Hi everyone! Okay, this chapter is something I've never really done before. I know that Tallman is the master of romance, so I'd really appreciate you all telling me how I did with this chapter. I've been enjoying hearing from you all, and I know it takes some extra time to send me a PM or leave a review but I can't tell you how much it brightens my day to hear from you. That being said, please enjoy this chapter!

Beki slid into the shower as smooth as silk. For a moment, Gaara's eyes couldn't process what he was witnessing. Beki was before him and she was more glorious than his imagination had given her credit. She smiled at him almost innocently, as if climbing into the shower with him was as natural as could be.

"Beki?!" He blurted in surprise.

"Dinner's ready," Beki said as she squeezed under the water beside him. It was a compact space to begin with, so Beki's intrusion meant the two of them were pressed against each other. Beki's eyes drifted down his body until they rested on his excitement. "You were thinking about me, right?" Beki pressed up against him playfully and Gaara felt himself blushing.

"So you're a cheat and a tease," Gaara's voice wavered; he was barely holding it together. He had almost gotten his physical desire for Beki to pass and now here she was practically presenting herself on a silver platter.

"I'm not a tease," Beki gave him a foxy smile. She pressed him up against the wall and kissed him on the mouth, her tongue gently parting his teeth. Gaara closed his eyes and returned her kiss as his hands found their way to her back. Beki ran her nails over his scalp, sending tiny electric sparks down his neck and spine. Her skin was incredibly soft. Beki always seemed so tough; Gaara would have never guessed her skin was so silky. He got caught up in the longing of her kiss and the feeling of her gentle curves in his hands, so he didn't notice Beki's other hand slipping out of sight.

Gaara jumped at the sudden contact of her cold fingers on his boys. Beki immediately pulled away with a look of concern. "Sorry," Beki smiled apologetically as she slid her hands up to the neutral zone of his shoulders. The unexpected grope had thrown off the rhythm of their kissing, and now that it was broken it seemed impossible to restore. Gaara wrapped his arms around Beki's back and he pulled her into a comforting embrace. He would never admit it to Beki, but he was a little disappointed with the awkward way their make out session had ended.

"I've never been naked with a boy before," Beki's looked up at Gaara so her chin was resting on his chest. "Other than my dad when he took me to bath houses as a kid, but I don't think that counts."

That wasn't the part Gaara held on to. "When have you been naked with other girls?"

Beki laughed. "I've gone to the hot spring in Konoha with Hinata and the other girls."

Instantly the image of Beki's divine naked body in a hot steamy room with a bunch of other attractive girls splashing each other and giggling popped into his head. Gaara gulped and shook his head. He would never get his gun holstered at this rate.

"What about you?" Beki asked.

Gaara sighed. "Are you kidding, Beki? With how many times I've made a fool of myself, you really think I've been naked with another woman before?"

"You're the Kazekage," Beki chuckled. "I imagine it wouldn't be very hard for you to get some action if you really felt like it."

Gaara put his head on top of hers and gave her a gentle squeeze. "I am with the only girl I have ever wanted to be naked with."

He felt the muscles in her face pull and Gaara knew Beki was smiling. They stood there for a little while and Gaara felt the water getting colder by the minute. Beki sighed.

"I guess we have to get out," she said as she turned off the water. "Dinner's probably cold by now anyway."

Gaara gave her a small smile. "I don't mind."

…

There was something oddly intimate about sharing the dry-off/get dressed phase of post shower shenanigans that Beki found herself hung up on. She had gotten dressed around her dad, Hinata, and all the other girls in Konoha. When Beki decided she was going to hop in the shower and molest the Kazekage, part of her had expected it to be some wild sexy escapade from start to finish. Things had been heading in that direction until she jumped the gun and cupped his junk a little too soon. After the initial embarrassment and horror of her misstep had worn off, the encounter had become cozy. Gaara had held Beki and they had talked until it was time to get out. He stepped out of the cramped shower into the equally compact bathroom. As Gaara picked up his towel, Beki reached for the spare hanging on the hook across from the toilet. Before her hand caught hold of the fabric, Gaara wrapped her like a burrito in his towel.

"Got you," Gaara kissed her forehead. Beki furrowed her brow and pouted playfully.

"You've got a thing for bondage, you know that?"

Gaara balked in surprise. "What are you talking about?"

"Every move you've ever used around me involves people getting physically confined in some sort of way," Beki pressed her forehead against his as her arms were hopelessly towel bound. "So, my question is: fetish or control issue?"

Gaara stared at her blankly. After a moment of soul searching, all he could do was give her a shrug. "Tough call. Let's go get those tacos."

