NaruHina: Clandestine

Chapter 5: The Truth

The growl of her stomach woke her. She was pressed to the bed, the right side of her face smushed against the pillow, and something warm and heavy was on top of her.

Hinata, still not understanding, blinked and looked out the window. The sun was shining brightly, which meant it was very late in the day. She glanced blearily at the clock on the nightstand and saw that it was past 10:00.

And then she heard the male snuffle against her shoulder, felt the lips close over her skin.

She went red finally remembering what happened last night.

He must have felt the sudden heat from her back because he laughed softly. "You're finally awake."

He didn't move away from her though, only brushed the strands of hair over her back, and then his hand caressed its way down to her hip.

"Man, you're hard to wake, Hinata," he murmured. "Have you always been a heavy sleeper?"

Still face down against the bed, she hid her face against the pillow and nodded.

He laughed again, but she felt the warmth leave her as he shifted on the bed so that he was lying on his side facing her.

They stared at each other, unapologetic. In the afterglow of lovemaking, in the harsh morning light, they regarded each other steadily. He was looking tousled and boyish, the harsh lines of his usual grouchy facade disappearing. She was relaxed and sated, her face mellowed by last night's activities.

But eventually, she broke the silence first with her terse, "Good morning."

Naruto raised his eyebrows at her tone, but he said, "Good morning."

"This is awkward," she added unnecessarily.

It made him laugh. "An understatement." He looked into her eyes. "Regrets?"

She shook her head firmly. "No. You?"

Still smiling, he said, "Definitely not since I got to see you so hot and desperate."

She flushed again. He didn't need to be an ass and remind her about how she'd acted last night. That deserved an appropriate response. "Good thing you were available then."

His smile disappeared. "Must we already? I haven't had breakfast yet."

"You started it."

"Fine," he said. "God, Hinata, you're really not going to let down your guard, warm up to me, even after we've made sweet, sweet love on this bed?"

"Sweet?" She flicked a glance to the teeth marks on his bare shoulder. "I feel like you need to get those looked at. You know, just in case I've got rabies or something."

He laughed. "Do you?"

She laughed, too, and shook her head. "No, thank god! Shikamaru made sure I got tested after I joined Anbu."

Still chuckling, he finally reached for her and pulled her close to his body. She wrapped her arms around him even as he pressed his lips to her ear and she heard him say, "You're incredible."

There was a flutter in her heart, but she nodded against his chest. Still, though, they had a lot of work left to do. "Sir—"

He pulled back angrily and scowled at her. She smiled apologetically. "Sorry, force of habit. Naruto."

"Only that name from now on. You're my fiancee, after all."

"In name only," she gently reminded him.

Which sobered both of them again.

He sighed. "Back to work then."

Then her stomach growled for the second time that morning.