A/N: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, followed, or favorite this story thus far. I hope I can keep your interest through the rest of this story. :)

Chapter 5

The long trip to Shikamaru's humble estate was long and tedious. The length of the trip had given her ample time to really think about what was going to happen. She had agreed to pose as said man's girlfriend. What all did this entail? What was he going to expect of her? Strangely enough, Ino found herself none too concerned with what he would do to her physically and more what he would do to her mentally. Shikamaru was a cunning and manipulative person, it seemed, and she did not want to be played around with no matter how much money was at stake.

Shaking off her unease, Ino made a turn into a nice looking neighborhood. Surprisingly it wasn't littered with giant extravagant mansions. It was charming and off the beaten path, so to speak. As she journeyed further into the subdivision the houses became more infrequent, spread out at great distance.

"This is quaint," Ino murmured to herself as her GPS signaled that she had reached her destination.

She came to a halt outside a humble little two story house. It couldn't possibly have been more than 1600 square feet, she assumed as she placed her car in park and stepped out. The style was almost that of a cottage: rustic yet stylish. The drive way was long, ushering visitors back into the surrounding woods to reach the front door. A wrap around porch housed several wooden rocking chairs and a porch swing. Ino imagined that Shikamaru must love to lay out on that porch swing, gazing up thoughtfully at the clouds before dozing off into a peaceful nap.

The front door was a dusky blue color and the siding was a pristine white. Well-manicured flower beds with vibrant colored perennials drew her in closer to study their species. As a hopeful future flower shop owner she was familiar with most of the breeds. The yard was expansive, lush and green with smatterings of fruit bearing trees in random, but complimentary locations. It was beautiful, nothing like the city she lived in.

Shikamaru had been lounging, albeit restlessly, on the couch in his living room, staring eagerly at the clock that hung to the side of the fireplace. Ino should have arrived five minutes ago and he was struggling to maintain his stoic demeanor.

He couldn't help himself; he wanted so badly to take advantage of the situation. He wanted to show Ino that he was worth thinking of, more so than any brainless moron who relied completely on their looks to get them through in life.

In aging he had not changed too much, he thought. He was still lazy and self-centered, but in time he realized that to get what you want out of life a modicum of effort needed to be put forth. He still intended to keep the nonchalant persona that he portrayed, using it to his advantage as he progressed leaps and bounds above the over-eager fools that he was beating out. His cool and calm guise was what kept his clients at ease after all.

Knowing who he was as a person also made it easier for him to set goals. He was currently in a good place in his life. He was successful and sought after due to his assistance in the achievements of the Sabaku Company. They now ran a chain of high-end hotels along the east and west coast and were on the verge of going international.

All he wanted now in his life was a companion to share his success with. He may have been a recluse in school, but once again, with age, he realized how truly lonely life was without a family or friends to share it with. He had business friends and such, but he did not fit the mold. He was a young, single man living in a small home out in the country who was reserved and calculating. Not many individuals were necessarily beating down his door to spend free time with him.

Bar hopping had never been his thing, the act of getting drunk and the proceeding hangover the following day was far too troublesome to deal with. He was also too awkward to internet date. He had only realized this after a few years of attempting it. One only needed to go through so many one night stands and clingy money-grubbing girls to take a hint.

The one girl that he wanted was making him wait, was making him work, was making him put forth an effort, and that suited him just fine. Nothing worth having was ever easy to come by.

Rolling his eyes as he glanced at the clock again, he noticed that a single extra minute had passed by. He was edgy and anxious. He wanted her here now before she thought better of their deal.

She seemed so desperate the other night. Anxious about her future, she had reached out to him for help. She was a beautiful, proud woman and he knew this all too well. So for her to ask for his assistance and accept his offering was against her very nature. She probably had decided to forget all about it.

Sighing with resignation, he arose from the couch to travel to the front of the house. Maybe laying out on his porch swing and dozing in the cool autumn breeze would calm his nerves down.

Upon exiting the house, he noticed a silver car parked out on his driveway. Closing the front door without too much noise, he looked around for the intruder and came to find her admiring his lawn...

