A/N: ...because real relationships require honest and awkward conversations. But that's all part of the fun! Enjoy the chapter (N.B. I noticed a few mistakes I'd made in the last chapter so I went back and corrected those. Just to clarify, they are currently in Suna).

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

"God," he groaned as light filtered into the room. "I feel awful."

"I'm not surprised," she murmured against his chest. "You drank a stupid amount last night."

"You say that as if I remember last night at all," he muttered. "How embarrassing was I?"

"You weren't so much embarrassing as just extremely clingy."

"That's probably worse," he added. "I didn't...you would've kicked me off, right?"

She initially didn't understand what he was grasping at, then it clicked. Ah. "Yeah, I pressed pause on that. I didn't really fancy going down that path while you were completely out of it."

"Good call," he nodded. Still, whatever he'd tried last night had probably been the manifestation of his honest desires. He could keep passing it off as part of his drunk personality, but at the end of the day, he was a twenty-year-old man in very close proximity to a dangerously alluring woman. He only had so much patience left after all the unforeseen interruptions in their relationship.

"Just so you know," she continued, inhaling deeply. "I probably wouldn't have pressed pause on it, had you been sober." She let her eyes wander around the room as he took some time to take in her words.

"As in...?"

"You may not remember anything you said or did yesterday, but it's all crystal clear in my mind," she said. "Honestly, I kinda liked how forward you were. It was...hot."

"That's a relief," he mused. "So long as I wasn't groping you incessantly."

"You were pretty handsy," she smirked. "But the good kind. I thoroughly enjoyed myself."

"So...are you saying you're ready to..."

"Shikamaru, you're twenty. Are we really gonna walk on eggshells about sex?"

He sighed. Trust Temari of the Sand to spit it out so unceremoniously. "Sorry. I just didn't really know where we stood with it, what with the breakup and all..."

"So we lost a little time. That doesn't mean we need to move backwards, right?" She rolled on top of him and folded her arms underneath her chin. "After all, I want you, Shikamaru Nara."

Suddenly the fog from last night cleared a little as he remembered the way he held her, looked at her, loved and lusted for her. He gulped. "I want you too, Tem."

"That's reassuring to hear," she laughed, raising herself over him a little more so she could press her lips to his. "A part of me was worried you were only saying that because you were drunk and horny," she added teasingly.

"Never," he retorted. "I've wanted you in this way for a long time."

She felt something grow distinctly stiff under her, and her eyes became sly and mischievous in response. "I believe you," she smirked. She leaned forward to kiss him once more, feverishly this time, pressing the length of her body against his as she did so. He reciprocated, his tongue never tiring as it connected with hers, his hands sliding all over her sleepwear before proceeding to slip underneath.

Then, without warning, she shot up and clambered off the bed, picking up yesterday's clothes from the floor and changing into them quickly. Shikamaru, bewildered, sat up and leaned against the headboard in confusion.

"What's wrong?"

"I just needed to confirm what you told me last night," she grinned. "Well, I'm off."

"Where are you going?"

"To sort out some birth control for myself," she said simply, then looked pointedly at him. "Shikamaru, you didn't think we were gonna have sex right off the bat, did you? Some precautions are necessary, you know."

"I just thought since I had condoms..."

"You do?" she raised an eyebrow.

"I carry some on me."

"Wow. You really were anticipating this, huh?"

"Like I said, I've wanted you in this way for a long time," he shrugged in reply.

"Well, as the woman, I'm definitely not taking any chances," Temari said firmly. She saw the disheartened look that he tried to hide and smiled, adding, "Don't worry your pretty little head. It'll be ready for the next time I'm in Konoha." Before he could interject, she was out of the door.

And then it hit him that he'd have to go back soon, and he would be that much further away from the woman who drove him crazy. But until then, while he was still in the comfort of the guest bed, he had to take care of the...problem she'd created for him only a moment ago.