WARNING: Mature Content Ahead.

Not Afraid Anymore

Chapter 14: Earned It

Sakura woke up next to Sasuke. She was so focused on pretending to be asleep that she eventually dozed off. She looked at his sleeping form, his face was turned towards hers, his expression relaxed while resting on his back with the sheets pooled at his waist.

He really took me to his room. It was not a dream.

She looked at him for a long time. Savoring the moment. Eventually his eyes slowly opened and met her own. She did not shy away from his gaze. The level of intimacy they built over the last couple of months made her no longer as nervous. She was more confident, comfortable in his company.

"Why?" Sakura asked out the gate.

"You were upset." Sasuke replied without missing a beat.

"How do you know?" Sakura pressed. They both remained still, staring at each other as they questioned the other.

"Your expression…What is making you upset?"

"You…Us…" Sakura did not hesitate to express what she felt. There was no point on beating around the bush.

"I cannot help but want more. I want you, but not just what we have... I-I wonder if we'll ever move beyond this…" Sakura finally turned away because there were so many emotions coming at once. Fear, solitude, heartbreak, and uncertainty.

"What do you feel for me? Do I mean anything to you...?" Sakura said almost like a whisper.

Sasuke's expression softened, he knew what she was feeling and he felt apologetic for making her feel dejected. If there is one thing Sasuke had suffered from alienating friendship and love all those years were a lack of social skills. Sometimes he does not pick up on certain things, or express enough of others. What he is certain of, is that during the past couple of months, he has become accustomed to her company, her touch. He genuinely enjoyed being with her, not just being intimate.

He liked her.

But he obviously has failed to express that, and he has made Sakura upset, insecure.

"I'm sorry. I did not mean to make you feel that way. Please look at me."

Sakura's demeanor softened at the sound of his words and she turned over to face him. Her brow was still furrowed, conflicted, but willing to listen.

"I enjoy what we have. What we have built." Sasuke's gazed never wavered as he said these words. He needed Sakura to know that he meant every word. There was no time to lose mincing words. He did not want to lose her.

"Maybe it's time we stopped hiding and move beyond this space, beyond this point in our relationship."

Relationship?

Sakura's ears perked up at the sound of this word. She never thought that he would ever describe what they had as a relationship. But now that she looks back at all these months together, she realizes it was not too far off the mark. Living together, eating together, sleeping together, talking and spending time together. Also, he was also recently reinstated as a ninja, yet they have not discussed the subject of him getting his own place. They might as well be in a relationship.

"You know there will be questions." Sakura countered.

"So?" Sasuke bluntly stated with a raise eyebrow.

Sakura rose from the bed, the sheet covering her bare chest falling and gathering at the waist as her face leaned close to Sasuke's.

"Are you saying you like me, like me?" Sakura said with determination, her green emerald eyes firmly on his obsidian gaze. She needed to hear the words. Those words that could change the course of everything and lead to what her heart longed for the most.

His love.

Sasuke turned away and smiled.

"You really are annoying."

In a different time, those words would have cut deep, but as she looks at his smile, Sakura realizes there is more to those words. It's not literal. She is dumbfounded by what he does next.

Sasuke turned his face towards her with a soft gaze and an easy-going smile. He truly was smiling.

It caught her off guard to see him genuinely happy. It had been a long time since he had truly smiled. It took her back to their genin days when she had seen him reveal that quiet smirk on occasion. Sakura's heart fluttered and a small blush formed on her cheeks. She was mesmerized by his expression.

It was a moment of realization for both. For Sakura, she realized there was hope for more after all, and for Sasuke, he was finally letting himself enjoy the bond the he had with her. There was once a time that he could not accept her feelings, even though they filled his days with love, but now he can finally allow himself to feel, to give in to her warmth.

There were no need words. They leaned into each other and shared a gentle kiss. It started slow.

Sasuke's hand touched her cheek while his other pulled Sakura by the waist onto his lap. She straddled him as they locked lips. It was passionate. Her hands ran up his chest to his face as she leaned further into him. She wanted to feel more.

Closer.

More.

Touch me more.

Kiss me more.

It always felt like a dream to be in his arms. There was a time she believed there would never be anything between them. She had become focused on his safety rather than earning his love. She would have been satisfied with him back safe and sound, but her heart could not let go of what she felt.

She loved him.

Sakura was suddenly awakened from her thoughts when Sasuke broke their kiss and laid her own her back as he climbed on top of her. He leaned down and kissed her again, leaving a trail down her neck and caressing her feverish skin that longed for his touch.

