After her and the girls went through a few bottles of champagne, Ino felt like she was melting into her cushion on her floor. It was unbelievably hot. The stuffy wooden tea room lacked circulation on this summer evening, and so she decided to open the doors that led out to the pool area. The rest of the girls were stuck in a heated debate over which shift at the hospital was the worst, but that didn't really matter to her. Pretty much any shift was a pain, especially since she still had to work part time at the flower shop.

Leaving the ruckus of voices, she walked over to the glass door, sliding it open. Stepping into the night, drink in hand, she inhaled the enticing evening breeze. The sun had barely set, the sky still an inky shade of deep purple as shadows disappeared momentarily. Walking out to the pool area, she could see the twinkle of fireflies above the water's surface. Entranced by the spectacle of their movement, Ino missed the shadow in the water approaching her.

"Careful. Wouldn't want you to fall in, again."

"Jeeze, you scared me!" Ino blurted, flinching from his sudden appearance. "Creep much?"

"What?" Neji questioned in disbelief, "I was here first. You're the one creeping on me while I'm trying to swim."

"I... I wasn't. I came out here to enjoy the pool. But now that I know it'll be impossible, I'll be going."

"I'm not done talking with you, woman."

"Fuck off, Neji!" she called over her shoulder while stomping back towards the tea room doors, completely oblivious to the grin tugging on the corner of his mouth.

She hadn't been prepared for that. She had dirt on the man, and yet she was having a hard time keeping control of the conversation. He was the one who should be embarrassed, not her. What was his deal?

"Ino-chan, there you are!" Hinata smiled, handing her a cup of fresh brewed tea.

"Thanks, Hinata. But since it's so hot, I thought I'd go for a swim."

"That sounds like a great idea!" Sakura agreed, joining the others as they jumped up and down with excitement.

So much for her plan of confronting him right now. His nonchalance was unsettling to her, did he really enjoy teasing her this much? How far was he willing to go to get a rise out of her? Ino wasn't sure, but the idea of finding out was somewhat exciting. Too bad she and the girls had to run him off now, she was definitely looking forward to seeing him squirm. Now that she knew how he thought of her, surely she could toy with him as retribution.

"It's not here," Ino stated in confusion, rummaging through her bag desperately. "Tenten, you saw me pack my swimsuit, right?"

"Um, I think so..." she thought, tapping her finger along her bottom lip.

"I could have sworn I packed it," Ino claimed in a deflated tone.

"It's okay, Ino-chan. There are spares in the pool house bathroom," Hinata announced, as they each went their separate ways to change.

Chugging the rest of her drink, Ino set the glass down and walked out onto the patio, ready to face him. Looking around, she saw no signs of Neji, which she assumed was probably for the best, and shrugged it off as she made her way through the door of the pool house. In the bathroom that was just to the right of the main entrance, was a large wooden dresser that was full of swim suits and towels for guests. Flipping through the stacks of vibrant materials, Ino found a purple and teal bikini that would do just fine. Closing the drawers, she turned around to change into the skimpy suit, only to come face to face with Neji's dripping body as he leaned against the doorway, drinking in the sight of her.

She wanted to yell at him for sneaking up on her again, then push him out of the way so she could close the door... but she couldn't stop staring. Clad in only swimming trunks, the rest of his glorious body was completely exposed. Tiny water droplets beaded off his wet and tousled hair, landing upon the taught skin that covered the sinuous muscle of his lithe torso. Without his usual headband, his dark locks fell down into his face. Through the damp strands, she could see the look he was giving her, and it sent chills down her spine. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Ino pulled herself out of the stupor the nearly naked man put her in, smiling at him with saccharine sweetness.

"Could you please leave so I can change? Or are you here to watch, creepy?"

"I'm not leaving until we finish our conversation."

"And which one was that, Neji-kun?" she smirked, wanting him to say it out loud.

"I believe you know the one."

"Oh! The one where I caught you wanting to have your way with me? Is that the one you wanted to discuss?"

"Yes," he clipped, visibly irritated.

"Okay, I'm all ears."

"Good, now listen up," he stated calmly, inching his way toward her. "You can stop playing games with me. I know you won't say a word to anyone about what you saw and heard, you're too embarrassed. It's written all over your face."

"You obviously don't know me very well," she smirked, wanting him to sweat it out. The more he thought she might say something, the better. Hopefully, she could leave it at that for now.

"You aren't going to say anything, because then you'd have to explain why you hate it so much. But it won't be true, will it?" he teased, "Even I know you are secretly loving this."

She went to move around him, but her plan of walking right out of the bathroom was halted abruptly as a toned arm against the door frame blocked her exit.

