This is a strong GaaSaku chapter, but the SasuSaku is definitely still coming – everything in due time. Enjoy.

Dangerous Temptations

.:. -/ \- .:..

Lilies and Roses

It had been almost five days since she'd slapped Sasuke Uchiha; four days since her shame of letting him manipulate her and six hours since she'd last had an argument with Jiraiya on the subject. Sakura Haruno was doing everything she could to avoid the youngest Uchiha, but sometimes she thought she caught him in her peripherals. Thursday nights were late night shopping and she'd allowed Ino Yamanaka to drag her through their weekly ritual of visiting every clothing store, trying on everything that caught their eye and ending the night at the Hyuuga mansion when Neji and his fiancé had the place to themselves. His father Hizashi always took his mother out once a week for the entire night, and Neji "borrowed" the mansion at his fiancé's suggestion, inviting their closest friends.

Tenten was the partier in that relationship.

Sakura took the opportunity to spend time with Hinata in one of the few places she could speak with the shy girl without worrying about Naruto being there – ever since Sasuke had gotten his claws into her, the blond refused to go anywhere near her. The pinkette lamented over that relationship: they had seemed so perfect for each other. And of course, Hinata was the one left alone in the rain, while Sasuke had clearly moved on, and Naruto pretended she'd never existed. This was yet another reason to steer clear of the Uchiha.

Sakura had decided therefore, to invite Hinata to come with her the following night… she had a date with Gaara Sabaku. Well, she'd agreed to visit his favourite night club with him – the one she had been dragged to by Ino, in which she'd ended up flat against the wall with the redhead ravishing her. She had thought it was just his favourite night club, but it turned out to be so much more – it was owned by his older brother, Kankuro. Gaara used to be a bouncer here once, before an altercation with a drunk in which said drunk had ended up in a coma.

The man was dangerous.

But this was the perfect opportunity for her; to forget the way Sasuke tasted, the fire he ignited inside of her, and to push the memory of his body pressed against hers out of her mind. She needed to move on.

Gaara had put her name on the guest list, with room for more, so Sakura decided she would bring both Hinata and Ino along with her – the blond's objective was to get Hinata laid, and to take her mind off of Naruto. She was so depressing.

Ino was driving, which was another way for her to assert control, and it took almost an hour for them to find a parking spot.

"You better be on that guest list forehead," Ino barked as they piled out of her new Toyota Lexus. "I am not standing around for hours when I don't need to."

"Yeah, yeah, pig. Link arms with Hinata before she gets away, will you?"

Hinata did indeed look like she was about to bolt. Ino did as she was told and pulled the girl in close. "I told you already, Naruto won't be here. Maybe tomorrow night – he seems to like Saturdays most. You're just going to have to hold your head high, saunter in there, and show everyone you're over him."

Hinata stammered as the blond pulled her along – Sakura leading the way. "All o-of who, I-Ino?"

"Everyone, Hinata."

Sakura ignored them as Hinata stuttered about not having to prove anything and strode confidently past the line outside the club. She'd never been on a guest list before, and this was going to be fun. She'd always envied those with close ties to people who owned or ran nightclubs, or even anyone with limited influence that extended to getting their names on said list. She wasn't some nightclub regular, which explained it, really. Being a cop made her overly cautious about the people she associated with, and if it wasn't for Ino, she would never have developed an interest in this lifestyle – Naruto hadn't even been able to convince her, and he did regularly club hop.

Being on the guest list also meant no cover charge.

"Name?" The bouncer grunted at her approach, his eyes flickering over Ino and then settling on Sakura – completely ignoring the obviously shy Hyuuga between them.

"Sakura Haruno," the pinkette said, "and guests."

It took him only a few seconds to locate her name, but before giving them permission to enter, he handed Sakura a small box – jewellery sized. "From Mr. Sabaku," he said. He nudged toward the entrance door. "In you go."

Fingering the small, ribboned box and ignoring Ino's smirk, Sakura nodded and looked up at the neon sign that broadcasted the name of the night club, as she entered: The Lazy Siren.

How had she forgotten that name?

Cool night air was replaced by loud, reverberating explosions of sound and light.

