Chapter Fifteen
Sakura's jaw dropped while she stared at the silhouette that had join her in the giant tub. The steam was still too thick to see him clearly, and she wondered if he even knew of her presence in the room. Maybe there was a possibility of her sneaking away still. Scooting herself towards the edge of the bath, she was beginning to plan just that.
'Just be stealthy.' She thought.
Pulling herself out of that bath was a struggle for the rosette. The bath towel she kept around her body was heavy from soaking in the water, but she refused to let it go. No matter how quilted the steam was in the room, Sakura refused herself to be bare naked in Gaara's presence.
Once she was out of the bath, she paced herself around the pool and towards the exit. Her heart beat faster when she drew closer to the shadow, knowing she was going to have to cross behind him to reach the door. She cursed at her stupidity when her steps echoed from hitting the moist puddles. The wet drops from the towel began to drip and betray her secrecy. She just hoped he was still too incoherent to notice her, or that he would see how determined she was to leave and just let her go.
She told herself with confidence that if he called out to her that she wouldn't stop. She could not let herself be seen like this. When she drew nearer to him her heart stopped, and she held in a breath while she quickly paced behind his back. She still expected him to call to her, to ask her what she was doing, why she was in here; but she did not expect him to be bold enough to do what he did.
Her feet were not quick enough to walk past him, and she shrieked when she felt his hand grip her ankle. She stopped herself from tripping, and turned to face him, clinging her towel closer to her body while she tried to see past the steam. Her mind began to race with questions on what to do next, but felt herself frozen in her spot while his fingers gripped her ankle tighter.
Should she kick him off, pull away, speak up? Before she could decide on any of those options, he harshly tugged on her and she lost her balance. Sakura cringed knowing she would hit the hard, tile floor, but felt him pull her towards him with such force that by the time she fell, it was in the warm bath water.
She tried to cry out, but only water entered her lungs while she sank towards the bottom of the bath. When she realized he was no longer holding onto her ankle, Sakura rose quickly to the surface and took in a sharp breath. She could feel her anger rising from the action. This was like child's play, pulling someone into a pool, and she found her voice then.
"Hey!" She cried, narrowing her eyes.
"What the hell?!"
When Sakura's eyes finally found his, her cheeks turned a crimson color. The steam no longer hid his face and naked body. Even though his torso and everything below it was hidden under the water and bubbles, she still was given quite a view of his bare chest. His elbows were resting at the edge of the pool behind him, this was causing the muscles in his front to prod out more, and the rosette couldn't help but stare.
'He's not just handsome. Gaara's hot!' Sakura's mind drooled, eyeing his hidden abs.
Sakura's gaze traveled up and down his body before being caught up by his eyes again. She could feel herself panic when his orbs narrowed towards her, he had just caught her ogling him again. She waited for his reprimand, for him to question why she was here now and for her to leave, but instead watched as he brought a small bowl towards his lips. She could see a clear liquid in the bowl while he sipped on it, and behind him was a small bottle.
"Ah!" Sakura spoke with eyes widening.
"You're drinking more?!"
While Gaara continued to sip his drink, his gaze remained glued to Sakura's and he never tore their look. When he finished drinking the saké, he poured some more of the liquid into the bowl before motioning the glass in her direction.
"Here." He said.
"Tea."
Sakura wrinkled her nose when she looked at the drink he was offering her. It certainly didn't look, or smell, like tea.
'Did he go down into the kitchen to get that? Does he really think that's tea or is he trying to trick me?'
At his offer, Sakura turned her eyes away from him and towards the water below her. She remembered that only a wet towel covered her, and lowered her body deeper into the bath until water was splashing against her lips. She clutched the fabric tighter against her.
"Kazekage-sama, that isn't tea."
Sakura brought her eyes back up to Gaara, who still held the bowl towards her but with narrow eyes that studied her. He stayed like that for some time before bringing the bowl back to his lips and emptying the contents into his mouth. She watched him curiously, wondering if she should again try to leave. This situation screamed danger in her mind.