She was really a different breed of woman. Her hair fell in a wave of platinum blond down the length of her back and he found the urge to run his fingers through it overwhelming. She wore a dark teal shirt-dress-thing that came to mid-thigh with sheer tights and mahogany colored ankle boots. His eyes took her in reverently and he regretted having to pull her out of her wistful looking daydream.

"What are you looking at?"

Ino was startled out of her revere by Shikamaru's almost accusatory voice. She jerked her head up to the front porch to see him leaning over the railing, observing her in rapt curiosity, much as she had been observing her surroundings.

He wore a half smile on his face as he made to travel down the minimal amount of porch steps to come to stand before her. He wore a loose fitting long sleeve V-neck shirt that showed off a small portion of his smooth bare chest. A pair of sweat pants hung low over his narrow hips and his feet were naked. His shoulder length hair fell loosely around the column of his neck. Ino had never recalled seeing his hair down and she gazed up at him appraisingly.

The smile that Shikamaru wore slowly turned to a cocky smirk as he asked, "See something you like?"

Ino's mood soured almost instantly, "No," she retorted and made to open the trunk of her car, not thinking for the first time that day that this was a bad idea…

"It's ok if you want to admit it muffin. I was admiring you."

The sarcasm was lost on Ino as she blushed furiously at the ridiculous endearment and brazen confession, "Muffin?!"

"Yeah, it is far too cutesy. The clients won't go for it. How about pookie, or pumpkin? Hm…maybe babe…"

"Ino is just fine!" she snapped as she practically hurled her large duffle bag at him.

Receiving a satisfied smirk for her efforts at being aloof and uncaring, Ino sighed and looked at Shikamaru expectantly to lead the way. With a shrug, he did as was expected of him while tossing Ino's duffle over his shoulder to carry.

Upon entering the door, it yielded an open floor concept and Ino was shocked at how well decorated it was. The foyer was short and narrow, but cozy with a set of stairs to the right leading to the next level. Past the foyer and underneath the steps was what Ino assumed to be the coat closet or a half bath. Further back was the breakfast nook that retained a bay window with a built in seat, cushioned with what looked to be some well-worn microfiber. Immediately to the left of the bay window was a door leading out onto an expansive deck which housed much of the same outdoor furniture as the front. To the left was the living room which contained a large wood burning fireplace that was currently lit and stoked to the perfect temperature. There were also built in bookshelves lining the adjacent wall and filled to exploding with numerous books, magazines, and ledgers. To the right was the modest kitchen with oak colored floors and cabinets, two barstools accompanied an island in the middle of the U-shaped kitchen. The barstools were situated to have the occupants facing away from the living room.

"This is it," Shikamaru supplied, shrugging noncommittally.

Ino had to restrain her complements, not wanting to give Shikamaru an even bigger head, "Where will I be staying?" she asked, meeting his neutral gaze.

Without a word, Shikamaru turned to head back toward the front door and Ino followed. Mounting the stairs, she found herself curious to see what his bedroom could possibly look like…before she mentally shooed away the thought. She absolutely did not want to be familiar with the layout of his bedroom… She found herself blushing faintly as they reached the precipice of the stairs.

A minimal amount of railing was present, allowing the viewer to take note of an intricate chandelier and glance down at the front door and foyer. On the opposite side one could view the breakfast nook. To the left of the stairs she noticed two doors and to the right she noticed another two. Shikamaru turned right and gestured to the door to his immediate right.

"This is your room," he mentioned before tilting his head slightly to the left, "that is my room."

Ino bristled slightly as she swore he began to leer at her, "I don't care!" she snapped and was suddenly startled to find herself being backed into the nearest wall…

Her eyes widened minutely as she released the suite case she had been carrying to place a hand against his chest in warning. This gesture did little to dissuade Shikamaru as he dropped her duffle bag to place both hands on the wall to either side of Ino's head, effectively capturing his prey. His eyes gleamed with something that Ino wasn't familiar with as his mouth dipped to be within a breath's distance from her own.

Shikamaru couldn't help himself; the blush that darkened her cheeks as he gestured to his room just did something to him. He found himself wanting her at that very moment more than he had ever. She was in just the perfect position for him to take advantage of her too. Back pressed against the wall, looking at him with startled sky blue eyes.

