Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Hyuuga Swap ❯ Hook, Line and Sinker ( Chapter 4 )

The Hyuuga Swap

(Chapter 4)

 

Neji x Naruto

 

Naruto is in a brand-new relationship with Hinata. But when he meets her cousin Neji, he finds himself inexplicably preoccupied with the dark haired boy, despite his prickly personality. (AU yaoi)

 

______________

 

 

 

Naruto stalked angrily through the milling people, determined to get as far away from his dark-haired, completely mental friend as he could. He almost ran over a small child, whose mother pulled it out of the way just in time, but he was too distracted to notice.

 

Stupid Sasuke! What did he know? Just because he wasn't all over Hinata didn't mean he liked her cousin! Even if he did cut a more striking figure… all lean lines and grace… with a fall of dark hair that should have looked completely out of place on a guy… and those eyes… those strange liquid mercury eyes that were so intense…

 

Naruto recalled the video gaming incident, the barest brush of lips on his. His pulse stuttered in his throat. It wasn't even a real kiss! It didn't count!

 

Still, it was one hell of a not kiss.

 

Naruto shook his head, refusing to give into Sasuke's insanity. Besides, it was none of his business anyway! Stringing her along… ridiculous. Trust Sasuke to ruin a fun atmosphere with his dark emo angst vibes.

 

Naruto been walking without purpose, but realized where his feet had been taking him. Towards the most boring place in the entire park: the animal show.

 

That was fine. He'd meet up with Hinata and prove to Sasuke-bastard that he liked her, and that Kiba wasn't trying to steal her away from him.

 

He arrived at the domed pavilion a few minutes later and skimmed the crowd.

 

He caught a glimpse of Kiba and Hinata, at the far end, and for a moment, he just stood there observing them. Was there any truth to what Sasuke was saying? He didn't think so, but he also knew Sasuke wasn't the type to make things up. Something had put the thought in his head.

 

They did sort of look like a couple… Their heads were tilted towards each other, and they seemed deep in conversation. Kiba was actually subdued - acting like a normal sane person instead of being all crazy and loud like usual. Hinata seemed more relaxed, as well - a state Naruto had scarcely seen as of late. Yes, they looked like they could be a couple. But just as easily, they looked like close friends. Even though they'd just met…

 

Still. Sasuke didn't have to launch into conspiracy theories about Kiba trying to steal his girlfriend from him. He was paranoid as it was, he didn't need help.

 

Kiba said something that made Hinata laugh. She smiled up at him.

 

“Doesn't that look like more than friends to you?” a familiar voice said from behind Naruto. He glanced up to see Sasuke had caught up with him.

 

“Pfft.” Speaking of the devil.

 

Naruto decided to ignore Sasuke and his ominous foretellings of doom in favor of grabbing a seat. He was still annoyed at him over the Kiba-Hinata thing, and really mad at the accusations over the Neji-Hinata thing. So what if Hinata's cousin had a prettier face than her? He wasn't swayed by looks alone, and he most certainly wasn't going to discard her for Neji. He didn't even know him.

 

He made his way across the stadium, down the aisle, and across the knees and laps of the people in their row, to sit on Hinata's left. Sasuke slunk down the aisle after him, and took the seat next to Naruto.

 

Hinata looked up, surprised to see Naruto. “I thought you didn't like the animal show?'

 

I don't. Heaven help me, I hate the animal show. “Yeah well, I haven't seen it in a while… and I thought I would have more fun if I was with you.” Hinata blushed and smiled shyly. Oh yeah, that was smoooooth, Naruto, he congratulated himself. He took her hand and squeezed it, making her blush harder. Stupid Sasuke, he added smugly, she can't like Kiba if she's into ME.

 

Kiba looked palpably annoyed, but Naruto didn't notice.

 

Sasuke watched the exchange while trying not to roll his eyes. Dobe, you're supposed to say that stuff because you mean it, not to prove a point. And if you'd just look a little further to your right, you'd see Kiba was proving MY point. He's into Hinata, and he's jealous.

