A.N: I don't have enough words to apologise about this incredibly late update. I just hope you enjoy it! :)

When Shadows Surround You

Chapter 16

Love Level

The spicy smell of cinnamon and ginger hovered thick in the air surrounding them. It was almost sweet, like a tender touch against their skin. It sunk in their nostrils like poisoned air, making Shikamaru breathe heavily and Neji watch his Adam's apple go up and down swallowing saliva.

The air thickened as the shadow-nin caught another pawn and held it above the shogi board for a second. His dark cocoa eyes scrutinizing the other pawns and guessing how many other moves Neji could do after this turn.

The Hyuga watched how Shikamaru's brow furrowed while he studied the board, his torso bent forward, one elbow against his crossed knee and the other arm taut in the air. When the movement arrived it was a slow and precise one. The pawn taped against the wooden board and he stretched his body back to a relaxed position.

The Nara kept his eyes a minute longer on the board, then he took the teacup in his hand and drank his chai slowly, drawing his eyes back to Neji's stoic face. The warm flavour surrounded his tongue and made him think why Neji kept his mask so tight in even a casual moment like this.

Was he hiding something?

Long tresses slid from the sharp shoulder and fell almost over the shogi board. Pearly white eyes fixed on the pawns. Was there a hidden message underneath intelligent moves? What was the goal under Shikamaru's strategy?

I was the one who should know it...

He had asked Shikamaru to come, to play shogi and to have some tea. What was the meaning of it? Why was he still playing with his own feelings? Wasn't it he who had decided to make his move? Wasn't it his turn? So what was he waiting for?

Oh boy, what's the best way to reach you?

He moved another pawn, lining himself up with the red death. Shikamaru's eyes flickered towards him.

"What are you doing?"

Reaching you.

"Playing."

"You're killing your pawn." He stated and watched Neji's face keep as blank as it could be. What was he doing? "Neji, that's no use in playing like this, you're letting me win, this is suicide," he complained and took a cigarette from his pocket.

Their eyes met and the Hyuga nodded, rolling his shoulders against the stress.

Shikamaru lit his cigarette, feeling dry smoke snake into his lungs in a known dance. He kept it inside for a while and then exhaled, put his teacup on the table and grabbed another pawn between middle and forefinger. If Neji was trying to say something through the pawns, he was going to get it.

"I'm bored," Neji said when Shikamaru made a move.

The Nara's hand was still hanging in mid-air when their eyes met again.

Black and white.

Shadows and clouds.

Get a grip on yourself. Don't make such a scene...

Reason was screaming inside his head, but it was all Neji could do was keep the the lid on the flood of words and feelings. He was bored, he was tired, he was feeling like a coward. He needed to make things clear, and this was the moment.

"There are just a few things I cannot do in this life," he said, putting his hair back and positioning his hands over his crossed legs, feeling his strong bones.

The moment's arrived.

Shikamaru could feel it. Powerful chakra running over Neji's body and exuding like a subtle energy; surrounding him like the halo of an aura.

Eagerness worked its fingers inside his stomach, making it freeze and burn at the same time. The Nara focused on the feeling, the warm and cold fighting inside his system, the will to run away as far and fast as he could. He stretched the fear away, sucked on his cigarette and noticed the small hairs on his nape and arms bristle.

His mind ran a mile a minute and all he could think of was that he wasn't sure if he was prepared to play this game at the same level as Neji.

I can't run away. Not again.

He planned his way through this, thinking about what Neji had said.

"There are just a few things I cannot do in this life,"

Shikamaru could think at least a hundred things he couldn't do in this life.

The next step was to understand what Neji wanted him to understand.

"Really?" his voice sounded dry from the smoke. His eyes were dead serious and he put together a thousand pieces of the puzzle, preparing himself for the answer.

What was Neji planning? Why did he start from there?

The Hyuga nodded, his eyes straight as an arrow, boring holes into Shikamaru's beautiful features.

"What things can't you do?" Shikamaru asked, killing the distance, reaching closer, and preparing himself for whatever it was.

If it was checkmate, they were good to go from this point on.

The host kept his face still, but under his calm façade his heart was beating fast, hands almost sweating. Something inside his bones and muscles was stirring, fuelling the desire to win the game, ending the doubts, finding answers.

Honour, pride, rank…all those were such worldly things right now. How could Neji feel honoured or pride of himself if he wasn't able to be consistent with that one thing he couldn't stop feeling.

You.

The Hyuga blinked slowly, stopping a slight tremor of his fingers and concentrating all his chakra in his centre.

