He could feel himself cold-stone sober. The shots of sake had worn off and the sudden rush of blood allowed him to think a little clearer.
He started the day with a simple strategy: Confess to Temari; if she says no or laughs in his face, jump off a bridge; if she says yes, have a private romantic walk back to her inn and kiss her; return home a happy man. A solid and simple plan that just needed to be executed precisely. And yet, he was totally thrown off in what might be the best way possible - by Temari's bold willingness to go further.
And now he was leading her through the forest, on a shortcut back to her inn – her words played over in his head. It wasn't so much the words but the way she said it, heavy with a darker intention.
Escort me back to my inn….
I have an early morning tomorrow, Shikamaru.
He loved the way she said his name.
Shikamaru…
"Shikamaru."
"Shikamaru!"
"What?" Shikamaru asked, throwing the question over his shoulder.
"Slow down. There's no need to run," she said plainly.
"I'm not running," Shikamaru said, slowing down his pace, so he was walking beside Temari in stride. He judged himself with shame. One suggestive sentence from her and he was running like a dog.
The grass crunched beneath their feet, and the trees loomed over them. Save the crickets in the distance and the soft blowing wind, the forest was quiet. Temari had never taken this way to her inn before.
"If this is a shortcut, why haven't you taken me through here?" Temari questioned him.
Shikamaru responded with his practiced excuse, "The route around town is much more scenic. Better for guests." He didn't want to admit that this path was his secret to catching her on those early mornings and the "scenic route" through town was usually his way to sweeten her up with casual trips to the dessert parlour.
Temari was about to challenge his response when something behind the trees caught her eye. "Wait, I think I know where we are," Temari said, stopping them in their tracks. She pulled him off their path to the landmark that caught her eye. Shikamaru allowed himself to be pulled, sneaking a glance at her from the back. Old habits are hard to kick.
They walked up to a little wooden bridge standing over a river. Temari marvelled at the wooden structure as if it wasn't something small, old, creaky and ought to have fallen apart ages ago. She stepped on its wooden panels, and the bridge moaned in response. Regardless, she continued walking, stopping at the centre of the bridge where it curved.
Shikamaru followed suit, wary of the sounds coming from the bridge. He stood beside Temari to look out at the water. Shikamaru's hand gripped Temari's fingers while his other hand rested on the bridge's railing. He trailed the deep set scratch marks in the dusty wood. He was pretty sure this old piece of junk was a hazard. It was getting dark and even with his blazer, Shikamaru could feel the winter chill lingering in the air.
"C'mon, the sun's setting. We should get you back before you turn into a pumpkin." Shikamaru joked.
"Just a lil longer," Temari said her eyes watching the sky. The trees' shadows framed the evening sky as it changed from a warm orange to a soft pink- the sun itself began its gentle descend.
Shikamaru watched Temari's face glow in the evening light. She had a soft smile on her lips and her eyelashes cast a slight shadow on her eyes. He decided he could handle the cold for a few more minutes. The sun fell lower and lower until it eventually disappeared pass the horizon.
"We don't get sunsets like that in the desert," she said quietly.
He realised this was the romantic moment he had initially hoped to have. The perfect moment for their first kiss– he could try his luck and snake an arm around her shoulder or maybe he should take her face in his hands. His brain was moving quick, assessing the best way to approach the subject, but before he could do anything, Temari laid her head onto his shoulder, then her arms wrapped around his torso. Shikamaru appreciated the feeling of her warmth - she radiated heat like a bonfire. He figured to go with the flow and wrapped his arms around her in a comforting hug. They stayed there for a few seconds, watching the sky slowly shift from a pinkish purple into a grey, then eventual dark blue night.
"What was it that you called me again?"
"What? A pumpkin?" He asked, thinking she referred to his last few words.
"No, that time with that kid Konohamaru."
Shikamaru remembered that time perfectly. He intervened in a battle between Konohamaru and Temari, stopping Temari from obliterating the Third Hokage's Grandson. He called her the cruellest Kunoichi – not the most romantic nickname, but aptly given. He let out a chuckle, "Oh who can remember," he lied.
"Was it "mean"? The Meanest Kunoichi," she asked, letting go of him- she turned around to face him, leaning herself onto the bridge railing. The bridge creaked under her weight. Their legs were touching and her eyes locked onto him. He gulped.
"Why does it matter anyhow…" He shrugged, chances are she recalled that day perfectly. She was playing with him.