"Later," Ino yelled into Sakura's ear. Hinata gave her a small pleading smile she knew would just be ignored, and was unceremoniously dragged away. Sakura moved toward the bar as she opened her box – a golden key and a small note, unsigned. It just said 'upstairs backroom'. She scoffed slightly. Next thing he'd be dragging her into a cloakroom and professing his undying lust. She shook her head slightly and looked around. Through the crowd, she couldn't spot the back room she'd been in last time with the Sabaku, but there were two sets of stairs visible from her position. Airing on the side of caution, she asked the barman which was which, and then proceeded toward the stairs in the northern corner.

The beefy bouncer blocking her way took one look at her, his eyes flickered over her champagne coloured spaghetti strap dress before taking note of her uniquely coloured hair and grunted. "Haruno?" She nodded and he stepped aside. "Gaara's expecting you."

Feeling like a participant in a reality television show, Sakura climbed the stairs and unlocked the door at the end after knocking. Gaara looked good; his black suit was slim and expensive, yet clearly comfortable. She liked that his hair was slightly tousled – she hated the glossy look some rich guys had, as if it made them so much more unattainable by those "beneath" them. But the Sabaku family, despite their connections, riches and influence, were not your typical high society family. They liked the rough, dirty and hands on approach to life, work and pleasure.

"Gaara," she said, feeling slightly nervous all of a sudden.

He greeted her with a kiss, having strode over to her, gripped her harder than necessary and wasted no time in devouring her mouth. But he quickly pulled away – before she could – and breathlessly whispered her name as way of a verbal response to her greeting. He was making her giddy…

Sakura cleared her throat, noticing for the first time that the office they were in was overlooking the dancing clubbers downstairs. She let her eyes flicker over the room and settle on the centre. It seemed he was a flowers kind of guy.

"Lilies?" She asked.

"They're your favourite."

"How did you know?"

Gaara just smiled, a slight twitch in the corner of his mouth hinting that he was damned proud of himself.

A sitting table sat in the middle of the room held their meal, which consisted of food she normally considered drool worthy. They sat down, now encircled by the petals of her favourite flowers – she liked every species of lily, from Lily of the Valley to Peace Lilies and her absolute favourite, Tiger Lilies – and a small bouquet sat in the middle of the table.

She felt like a spoilt child… the kind that got what they wanted whether they asked for it or not. Gaara had said something the other day about having dinner at his brother's nightclub, but she hadn't imagined he would research her favourite food and adorn the sitting area with her favourite flowers – he'd sent her a mixed bouquet of lilies over the past week but she hadn't thought too much of it.

Sakura couldn't figure him out, and where men were concerned, she wasn't as ignorant as Ino believed. She ran the possibilities in her head, why someone as notorious as Gaara would go to such lengths to impress her. He already knew how to get into her pants, so that scrapped that option. They hardly knew each other, so any feelings he had could only run so deep. And he was such a cheek that she had always had trouble picturing him as seriously romantic. Maybe she was underestimating him. Maybe he didn't want anything except the pleasure of her company.

Except he hated Sasuke and he'd heard the things Mikoto and Jiraiya had been shouting at each other. Not to mention that look Gaara and Sasuke had exchanged as the latter was led from the precinct. The redhead hadn't bothered to find her after their night in that side room, so why now…?

Sakura shook herself. She was here to enjoy herself, and would try to figure him out later. The three course meal consisted of syrup-coated dumplings, umeboshi, and anmitsu for dessert. It wasn't much more than finger food, but this wasn't a restaurant, so she let that go.

They drank, ate, and talked. Sakura didn't much feel like going back downstairs, not really wanting to run into Ino and introduce her to the redhead – she wanted these moments all to herself, just enjoying being with him. As she polished off her anmitsu, Gaara made another move on her; he kissed her, and she let him, he held her and she leant into his touch. He pulled her onto his lap and she lost herself to his embrace.

.:. -/ \- .:.

Over the next two weeks, Sakura would meet up with Ino and Hinata after her shifts a couple of times a week (she wanted to spend more time with the Hyuuga, so was basically avoiding Naruto… for now) and spend every Friday night and the weekend with Gaara Sabaku. He wanted to sleep with her, she wasn't so stupid as to not see that, but things were different this time. He was romancing her and she found herself willingly closing her eyes and just letting him lead her astray.