He could hear the wind outside and the quietness made him remember the first time he admitted aloud what he felt. The flux of memory taking him back to the Hokage's Tower.

"But what bothers me the most is that I like him and I can't fight it. I fucking like him..."

Opal eyes flashed open, shining lively like flames, burning inside out. He watched as Shikamaru took a last drag on his cigarette and extinguished it in his teacup.

Their eyes met and all the Nara saw, before the words started to be said, were ferocious determination, then the Will of Fire burned inside out their bodies.

"I can't fly free from my position in my clan," Neji said, his voice velvety and strong, contrasting with the words of open loss.

Shikamaru watched without a move. It was true, he didn't know how Neji could get away from it either, though he couldn't understand why Neji was talking about something so shameful to his own schemes-

"Neither can I have my father back," the words panged in Shikamaru's heart and his brow twitched.

Neji was opening up as he had never done before. He was rummaging the sand and bringing to light the truths he would never say aloud.

But then, Neji's eyes looked away. He was not used to sharing this much about his grief and struggling.

Shikamaru could feel it, the awkwardness, the hardship of bringing those topics up. In those moments, normally, the Nara would leave the other alone; give him time and space to think.

But this time it was different.

He could feel his own heart speeding up, and understood he wasn't there just to listen, he was there to support Neji, to help him open up.

This was what lovers should do.

This was his moment to show Neji he could rely on him.

The Nara took a deep breath and swallowed thickly. "What else can't you do, Hyuga?"

The air thickened as the words hovered above them like mist. Shikamaru felt his heart burn and beat strongly.

Neji looked down at the shogi board. His hands pressed on his legs, the soft touch of the fabric against his palm feeling nice, endearing. How Shikamaru's skin would feel under his touch right now?

Would it feel tender or bitter?

Would it be raw and rough under his fingertips?

Would it be worth the try?

His lips twisted up, a mischievous smile forming shyly on the edges of his thin lips, making Shikamaru stir in place, not understanding what was happening inside Neji's mind.

"Neji?"

The soft though masculine tones made him look back into those shadowy dark eyes, full forced and aimed.

You'll always be worth the try.

"I can't keep lying to you, Shikamaru."

x

Oh god.

Shikamaru's heart had skipped a beat with each word. It contorted inside and made him crave the words he knew Neji was not going to pronounce – and didn't need to.

He watched Neji for a while, his eyes focused on the board and his face more relaxed and showing determination. His opal eyes came up and locked on Shikamaru's. It was full of meanings, of confessions that would never be told.

"I've been trying to fight it," he said. "I asked myself if it was better this way, fighting the feelings and holding it in. But I'm tired of fighting everything all the time."

Neji's fingers entwined in the long and soft tresses of his hair, his eyes closed for a second while his words sunk in. While he accepted he was really doing it.

He was telling the truth. He was reaching the shadow-nin.

"I'm tired of trying to fight you, Shikamaru."

Shikamaru's breath caught in the back of his throat. It was much more intense than what he had expected. Fire stirred from the bottom of his core and burned him inside out, blood running hot in his veins and temptation mixing up with intimidation.

The Nara swallowed, trying to understand all the rushing feelings, the torrent of emotions going on in his chest, under his rib cage. His heart was racing and his throat felt dry.

Right there, in front of him, was Neji, and the man was opening up in a way he didn't know he could. The Hyuga was trying to show him what he himself didn't have the courage to show before.

How could he show it back?

His fingers grabbed hard on his trousers.

"It's about you, Shikamaru, and I'm saying you're completely lovable, so don't stop believing in it...because I could perfectly love you!"

The words rolled in his mind. The memory sounded like a ghost, almost like another life, one in which they were close enough to say that kind of thing and keep the mask on. But now, listening to Neji's words, he couldn't pretend it was a joke, or that he didn't understand it right.

Now it was real.

No bond.

No sake.

No lies.

Just them, the truth hovering above them and all the possibilities were open.

Their eyes connected and Neji watched Shikamaru's reaction with feigned patience. His mind was blurry and his body was almost burning, the blood inside his veins was boiling with tension, excitement and desire.

He had been waiting for this for so long. To assume his feeling and indulge into the lust he felt since their very first kiss in Yoshino's kitchen.

The images of them in the bathroom, weeks ago, their bodies pressing together, their mouths in tune, no alcohol, no hazy-sleep mind, no lies, just them and their desire and the bond...He could also feel the frustration he felt when Tokuma interrupted them.

Neji could feel inside his chest how Shikamaru wanted him back, and desired him all the same.

Black irises fired up, shone and burned like flames.

