A/N: Alright! Let's jump right in! After these messages…This chapter was a real rollercoaster for me a lot of emotions in this one. As the title says there's a lot of vulnerability exposed, but I won't keep you wondering. On with the chapter!
Unguarded
In the days following the news of the heir to the Uchiha thones betrothal to the reclusive, but respectable daughter of Hyuuga Hiashi, business was booming. Operators and casual spectators alike seeing it as a sign of the end of strife. The end all be all of corporate unity, and an omen of good times to come. Sasuke and his team had their hands full with journalistic and speculative inquiries as to the pivot in strategy. The young executive was notorious for his ruthless take no prisoners way of business, more likely to gut a faltering stock on a whim than see that they prosper under his guidance. Though the sudden sense of cooperation didn't sit well with everyone.
Some saw it as an ill omen rather. The lean titans of industry forming an alliance with a well respected former competitor all pointed to collusion. Blatant corruption under the guise of civil union. The formation of a massive monopoly too big and wealthy to be toppled. The sentiment was noted but never acknowledged, and understandable so. They were right after all.
Fear of changing of the old guard abound, board members hunkering down at the slightest inclination they may be replaced with more agreeable associates. Whispers of revolt and corporate espionage followed suit, but these were the days Sasuke lived for. Secluded in his office for hours on end, keeping a watchful eye on the machinations around him, and the money profiteers and corporate raiders alike foresaw in their future, should they pick the right side that is.
Unfortunately this came at a price as well. Despite not truly being a married man yet, he was failing in his matrimonial obligations, if you believed the tabloids. The more business centric gossip columns claimed Hinata was little more than a pretty face with the right last name. They hounded the both of them relentlessly, camping outside his office as well as their respective domiciles. On more than one occasion he had to personally make several calls threatening the livelihoods of those publications to quell the tsunami. But those more tenacious and with less to lose refused to let an eye-catching story die. Capturing a handful of photos of him leaving her apartment in the middle of the night, claiming their late night rendezvous' were nothing but booty calls.
That was where Tayuya came in. She could handle persistent nuisances in ways that wouldn't link him or the firm to anything uncouth like using Suigetsu or lawyers would. She'd only just started, but had already shown the worth of her "expertise" in spades. Assuming he gave her what she wanted of course. Trivial things like a CFO planning to meet his mistress or an editors discreet appointment at a den of ill repute. Innocuous things to him, but not to one who dealt in blackmail. It put money in her pocket and kept her happy. Everything and everyone had their role.
A knock came at his door forcing him to peer up from a lucrative prospectus and invite the interloper in with a curt inclination of his head.
"Sasuke-kun? Your two o'clock is here."
"Hm. Send them in." Sasuke rose to his feet and straightened his shirt, slipping into his blazer as he waited for his guests. They were new money back by old money, typically he'd have no interest, but they had the right connections.
In walked three suits, a wizened older woman and an older man, neither of which he believed belonged, but he had to play the gracious host. He was more focused on the man with red hair and dark circles beneath his teal eyes they flanked. He had a youthful look to him though he was no mere neophyte in this business. His father had been a renowned development mogul before his untimely death, and now his son was running the show.
"Thank you for taking the time to meet with me." Sasuke greeted, his voice just barely edging towards cordial as he bowed. "Please, take a seat."
"Such manners." mused the elderly woman, graciously taking her seat along with her companions.
"His father taught him as much it would seem." chimed her older companion as he too settled in.
"My associates, Chiyo-san, Ebizo-san. But lets get to it. We're both busy men, yourself more so now than ever." the youngsters voice held an air of boredom to it that Sasuke didn't take too kindly to.
"We have our good days just like everyone else, Gaara." retorted the somewhat slighted man, dropping the formalities as per his guests request.
"Of course. But enough small talk. You feel there's room for a partnership between us. What's the pitch?"
Sasuke stared the man across from him down, he realized he hadn't blinked since he walked in. His eyes boring into his own like a deep-sea oil drill. But Sasuke had seen all sorts of tactics, his were no different from the rest.
"I hadn't prepared one. Figured I'd save the time given the news surrounding my firm—"
"Your father's firm." He corrected nonchalantly.
"A formality. You know as well as I do, changes are coming. You'd do well to not miss your chance."
"So, it's consultation you're offering. We have our own in house analysts."
"I'm offering capital. Equity for the coming boom."
"I'm listening."
Sasuke had no need to stifle his smirk, he had enticed him enough. "New blood is cropping up every day. They all need places to operate, if they were wise they'd seek like-minded individuals to facilitate their needs. Your firm has the reputation, and a new face. You'll need capital to accommodate the needs of the expanding market. Simple enough."
Gaara nodded for good measure, taking his word as truth, but not without knowing there was a catch of some sort. "How can you be so sure they'll seek me out?"
"Because, they'll seek me out. They'll mimic my actions, on a smaller scale of course. But they'll follow the money."
"And you want me to do the same."
"Name your price."
"Your father never taught you that loyalty was not bought, it would seem."
"But I can, and will, buy your business."
Gaara took a moment to digest the bold approach the Uchiha had taken. He was living up to his name sure enough, but had he earned the right to dictate terms simply because he was the flavor of the month? "Thirty percent return on all investments. Quarterly audits, with two year option on contractual release "
"I take it your interest has been piqued then." Sasuke mused, tapping his finger against the desk as he ran the plausibility of his offer before mounting his rebuttal. "Twenty percent ROI. You can have the audits and options. As a show of good faith, I'd like to invest in all future projects, a ten percent stake and preferential pick of office spaces, should I decide to expand as well."
"Generous offer, Sasuke-san."
"Please, Sasuke is fine Chiyo-san. We're about to enter a partnership, no?" this was the comment that finally caused the crimson haired executive to emote. The frown that formed was priceless.
"So the rumors are true." droned the young CEO, feigning disinterest. "Uchiha Sasuke has abandoned his corporate raider days. Seeking harmonious partnerships instead."
"I see no reason to upset a market heavily favoring my own investments. Or those of my clients." he was acting apprehensive for show. The offer was more than generous, and the injection of new tangible capital would draw in the old guard still hell-bent on keeping dated commodities like steel and real estate as main stays of their portfolios. It was a win-win, and those were rare in this line of work. How could there be a winner without a few losers after all?
"Your terms are acceptable. But I'd like to discuss more finer points." Gaara rose to his feet suddenly, his elderly associates slowly following suit. "How does dinner suit you?"
"It suits me just fine. Unfortunately, I have plans with my fiancée this evening." Sasuke rose to his feet as well. He was lying however. In truth he had no concrete plans with Hinata, granted he had floated the idea of a casual meal at her home a few days prior. He just hated commiserating with potential clients outside the office, he preferred to let his results speak for themselves, not idle blather over cocktails.