 

Sasuke ignored the self-satisfied/challenging look Naruto shot him at his apparent success with Hinata. He was definitely mired in some serious denial, and was going to take it out on Sasuke for bringing that to his attention. The Kiba thing… The Neji thing… Sasuke sighed. Sometimes being a friend to the oblivious was a difficult job indeed.

 

The show resumed after its intermission, and Naruto sunk down into his seat and attempted to be entertained.

 

With a joyous smile and a lengthy explanation, a female trainer sent two large birds winging over their heads to the Oooo's and Ahhh's of the audience. He hoped those birds had some bladder control. They were rather large.

 

Naruto looked to his right. Hinata looked delighted as her eyes followed the movements overhead. Kiba watched the avian flight as well, but looked markedly… hungry. Disturbing. He glanced to his left. Sasuke looked bored.

 

Naruto amused himself by paying attention to that deadpan expression. It was nice to see they were in agreement where it really mattered. Kiba was a very good friend, but things like this were what marked someone as a best friend.

 

When Sasuke flinched infinitesimally, eyes fixed on the stage, Naruto looked back to the show that was still, unfortunately, going on. Another trainer, a man this time, had stepped up onto the stage. He was accompanied by a gargantuan snake that rested heavily upon his shoulders and twined thickly about his arms and torso as he sauntered to center stage.

 

Sasuke had sunk into his seat, a scowl on his face. Naruto had forgotten, but Sasuke hated snakes. Really hated snakes. Contrary to his sour expression, he was actually scared of snakes. At least, that's what Naruto suspected.

 

Snake-man resembled weirdo-tongue-guy from the bus earlier. He started to move in a manner that was almost like dancing, the snake coiling up and around his neck then down his back and around his leg. Its large form spilled gracefully to the floor and arched around him. He crouched and extended his hand. It rose up, skimming its belly over the proffered fingertips, and brushed slowly past his cheek. His eyes closed as if it were a caress.

 

It was freaky.

 

This had to be a new act. No way they'd let snake-dancing, or snake-sex, or whatever the hell it was be a regular thing. This was a `family' park after all. Maybe the manager was on vacation.

 

Snake-man's eyes opened, and he directed his gaze at them. A smoky, lecherous gaze. His tongue slid out to wet his lips as the snake encased his body with slow up-turning coils. Naruto felt weirded out. Why was snake-guy only looking this way now?

 

Sasuke, sitting next to him, looked ill.

 

“You ok?” Naruto asked him.

 

“Hate snakes,” was the weak reply.

 

Naruto glanced back to the stage. Snake-guy flipped back his long dark hair with a wink and smiled evilly.

 

Way creepy.

 

It was with huge amounts of relief that they watched the snake bit end, and a slight break between acts begin.

 

“N-Naruto?” Hinata said softly.

 

“Yeah?”

 

“W-Where are Sakura and Lee? I thought they were with you earlier.”

 

“Ah… I don't really know. I haven't seen them since the Bumper Boats.”

 

“Isn't it rude to have left them like that?” she said, disapproval marking her quiet voice. “We all came to be together… and if they don't know where we are …”

 

Rude? Sakura would be the first one to call him and bitch him out if she felt he was being rude. Besides, if they wanted to know where everyone was, they would have called. That's what cell phones were for after all. Naruto decided to humor her though.

 

“Hang on, I'll call them.” Naruto pulled out his infinitely cool, shiny orange cell phone. It was totally worth the special order and extra money he'd paid for it.

 

He punched in Sakura's number and waited. She picked up on the 5th ring.

 

“Naruto?”

 

“Hey Sakura, where are you guys at?”

 

“Leaving actually. Sorry we didn't say anything! We didn't see you and we're going to just barely make that dinner with Lee's parents. We stayed a little too long. Where did you hellions get to?"

 

“The animal show,” Naruto said with forced levity. He didn't want to blow his cover with Hinata. She was looking at him expectantly.

 

“But you always…” Sakura started, then changed her mind. “Oh never mind. What about Sasuke? You know they have snakes in the show, right?”

 

“Actually, I forgot, but I just had my memory jogged in a big way.”

 

“You be nice to him, Naruto,” she scolded playfully. “I'm sure he had some traumatic experience involving snakes, so he can't help not liking them.”

