A/N and Warning: NSFW content ahead! What?! MJ writes NSFW content?! Yes, yes I do. And I hope you enjoy it! As usual, thank you for your patience, your reviews, and your kindness on Twitter. This chapter is one that has been highly anticipated, so I hope it delivers! Also, a quick plug: another reason this took a while to complete is because I am part of an online SS Zine on Twitter with other amazing content creators! Connect with me there to learn more about SS New Beginnings!
Enjoy! I hope you enjoy your holiday gift from me to you!
Chapter 23
"Your room or my room?"
Sakura seemed startled at the question and the nature of suggestion it could have held, to Sasuke's regret. It was a genuine question, but he only realized after the fact that it could bring about a heavy insinuation that…well, that wasn't entirely inaccurate from his intentions, but he didn't want to be so forward. Her verdant eyes widened like a doe and her cheeks bloomed with color. He forced himself to remain as unmoved by her alarm as possible in hopes that she would understand he meant nothing so brazen. She seemed to catch on to this, for she visibly relaxed and let the documents rest heavier in her arms.
"Oh," she breathed as they climbed the rest of the stairs and into the fourth floor's hall. "I can drop these off in my room first and then go to yours," she gestured towards the documents.
Sasuke studied her face and noticed the gentle grin that formed on her lips. Despite working an unhuman number of hours after running an unhuman amount of terrain, she looked only moderately tired versus the exhausted he would have expected her to appear. As his eyes lingered on her for another moment, he noticed how her cheeks began to bloom again with the familiar blush, causing his own smirk to form on his face without his conscious consent. There was a certain pleasure he experienced in knowing that he could cause it to form on her cheeks.
"Alright," he said casually, careful to keep any of his internal emotions from peeking through his voice. He stuffed his hand into his pocket while they walked to her door, which, to his surprise, was right next to his.
"Forgot to mention I'm your only neighbor," Sakura chuckled as she said his thoughts aloud.
Sasuke let his gaze linger on his door and contemplated for a moment where the medic would feel most comfortable. After a long day, would it be easier for her to stay in her room? He could make a quick exit if necessary, but it would look more incriminating if he were caught sneaking out of there, regardless of how casual he'd appear. Having her in his room, though, may make her uneasy and more susceptible to an intrusion by Naruto which, after the other night and their first stay at the Mozukai Inn, was far from what he wanted to experience again.
Unless…
"Sasuke-kun?"
He turned back to Sakura and raised a questioning brow as she pulled him out of his own thoughts. She had just managed to unlock her door and prop it open with her foot. She pivoted her body slightly to look at him and curiously gather his attention.
"Has everyone else gone to sleep?" he asked.
She tilted her head to reflect her mild confusion at his sudden question before nodding in response. "They wanted to get an early start to let me sleep in tomorrow. Why?"
Sasuke turned back to his room door in thought, his mind working faster than his mouth, as usual. "You can stay."
Sakura didn't respond immediately, prompting him to look at her to see disappointment forming in her eyes. The medic hugged the documents tighter to her chest as though asking them to comfort her. She seemed to wilt at his words as she clarified, "Stay…in my own room."
What?
Sasuke floundered for a moment before realizing what Sakura thought he had meant. "No," he said quickly, shaking his head once before pulling his hand from his pocket to run it through his midnight locks. His hand then rested on the back of his head to scratch mindlessly. He could feel his anxiety building as he hastily formed his next words without measuring how bold they sounded. "You can stay in my room tonight."
Now, Sakura stared at him blankly, causing his anxiety to spike once more as he tried to recover from any potential rupture his suggestion made. Nothing came out, however, despite his mind's frantic racing and urging to make himself make words.
"In your room," she echoed carefully, though it was as though she made her voice intentionally as unreadable as her face.
He gritted his teeth for a moment before loosening his jaw and saying, "In my room." Then, he added cautiously, "If you want."
A beat passed between them that felt very close to an excruciating few before Sakura's face lit up into a dazzling smile. Her entire face seemed to light up in a way that caught him in a moment of awe, perhaps because he was already emotionally on edge with anticipating her response. The sight made him physically relax. He let his hand drop from his hair like a puppet's unmanned limb as he let his eyes trail over her face.
"Okay," she chuckled softly, shrugging. He knew that if she had a freer hand, she would have used her slim fingers to tuck her hair behind her ear. "I'll stay in your room tonight. But," she added, "if I'm staying there I think I want to shower and clean up here first. Is that okay?"
Sasuke resisted the urge to swallow hard. "Yeah."
"Sounds good," she grinned again. "Give me about twenty minutes."
"Okay."
"Okay."
They exchanged one more look before Sasuke gave a brief nod, wrangled his own key from his wrist, unlocked his door, and entered his room without looking back. As the door shut behind him, he immediately slipped his shoes off his feet and made his way to his travel bag. He searched through his belongings and cursed at his own tendency to pack sparingly before next making his way to his bathroom in search for an item that would serve an equivalent function to his intention.
When Sakura shut her door behind her, she nearly threw her documents into the air and squealed. It was like all the extra energy in Sunagakure had suddenly rushed into her body, like all the entropy of the universe had made its way into her heart and filled it with the chaotic mix of anxiety and happiness. She hugged her papers to her chest to urge her beating heart to slow before exhaling a careful breath. She then kicked off her shoes, placed her documents on the dresser at the foot of her bed, and dug through her bag for the only night clothes she bothered to bring: her cheeky gray panda shirt and long black leggings.
It wasn't the sexiest thing in the world, not by any means, but it would have to do unless she wanted to show up in front of Sasuke's door, in the middle of a hallway, in either two ends of the spectrum of inappropriate: work clothes or underwear. The former was definitely out of the question and the latter was…well, it was far too forward for where she experienced them to be. And as comfortable as she wanted to be with Sasuke, all of this was uncharted territory for her. As much as she wanted to embrace her confidence in her body, as much skin as she'd revealed to him and others with whom she'd traveled on summer missions, having eyes probe her in a way different from shinobi professionalism made her confidence shake.
