𝓐𝓬𝓬𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓘𝓷 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮 ~UPDATED CHAPTERS~

𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝟣𝟢

Emerald green eyes flickered open beneath a curtain of long, dark lashes. Sakura felt a lingering grogginess, a sensation akin to the aftereffects of a night of indulgent drinking, clinging to her senses. 

As she slowly attempted to rise, she realized she was enveloped in a firm, warm embrace.  The sudden awareness jolted her fully awake, and she cautiously turned her head to observe the sleeping figure beside her.

Sasuke's face, even in the unguarded vulnerability of sleep, was captivating.  The sharp angles of his cheekbones and jaw were softened by the gentle glow of the morning light filtering through the curtains.

She watched the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest, a silent testament to his deep slumber. He appeared so tranquil, so utterly at peace.  A tender smile touched her lips as she traced the outline of his jaw with a feather-light touch.  A silent wish formed in her heart: that their child would inherit his striking features.  Given the strength of his Uchiha genes, it seemed a likely possibility.

With a soft sigh, she carefully extracted herself from his embrace, oblivious to the fact that Sasuke was already awake, his dark eyes observing her every move from beneath half-closed lids.

Tiptoeing across the cool wooden floor of their bedroom, Sakura entered the ensuite bathroom. The hiss of the showerhead filled the air as she turned the hot water tap, the steam quickly enveloping the small space.  She shed her silk nightgown and stepped into the welcoming warmth of the cascading water.

A soft moan escaped her lips as the hot water sluiced over her tense muscles, easing the lingering aches and pains from her pregnancy. Reaching for the lavender-scented sponge she’d left on the small shelf, her hand was suddenly intercepted by a larger, stronger one. 

Startled, she instinctively struggled against the firm grip on her wrist, but her efforts were futile. Before she could cry out in alarm, the shower curtain was drawn back, revealing Sasuke’s imposing figure.

"Sasuke!" she exclaimed, her heart pounding in her chest.

A low, questioning hum escaped his lips. "Hn. Do you really trust me?"

Confusion knitted her brow. "What are you talking about?"

"Do you honestly believe I would allow someone to sneak past me and violate you while you're in the shower?" His voice was laced with a hint of amusement, though his eyes held a flicker of something deeper, something that hinted at a vulnerability she rarely saw.

A blush warmed her cheeks. "Of course I trust you, but I'm still human! I get startled," she retorted, her voice softening into a playful pout.

"Hn. When you're finished, we need to talk," he said, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before he turned to leave.

"Okay," Sakura replied, her hand nervously gripping the edge of the shower curtain.

Sasuke paused at the doorway, sensing the sudden shift in her emotions. He shook his head slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips.  Sakura was an overthinker, always anticipating the worst, and it was both endearing and exasperating.

Closing the bathroom door behind him, he walked over to the small desk in the corner of their bedroom and opened his laptop. A mountain of paperwork awaited him, emails piling up in his inbox, reports demanding his attention. He briefly considered tackling it now, but the conversation he needed to have with Sakura loomed larger in his mind.

Scanning through some confidential files Naruto had sent him earlier that week, he found no new updates on the ongoing investigation into the recent string of disappearances plaguing Konoha.  The case was proving to be more complex than they initially anticipated.  And speaking of keeping people safe, he needed to find a more effective way to ensure Sakura's safety, especially with her pregnancy making her more vulnerable.