 

“I find I don't like them too much myself right now.” He shuddered, and hoped snake-guy wasn't on the bus on the return trip.

 

She laughed. “I sense forthcoming details.”

 

He grinned, though she obviously wouldn't see it. “I'll tell you all about it later. Then you can be creeped out, too.” He paused. “Sorry we made ourselves scarce without saying anything.” The apology felt like overkill but Hinata still looked worried and seemed to expect it.

 

“Don't be silly,” Sakura scoffed. “If we weren't rushing out of here, I would have just called you to see where you were.”

 

Just as he thought.

 

“No, Lee, we're parked in 3F. No, the purple row. Listen Naruto, we really do have to run, but it was great seeing you all again! We need to do this again sometime soon.”

 

“Sure thing, Sakura. You have fun at that dinner.”

 

She gave an anxious sigh. “I'll do my best. And you, stay out of trouble, ok?”

 

“I'll try,” he laughed.

 

See, Hinata just worries too much, just as he thought. Everything was fine. She needed to learn how to relax.

 

 

---

 

Thankfully, the return bus ride was uneventful. Naruto sat in the aisle seat this time, just to be sure to keep weirdos at bay if any weirdos happened to be in residence. It was a quiet ride, however, the bus being rather empty.

 

It had been a rather fun day, despite the bit with Sasuke. Though Naruto took the snake part of the show to be a piece of divine retribution, so it all worked out. Sadly, he was sure he now shared Sasuke's avid dislike of snakes.

 

The bus arrived at their stop, and Naruto followed Hinata off the rumbling, hissing transportation vehicle. It was a short walk from here to her apartment and it was a beautiful evening. He laced his hands behind his head and looked up. The sky was fading peacefully into after-sunset purple and was gathering stars. The air was crisp, losing a little more of the heat it had gained during the day, and had the smell of fall. It was the kind of night that made you feel all was right with the world.

 

“N-Naruto?” Hinata ventured as they neared her building.

 

“Yeah?” Naruto looked at her out of the corner of his eye.

 

Her small form was swallowed up in the jacket that Kiba insisted on loaning her, masking her hands as she tapped them together nervously. “Do you… think they like me?”

 

That was an odd question, wasn't it? Sakura and Lee were effusively friendly, Sasuke was cordial, Kiba was thoughtful… How would anyone get the impression they weren't liked from that?

 

“Of course!” Naruto piped up with a closed-eyes smile. He threw enthusiasm into his voice that he didn't quite feel. “What's not to like?” It was sad that she had to feel so self conscious. That anyone would have to feel that way - disliked, and hanging onto social interactions by a thread -

 

“Do…” She paused as if finding it difficult to continue. “Do you still like me?”

 

Huh, what?

 

“Yes?” Naruto said, feeling taken aback. Why would I date you if I didn't like you? That she would have to ask that… did that mean their relationship was going badly already? His mood plummeted. What had he done wrong?? How did he always manage to do something wrong?

 

They continued walking in awkward silence. Naruto shoved his hands in his pockets, and scuffed his feet half-heartedly at the loose pebbles dotting the asphalt. Was he destined to always fail? To be alone forever? The thought of it was untenable.

 

Hinata hesitated at the threshold of the apartment. Naruto looked up. They had reached her door, and she looked like she was debating saying something or just going inside.

 

“About before…” Hinata started, her voice faint. Nervous. “Well… we've been dating for a while now…” she explained haltingly, “and we haven't even kissed yet.”

 

OH. Naruto felt realization hit him like a 40 pound iced fish. It wasn't anything he'd said or not said that made her ask that…it was the lack of physicality. The lack of kissing and stuff that all couples do.

 

She looked up at him shyly, waiting.

 

It was obvious he was expected to do this right now. Naruto swallowed, suddenly feeling anxious himself. His palms started to sweat. Kisses weren't a big deal, right? He could do this. It was just weird since it was not spur of the moment. He'd never been asked to kiss someone before…

 

The space they were in felt close, claustrophobic.

 

Naruto fought the urge to bolt, surprised at his own apparent shyness. Or maybe he just didn't feel in the mood for this sort of thing? But surely this was one of those moments that if you didn't do what was expected of you, then all bets were off… and it could be a deal breaker.