"Hinata is welcome, naturally." he assured casually as he opened the door to leave, but not before noticing how the Uchihas ears perked up at his familiar referral to his future wife. "It's been some time since I've seen her. I'd enjoy catching up. I'll send your assistant the details."
Sasuke could feel his stomach begin to roil at his tone. He knew Gaara had connections, but he didn't know of any such connection to the Hyuuga's business. Naturally his inquisitive mind wandered to any and all possibilities. Though he made no facial indication of his apprehension, only nodding, "I'll see if I can convince her to forgo our humble evening in."
With a curt nod the crimson haired man and his associates were gone, leaving a sour taste in his mouth despite the amicable business dealings. They had been silent all the way to the elevator, carefully watching the analysts and traders milling about the bullpen.
"Do you think it was wise to bring Hiashi's daughter into this?" questioned the gray haired woman staring up at the impassive face of her would be ward.
"They're already in bed with the man in more ways than one. Consider this due diligence." He responded as they made their descent.
"Due diligence? How do you figure?" inquired the elder male, not so sold on his rather vague explanation, "He met our price with little to no resistance."
"That's what concerns me." Gaara spoke making good time as they exited to the lobby floor, a dozen or so photographers and journalists camped just outside the floor to ceiling glass windows of the atrium. He wasted no time pushing past their questions and into his waiting car. "All of this is nothing but a smoke show. The Uchihas…their tactics may have always been brazen, but never once we're they so accepting of the publicity."
"You think they're hiding something underneath the bluster?" Chiyo pondered momentarily, doing her best to disseminate the young man's logic.
"That's what I intend to find out." he responded flatly as they pulled away from the commotion.
Sasuke paced around his office, his mind unable to rationalize the relationship between Gaara and Hinata. Childish thoughts of jealousy seeping through the logical barriers he had erected through years of discipline. If he was going to attend this dinner he needed a clear mind, and sharp weaponry, he needed to arm himself with as much mental ammunition as possible. Anxiously he checked his watch, Hinata would be free of her pedagogical responsibilities soon.
"Karin." he called loud enough for his assistant to hear and come rushing forth.
"Yes Sasuke-kun?"
"I'm leaving to handle something. Send me Gaaras details when you get them." quickly he grabbed his thing a made his way past the bespectacled woman without another, but judging from her sullen pout she must have surmised he was off to see Hinata. She still hadn't fully come to accept the betrothal even after more than a week.
He could make the drive with his eyes closed if he so desired, though that was ill advised. By the time he reached the campus it was bustling with students and faculty staff on their mid day breaks. When he bounded out of his car and leaned against the passenger side door, the crowd stopped and gawked, their heads swiveling to and fro in search of his purpose for gracing them with his presence. Hinata must have sensed the eyes already on her when she showed, walking rather briskly with her head down. He watched as she maneuvered through the quad, her cream peacoat and pastel purple scarf fluttering in the wind. Before she even reached him, Sasuke opened her door and waited knowing full well she wanted out of there as fast as possible.
"Hinata." He greeted stoically, smirking playfully when she returned a small pout. She hated when he showed up unannounced like this, creating a spectacle for all to see.
"Sasuke-kun." she returned softly before slipping into the sports car. Quickly he shut the door behind her, shooting the gawkers a glare before returning to the vehicle himself. He wasted no time pulling of and away from the onlookers to put some distance between themselves and the anxiety of being such a public spectacle.
"Where to?" he asked nonchalantly.
"Ano…the grocery store." Sasuke shot her a questioning glance, to which she smiled softly, a light blush on her cheeks, "I-I thought maybe w-we'd have dinner tonight. Together."
The dark haired executive pursed his lips in thought, but not because he hadn't shared the evening their "mutual" friend had proposed, but because she seemed genuinely enthused by the idea of spending her evening with him. She'd quickly grown more comfortable in his presence, even going so far has to being able to look I'm straight in the face with nary a blush as she was now.
"Sasuke-kun? Is everything alright?" she asked softly, leaning forward in her seat to get a better look at his driving face. Pensive as always, but even more so now. He was even driving slightly slower than usual, not that she minded at all.
"Yes." he lied plainly, feeling a small tightness in his chest forming. He wasn't one for lying about innocuous things, but for some reason he wasn't too keen on seeing her face drop when he told her that her presence was requested for a business dinner of all things. Their situation was putting enough strain on their precarious relationship and private lives already. He didn't want to be part of the problem as well. "I've just got a lot on my mind. Work and all."
She let a small "oh" escape in understanding, knowing it wasn't her place to inquire any further. Sasuke had become somewhat more forthcoming, by his standards at least, but work was still largely off limits for him.
"Are they still bothering you?" he asked as he pulled into the supermarket parking lot.
"No…not so much anymore." she replied as they exited his vehicle and made their way into the store, grabbing a hand basket before embarking on their culinary journey. "You didn't have anything to do with that, did you?"
"A little." he responded with a sky smirk.
"You didn't have to. I-I could handle them myself." The heiress boasted half-heartedly as she inspected some fresh produce. "Besides, it's only going to start again…Mikoto-san has already started planning our…"
Of course. His mother was a meticulous planner, no doubt she had some elaborate ceremony in the works. But he wasn't so concerned with that, more so how she shied away from mentioning the impending wedding. She had gotten use to referring to him as her fiancé, the logical next step would be to get use to calling him her husband. Sasuke had already mentally prepared himself for the time when he'd call her his wife. As odd as it was, the simple four letter word calmed him. Among other things.
He watched as she knelt to inspect the ripeness of some tomatoes, quickly noting the vast emptiness of the supermarket. Gingerly he placed his hand on the small of her back causing her to jolt into an upright position and face him, "Hinata."
"Y-yes Sasuke-kun?" she piped in surprise, only being met by a sharkish smirk that made her lips part. She could feel his fingers flex against her waist, drawing her closer, only the tomato keeping them apart.
"Kiss me."
The heiress blinked at him several times before the words registered, her face suddenly matching the tomato she gripped tightly in her hand. "H-huh?"
"Kiss me." He repeated, this time with an encouraging tug urging her to act before they weren't quite so alone. Sasuke watched as her lips parted and quivered, one hand resting on his sturdy bicep, the other now piercing the flesh of the fruit in her hand. Her eyes darted from side to side before standing on her toes and planting a kiss on his waiting lips. They stayed together for sometime, Hinata still being a novice in almost all forms of affection, couldn't be sure how long it should last, or how intense it should be. Though when he returned it with more fervor than herself she couldn't help but pull back.
"Your tomatoes ruined." he commented nonchalantly, his smirk still plastered as she tried catching her breath and reorganize her slightly frazzled mind.