Her thoughts went to Sasuke more often than she cared to admit, despite the feel of Gaara's fingers entwining with hers, and in spite of their heated kisses. When she was with the redhead, she thought of the redhead, but once she got home and her mind was allowed to wander without distraction, fantasies of Sasuke crawling across her bed, naked and ready to pounce invaded her.

She saw him at the station every couple of days when he came in as a part of his mandatory check-ins (he didn't know how to stay out of trouble it seemed), but always made sure she was in the company of someone who wouldn't take his shit, like Naruto or Kakashi. So Sasuke would stare at her the entire time, but he couldn't do or say anything. And Gaara wasn't the only one leaving "presents". He wasn't allowed near her, but she hadn't taken out a restraining order, so Jiraiya had limited success in preventing the baskets of alcohol, chocolates, and roses that appeared via messenger or just "miraculously" outside her apartment door, sporadically over the course of the two weeks. There was always a card, and every time, the idiom was both heart warming and knee buckling.

Jiraiya was beside himself about how it kept happening, and she hated herself for it – Sakura loved receiving these gifts, as much as she loved the lilies and research into her favourite things that Gaara had made.

Was this the way it had been for Hinata, had he actually stalked her until she gave in? Sakura had been annoyed with the Hyuuga at first, when she'd cheated on Naruto, but the anger had quickly faded at the distraught expression on her friend's face. Now, even without Sasuke physically coming onto her, she was beginning to wonder if the man was some kind of magician. How else would he be able to draw women in like they were moths to his flame?

Three Fridays on from her first "date" with Gaara, Sakura arrived at The Lazy Siren without her friends and wasted no time in heading straight for the usual room – if nothing, she loved the view: it made her feel on top of the world. Anticipation drove her on and she locked the Sasuke in her head behind a door marked "save for later".

Sakura paused before opening the door upstairs, her eyes catching a set of dark orbs that had followed her every move from her entry and she frowned at the split second hint of raven hair. Was that Sasuke? She shook her head at the thought of the Uchiha following her into this night club. Wasn't he still banned?

Gaara was waiting for her as usual, but instead of waiting for him to offer her something to drink, Sakura embraced him, pulling him close and kissed him. It was just meant to be a 'hello' kiss, as she did sometimes; she could immediately taste the alcohol on his lips, and he gripped her tightly, ravaging her mouth remorselessly. He'd maintained his routine of draping lilies over her, occasionally sending mixed bouquets to her apartment, along with chocolate incentives. He was being patient with her – for an incorrigible flirt – and she forgot Sasuke's name as the redhead began to stroke her sternum, moving his fingers sensually along the valley between her breasts, exposed by the décolletage of her dress. Sakura moaned, and pressed into him as his hand went willing toward her left breast, slipping under the thin material to caress her skin. Her dress was slinky, with black with silver trimmings along the seams.

After a few minutes, Sakura pulled away breathlessly and licked her lips. "Hello to you too."

Gaara chuckled. "Would you like something to drink? Or we could just continue..?"

His gaze dropped to her chest and she hastily recovered herself.

"A drink would be nice," she said.

Yes, he was definitely looking to sleep with her again. It had been weeks, and she decided, after getting something substantial into her system – she was suddenly nervous around him – he was going to get what he wanted. So Sakura accepted the wine, ate the food, and conversed on her opinions in his brother's new plans for the nightclub. She had yet to meet Kankuro, or the sister Gaara spoke of that was apparently a friend of Naruto's. She'd known him years ago, long before Sakura had met Naruto, and they hadn't spoken in awhile.

Staring out over the glass wall that separated her and Gaara from the sweaty crowd one floor down, Sakura's eyes were inevitably drawn to her shameless blond friend as Ino sauntered through the crowd and quickly found a brown haired guy she knew. Almost instantaneously, she was draped over the guy and giggling as he nuzzled her neck. Now, she knew that Ino was a flirt at the best of the times, but the way she was hanging onto that guy, moving with the music, one would think they were already lovers... she wouldn't be surprised.

