flowers.
"Just a little bit," gripping her wrists in his hand, refusing to let her go, Sasuke breathed. "Just a-" a quick intake of breath, "little bit-"
His breathing harsh and laboured, Sasuke watched her as his groin throbbed inside her and he moved faster. Hinata twisted in his grip as she bit down on her bottom lip, receiving his powerful thrusts. The wet sound of slapping flesh echoed in the air as he repeatedly slammed on her.
He groaned as her feminine warmth squeezed him, milking him to no end. Hinata twisted her legs, and her toes curled. She felt her entire body being zapped by some unknown current of energy. The sensation was overwhelming-pushing her to brink of consciousness and her mind melted in hot white euphoria. Yellow flowers and songs of festivals fluttered in her mind. Sasuke thrust in and out several more, before withdrawing from her and collapsing next to her. Semi-transparent liquid trailed across her thigh as he pulled out his now flaccid member from her.
"Leuke..." he approached closer to her. His cheek smushed against her pale damp shoulder. His low voice sounded cozy and content. Hinata let out rapid breaths out of her gaping mouth and tried to ease the pounding of her chest.
He then asked in a soft murmur as he brushed his fingers across her belly that rose and fell, a question she never expected at that moment "What is your real name?"
Hinata's eyes widened. She turned to Sasuke, hoping that he was just about to fall asleep. He had moved so much for so long, he just had to doze to sleep. A normal man with average stamina would be exhausted. But to her dismay, his dark eyes were as bright as ever, signaling that he was wide awake. Curiosity shone through his face that illuminated under the moonlight. His back straightened, and his entire being was alert and on focus. In her eyes, he looked like a big hunting dog or a wolf with glittering jet-black eyes.
That was when Hinata realized, ah, he really likes me. The realization hit her head like a lightning bolt. Sasuke didn't just say it in the heat of the moment. He really did like her. She could see it in his eyes, the way he perked up at her attention, his careful ways of showing that she had his full interest. It was as if his eyes were silently begging her to never leave and stay by his side even though she had no intentions of leaving at all. Even now when he was sweating and huffing, his eyes were absorbed in the task of figuring out her feelings and analyzing her features.
Her heart beat at the realization.
He really did like her.
She felt as if her body was being lifted in the air and soaring to the clouds.
But she told herself—forcefully dragging herself down to earth—she was probably not the kind of girl Sasuke envisioned her to be. She was dishonest, cowardly, and incompetent, just as her father and the main royal branch said. She didn't deserve such pure hearted affection from such a beautiful man.
And she was afraid of showing him a piece of her past even if there was no way for him to know that she was a priestess and a disowned daughter of the previous king.
On the other hand, she was grateful towards Sasuke, and she would do everything in her power to be a good wife to him. She agreed in her own accord and they even made a connection due to husband and wife. She really didn't have any reason to refuse him.
She gazed into his face. He really was handsome, she had to admit. Even before, his perpetual look of indifference and occasional scowl did nothing to mar his handsome features. He was exceptionally attractive, and his dark hair and light skin gave him an ethereal look. His oval shaped face tapered into a sharp chin, and his features looked as if they had been chiseled from marble. His slim eyebrows arched over his dark, smoldering eyes that looked at Hinata with quiet attention. The small firelight by the bed made a glorious golden outline of his muscled body. She hadn't seen anyone as handsome as Sasuke after Neji ni-san and certainly didn't expect to see one after she left the palace. Despite aristocrats and royalty's obsession with birth, Hinata knew that his looks could easily make any woman of social class to fall at their knees. She wondered what could have gotten into this handsome hunter's head to make her his lawfully wedded wife.
After some deliberation, she opened her lips, "Hi...Hinata." She squeezed her eyes shut. There, she said it. Her voice was small, but in the dead silence of the night, he could hear her clearly. Even as she said her name, her mind asked her doubtfully if she was making the right choice—opening up to him.
His dark eyes widened. Then his lips broadened into a breathtaking smile.
He spoke after her, "Hinata..."
Then he stood up in a second and sidled between Hinata's thighs. Hinata gasped,and with her cheeks reddened, she pulled away. Why was he hard again? Sasuke laughed for a short moment and seized her wrist and pulled her towards him with a malicious grin on his face.
the next morning
She woke up, her hair sticking out like hay.
Feeling awkward, she didn't know where to place her eyes. She suddenly thought that it would be best to wear her clothes before Sasuke wakes up. If he wakes up...
