Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto and its characters; I also don't own His Stand in Bride by Michelle Styles which is the inspiration for this story. This is not Beta'd yet.
Chapter XXIII:
Sasuke stopped kissing Hinata when the need for air arise and rested his forehead on hers closing his eyes before giving her a chaste kiss on the lips before rising up.
"I'll take a shower first." He said huskily and immediately grabbed a towel and change of clothes from a cabinet before going towards the bathroom.
Hinata who was left by the futon was flustered from what just happened between her and Sasuke. The kiss they just had left an unfamiliar sensation to Hinata, yes she and Naruto kissed like that before but this kiss with Sasuke was different something she can't explain except that she enjoyed it. Then she questioned herself, if Sasuke didn't stop kissing her could it lead to something more? She blushed a deeper shade of red at the thought that Sasuke a man desired by many will find her an unwanted one, desirable? How Hinata wished Sasuke's already done with his bath so she could take a bath also to calm herself.
Sasuke ran the coldest setting on the shower as he took his bath, he had been with women before when his teenage hormones are in rage but none of those women were able to take his virginity simply because they never made it more than the second base. He didn't know why he preserved his virginity for so long but now it all made sense because he's waiting for the right woman to give it with and that woman is no other than his wife Hinata. The way they kissed earlier made his masculinity alive and because of his promise never to hurt her again or force her until she wants to, he stopped kissing her more and rushed to the shower tod run a cold bath.
After he was done with his bath he wore a sleeping yukata.
"Are you taking a bath as well?" He asked seeing Hinata standing before him holding a towel and change of clothes.
"Hai, it's hot earlier…in the dessert so I decided to take a bath also." Hinata answered keeping her head down.
Sasuke smirked and placed a hand under Hinata's chin, "Look at me."
Hinata complied.
"You have nothing to be shy of Hinata chan and I will patiently wait for you as promised."
Sasuke embraced his wife, "What do you want to eat for dinner?"
"Whatever you want is fine with me."
Sasuke nodded and left Hinata to call for food. While Hinata was blushing as she rushed towards the bathroom.
After Hinata was done with her bath, she saw Sasuke on his knees with a low table in front of him full of food with a bottle of sake.
Sensing her he called for her, "Hinata chan come sit and eat with me."
Silently they ate their meal together and after they were done Hinata asked him a question.
"Sasuke kun why didn't you drink?"
"I don't want to drink again after what happened before we got separated. Do you want to drink?" Sasuke said pushing the bottle of sake towards Hinata.
Hinata nodded her head sideways, "I don't drink alcohol Sasuke kun."
Sasuke nodded in approval, after some moment of silence a staff of the resort knocked on the door asking if they were done eating already for her to clean up their table. After their table was clean they both sat side by side at the window with their feet hanging over.
"What do you think will happen when we return to Konoha, when we meet Naruto san and Sakura san again?"
"I don't know but whatever happens I'll be beside you always."
Hinata rested her head on Sasuke's shoulder while Sasuke placed an arm around her shoulders, both enjoying the simple comfort of each other. The following day they ventured around the garden.
"Do you like our garden to be like this?" Sasuke asked.
"Only if you want to." Hinata answered, unsure if Sasuke like to have a garden.
"Of course I want to, why do you think I will not like one?" Sasuke returned.
"Not like that but I would like it if you're the one who will work on our garden." Hinata challenged, she knew she's pushing her luck but who knows maybe he'll take the challenge.
Sasuke laughed loving how the word hime easily rolls of his tongue, "Is that a challenge hime?"
"Only if you take it, I know how much you detest doing simple task such as gardening I bet you would like to take a mission instead of working on our garden."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. So she likes to challenge me to a bet?
"I'll do it but what do I get in return?"
"I'll think about it as time goes by."
"Come on Hinata chan how will I be motivated to do it if I didn't know what I'll get?" He teased towering over Hinata.
"Ano…"
"How about I receive the down payment first?
"Down payment?
"Yes, bathe with me in the hot spring."
