4

Disclaimer:

The characters and world featured in this story belong to Masashi Kishimoto. This is for entertainment purposes only.

"You're not going to upset me if you don't have feelings for me…"

Sakura's words echoed in Sasuke's mind. He couldn't help his tongue's irritated click or his declaration that this situation was utterly annoying. How was she so perceptive about ailments and genjitsu, yet unable to pick up on his fondness for her?

No, he realized, I did this.

He rolled toward her and saw her pained expression.

He'd spent years putting distance between him and Team Seven, striving to sever the bonds that held him back from the chasm of anger and pain. Even after he returned to Konoha, to them, even after he touched her forehead and promised to return to her, he didn't communicate the way she wanted and deserved.

His emotions hid behind a rock wall. Naruto smashed a fist through it, allowing Sasuke's feelings to seep out. Yet now, as he directed them toward Sakura, he realized she had built up her own wall to protect her bruised heart. While hers was not as thick, she often trembled behind her barrier when it came to Sasuke. She was used to opening the door only to have it thrown back in her face.

All Sasuke needed to do was knock and enter.

"What does that even mean?" she snapped.

She gripped at his shirt, drawing near him. Her eyes were glossy with frustration and a hunger he'd never seen there. The same desire was waking in his own body, uncoiling like a snake. Her fingertips pressed into his pecs, and his heart sped.

He snatched her wrist and arched his face toward hers so she could hear him whisper, "Sakura, you're wrong."

The feelings he held for her were unlike anything he'd ever known. They were similar in depth to his childhood love of family, but they veered into new territory. These carried his mind to pink-hued fantasies of flesh and heat. He didn't feel this way for anyone else. He'd passed disreputable towns on his travels. He never stopped, but he caught glimpses of beckoning women in various states of undress. Sasuke couldn't help the tightness in his pants, but he always continued on his way. The women of the night faded in the background, yet Sakura remained at the fore of his thoughts.

Now he was alone with her. When she asked to join him, he knew, in the back of his mind, they would find themselves in this situation eventually. They'd journeyed together, growing closer in the process, and they reached a river separating their deep friendship and something more. They had to navigate across, groping in the dark.

Swallowing, he slid his hand to her waist. It seemed like a good starting point - neither too platonic nor intimate. The extra heat Sakura had been generating flared with his unexpected touch, burning Sasuke's digits. He hissed and pulled his hand away. He clenched his teeth, striving against irritation.

Sakura's fingers found his and applied cooling chakra. The slight burn healed quickly, yet she lingered. "Sasuke-kun… Do you… Do you have-?"

I have feelings for you.

Sasuke linked his hand with hers and pulled it from the blankets. He remembered when she saved him from Kaguya's sand dimension, and how their eyes met. He wanted to give her the opportunity to see the sincerity in his face. She whispered his name, her voice trembling at the revelation, at the sight of a bridge across the river they'd found. Her chakra dimmed with her shock.

"Come here."

This time, he pulled her to him gently. First he drew her chest to his, then he slid his hand to her lower back and moved her waist forward. She tucked her head under his chin and seemed to hold her breath. Sasuke's hand lingered on her hip, relishing in the warmth between them. He recalled moments when Sakura held him following a calamity. She was a healer then, long before she learned how to stitch flesh and bone with chakra.

Sakura's muscles relaxed. She let out a long sigh against his clavicle and snuggled closer. Sasuke allowed himself to relish in the scent and texture of her hair. They remained that way for some time, teetering between peace and uncertainty in this new territory.

She must have grown wary of having her hands pressed against his chest for they began wandering. One slid up over his shoulder then down to his hand on her hip, only to slip back up along the fabric clothing his arm. She repeated the motion, and Sasuke enjoyed the silky sensation of her caress.

Sasuke left the curve of her hip and brushed his fingers up her side, enjoying the mutual shiver. Her hands settled where his neck sloped into shoulders. She leaned back slightly, straining to see his face in the dark. He brought his hand up to slide some of her hair behind an ear. He grew still as he took in her beauty. Her eyes were hooded, her cheeks flushed, her lips… His Adam's apple bobbed.