She was distracted by him again when he smacked his lips and examined the empty bowl he held. Like lightening though, he moved, and Sakura only had time to gasp when she felt the small bowl whiz past her face. The force of Gaara's throw had the bowl whistling past her and her hair flying up some. Behind her, the delicate dish crashed against the wall with such power that it shattered into many pieces. The rosette turned her head to watch the small pieces scatter everywhere, and her jaw once again dropped.
'Why did he do that? Did I piss him off?'
"Gaa-ra."
Sakura turned her head back to the young lord when he spoke his own name. His eyes were once again on hers, yet his body relaxed to the same stance he had earlier, elbows resting behind him. Sakura tilted her head towards him, wondering why he was speaking his own name until he again voiced.
"No more Kazekage." He slurred slightly.
"You will call me Gaara."
Sakura remained silent while they watched one another. Gaara looked as though he was waiting for her to answer him, but she remained silent and confused by him.
'Why does he want me to address him so casually?' She thought to herself.
She remembered the damage to the small bowl that was behind her now. Before, Gaara had seem so solemn because of the drink, but now that mood was completely gone while she studied his hard face. Was it because he was now drinking more? Was she even safe in his presence at the moment? She had heard of violent drunks, and wondered if Gaara would turn on her if she defy him. Would her friend really do that to her?
"Why?" She asked after some time.
She waited, but was only answered with silence. His look on her was still just as intent, as if he was silently telling her not to question. Sakura, however, returned his stare and in time she saw his eye twitch. Obviously it bothered him that she held a resisting look towards him.
"Because," he began, "you are my friend."
Sakura's eyes widened briefly to his words and how much emphasis he put into them. Had this been something that had been bothering him for some time? They had been calling one another friend for a few days now, but their speech to one another remained formal. She knew her place was below him, to just start going around and calling on him so casually would not go unnoticed by others. Or was this the drunk talk again? Tomorrow, once he relapsed, would he still ask her to call him by his name and not his title?
"It isn't appropriate." Sakura said, raising her chin a little higher out of the water.
She could see Gaara's body and eyes fidget to her defiance, but kept her bold front.
"You do not call me by my first name, why should I do so with yours?" She spoke
Gaara licked his lips while staring still at the rosette, he was in thought to her words. Finally he opened his mouth, and Sakura waited for him to speak. The words didn't come out right away, and the young woman began to wonder if his drink had turned him into a drunken stupor. He again licked his lips after some time before he finally found his voice, and courage.
"...kura."
Sakura gave a small gasp to Gaara's mumbling. She knew now why he struggled to find his voice. He was just as shaken as she was to finally be addressing her by her name in her presence. She sensed her heart now beating faster after hearing her name escaping his lips, and she wasn't exactly sure why. Why was this exciting her? It was just her name, everyone at home called her Sakura. Why was this different? Was it because this was Gaara? Was it because she knew she had feelings growing for the young man in front of her?
Perhaps it was because she knew Gaara was not close to many. This casual talk between them sealed the idea of them being close in her mind. Gaara was Kazekage, so it was exciting to know that he perceived her at a higher level than almost all of the villagers here. She was the first he ever heard call by their first name save for Naruto, Temari, and Kankuro.
She knew then that his whisper of part of her name wasn't enough for her. She wanted to watch his lips form the vowels to her title again. She wanted, needed, to hear him speak her name again. She decided to play dumb.
"I'm sorry. I didn't hear you." Sakura spoke, making sure she watched him.
"What did you say?"
Gaara turned his eyes away from her when she asked this, though he didn't outwardly show it, he was still too bashful to say her name loudly. He sighed as he stared towards the water, trying to bring back his unwavering audacity. He was a strong lord, what had this rosette done to him? He sighed before returning his look back to her.