Hinata looked down at her hand and noticed that she'd almost squeezed the fruit into a pulp, the juices now running through her fingers. Hurriedly she did her best to rid herself of the liquids, "Oh no."
"If it's any consolation, you're getting better" the sly comment was flippant on the outside, but he was taking immense joy in watching her already crimson face turn almost purple.
"D-don't tease me!" she exclaimed with fists clenched and pout on display.
"I mean it." he responded, turning his back momentarily to retrieve a replacement tomato before dropping several in the basket. When she stared incredulously at his actions and words he shoved his hands in his pocket and looked away, "I like them."
Hinata vaguely remembered Sakura mentioning something in passing about Sasuke's particular tastes, and when she interrogated him under the pretense of making them a meal he had always been so cagey. "W-what else do you like?"
Though her hopes of getting more out of him were dashed when he merely shrugged. Seeing now that she'd get nowhere if she didn't quiz him on his tastes, she squared her shoulders and grabbed his arm and began dragging him to the best of her abilities through every aisle. It wasn't long until she had a basket full of goods the likes of which he had either no interest in or food stuffs she insisted he try to "expand his palate"
"It's a lot for one meal, Hinata." He lamented as the cashier check item after item.
"Well…if I k-knew what you liked I could have got less." she defended, her eyes lighting up as she watched each product slide by on the conveyor belt, her mind running a mile a minute with thoughts of what she might do with it all.
Despite his initial protest he offered little to no more, even after paying and carrying the goods to the car. He still had to break the news to her after all.
"What exactly are you planning?" Sasuke was intrigued by the sheer glee she seemed to have as they made their way to her home, apparently she was an avid cooker.
She rattled off several dishes that she had in mind, some of them leaving even him dumbfounded as to exactly what they entailed. Though ultimately what she truly had in mind amounted to, "It's a surprise."
"Can't say I'm a fan of surprises." Hinata could sense something was amiss. First his somewhat overt show of affection, granted they had been taking baby steps in that department. A hand hold here, a kind word there, the occasional kiss in private. But all of those were done in just that, private. For him to even consider doing something so brazen where they could be seen was as odd as it was new for the both of them.
Secondly, he seemed to be brooding more so than usual. But as he said many times, it was because of work. That was something she could understand completely. Her exams were right around the corner and even she was guilty of being in her own head when they were together at times. But now, whatever it was seems to be looming over him. "Sasuke-kun? Is something wrong?"
The dark eyed man pursed his lips, not knowing if his fiancée's intuition and inquisitive nature was to be blessing or a curse. In either case she was right. When they pulled up to her flat he was thankful to find no paparazzi present. He didn't need to be on the cover of some domesticated husband magazine because some two-bit hack with a camera caught him carrying groceries into her apartment. "About dinner…"
"Please don't worry about it so much. I-if anything, I can make the tomatoes any way you like." She didn't know it, but she was making this much harder than it should have been.
"It's not that, Hinata." He said, his tone enough to stop her from continuing in her removal of their purchase from their bags. But now she was staring at him with those doe eyes. But he couldn't lead her on anymore. "A new client of mine invited me to dinner tonight. Invited us."
"B-both of us? she inquired, the notion that her plans may have been all for nothing not quite sinking in yet. "But why?"
"Your guess is as good as mine. He seems to be familiar with you." Sasuke found it particularly hard to bite out the latter sentence, being far from comfortable with regards to not knowing the connection between the two. "Does the name Gaara mean anything to you?"
"Gaara…" Sasuke watched as her mind flipped through the catalogue in search of the name, not that he thought she'd withhold anything if it was anything innocuous. "I knew a Gaara. A long time ago, at least ten years. Our fathers introduced us."
"He seems intent on seeing you again." he retorted perhaps a bit harshly judging from the way she flinched. But his mind was telling him something wasn't adding up. Two wealthy father's facilitating a meeting between their offspring was never innocuous, their current situation being a prime example of such machinations. "Is there something I should know?"
Hinata couldn't believe her ears. Was Sasuke accusing her—of all people, of some sort of impropriety? Of lying to his face? She was so dumbfounded by the accusation that she couldn't even be properly upset about it. "Ano…W-what are you asking Sasuke-kun"
"Is therel something I should know about the two of you?" he reiterated, his tone causing her to recoil again as he took a step towards her.
"N-nol! W-we were just kids! It was nothing like—!"
"Like us?" he cut in, eyes narrowing when she stiffened her back at his approach. "His late father and Hiashi were business partners once. Now he shows an interest in my firm? I don't deal in coincidences. You and your father are at the heart of whatever he's planning."
"R-Rasa-san passed? I had no idea…I haven't s-spoken to Gaara pin years. There's no way I could have…My father n-never…" she searched for any explanation she could, his hard gaze suddenly making her feel small and like a liability, it held all the coldness her father's eyes did, "Sa-sauke-kun, you have to believe me…Don't—don't you trust me?"
His lips parted to express how he felt about her honest defense, but the words caught in his throat as she clutched the fabric of her coat at the collar tightly, her ring catching his eye. He had been too hasty in his assessment, and frightened her in the process. He took a step back and ran a hand through his hair to gather his thoughts, and apology. It was never her loyalty he questioned, it was those around her with machinations of their own. Those devious, or greedy enough to use whatever leverage they could against him, including her. "Hinata, it isn't you…it's the nature of this business. I can't assume the best of people. I can't afford that."
"Gaara-kun is—was a good person. He wouldn't…"
"I still can't be sure." They stood there in silence, seeming at odds on their core beliefs, neither wiling to budge. He could sense that she was harboring her own frustration at his accusations and non-apology apology. She had a kind heart and forgiving soul, but this distrust could linger in her mind. Festering and growing into an innate habit like it had for him. "If there's anyone I can trust...it's you Hinata. I was wrong to assume otherwise. Sorry."
Hinata watched as he glanced at her from the corner of his eye before returning to the floor. His body language, although sparse, indicated genuine regret, maybe even shame. And his words held the same sincerity he deigned to show her and only her. We're she a more spiteful person she would be well within her rights to let him brood a bit longer, but that wasn't her.
"I forgive you Sasuke-kun." she whispered, though it may as well have been a shout in the prevailing quiet. She approached slowly, resting a hand on his shoulder and finally drawing his full attention. "J-just…be more understanding, okay?"
He nodded slowly, taking in the sheer level of patience and maturity she had for his antics. As much as he disagreed with her somewhat naïve nature, she balanced his own dour pragmatism. When he wrapped his arm around her and drew her close to his body, he didn't even know why. "I suppose this means you'll join me then?"
"I-if you want, Sasuke-kun." she responded shakily, a light blush rushing to her cheeks at their closeness.