She stripped off her clothes, shook out her hair, and hurried into the shower to rid herself from the smell of antiseptic and bland hospital soap. She shook off the daring thought of showing up in front of Sasuke wearing only her underwear, feeling herself blush with more heat under the already burning hot water. She scrubbed herself clean with soap and shampoo she'd brought, filling the bathroom with the scents of home: rosemary and mint.
Sakura stepped out of the shower and went to the sink to brush her teeth, glancing up at her towel-clad form in the mirror. She was not one to hyper-focus on her appearance, not unless Ino was up to her competitive antics about who had the larger breasts, the fuller curves, the cuter panties. Suddenly, though, knowing that there was a new intention in being with Sasuke in a physical way had her thinking more about the ridiculous comments her blond best friend would say to tease her.
The medic shook it off as best as she could once more as she spit her toothpaste residue into the sink. Sakura smeared a light moisturizer across her face as she made her way into the bedroom to ruffle through her bag. Damn you, Ino, she thought silently as she dug through the compartment where she stored her underwear.
"Bold panties make for a confident girl," Ino once said when they shopped together. While the blond decided to pick the brightest, laciest thongs or the sleekest bikinis, Sakura was admittedly far more practical. She usually picked nude tones or black and didn't like the feel of thongs or lace, especially not when on missions that required her to travel long distances.
"I guess I won't be feeling super confident then, Pig," Sakura muttered under her breath as the pulled out her softest black pair of panties. Not like Sasuke will see them, anyway, she thought. I just wanted confidence.
Sakura then rolled her eyes at the ridiculousness of the idea that panties gave a girl power as she slipped on a black pair followed by a black camisole. She donned her shirt over her head and slipped her legs through her skin-hugging leggings before ruffling the towel through her hair again until the petal pink hair thinned into more separate damp strands. She walked into her bathroom to hang her damp towel, but not before a final glance in the mirror.
"We," she spoke to herself, looking at the emerald-eyed, rosette girl in the reflection, "look great. We make impressions that last lifetimes. We…we don't just look great; we are great." She nodded once assuredly before giving herself a confident grin. "And we don't need pretty panties to feel powerful."
She shut off the light, pivoted toward her door, slipped on her shoes, and stepped out into the hall with her room key strapped around her wrist. Sakura glanced around the hallway to see that it was still empty and felt relieved in knowing that her team was likely fast asleep after their long day. She then made the few steps over to Sasuke's door.
Sakura inhaled slowly through her nose and exhaled just as slowly through her lips. She then lifted her knuckles to the panel and gave three gentle knocks before glancing around the hall once more. She felt wary of another blond who might have a third moment of unfortunate timing and didn't trust the universe to protect her privacy.
The doorknob jostled gently, drawing Sakura's attention to the handle just as it opened to reveal the dark haired Uchiha. Sasuke used his foot to prop the door open, his right hand hidden behind the door itself. He eyed her with his usual calm, though unfettered gaze while she did the same, noting that he was now dressed in a light gray shirt and black shorts that reached down to his knees. The remnant of his arm was exposed, revealing the angry twists and canyons of scarring more so than his previous shirts had.
"Hi again," she grinned, watching Sasuke as he nodded his head and offered a small, pleased smirk. Then, he made his own glance around the hall. Sakura couldn't help but read the thoughts that flashed across his mind and spoke aloud to his silent question. "Naruto hasn't given up his hunt for the best ramen in town, yet."
"Sounds about right."
Sakura chuckled before unconsciously thumbing her palm. "But…he doesn't exactly have the best timing, so…I don't know." She shrugged, hoping that her message of their friend's unpredictability crossed over to him.
"I thought a bit about a solution to that."
Sasuke opened the door wider with his foot to gesture her into the room. She stepped inside and raised her eyebrows in surprise when she saw a white face towel rolled in his hand. He lifted it up for her to see, almost triumphantly, and there was a moment of utter confusion that nearly short-circuited her brain. Sakura stared at the towel for a moment before looking up at the Uchiha, hoping to receive a greater hint. When none came, she offered a guess.
"You plan to…wipe him?" she tried, snorting at her obviously wrong prediction.
Sasuke rolled his eyes as he shook his head with playful disapproval. She then watched as he draped it over the doorknob like one would drape a folded towel across one's shoulders. He then turned to her and motioned toward the thing as though it were a work of art.
"You, uh," she cocked her head to the side and tried again to interpret the intent. "You…you have a message written in the towel?"
"No," Sasuke sighed. "It's supposed to be a sock."
"A sock."
"Yes. A sock."
"But that's a towel."
"Yes, but it's because I don't have a sock."
Sakura lifted her hand to her mouth to stifle a laugh. "So," she snorted, failing to restrain the humor that seeped through her voice, "you're telling me that you're trying to signal to Naruto the meaning of a sock on your doorknob with a towel."
The rosette watched as Sasuke couldn't keep his own exasperated smirk and scoff down. "Yes, that's what I'm telling you," he admitted, shrugging. "Unless you happen to have a sock that we can use."
Sakura let out a few giggles before shaking her head, trying her best not to chortle as loudly as she wanted to do. "I don't, unfortunately, but I appreciate the attempt here. I also hope that Naruto, uh…that he gets the message."
Sasuke rolled his eyes once again, the sight causing Sakura to burst into a quick fit of giggles as he carefully closed the door to ensure the towel didn't fall off the door handle. When the door was securely closed and Sakura's laughs turned into satisfied sighs, Sasuke couldn't get his smirk to recede back into impassivity. He watched as she wiped at the corner of her eyes while she made her way over to his bed, tossing her room key on the dresser as she went. She suddenly felt very comfortable. She noted how her giggles managed to shake off nearly all of the tension in her body as she laid back on the mattress and stared up at the ceiling that was warmly lit by the lamps on the nightstands.
She felt the bed sink slightly to accommodate Sasuke's weight to the left of her. In her periphery, she could see him studying her.
"Your room is exactly like my room," she said, breaking the silence and smiling warmly at the ceiling.
"That would make sense," he shrugged, the amusement present in his voice.