On his journey, he imbibed alcohol when his hosts offered. Some villages didn't have clean drinking water, so it was the best alternative to accompany his meals. Even the less boozy ciders reserved for the underage made his brain fuzzy. Cuddling with Sakura had the same effect. As he relaxed into her warmth, she dismantled the chains he'd wrapped around himself.

Hand lingering on her check, he dipped his face toward hers so that their noses touched. She gasped in surprise. One of her hands brushed up his neck and down to cradle his chin. She stroked his cheek with her thumb.

"Sasuke-kun," she breathed.

She could utter his name a dozen different ways, and this, he knew, was an invitation. His lips met hers, softly at first, then again and again. Each kiss was an intoxicating sip, and he soon lost himself in passion's demands. His tongue slipped over hers, tasting her minty breath. A throaty groan rose from his throat, and he bucked against her.

Sasuke and Sakura grew still and quiet as they processed the development. They remained close enough to feel the other's pulse and panting chest.

Sakura repeated his name, softer, to pacify any doubts rushing through his thoughts. Her left hand settled on his right hip. Her thumb rubbed a circle over his bone. Heat pooled in his loins and he sighed into her hair.

"Sorry," he croaked. "I lost control for a moment."

"It's okay," she whispered. "I liked it."

A puff of laughter escaped him. Sasuke was glad she couldn't see his hot face. He felt plenty warm - too warm, honestly. His residual limb began to ache from the pressure of lying on his left side this whole time.

"I need to move," he murmured. He sat up and pulled off his shirt. He rolled onto his back and drew her to him. "Come here."

She snuggled against his side, but he pulled her. "Get on top of me," he urged, his voice husky.

Sakura placed her hands on either side of his head and hovered over him. Her knees remained on the floor beside his waist. She bit her bottom lip. Sasuke noticed her trembling, so he sat up and kissed her.

"Sakura," he said, "Are you okay?"

Her green eyes sought him through the shadows. "Yes…"

"You're hesitating." He frowned. "Did I do something wrong?" It pained him to ask, but it wouldn't have been a shock given their history. A hard mass of guilt rose in his throat.

"No! Not at all!" she said. Sakura reached out and felt up his chest and neck until she found his cheek. "I just… I wish I could see you. I've dreamed of this moment for years, and I'd really love to see everything like you."

Sasuke sighed. His sex was stiff with want, but he would wait. "Aa. I understand."

Sakura remained inches above his face. "Are you angry?"

He chuckled. "No. I'm… uncomfortable right now, but it will pass. Your comfort is more important to me."

"Sasuke-kun…" Using her fingers as navigation, she located his cheek and kissed him, then pressed light kisses along his face until she found his lips. She lingered there, tasting him.

He groaned into her mouth and pulled her down so her breasts rested against him.

"Sakura," he panted, "You're tempting me…"

She giggled and rolled to lounge beside him. "You have no idea how amazing it is to hear you say that!"

The storm outside calmed. The wind sighed through the trees instead of rattling the cabin. Sasuke and Sakura cuddled beneath their blankets. Her hand rested over his bare chest. He was simultaneously content and restless.

"Sakura."

"Hm?" She was falling asleep against him.

"Tomorrow we'll walk to the nearest village and rent a room at an inn."

In the meantime, tonight promised to be a long night.

Author's Note:

I appreciate your patience. My updates slowed because my husband and I had the flu. I'm finally starting to feel like myself again, so I finished revisions on chapter 4. This fic will be slightly longer than planned, but not by much. I hope you enjoy this chapter, and I hope it clarifies the dialog from ch 3. Some people were confused about what Sakura meant when she said, "Sasuke-kun… Do you… Do you have-?" She was indeed asking if he had feelings for her, based on an earlier line of dialog where she said, "You're not going to upset me if you don't have feelings for me." Thanks again for reading and showing support!