"Sakura."
He did his best not to let his body show the many emotions now coursing through him. Excitement, fear, curiosity, all of them threatened to shake the strong lord in front of her gaze. Sakura, too, tried to hold back her quivering body. Her name escaping his lips made her feel beyond flustered. She hoped that once Gaara was sobered up, he would not return to calling her Haruno. She wanted to forever be Sakura to him.
As time passed in silence, Sakura was beginning to realize her shocked stare remained on him, but she couldn't tear her eyes away. Gaara, too, kept his look on her, trying to figure out how she perceived him with using her name. She didn't look thrilled, but she didn't look angry either. Just impacted, and he wondered why.
Gaara felt a hiccup escape him, and his mind began to spin again. Closing his eyes, he tried to arrange himself before bringing his eyes back to hers. He felt sleep wanting to claim him again, but refused to answer it's call just yet.
"Say my name." Gaara finally demanded of the rosette in front him.
Sakura bit her lip at his request. It was just his name, right? Why did she feel intimidated to say it? She, too, took a moment to build up her spirit, licking her lips in process. She failed to notice how Gaara watched her tongue slide across her lips.
"Gaara."
Sakura watched him closely, still wondering if this was what he wanted. When she noticed his eyes widen and a twinkle emit from them, a smile formed on her face. She almost felt like laughing at how surprised and thrilled he looked. Never before had she seen that sparkle in his eyes. It didn't take long for him to ask another request of her.
"Say it again."
His voice was laced with urgency and desire this time. There was awe in Sakura's eyes because of that, and she was silent in thought.
'Who would have thought just saying his name held so much meaning for him?' She mused.
Sakura cleared her throat before speaking.
"Gaara." She abide to his request.
Again, she smiled to Gaara's amused stare. She had no doubt he was smiling in the inside from her voice. She had to admit, hearing him say her name had made her giddy. It surprisingly also made her feel closer to the young lord.
'Who would have thought?'
She knew he was feeling the same as her. That this small act brought them closer in a way. There was no more use of formal titles or family names between the two, they were now passed that. It was just Gaara and Sakura from this point on.
It wasn't until she saw Gaara begin to walk towards her through the bubbles did she blush again and felt her heart sink.
"W-Wait, why are you coming this way?" Sakura stammered.
She could feel her back hitting the edge of the bath, so she began to dunk her body deeper towards the water while he continued his way towards her. She tried to read his eyes, but they had fallen passive again. His cheeks were flushed in red now due to the heat of the bath and his drink.
"Please," Sakura pleaded, "don't come any closer."
Gaara made no attempt to stop however, and when he was feet from her, Sakura grew tense. Without a second thought, she turned and began to scramble out of the bath. Again, she had a hard time due to the heavy, wet towel she refused to drop. Before she could even bring her legs out, she felt the redhead snake his arm around her waist. To his touch, she stilled and shrieked lightly. The blush on her face deepened when he slowly began to pull her body back into the water and closed the distance between them by pulling her against his chest.
Sakura's heart raced when she felt Gaara's entire body shaping into hers. Instinctively, she brought her hands to his hand around her waist, but she could find no strength to push him away. She just stood there in a trance while his arm hugged her tighter, her hands on his.
'What the hell is going on?!' She kept screaming in her mind.
When Gaara made no attempt to move, Sakura searched for her voice.
"W-What are you doing?" Sakura managed out, it had sounded more like a whisper.
To her question, Gaara began to play with the pink strands of hair that were near his face. Examining each piece one by one and fiddling them between his fingers. After some time, he sighed and buried his face into her hair while bringing his other hand to wrap around her hip. Sakura stiffened when she felt his body push closer into hers. Their bodies were against one another in a provocative way and she again clung her towel closer to herself. She thanked the heavens that at least the wet fabric separated their skin from touching one another. The only movement Gaara made was when he tried to stifle a hiccup and his body would bounce lightly, his face was still buried in her pink hair, inhaling her scent.