A moment of quiet passed between them, and Sakura's new-found ease and confidence began seeping into anxiety. It wasn't an anxiety grounded in fear, however. It didn't make her want to run away. It didn't make her want to hide. It made her want to act…but how? She glanced at Sasuke for a moment, noticing the way he hardly moved when their eyes met and the way her cheeks began to warm as the quiet began to settle on the contours of tension like a film of dust. She sat up once more to be more level with him, but not without noticing the careful distance he placed between them. She cleared her throat slid slightly closer to him until their arms brushed gently against each other. The sensation of his warmth caused a jolt of heat to wash over her, and she was almost thrown into awe at how quickly her body reacted to his. She must have had a surprised expression on her face, as Sasuke's own turned curious. Sakura shook it off as best as she could, though her heart began hammering in her chest.
"Where, um," she asked, feeling her face grow warm, "where does it hurt?"
Sasuke smirked and exhaled a soft chuckle before his expression grew more pensive. His eyes trailed over her face, mesmerizing her as she watched his mismatched irises move at a hypnotizingly slow pace. She took the moment to study him, too, letting her eyes study the planes and angles of his face that reflected the warm lamp light, his sharp jaw that nearly coaxed her to graze with her fingertips, his aristocratic nose, his fine, and surprisingly smooth lips. She could get lost in his features, let her gaze wander them like a landscape of beautiful mystery and willingly lose their way back to reality. It wasn't until she let her eyes trailed to his that she realized Sasuke was waiting to stare into her their verdant hue. And it wasn't until their eyes locked, until she could see the mysterious colorings of his left eye and how endless his right eye appeared, that she realized they had hovered closer and closer together. Their breath mingled in the small space between them, tantalizing her, warming her, calling for her. And yet, he was also cautious.
Their eyes trailed to each other's' lips briefly before meeting the other's gaze once more. It was as though time stopped while their eyes beckoned for silent permission to continue.
"Here," he murmured, sensing her acquiescence. He leaned in tentatively, the thought of, Should I reach her? crossing his mind briefly before he felt her soft lips press against his own. Fire ignited in his chest, rushing through his entire body like a jolt of searing flames. He found himself inhaling deeply, breathing in her homey scent of rosemary and mint mixed with what was always distinctly Sakura. His hand lifted and found purchase on the side of her neck, his fingers trailing upward to graze her damp locks.
His touch on her felt just as fiery, as heat roared through her limbs and straight to her core. His fingers were like trails of ice against her, making her want to shiver as the tips of them caressed her hair. Tentatively, she molded her lips more to his, fitting just right, feeling his heat but wanting more. She wanted to be burned, wanted to be engulfed in his fire, wanted to be closer.
She took the lead this time, her impatience taking the reins, and slid the tip of her tongue against his bottom lip. Without hesitation, and as though he'd done it hundreds of times before, his hot tongue met hers and glided into her mouth, exploring her, hungering for her, lusting for her. A soft moan escaped her throat as she angled herself for more. Sakura's hands reached out and grasped at the fabric of shirt to ground herself as she felt her soul threaten to dissipate into the ether from sheer bliss and pleasure that pulsed through her body.
Sasuke pulled away slightly, pressing a single, tender kiss to her lips, before his hooded eyes gazed into hers. "Is this okay?" he asked, his voice low with hunger but laced with sincere curiosity.
Sakura nodded, before pulling him firmly to her once more by the collar of his shirt and pressing closer to him, testing the boundaries of her ability to withstand his heat. The smiled against his lips as she fought the urge to giggle at his concern for her, at his politeness, at his gentleness.
Was he always this gentle?
She didn't know.
Heat pooled in Sasuke's abdomen as he felt her hands explore more of his waist, his chest, his neck. They were feather light touches. Despite her tender intention, the skin below the fabric of his shirt ached for contact, ached to touch and be touched. It was something he rarely allowed himself to feel unless it was in the absolute privacy of his home or when he was sure no one could hear his own soft moans and heavy breaths. It wasn't like him to indulge. But when he indulged…he indulged. There was an air of caution he wanted to have, though, to ensure she was comfortable, that he was doing things that she liked, that he wasn't just satisfying the baser of his desires without being artful and considerate.
Admittedly, as experienced as he was in other realms of his life, the sexual was limited. And Sakura was surprisingly good at whatever she was doing, for each touch, each caress, each grazing contact against him made the heat in his core ache.
If she could vocalize the same, she would have. She was lost in the sensation of him, though, craving for more of his body, feeling the way wetness pooled between her legs and demanded more, more, more. Without letting their lips part, she lifted herself slightly to fold her leg beneath her and angle more towards Sasuke. Her heart hammered in her chest as she used her left hand to anchor herself to his shoulder, and her right trailed slowly, slowly, slowly down his chest, his abdomen, to the waistband of his shorts.
The moment her hand touched the elastic, Sasuke's eyes flew open. Sakura halted her movements and pulled back slightly when she sensed his hesitation, their panting breaths dancing in the space between them. She swallowed hard before pursing her lips anxiously noting how Sasuke's own hand on the back of her neck had loosened as his cogs turned to realize what she was doing, what she was wanting. She gently held the drawstring of his shorts between her fingers and forced herself to whisper, "Is this…okay?"
He took the moment between them to study her emerald gems, to really look at the concern she held within them that swirled with the lust he felt in his own soul for her. She was being just as careful, he realized, and it was then that he realized the flames had made it to his heart. It was an odd sensation, an odd feeling, to allow himself to be cared for in this way. It felt almost ridiculous. He would have thought it ridiculous if it were anyone else, but with Sakura, he felt appreciation. Sasuke nodded once before gently pulling her back down for their lips to meet again, his heart hammering in his chest as her fingers trailed over the top of his shorts and dance across his hardened member that yearned to be touched, yearned to have nothing standing in the way between her sweet fingers and pleasure.
Sasuke sucked in a sharp breath, something that wasn't lost on Sakura. She let the tips of her fingers trail over it, feeling how taught the fabric had become.
It was fascinating.
It was fascinating to know that she was the one who had this effect on him, that Sasuke allowed himself to be affected in this way. She forced all medical memories and expertise out of her head and gave herself permission to press more of her fingers against the rigid member, to simply explore the way two people who wanted each other would. Sakura let more of her fingers press against the hardness before gently curving around the length, holding it over his shorts and feeling impossibly more heat rise to her face as she realized the size of him.
