AN:
BirdmanJon: Lol! Glad you wanted to leave the comment so fast. That really made me laugh. Hope you like this chapter as well.
Kzzzzz: You know Kzzzz...You are that kind of person that...I hate to disappoint. I ALWAYS finish my stories...see my profile as Proof ;) I'll get this done.
Samm91: Thanks. I did find that list had to monolouge quite a bit actually. I tried to recreate that scene myself a few things but...I just couldn't get it right. Regardless, it was a bone in my story that I felt I just Had to write, you know? Trying new things and monologues ;)
Also, Lol to your chapter 23 answer! That was so Sooo long...Sigh...I suppose I need to make my next story more Ino inclusive huh? I'll do my best. I just truly feel this story simply need Ino as a stable rock in Sakura's world.
AN: Thank you all, moving to bring out the feels between my world now and the two lovers. Expecting to finish this in about 3 more chapters everyone. End of Arc 3 right here.
Arc: 3
Glazed Emeralds: A Hallmark Story
Chapter 25: This feels Different Now
"I'll just give you both a few minutes." The waitress bowed and walked off, leaving the two seated at a small table meant for couples.
"Wow. This place is beautiful, and check out the view!" Naruto giddily said as he gazed out the window beside them, the sunset just beginning to edge towards the horizon, the waterfall in the distance casting fog into the air and level with their table as the Cliff on the Sands Restaurant stood proudly opposite the natural wonder.
"If we're lucky, we'll see a rainbow over there." Sakura smiled fondly. 'Romantic location. Check.'
Naruto chuckled nervously as he looked over the menu, his eyes crinkling with mirth. "Geez, I haven't been on a date in a long time."
"When was your last one?" Sakura asked, sipping on her water.
"Hmm, maybe last year? This girl had asked for help outside my apartment and I ended up being her date to a wedding."
"A wedding? For a first date?"
"Yeah." Naruto shrugged. "I think she just didn't want to go alone rather than try anything more serious with me. What about you? When was your last date?"
"Mmm...I'm not sure I was ever on one, at least in the setting of it. Sasuke and I never said the word date. I guess I sort of just thought that in my head."
"Well," Naruto retorted as he reached across to stroke her hand, his thumbprint smudging along her soft supple skin, "This is a date."
Sakura smiled tearily. "I know. Thanks."
The two continued to hold hands and stare into the other's eyes for a long time. Sakura felt that it was completely cheesy and yet she couldn't help but feel that this was right. Her heart beat wildly in her chest as they finally separated, swirling around their drinks. She gazed shyly across the table over and over again. She wanted to hold his hand...always.
"Hey Naruto?"
"Yeah?"
"Last night...you said you were inheriting billions?"
Naruto playfully shushed her and looked around. "Sakura! What if someone hears that, and tries to steal me away? I can't have another gold digger on my arm!"
Sakura giggled as she playfully swatted at his arm. "I'm already your gold digger, anyways. They can get in line."
Naruto's fingers slid between hers, stalling Sakura's words as he lightly twisted her back and forth along the table, smiling all the while. "You really have no want for money, do you, Sakura?"
Sakura shrugged. "I plan to run the inn for the rest of my life. As long as I can do that, I'll be happy. Maybe feeling sort of stuck where I am in life, but...happy enough."
"Yeah…" Naruto whispered over, as Sakura watched his mind think on her question. "...You know, my godfather was a massive pervert, he always got slapped by women for ogling them, but...he also treated them like goddesses. My godmother, god rest her soul, put up with him. They never married but...I could see it every time they were together, they were content.
"With all he was, Jaraiya was a shrewd businessman. He knew numbers and memorized people like the back of his hand. Give him a million and in a year, he'd have raised ten million. People trusted him no matter what."
"Where are you heading with this, Naruto?"
Naruto looked over and shrugged. "Running a business? A conglomerate? That's just not me. The most I could do is support a small department or something. Inspire people."
Sakura squeezed his hand. "You could inspire a lot of people with that money."
"You're right. I could. Maybe I could donate to charities."
Sakura's eyes bulged wide in astonishment. "T-that's a lot of money, Naruto to donate. I mean, how could you even divide it equally?"
"But Sakura, I'd be getting money just for owning shares and dividends each year. Think of how many faces I could change to smiles."
"Are you ready to order, sir?" The waitress cut in, breaking their conversation in half. As Naruto turned to order for them, Sakura felt her heart grow a size.
'How is he so amazing? Do I even deserve him?' Sakura's mind coiled around the man that was Naruto. He was going to give that money away. No plan to invest, to make more. No greed or power grab to hold it over others. Just give it freely. She could see the future now; surgeries for children paid for by a mysterious donor, a whole forest protected and managed by a nonprofit, a multitude of people receiving notices in the mail that their debt had been paid, and they would never know who.
