A/N: Well, you all seemed to enjoy the last chapter. Hope it didn't offend anyone. I really only wrote it because I thought it would have been bizarre to just show Temari shuffling out of Shikamaru's tent the next morning. As for those of you who were confused by the scene- you were supposed to feel confused, because Shikamaru was horribly confused, and this story is from his point of view, after all.

Anyway, there are some more references in this chapter, but it's only a tiny bit raunchy. I figure Temari can be pretty raunchy at times, though.

Enjoy, and leave a review, if you're so inclined.

Shikamaru woke slowly the next morning, his limbs feeling limber and fluid despite his various cuts and bruises. Yawning, he stretched in the honeyed light coming through the fabric of the tent, then gave a start as he rolled onto his side and was confronted with a tangle of golden hair. Temari lay on the blankets beside him, not a stitch of clothing on.

The events of the night before came rushing back to him, and his body immediately reacted in a lustful manner. Ashamed, he stole a glance at her, relieved to find that she was still asleep. The swell of her hip and shoulder were made even softer by the diffused golden light, making her skin seem as if it glowed from within. He wondered if all women were so beautiful after being made love to. A part of him wanted to reach out and touch her, to try and establish a bond or be close to her, but his inherent wariness stopped him. He didn't want to be involved with her, if only because it would be truly troublesome. Temari was actually very interesting, and from what he knew of her as a person made him like her, sort of, but a romantic relationship with her seemed like it would be way too much work for very little reward. Besides, he was pretty sure a relationship was the opposite of what she wanted.

His body jerked as she startled him by rolling over, large, soft breasts pressed between her arm and the ground. Her blue eyes were so dark they looked almost black as she looked up at him, a slow smile on her face. "Good morning, handsome," she murmured, and he marveled at how she managed to look dangerous even lying naked on her side.

"Hi," he replied, tearing his eyes away from her chest with some difficulty. She chuckled and gave herself a soft shake, making her womanly parts jiggle slightly. He blushed and gazed resolutely at the ceiling.

"It really was your first time!" she laughed.

Shikamaru groaned and rubbed his face with both hands. "Yeah, good for you," he said, voice muffled behind his palms.

She moved over and pressed herself against him again, rolling onto her stomach and supporting herself with her elbows. One of her hands lazily moved across his skin, a soft smile on her face. If he wasn't mistaken, she almost looked tender. "It was a lot of fun," she said quietly. "More fun than I've had in a long time."

He sighed and folded his arms behind his head, thinking how attractive her disheveled hair looked. "Good, so long that's all that it was."

"Fun?"

"Yeah. Don't tell me you expect more than that?"

She scowled for a moment. "And if I did?"

The corners of his mouth curled upward. "But you don't."

Her scowl faded and was replaced by a grin. "Dammit, you're too smart for your own good."

He tentatively reached for her and cupped her jaw, rubbing his thumb across her cheek. Her skin was slightly rough, as if it had been shaped by the sandy winds of her home as much as by genetics. "That's what they tell me," he whispered.

She sighed and rolled onto her side, throwing her thigh over his once more. His body shivered slightly under her touch, and, to his chagrin, began to get excited. "Oh my," she purred, eyelids lowering as she smiled.

It took all the willpower Shikamaru had to think of something besides sex. Thoughts raced through his brain until finally one stuck. It was so clear in his mind's eye that it brought him up short, pain rippling through his chest. The image was of Ino, looking up at him in the streetlight. He wanted her, he thought suddenly, then scowled. What a pain- Temari was offering him uncomplicated sex, and all he could think of was the woman he couldn't have.

Temari sighed. "Damn, you're too good at this. Good self-control. I admire that. Don't make me want more from you than I do already," she said softly.

Although her tone was sarcastic, he suddenly knew her to be telling the truth. "Yeah, I'm not like the other boys. That's why you got first crack at me." He smiled as she laughed. "And I think we understand one another. I'm your boyfriend, but you're not my girlfriend. Just physical."

She nodded against his shoulder. "Until I say it's over, don't take another girl out to dinner, okay?"

Shikamaru sighed, his arm threaded beneath Temari's head with his broad hand on her shoulder. This was going to be troublesome. "Not even a friend?"

Temari's eyebrows drew together sharply. "Not even a friend."

He heard the unspoken words that let him know that she considered him hers. Well, at least he had a good reason not to pursue Ino now, rather than simple lack of self-confidence. "Fine, fine," he muttered.