"I hate these things." he seethed, taking a brief mental note of how her body melded to his own, even through her winter coat. "Your home cooking will have to wait. But I'll make it up to you."
"You don't have…" it wasn't until he caught the gleam in his dark eyes that she understood his intentions. His face leaning closer to hers until his evergreen scent engulfed her and their noses touched, "Oh…"
Hinata followed his lead as she attempted to learn from his masterful ministrations. From each meeting of their lips, tender and calculated, to the way he cradled her neck and held her upright when her knees grew weak. She mimicked what she could, wrapping her arms around his neck as he drew her deeper into their kiss. For a moment she lost herself in the sensations, only coming down from the high when she felt vibrations coming from his pocket forcing them to break apart.
"What is it Karin?" he bit out, clearly quite upset at the interruption.
"S-sorry for the call Sasuke-kun! Gaara-san sent me the details for your dinner this evening. I-I can cancel if you'd like."
Sasuke peered over his shoulder at the slightly hyperventilating Hyuuga, blushing lightly with half lidded eyes. For a brief moment he considered declining the invite to dinner, if only to spend another solitary moment with her pressed against his body. "I'll be there. And Hinata will be joining me."
"Oh…of course." That remark alone must have broken her heart even further. "I'll inform Gaara-san, and text you the details."
Sasuke wasted little time hanging up, retuning his attentions back to his fiancée. When she started to remove her outerwear his excited mind couldn't help but run wild with what else hid below the next layer. Though that notion was dashed from his mind once she stood before him with as innocent a smile as she could muster.
"S-so, where are we going?"
Sasuke shrugged nonchalantly in response. He'd been to every upscale restaurant within the area at least two dozen times for business dinners, and none of them were ever palatable to him. Pretentious, overpriced, but a good way to test the limits of your quarry. "Your friend ha good taste. L'Effervesence is decent. If you like sweets I suppose."
When her face lit up he had to restrain an exasperated sigh. No doubt Gaara would entice her with their full dessert menu tasting. He had prepared himself for a long night, but not in the presence of this man, much less when he was trying to court his business, if only for the optics. He wanted Hinata, and only her.
"It sounds fancy. Should I…" her face flushed when he nodded in affirmation at her unspoken question. This was happening for real. A business dinner with her fiancé. All of the pressures she remembered from being a young woman accompanying her father on such outings flooded back to her mind. All of the unpleasantness of preparing, and the following awkwardness of feeling like a fixture, a brief talking point. Sasuke would expect no less—perhaps even more.
Sensing the sudden onset of tension, he grabbed her hand carefully and locked eyes with her, "You trust me, don't you?"
"Y-yes." she answered meekly, not fully sure of herself, until he drew her into his arms again. The sudden contact transferring his own confidence to her as if through some new form of osmosis. "Of course."
"Guess you better get ready then. Our host wants us there at seven." Hinata gasped as he spun them around and nudged her towards her bedroom. When she peered back at him with concern in her eyes he smirked knowingly, "I'm sure whatever you pick to wear will be fine, Hinata."
And so she went about the daunting task of picking an appropriate outfit. It wasn't that she had an exorbitant amount of clothing, just that much of it she hadn't worn in some time. She didn't have much need for fancy dresses once Hanabi dethroned her as her father's dinner date. Staring at the small selection of dresses she deemed fit for such an occasion, Hinata quickly concluded that she'd never come to a consensus herself. The heiress peeked outside her bedroom in search of a second opinion, only to find her apartment empty.
"S-Sasuke-kun?" she called, receiving nothing in response. Upon further inspection, she figured he left to change as well. Taking the opportunity being alone presented her, she decided that maybe a hot shower would help her decide which dress to wear, and to decide upon which Sasuke would like the most.
The thought of their passionate kiss running through her mind as her hands traced the path his hands had taken across her neck and waist through the heat of the shower. He had invaded her mind, hijacked her body, and rewired her very desires the minute he pressed his lips to hers that night at Ichiraku. And every time after that kiss he drew her deeper under his spell…and all she wanted was to see where it would take her, but she couldn't dwell on it any longer or else she risked attending dinner with pruned fingers and rosy colored skin. Hastily she draped a towel around her torso and over her head a she left the steamy bathroom.
Unbeknownst to her however, she was not alone. She glimpsed a figure from the corner of her eye in the living and instinctually released a frightened shriek. It was Sasuke standing there, obsidian dress shirt slid over one arm, his toned upper body exposed and an equally horrified look on his face at the sudden sound. Though her fear quickly wore off once she fully internalized the sight before her, a thick blush rising at the sight of her fiancé's body. It was immaculate, toned arms with lean definition and pristine skin, save for the mysterious scar on his side.
Sasuke himself was guilty of doing the same. His eyes drawn from her neck to her delicate shoulders, down the glistening curve of the tops of her breasts, the way the towel clung to her hourglass figure. All he wished for was that she would drop her towel and modesty with one decisive move. Dinner be damned.
Of course, Hinata was far too bashful to reach a similar desire, choosing rather to quickly scurry off and hide in the sanctuary of her room. Her heart was beating madly as she pressed her back to the door, and not solely from the spectacle of his body. The look in his eyes…it promised her an answer to their mutual burning desire for one another. And it frightened her.
"Hinata…I-I'm sorry. I had no idea."
"N-no i-it's my fault. I-I-I thought you had left a-and…"
"I didn't—I didn't see…" Sasuke could feel the heat on his own cheeks as he babbled like a teenager seeing his first woman. He wasn't truly embarrassed, but he did feel guilty for ogling her in such a way. He couldn't help himself. "I'll go. Give you some privacy."
"W-wait!" she called through the door, stopping him in his tracks before moving to leave in earnest. He could hear the sounds of panicked shuffling of clothes, until there was nothing bus silence, save for a few soft feminine grunts. "C-come in."
Sasukes heart was beating out of his chest as he reached for the doorknob. He had no way of knowing what was waiting for him on the other side, but he did his best to repress the more lewd possibilities that came to mind. His lips parted at the sight of her, lengthy hair still tousled and damp, face as red as a Macintosh apple with fists balled tightly and back stiff as a board, her body adorned in a pure white dress with peplum fringe along the single shoulder down to her waist.
"I-is it g-good enough?" she asked meekly as he continued to stare. He was hard enough to read as is.
Sasukes could hear her question for what it was, and for what she was really asking. Was she good enough? She questioned herself just as the papers did, if not more so. Was she fashionable enough to be seen with him in public, draped on his arm for all to see? Was she, the most unassuming, inconsequential Hyuuga worthy in his eyes of his adoration? She'd done all she could to open up to him despite his own caginess, and she wanted—needed his affirmation. As he stepped closer he couldn't help but wonder how a creature a divine as her had escaped his eye for as long as she had. The answer didn't matter however, not before, and not now as he raised her chin to look him in the eye. "It's beautiful. So are you."