Hinata wrapped her face with her hands. She didn't have the confidence to face Sasuke. When she remembered that it was she who pushed Sasuke to bed , she felt so embarrassed she wanted to bolt out from the hut. A good, chaste wife doesn't act in such way towards her husband.
She touched her burning cheeks. Last night, the woman who writhed and moaned was far from the ideal portrait of a chaste lady. What if Sasuke sees her as a wanton woman? Suddenly, she felt restless and teetering on the edge. Hinata carefully slipped away from his arm and looked underneath the bed. She just couldn't face him naked. Even if it is difficult to wear like a proper lady, she at least shouldn't face him naked.
Then she guessed. She wasn't a proper lady. She was a common hunter's wife now. I guess ettiquettes don't matter as much. But still...
She discovered her clothes that were tangled and sprawled all over the floor. She reached out her hand in a hurry and felt nervous lest she wakes him up. She carefully placed her foot on the floor and stretched her arm towards her dress.
Then suddenly, she felt a tug on her arm.
"Where are you going?"
Hinata looked back at him in surprise and alarm. She thought Sasuke was sleeping but he was looking up at her with narrowed dark eyes, watching her suspiciously beyond his pillow. He tugged on her arm, and suddenly Hinata was yanked back to bed, lying by his side.
"Sa-Sasuke..."
"Where are you going, Hinata?"
Suddenly, the sound of the word "Hinata" on Sasuke's lips made her feel tingly. She tried to tell herself that such emotions are unwarranted. They got married but it's only because she needed him. She needed a place to hide and stay away from the imperial guards and Sasuke provided just that. She had sex with him so the marriage wouldn't be in just name only. So the fast beating of her heart in her bosom at his voice and the tingling feeling of seeing his eyes and the desire to touch his cheek were nonsense—they had no place in this. But when she saw him smile at her, each moment felt like a little treasure, and she wanted to wound her arms around his neck and pull him close, feeling the warmth and his musky scent that was so intoxicating and comforting. She kept remembering the little confession —I like you. I always wanted to—
But the doubt in her whispered—what if he decided he no longer wanted her? When the novelty wears down and he tires of her, what should she do?
Ignoring the twinge of pain in her chest, she spoke the truth,
"I-I wasn't going anywhere."
When he looked up at her, reminding her of a scowling puppy, Hinata smiled. She lifted her hand and gently touched his cheek, giving into part of her desires, "Di-did y-you think I was going somewhere?" She could do just that, right?—she asked herself. Just touch his cheek.
Without saying anything, he looked at her for a second. He grabbed her by the chin and tilted her face so he could have access to her neck. Then he carefully chewed her reddened earlobe and then pushed his tongue into the inner shell of her ear.
"I-I," Hinata blushed at the feeling of his tongue on her ear, "I-have a qu-question." Oh no, not this again—
"Go ahead," he bit on her earlobe, just enough so it didn't hurt.
"Wh-why," she forced the question out with difficulty, "di-did you-"
She felt like her face was going to combust, "de-decide t-to ma-marry me?"
Then he stopped nipping on her ear and peered into her face. His long thick raven eyelashes cast shadows over his cheek.
Hinata took several deep breaths to calm herself down. Then she looked at Sasuke expectantly, "Wh-why did you decide to marry me?"
She couldn't bring herself to look into his eyes. He was silent. She continued, "Yo-you-have far more chance to be ha-happy, being with other girls. I-I can't cook o-or bargain in the mar-market."
He bit back-in a sharper, icier tone: one he never used against her, "I already told you that I am okay with that." For the first time, Sasuke's face looked cold. His dark eyes no longer held the warmth that comforted her. He looked fierce and for the first time, angry. She could feel the wiry strength underneath his entire body that pressed against her.
Hinata started. When he saw the frightened look on Hinata's face, Sasuke stared at her seriously for a moment and sighed. The severe expression that made his features look harsh gradually diminished. He scratched the back of his mussed raven locks, a habit Hinata noticed that he had when he was frustrated or trying to search for words.
She bowed her head, "I-I'm sorry for asking." She felt like she was being a burden—again.
Sasuke frowned, "You could ask. You have every right to." He lifted her chin so she would face him, "I shouldn't have been angry. We've only known each other for a month." He amended back to his subdued timbre.
Tucking her chin up, he looked down at her, "It's because you were in my 'space.'"
Hinata's eyes widened, "Space?"
He nodded, "Kakashi once told me when I was little...you decide how close you are to a person by seeing how much 'space' you are willing to give up."
Hinata wondered. She never heard that before so she was intrigued.