"Watch it, perv boy. I don't care who you are, you can't treat me this way!"

Her hands came up to push him out of the way, but as they made contact with his firm chest, Neji grabbed hold of her wrists, slamming the door shut with his heel as he stalked towards her. Chuckling at the panic that was written all over her large cerulean eyes, he continued to walk her back until her backside made contact with the bathroom counter. Coming to a startling halt as she hit the counter, Neji pressed his hips against hers, pinning her into place. As he felt the warmth of her body heat radiate through his core, he released a sigh. Having Ino exactly where he wanted her, Neji leaned down towards her shock-plagued face slowly, taking her quivering bottom lip between his teeth, as he tugged on it playfully.

Quieting a gasp, Ino tried to control her expression, not wanting to give into his advances so easily. But she'd be lying if she said she wasn't entirely opposed to the idea of seeing his desires through. Neji was intense in his own way, surely it wouldn't be that terrible of an experience for her.

Her body was not helping matters. It reacted on its own, her brain having to work overtime to try and qualm its growing urge as her resolve began to crumble. However, there was something odd about the way he looked at her, it was a hard emotion to place, but it was there. Still, her curiosity grew.

"If you want to act like a brat, you will be treated like one," he clarified, his eyes darkening as they looked her up and down.

It was clear he was in control of her now, she had grown quiet and timid, a far cry from what she had so recently been. She may be acting tough, like she was putting up a fight, but it was obvious there wasn't any fight left in her. He would just have to show her the truth.

"You make me sick. Release me this instant, Neji… or… or I'll-"

"Or you'll what? Read my mind again? Why don't I just save you the trouble."

He wasn't a fool, he knew the obnoxious blonde was goading him on for a reason. Why else would she flaunt herself in front of a man she knows thirsts for her body?

Unless, she also wanted it.

She would have fled a lot earlier had the thought displeased her as much as she was letting on. As a head member of a noble clan that could get anything he wanted at any time, Neji was in some respects, spoiled. It was common place to have women fawning over him, not once had he ever needed to persuade anybody for such pleasures. However, he wasn't one to back down from a challenge, and this woman was certainly challenging. She tried to seem disgusted by him and his lecherous thoughts, but her body couldn't lie as well as her mouth could.

When the simpering blonde's breath hitched as their bodies pressed against one another, he knew he wasn't pushing the matter. This was exactly where she wanted to be. He had released her wrists long ago, her hands still upon his chest, yet here she was... looking at him with a scowl on her blushing cheeks. She was painting a very conflicting picture, but it was one he didn't need his Byakugan to see through.

She wanted him.

"Admit it. You're curious," he breathed, a smirk returning to his lips when she made no move to leave.

With a sudden firm grasp on her hindquarters, Neji picked her up, placing her down onto the cold granite of the spacious counter top. Staring deep into her eyes, his hands came to rest on her knees, spreading them open slowly, waiting for any sign of resistance as he stepped between them. Inch by inch, his hands smoothed their way up her thighs until they met the hem of her black skirt. When she still made no effort to stop him, he allowed his hands to dip beneath the hem and wander further up her skirt until he found the waistband of her panties. Her eyes were closed now, her breathing more labored, but still, she waited silently for him to continue. His fingers now resting on her hips, Neji let his thumb drop down and swipe across the front of her panties. It was a light, but intentional caress, one that caused her to gasp as she felt her skin prickle in reaction to his touch.

The simple brush of his finger sent a shock wave through her body, her hips widening on their own as his thumb repeated slow circles across the deliciously sensitive area. Through the thin material of her panties, he could feel the heat emanate from her center, his slow traces over the throbbing bud was causing a flood of racy reactions from this woman as her nails dug into the skin on his shoulder.

"N-Neji... wait..." she whimpered halfheartedly.

"You'll have to sound more convincing than that, Yamanaka," he chuckled darkly, cupping a hand firmly against her and the moistening membrane of fabric.

"Ass!" she spouted angrily, hating the fact that she was being turned on by the likes of him.

"Yes, yours is very nice. Although, I'm sure you heard me admiring it earlier, isn't that right?"

Trying to hide her deceiving face, Ino turned away from the man's warm breath against the shell of her ear, her lips trembling as she tried to swallow a groan. Neji's hand was still rubbing against her sex, drawing larger circles around her sensitive mound of flesh. The intensity was starting to make her feel dizzy, and she felt the need to escape... quickly. At this rate, she wouldn't last much longer.