The Nara was trying to do the right thing, but he had no idea what the right thing was. All those people who stated he was a genius and that his mind worked a mile a minute were completely wrong right now.

His mind was a mess and all he could do was feel. And what he was feeling was so much and so big he couldn't put it in thoughts, let alone words.

Shikamaru swallowed hard, his mouth dry. He could feel the slight tremor of his own fingers and the strong panicked beats of his heart.

I should do something.

"Neji..."

His voice sounded small, cracked, almost scared. He bit his lip and felt ashamed of himself.

The fuck am I doing?

"I'm...terrible with this...emotional, feelings-thingy. I-"

He ran his hand over his face and tangled his fingers through his thick dark hair.

"Shikamaru," Neji's voice sounded dark and masculine, making the Nara look at him in the eyes.

He watched the Hyuga come to his knees and push the kotatsu to the side with one hand, moving the only barrier between them away. His white eyes were so determined, self-assured.

Neji was placing himself in the crossfire.

"Troublesome, isn't it?" Neji muttered smiling gently and standing on his knees. Then he stared at Shikamaru fiercely.

"Come here, Shikamaru."

His strong, dangerous hand hovered between them, inviting Shikamaru into the crossfire; inviting him into the feelings and sensations he wasn't used to feel. Neji was encouraging him, teaching him he didn't need to run away again.

Not anymore.

He moved to a kneeling position, his eyes mesmerized by those white globes, his hand moved ahead and their palms touched slightly.

Shikamaru thought his heart had stopped.

Then he realized that Neji's hand was pulling him closer and that warm, cinnamon flavoured breath was brushing against his face.

They looked into each other eyes before moving, and all barriers went down with the power of what they were feeling.

Their mouths parted and both men breathed shakily. Lips touching lightly. Holding onto the moment while their bodies connected like magnets.

Twin motions made them break the scarce distance between them and Neji's tongue darted out, licking Shikamaru's bottom lip sensuously. Hyuga's hand cupped bare nape, anchoring their bodies while the Nara entangled his hands within thick dark hair, pulling the elder closer, making them moan and hiss at the same time.

Hot, damp breaths mingled together.

The maddening sensation made the shadow-nin stop thinking, feeling how all his body seemed to melt inside out. And their mouths clashed in a breath-taking kiss.

Oh god...

He waited for this for so long.

Shikamaru tensed up and almost smiled. He wasn't sure what he wanted, he just knew he wanted Neji. His hands caressed the Hyuga's face, almost tenderly as their tongues rolled together, trying, testing each other.

His chest was almost exploding with the feeling; he wanted to have Neji, taste him, touch him, make him his lover and never let this feeling go. He was pretty sure Neji felt the same as the other man's fingers gripped hard enough to mark his skin, almost afraid of letting go.

Neji hummed into the kiss. His tongue lavishing the other's mouth at the same time he pressed their chests together. He was completely turned on, and the idea of having Shikamaru so close, was vertiginous. His fingers massaged scalp, stealing quiet moans.

He sighed shakily against warm lips. Shikamaru took a strong hold on the other's mane and parted their mouths, resting his brow against the cold metal of Neji's hitai-ate.

Their breaths shook and mixed again. Neither dared opening their eyes, holding onto the feelings and the explosion of emotions deep inside strong ribcages. It was like a tsunami and the waves were lava-hot and it was burning them inside out.

They could die living that sensation.

Shikamaru's right hand slid down Neji's nape and travelled to the front touching strong, sharp neck. The tendons flexing under his touch, making him shiver in delight.

Long, pale fore fingers caressed the younger's nape drawing circular patterns in response, rolling his digitals against sweaty, tense flesh; making spirals of chakra flowing through him and relaxing the muscles under his fingertips.

Neji's hand left Shikamaru's nape and slid over his shoulder, going down his chest to touch the point above the younger's pounding heart.

It was beating almost in tune with his.

He moved back and their gazes locked again.

Moon-like eyes glanced tenderly at Shikamaru and he blinked slowly.

The Hyuga took a deep breath as his body shivered. "What took you so long?" he asked low, lips parted and eyes looking directly at black stones.

Shikamaru smiled weakly. His fingers hovered ghostly over tense tendons on pale neck.

For a second, he didn't know how to answer the question, he felt bare of explanations. So he leaned his forehead against the cold hitai-ate again, mingling their breaths and barely touching their noses together.

Tension and arousal filled the air around them, like mist and shadows.

"I guess I didn't believe in love," Shikamaru said low, his voice sounding like the wind, too honest and too harsh at the same time.