 

He summoned his courage, and stepped closer, placing a hand upon her sweater-clad arm. His stomach twisted in a knot. She tilted her face up to him, and closed her eyes. Pale eyes that looked so meek. So devoid of fire.

 

He closed the distance between, leaning down to her girlish mouth. The approach felt long and treacherous, a winding road that had a cliff at the end with his name on it. His foot was hanging over the edge.

 

He felt lips press to his as Hinata breached the last breadth of distance. He registered the softness of skin, but reacted slowly, taking a moment before he realized he should be kissing her back.

 

It wasn't unpleasant.

 

He could taste the mint she'd had but a few moments ago, strongly peppermint.

 

He closed his own eyes and tried to focus on this, his first kiss. It was nice, he supposed, but something didn't feel quite right. Something was missing. Hinata's arms came up around his neck, pulling him closer. He wondered absently what doing more than this would be like… would it be as awkward? How soon would he be expected to do more? Would he get over this nervousness by then? Stop thinking already, he berated himself. Hinata was a nice girl, she wouldn't be wanting all of that right away anyway-

 

“Ahem.”

 

Neji.

 

Naruto's heart slammed into his chest and his stomach clenched into something the size of a walnut. What was he doing here??

 

He and Hinata jumped apart.

 

“I wouldn't have interrupted, but you were blocking the doorway.” Neji's voice was flat, expressionless. Hinata blushed bright red, stammering an apology as she whipped around to dig out her key.

 

Neji's eyes did not rest on his cousin however. They were focused on Naruto. Trapping him and burning him up with that forward gaze.

 

“Don't you think it is rather indecent of you to kiss my cousin?” He sounded like a concerned family member, except for the WAY he said it. Neji let that hang for a moment before adding “Out here where everyone can see you.” The way he said it made him seem like he wanted to berate Naruto not for kissing her, but for kissing anyone. He sounded… possessive.

 

His eyes were boring into Naruto's. Delving deep and pulling him out. Naruto found it hard to keep breathing.

 

Why was Neji looking at him like that? It was making his knees weak and his stomach twist anxiously. Nothing existed but them, and the space between. Space that was being spanned by this connection. Space that was being swallowed up by the tension. Pale eyes were reeling him in…

 

“Oh Neji, stop that!” Hinata fretted, breaking the pull. “He was not being indecent! We've been dating for almost a month now, and that was our first kiss.” Her bravado took a dive, and she stammered, “I-I asked him to kiss me.” She got her key in the door, and opened it, using the action to try and mask her embarrassment. She moved through the doorway.

 

Neji gave Naruto an appraising look over his shoulder as they stepped inside, as if evaluating what kind of guy would have to be asked to kiss his girlfriend. Naruto glared back.

 

Hinata had it all wrong! They had only been dating a few WEEKS. Not a month. They were still getting used to each other. Why was everyone so concerned about getting in each other's pants? What was wrong with getting to know someone first??

 

“You picked a shy one this time.” Neji said to Hinata. “How unfortunate for you.”

 

Hinata flushed again and tried to say something, but her mouth moved uselessly. She lost her cool and rushed down the hall, retreating to her room to compose herself.

 

Naruto turned to Neji. “I am not shy,” he said mulishly.

 

“I know,” the other boy said speculatively. “But I wonder why she doesn't?”

 

Naruto thought back to the almost kiss thing. He hadn't been all that shy around Neji… had he? He remembered Neji sliding in behind him to show him the game. Arms encircling him, and a hard body pressed against his back. The air had crackled with electricity, and suddenly, kisses were all he could think about.

 

“Remembering something good?” Neji inquired with an arched brow.

 

“None of your business!” Naruto said with a start.

 

“It is when it involves me.”

 

Damn! How'd he know? Naruto's heart skipped a beat, then lurched to resume its clockwork pulsing. No, he couldn't know. Besides, it was a fluke. Just deny it.

 

Neji moved closer. “I've seen that look on your face before.” His voice was low, smooth and deep.

 

Naruto took a step back. Fighting down the butterflies in his stomach.

