His flight grounds in the middle of the morning. By the afternoon, Itachi wearily pulls into his driveway, exhausted from every aspect of air travel. A cursory glance of his surroundings indicates that he may be home alone. Which is just fine in his opinion. No people mean no pleasantries. He can get to more meaningful things like having a much-needed hot shower. Itachi's suitcase rolls behind him. His workbag dangles precariously from his shoulder as he huffs his way towards the house and then the stairs that lead to his bedroom.

Except the sound of a shower stops him in midstep. Itachi squints his eyes, staring quizzically at the upstairs hallway. No cars are outside, so why. Itachi adjusts his work bag strap, flexing his fingers across the warm leather while trying to come up with a plausible explanation as to why a stranger may be in his house.

He can't phantom Sasuke would leave the water running like that. His brother is not the irresponsible sort in that sense. Naruto seldom comes alone. Burglary seems a far-fetched idea. But some woman obsessed with his brother could have broken in for some estranged reason. Or, perhaps he thinks this is more likely to be one of two people.

The redhead. He grips the strap with uneasiness, a sharp frown on his lips and a groan in his throat. It's far too early for this. Itachi would rather not have to play nice and get any more acquainted with Sasuke's affairs. Or Sakura.

Images of the last time showers and Sakura were in the same sentence come to mind. It's been a long week of work and a long week of no tantalizing teasing from one pink-headed future doctor slash indiscriminate flirt. Itachi's had time to think about what he wants to do but not much to definitely decide on what to do. He deduces they should first establish baseline boundaries, then move on the same page. Because the things he likes may not be what she wants. Even though Sakura has been the most…forthright thus far, his reservations serve to protect both of them. Itachi would rather know ahead of time if she finds his way of doing things a bit much. There is little point in starting something that has no hope of continuing.

If it is Sakura (Itachi frankly wishes it is for multiple reasons), now may be a suitable time to converse.

I should shower first.

The Uchiha proceeds where he left off, walking upstairs with a passing glance at the guestroom. The door hangs slightly ajar. Itachi's step falters for a fraction of a second.

Perhaps...

He shakes his head free of impatient thoughts, carrying his things to the bedroom at the end of the hall. He drops his bags in a heap of exhaustion and needs. Itachi lays his phone and wallet on the dress, then eases out of his clothes while walking to the ensuite.

There's stress in his back that the jetstream of hot water washes away. Itachi tilts his head back to feel the beads of water massage his scale. The water also removes the stale air smell of the cabin pressure, which is more an atmosphere than an actual scent. Itachi brushes water back from his face, grounding himself at the moment.

He has the day off. No need to go into the office. But Itachi considers if he's in the mood to run errands for himself or take a nap.

Undecided, he settles on unpacking first. Turning off the water, Itachi dries himself and then covers in a towel to go to the bedroom.

On the dresser, Itachi intercepts the message from Sasuke informing him that Sakura may still be there. Well. He figured that answer that question, responding with a curt "okay" anyway. It also steers his action for the day. Neither nap nor running errands this time but a conversation.

Then maybe a nap.

Abandoning the suitcase altogether, Itachi dresses in sweatpants and a plain black shirt. While his hair is still slightly damp, he lets it hang free to dry. Itachi opens the door to see if his guest is done cleaning herself. The answer is yes, as Sakura steps into the hallway at the same moment. He knows it's her by the glimpse of pink hair hanging free. Thank God for him seeing her face first before taking in the pair of very toned, strong-looking, slim, and shaved legs exposed in short but rather loose-fitting tie-dyed shorts. Otherwise, it would be difficult to explain his shameless staring.

Itachi isn't sure if her shirt is short or her shorts ride low on her hips. Either way, it has the same effect of revealing just a trace of skin. Sakura's not wearing a bra, again. Itachi is less surprised by that and more by the glossy pink color on her slightly parted lips. Sakura stands there, hand on the guest bedroom door looking a bit startled and rosy and, dare he say, cute.

She also breaks the tension first, stepping further into the hall to close the door.

"Hi," she says as casually as she would on any other day. "How was your trip?"

Itachi accepts this as a promising sign, shutting the door to his room. An even better indication is Sakura's eye glancing up at the door and the rosiness in her cheeks deepening a little before she looks away.

Hm.

He motions for her to take the lead on the stairs. She does, tucking pink hair behind her ear.

"Sasuke told you I was away?" Itachi replies just as casually, appreciating the view of her descent.