"Nani?!" Hinata screamed that was heard all over the resort.
Sasuke smiled and poked his wife's forehead, "I'm just kidding you know besides I know you wouldn't do that."
After an hour Sasuke and Hinata are in the hot spring inside their room with their backs facing each other. Sasuke was only teasing his wife on bathing with him at the hot spring but she agreed and now here they are together but neither are seeing each other, but the fact that they are in the hot spring together both naked makes a statement.
Hinata was blushing wildly and could faint any minute now mentally she slapped herself for agreeing to him, no harm is done since they aren't seeing each other but the fact that they are naked together is enough to send poor Hinata to a fainting spell.
"You didn't have to agree if you don't want to you know?" Sasuke said in a soft voice.
"It…it's alright since we are not seeing each other. Besides even if you see my body it…isn't as beautiful as the other girls who like you."
"Is that what you think?" Sasuke said and turned, slowly walking towards Hinata.
Hinata's heartbeats are erratic when the water moved and she knew Sasuke's walking towards her.
"Sasuke kun…"
Sasuke placed his hands on Hinata's shoulders slowly tracing a finger from her right shoulder to the other..
"I haven't seen whole of you yet but I can assure you that no one can compare to your beauty and I am glad men are blind to it except maybe for Gaara and me who are smitten by you." He said truthfully.
"Th-Thank you Sasuke kun."
Konoha Medical Center Tsunade's Office
"Here is your mission permit from Kakashi and a letter for the trade master." Tsunade said handing over 2 scrolls to Naruto. "If you have any questions ask now if none, then you shall depart for wood country."
"Hai. I shall return with knowledge of trading Tsunade baa chan. So long." Naruto said and bowed before leaving Tsunade's office seeing Sakura outside.
"Sakura."
"Naruto kun are you going on a mission?"
"Yeah, in the wood country why?"
"Just take care that's all."
Naruto didn't say anything but just left, since his last talk with Sakura he can't look at her without the pain of her betrayal hurting him. While Sakura want nothing but for Naruto to forgive him and be friends with her again.
Private Hot Spring Resort
Sasuke and Hinata ate in awkward silence after they finish their bath in the hot spring. Hinata became more nervous with Sasuke making her stutter again whenever they talk with each other. Although Sasuke doesn't hate her stutter, her nervous with him again is what he is uncomfortable with. Deciding to do something about it she carried Hinata on his arms and lay her on the futon looking deep into her pearly white eyes.
"Why are you nervous with me again?"
"G-gomen."
"Stop." He said before kissing Hinata passionately on the lips but immediately withdraw his lips. "Are you still feeling nervous with me?"
"Sa-Sasuke kun…"
Sasuke again kissed her but withdrawn too soon, "I won't stop kissing you until you are comfortable with me again. Tell me Hinata chan why are you nervous with me?"
"I-I don't know…maybe it's because we took a bath together. That's why I am feeling nervous now afraid that if I do something you don't want you'll leave me."
"That's ridiculous; you know I wouldn't do that. I like you too much Hinata chan I may even love you I don't know since I don't know love. Tell me do you like me too."
"Hai I like you too that I am afraid you'll see or know something about me you will not like."
"Why is there something I should know? If there is someone who is afraid it's me for my past is something that is not bragged on with anyone and that is the reason why I am yet to open that part of my life with you."
"I know and I am not forcing you to tell me everything about it soon. As for me, I…"
"I what Hinata chan?"
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews, follows, favorites. What do you think of this chapter and what Hinata's secret will be? I have a lot of ideas and I still have next week to decide. Suggestions for the next chapter are very welcome so I can write it for the next chapter and aside from Hinata's secret, reuniting with Naruto is another scene to look out for. As for my injury I am getting better although I am still limping when I walk. Do read Seven Days although the reviews in there are like a ship war and Sasuke is dead on that fic. Again this not beta read and I am terribly sorry for any grammar, spelling mistakes I committed and I badly need a beta reader for I am itching to write that M scene as soon as possible hehehe.