Neji lifted his face, his lips brushing past the other's cheek in a ghost kiss. Their eyes darkened at the same time; air became thick, both let out a shortcoming breath at the confession. Neji's right hand pressed stronger against the Nara's heart, feeling it jackhammer inside its ribcage.

Shikamaru looked at him, their eyes saying much more than what they could with words. And the odd sense of anticipation started melting down, desire and lust written in their irises like fever, burning inside their chests and pooling in their loins.

"Damn, Shikamaru," Neji muttered, both his hands taking the chunin's face and bringing him back to another kiss.

Their lips clashed together. Shikamaru's hands drew the elder's back like a sculptor would do; feeling fabric and flesh, and muscles, and bones while the kiss became brutal, animal-like. Desire burned up so damned painfully in his core that he tangled one of his hands in Neji's hair and pulled him away, panting for air and control, feeling the man taking his tie out and caressing his hair.

"Neji..." his voice thick and needy, asking for so many things at a time.

The Nara pulled him even closer, hand cupping his skull and leaning it to the side at the same time his lips dove into the marble-white neck, skimming his lips at the warming flesh, feeling it flex under his touch as he started to spread open mouth kisses there.

Neji hummed vigorously, like a savage animal, his hands gripping and grasping all over his body, pulling the chuunin vest off of his shoulders, involving his neck with one of his arms while the other grabbed onto his hip for balance.

Neji's head was spinning; the feeling was suffocating, the breath would come in a faulting suck and out in a fast whiff. Shikamaru's teeth were marking his skin but he didn't give a damn, he could even bleed for him and he wouldn't mind a bit about it.

The Nara bit down harder and shivered as Neji's fingers pulled his thick hair in response. Both bodies rubbed in a slow but firm movement, looking for friction, for action.

"Shit," the younger breathed against the column of Neji's throat and pressed his clad erection against the other's thigh.

Burning, they were burning.

"Oh God-"

Craving worked its devilish fingers under their skin.

"Bed!" Neji commanded.

It all happened too fast. Standing up, drawing hurried steps, pushing, hugging and kissing. All messy, like a dream.

Or a nightmare.

Neji's thought made him smile against Shikamaru's neck as the man shoved him against the hallway wall.

Neji's hair was loose and messy, their breaths reduced to heavy pants and Shikamaru felt so desperate it ached. Neither of them said a single rational word and their lips and fingertips were confessing lust and feelings as much as they could.

"Ah!" Shikamaru exclaimed as Neji's teeth bit down a tension point between neck and shoulder and took a handful of the younger's hardening shaft.

Neji smiled again, feeling the man's hands opening his robe, pulling it out of his way and working his fly.

Goosebumps broke over tan skin and Shikamaru hissed low, his hands caressing Neji's arms, while the man worked his belt. The Nara felt flushed and needy and maybe they were out of it, or maybe they were too much into it.

He wasn't thinking straight.

How could I?

Shikamaru felt his trousers fall and he moved: body pressing Neji against the wall harder and hand entering the loose pants and inside his underwear to grasp his needy hard-on. The move was long and firm, squeezing and corkscrewing.

Neji moaned and grounded against the hand and took the young man by the hair, moving their mouths together. Lips brushed and rasp breaths mingled till their tongues touched and caressed in a slow, feverish dance.

Neji pressed his own hand against the bulge in Shikamaru's underwear and the low growl the chuunin let out was swallowed with eagerness.

Shikamaru shut his eyes closed. It was too strong, too fast and too good. His head was spinning and he felt like he was melting in Neji's hands. He longed for this so hard the reality was making him purr and moan. He couldn't speak; the words were long lost in his throat. His heartbeats were so strong inside his chest he could hear it in his ears and the rush of blood running south made him gasp between kisses and stroke Neji's full hard-on delightfully slow.

"Nhhg," the older man hissed, his hips moving, asking for friction, impatient with the slow and long caresses.

Shikamaru sucked his bottom lip, lingering until he let Neji's mouth go, and his tongue outlined the straight and proud jaw line of the Hyuuga. His hand working Neji's swollen length from root to sensitive tip, thumb playing with the damp gland, teasing slowly, igniting a low sigh.

His lips brushed against Neji's ear shell. "I thought Hyuga were fond of tantric sex," he said and chuckled cocky.

"Not now," the Hyuga answered with a shaky growl, his hand moving skillfully and lowering Nara's underwear, his fingers working him fast enough to reach completion in mere seconds.

"Don't!" Shikamaru rasped, teeth sinking on soft skin, his eyes closed, his hand letting the Hyuga go to squeeze at his sides, bruising pale skin, pulling down his trousers and underwear and thrusting into the hand almost senseless. "Nnn-ah…Neji, wait-" he muttered, stopping himself but too mesmerized with the sensations to act properly.