Nonetheless, her eyes bore into him, watching him.
He wanted to take a step back to maintain a respectable distance between them, but Temari put a hand on his chest. Shikamaru couldn't move. Her fingers rubbed the fabric of his sweater. And as her thumb drew circles on his chest, he felt his body stiffen. One area in particular was feeling very stiff.
It's just her hand. Get it together, you idiot. He scolded himself.
She leaned toward Shikamaru's face, feeling dangerously close Shikamaru felt himself unsteady on his own feet. She brought her lips to his ear and whispered, "Tell me."
"C-Cruel. It was the Cruellest K-kunoichi." He admitted.
You weak simp. He heard his own mind utter.
Looking into Temari's sharp green eyes really took his breath away. They were trained on him, watching his every move. She reminded him of a jungle cat hiding in the long grass. In the blink of an eye, she'd pounce and make her kill. She sat her bum down on the bridge railing, her hands beside her for balance. As she leaned back into a relaxed postition, Shikamaru could feel his chest tighten.
"Do you still think I'm cruel?"
"Oh definitely." Shikamaru said without hesitation.
"What!?" Temari asked, slightly taken aback.
"You're absolutely terrifying, Temari of the Sand. Just looking at you right now is filling me with fear," he enunciated his words slow and clear. "Standing right here beside you – and looking into those pretty green eyes makes me want to shit my pants, puke my guts AND run for the hills. I don't even know if I was this nervous when we faced Madara..."
Temari was a bit shocked that she was being compared to on of the all time evils in the Shinobi world- but Shikamaru wasn't done yet.
"And yet…" Shikamaru's voice softened. He brought one hand up to her cheek, coming as close to touch it but then pulling away at the last second, "And yet I don't want to move. I don't want to look away. It's almost like I want you to hurt me - because you're so indescribably gorgeous and the idea of you playing with me excites me so much. And worst of all, I know that you know the effect you have on me. And that makes you cruel."
Her mouth hung open, like a fish caught on a hook. Shikamaru was now feeling as out of breath as he was relieved.
"Shikamaru."
"Yes?"
"Kiss me already, you idiot."
Shikamaru's mouth dropped open, about to say something else – when Temari threw her hands around his neck and pulled his face towards hers.
Their lips collided in a kiss.
Shikamaru was the first to pull away. He smiled at her, happy as a clam. He couldn't believe he kissed Temari. Tonight was a resounded success! He'd never feel the same ever again. He could go home and die a happy man now.
"That's pretty nice," he said.
Temari was smilling too, with a big toothy grin. "Yes, it is."
Shikamaru would've probably said something else, but he didn't get the chance because Temari wasn't done with him yet. She hooked her arms around his neck and kissed him again.
She moved her mouth against his, deepening the kiss. Shikamaru gladly responded, kissing her deeper. He felt the skin of her hand on his neck as her fingers dipped into his turtleneck. The touch sent shivers down his spine. It was like time itself had stopped but everything was moving so fast as well. Then Temari began to kiss a little harder, faster and hungrier.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and he closed the gap between their bodies. His legs were touching the railing, and one of her legs was caught between his. Shikamaru could feel himself melting. Her chest pressed against the front of his and her felt the whole of her body beginning to arch. The night time breeze picked up but Shikamaru didn't care about the cold. Temari had a warmth he wanted to sink into and never leave.
He shivered as he felt her tongue lick his lips. Obediently he opened his lips, allowing her into his mouth. His hands began to roam, one hand moved over her back and the other onto her thigh. Temari let out a soft moan and it drove him crazy.
"More," he heard her say in a breathy whisper.
He moved to kiss her neck, trailing kissed from her jaw to her collarbone. He could smell her perfume - jasmine and orange blossoms. He could taste her sweat, a little salty with a sweet hint of lotion. She felt so good he wanted more.
As if she read his mind, he could feel her leg between his legs starting to move against his crotch, pressing his erection which bulged out from his pants. The rubbing was making it hard to focus.
His clothes felt too constricting, as if he was short for air. The kissing was getting more intense – making his body feel like it was on fire, like he was climbing a mountain and there was just one more step to the peak. His heart was beating so fast that he felt like he was in a sprint and could see the ribbon at the end of the race. He pressed up against her, his knees knocking into the bridge railing. There was a squeak and a crack, but neither of them noticed.
Then he heard his belt come undone and something within him popped. He let out a loud groan. All the pressure that had built up released. His mind went over the moon and back and his entire body felt limp.
