Hey! Before reading this one make sure you have seen the previous chapter - I uploaded it instead of my comment so don't miss it!

I'm terribly sorry for such a long delay, hope you will enjoy it nevertheless. Next chapter will also be written in a week or even more, so bear with me until my inspiration comes back to me.

Love,

-CdF.

Temari

We started our trip back to Konoha and most of the time the only sound that was there was the snow under our feet, as we stepped side by side in silence.

I was still somewhat shocked and felt emotionally haggard from letting out everything I have been hiding inside. The way he understood me even before I spoke came as a surprise, I never thought he was so damn shrewd.

But anyway, he was right. I am a proud being, proud in being strong both physically and emotionally, proud of my ways and my speech and my habit of spilling my thoughts directly into someone's face, proud for not being a fragile, vulnerable little lady, but instead – a fighter, who has been fighting for most of her life. So I closed my eyes to everything what was not really right and I felt boastful that I lived and suffered through that, in a way I was proud of my flaws. In my eyes, they made me special and therefore I was even more proud. My way of living was simply to avoid any situations that could bring out these flaws to the surface. For example, relationships.

But now, clearly, I have gotten myself into something with an ending –ship, and that someone who is another part of this whatever-ship saw right through me, and I didn't even have a chance to think whether I wanted him to know all that or not. He outrun my thoughts before they even emerged in my head, and I had no choice but to admit he was right.

I never felt more naked than I did now, not even when we were having sex. He took not only my clothes but all my shields, emotional ones, and here I was, uncomfortable in my own skin and to describe that more precisely – simply vulnerable. But even though my mind was still conflicted, I didn't feel as bad as I thought I would. After all, he is my friend, not ashamed that I know he has his own flaws and weaknesses, so why should I be? Maybe it just takes some time to adjust.

I got distracted from my thoughts as we arrived at the hostel in the evening and we tumbled through the door of our room indulged in a passionate kiss that started on our way up to the third floor, when I was mounted against the wall and felt his lips on mine in complete darkness.

Shikamaru went on to fill a bath while I threw my bag on the ground and leaned my fan against the wall. My clothes fell down with every step I took towards the bathroom and I stood naked in a doorway to the bathroom. I was never shy about my body and the way his eyes blazed only made me feel powerful over him and that was a weapon I had no reason to hide any more. He froze and only gulped, unable to pull his eyes away, and his hands only came back to life when my fingers unzipped his jacked and got rid of most of his clothes. He gently run his thumb above my nipple, staring at it with admiration, when I slid my fingers under his belt's clasp and pulled him closer, invading his mouth with my tongue. His breathing became heavy and when my hand moved a little lower and grasped his erection he had to pull away from a kiss to gasp for some air, with a stupid grin plastered on his face. Then he attacked me fiercely with all he had, kissing my lips, biting my neck, squeezing every part of my body he could get his hands on. His pants were soon gone and I pushed him away, gazing at his body in broad light for the first time, and oh dear god. The way bathroom light fell on his skin, highlighting outlines of every single muscle, made me want to spend as less time as possible away from that sight. His broad shoulders and muscular arms, flat belly, strong legs, not to mention something really big pointing up at the sky… This time I gulped.

Feeling almost hypnotized I watched his arms reach for my hips and helping me into the hot water, that would have burned my skin if I wasn't burning up from the inside. We submerged in the water, my back to his chest and I leaned into him as he bit my shoulder teasingly, before lathering it up with some soap. His gentle hands fondled my body and felt my shoulders relax, without even realizing how tensed I was the whole day. I closed my eyes and focused on his hands, traveling from my neck to my belly, surely not forgetting my breasts. I was forced to stand up so he could reach my legs and I had to take a hold of a wall not to tumble down, as his fingers were softly lathering up my inner thighs, making me breathe heavily with my eyes closed and desire burning inside of me. He stood up too, sliding his hand between my legs, forcing a load moan from my lips and I could no longer control myself, the only thing still keeping me in one place was a revenge plan, as I lathered my own hands and set them to work. I watched his sly smile disappear from his face and his eyes darken from the passion. His lips parted, and his breathing got heavy as I explored his body, feeling the hard muscles move under my fingers. The shower tap was turned on and we stood under the stream, our hands never left each other bodies and our lips joined again, making it impossible to breathe.

The next second I was forcefully pressed against the wall with one of my leg lifted high up at his hip and I held my breath for I knew what was coming, but he froze and sighed deeply, letting go of my thigh.

- What are you doing… - I complained, exhausted from endless waiting.

- I think this time we really should get a condom…

Heavy sighs and muffled laughs were shared between us as we tumbled outside the bathroom and he went looking for his backpack. It took forever, but what he said next did not cheer me up at all.

- Fuck…

- Please don't tell me…

- I must have forgotten those back in the Hot Springs because I'm sure I have packed them.

- Goddamnit, Shikamaru…

He met my eyes that looked as dashed as his and with a heavy sigh I wrapped a towel around my body and wandered towards the kitchen to make some tea. My belly still stung with all the unfulfilled passion and Shikamaru threw his hands around my shoulders, complaining about his aching balls, that made me laugh so uncontrollably I ended up crying, while he just stared with discontent.

- Geniuses make mistakes as well, huh? – I grinned. He only rolled his eyes as an answer.