Sasuke inhaled sharply once more as he angled his head and pulled her urgently against him to deepen their kiss. I like it, he wanted to tell her, but couldn't. I like it, I like it, I like it. He used his tongue instead, slipping it deeper into her mouth and feeling the way she shuddered against him. Her hand stroked him over his shorts once, and he couldn't keep himself from thrusting slightly into her touch.
A wave of pleasure doused itself over Sakura at the feel of him leaning into her movements. It was as though she'd discovered a secret button, a secret mechanism. She stroked him again with more confidence, pressing more of her palm against him as she attempted to curl her fingers more around him and the fabric of his shorts. As she did so, Sasuke's breath grew more ragged and his hand trailed from the back of her neck to her shoulder, down her side, until it rested and clasped against her camisole-clad waist.
She pulled back slightly and blinked at him to keep the stars out of her vision. She pressed her forehead to his gently as she caught her breath, holding herself to reality as she whispered, "Does it feel okay?"
Sasuke nodded and resisted the urge to let out a breathy laugh. He wasn't sure where his humor was coming from. Relief? Surprise? All he knew was that he wanted more, to feel more. He inched the tips of his fingers beneath the hem of her camisole and watched her eyes widen as she realized how he may want to return the favor. Gooseflesh formed where he touched her as she nodded to signal her acquiescence that it was okay, that she wanted him to touch her, that she wanted to feel his fingers trail up her side, graze her ribcage, caress her breast. She forced her self-consciousness away and gave in to the sensation of his large hand against her, feeling her, leaving flames in the wake of his touch.
Her breath quickened when the tips of his fingers danced across the gentle curve of her breast. Her grip on his shoulder tightened and the hand on his shorts grasped him firmer. Sasuke winced slightly, spurring her to sputter a soft, "Sorry, sorry," as she loosened her hold.
He exhaled a breath and looked at the form of his hand beneath her shirt, unsure of what to do next, unsure of how to make her feel what she made him feel. Giving in to his inexperience, he pulled back from her to lock their eyes. Her cheeks were full of sweet color and her lips were beautifully swollen. He wanted to kiss them again, but was stuck on how, how, how to make her feel what she made him feel.
"Tell me what to do," he whispered through his pants. "How…how."
Sakura blinked a few times as though to push herself out of her stupor. "Um," she stammered, releasing her left hand from his shoulder and tentatively reaching for the hems of her shirt and camisole. "It might be easier if I…," she nodded to her cheeky panda shirt and bit her lip at her implication. She pulled back, releasing him as she stripped herself of her shirt to leave only her camisole and reveal the silhouette of her breasts and pert nipples beneath the smooth black fabric.
Sasuke's mouth went dry at the sight. He allowed his eyes to trail over her shoulders, bare except for the thin straps of her camisole, dance over the sight of her exposed collar bone and the tempting swells of her breasts. His hand was still beneath the soft fabric, and Sakura used his moment of pause to place her left hand atop his, molding her fingers to fit on each of his. "Like, um," she whispered, directing his hand to the bottom curve of her breast. "Like this."
Sakura guided his hand to cup her and his fingers to gently, gently, gently, roll her nipple between them. She released a sharp breath and closed her eyes at the sensation, and Sasuke used the opportunity to capture her lips in his once more. She let out a soft moan as her hand fell away from his and he repeated the motion with precision. Her hand found his length once more and she stroked him through the fabric, urging him to thrust into her fingers again. Feeling him move beneath her made her want more, more, more, more. More heat and wetness pooled between her legs, yearning to be touched, yearning to be pleasured.
She pulled away to catch her breath once more and use the moment to contemplate how to say that she wanted…more.
"Are you okay?" Sasuke asked softly, watching for more signs that she wanted him to stop.
"Yes," she nodded her head. "I'm okay, I'm…I'm actually great, I just…"
Sasuke watched her, concern replacing the pleasure he'd felt moments ago. He watched as she swallowed hard, licked her lips and look down between them. "What's wrong?" he asked, more concern laced in his voice as he pulled further away to assess her. He withdrew his hand from her shirt and placed it on her right wrist, ready to pull her away from his length if she was no longer comfortable.
She looked back up at him and shook her head. "Can we, um," she glanced over at the head of the bed where the pillows rested before looking back toward him, hoping her unspoken question was clear. The words, do more, felt too brazen for her to speak.
Sasuke blinked at her. "We can sleep if you want."
"No, not sleep," she shook her head and giggled at his concern for her. "I want to, um…I want to lay down with you. If that's okay," she added hastily.
He seemed to register more of what she meant and nodded his head. He stood from the bed, crossed in front of her, and walked over to the side he'd assumed for himself. He then watched her crawl across the surface of the bed to meet him as he pulled the covers back for her. It looked like he was still looking for signs to ensure she was okay, she was comfortable, perhaps even for signs that she wanted to stop everything and opt for sleep.
I don't want it to stop, she wanted to say, but words were caught in her throat by the trap of shyness. So, instead, she knelt in front of him, shuffled forward, and draped her arms around his neck. He seemed taken aback by this for a fraction of a second before he closed the space between them himself and pressed their lips together once more. She pulled him lower, adjusting herself so she could lay on her back and coax him to make his way on the bed with her. They turned awkwardly, and not without Sakura's giggles, until they finally rested their heads on the pillows, and she looked at him with her usual dazzling smile.
She looked victorious and pleased with herself, and Sasuke couldn't help but return a soft smile. It was one that made Sakura's brain fizzle out for a beat, as this expression seemed to be a new one that she'd never seen before. It wasn't his usual smirk. It wasn't a forced grin. It was a smile. A smile. A smile she'd never seen on him before, one that she'd never seen him give to anyone, but one that seemed to fit his face better than the moon fit in the sky. He looked so beautiful that she didn't want to blink for fear that she would miss it or face a potential reality that he wasn't smiling at all.
Sasuke raised an amused brow. "What?" he asked, his smile not faltering.