They walked into the bedroom and began to dress, watching each other closely. Beki had always found Gaara physically attractive. Admittedly part of it was due to his mystique as one of the youngest Kage in history. Subconsciously she had believed that everything about him must be somehow better than everyone else, more impressive in some way. Seeing him awkwardly step into his boxers while boxed in by the bed and a wall destroyed that belief. Instead of making Beki like him less, it endeared Gaara to her. He was normal, he was vulnerable, and Beki was probably the only person to ever see this side of him. To her that was more valuable than being with someone that was perfect all the time. Not to mention, he was getting to be a good kisser.

Beki caught Gaara giving her the side eye as she slid on her underwear. It's been a whole ten minutes since I messed with him, Beki thought. We're long overdue.

"Hey, you wanna feel them?" Beki cupped her boobs in her hands and pushed them together so they defied gravity. She had to remind herself not to smile as she saw his eyes widen and pink creep into his cheeks.

"Sure," Gaara kept his voice steady as he walked over. Be cool, he thought. You were just naked with Beki. Touching her breasts should be no big deal.

The tiniest smirk pulled at Beki's lips as Gaara awkwardly took ahold of her girls. "So?" Beki asked. "What do you think?"

Gaara shook his head. "I didn't think they would feel like this…" He squeezed them gently. Beki felt the pull as her breasts changed shape in response to his touch. He was shy at first, doing little more than being a living bra, but soon Gaara's curiosity overwhelmed him. Beki watched with amusement as he stared intently at how her breasts bounced, jiggled, and shook in his hands. After about five minutes she chucked his chin.

"Having fun there, ace?"

Gaara looked up at her, his hands never leaving her chest. "These are amazing."

"Want me let you in on a secret?" Beki put her hands over his. "Girls play with their boobs all the time for that exact reason."

Gaara blinked in disbelief. "All girls?"

"All girls have played with their own boobs at least once," Beki smiled. "Now I had better put these away before you forget what my name is."

"Sorry Miss Tsukimori," Gaara retracted his grasp and held his hands behind his back to resist temptation.

Beki shot him a dirty look. "What was that?"

"Bike, I mean Beki," Gaara stared her down with equal intensity.

"You're a riot, you know that?" Beki swatted at him with her shirt. She followed him into the kitchen and sat on the counter while he warmed up the tacos. "I'll have a lot to brag about, you know," Beki swung her legs. "Not every day a girl has a Kage fix her tacos."

"You're one of three to share that honor," Gaara said as he handed her a plate.

"Who are the other two girls?" Beki tried to pick up the taco but it was too hot, so she started blowing on the tortilla.

"Temari and Kankuro," Gaara shot back without hesitation.

"Damn," Beki snorted. "He isn't even here and you're roasting your brother."

"He doesn't stop making fun of me when I'm not around," Gaara looked at the counter and weighed the appropriateness of joining Beki. She watched him weigh a lifetime of suitable behavior against the freedom and levity of being alone with his lover. Gaara set his plate carefully beside Beki and pulled himself up on the countertop.

"Look at you," Beki punched his shoulder encouragingly. "Getting all hip and acting your age."

"It just seems unsanitary," Gaara said as he took a bite of his taco.

"No, it's not," Beki wiped her fingers on a wadded-up paper towel. "We just showered."

"I'm not talking about now," Gaara's voice was almost passive. "I'm talking about what will happen after we finish eating."

Beki blinked in surprise and gave him a questioning look. "What?"

Gaara shrugged. "It seems sturdy enough. It'll be up to you if you want to brace yourself against it or-"

Beki tossed the wadded-up paper towel at his face. "You're just messing with me again."

"I've never seen you so surprised," Gaara deflected the papery onslaught with a casual backhand. "I would never guess a girl who corners men in showers to be so adorably proper."

"It's not that I'm proper, it's just if we tried anything in this kitchen we'd end up with splinters and possibly tetanus," Beki spat back.

Gaara chuckled. "Lockjaw? Are you not up to date on your shots, Miss Tsukimori?"

Beki narrowed her eyes at him and took a suspicious bite of her taco. "Have you even had shots, Kazekage sama?"

"I don't need shots, I have sand armor," Gaara put his empty plate in the sink beside him, suddenly appreciating the practicality of dining on the counter.

"Which is effective unless you get hit with a bag of flour," Beki held out her empty plate to him which he took begrudgingly.

"You know, I never really did get my payback for that," Gaara gave her a dark look. It was predatory and sent a thrill through Beki. As the length of the stare increased, Beki's anticipation grew to the point it was unbearable. It seemed there was only one logical course of action: to run.