"It's not too r-r-revealing? Too l-l-lewd?" she whispered again, sensing a sudden ease wash over her at his touch. Somehow the dark and chaotic energy of the man had such an effect on her. His presence alone was intoxicating.
Again her question echoed her own insecurities about her body. Sasuke couldn't help but smirk at it. You'd think that such a silly notion would have gone out the window with how he reacted to catching a glimpse of her body. Nevermind the interest he'd shown in her body as a whole. But it wasn't his judging of her she was necessarily concerned about, it was others.
"You can't concern yourself with those that stare and whisper. Their opinions don't matter. When it comes to this…" his arm snaked around her waist and pulled her close, causing her to release a mix between a gasp and subtle moan. She shuddered under his touch as he slowly zipped up her dress, never breaking eye contact. "My opinion is all that should matter."
He had a point. Or so she believed. Whether it be because of the way he held her or the dominant way he assured her that allayed her anxieties. He had already given her his trust in more ways than one, what more could she need to stand by his side with all the confidence and poise he saw she was capable of?
She hardened her gaze and nodded in affirmation, assuring him she could, and would be the woman he trusted above all others. When he leaned in to seal her unspoken promise with a kiss, she had to restrain herself and him with a firm hand on his chest. "We'll be late, Sasuke-kun."
He let loose a rare chuckle and released her from his hold, "Of course." He gave her one last look over his shoulder before disappearing through her door. She had little work to do perfecting her beauty, and he had his own work to do making sure that beauty was not his alone to take in. Carefully sliding into his blazer, he retrieved his cellphone and dialed.
"Good evening Sasuke-kun. How may I be of assistance?"
"I need you to call a few members of the press. Let them know where Hinata and I will be tonight."
"S-sure, I can do that. But why?"
"I could do with a bit of a show tonight." Despite the nonchalant delivery of his answer, he had more practical motivations. Gaara believed something was amiss, otherwise he'd never have invited him to dinner under the guise of due diligence. He wanted reassurance that he wasn't going be a part of some elaborate farce and get the short end of the stick. Truth be told, if Sasuke had his way Gaara would get just that one way or another.
"Hai, Sasuke-kun. I'll make the calls."
"Thank you, Karin." Before she could express her elation at his surprising gratitude, he hung up. Sasuke performed his finishing touches on his attire, adjusting his pricy timepiece and smoothing out his shirt before Hinata emerged.
She'd perfected her look with a simple application of makeup and throwing her lustrous hair in a semi messy bun. For one so hesitant and self-conscious, she was a natural when it came to dressing the part. Her jewelry was sparse but effective, her engagement ring outshining the simple pearl earrings she wore. She sauntered towards him with cream colored heels in hand, seemingly in a hurry judging by the way she made a B-line for her forgotten peacoat.
Carefully he helped her into the wool coat, "You look lovely, Hinata."
"Arigato. Y-you look very handsome as well Sasuke-kun." She returned, suppressing a shiver as his hands brushed the bare skin of her neck.
He stepped around her and offered his arm to her with a smirk, "Let's go meet our adoring public. And Gaara."
The sarcasm laced comment was not lost on Hinata, in fact it was appreciated. The situation seemed deathly serious to her, Sasukes livelihood was on the line after all. But to hear him not take it a such lightened the load somewhat, as if he hadn't a care in the world. Must have been nice, she supposed.
They donned their footwear and left the apartment, Hinata released a gasp at the sudden flash of a camera. It would seem Karin had worked faster than expected. But Hinata put on a brave face through the handful of questions from the two or three paparazzi they received on their short walk to his car. Sasuke wasted no time peeling off with a screech of his tires, might as well put on a show if they were to be a spectacle.
Once they arrived there was much more fanfare. At least a dozen intrepid photographers awaited them, along with a small throng of people clamoring for a glimpse of Tokyo's hottest couple. You'd think they'd have something better to do on a Tuesday. They exchanged knowing looks at one another in the calm of the vehicle as they pulled up to the valet, silently assuring each other that they'd survive the evening. That silence was broken by the sound of Hinata's stomach rumbling. The uncharacteristic sound took them both by surprise, Hinata breaking out in a blush bright enough to be seen in the dark, and Sasuke filling the void with a deep chuckle.
"At the very least we'll get a good meal out of Gaara." he joked flatly, hoping it would make her feel more at ease about her body's demand. Hinata's blush subsided slightly, but perhaps that was a good thing. Blushing bride and all. And that's exactly what she appeared to be as Sasuke escorted her from the car and through the spectators. They looked to be polar opposites, her angelic and otherworldly in her white ensemble, and he clad in dark materials that seemed to absorb all light around it, all except hers.
"Sasuke! Hinata! When's the wedding?"
"Will you be taking Uchiha as your last name Hinata?"
"Hinata! Has your father given you any latitude in the business now that you're marrying the competition? Has your sister ceded some control of the operations to you?
Sasuke had heard enough, "We're here to enjoy dinner. Not idle business gossip." He retorted tightening his arm around his fiancée as they crossed the vestibule into the lavish restaurant.
"Bienvenue. Welcome to L'Effervesence Uchiha-san, Hyuuga-san. Allow me to take your coat. Your party is waiting for you at the table. Please, follow me." greeted the attractive hostess with a bow before ushering them through the restaurant to a more private table near the kitchen. Their host sat there, effectively staring into space, until their arrival. He rose slowly, the beginnings of a thin smile on his face as he walked towards his guests.
"Hinata, it's been too long." He bowed before taking her hand in his and pulling her into a hug, "You're just as beautiful as I remember."
"T-thank you Gaara-kun. It's nice to see you again." Gaara looked much the same to her, albeit a much taller version. He always was a soft-spoken boy with a thousand-yard stare that rivaled her own families. Though his appearance wasn't a concern of hers. She could feel Sasukes gaze on them from her side as an uneasy feeling crept across her skin.
"We should thank Sasuke for this meeting." Finally, the eyes turned to the brooding Uchiha in the room.
"I've been called a number of things in my day, "matchmaker" has never been one of them." His voice was even as he fought back ripping Gaara's arms off his body if only to see he never touched her in such a way again. But the thought was as fleeting as it was drastic, "But we can discuss those names later. My fiancée and I are famished."
Hinata couldn't help but take notice of his words, surely Gaara had as well. She was well versed in the semiotics involved in these meetings. Everything had a meaning; one meant, one
hidden, and one unknown. The way he so flippantly threw around naming her as his fiancée reignited thoughts of their earlier disagreement. Even Uchiha Sasuke had his insecurities, if only when it came to her.