"You look beautiful," she spurted out without thinking. Sasuke raised both of his eyebrows in surprise at her comment, and she lifted her hands between them to try to motion an apology of sorts. "I mean, beautiful as in…you just look really yourself when you, I don't know, just…when you—"
Sasuke kissed her mouth once before pulling away and pressing his lips to her forehead. "Don't do that right now."
"Don't do what?"
"Don't be annoying."
Sakura almost sputtered indignantly until she realized the teasing tone in his voice and heard the soft chuckle that escaped him. She softened at that, feeling something swell in her heart sweetly. "You look beautiful when you smile like that," she whispered against his chest before looking up at him expectantly. She wasn't sure what she was expecting, but she was sure she wanted to see it again: his smile. It was so soft, so gentle, so unlike yet like Sasuke that she wanted to commit it to memory as a new part of him she discovered.
He pressed his front against her, though, and she felt the hardened bulge in his shorts. She gasped as it made sweet contact with her core that only yearned for him more, causing her to bury her face into his chest at the pulsing, pleasurable sensation that sent a wave across her body. She gripped onto his shirt with her hands, anchoring herself once more. I'll show you annoying, she growled playfully in her head, reaching down between them to press her hand against the tent of his pants once more. Sasuke hissed and began to snake his hand beneath her camisole, but Sakura stopped him with her free hand.
"Wait," she breathed, pulling back. "I…I want to try something else."
The Uchiha nodded once and watched as she rolled onto her back. Sasuke remained on his left side and allowed her to take his hand and guide him to the spot between her legs, letting him touch the moisture that already gathered through the black fabric of her leggings. Sasuke's eyes widened a fraction as he realized what she wanted him to do.
"It might be easier if I…," her voice trailed off while she adjusted her position, grabbing at the waistband of her leggings and pulling them down. She kicked the fabric off her, shedding herself free from the offending clothing, and laid down on her back again. Sakura closed her legs tightly to relieve the pressure building there before looking up at Sasuke to gauge his reaction.
He couldn't keep himself from letting his eyes roll over the curves of her long, soft legs. He'd seen them before. Her exposed skin was a friend of the sunshine on missions, and she had often worn shorts in front of him in the past. But this was far different. He silently studied the silken black fabric of her underwear and felt himself harden impossibly more at the subtle outline of her folds. He ignored the worries of his inexperience and instead reached out to gently tap the tips of his fingers on the sleek fabric. Sakura's breath quickened at that, and he felt satisfied in knowing the effect he had on her.
He stopped himself from moving further, though, and halted his desires of exploration to catch her gaze. Her eyes were hooded, her cheeks were painted with blush, and her bottom lip was gently bitten by her teeth as she waited in anticipation. As tempting as she was, he needed to ask: "How far do you want to go?"
Sakura blinked out of her reverie and her eyes grew more alert at his question. "How far?"
He propped himself up on the remnant of his arm, using the pillow to soften the pressure, to hover over her and look into her eyes. He gauged her expression while seriously asking, "How far do you want to go…here?"
Impossibly more heat rose to her cheeks at his query, threatening to melt her skin off. It was a genuine question, one that she hadn't given much thought. It wasn't her goal to get carried away, but she was also sure she wanted her first sexual experience to be with Sasuke. Was she ready? Did she feel ready? She…wasn't sure.
"Um," she squirmed beneath him. "I don't know," she replied honestly.
He hummed and shrugged sheepishly. "Me neither," he said, running his hand through his hair. He paused for a moment. "We don't have to do it."
"We're talking about sex, right?"
"Yes."
"Okay." Sakura chuckled breathlessly and felt a sense of relief. She peered up at him. "You…you wouldn't be disappointed?"
He raised a curious brow at her. "Disappointed?" When she nodded her head and bit her lip anxiously, Sasuke shook his head to reassure her. "No, I won't be disappointed. I'm not disappointed."
"You're sure?" she asked, raising a careful hand to grasp at the sleeve of his shirt.
"Yes. Are you?"
"Disappointed?"
"Disappointed."
"No, I'm not. And I won't be."
Sasuke nodded his head then glanced down at her bare legs. "Did you still want to…?"
A furious blush appeared on her cheeks once more, and she found herself biting her lip as she nodded eagerly, unable to help herself from showing her excitement at the opportunity to explore further. A familiar smirk danced on his lips at the sight of her enthusiasm, and Sakura felt herself smile in return before focusing once more on his hand that trailed down to the dampness between her legs.
He listened as Sakura's breathing quickened once more and watched as she spread her legs to better accommodate his hand. She whimpered wantonly, causing his length to twitch in his shorts. While he enjoyed watching her squirm beneath him, he was still inexperienced in what to do next. He looked at her eyes which returned to their hooded expression. "Tell me what you want me to do," he said, his voice low.
A shiver went down her spine at the sound of his voice, and she understood where his hesitation originated. Shinobi sex education was rather comprehensive in terms of anatomy, reproduction, risks, consent, and the basics of mechanics. But when it came to individualized pleasure, well, the unspoken rule was to learn from your partner. Sakura pursed her lips and placed her hand atop his once more to guide him to the hem of her black panties. She swallowed and let her gaze focus on his muscled shoulder while she coaxed him to her folds, feeling the way foreign fingers grazed through the petal pink curls and press gently against her heat.
Sasuke swallowed hard as he concentrated on the sensations. He felt her middle finger push his down into slick heat, felt the way it slid easily between soft folds. She moaned softly in his ear, making it difficult to resist the urge to thrust his hips against her thigh pressed against his groin. He focused, though, as she used his fingers to guide the pad of his to a small, hardened bundle of nerves. The moment he felt it, Sakura gasped in his ear and her hand twitched. He looked toward her face as though he had just discovered a fascinating tool before refocusing his attention to the sensation. He circled the little bud once, twice, watching in captivation as she widened her legs and ground gently against his fingers. He felt as she gently pushed his ring finger to join his middle, using both to swirl around the slick bud in soft circles until her hand fell away and gripped at his wrist to control the pressure he applied.
She was wet.
Soaked.