"G-Gaara," Sakura tried again, "we shouldn't be like this."
To her voice, Gaara pulled back and brought his lips down to her ear. Sakura shivered when his hot, drunk breath blew into her ear. His lips, too, were so close to her skin, and it made her rethink how attracted to him she really was.
'Keep it together.' She kept telling herself.
'He's drunk, you're the sober one. Don't let something happen he'll blame on you tomorrow.'
"Why?" He finally spoke into her ear.
Before Sakura could retort, Gaara nibbled the lobe of her ear playfully. She drew in a sharp breath, her mind racing once more before she could focus and speak again.
"Because, it..."
Sakura had to pause when she felt Gaara's ministrations become more aggressive, it was if he was trying to get her to submit to him. The rosette recalled when Temari had told her Gaara was the one who liked to be in control. However, she knew she could not give in to him and return his sudden interests in her. He wouldn't even be like this if it weren't for the alcohol. Clearing her throat, the young woman tried once more to reach out to him. She hoped her words weren't just flying past his head.
"Because, it isn't right. You're drunk right now, can't you understand that your judgment is clouded?"
Sakura was surprised to feel Gaara stop his nibbling, though his breath and hands were still in place on her body. Perhaps she was reaching to him in his drunk state? Maybe he would listen to reason.
"We're better friends now though." Gaara finally spoke.
"You said my name."
Sakura shook her head, surprised at the stupidity in the young lord's words. Again, she blamed the drink for this.
"This is not what friends do." Sakura spoke.
Sakura shook when she felt Gaara's tongue trace the back of her ear. Her words were lost to him, and her heart pounded against her chest. She was beyond surprised to hear what he said next.
"Then...we're more than just friends. You tried to kiss me, remember?"
Sakura's eyes widened. Gaara's teeth were back playing with her ear again before he whispered into it.
"My Sakura."
Sakura gasped to his claim. He must have been searching for a moment when she let her guard fall, for when she gasped, he quickly placed his foot between her legs. He used his one foot to throw her off balance, and Sakura had to let one hand fall from the towel to stop herself from toppling face first into the edge of the bath. She shivered when she felt the towel drop from her back and drape down in front of her. Her one hand still held the towel to her front, hiding her breasts, but her entire backside was now open for all the see.
Meaning the young lord behind her.
She scrambled to stand back up and wrap the towel around her entire body again, but froze when she felt Gaara place a hand onto her naked hip. She screamed in her mind, telling her body to get back and stop giving Gaara an imperforate show.
"Soft." He mumbled.
Sakura bit her lip when Gaara began sliding his hand from her hip and up the side of her body. Her breath hitched when his fingers stopped just as they were about to hit her breast, she thought that maybe he would cup and grope her. Instead though, his hand traced back down to her hip, and he let out a heavy sigh.
"So smooth."
Sakura shivered when he brought his other hand to the other side of her exposed hip, and both his hands began to venture up her body again. He wouldn't let his hands feel her breasts or travel beyond them. When he would bring his hands back down, he wouldn't go pass her hips or bring them down to her naked buttocks. While his hands continued to touch her though, Sakura bit her lip harder, somewhat hoping he would take that extra step to touch her in those places.
'What is wrong with me?' Sakura thought in her hazy mind.
'I shouldn't be enjoying this.'
But she was.
She could push herself back up to stand at any time she wanted, to wrap the towel back around her, but didn't. She could call out to him again, ordering him to stop, but had lost her voice. There was no more shame in her as she stood bent over in front of Gaara while he boldly touched her where no else had. Claiming her in a way no one had thought to as of yet. She was still a virgin to all this, he was still a Kage, and she knew this was all very wrong. Yet, his ministrations made it feel right.