"If that's the case, we should order quickly. These French eateries are notorious for long wait times. Please." The redhead gestured towards their seats before returning to his own. "I apologize if this dinner spoiled any of your plans this evening, Hinata. Sasuke told me you planned a dinner for the two of you."
"N-no apology needed Gaara-kun." She settled into the cloudlike cushions of her seat and turned her attentions to the stoic man at her side, searching for some response that would lessen the stiffness of his jaw, his own edginess rubbing off on her, "Sasuke-kun and I can have dinner together anytime. This seemed m-more important to us."
Sasuke quirked an eye at her measured response. She never ceased to amaze him. For someone who lacked experience in the world of business she spoke tactfully as if it were as natural as breathing. Perhaps it was Hiashi's doing, etiquette lessons and all, perhaps it was something she'd learned in her studies.
"Of course." Agreed the redhead as the waiter approached with menus and a speech about their seasonal specials.
"Can I interest you in something to drink from our wine cellar or bar?" she asked politely.
"I don't drink. Tea will be fine." Responded Gaara. Sasukes jaw clenched once again. There was nothing worse than a sober host at a business dinner. The implications set off alarms for him. Holier than thou clients never lasted long with a firm that played it as fast and loose like his. But he wouldn't let it stop him from making the best of a poor situation.
"Whiskey, neat. Hibiki 21 if you have it." Responded the Uchiha studying the other man's impassive face for any notion of judgement.
"And for the lady?"
Now Hinata began to panic. Whenever she attended these things with her father she refrained from drinking, not that she was much of one to begin with. But now she was experiencing a newfound sense of freedom. Surely Sasuke wouldn't mind if she had a drink to take the edge off. And even if he did, so what? She was her own woman, somewhat.
"Ano…maybe the sommeliers choice sake?"
"Excellent selection, Madame. I'll be back momentarily to take your orders."
"I see some things have changed. Never took you for a much of a drinker." commented Gaara, barely a hint of actual surprise.
"Well I-I can't say that I am…I just figured—"
"We're here to discuss business," chimed Sasuke, turning the attention back to himself. "A celebratory drink isn't unheard of to start it off."
"Celebratory?" questioned Gaara, finally emoting as he narrowed his eyes in confusion. "What is it we're celebrating exactly?"
"A number of things." He responded flatly as a different waiter returned with their beverages rather quickly. Sasuke took the heavy bottomed crystal glass in his hand and swirled it about idly, "This meeting of minds, your reunion with my fiancée, our new partnership. Are they not worthy of celebration?"
Both guests at the table studied his face and words, neither giving any clear cut indication of whether he meant what he said, or if there was something else hidden in his words.
"You're right, I suppose." finally spoke Gaara taking his piping hot drink in hand and sipping lightly, "Though you assume too much. We've no partnership yet."
"No, not yet." He admitted with a smirk before inhaling the smoke and oak scent of his drink. He turned craned his head in Hinata's direction, "But the night's still young."
"Ai. So, let's get the unpleasantness of business out of the way so we can enjoy our meal," declared the teal eyed man. Though that didn't happen quite soon as he'd wanted, as the waitress arrived to take their orders. Neither Gaara or Sasuke had much interest in the food, both desiring to achieve what they came here for, ultimately deciding upon the twelve-course meal to spare themselves and Hinata the agony of studying the menu at length.
Hinata watched and listened from the sidelines as the two sparred over whatever REIT's and KPI's were, casually sipping her sake. It was crisp and fruity, complimenting the seemingly endless supply of food that found its way to their table. The men were so wrapped in their talks that she began to feel like a bit of a glutton for indulging in the likes of snow crab consummé and chef special turnips that melted in her mouth alone. At one point during the evening she had to corral Sasuke into tasting some of the food himself. Even going as far as to feed it to him herself! If he was mortified by the intimate display in front of a potential client, he didn't show it.
"It's refreshing to see the gossip surrounding your…relationship is nothing more than baseless." If Sasuke didn't know any better he'd take the comment as a compliment. Even if it was somewhat underhanded.
Hinata could feel the fine hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Sasuke was about to say or do something that may spoil their otherwise amicable evening.
"People will talk n-naturally, Gaara-kun." she began carefully setting down her sake saucer, turning to Sasuke and placing her hand on his. "But we can't concern ourselves with that. We're happy together, and that's all that matters."
Sasuke returned the gesture almost on instinct, his thumb stroking the polished platinum of her ring as he took in her words. Even if they were merely just for show, they reached into his core and pulled feelings he long since labeled unnecessary to the surface. This was more than simple trust or some token of common appreciation.
"It certainly seems so. I wish you the best in your marriage." Gaara raised his cup of tea and his companions followed with their respective drinks, "May prosperity, happiness, and love follow you in all your endeavors."
Love. It was a word he'd dashed aside a long time ago, and had never considered its application to Hinata. He liked her substantially more than he did most people, and cared for her a great deal more as well, but given the precarious nature of their relationship it was unwise to associate it with such a heavy four letter word. His father had taught him long ago that personal relationships were dangerous. They led themselves to ambiguities, misunderstandings and conflicts, and always failed. Formal, more professional relationships on the other hand, were as clear as spring water. Rules carved in stone. No risk of being misunderstood or offending. No risk of failure.
But he was wrong. He was wrong about her. He feared at the beginning that she would be a liability, used by others to hurt him where they couldn't, to tear him down from the inside out. But they couldn't. The unassuming Hyuuga had already shown that she would do no harm, in fact doing what she could to protect him from the powers that be, even her own father if necessary. To keep him honest and feel like a human worthy of more than complex financial deals. To make him feel worthy of love.
It was a hard pill to swallow, not even the aged whiskey he gulped down eased its travel. What did you do when you realized your significant other loved you before she even had? But maybe he was ahead of himself. She was an anomaly even to him, he hadn't deciphered her or even scratched the surface of her pristine porcelain skin yet. He couldn't be sure of her feelings anymore than he was of his own.
"To us." cheered Hinata with a smile that only made his self reflection more complicated. Her cheeks lightly flushed from her imbibing.
"To us." he returned, snapping from his dreamlike state momentarily to return the gesture. "And to our host. May fortune follow you wherever your travels take you."
"I think I'm right where I need to be, Sasuke. Tokyo, where my interests lie and my friends reside." he proclaimed as the waitress returned with their final course, a delightfully playful take on a fast food apple pie with a side of matcha green tea ice cream and sakura blossom cherry syrup. Hinata's eyes lit up at sight, silently turning to Sasuke as if asking for permission to dig into the dish. "I believe we will be seeing more of each other in the near future."