Sakura nods then rounds the corner after taking the last step. Itachi thinks she may be going to the living room. But her strides were slow enough for him to be at her side. He takes the hint, directing their way to his preferred destination.

Sakura sits on one of the barstools at the kitchen island while Itachi gathers ingredients for tea. Although the situation is quite different from the last time they were in the kitchen together, Itachi recalls the conversation and how both of them completely bypassed it. Boundaries? He crossed those and thus needs to create new, more realistic ones. Sakura observes him from her seat, perhaps waiting for him to say something about that other day or why he's been keeping her at a distance. Or possibly to answer her original question about his trip.

Itachi goes for the latter while filling an electric kettle with water.

"My trip was busy," he recounts and adds tea to the wire-meshed infuser."I had two clients, which is unusual for such a trip."

Sakura hums with interest, putting an elbow on the counter and supporting her chin in her palm.

"Sounds stressful."

"In many ways, yes. In others, it was convenient. I only needed to make one trip this month instead of two."

"I didn't know therapists traveled."

Itachi turns off the kettle once the water starts boiling, Grabbing two cups and butterfly pea tea. He steeps tea leaves and then lays the infuser on a small saucer to avoid spillage. Which, in his opinion, would have been disastrous. The counter is gray granite, and the butterfly pea tea is a vibrant blue.

He takes both cups to the island, easing one over to Sakura before joining her in the next seat. Now that he's on the other side, Itachi notices that one leg crosses over the other, giving tempting glimpses up her tiny shorts. Sakura doesn't adjust either, merely holding the mug in two hands and turning slightly to face him.

If she's not doing this on purpose, it feels like she is. Or maybe he's gotten into a weird habit of reading into every detail of Sakura's actions. A thought that almost makes him roll his eyes as he sits down.

"Most don't. I am a different type of therapist that works with a specific clientele." Itachi smoothly changes the subject of his work to something closer to what he wants to talk about. "I didn't think you would be here. Your car isn't outside."

"Oh, yeah." Sakura rolls her eyes in disgust, sitting her cup down with a huff. "It's in the shop for the next two days. I've been crashing here to make it easier on Sasuke being my ride everywhere."

"Did it stop again?"

Sakura gestures vaguely with her hands. "Yeah. Then Sasuke got it started enough for me to go to the body shop. The guy said I needed a new battery that they would have to order for me. But it might take some time because of the holidays. I had to choose between leaving the car at the shop or risk it stopping again."

"You chose to leave it." Itachi supplies.

Sakura's shoulders sag as she again rests her chin on her palm. "I mean, yeah. It sucks. But it's not that long. And Sasuke's chill about being my escort."

Itachi probably wouldn't describe Sasuke's recent behavior as chill and wonders if perhaps his brother scaled back his adventures since Sakura was around.

"You are okay being here for an extended time with Sasuke?"

Sakura's face distorts slightly, staring inquisitively at him. "In what way?"

He doesn't feel it's his place to divulge his brother's business. However, he doesn't strictly want to drop the topic. Being careful not to mention the redhead specifically, Itachi goes about it as vaguely but directly as possible.

"Sasuke often has guests," he tells her, waiting to see her reaction.

Initially, Sakura appears confused, squinting her eyes in concentration. A second later, she looks at him and then blurts out.

"You mean the women he has sex with?"

Ah, well, yes, that exactly. Itachi nods.

Sakura snorts. "I don't care what Sasuke does in his room with whoever he does it with."

Itachi huffs casually. "I am more curious about outside of his room."

She nearly chokes on-air, half laughing, half coughing. "He's been switching up locations? Well..."

Sakura lets out a pretty little whistle, bobbing her leg in the process. Then a thought occurs to her that wrinkles her nose. "I hope not on the sofa, though. I have to sleep on that thing."

She turns to him for confirmation, which Itachi deliberately ignores. He made sure to have cleaners come before leaving for his trip.

"I wasn't referring to that," Itachi corrects. "Moreso considering the reaction guest might have to an unexpected female in the house."

"Unexpected female?" A moment of ire flashes across her face. "As in…?"

He lazily gestures at her attire. "They may get the wrong idea."

Sakura follows his hands down to her clothes. "Are you talking about me?"

"Who else would I be talking about?"

"No. I mean, are you talking about me. About the way, I dress when I'm here?"

Itachi raises a dubious brow and his cup of tea, not even attempting to dignify her question with an answer. This is the second time in recent weeks he's seen her braless. He's not complaining for reasons. Sasuke doesn't seem to notice for his own reasons as well. But the women might and may not understand the dynamics they have here.

