Chapter 62

The room he had stayed in before in the Nara household has been prepared for his stay. The lady of the house, Temari's mother, had pointedly ignored him during dinner only deeming to speak when she growled at him that she had changed the beddings and aired the guest room for his sole occupation.

As he lay on the bed, he just keeps on staring at the ceiling remembering what happened there the last time...

He was able to touch Temari then in ways he didn't even deem to imagine. He was able to possess her for a brief period of time even though he didn't have the right to.

Now, knowing that Temari is sleeping in the room adjacent to his, he can't help but feel the low thrumming of pissed off feeling in his veins. As man and wife, he should be lying by her side. At least he thinks so.

"Tch," Shikamaru murmurs to himself and closes his eyes, trying to get comfortable on the soft bed. After an hour, Shikamaru pushes himself up off the bed. Temari won't come to him this time. That clinches it for him.

—oOo—

About to open Temari's door, Shikamaru pauses with his hand on the doorknob. He'll let Temari decide if he can stay or not. If she's sprawled all over the whole of her bed, he'll leave her alone but if she's just sleeping on one side, it means she wants someone to lie beside her.

When Shikamaru enters the room, it is dark inside and he hears the soft rustle as Temari hastily scrambles to the side of the bed to switch on the lamp by the bedside.

"What?" the woman growls, twisting around as she looks on from the edge of her bed.

Shikamaru gazes at her then at the portion of the bed not occupied. It's not that big a bed but it can contain two people easily enough. "I'll stay here," Shikamaru declares tonelessly.

Temari glares at Shikamaru but under her breath she simply says, "Hmp," before finally lying down on the side of the bed closest to the lamp and farthest from the door. Flicking off the light switch, she then turns sideways, her back towards Shikamaru who still stands by the open doorway.

Closing the door, Shikamaru sees Temari's gesture before the room is bathed in darkness. Approaching the bed, he lies down slowly.

It's relatively cooler in Konoha by day but at night, Konoha's humidity becomes troublesome, as it's annoyingly clammy with the blankets. Temari has then already kicked hers down the bed. She's still adequately covered though as she's wearing a cottony nightdress held by thin straps and ending at her mid-thigh.

Shikamaru sighs loudly. He's only wearing a sleeveless shirt and shorts but still he's feeling hot. The room is not adequately cooled by Temari's big window or by her oscillating fan…and the sheer quality of her dress doesn't help.

"Stop being noisy and go to sleep," Temari rasps from her side of the bed, not bothering to move from her position.

Shikamaru, lying on his back, turns to his side to face Temari's backside. Watching the back of her head, he gazes at her golden tresses, combed softly and down for the night. This is only the second time he has ever seen her with her hair down. Since that day he saw her in his father's office confronting the old man, she has worn her hair tied in four ponytails instead of her usual high one.

Lifting a hand, Shikamaru caresses lightly the blonde hair lying on a portion of Temari's pillow, careful not to alarm her. Nevertheless, aided by the moonlight pouring in from the open window, he detects that Temari has stiffened. But, by her remaining quiet and not telling him to stop, Shikamaru continues, being less careful as he combs his fingers through her silky strands. The hair then releases the fragrance of her shampoo—all flowery and smells like summer. Shikamaru closes his eyes as the scent wafts through his nose. More embolden, Shikamaru comes closer, hoisting his upper body up and leaning down to stroke Temari's arm that lies on her exposed side.

Still Temari does not do anything to stop him and he can hear her trying to regulate her breathing. She's trying so hard to pretend that she is relaxed. Shikamaru smiles, unseen by Temari who still lies on her side with her back turned to him.

Shikamaru leans closer and drops a feathery kiss on Temari's exposed shoulder before letting his hand now on top of Temari's forearm go around her waist then to her still flat stomach, to haul her closer towards his chest.

No resistance.

Shikamaru's hand then becomes more exploratory but he maintains their position with her back towards him as he gropes anything his hand could reach in that position.

Temari's breath comes in short spurts as she tries to remain unmoving, letting Shikamaru kiss the back of her neck and when his hand goes under her dress, she does not complain, she simply bites her lips to prevent garbled words from coming out.

When he raises her nightdress first on her back then at her side, she cooperates by hoisting her body up from the bed and raising her hands to ease off her clothes, still careful not to look at him. Lest he'll think that she's such a slut.

Shikamaru seems to be satisfied with kissing the dimple on her back, her shoulder blades and then the pulse on her neck while his hand fondles with her bare breasts but after a while the same hand in front of her, its fingers caress down her body. Finally touching her on top of her underwear before his digits one by one goes in beneath the elastic, reaching the part of her that seems to ache for his touch.

Shikamaru suddenly stops then he murmurs in her ear, "I need to…" Temari then feels the bed springs up as Shikamaru's weight is remove before she hears the rustle of clothes and knows that Shikamaru is now removing his own garments.

After a few seconds that feels like hours, Temari senses Shikamaru's return. The body heat is unmistakable. Her naked back is flushed to his bare chest and her lower body can feel him throb. Their arms and legs tangle as she feels him touch and taste her everywhere except her mouth. Soon she feels him slide inside her, filling her gently, making her want to shout, scream his name but she stops herself. She bites her lower lip until she tastes blood. She's getting closer and closer to her release.

Shikamaru quickens his pace, knowing he's close and wants Temari to go with him to the edge. "Temari…" Shikamaru whispers in her ear and that's all that he is able to say before he reaches his limit, convulsing on Temari's back, holding her tightly.

Shikamaru feels Temari trembles in his arms and satisfied, he hauls her closer still, kissing the back of her neck which at the time is closest to his lips.

—o0o—

"Get off me!" Temari snaps, breaking the spell. He has gotten what he wanted…and the stupid ass has even said her name but nothing else.

Shikamaru slowly withdraws his hand from around Temari and retreats to his side of the bed.

Of course, the ass won't even bother to argue with her now that he got what he came for. Temari can only grit her teeth in frustration. "Go back to your room," she orders, lying still on her side, not able to face Shikamaru. After a moment she hears the ass' typical, "Tch," before she feels him standing up and collecting his discarded clothes. Next, she hears a door opens then softly closes.

So the ass leaves her just like that.

Temari punches her pillow. Tonight she succumbs to him, by doing so she has just cemented in his mind how easy she is.

Temari hisses to herself, getting ready to pull her pillow from beneath her head and throwing it with all her might at the opposite wall. But before she can do so, she hears the water running. Swivelling towards the sound, she looks at her attached shower room. The light can be seen seeping under the door's edges.

He didn't leave.

Temari fixes her pillow, fluffing it up before grabbing her blanket from the floor to hide her nakedness. She then slumps back down on her side of the bed and closes her eyes. Feeling too tired and after not having a proper rest these past few weeks, everything has taken its toll, she then allows sleep to claim her.

When Shikamaru returns, drying his hair with Temari's towel and wearing his previously used clothes, he notices the woman's face has been softened by sleep. She has moved, cocooned in her blanket and rolled onto her back but she still occupies just one side of the bed leaving the other side free for him. Shikamaru, careful not to wake Temari, slowly lies down on her bed—their bed.

For now, whatever they have is more than enough. More than he has hoped for. Shikamaru smiles. Who knows in time, Temari may feel the same as him.

TBC

~6 8 12 AF P 12 29 12~

A/N: Ops, I didn't place a warning up top as I feel it's still a T…hmn it's a wonderful surprise and not a shocking surprise, right?… I need reassurance or a smack on the head on this one, ne :P