 

Their eyes met, and it was happening again. That electric charge was in the air, and Naruto felt like he was being pulled forward into it.

 

“Or don't you recall?” the brunette said huskily.

 

Naruto shook his head, his heart hammering in his chest. Neji had drifted into his personal space. His skin prickled and felt alive, fluid, as Neji filled his sight. A fall of midnight hair framing a face with skin like flawless alabaster. Eyes like mist - mysterious, enigmatic, taking hold of him. Drawing his breath from him in a steady stream as they ghosted closer. Sapping his strength. His will. He felt a tremor go through him.

 

Eyes, lips, he couldn't think anymore. He felt the wall at his back and realized he could go no further. His fingers brushed the subtle roughness as his hands splayed pleadingly against the wall and his heart leapt into his throat.

 

There was a breathless moment, and then Neji's lips descended upon his. Sensuous. Slow. The gentle flick of a tongue against his bottom lip prompted him for access, and he gave it without thinking.

 

Hot. It was getting so hot in here. His thoughts stuttered to a halt and his brain felt like it was melting. This was a kiss? Kissing Hinata had been nothing like this.

 

Oh, god. He couldn't see, he couldn't think. His entire consciousness was the taste and feel of Neji.

 

His knees buckled, and he felt strong arms wrap around him, holding him up. A firm body pressed against his as his mouth was devoured. Sensation was filling him up, making his limbs shake. Overwhelming him. Oh god, oh god, oh god.

 

He could feel the rapid rise and fall of Neji's chest against his. The double beating of their hearts. The unsteady swirling in his lower stomach, that he'd not yet labeled `desire'.

 

Neji bit Naruto's lip in the single most sexy way imaginable as he drew back from their kiss.

 

“Come to my room,” he said against Naruto's neck.

 

Lips touched skin. It was both a request and a warning.

 

It was a bad idea. Surely it was. Rooms had doors, and with one closing the rest of the world out, who knew what would happen? Going to Neji's room would be a mistake - it would rob him of what little coherence he had gained the moment Neji stopped kissing him. He had to say no… because… going with Neji would be wrong… because… Hinata…

 

But Neji was already pulling him forward, eyes locked to his. Soft eyes. Eyes that showed uncertainty, which was so uncharacteristic of him, and something darker. Just beyond indecision there was a hunger.

 

Naruto found himself following after the dark-haired boy, who clasped his hand as if he was afraid Naruto would disappear.

 

The dark hallway seemed an unending passage. Impassable. Tall walls to either side seemed to resist them and slow their advancement. Each footfall brought him deeper into the maw of the unknown. The niggling feeling that he shouldn't be here increased.

 

Trespasser.

 

But Naruto couldn't help himself. He kept moving forward, curiosity burning like a brand behind his eyes. How many times had he wondered what Neji's room would be like? Knowing it wasn't red only opened up a field of new questions…

 

Color, contents, arrangement, and state of disarray, all of these could speak volumes. Rooms were such telling things. Would it reflect his personality? Would it give Naruto answers to some of the mystery that surrounded the enigmatic boy? Or would it be sterile and echo nothing?

 

Neji paused at the closed door, a closed expression flitting over his face. The feeling of trespassing peaked. Hesitation was a display of insecurity that seemed so ill-fitting on the dark-haired boy. At odds with the confidence he typically exuded.

 

Naruto's hand was released.

 

Neji opened the door and gestured Naruto inside, his expression shifting subtly as the blonde moved past him.

 

Naruto temporarily forgot everything as he took in the room, his brain working industriously to garner as much information as he could as fast as he could. He might never gain entry to this secluded space again, and for now he didn't know how long he would be allowed to remain. He was surprised that he'd been taken this far - Neji seemed like a person who would keep their private dwelling free of the taint of another's presence. A sanctuary.

 

At first glance it was not much - just plain and orderly. Clean walls, unencumbered by things like posters which Naruto plastered to his own walls with abandon. A bed. Bookshelves. At first glance it appeared bland. Lackluster.

 

But the room was subtle, showing a simplicity and sophisticated beauty the more you looked.