She was starting to feel more bold as well and began to voice her approval to Gaara's fingers. She would softly coo when he brushed a little more closely to the underside of her breast, and shivered when his hand began to venture down more past her hip. In his state, even he could see what was happening to her.
And it excited him more.
Gaara held onto Sakura's hips when he traced over them one last time, he held her body steady while he looked down at her again. She truly was a beautiful, and rare, sight for him.
And she was all his, he decided.
Sakura was about to turn her head and question him when he had stopped and stayed silent, but she shivered when she felt his lips suddenly brush from the bottom of her back and up to the crook of her neck. He wasn't kissing her, just letting his lips drag across her hot, and humid skin until he reached her ear. His body had shifted down on top of hers, once again shaping his form to match with hers, and Sakura's eyes widened and mind raced when she felt him against the back of her thigh.
Had her body alone made him that excited, she wondered. Gaara was never one to lose control of himself now, so how could she have made him this aroused when she did nothing but lean there?
'Carnal.' She thought before feeling his body press more against her until his lips were next to her ear.
"Bed." He whispered.
"Now."
Before Sakura could ask, Gaara, in one sweeping motion, pulled back from her and scooped her up into his arms.
Sakura still couldn't bring herself to drop the towel. There was still a voice in her mind trying to cry out that this was indecent, and she listened to it while she brought the towel to cover the front of her. Gaara didn't protest to this, instead picking her up bridal style and walking them out of the bathtub. As soon as she was collected, Sakura's mind screamed at her.
'Bed?!' She thought, now panicking while Gaara continued to carry her.
Sakura began to squirm and struggle in Gaara's hold before placing a hand on his chest.
"W-W-What do you mean by bed?" Sakura stammered.
As she looked up at him, his eyes were only focused at the door that lead them out of the bathroom, and he remained quiet to Sakura's question.
"Gaara?!" She frantically cried, trying once again to get him to focus on her.
She gasped when she felt Gaara almost slip and drop her, but he composed himself at the last minute. Raising her back up and closer to him while shaking his head.
"Everything's spinning." He mumbled.
Sakura was about to speak up and offer he set her down before they both fall, but couldn't seem to say anything when he again marched them out of the bathroom. She instead panicked as to where he was taking her, and what he was planning.
Her teeth chattered when they stepped out of the bathroom and the cold air hit her. It didn't feel all too good to be returning from a nice, warm bath to the dreary, cold night. The wet towel she clung so tightly onto didn't help either as the warm drips it once held were now cold and freezing her body.
Sakura jumped lightly in Gaara's arms when the sound of thunder cracked outside, she had forgotten about the storm. Listening to it, she could tell the raindrops were harder now, and the lightening and thunder were playing back and forth. She didn't think it possible here, but the storm had grown stronger. It made her feel all the more cold, and again she shivered.
"Poor thing." Gaara mumbled.
Sakura looked up to Gaara, wondering if he was referring to her, but instead his stare was set on his bed. Before she could ask, he pulled the covers back off his bed and, with Sakura still in his arms, began to settle the both on them into his sheets. Sakura had a brief moment where he had let go of her, and thought to herself that she should run, but Gaara had brought an arm back around her waist before she could go through with the idea.
His stare was hard on her while he wrapped his arm tighter around Sakura's waist and brought their two bodies close together again. They were almost nose to nose, and Sakura clung onto her wet towel even more. That wet, white cloth was the only thing separating their naked bodies from touching one another. As soon as he had their bodies nestled in the way he wanted, Gaara lifted the thick comforter and placed the both of them under it. Under the heavy blanket, the rosette tried to study his eyes. She noted how they seemed to glow lightly in the dark, like a cat's.
She watched and waited, wondering what he had planned. As time passed though, he seemed just fixated staring into her face, the hand around her waist continued to brush her hip lightly. He was studying her, and she was curious as to what reason.
"Gaara." Sakura whispered, thinking she should protest again.