"Wait?" he murmured sarcastic, hands never leaving Shikamaru's shaft as the other helped the younger take his chuunin vest and t-shirt off his head. "I don't want to wait anymore," he purred against Shikamaru's ear, tongue lapping wetly over jaw and down his throat, Adam's pome, kissing the hole between clavicles. "I already waited too long," his voice low and dark made the Nara shiver and one of his hands grabbed onto Neji's hair.

The Hyuga hissed at the strong pull on his hair but kept kissing Shikamaru's shoulder. He would make him sacred and loved and-

"I want to taste every inch of your body," his hand slowed down when he felt Shikamaru thrust into his touch too eagerly.

"Neji…"

"I'm going to worship your soul," he muttered over a nipple and sucked hard on the nub. Fingers dragged over his scalp and he moaned against the warm flesh against his lips.

His tongue slid in a straight pattern along the firm abs and kissed the underside of Shikamaru's bellybutton.

"Ahn.." Neji's chin touched the engorged tip of Shikamaru's shaft at the same time his knees landed hard against the floor, his hand never stopping the steady move. He smirked against Shikamaru's navel and looked up, a taunt grin on his lips as he kissed a hipbone.

Shikamaru started hyperventilating, his heart beating too fast. Not even in his most profane wet dream had he imagined Neji like this. Though the Hyuga looked much alike the first time they made out.

"Look at me," Shikamaru demanded firm and the Hyuga attended.

He felt dizzy when Neji kissed his belly button so kindly it felt like a dream. Shikamaru groaned, getting that he was naked and Neji was completely dressed, and pushed the sleeves down the man's arms, it stuck in his elbows, exposing snow-white flesh, pointed bones and strong shoulders.

Lust and desire rushed inside their veins not under a wicked spell or a damned secret jutsu. It was natural, optional, and real. But above all, it was consuming them.

Neji explored Shikamaru's navel with the tip of his tongue, eyes on him and his hair forming a messy halo around his head and shoulders.

The Hyuga smiled at the younger and his lips brushed sinfully close to the man's gland.

"Oh my," Shikamaru pressed his open palms against the wall and looked down, to watch how Neji's tongue darted out and licked his leaking tip. "Yes," the whisper fled from his lips.

Intense mooneyes stared at him, one hand holding onto a hipbone and the other stroking Shikamaru carefully.

"Mmm," hummed the Nara, as Neji's mouth covered his gland and sucked fast. "Ah!" he pushed harder against the wall.

The man sucked and lapped, his lips almost brushing black curls. Neji moaned around Shikamaru and scratched lightly at the underside of his length, making the man moan and shiver, hips thrusting forward for more.

The shadowy hallway felt thicker, shadows tickling around them as tension made Shikamaru breathe deeper. He thrust again, the tip of his swollen head hitting the back of Neji's throat and both groaned in delight.

"Come here," he murmured, his voice rough and his heart fast. He recollected himself and evoked all he was feeling, the love, the tenderness, the real feelings under the lust and craving.

Shadows surrounded them in an embrace and Shikamaru's arms reached for Neji, caressing his face and softly pulling him up, holding the Hyuga close, their lips pressing against each other, their breaths shaky and warm.

They looked in each other eyes and swallowed thickly.

"Neji…" fingertips brushed Neji's lips, lovingly, delighted. "You're completely lovable," he whispered the words so quietly that the Hyuga almost lost them in the shadows.

Warmth spread inside them.

"I want you," Neji said, his lips kissing Shikamaru's fingers, their eyes connected and a beautiful smile reached Shikamaru's eyes before he took Neji by his thighs, making his pants fall and lifted him from the floor.

"I want you too," he spoke quietly while walking into Neji's room, nuzzling against the pale column of his throat.

He wanted to love him like he had never done before.

Neji's back touched the mattress and Shikamaru spread open mouth kisses over his chest and abs and navel and reached down, his mouth kissing pale thighs.

Neji braced himself on his elbows and bit his lip watching how Shikamaru caressed his shins and moved up, outlining his knees with his rough fingers and massaging strong pale thighs with the ball of his hands.

"You're beautiful," Shikamaru whispered, his fingers playing with public hair, his wrist touching inadvertently while the other hand held Neji down.

The Hyuga's breathing shook in the air and he closed his eyes, head lolling to one shoulder. Lust and desire, the feelings were filling his chest and it was almost painful.

He wanted that man so much it was difficult to deal with the feelings.