Panting, Shikamaru leaned his weight onto Temari, who was still seated on the bridge railing. The bridge itself creaked and moaned.
She froze, feeling like she missed something significant. "Shikamaru.. did you just-"
There was another crack followed by a loud snap. Temari felt gravity pulling her backwards.
"Shikamaru!-"
Then they were falling.
The last thing Shikamaru saw was Temari's eyes filled with a pained expression. And before he knew it, they fell into the water below in one splash.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
The river was more of a stream. At about 3 feet high, the water would've hit Shikamaru mid thigh if he was standing. However, they had fallen into the water horizontally so their entire bodies were soaked.
Other than being wet, he was unscathed, since Temari had broken his fall. Shikamaru turned over and sat in the muddied water beside Temari. A couple jagged pieces of hardwood from the bridge floated beside them. From his spot in the water, he could see where the bridge railing broke – an old crusty joint right under where they were sitting had given out.
He looked back to Temari, who had specks of mud on her face. Her ponytails were drenched and she looked as bewildered and undone as he felt. She let out a sigh and then to his pleasant surprise, she snorted. The snorted turned into a snicker which erupted into a loud belly laugh. Shikamaru couldn't help but join her. Of course, it was his luck that the first time everything goes right, something huge goes belly up. Despite the silly fall, and the shameful stain he was sure to find in his pants, he was so glad to be sitting here wet and gross beside Temari.
The laughter subsided and Temari asked, "Was that bridge important?"
"Oh yes, it was a historic landmark of the village," Shikamaru replied dryly, placing his elbows on his knees – now that he was finally sitting, he might as well catch his breath. He felt tired like he had the wind knocked out of him.
"What?!" Temari's head swivelled so fast that her ponytails flicked water at him.
"Yeah legend has it that the first hokage, Hashirama-sama brought a pretty girl to kiss on that bridge. And that bridge withstood her weight because she didn't have a huge- ow!" Shikamaru stopped talking because Temari had punched him in the arm. He fell over into the water, with a splash, withering in pain.
Dang she still has a killer right hook, he thought, trying to breathe through the pain. With teary eyes, he glanced back at her from the ground. She was standing over him now, offering him her hand. "Are you okay?"
Honestly, he wasn't. He felt gross, wet and awfully shameful. He wondered if he would wash his pants or simply burn them before his mother found out. But then he noticed Temari's clothes were soaking wet and clinging tightly to her body. Her shirt was was practically see through and her skirt was heavy, hugging to the curves of her legs. He noted the look in fascination, feeling all his worries wash away.
"I'll be fine," he told her, taking her hand to stand up.
"Has the Lady injured herself?" He asked, kicking his foot, trying to get the river muck out of his trousers.
"I've been through worse," She begrudgingly told him, "Though I think I might have a splinter or two… ouch" she said the last part softly, rubbing her behind. He fished his blazer from the water and he gestured for her to go first. They waded through the water to the river bed. Back on dry land, the two of them looked at the broken structure above them.
She was quiet, her face scrunched up in what he assumed was shame or guilt.
He reassured her, "It was an old bridge and bound to break. Nobody will miss it." Temari seemed to be thinking.
"So did you cum?"
"Wha-… I…," Shikamaru was caught off guard by her blunt question.
She looked at the crotch of his pants.
Shyly, Shikamaru turned away. "Perhaps."
Temari didn't say anything. Instead she smiled to herself, feeling proud. "You're welcome," she finally said.
"Huh? This has been the most embarrassing night of my life, Temari. Not to mention I might never be able to wear these pants again. And really it's all your fault."
"My fault?" Temari asked, not even able to feign a serious face. This was all too entertaining for her.
"Yes."
"That's a little premature to say."
Shikamaru wanted to throw her a look but disdain, but he had to admit that that was a good one.
"C'mon let's get you home."
Then the wind came back and Shikamaru's teeth began to chatter. His entire body shook like a leaf.
"Well, it looks like you need a hot shower, Shikamaru," Temari said, "and coincidentally, so do I."
"Yeah you'll get sick otherwise. And don't expect me to take you to the hospital early in the morning," he said trying to shake the water off his blazer.
"Lucky for you my inn has a shower."
"Yeah, I know."
"And it's just nearby."
"Are you just stating the obvious?"
Temari could not roll her eyes anymore. "You're lucky you have a pretty face," she told him.