Sakura is just Sakura.

Perhaps because she is who she is, Itachi should have accounted for unexpected reactions. But it still takes him by surprise, leaving tingles all up his spine when she nudges his thigh with her foot. Itachi instantly sits up and then looks down at the sensation of toes gliding across his sweatpants.

By all accounts, Itachi is not a reactive person. Then again, he's also rarely caught off-guard. Sakura notices and grins triumphantly at him.

"Itachi," it's false sweetness laced over obvious sarcasm that has him clenching fingers around his teacup. "I never knew you cared so much about my appearance."

He tries to ignore her at first, half-heartedly brushing her foot away from him.

"That is not what I said."

"That's what it sounded like you said." she counters and, despite his initial effort, pushes her foot against his thigh again. "Am I wrong?"

Itachi sighs, closing his eyes before moving her foot again. "Assumptions are almost always wrong."

Sakura switches tactics, sliding her foot up towards his inner thigh. At which point, Itachi seizes her by the fucking ankle to keep a hold on what little proprieties remain. He frowns and squeezes, trying to push her leg back. But Sakura just digs her heels, chuckling and grinning like this is the most hilarious thing. If Itachi were less than himself, the sound in his mind would have come out of his mouth. He shuts it down, and her for that matter.

"Stop," Itachi orders, but Sakura only laughs more.

"I was joking! I didn't think you'd be that concerned about my body."

Itachi blinks, slightly taken back by her bold assertion that he is overly concerned with her body. Interested perhaps but not overly concerned.

"I never said that either."

"You may not have said it, but the fact you haven't let go says otherwise Look at you, so stiff now over a joke."

She bends her knee and then plants her foot flat, wiggling her toes.

He snorts and grazes his nails against the edge of her calf as a warning."Concern and interest are not the same."

Sakura completely misses it.

"Hmm? You're interested in my body?" Sakura asks. "Well…"

Annoyance raises that only show as a twitch in his brow.

He's not sure what she's playing, but Sakura's already blown past his first level of patience. So Itachi bypasses her foolishness. Without another warning, he pulls. Sakura squeaks, grabbing the island to keep from falling off.

"Itachi!"

"Sakura," he mocks her tone, raising a brow while getting to his feet."What? Did you think only you could be a reckless tease?"

Sakura opens her mouth, cheeks tinting red at his words. But it's not enough to wipe the frown off his face or set things back in order. The way he likes.

Sakura at least has the mind to look startled when he grabs the back of her knee, twisting her around so her back presses against the counter. The movement leaves her gripping at his shoulders. A moment of satisfaction for sure. Itachi is almost appeased by those wide green eyes staring at him, finally realizing that perhaps she's gone too far.

He is almost appeased but not quite. Not yet.

Sakura opens her mouth, but Itachi shuts her up by pulling her knee towards his hip.

"Let me guess, now. You thought you could get away with doing what you always do?" Itachi accuses.

Sakura laughs nervously when he wraps that leg around his waist. "What do I do?"

"Flirt," Itachi says frankly and uses his newfound freedom to cage her in between his hands.

Sakura shrinks a little when he leans closer, squeaking and grabbing his shoulders tighter. "I don't…!"

"You do," Itachi firmly corrects, "Carelessly. You get what you want out of it, then play innocent. You lead men around on some ridiculous goose chase when your intentions are only to tease."

"But I wasn–" Sakura tries, but he cuts her off again.

"I wasn't doing anything. Is that what you're going to stay?" Itachi grunts. She shivers when he calls her bluff. "You have some audacity, Sakura."

Her mouth twists into a frown, then she smacks her teeth and tries to wiggle away. Itachi uses his body weight to press her back down. When she glares, he grins in response.

"What's the matter, Sakura? Are you so worked up from a joke? I am not doing anything."

Something about how her eyes heighten his senses and remind him that he misses this. Itachi doesn't know that he does until Sakura's trying to struggle away, only to give up seconds later and try something else. She brings her other leg around his waist. Instead of trying to get free, she goes back to her flirtation actions. Hands slide up and over his shoulders.

"The audacity?" Sakura questions softly, getting a fist full of his hair in her hands while inching her face closer to his.

Itachi flexes his jaw, distracted by the glossy pink of lips as they tilt upward in a grin.

"You heard what I said," he warns.

She hums in consideration.