Sasuke continued,
"I usually don't listen to his life or relationship advices, but strangely, that one remained in my mind." He placed his interlaced fingers underneath his head and looked at the ceiling, "The place by the stream with the white poplar trees is my favorite spot. That is where I sit down and relax."
She looked at him in surprise, "Really?" But that was where he told her he found her! How inconvenienced he must have been to see her unconscious in his favorite resting place. She was close to being a dead body, and that would certainly spoil his special spot for him. Even after she got better, he took her to the spot to wash her hands and face. She was surprised to hear that he let her in such a treasured spot.
As if he read her thoughts, he continued, "I was really surprised when I saw you like that." A pause. "And worried."
Hinata murmured, "If it wasn't for you...I might have died. You have a rare kindness in heart."
When she said that, he glanced at her, his eyes glistening with boyish mischief, "And you tried to repay me by always trying to run away."
Her milky eyes widened at his accusation.
Her face turned red like the sunset, "I-I-I"
Hinata couldn't deny it. It was true that in the beginning, whenever Sasuke left her alone to hunt outside, she would wander off in the forest, hoping to find a way to escape. At that time, she didn't trust Sasuke's kindness. She thought his kindness would soon reveal to be a ploy to sell her as a slave or turn her in to the authorities. But the frustrating part was that she always got lost in the crowded forest and had to return to his hut.
"Ho-how did you-" Her face reddened at the realization that she was caught.
"Whenever I came back, there was more dirt on your skirt and you looked like you were on the verge of crying. Of course I knew."
He added in a neutral tone that eased her mortification, "this forest is hard for even experienced scavengers to navigate. It's even been called the 'Forest of Death.'"
Then he looked down at her with a glint to his dark eyes, "I thought you might be the only person whom I don't mind sharing my house with." His dark fringe fell above his forehead as he smiled down at her, his full lips forming a subtle, "barely there" smile.
Then he sneaked his hand over to her arm, "And whenever you tried to run away..."
His long deft fingers stroked her naked belly. Hinata squirmed as she felt warmth bloom in her abdomen, "I knew I had to tie you up."
Hinata blushed at his words. Then she sensed the intense reflection of his unreadable stare.
"So, hate to disappoint you, but," he weighed her lower body down with his right leg. Hinata eeped. He—they were still naked and it was broad daylight. In her eyes, he suspiciously seemed to be drawing sadistic pleasure from tormenting her. "I don't really act out of 'kindness of heart.'" His eyes closed and he rested his face by her neck. His warm breath pressed on her collarbones. Suddenly his face that basked in relaxation looked youthful like a boy's. His dark brows weren't furrowed like before, but relaxed.
Hinata begged to differ.
"You are kind to me," she couldn't help but look at his closed eyelids and admire his long dark lashes and straight nose.
Sasuke's eyes opened and the glinting severity returned. He watched her, and she froze, entranced by his more beautiful eyes. And then he held her close, weighing her down with his body, "It's because..."
He paused for what felt like forever. Then he slowly opened his lips.
"You are the first thing I could ever call 'mine.'"
Hinata blushed as she felt his naked form draped over hers, "I-I don't understand-"
He grabbed her wrist when she tried to turn away, "I found you. I kept you alive. I have no other family." He said simply. "Kakashi is no family of mine. He made that very clear ever since I began to speak. You are my family, Hinata."
At the word, "family," Hinata felt her stomach warm up with a quaint, fuzzy feeling.
Before she met Sasuke, the only family she knew was her tyrannic father, her little sister, and her cold, perfect cousin. But she began to wonder if that was all going to change. If this man before her would be her 'family,' she might forget all her nightmares.
He glanced sharply to a side, indicating some embarrassment , "And I never wanted to just 'live' with a lover. I always wanted to give the right social position to the woman I want, if I ever find her."
Hinata nodded. That was where she was confused about Sasuke's intentions. Even though the overwhelming population of young people in Greece married through their parents' desires, a lot of them preferred to just live with their partners as lovers not as husbands and wives. It's just society of Greece did not allow that very often. So many male youths would envy Sasuke's freedom to choose any girl he wanted and stay unmarried. But Sasuke decided to take the traditional route and marry her as soon as he made up his mind. She really respected his unwavering determination, firm attitude towards life, and clear pursuit of what he wanted.
And for that, she will try to be a good wife to Sasuke. She thanked him from the bottom of her heart.
As Sasuke moved between her thighs, she touched his face, and a fleeting thought of the man with the sculpted profile and lips and long brown hair entered her conscience. Even though that man hurt her, she still wished for his happiness.