To his name escaping her lips, she saw Gaara draw in a breath and the hand on her hip gripped at her skin a little. He truly enjoyed hearing her say his name.
"I think I should go back to my room."
"My bed is big enough for the both of us." Gaara quickly answered with a little slip in his voice.
Sakura sighed, he seemed ready not to have her leave yet. Perhaps if she waited long enough, the alcohol would take its sleeping affect on him soon. She wiggled around under his arm, shivering from the cold towel against her skin.
"At least, let me get some clothes on?" She asked.
"I'm freezing with just this towel."
'Not to mention, we shouldn't be laying naked together.' Sakura decided not to voice her last thought.
Sakura knew she had made a mistake mentioning the towel when Gaara began to tug it away from her body.
"It's because of this." Gaara spoke referring to the wet fabric.
"Get rid of it."
Sakura tugged back on the towel, stopping him.
"N-No!" She panicked.
To her voice, Gaara stopped pulling on the fabric. He narrowed his eyes at Sakura.
"Why?" He asked, a small demand in his voice.
Sakura decided then to be blunt. She had to reach him someway.
"Because I'm naked underneath!"
Sakura was starting to become annoyed. She huffed and returned Gaara's narrow gaze. He stared at her for some time, maybe he was finally understanding her plight, but she tensed as soon as he began to lean into her face, and her eyes widened when he pressed his forehead against hers. Alcohol was definitely the courage he needed to ever make physical contact, Sakura thought. Or maybe it was her alone that made him bold enough to touch where he had never touched anyone before. None the less, she was surprised when he drew in so close to her, his hypnotic stare locked her eyes to him.
They stared into one another in silence. At times, Gaara would gaze down at Sakura's plump lips, making the young woman wonder if he was going to try to kiss her. Their lips were close enough to do just that.
'Plus, it's overdue.'
A blush spread on Sakura's face when that thought came. What had happened to her determination from earlier? The little voice that was screaming at her to cease and desist? The more she stared into Gaara's perfect eyes, the more lost those voices became. Perhaps they had become lost at the same place where her she held the idea that all of this would happen first with her beloved Sasuke. The dark man from her past never crossed her mind once since she was stolen away by Gaara's look.
Sakura jumped when she felt his other hand wrap around her thigh. She didn't fight it when the redhead began to raise her leg and rest it over his own hip. This in turn brought their bodies closer. With her leg wrapped around him, this brought their torso and chests together, and Sakura clung onto the towel that separated their skin, tighter. Like before, she could easily pull her leg back, tear away from him, run away, but she didn't.
And Gaara wasn't heedless enough to not notice.
He brought his lips again to Sakura's ear. His hand stroked her head lightly, fingers tangling in her pink locks, before speaking.
"Let me see."
Sakura turned a beet red to Gaara's words. She was speechless when he pulled back from her ear to study her eyes. She could see no joking in his pupils. He was serious about his demand, and again she felt the towel being pulled away by him. Slowly, the fabric was slipping away, and it wasn't until she felt the skin of his stomach touching hers, did she pull the towel back down. Looking back at Gaara, his stare was hard and questioning. She wondered if he was upset at her for resisting him.
"I-We...We can't!" Sakura tried again.
She shut her eyes and tried to control her breath. The small touch of her skin with his had made her heart flutter. She couldn't deny to herself that all this lust, and attention, Gaara was throwing at her made her want nothing more than to oblige to him. Still, a voice in her head was stopping her, it was the main thought that Gaara was drunk, and his mind clouded, at the moment that made her do her best to stop him. It wouldn't be fair to him to take advantage of this situation knowing he was dull from the saké.
Gaara brought a hand to her thigh that was wrapped around him. With small force, he pulled her lower frame closer into his. This had made Sakura gasp in surprise, and Gaara's fangs grinned maliciously to her reaction. Before her eyes fell back to him, his quick, sly smile had fallen, and again they stared into one another.
"We can, Sakura." Gaara purred.