The back of his hand that now touched her black panties was cold from the moisture that met the air. The realization made his mouth go dry. He glanced at her face and found her eyes squeezed shut, her mouth open slightly as her breath quickened even more. It almost looked like she was in pain, and if he hadn't known any better, he would have stopped. But the soft moans that escaped her lips urged him on. The honest thought that pleasuring her pleasured him crossed his mind, causing him to nearly filter out the sensation of her right hand trailing up his thigh and slip into his shorts.
When she grasped him in his hand, Sasuke let out a soft grunt of surprise. She opened her eyes and saw an almost dazed expression on his face as she stroked him once, twice, three times slowly. His fingers twitched in her panties, and she wanted to laugh at the way they were able to short-circuit each other's brains in such a way. He bucked into her hand as he resumed his steady circles, both losing their minds to the wave of pleasure that the other created. With her free hand, Sakura grasped at the back of Sasuke's neck and pulled him down to her to connect their lips, all the while feeling the way their breaths brushed against skin and the way their hips ground against their hands.
Sakura's tension began building, building, building as his gentle circles grew faster with her encouraging moans. She had to pull away from his lips to catch her breath, to let herself whimper a moan, to press her forehead to his tightly as release slowly made its way towards her. The hand on Sasuke's dick twitched with her pleasure, her body unable to keep up the rhythm as she ground against his hand and fell into the sensations.
Sasuke paused in his ministrations and let his fingers sink lower into source of the wet heat. Sakura's eyes flung open at the loss of the build and in surprise. Their gazes locked, and she soaked in the way his eyes were glazed with pleasure, want, and everything in between.
"Can I?" he asked, his voice low and hoarse. The tip of his finger tapped gently against her entrance, and Sakura nodded furiously. She pulled her hand out of his shorts and grasped his wrist, urging him to enter her.
"Ah, ah," she breathed, arching her back in pleasure as his fingers filled her, as his fingers sunk deep into her core. "Fuck."
Sasuke pressed his lips to hers once more, letting their hot tongues slide against each other as he slowly thrusted his fingers as far into her as they could go.
She was fire incarnate.
She had to be.
Her walls were slick, hot, and tight. He slid his fingers slightly out of her before letting them push into her again, causing Sakura to moan in pleasure in his ear. She draped her left arm over his neck and seemed to hold on to him for dear life as he pumped his fingers into her faster, faster, faster. Her breathing was ragged at this point, her moans less restrained. He loved hearing her, didn't realize he loved hearing her, didn't want to stop hearing her this way. He wanted to hear more of her moans, her breaths, her slick pussy welcoming each movement of his fingers. She pressed his wrist down so the palm of his hand rubbed against her slick bundle of nerves as he worked, causing her to cry out and grind her hips harder against his hand.
"I, I," she panted before releasing a wanton moan. "I'm…close."
Hearing her admit this made Sasuke steady his fast pace, chase her release, urge her to finish. Her moans grew louder, her hold around his shoulders tightened, and her lips found purchase on his neck as she reached her peak.
"Sa-Sasuke-kun, I—"
"Finish."
"Ah, ah, aah!"
She hugged him tightly as she threw her head back and released an unrestrained moan, thrusting her hips up to feel as much of his fingers inside her as she could. She halted his movements with her vice grip on his wrist, and he felt the way her walls pulsed around his fingers, how her slick, wet heat caressed every part of his fingers that were inside her. Sakura swallowed hard before her pants resumed, and he felt as her body grew limp beneath him as her orgasm subsided from the quick dancing rhythm of her walls to a slower pulse. Her hands lost their firm grip as she came down from her high, caressing the skin on the back of his neck and the muscle of his arm lazily.
He watched as her eyes slowly grew more alert as though she had just realized he was the one that made her orgasm. "Oh," she breathed. "That was very good."
He felt himself chuckle at that, unable to find better words to describe the sight he saw. "Good" was nowhere near enough to explain the sheer wonderment that filled him. "Glad I didn't disappoint you with that," he said instead, attempting a lame joke.
She returned her chuckle before lifting her hand and sliding her fingers into his shorts once again. "Your turn," she murmured, grasping him once more in her hand and stroking him. He bucked into her and inhaled a sharp breath at the feel of her skin against his most sensitive area.
"It might…help if I…," he panted, lifting himself slightly to push his shorts and underwear down before kicking them off his legs. Sakura glanced down and felt heat rush to her face again at the sight of his hardened length.
Her core pulsed as if to signal she wasn't done, but she was determined to narrow her efforts on his release. Sakura sat up to signal him to lay on his back, and he obliged. They switched positions, allowing herself to hover over him while she worked, watching his face while she stroked him softly. "Tell me," she said, trying to push through the shyness that began building in her. "Tell me how."
Sasuke nodded and wrapped his larger hand around hers, adjusting the pressure around his dick as he liked it. She committed the feeling to her memory as best as she could and let herself be guided by him as they stroked his length. "Like that," he murmured, his brows furrowing in concentration and pleasure.
Sakura continued even as his hand fell away and grabbed the back of her head to pull her lips down to his. He slid his tongue to meet hers and let out a soft grunt, and she couldn't help but moan in pleasure into his mouth that he swallowed hungrily.
She wondered how often he did this to himself, how he found a rhythm that he liked. While sex was never an overt topic of conversation, she tended to assume that he was as strictly repressive with his masturbatory patterns as he was unrestrained about training in his life. Seeing how easily he was able to direct her, though, hinted otherwise, and heat began pooling in her core once again.
Sasuke's turn, she reminded herself, continuing the pace. His turn, his turn.
He breathed into her mouth and halted their kissing to choke out, "Faster."
She obliged and increased her pace, watching as his muscled form tensed beneath her, as his hips thrust into her moving hand, as his brows furrowed, and as his face twisted in pleasure. She was spellbound by the sight and captivated when his eyes opened slightly to look into hers. Just as they locked, she felt his hand force her down to have their lips meet again, his hot tongue sliding against hers just as he released a low, growling groan into her mouth.
Sakura halted in her movements and squeezed him when Sasuke's soft breaths released into a hissing moan, savoring the feel of his sweet release in her hand. He unraveled beautifully. She felt his length pulse in her palm and hot seed land on the top of her hand. She closed her eyes and pressed her lips to the corner of his mouth while she listened to his ragged breathing, amazed by him and pleased in herself.