He loved to see her in the throes of passion. Flushed skin, labored breath, her moans, and the way her eyes would meet his own as he made her his. Her heart belonged to him. He needed her love, the joy she brought into his life. He longed for the love he once lost. Now he has the opportunity to regain that love. To Sasuke, Sakura was pure, unfiltered love.

Sasuke continued to kiss his way down until he was nestled in between Sakura's legs. He stroked her thighs as he began to savor her. Sakura moaned at the feel of his mouth meeting her skin, gripping the sheets and moving her hips to meet his rhythm.

Sasuke's lips and tongue moved hungrily, tasting her. He wanted to make her wet and hungrier for him, just as he was for her. He pushed her down as Sakura struggled against him, he knew she was close to her release. Just as she was about to come, he stopped, rose from his position, and pulled her closer by her thighs. Sakura gasped at the suddenness of his actions, but knew what was coming next. She moaned with anticipation.

As he got in position, he stroked himself and then pressed his hardness against her entrance and entered her. Sasuke threw his head back at the feel of her taking him in, moving his hips back and forth, letting out a moan.

"Fuck…"

Sasuke moved his hips rapidly, against Sakura's, their skin clapping against one another. He reached for her breast with one hand and squeezed it as he held himself up with his other hand, taking in her expressions.

"Aaaah…. Aaaah...Sasuke!"

He liked when she said his name. He moved his hips faster, giving it to her.

"Aaah…I—I want to ride you…Aaah." Sakura blushed as she uttered these words, closing her eyes tightly, unable to meet his penetrating gaze.

"I can't hear you Sakura. Say it again."

Sakura glared at him. He was making her work for it.

Baka.

Whenever they were intimate, Sasuke was as intense as his presence. He was unbound and daring. He felt no shame. He was too caught up in the moment, the pleasure, to give a damn. He is so often reserved and self-contained, but in bed, he was a different beast like in the battle field. She liked that.

Instead of saying it again Sakura let her actions speak for her. She pushed Sasuke off her and held him down as she climbed on top. Sasuke was taken aback but welcomed it. He liked her bravado and strength.

The first time he saw her decimate the ground beneath her, he was thoroughly impressed and thought how fitting such monstrous strength was for her. She had the temper to match as well.

As Sakura held him down, she dominated him. It sent a rush of adrenaline through her to have him beneath her, craving her. She proceeded to run her hands down his torso, teasing him, giving him a taste of his own medicine.

"You want this." Sakura lowered herself and moved her hips against his hardness, her eyes set on him.

"You are such a tease…But you want it too."

He lifted one hand, reaching for Sakura's cheek. He caressed it, bringing his thumb to her lips, which she proceeded to lick and lightly bite.

She could not wait any longer and lowered herself fully onto him.

"Aaaah…yes…" Sakura said as she threw her head back at the feel of his warmth and hardness.

"Ride me."

She obliged.

Sakura moved her hips against him, seeking her release, her skin glistening with sweat.

Sasuke reached for her hips, feeling close to his own as he relished in the feel of her strokes and the sight of her fully nude before him.

She was beautiful.

"Aaaah…. mmmm." Sakura bit her lips, trembling as she rode her release. She leaned forward, her breast close to Sasuke's face. He took the hint and sucked on them, increasing the intense pleasure she was feeling.

"Oh! Yes, don't stop! Aaah!"

When she came, it was like a tight coil coming undone. She fell forward onto Sasuke's arms, trembling with labored breaths.

Sasuke was not done and wanted to reach his own.

"Get on your knees."

Sakura turned to look and was surprised to see his Sharingan eyes. The intensity of the moment was having a strong effect on his emotions. It was both mesmerizing and intimidating.

Sakura rose from her reverie and proceeded to get on all fours. She wanted to please him.

He got to his knees and without hesitation entered her from behind. He enjoyed the view from above. Her long, toned, muscular back. The feel of her skin against his as he slammed his hips back and forth.

He knew he was not going to last long. He had held it in, waiting for her release. Feeling close, he pulled her up by her arms, her back now against his chest. He then held her by the neck to bring her closer as he kissed the side of her face and shoulder.

"You like that, eh?" He said while smirking against her cheek as he slammed his hips against her one last time, spilling himself inside her.

"Aaah…yes! Oh, Sasuke!" Sakura screamed one last time, feeling his release.

As he came down from his high, Sasuke kept Sakura in his arms, embracing her while their labored breathing slowed down. He nuzzled his face against the crook of her neck and Sakura reciprocated the feeling.

They eventually fell to the side, still in their embrace. Sasuke proceeded to lace his fingers with Sakura's, she blushed at his actions, but said nothing. There was no need for talk. She just wanted to stay like this, and they did.