"Hn. I'll drink to that." agreed the Uchiha with a smirk. He'd accomplished what he wanted to, and so much more. Gaara could trust the business well enough, but he needed reassuring that he could trust the man running it. That was largely Hinata's accomplishment, that and sating her innate lust for intricate sweets. He even indulged in a bite of the crust and filling himself, if only to satisfy his fiancée. Unfortunately, the sweet dish may as well have been like biting into a lemon, rind and all to his taste buds. Though he kept a straight face for her sake, all the while his stomach roiling at the intruder.
They lingered for a little while longer, the tensions of business long forgotten, giving way to more amenable conversations. Hinata and Gaara reminisced about their first meeting in Shizuoka at an equestrian club near Mount Fuji. Their fathers discussing business while they learned to ride, sharing a laugh at how Gaara's mount tried to throw him off the second he got on, while her mare was the epitome of obedience. It turned out she was quite the natural. The thought of her atop a majestic steed, face glistening with sweat as she broke into a gallop, her lustrous black-blue hair waving free in the wind, the muscles in her thighs contracting and relaxing with each of the beast's strides as she fought for control. It all brought less than acceptable thoughts to mind, at least ones best saved for a bedroom and not a dinner table.
Thankfully the waitress returned with the check and Sasuke now had an excuse to finally depart. The two males returned to posturing over who would pay for the meal, Sasuke insisting he pay as a sign of goodwill for their newborn partnership. Eventually Gaara capitulated, seeing no reason to squabble over a few hundred thousand yen when they had all but sealed a deal that could easily earn them hundreds of millions.
"Thank you for indulging me this evening. It's been some time since I enjoyed such lively company." The party made their way to the empty streets where his car and driver waited. "We should do it again sometime. Or an invitation to your wedding will do."
"Yes, of course Gaara-kun! We'd be honored to have you." exclaimed the Hyuuga, needing to lean on Sasuke to steady herself. It seemed as if she had drunk a bit too much, though Sasuke didn't seem to mind, he was quite keen on holding her close to his own body. Hinata waved goodbye as he drove away, leaving the two of them alone. "Thank you for the evening, Sasuke-kun. It was lovely."
"Hn. The pleasure was all mine." He returned, effortlessly spinning her around to his front and wrapping both arms around her waist, "But, it's late. I should get you home."
She smiled and giggled, burying her nose in his shirt and inhaling deeply with a sigh, "Home…"
His vehicle soon arrived, and Sasuke wasted no time helping her into the passenger seat before joining her. He revved the engine several times, the low rumble sending shivers up her spine. "Are you okay to drive?"
"No need to worry, Hinata." he assured before peeling off, producing enough force to send her deep into the plush leather of her seat. He smirked as she released a small "eep" of surprise. "Though, maybe you'd like to help?"
"H-help? How?" she questioned, spying his grin widen through the darkness.
"Put your hand on mine" he gestured to the shifter with a subtle tilt of his head. She was hesitant at first, testing the waters with a tentative touch before covering his hand with her own smaller one. "Now push."
She followed his command accordingly, receiving a roar of approval as they accelerated further. The satisfaction she gained from the simple action elicited more primal urgings, a physical desire she'd never felt before. As he rounded a corner and decelerated she obeyed his words to pull it down, the manual manipulation making her breathing quicken as she shifted up and down again through the streets.
"You're a natural." he cooed, the cool calmness of his voice adding to her newfound pleasure. She had to bite her lip to stifle any sound other than her thanks from escaping. What was he doing to her? "But tonight's lesson has come to an end."
As they pulled up to her flat and parked, Sasuke turned to look her full in the face somewhat surprised by the sight. She looked half feral, even as she tucked stray strands of hair behind her ear and attempted to steady her breathing. He half expected her to pounce on him any second now, not that he would have minded. He had wanted to get her home the minute they left her apartment. He already sealed one deal tonight, but the Hyuuga heiress was a much tougher customer than Gaara.
Though he suppressed the thought of indulging in such a thing, if only momentarily as he escorted her to her door. She fumbled with her keys, silently cursing to herself before successfully jamming the key in its hole. Nearly stumbling through the vestibule if not for Sasuke steadying her from behind.
"I don't remember inviting you in, Sasuke-kun." she giggled, haphazardly kicking out her painful heels with a sigh of relief.
"Oh?" he returned jamming his hands in his pockets and craning his head down to her, "You'd like me to leave then?"
She was getting bold. Be it from the alcohol, or some power trip from co-piloting his vehicle. In either case, he liked it.
"No, I want you..."she trailed off as she stared deep into his bottomless pools, finding traces of his own desires hidden in their depths. Without warning, or forethought, she grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him so close their breaths mingled. "I want you."
Her lips came crashing down on his with such force, the air was nearly knocked out of him. The pillowy painted lips of the usually subdued seductress drew him deeper, as her suddenly forceful hands pulled him into her lair. Though she lacked the coordination to drag her prey very far, tripping on a leg of her coffee table sending them tumbling to her couch.
Now he had gained the upper hand, using their position to gain greater access to her lips. He took in each crease, crevice, and curve of them as she surrendered to his more experienced ministrations.
Their dance of lips was no less enjoyable than it was earlier that day, but everything about his touch held and air of urgency to it. The faint taste of his whiskey invading her mouth when a moan escaped, smoke and honey clouding her mind further, replacing rational thoughts with the biological need for carnal satisfaction.
Hinata clawed for purchase, seeking flesh rather than fabric, her frustration growing when he easily rid her of her peacoat when he momentarily abandoned her lips for her neck, showering it in kisses and nips. She groaned as his heated touch raised goosebumps all along the skin of her arm before cupping the underside of her breast, "Sasuke-kun…"
His ears perked up at the slight slur of her moan, prompting him to cease his actions and look her full in the face. He regarded her rosy cheeks, chest heaving, and eyes glassy. She was beautiful in every way, but this wasn't her, not the true Hinata. She may have wanted this to some extent, but he could see she couldn't be sure. "Hinata…"
He watched her hand shakily grabbed the fabric of her single shoulder and began sliding it down her arm, stopping just shy of exposing her bra when he grasped her hand. "You don't have to. We don't have to."
Her lips parted at the softness of his words, shifting beneath him causing him to inhale sharply. Her face reddening further when she looked down and realized how closely intertwined they were, his clothed hardness pressed against her thigh. "B-but I—y-you want to…"
God how he wanted nothing more than to take her. Exploring every inch and taste her divine body offered as she moaned, crying out for absolution. Crying out for him and only him as the only man she ever knew or would know so intimately. Sasuke shut his eyes and shook his head to dispel the thoughts. Every cell in his body screamed for him oblige their desires for flesh and indulge her newfound sexual appetite. But he couldn't
"You don't need to do that to show me how you feel." His words hung in the air of the silent apartment for some time, slowly sinking into her pores. For years women had thrown themselves at him in an attempt to capture his heart, if only for a fleeting moment. He couldn't—wouldn't let her be thrown in the same category with all of the meaningless women from his past. He wouldn't allow himself to be driven by base needs when she was so much more. He needed her to know that sex was a cheap imitation for a real connection, he had learned that the hard way. "You've nothing to prove to me."