 

On the far side was a tall and sleek wooden media unit that took up most of the wall, filled with an amazing number of cds. Then there was an expensive looking stereo system with large headphones, the kind that cover your whole ear, plugged in and lying on top. They were the most modern things, and the black of them was mirrored and balanced by the black comforter on the bed across the room. The sheets on which were striped, cobalt and black, in a jagged wave pattern that was wild in a subdued and cool sort of way, digital even. Naruto wondered if they hinted at Neji having a less than proper side to him.

 

The walls were a rich color, similar to that of those brown eggs at the supermarket.

 

That was maybe a bad description of the color, Naruto thought, but he couldn't think of anything closer than that to the pleasing warm brown.

 

Several small, nearly monochromatic watercolor paintings hung on the walls in simple black frames with crisp white mattes.

 

The room was refined and elegant, just like Neji.

 

 

“Naruto…what are you doing to me?”

 

Neji's voice broke him out of his reverie, thrilling through him. He looked up to see Neji watching him fixedly with an almost despairing expression. The shadows in the alcove of the room's doorway clung to him, accentuating his beautifully modeled face with their trappings of gloom.

 

“I - ”

 

Neji cut him off, placing fingertips against his lips.

 

When Naruto became silent once more, they trailed across his cheek; a caress, dissolving against his skin as lips came to meet his in the sweetest mockery of touch.

 

“I really can't be alone with you,” Neji said faintly. There was a note of wonder in his voice, and helpless contrition.

 

“Why not?” Naruto murmured automatically. Though he suspected that what they were doing right now was the reason why not. He held his breath as his heart thumped in anticipation. He couldn't remember anymore why it was wrong to want Neji to kiss him again… he only knew that right now it was all he wanted.

 

Neji's eyes flashed silver in the dim light, meeting his with acknowledgement. He walked Naruto backwards several steps, pinning him against the door and kissing him long and hard. Desire rolled off his tongue, echoed in the insistent press of his body.

 

Naruto's eyes fluttered shut helplessly as a small fire flared in the pit of his belly. Rational thought was fleeing him once again, as his imagination stripped them of clothes and laid them horizontal. Skin to skin. A small moan left his lips at the thought.

 

“Naruto, what are you doing to me?” Neji's voice was heated, raw.

 

Never had Naruto heard a voice sound so purely of sex. He was burning up, wanting to feel Neji's skin against his. He looked at the bed over Neji's shoulder as a hot mouth explored the delicate skin of his throat. It called to them, promising a better place to have needy kisses. Offering them a lavish cradle in which to sink into this wanton dementia.

 

A hand brushed lightly across Naruto's hip. Cool fingertips slid under his shirt to trace the hot skin of his stomach.

 

It took Naruto a full minute to register the rapping at the door, and a soft voice.

 

Hinata.

 

Naruto's startled cry was silenced by Neji's hand over his mouth. How could he have forgotten about Hinata?? She was only his girlfriend after all!

 

“Neji? Are you awake?”

 

“Yes,” he replied after a moment.

 

“Did Naruto go home?”

 

Neji looked at him searchingly as if asking him what he wanted to do.

 

Naruto waffled, feeling guilty, and needy.

 

The thought of leaving off where they were at the moment wasn't pleasing. He could feel their need as palpable on the air as it was in evidence between their taut bodies. But continuing it seemed wrong, no matter how badly he wanted to. Here he was being kissed within an inch of his life, and his girlfriend was just on the other side of the flimsy wooden door, sweetly asking after him.

 

His conscience was torn between flaying him alive and committing seppuku.

 

Neji watched Naruto's inner conflict briefly, then decided a course of action for him. “He's here. I'm just showing him something.” He managed to sound normal with those few words. How could he sound so normal?

 

“Oh,” Hinata said quietly, a pleased lilt to her voice. “I'll be out in the living room then, when you're done.” So innocent. So understanding. So completely unsuspicious.

 

Naruto's conscience busted out the cat o' nine tails and went to work.

 

Neji seemed like he was suffering a similar flagellation by his own morals.

 

“What should we do?” Naruto whispered. He was certain Hinata was no longer at the door but it didn't hurt to be careful.

 

The pull between them had not diminished, even with the interruption. It was worrisome.