"I heard your little rant," She uses him as leverage to push off the seat a little, eyes low, seductive, daring. Beautiful. Itachi squeezes the counter when her lips graze his as she talks. "But who's between whose legs right now?"

She has a point. He gives her that much.

Itachi has enough motivation to make his point clearer. In case she misunderstands the reasons he enjoys her games. Their lips already barely touch. It wouldn't take much to complete the action. Sakura seems poised for a kiss. Itachi holds her gaze as he inches closer, daring her to move. She doesn't, nor does she so much as blink when their lips meet. In fact, Itachi is very sure her fingers tangle themselves more in his hair.

It's a kiss that's not really a kiss but a show of will. Both of their eyes stay open. An unspoken rule forms between them. Whoever closes their eyes first loses whatever game this is. Itachi has no intention of giving in. Sakura doesn't seem to want to lose either. So they stare at each other, glaring really, sliding lips, bumping noses, kissing that feels a lot more like fighting. The reward of winning is so much better because there's a power play. Because Sakura is too damn good with keeping up. Neither of them so much as blinked.

But winning is the goal. And Itachi does intend to win this one. He takes advantage of loopholes, breaking up their mostly tamed kiss by sliding his tongue over her bottom. Sakura's eyes instantly flutter a little. Good girl.

Itachi doesn't hide his triumphant smirk at Sakura's disappointed little huff. She breaks away with an adorable pout. Stubborn thing. Itachi thinks of at least rewarding her for her efforts. Plus, no one should look so put out by something meant for both to enjoy.

"Come here," he whispers.

Although they are close, Sakura gets even closer. Thighs wrap tight above his hips. Itachi takes the opportunity to touch. Smooth skin under his hands, he spreads his fingers across her thighs, sliding up to just barely under those shorts. She wraps her arms around his neck. Itachi circles an arm around her lower back. Sakura arches. He bounces off the stool and up to his waist.

They pick up where they left off with a much more determined Sakura, who kisses him with more flair and clearer objectives.

There are no games here. Itachi wants to taste and touch and reaches a hand under her shirt. Sakura drags her nails against his scalp. Itachi responds with a trail of fingers up her back.

She gasps. He grins.

Sakura rolls her hips against the bulge in his pants. Itachi groans deep in his throat and repays the favor by brushing against that small bundle of nerves between her legs. The moan that escapes from her lips has Itachi doing it again. And again. And again. Until it's less kissing and more grinding with breathless sighs. He has to change his grip to keep up, sliding fingers against her skin and further up those loose-fitting shorts to grab her ass. Sakura squeezes his shoulders and he squeezes back. When her head tilts back a little, Itachi grazes his teeth against her chin and tastes his way down her neck.

If they keep going like this, he'd be no better than Sasuke using the sofa for sexual rendezvous. While that's not the worse idea in the world. The counter is right there. Walls are all around him too.

Itachi isn't against any of those options. But he rather not put Sakura in an uncomfortable position the first time around. So Itachi pulls back, taking in Sakura's dazed expression and swearing under his breath at how much he wants this woman. He wants her in every fucking way possible.

Itachi takes her jaw in his hands, brushing his thumb over her thoroughly kissed bottom lip.

"Go upstairs."

Itachi's command is as soft as the eyelashes fluttering against Sakura's cheeks.

"To your room?" she asks.

"Yes."

Sakura licks her lips and his thumb in the same motion. Itachi's cock twitches at the return of spark in her eyes.

"That's all?"

A teasing question that gets the wheels turning in his head. Itachi lets her have that one to have his way with her later.

"Take off everything," he instructs, "Wait for me on the bed."

He takes a step back for her to get to her feet. Sakura rearranges her now crumpled-up clothes. Itachi watches her walk out of the kitchen. He waits until she's out of sight, then grabs their half-finished tea. Thankfully nothing spilled, but Itachi does feel somewhat displeased about wasting such an expensive tea.

What can he say? Itachi has preferences. He would have liked to finish his drink. Just like he would have preferred to have a conversation with Sakura first.

But he can buy more tea. Conversations can't translate as well as actions.

Itachi can handle the consequences of his choices over his preferences. He washes and dries the cups, then turns off the lights, knowing his brother won't be home for hours. On his way upstairs, the light from his bedroom seeps into the hall, catching his attention well before he rounds the corner. A tiny smirk quirks his lips as he is very sure his lights were off before. Meaning a certain someone is eager to be seen.

Good girl.

A/N: Good girl.

-CeCe^^