She didn't hug him, just sat up and fixed her hair before sliding back into her clothes. "So I'm going to come see you next weekend. I'll have some time off," she announced, lacing up her shuriken pouch.

Shikamaru sat bolt upright, blood draining from his face. "Uh, that's not a good weekend," he stammered.

Temari raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And why not?"

"It's just not."

Her eyes narrowed. "What's happening that weekend?"

His brain raced for an excuse, wondering what he could possibly say that she would believe. Somehow he didn't think that washing his hair would be a good excuse. Scenes from an imaginary future flashed through his mind, all of them indicating that having Temari there would be a disaster. By the way she was looking at him, though, not telling her the truth might cause a larger disaster.

"It's my friend's wedding," he grumbled, painfully aware that he had lost the struggle.

Her eyes lit up as she tied her belt and pulled on her shorts. "The kid we got the bowl for?"

"That's the one," he sighed.

"Oh, I'll be there! It's on Saturday?"

"Yeah."

A grin spread across her face, and this time there was no hint of evil in the expression. "I'll show up Friday night, then. This'll be fun."

Shikamaru felt like a man condemned to death. He just knew Temari would cause a scene, even though Chouji had told him he could bring someone. "I'm standing up for the groom, so you'd have to sit alone during the ceremony."

"Fine by me," she said, throwing open the tent flap, leaving him to scramble to cover himself. "I'm sure there's some other handsome fellow to sit with."

He was annoyed twofold as she slid out of the tent. Firstly, it was troublesome that she found him handsome. He knew he wasn't much to look at. Secondly, it bothered him that she was going to find some other fellow to sit with. He knew that she would live her life however she pleased, and that was fine with him, but it would have been nice to know somebody preferred him, at least. That feeling was even more troublesome than the first two. Sighing, he dressed himself and straightened up the tent, slipping outside and packing his things, including the tent.

Hinata had already cooked breakfast, and as he watched Temari devour the porridge, he realized that Gaara, Kankuro, and Hinata had already eaten. A glance at the sky told him that it was getting close to midmorning. He scowled and walked over to where the three sat in front of the hut, playing some sort of card game. They stopped as he approached and Kankuro picked up the cards. "We figured we'd let you two sleep in," he said without a hint of a smile.

"Great," Shikamaru growled. "Thanks a lot." He walked past them towards the food, trying to catch Hinata's eye, but she just blushed and looked at the ground. Dishing up some porridge, he plopped down next to Temari and started to eat.

He was halfway through the bowl when Temari chuckled to herself. A slow smile spread across her face as she put her hand on his thigh. He blushed but tried to ignore her, instead stuffing another spoonful of food into his mouth. "You know," she said, a little too loudly for his pleasure, "You're pretty well-hung."

A fit of violent coughing seized him, his lungs struggling as he vainly tried to keep porridge from coming out his nose. Wheezing issued forth from him, and he groped around for his canteen. Temari chuckled and stood, giving him a brief pat on the head, then swaggered over to her brothers. Shikamaru's face alternated between white and purple, and finally he settled for mortified instead of humiliated. Kankuro grimaced at him while Hinata, face red, got up and ran several feet away, where she sat on her heels, her back facing them. Gaara gave his sister a dirty look and stood up. "Once we've cleaned up, we will leave here," the boy announced.

Kankuro nodded, also standing. "We'll take the couple to where they're supposed to go. You guys go home."

Shikamaru looked up at them, scratching his head. "Yeah, okay, our mission's complete, anyway," he muttered. "Thanks for your help, guys."

"Oh, I think it worked out fine," Kankuro sighed, eyes on his sister, who seemed in very good spirits. "Our trip home will be a lot more pleasant."

Shikamaru squinted at Hinata. "Good for you."

Kankuro slapped him on the shoulder and Shikamaru stood, looking down into the other man's face. "You don't know how long she's been wanting to do that. She's talked more about you than any other guy."

"I take it she does this to guys a lot."

Kankuro looked slightly uncomfortable, shifting from one foot to another. "Well, yeah. We've become used to it."

"Well, hope the other guys treat her right."

"They mostly just beg her to come back to them. She hates sissies."

"Well, I don't beg," Shikamaru said. "Thanks guys," he directed to all of them, for Gaara and Hinata had finished up the packing.

"See you next weekend!" Temari cried with a wave, the girlfriend of their target slung over her shoulder.

Shikamaru watched Hinata glance at him briefly before looking away. "Uh, yeah. Later," he replied, and followed Hinata as they struck out for home.