He was pleased to see that her expression wasn't that of disgust or loathing, she was simply startled and looking up at him expectantly with that small hand of hers pressed to the center of his chest. There was no way she couldn't feel the pounding of his heart, the very thought unnerved him as he made a point to school his features the best that he could.

Ino's heart raced furiously as her body began to tremble uncontrollably; suddenly all of the minute feelings that he had been eliciting from her since the night of the reunion came rushing back to her in full force. A heat ignited in her belly once again as she did everything she could think of to maintain her composure, to include closing her eyes before she realized that he may take that as an invitation and opened them up widely.

Moments passed that seemed to stretch for hours as Shikamaru remained unmoving. His eyes would drift slowly over the contours of her face before journeying back up leisurely to take in her bewildered expression.

Finally, Ino found her voice, "What are you doing?"

She shivered as he licked his lips and the minute tremor was not lost on him.

He was hard pressed to think of a decent excuse at that moment and was pleased when his calculating mind produced one effortlessly, "We need the clients to believe that we are a couple don't we?" he asked cryptically, his eyes boring into hers once more.

"You mean you need them to believe–," Ino was cut off abruptly as Shikamaru slanted his mouth over hers, effectively silencing her comments.

He could finally take no more. She was going to argue with him. She was going to show him her fiery personality that he loved so much.

He pressed his lips to hers hotly and heard the hammering of his heart in his ears as she didn't withdraw from him. She was allowing this to happen and the thought thrilled Shikamaru to his very core. He would show her that he was worthy of her affections if it was the last thing he ever did in his life.

His tongue stroked languidly against the part of her lips and he was rewarded for his efforts as she yielded to him. He found himself taking his time, enjoying the feelings that he was experiencing as he wound his tongue slowly around Ino's

Her hand, held up in defense, now clutched mindlessly at his shirt. Ino found her back stiffening before relaxing almost immediately, the feeling of Shikamaru's mouth upon hers in such an unhurried passionate manner causing a tingle to travel from the center of her chest to the juncture of her legs.

Her ears burned hotly in minimal embarrassment and anger as she made to return the kiss. Two could play at this game…

She let out a soft seductive sigh and pressed herself forward flush against his body, delighting in the startled gasp that came from her tormentor. Her free hand wandered on an unhurried journey up the length of his arm and the column of his neck before tangling gently in his loose hair, gripping gently at the soft strands. This gesture seemed to unleash the animal within as Ino found herself pressed roughly up against the wall with Shikamaru's hands gripping her hips tightly. A strong leg came to press between her thighs and Ino felt an unrestrained moan escape her throat as she broke the kiss to pant restlessly and stare up at the ceiling.

She could feel a tremble run through Shikamaru and before things could get carried away any further she breathed out, "Physical attraction is easy to fake…" her eyes took in his confused expression with a minimal amount of smugness as awareness began to seep into him and he withdrew his body slowly.

Something strange passed through his eyes, but was gone within an instant as he pushed his hands deeply into the pockets of his sweat pants and looked at her with a barley contained look of irritation.

"What we need to work on is our background story…" Ino suggested.

Shikamaru raised a brow at this comment before he huffed out, "You work on the background story. I have more important things to do," with that he turned unhurriedly to enter his room.

"Like what?!" Ino snapped her ire peaked again.

"Like work," Shikamaru supplied flippantly, "one of us has to earn a living," he tossed back over his shoulder as the door shut behind him.

Ino felt like screaming…

Shikamaru pressed his back against his bedroom door, his heart hammering madly in his chest. She was such a tease! There was no possible way that the kiss they shared had not affected her like it had affected him. Clenching his jaw, a muscle jumping in his cheek, he made his way to the desk that was present in his room. He intended to dive into his work, to get his mind off of the siren on the other side of that wall.

A/N: Alright, onto the next! I hope I got some of you hot and bothered with that. It has been a really long time since I have written a story so please let me know if you think I am doing well. I'm also concerned that I am not expressing their feelings and emotions as well as I once was able to so please let me know if you disagree with me. Please review!