Sakura checked her watch – she'd been in The Lazy Siren for going on an hour, so maybe she they had been here all along and already screwed the guy in one of the darker corners of the night club.

Sakura giggled, lifting the bottle in her hand to her lips. She was having trouble with some blurred vision so wasn't entirely sure on what beverage Gaara had given her – it was different from the wine she'd had at first, and she suddenly couldn't place it. He was watching her closely, his right hand caressing the skin just under the hem of her dress; rubbing circles along her inner thigh.

His eyes flickered to what had caught her attention – the blond he'd seen with her on occasion, called Ino, dancing with Kankuro. Gaara debated whether or not to tell Sakura that was Kankuro, and he already had a girlfriend. But he wanted Matsuri out of his brother's life more than either of his siblings knew. Perhaps this Ino person, who was now dancing seductively with the brunette Sabaku entrepreneur, was exactly what Kankuro needed. So he decided to let things be and see how they went. It would be nice, he thought, to see Matsuri either explode in false jealousy or decide she didn't care and just move one. In the long run, that would be better for his brother.

Gaara waited a moment, and then pulled Sakura away from the glass wall, and out of sight of anyone down there looking up. He was done with the waiting and watching – it was time to take control. He pushed Sakura against the wall, noting the widening of her eyes and pressed against her. But she didn't fight him, she didn't even move as their eyes locked.

"I'm going to fuck you now," he said huskily, and slowly, she nodded in assent.

Gaara took his time however, stroking the tresses that had fallen to frame her face. He remembered their first time together and had subsequently found him thinking of her every so often, wondering if he'd ever see her again. She hadn't been back to the nightclub, and who would've thought someone with her… vigour, would turn out to be a cop. But that didn't bother him, he liked a challenge.

What did bother him was the way the Uchiha had looked at her, in that "you belong to me" look the freak reserved for women he didn't just sleep with and discard. He was in for the long haul with this one – it meant she was as good as his.

'Not if I can help it.'

A gentle brush of his hand caught her hair, and she had to force herself not to reach up and tuck her hair behind her ear. Sakura kept her eyes on his, trying to stare Gaara down as he seemed to have decided to gaze dreamily at her. She didn't intimidate him anymore than she intimidated Sasuke, but at least the red head wasn't trying to undermine her self-control... right?

But she wanted him to kiss her. He was going to fuck her, his right hand now returning to her chest, palming her breast as she inhaled sharply – he'd pinched her nipple. He smirked slightly before lowering his head and crashing his mouth to hers. There was no battle of dominance with their tongues – he was taking control without a fight. There was no gentle consideration as, in typical Sabaku style, Gaara bit her lip before moving his mouth away from hers. Sakura debated this for a moment, the deliriously warm sensation of Gaara's mouth on her pulse point snapping her back to him. His erection was pressed against her and she coiled a leg around his waist as he lifted her off of the wall and laid her onto the nearby couch, hovering over her.

Sakura took the initiative and removed his light dinner jacket, quickly doing away with the rest of his clothes as he undid the ties on her dress. He was being careful with the dress, not wanting to rip it, but the moment she was naked underneath him, he wasted no more time.

He parted her legs, returning his lips to hers as he thrust his fingers into her wet heat. His thumb pressed her nub, the pressure building until she came. She was reminded strongly of their encounter in that night club and gripped tighter to his shoulders. She just wanted to forget that stupid Uchiha, if only for one night, for one moment. And she already knew Gaara was good.

Gaara removed his fingers, licked her juices, and smirked down at her. She was ready, he was hard, and he needed this. He slammed into her without warning and she screamed; her knees rose instinctively as she bucked against him. He was ruthless, giving her no time to adjust and maintaining a torturous pace. She growled as he shifted his angle on her and Sakura closed her eyes, throwing her head back as she let herself drown in the moment. She hadn't needed to fantasize about what he was like, she hadn't needed to wonder how big he was, what got him riled up. And as he whispered his dirty thoughts huskily to her, she lost the will to care anymore about anything but that sweet, hot release and her own pleasure.

.:. -/ \- .:.

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