As he came down from his high, he released his hold on the back of her head and let his own fall against the pillows, spent. He opened his eyes lazily and looked to Sakura, exhausted. Her verdant eyes were shining with triumph. "That was very good," he panted, spurring her to chuckle.
"Glad I didn't disappoint you with that," she echoed his earlier retort. When she released his length, Sasuke hissed at the speed and she whispered a hasty apology. He waved it off dismissively before looking down and inspecting the mess they'd made. "We should probably clean up," Sakura suggested, speaking his thoughts aloud.
Sasuke nodded and groggily pushed himself into a sitting position, the reality of what they did together slowly piecing itself and consolidating in his mind. "That was very good," he repeated, half-dazed.
"Don't lose your mind now, Sasuke-kun," she laughed, crouching on the floor to pick up his shorts and underwear to toss it in his direction. He caught it effortlessly before turning and sliding them back up his legs. She did the same with her leggings, but she felt comfortable enough to leave her cheeky panda shirt on the floor. They stayed like that for a few beats: Sasuke sitting on the edge of the bed pensively and Sakura standing with while she hugged herself and rubbed at her arms sheepishly. She then cleared her throat and said, "I'll go and wash…wash up."
Sasuke nodded and offered her a smirk before she pivoted and made her way to the bathroom. While she was there, the Uchiha stripped the top layer of the bed sheets and tossed it on the floor, thinking she would be more comfortable if it were away. When she exited the bathroom, he made it his turn to wash up, even changing his shirt because of where his seed hand landed. He slid on a navy-blue shirt over his head before exiting the bathroom to find Sakura was already tucked into her assumed side of the bed. She looked over her shoulder when she heard him and offered him a drowsy smile.
"Tired?" he asked, pulling the blankets back to slide next to her.
"Mm-hmm."
He settled into place, their place, their space. It was comfortable being with her, more so than ever before, he realized. He reached over and turned off the lamp on his side while she did the same. While his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he felt Sakura turn to face him just before she shuffled closer. Her hands wrapped around his arm as she hugged it to her chest like a slim body pillow, pressing her face into his shoulder.
Sleep was about to take them both, neither of them built with any energy left to form enough words for a conversation, when there was a knock on the door.
"Oi, Teme, you still awake?" came Naruto's voice. "What the hell did you leave a towel out for?"
Sakura snorted a laugh that she muffled as best as she could with her hand and Sasuke rolled his eyes as he called out, "It's a sock."
"No, it's not," the blond called back, his voice laced with a confused frown. "It's a…oh. Oh."
Sakura didn't hold back her laugh this time as bliss bubbled over her, no longer caring that Naruto knew she was there. The pair didn't have to peek out the door to know that Naruto's face was colored as red as a sweet apple with horror, embarrassment, and probably a slew of other emotions.
When sleep finally let its wave crest over Sasuke and Sakura, he had curled his arm beneath her head and she had buried her face into his side, the moonlight shining through a thin sliver between the curtain's shields like a protective beacon for their night.
The next morning, Sakura made her way down to breakfast first to see Temari, Kankuro, and Naruto already seated. The rest of her medical team had already made their way to the medical district as promised, so she took her time in sharing a meal with her friends. Her eyes grazed over Naruto nonchalantly, not giving him any indication that they were both aware of what his two best friends were up to the night before. She could almost feel his eyes dart in her direction, however, but she didn't entertain his gazes with any acknowledgment beyond what she would normally give. She sat at the edge of the table next to Temari. Minutes later, Sasuke entered the dining hall and took his own seat across from the medic, neither of them paying any more attention to the other than they usually would.
"So today," Temari said after she sipped at her morning tea, "Kankuro and I will be escorting Naruto over to the Kazekage building to discuss trade between our villages and Sakura will continue her work in the medical district."
"Sasuke'll come with me, too," Naruto piped up, shooting his best friend an expectant look as if to say they had many different topics to discuss. The Uchiha seemed pointedly ignored the blonde's expression and continued eating his grilled mackerel in peace, knowing full well his feigned ignorance was causing his friend to bubble with irritation. Sakura wanted to laugh at the sight, but instead played her own ignorance as she sipped at her tea and smiled politely at their teammate.
"Sounds good," Kankuro agreed, offering Sasuke a friendly smile. The puppet master's face was bare again today, giving him a less intimidating appearance. "I think Gaara also wanted to talk to you both about how he can assist you with the trial that is coming up in Konoha."
At the mention of Sasuke's trial, Team Seven tensed. It was always in the back of their minds, and Sakura foolishly hoped that being physically away from Konoha would allow them solace from any mention of it. She supposed, however, that Sasuke's reality was that he would never be able to escape from judgment, especially when his past actions involved international figures. She glanced up at the Uchiha to see that he was eyeing Kankuro with a slight furrow of concern in his brow.
"How involved will Gaara be?" Naruto asked.
"He has more details of his involvement," Temari spoke up, "but as far as we know, we were asked to provide two witnesses for your trial, Sasuke. Gaara was a given to be a witness, but we also agreed that I be one, as well. It's assumed that those who were present at the Five Kage Summit will be the ones to provide accounts."
Sakura's heart sank further into her chest at the mention of the Five Kage Summit. It was a definite black mark in Sasuke's book, one that she wasn't sure could be erased. She sent a silent prayer to the universe that there would be good odds in the Uchiha's favor. She watched as Naruto and Sasuke exchanged a look that she couldn't read between them.
"Can I ask you both to be honest?" Naruto began, setting his chopsticks down.
The sand siblings looked to the blond. "Speak your question," Kankuro encouraged him.
"What are your views about what I've done?" Sasuke asked, his face void of emotion and his tone carefully composed.
Temari and Kankuro exchanged their own look before turning back to Sasuke. The sister spoke, "We'll be honest in that we weren't fond of you when we were young, but this was due more to the fact that you posed a threat to our mission against Konoha. The disdain turned greater when we heard that you left Konoha. We heard it was in search of power."
"You heard right."