Hinata was filled with a mix of emotions in the wake of the waning alcohol. Feelings of shame for acting so wanton, feelings of inadequacy at his refusal to act on her advances, but the silver lining was her budding feelings of love for him. He saw fit to not take advantage of her sexual overtures while still assuring her of his attraction. He protected her from herself when she was most vulnerable, even if she truly wanted to know what it was like to feel him in the most intimate way possible. But he was right. It was cheap, she had never put much stock in sex before, and it would only make what they had feel as cheap as the tabloids claimed their relationship was.
Sasuke moved from atop her, surprised when she followed him into a seated position. Sasuke opened his mouth to protest but quickly found it covered by her slender fingers. She stared at him with those piercing white gaze that was her family's signature, trying to pierce the veil of his mind and heart. She had never known anything like what she was feeling, it was exciting and frightening at the same time. But, she had never known a man like him.
The heiress's hand trailed to his cheek as she leaned close enough to rest her head against his. Her lengthy hair shrouded them in a world of darkness, her eyes the only source of light in their refuge. "Sasuke-kun…I t-think…"
"Hinata, you don't—"
"I love you."
You could hear a pin drop in the silence that followed, any quieter and you'd hear Sasuke's heart drop. She confirmed his fear in the most sincere way possible. As if turning down her sexual advances wasn't hard enough. It would break his own heart to lie to her face when she needed him most, and it would crush her to be denied again.
"D-don't say anything, Sasuke-kun." she could see his mind was reeling at the emotional bombshell she had just dropped on him, hers was as well. They words just flew out of her mouth with little thought for what would follow. She knew he had a tumultuous relationship with that certain four letter word, Sakura had alluded to as much. "Just…stay with me. For a few minutes longer."
"Of course, Hinata. As long as you need." He returned, covering her hand with his own. It was a token gesture, but the only one he could offer, and it killed him. She smiled all the same, grateful to just have him present. She rested her head in his lap, the fatigue of the evening slowly settling in. Before she could fully fall asleep, Sasuke led her to the bedroom. He hesitated briefly as they stood in the dark, his hands resting lightly on her shoulders from behind, unsure if offering to undress her would be too untoward and elicit the nights earlier desires.
"It's okay, Sasuke-kun." she whispered in the darkness, moving her hair to be he side so he could unzip her dress. Slowly he pulled the zipper down, guiding the dresses painfully slow descent over each of her curves with his hand until it lay at her feet. Even with the only light coming from the street lights filtered through her shades he could still make out the flawlessness of her body.
"Beautiful." His voice was a wisp in her ear as he wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his head in the crook of her neck, the smell of lavender and vanilla filling his senses. "My wife…"
Hinata's heart leaped into her throat at the heart baritone of his voice, her hand instinctually moving to cup the side of his face. She released a sigh and closed her eyes, wishing to remember this feeling forever. "My husband…"
"Someday soon, hm?
"Yeah..."
Sasuke drove aimlessly through the city in the dead of night, still trying to wrap his mind around the night's events. Before leaving her curled her sheets he watched her sleep, and again from the inside of his car as he stared blankly at her bedroom window. His fiancée loved him, and he was having a difficult time with that knowledge. For the man who had everything, he lacked the most basic understanding of human emotions. Her trust in him had evolved in a way he never anticipated, at least not so quickly. He always imagined she just tolerated his touches, seeing them as nothing more than a necessary evil. She was playing her role and nothing more. That was all they were supposed to do. But now…
He pressed heavily on the gas and hoped the engine would carry him to a resolution of some sort. Though, such was not the case. He found himself pulling into his condo parking garage, clearly his body and mind subconsciously more focused on sleep. As he grabbed his things and moved to leave the sounds of vibrations gave him pause, his eyes zeroing in on his glove compartment. He growled in frustration, knowing full well who it was. He kept the burner his "associate" graced him with in the glove compartment as to not arouse suspicion, but she always seemed to call at the worst times.
"This better be good." he snapped, the last thing he needed that evening was her incessant jeering.
"Someone sounds like they woke up on the wrong side of the Hyuuga. Not so good of a lay, that fiancée of yours, ne?"
Sasuke didn't even bother humoring that with a response other than an annoyed growl to which the chuckled.
"Not the case? Well I wouldn't be opposed to paying you a visit tonight. If you ask nicely of course." She had a million and one more barbs prepared if he let her continue.
"Get to the point or fuck off." he spat, forcefully slamming the elevator button to his penthouse as his frustration mounted.
"Now you're speaking my language." Her voice slipping into a sultry timbre at his aggressive response before returning to her more natural tone, "Orochimaru-sama wants in on your success. Expect a call from him in the near future."
"I won't be taking that call. Simple as that." Sasuke threw his attaché across his abode as he crossed the threshold wishing his arrival had been more soothing than his redheaded confidante was making it.
"That wouldn't very smart of you, Uchiha. One way or another, he'll get to you."
"Threats is it?" the dark haired man scoffed as he shrugged out of his blazer and threw it on the couch haphazardly. "He knows full well that will get him nowhere."
"Seems to have worked out well enough for me," she returned haughtily, receiving yet another growl, "Just answer the fucking phone so I don't have to track your ass down."
With that she hung up and gave him his sole desire of being left to his own devices and thoughts. He wanted to smash the phone to pieces but knew that would only prompt a face to face with the insufferable woman once again, and with the renewed media coverage he was receiving the last thing he needed was a scandal of those proportions.
The universe once again seemed to look unfavorably upon him, so much so he sought out his stash of whiskey to dull his senses. It took several glasses to do so, but eventually sleep found him. But thoughts of the ghostly eyed girl who loved him followed even into unconsciousness.
And there you have it! Now I sincerely apologize for the delay, this update is coming in just a bit under the one month mark. I thought I was gonna have this one done at least a week ago but something's got away from me. And I kinda got a bit wrapped up in the almost first lemon of the story. Really had to rein myself in on that one. Sorry about that too I'm sure some of you are just chomping at the bit for that. But, what can I say? I love the slow burn. Makes the smut that much more satisfying. I hope you all liked the small call back to Hinata resting her head against Sasukes in parallel to how he "stole" her first kiss. I wanted to show this bond they were forming, how their differences were the driving force behind their synergy. How both could be the light in one another's life, even at their darkest. Anywho, thanks for reading my story and my blathering, as always leave your critiques and what not, I appreciate them all.
Next Chapter: Little Things
Until next time! Sayonara!