Shikamaru brushed his fingers over white engorged shaft, a devil smile playing on his lips as Neji thrust against the touch. It overwhelmed the Nara and he took Neji in his hand, every finger pressuring slightly against the heated flesh and he stroked fast.

"Oh," the sound made Shikamaru shiver as Neji's fingers pressed against the blankets, his head falling back.

"Neji…" he trailed the words and stroked again, stronger, fingers curling, wrist moving from base to reddish crown.

"Kami-" the Hyuga moaned, opening his wide white eyes and looking at Shikamaru. Pure fire flashed in his irises.

The burn increased and blood boiled inside their veins, down their groins, into heavy members.

"Take me," Neji commanded and Shikamaru's body responded accordingly, he worked up saliva and sucked on his fingers, wetting them to slippery.

Shikamaru smiled at the Hyuga and his mouth wrapped his swollen gland. Shivers ran down Neji's vertebrae as pleasure mixed with pain. The intrusion made his vision blurry and the strong suck made him whimper, seeing white.

The chunin stilled his finger and lapped the flattening length, kissing and licking and trying to make pleasure stronger than pain. And so he did as Neji pressed against his finger.

"Move," he demanded, thrusting inside the shadow-nin's mouth. "Goddamnit," he hissed as a second finger worked its' way in and pressed deeper. "Nhng…"

Neji looked down, watched Shikamaru swallow him to the hilt. Heat involved him, tight and wet, the tongue caressing the underside of his shaft while fingers spread him and massaged tender spots until the Nara pressed against a bundle of nerves, sending strong waves through all Neji's body.

"Oh lord-" he gasped for air, feeling too much at the same time, and his hands clutched at Shikamaru's hair, pulling hard. "Shikam-ah, stop!"

Spasm ran his body and he needed to focus to hold on and stop an early orgasm.

Chuckles hovered through the room as Shikamaru kissed his hipbone and caressed him from inside out. His lips never leaving Neji's body, touching, caressing, spreading chaste kisses over his navel and throbbing length and thighs. His fingers proved a new move and Neji moaned darkly.

"Come here," Neji asked, his eyes closed and his breath faltering.

Shikamaru kissed his way up Neji's body until their lips were together. Shikamaru caressed chest and arms till their fingers tangled beside Neji's head. They stayed quietly until the Hyuga pulled Shikamaru closer with his legs, pressing their hard on together and starting a new wave of heat and pleasure.

Neji held his breath as Shikamaru put their brows together and he noticed his hitai-ate must have fallen off. Shikamaru pressed against him, naturally slippery and hot and his body's moisture licked against Neji's entrance pushing forward until the first ring of muscles relaxed enough.

Neji's jaw tightened and he grunted against the pain. Shikamaru's eyes closed shut as heat started to surround him in a vise-like grip. Legs pulled him even closer and his mouth fell open as he slid in, face hiding in the curve of Neji's neck and hips thrusting slowly.

Heat involved him and his vision went blind for a second or two as both of them panted for air.

It was too hot.

Too good.

Insane…

Neji felt his body burn and sting, but nostalgia crossed him like a sword and he shivered like a madman as Shikamaru started moving in shallow thrusts. Body getting used to the intrusion and the cutting pain felt like some understandable old sensation, shocking him from inside out.

Shikamaru seemed afraid of moving, afraid of hurting, but all Neji wanted was to feel him raw.

The Hyuga let go of Shikamaru's hands, untangling their fingers and feeling the man's lips kiss his throat tenderly. His lips curved in a small smile and he caressed Shikamaru's loose hair, took his face in his hands and put their lips together in a chaste kiss.

The feeling boiled inside his body and made him feel warm. It wasn't just burning him with lust and desire, it was caressing his heart in a way he wasn't expecting.

Neji captured Shikamaru's trembling bottom lip with his teeth and sucked on it, their eyes opening to look at each other's expression. Flushed faces, messy hair and deep understanding that what they were feeling was exactly what they were supposed to.

He moaned inside Neji's mouth as the jounin's legs embraced him closer, making him move inside him, slowly and deep. Sensation made his vision go white and his breath speed up.

"Neji," he called, brows pressing together as the Hyuga watched him calmly. "I-"

"I know," the man answered, and taking him by the nape he pushed.

Shikamaru's head spun and so did their bodies, as Neji rolled them on the futon, making the Nara moan and shake as Neji sat over his body, moving his hips in small circles until he felt adapted enough to move faster.

He rocked against Shikamaru, his right hand flattening against the heated flesh of Shikamaru's abs and sliding up until he could feel his heart beating against ribcages.