'He is so good.' Sakura thought as her right eye teared up.
"A good choice sir. They will be right out."
"Thank you." Naruto nodded as the waitress left. "So then! Anyways I was thinking...Sakura?" Naruto paused as he turned back to see Sakura crying silently with a megawatt smile. "Y-...are you okay?"
"Yeah…" Sakura hoarsely replied. "Just...you're a good person, Naruto."
"Eh...just doing what I should in life. It's best to be honest with your heart, huh?"
"Heart…" Sakura echoed, her purse suddenly burning at her side. A soft smile flooded her face, and Naruto gulped anxiously as his lover just watched him for two minutes without sound, her cheek resting on her palm.
"Um...What's up?"
Sakura smiled dopily, her pearly whites peeking out. "...You're crushing on me…"
"What?" Naruto nervously looked at her. How had she known? He was extra careful to hold it in! He figured after last night, when he scored her number, that he could flirt with her over the next year when he went back to the city. He had even suggested this date- Naruto gulped, tightening his arm to keep it from scratching at the back of his neck. He couldn't do that, she knew that nervous habit of his. He had bitten off too much obviously. He had dared to ask for a date of all things! Of course she would find out! She was so much smarter and craftier than him. He had to deny it! It was his best shot! "Sakura, I-I'm n-no- "
"If you deny it, then you won't get me in your bed tonight." Sakura edged herself over the table, her face lighting up as she saw Naruto's stunned look. She had him right where she wanted him, her prey in a corner, forced to play with her. Sakura's hand twirled around and pulled out the notes from her purse, as Naruto gulped. "This little love letter here...It's...cute."
"Sakura-" Naruto's voice squeaked, but Sakura giggled as she read the list.
"Pro: Konoha is nice. People are friendly. Con: Absolutely no privacy. Everyone knows about everyone else.
Pro: feel like I belong here.
Con: need to leave job.
Con: have to learn a trade, maybe?"
"Sakura…" Naruto tried again. He knew what was next, but Sakura just smiled brighter.
"Pro: Sakura is beautiful.
Pro: Smart, intelligent, and crafty. She is so hot when she is crafty.
Pro: Attractive. Her hair shines in my eyes. Her eyes match the forest. They draw me in
Pro: Sakura is so deep. She hides what she truly wants, but once you give it to her, she is the happiest girl in the world
Pro: underlined: She is everything I want in a woman."
"See?" Sakura looked up, and was rewarded upon seeing the reddest blush she'd ever seen in her life. Naruto's hands were clenched tight and his body was rigid. Sakura giggled as her eyes glowed, and showed all the emotions she had bottled up inside. "It's...cute."
Smacking lips and giggles erupted as the couple slid across the wall of the inn, Naruto maneuvering his hands along Sakura's curves as she kept her arms wrapped around his neck, mewling in his ear.
"Looking for something?"
Naruto growled deeply into her mouth, as his fingers deftly slid her apartment key out of the hidden pocket in her dress. The two stumbled through the door as it opened and then stood in front of the bed, growing more restless with every second. Naruto stroked along her hip, probing along her waist and gripping through the shear material to her ass, making her mewl once more into his ear.
"It's cute~" Naruto grimaced as Sakura giggled repeatedly into his ear. In one motion, Naruto slid his hands to the bottom of her dress and pulled up, Sakura lifting her arms eagerly waiting to be devoured by him.
"It's cute~" Sakura once again giggled as Naruto cocked his head in stunned silence. Under her dress was the sexiest, sharpest set of lingerie that he'd ever seen on her. Sakura wore the classic stockings and a garter belt with light straps and buckles along her waist up to her chest where her underwear rested perfectly. Everything was pure white, and Everything was practically transparent to his feasting eyes.
"Geez, you love white tonight." Naruto muttered.
Sakura saw her chance and took charge, beginning to strip her loved one of his jacket, smiling widely at him. "I thought I'd treat you to my most alluring outfit."
"It's definitely alluring." Naruto spoke as Sakura deftly unbuttoned his dress shirt and then bent down to slide his pants off. Naruto was amazed at the precision that she stripped him. How many times had they done it so far? He'd lost count, so why did now seem so...different? Something was…different tonight. "You're so beautiful."
"Aw~ are you crushing?" Sakura teased as Naruto jittered in place.
"Sakur-"
"You're crushing, you're crushing~..." Sakura began to sing like a nursery rhyme, her heart too elated to care about anything else.