In one liquid motion, Beki launched herself off the counter and ran into the bedroom. She turned to see if he had followed and Gaara was there, suddenly and silently in front of her. Beki let out a small squeal of surprise. Gaara tackled her to the bed and pinned her down as Beki writhed. "What are you going to do?" Beki feigned fear with a high-pitched voice.

"I would kiss you," Gaara leered down at her. "But you would like that. I don't want to reward you."

"What are you going to do instead?" Beki's heart was pounding in her chest so hard she was surprised Gaara couldn't hear it. He was so close she could feel the heat radiating off of his body and it excited her.

"There's only one thing I can do that I'll like and you won't," He pinned her two wrists together in one hand so his other hand was free. Adrenaline rushed through Beki's system as his hand crept up her shirt and-

"NO!" Beki squealed as Gaara tickled her ribs. "NO STOP!"

Gaara let go of her other hand and straddled her so she could fight back. He had an uncanny gift for being able to weasel his way through her defenses. Beki kicked her legs and swatted at his hands as they found their way under her arms, on the sensitive skin of her hips, and the ticklish curve of her waist.

"This is what happens to those who cross the Kazekage!" Gaara said as he rotated around and caught hold of her feet.

"NO!" Beki squirmed under his bulk but he had an iron grip on her ankle. He slowly ran his nail along the instep of Beki's foot. It was the closest thing to torture Beki had ever experienced. She rolled around on the bed until she caught ahold of a pillow and she started to beat him with it. Beki clipped his face and he started laughing. It was so soft that Beki almost missed it, but Gaara was laughing aloud. It was probably the sweetest thing she had ever heard but Beki couldn't miss the opportunity. He had slowed his assault in the face of pillowy retribution so Beki yanked her feet out from under him. "I'm not going down without a fight!" Beki howled as she threw herself on top of him, hands up and ready to tickle.

Gaara moved so quickly Beki wasn't sure what had happened. A moment before she was poised and ready to tickle him, and now she was locked in Gaara's arms as he spooned her.

"What just happened?" Beki asked, dumbfounded.

Gaara chuckled and kissed the top of her head. "I snatched you out of the air."

"You say that like it's normal," Beki squirmed but her efforts were futile. "I guess this is comfortable." Beki slid her leg back so it was between his. Gaara slid his bottom arm up under his head for comfort and Beki relaxed into him. Gaara's free hand found its way up Beki's shirt and she smiled to herself. She had made a monster.

The warmth of his body against Beki's was comforting and made her feel safer than she ever remembered. Her father made her feel safe, but not like this. Beki felt at peace in Gaara's arms as if there wasn't a single thing to fear in the world. Suddenly the threats of Orochimaru, of bandits, and of political upheaval in her homeland no longer existed. All there was in the world was a beach and this cottage. As Beki wondered if any of the rest of it had ever existed, she dozed off.

…

Beki's eyes shot open. Years of sleeping out in the open had taught her how to be wide awake at the slightest movement. She turned her head and found the space Gaara had occupied empty and growing cooler by the moment. Beki's anxiety abated. He's probably just going to the bathroom. Beki thought as she rolled over onto her opposite side. Her eyes grew heavy and she let them droop. Beki had nearly drifted off again when she heard a growl. Except it wasn't a growl. It was a guttural cross between a moan and a snarl that instantly set her hair on end. Her kunoichi training kicked in and Beki silently got out of bed, praying it was all just her imagination.

The front door had been thrown open. From Beki's viewpoint as she peered around the doorframe, she saw a strange and terrible shape in silhouette against the moonlight. The thing stepped outside, its gait awkward and labored. It made that sound again and Beki shivered involuntarily. She looked at her hair and it was already turning. Beki's body had already figured out what she was too slow to recognize: she was in danger, so much so the Maiden was ready to fight. Beki followed after it carefully, hoping Gaara had been out for some air and would return soon.

Is it just my imagination, or is it getting bigger? Beki asked herself as her eyes adjusted to the bright light of the full moon. It was chilly outside and Beki was underdressed but she couldn't risk going back for a sweater now. The creature was walking away from the cottage and it never shrank from Beki's perspective. That proves it, Beki grimaced. It is getting bigger.

The thing growled again, but this time it came out in distinct bursts. Beki narrowed her eyes as she tried to decipher its meaning. Was it trying to talk? Was it in pain?

The monster seemed to sense something off in the direction of the ocean and it turned to face the crashing waves. Beki's heart panged in fear. The monster had Gaara.