He rocked again, making Shikamaru grab on his hips and pull him down, sliding deeper.

"Oh god-"

His breath caught in the back of his throat as he rolled around in fluid, circular movements, increasing friction and heat. He felt Shikamaru's hands sinking on his skin, while the younger man rose himself to a sitting position. The Nara stole a kiss from Neji, forcing their bodies together, feeling the strong muscles contracting and expanding with the movement.

It was hot and intense and oh so passionate. They moved in sync, slow and deep, feeling the pleasure starting to boil under their skins. Neji moaned into Shikamaru's neck, his hands caressing the younger's bare shoulders and back, blunt nails scratching the tanned skin and a lustful plea for more filled the air.

The heat spreading through their bodies was maddening. Shikamaru pulled Neji even closer to him, kissing him hard. Neji hummed into the kiss, holding the Nara's face and tangling his fingers into dark hair. The Hyuga laced his legs around Shikamaru's waist, letting the younger set their pace while he nibbled the tanned neck and panted at the Nara's ear.

"Hm, Neji," Shikamaru moaned, pulling Neji's hair back and exposing the porcelain neck to kiss the Adam's pome while forcing their bodies to press flat on the futon.

He heard Neji gasping for air, his back arching off the mattress, urging their pace more and more. Their bodies melted together, souls filled with raw emotion and pleasure consuming their minds fully.

Neji couldn't think; he was surrounded by feelings and emotions and friction. It was overwhelming and almost tender, the way their bodies moved in sync and their breaths mingled, purring moans and curses.

It made them feel bound again.

Cells, skins, feelings and drumming hearts connected. They could feel each other with a roll of hurry hips and a rasp pant for air. It was almost impossible to handle the sensation.

"I'm close," Shikamaru warned, steading Neji's body on the mattress, keeping the moves slow and kissing his lips softly, feeling the man's hands caress his back and draw circles in the small of his spine.

He pressed his brow against Neji's straight clavicle and breathed deeply, his hand leaving the other's hips and cupping his rock hard erection, pumping it slowly until he felt enough control to start thrusting his hips stronger again.

"Yes," the word rolled in Neji's tongue like a sensuous plea and he moved into the touch.

Shikamaru speed up their pace, his hips hitting with a loud damp sound against Neji's skin as he moved and stroked the man at the same time, making Neji moan and gasp and grab on his shoulders as his head fell back and his body arched front, their chests sliding together.

"Oh. God," he muttered. Legs clutching around Shikamaru's body and tensing up. Muscles contracting around Shikamaru and driving them into the edge of pleasure. "Nnhg..."

"Neji." Shikamaru called his name loud and clear, his abs tensing up, feeling it boiling down his groins and heating his whole body in bliss and pleasure.

Orgasm struck their bodies seconds apart. White shock blinded their eyes and warmth spread around them through waves of feverish rapture.

Panting for air, Neji stroked Shikamaru's hair, their eyes still closed and their hearts trying to calm down inside their chests.

Pearly white eyes opened slowly and he stared the ceiling. He slid his legs along with the other's until he felt the futon. Suddenly, he started feeling tired and heavy and extremely relaxed. Neji felt Shikamaru moving slowly and rolling to his side, his arms around him, as the Nara rested his heated face over his chest.

Neji hooked his arm around Shikamaru and kept caressing the unruly hair between his fingers. The silence was relaxing, cozy and familiar. He felt pain in his lower back and ass but he could bare that easily. So Hyuga Neji pulled the blanket over their bodies and kissed the top of Shikamaru's head.

"Neji," the man muttered.

"Mm?"

"I'm in love with you," he said low, his voice muffled against Neji's chest, his breath tickling his pale skin.

His arms pulled Shikamaru even closer and his lips kissed his brow and temple and his hair tenderly. He chuckled and closed his eyes with a big smile on his lips.

"Me too."

x

Struggling was definitely something that bothered Shikamaru the most. And right now he was squirming under Neji's body, wanting for more.

Damn tantric shit!

He felt Neji's hand caressing his back and his lips started kissing him again. Slowly. Terribly and amazingly slow. Shikamaru decided he should be more patient and just feel the glories of tantric sex.

It would take him a long way to get used to its pace and the whole 'control and deprivement' thing. Though he would do that just fine.

If the orgasm is this good...

So blood ran South and he stopped thinking because, finally, Neji was doing it fast and his body was screaming for completion and the Hyuga held him down for so long he just wanted to come really hard.

And so he did.

Waves of burning pleasure ran all over his body like an earthquake, his eyes and mind went blind, he gasped and moaned and shook. And the warmth covered him like a blanket, he was in heaven.