It's not like she'd never had sex before, but it was always such a let down. She would spend hours getting gussied up, only to pick the one man who couldn't hold out for more than a few seconds before the whole experience was suddenly over. Having lost her faith in ever finding the satisfaction she craved, Ino was stupefied to find it here, with him of all people. She felt so raw, so aroused, so bare before this man's eyes, like helpless prey about to be devoured.

Her curiosity was winning.

She needed to know.

Ino had served herself up to him on a silver platter. She had let this little tiff turn her on, and with the way Neji's fingers were teasing her most sensitive of places, it was difficult to keep reminding herself this shouldn't be happening. But deep down, that sense of doing something so wrong was actually making her head fall back and her mouth drop open in pure bliss. She didn't want him to stop... she wanted more.

Letting out a heady moan, Ino instantly blushed, not recognizing the sound that just escaped her lips. She had given him exactly what he was searching for judging by the muffled scoff at the nape of her neck. But before he could question her lovely chorus, Ino's eyes snapped open as she heard a knock at the door.

"Ino-chan? Are you in there? Did you find a bathing suit?"

"Hinata? Is that you?" Ino smirked, staring at the glowering man in spite.

She was saved!

"Don't even think about it," Neji whispered maliciously, not willing to let his meal escape his grip. He was famished, mouth watering by the second in his excruciating hunger for her.

"Hinata, you won't believe what happen-AAH!"

Before she could finish her sentence, Neji had taken her swollen bud between two fingers, pinching and massaging it in his grip. A low growl escaped his mouth as he clasped onto her bottom lip again in an effort to cease her talking.

"Ino-chan?! Is it your head, again? Tsunade-sama said to be careful over the next few hours until the head spells pass. You can't have your jutsu acting up on just anyone, you know."

With a knowing grin, the ravenous man let go of her lip and looked down at the panting mind reader. With her mouth agape, cheeks flushed, and eyes half open, she was quite a sinful sight. He took great pleasure in watching her every move, hanging on every sound she made, his ministrations unyielding in their torment.

"Answer her so she'll go away. I'm not done with you, woman."

"Fuck. Y-You."

"We'll get there. But in the mean time, be a good girl and tell her you're fine."

"I-Ino-chan?"

"Ah… yeah, Hinata. I-I'm fine. I promise."

"Are you sure you're okay? You don't need any help?"

"No..."

"No, you're not fine?!" Hinata squeaked, fearing what could have happened.

"Yamanaka," the man hissed between clinched teeth in impatience.

"Hinata, I'm fine. I'll be out in a minute. My head is feeling... mmmuch better."

"Oh, okay then. I'll leave you to change. Take it easy, and meet the rest of us out by the pool when you're ready."

Bowing to the closed door between them, Hinata retreated, the soft patter of her feet signaling their seclusion once again. As the sound of footsteps disappeared, Neji let go of his pincer-like grip on her, causing her to release a groan she had been holding back.

"Interesting turn of events, wouldn't you say?" he grinned, planting his hands on either side of her.

"How so? They'll be back to check on me in a minute. Now, move so I can change. You've had your fun, now leave me be."

"You haven't seen fun yet, I'm just getting started," he promised in a menacing tone, gripping her behind the knees and pulling her up against the growing bulge in his swim trunks.

He had become excited during the act of almost being caught with his hands up her skirt, and now he was simply reminding her of the fate they now shared. His apparent erection rubbed against the moistened center of her panties, taunting her with what's to come... what could soon be hers. She could lie through her teeth and tell him she wasn't interested, but he knew their unfinished business would send her straight back to him.

Choosing to let her stew in it, Neji released his grip on her, and backed away slowly. He had barely touched her, but she looked plenty bothered and disheveled sitting on that counter. This was fortunate because he wanted to leave her unsatisfied, wanted her to come crawling back to him, begging for more. He had given her the tiniest of samples, and looked forward to seeing what she would do for seconds.

"You know where to find me when you get curious."

"As if I would be curious about you!"

"You will be. That knot of arousal sitting tightly in your tummy, that nagging reminder of being unfulfilled, and the way you are looking at me right now tell me everything I need to know. Anything you say is meaningless, because I can see the truth. Come find me when you see it, too."

As he shut the door behind him, Ino stood, staring at her vulgar reflection. Her bedroom eyes appeared dark and glazed over, her cheeks were flushed, and her skirt was pushed up, exposing her panties. Perturbed, she looked away, hating the fact that her face had so easily betrayed her. She hated that he was right, and most of all, she hated that she didn't hate it. Blaming her mounting frustration on the disappointment she had with her own actions, Ino pulled herself together and changed into her swimsuit quickly. She was all too eager to put some distance between her and what just transpired inside that bathroom.