'Geez, she's such a lightweight.' Naruto thought as she spun around in circles in her sexual attire. They'd only had two glasses of wine, and she was speaking gibberish and-
"You're crushing, you're crushing~ you're- woah!" Sakura yipped as she slipped over the side of the bed, and tumbled flat against the ground out of sight.
"Sakura? You okay?"
"…"
"Sakura?"
"...You're crushing, you're crushing~"
Naruto finally growled and pulled her up to her feet, moving his face a mere inch from her eyes, as she quieted and he felt her breath shiver upon his lips. "Say it again."
Sakura wet her lips, feeling the strong arms coiled around her, the deep blue eyes gazing back, and smiled dopily. "It's...cute."
"I'll show you cute." Naruto's voice deepened as he covered her mouth with his own. Sakura began to kiss back, but suddenly Naruto's tongue slid into her mouth, dominating her orifice completely. Sakura's eyes shot wide open at the display of utter dominance, and then twinkled as she succumbed to this new side of Naruto.
As Sakura was acclimating to her new position, Naruto's hands had by now mastered the clips of her bra and in one pinch, Sakura's bra slid down her front to fall to the ground. Feeling free, Sakura moved forward as she pulled his boxers down, freeing his member from its packaging.
Sakura squealed as she was thrown down on the bed, immediately covered and surrounded by Naruto as he trapped her in place with his eyes, piercing and freezing her body the moment he touched her thigh. Immediately and without words, Sakura lifted her legs and ass off the mattress as her white panties slid down and joined her bra on the floor.
Sakura looked down to begin to unwrap the rest of her outfit, but suddenly a thumb touched her chin and directed her gaze up.
"Shouldn't I-" Sakura began to question before Naruto shook his head.
"It's...cute." Naruto murmured as Sakura's breath shivered. 'Oh God!' Sakura thought with dread, as the murkiness in her thoughts evaporated. Is that what she had sounded like for the last hour? It was like she was telling him how much she liked him.
What followed next was an utter blur for Sakura. She didn't drink very often so she was a little tipsy, but it was the emotions that hit her most. When Naruto was pleasuring her, he looked up at her, and it was like a demon was watching her through his eyes, not like killing intent, but with so much passion that Sakura felt her legs flood with her excitement.
As Naruto began to fuck, it felt different. Good different. Sakura's arms fully ensnared his chest, pulling him in closer as he did all the work on her. She tried to match his pace, but he kept her in place, completely dominating her.
'This isn't sex.' Sakura thought blindly, her tongue slithering along his lips as he kissed her. 'This isn't the playful hungering of the fucking that we've had since we met.' Sakura's mind echoed as suddenly, it clicked '...He is Mating with me...' And the truth was, she fully accepted it. As Naruto finished, Sakura was filled with happy tears that she shivered for a full minute, her arms and legs clenched tight, refusing to let go. She never wanted to let go.
An hour later, small puffs of air grazed across his chest, as Naruto softly stroked his fingers through his lover's hair, watching her fondly as she laid atop his body, her arms wrapped up tight around him as she snuggled closer. Naruto smiled. Even in sleep, she was so possessive.
Naruto looked up through the skylight, at the numerous white spots up in the sky. His smile slowly ebbed away as his thoughts jumbled together. His life was changing so fast, and he felt like he was lost in a forest, not knowing which way was out.
His godfather had only passed away a month ago, his boss wanted him to lead a new division, his apartment could finally get renovated and look clean for once. Naruto frowned and glanced back down. He had found a woman who got him, who understood him, who accepted him.
Naruto sighed and gazed back up. What was he doing? He was leaving in five days. 'Five days…' Naruto smirked. He had been swept up into this month of sexual bliss in five days; five days could be an eternity, but eventually one had to wake up and smell the flowers. Naruto bitterly grit his teeth. It hurt...to wake up.
'It's okay.' Naruto thought to himself. 'Sakura and I will see each other often enough. She'll need to pay me for my land, and I'll need to come here to pick up the payments in cash. Yeah...the internet must be terrible here.'
A sober thought came to him. 'Sakura is so attractive...she could get snapped up in a second if she wanted.' But it was alright if they had to change the arrangement. Naruto pulled her head closer to him and kissed her forehead. At the very least, he wanted to be there for her. He'd be her best friend, and he'd text her his problems and she'd give him hers. They were fine being just the way they were now.
"Love…"
Naruto looked down at Sakura's voice, and saw a stray tear fall down her face as she shivered and tightened her arms around him. Naruto's heart pinged and he tightened his own grip as his ears listened into her murmurs.
"...Stay with me." She muttered, tossing around the sheets as she sniffled into his chest. "...I'm starting to find love again….stay with me…."
Naruto shivered, his heart suddenly aching with a purging fire. Damn...He was falling for her…