 

Neji shook his head, brows drawn together in consternation. He went to sit on the floor in the middle of the room, his legs in loose Indian style, his arms draped haphazardly over them. Naruto slowly followed, and sat down on the lush cream colored carpet next to him.

 

“I just can't be alone with you,” Neji said pensively, dismay in his tone. It sounded like a resolution. “For Hinata's sake, I can't be alone with you.”

 

“We're alone right now,” Naruto pointed out, his voice still husky. Why was he pressing the obvious? It wasn't helping.

 

Smoldering eyes met his. “I know.”

 

Naruto could feel the barely restrained heat emanating from those eyes as surely as he'd often felt the caress of the noontime sun on his skin.

 

Neji reached for a small remote that was on the floor at the foot of the bed. He pressed a sequence of buttons, one of which allowed sound to emit from the sound system despite the pair of headphones that were plugged in. Ambient tones pulsed through the speakers. The chill of down-tempo.

 

In silent agreement, they were stopping. Focusing on something else until this madness passed. It was the only choice to be made.

 

Naruto lay back, propped up on his elbows. Down-tempo…He was familiar with the style, and its soothing beats, and calming effects. He listened for several minutes, trying to distract himself.

 

But the music was doing nothing to calm the pulsing ache between his legs.

 

He sighed shakily and looked up to see how Neji was faring.

 

Neji was propped up on one arm, gazing at him like a starving man, his hair sliding over his shoulders framing his face like rich mahogany curtains. His ghost-blue eyes were still welling with desire, and he was close enough that it would take very little to close the distance between them. Naruto's stomach clenched at the look, his breath hitching in his throat.

 

Neji leaned down to him, descending for an eternity as compulsion drove him to brush their mouths together in forbidden contact. Sweet, torturous contact. The tip of his tongue caressed Naruto's full lower lip, and flicked at his upper.

 

Light, flitting touches that were heady enough to drown in.

 

They couldn't be doing this. They were supposed to be cooling this down, so they could go out there where Hinata was waiting, and act like nothing had happened. So they could pretend that nothing had ever happened.

 

Neji's hand settled on Naruto's hip, his thumb brushing the skin just above his pants. A tiny point of contact, but they were testing their limits. Seeing how close they could come before the point of no return. Not good. It was just maddening. It-

 

Fire shot through Naruto as that same hand casually swept over his arousal. His body jerked in response, and arched into the touch as it was repeated.

 

God, I can't stop, Naruto thought as Neji deepened the kiss and they sank to the floor. Pleasure sparked fiercely from the gentle but firm way Neji was massaging his aching flesh through the rough cloth.

 

“Ne… ji,” Naruto panted. “S-Stop…” his hand clenched in the fabric of Neji's shirt sleeve. He couldn't hold it together much longer. It was taking all his will power not to say, `don't stop'.

 

“We have to st- aaahhh,” he moaned as Neji undid the button of his pants, and the heat of his palm wrapped around Naruto's naked flesh. His heartbeat pulsed in Neji's hand and he was lost. “Please… Neji… I can't…” he was babbling. His body was flushed and wanton, and Neji's hand was moving again. “S-Stop…” he whimpered. I'm going to explode.

 

The brunette murmured apologies in his ear, a sweet litany of words that made no sense to him.

 

Naruto's hand traveled downward with a mind of its own, seeking Neji's heartbeat, to have and to hold. Neji made an inarticulate noise as Naruto found and palmed it, his voice rough in Naruto's ear.

 

Orgasm came on fast and intense, like whiplash. Naruto had to bite his lip to keep from crying out as it coiled in his belly and expanded in a flash of white light, shuddering through his limbs and leaving him gasping. His heart was beating frantically, as if he'd just run a race, threatening to free itself from his chest with rib-rattling vigor.

 

Neji lay next to him, his limbs half intertwined with Naruto's, trying to catch his breath. His eyes were closed and his brows were drawn together, lending an air of penitence to his aristocratic features.

 

Naruto struggled up, and looked at the mess of them. Pale eyes regarded him solemnly and reality hit him like a slap to the face. “What… did we just do?” he whispered.

 

________________________

TBC

 

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