Sakura bit her lip anxiously and turned back to the siblings to hear them continue.
"It was Naruto that changed that for us," Kankuro went on. "He taught our village about the importance of bonds. He taught it to our brother. We understand that there is more to a situation than meets the eye, and because of Naruto's character…well, there must be a reason that he stood by you all of these years beyond just being a friend." Kankuro took a sip of his tea. "I can't speak on Gaara's behalf too much, but he's been through his own number of traumas. I think he has more empathy than people believe."
"As for Kankuro and me," Temari spoke up, "we have no ill will towards you personally. Call it a leap of faith, call it ignorance, but we have no intention to slander you. We will speak only of what we witnessed and know, both regarding what occurred at the Five Kage Summit and on the battlefield of the Fourth Great War."
Sasuke nodded his head once. "Thank you," he said quietly, bowing his head politely at their kindness. He didn't continue to pry or ask for more questions about their perspective.
Sakura thought about what the siblings said as she finished her breakfast. Their sentiments made sense, not only in the way they carried themselves around the Uchiha, but also in the way the residents of Sunagakure did. As they walked through the streets, it was not lost on Sakura that there were less angry glares or looks of fear shot in Sasuke's way, and he surely must have noticed it, too. Naruto was met with the usual overt hospitality, and perhaps even excitement at meeting a war hero, but Sasuke was not outright scorned for who he was.
She glanced at Sasuke and silently coaxed him to meet her gaze, but he seemed lost in his own thoughts. Don't be consumed by guilt, she wanted to say, but she couldn't help but feel her own knot of anxiety form in her belly. So, instead, she gently lifted her foot to bump against his shin. He looked up at her, locking eyes. She gave him a small, reassuring smile that he nodded to in response.
The group finished their breakfast with friendly discussions about comings and goings in the village and a recap of what Sakura was able to accomplish at the medical district the day before. She was thankful for a change in topic, as she needed to prepare her mind to turn in the direction of work and learn as much as she could about the research that was done from young Nana's biopsy. As her thoughts shifted toward work and productivity, Sasuke's shifted more toward his uncertain future.
Sasuke, Naruto, Kankuro, and Temari arrived at the massive Kazekage tower. They climbed the winding steps and passed by bustling staff who bowed reverently at the group as they meandered in the direction of Gaara's office. When they entered, they were greeted by another group of flustered staff who hustled out of the room with a stack of papers in each of their arms. They startled at the sight of the group before bowing politely to them and hurrying away.
Naruto took the liberty of entering first and announcing himself in a booming voice. "Gaara!" Naruto beamed. "You seem way more productive with your job than Kakashi-sensei."
Temari and Kankuro laughed at his usual boisterous demeanor as they assumed their positions on either side of their brother and leader.
"Good to see you, Naruto, Sasuke," the Kazekage grinned, adjusting his position in his chair. As Sasuke stepped into the wide space, he was able to get a better glimpse to appreciate the sheer vastness of Sunagakure's desert aesthetics in the wide window panels behind its leader. "We have much to discuss regarding our villages' relations, but I wanted to see how you were settling into our village first. You are only here a short while, so I worried one day of rest wouldn't be enough. And Sakura seemed to jump right into work; I worried for her."
"That's just how Sakura-chan is, y'know," Naruto assured him, waving off the concern dismissively. "It was a good rest day for us, right Sasuke?"
The Uchiha nodded and bowed politely at Gaara. "Thank you for your hospitality."
Gaara nodded, pleased with their responses, before narrowing his attention on Sasuke. "We're glad to provide hospitality. I take it your experience has been positive?"
"Yes," Sasuke replied. "It's been…different than Konoha. In a good way."
"There has been news that Konohagakure has been tense," Gaara admitted, an empathetic frown forming on his face. "Discrimination is difficult. I want to assure you that as a witness in your trial, I have no underlying intention of making it worse for you. Despite our checkered past, it's not something I would wish anyone to endure forever."
"I appreciate it."
"Gaara, can I ask something?" Naruto spoke up, earning all eyes to turn toward the blond in the room. "I need you to be honest."
"I'll gladly answer as best as I can."
"What do you think are likely outcomes of Sasuke's trial?"
Sasuke felt his chest constrict slightly. Of everyone in the room that would know the answer best to that question, it was certainly the Kazekage. Even with his youth, he had seen and helped pass judgment in his own village. And surely, he was part of discussions about Sasuke's own actions in the past. There was part of the Uchiha that didn't want to know what Gaara thought, but there was no use in running away from a reality he'd have to eventually face. And, regardless of the answer, it would be in his benefit to know what realities he could be facing.
Temari and Kankuro exchanged a look as if they knew the potential answers but kept quiet as they waited for Gaara to speak.
Gaara pondered the question for a moment as though carefully weighing his words. He folded his hands atop his desk and looked more like a leader now than he had in the past. "I'll respond candidly," he began, "again, with no intention to scorn you, but also with no intention to soften any truths. The crimes that will be examined, as far as I know, are as follows: deserting your home village at age thirteen, joining the Akatsuki, attacking Killer B of Kumogakure, the murder of Samurai with your organization Taka, and the murder of Danzo."
Sasuke tensed as each crime was listed plainly in front of him, the worst of which, his attempt to rule the tailed beasts, not even named.
"I will work to remain as truthful as possible and weigh the different events that impacted each other," Gaara continued. "I will also be considerate of the contributions you made to the war effort. However," he frowned, "I cannot say the same can be said about those presiding over your trial: the village elders."
Naruto visibly bristled at the mention of them and muttered bitterly, "Those raisins."
"Elders, even here in Sunagakure, are known to put the safety of their villages at the forefront of their responsibilities. This works in favor of homelands and makes sense. But this could mean that they are just as blinded by emotion and personal definitions of justice for the sake of safety." Gaara paused as if to ponder his next words and deliver them carefully.
"And?" Naruto pressed.
"And," Gaara continued, "the reality is, the possible outcomes of your trial are many. I don't know the varying degrees, but I can be honest about the least…desired. And the worst is one that the shinobi world is no stranger to."
Sasuke tensed as Gaara's pale eyes locked onto his own.
"Death."