She thought, even if I might never forget Neji ni-san, I will try to be a good wife to Sasuke.
She made her last prayer, please be happy, Neji ni-san. I will find my happiness too. Maybe mine is not too far away.
In the private residence of Perseus who governed Phaistos, which is about 300 miles away from the southern border of Threspotia, where Sasuke and Hinata live.
At his lifted hand, Neji's soldiers produced torches and lit Perseus's stables on flame. Perseus's prized horses escaped the burning stables and black smoke rose to the light purple sky strewn with light pink clouds.
Mounted on his pale stallion Helios, Neji watched the burning stables with lips shut in a thin line. His brown hair blew across the light purple sky and his eyes looked like the silvery surface of the winter seas.
Seeing the conflagration, the member of the main royal family, Perseus widened his pale-white eyes in anger,
"My lord, you could not do this! This is an outrage!"
When he tried to approach the king, the imperial guards stopped his track with spears. Cornered by the guards, Perseus sweated and looked up to his ruler in anger and fear.
Neji looked down at the seething and sweating aristocrat with cold eyes, "If you didn't refuse to be searched, things would have gone easier, Perseus. "
Perseus bit his bottom lip. Despite his pride that refused to show his regret, he realized it was not a good idea to refuse the king of his same age.
Perseus was one of the main royal family that objected Neji's ascension to the throne, citing the reason that the member of the subordinate family should never inherit the crown.
However, the true reason was that Perseus's father intended to use Hinata, the main blood and first princess, as their political puppet.
But due to the premature death of Hiashi that sparked rumors of the princess's responsibility, Hinata was quickly dismissed and Neji was inaugurated as king.
Neji thought, if he can't find her, at least he will use this to instill fear and respect, another opportunity to consolidate his reign.
Neji scanned the spacious private residence of Perseus where his soldiers were searching for any trace of her.
He thought that Hinata would be hiding somewhere near the main-royal family or main-blood supporting aristocrats who tried to use her as a ploy.
He gripped his rein until his knuckles turned bone- white. But he couldn't find her. Perseus was the second to the last main family he searched.
"Still no trace?" he commanded with arrogance at his sergeant. His scowl did nothing to mar his handsome features. If anything, his haughty look of disdain elevated him to godlike glory. His pearly eyes glowed softly with the velvet sky as the background.
When the sergeant bit his bottom lip and stood as if it was his fault, Neji sighed and turned Helios around, trotting away to his next destination.
As he trotted away, he bowed his head and shadows cast over his features, Hinata sama...where are you?
His jaw clenched as his eyes rooted in the direction of his next step, where are you?
He closed his eyes. He thought of her serene gaze whenever he entered his chambers, reeking of that day's political manipulation, lies, and sometimes blood.
When he had an especially rough time in his duties, he would order his slaves to bring the priestess to his main chamber. The underlings believed him to be especially devout and needed meditation and spiritual guidance to de-stress. He did meditate on his own, but Hinata knew what she was called for.
When she would see him, she would look at him with an all-knowing gaze in her snow-white eyes that had a hint of lavender. To ignorant ones, the royal family's pale irises may all look the same, but Hinata's eyes were different. Her glance was soft like her voice, comforting like the texture of fresh cotton.
Hinata, even when betrayed and hurt and accused of patricide, she was artless and warm. Even when she hated him for what he had done to her, he preferred her touch above anyone else's.
So when he would see her, waiting for him on his white bed, he would feel his chest rise with triumph. He did it. He won against the odds-his dirty blood, her fiance whom she loved, her father, the main royal family.
The sound of the door opening would stir Hinata out of her reverie. But she would no longer scramble to her feet, bowing low before her king. She would just sit on the bed, as she learned that good behavior would not release her from her prison. She didn't have to look at Neji to know that it was him entering. The scent only kings were obligated to wear was telling enough. He would smell of myrrth while she would emanate the scent of frankincense from the temple. If he came back from war, the metallic smell of blood would signal her to alert. The crimson red against his silver armor shone like blood stained mirrors in the hall. She would look at the reflection of her crestfallen face in his armor when she removed them for him.
When he woke up from slumber, he would see her face sleeping next to his, her eyelashes matted with tears. Whenever he saw her tears, he knew that he was below human.
He arched over his horse, his hand that gripped his rein trembled and his teeth gritted. His long brown hair fell like a curtain across his face.
But now she had disappeared to god knows where. If she has taken her own life, he will burn the entire nation with her.
But not until he goes to his next destination-Threspotia.