Yeah, I can do that.

"That's troublesome," he muttered after some minutes, voice rough and throat dry.

"Is it?" Neji asked, standing up in his nudity and smiled cocky. "Why?"

Shikamaru smiled lazily, his eyes hidden in the hook of his arm. He felt tired and light all at the same time, and the warmness inside his chest was surprising.

"If you're going to wake me up like this, I wouldn't mind moving in," he joked, tongue licking his lips in a quick move.

Neji chuckled, sitting down on the bed again and leaning over Shikamaru. He planted a kiss on his lips and on the tip of his nose, moving Shikamaru's arm away he looked inside dark sleepy gaze. His hair fell down like a curtain and tickled the shadow-nin's neck in a soft caress.

"You hungry?"

"Starved."

"Let's have breakfast," he said barely kissing Shikamaru's lips.

"Sounds like a plan," the younger said, pulling Neji closer and kissing him harder.

After a simple but tasty breakfast they sat together by the kotetsu, and recalled their stupid bond and all the events in between.

It was different to think about it right now, how everything developed to something bigger and out of their hands. Shikamaru told Neji that he didn't see the feeling coming; it was so hard to accept it he needed his father's help to see it clearly.

The Hyuga watched him with big bright eyes, imagining Shikaku telling Shikamaru that the boy was in love with Neji. They even laughed about it, though back then, when it happened, Shikamaru had felt stupid and torn.

How could a person not see all those signals and understand them?

After a nice cup of coffee the younger ninja felt better about himself and listened to Neji's own bad situations. He chuckled when the Hyuga told him that Tokuma wouldn't leave him alone because he felt Neji was too sad to be by himself.

Shikamaru had a lot of questions, and he wanted to ask them; about the seal, about Neji's relationship with Tokuma, about his whole childhood...but as a good strategist and a brilliant mind, he understood the answers would come someday.

Trust comes with time.

The idea of being together with Neji for longer made him shiver and he cut the man in the middle of a sentence, stealing a kiss and smiling apologetically.

He would love to be able to do that, make this relationship work to upper levels.

They also apologised for their previous behaviour and confessed dirty little secrets like: "I should have kissed you before," or "Your mother advised me about you," or "Your cousin was trying to pair us up as well," or "Can we go back to bed?".

Though they didn't.

Shikamaru had work to get done and Neji needed to help Hinata training. So they just kissed and chuckled about how cheesy and stupid they were being.

With hearts drumming excitedly inside their chests and shallow breaths, they didn't need to talk about the relationship, but it was obvious in the air surrounding them: they were together.

Even Shikamaru not knowing exactly what that meant, but he could work it out and deal with the novelty. It was going to be challenging.

When the Nara walked out of the door and smiled sheepishly at Neji, the older wanted to pull him back to bed and never, ever, let him go.

Kami, what am I thinking?

Neji put a long lock of hair behind his ear and watched Shikamaru gaze at him doubtful.

"So," he said and put his both hands in his pockets.

"Yeah," Neji crossed his arms in his chest and waited.

Though Shikamaru looked at him and bit on his bottom lip like he was a lost kid and Neji chuckled.

Of course, he had never been in any kind of relationship before...

"You should come more often," he offered, his smile becoming a very seductive one.

"Yeah," Shikamaru muttered deep. "I really should."

Neji let out a pleased sigh at the answer and nodded.

"So, dinner tonight?" the Nara asked casually.

"Sounds good," Neji hold back a grin and watched Shikamaru sigh and jump to the roof. "Troublesome Nara," he whispered as he smiled closing the door, it had been a long time since he last felt so happy.

Warmth spread inside his chest and he bit his lip.

Fate, I should start thanking you...

They were at love level, definitely.

End.

Note: well, that's it. I loved to write this fic, I hope you enjoy the end and maybe tell me what do you think about it ^^ If any of you like the way I write and would like to read more of my ShikaNejiShika fanfictions, you can go to my profile and look for:

Shelter - Their bodies were trying to say what their mouths were taught not to pronounce. Feelings could lead them to weakness. But together they could stand still. Holding on. M, oneshot, complete. Ninja-angst. (Be careful with the lemons ^^)

Forsaken - When life leaves us blind, love keeps us kind. It keeps us kind. M, long, in-progress. Drama-romance.

THANK YOU for all your kind words, cheering, criticism, comments, and mainly for your patience. The best thing about writing is bonding with the readers, I'm truly sorry about how long it took me to write a proper end to this fanfiction, and I hope to see you at my other works.

xxx Tai