Fifty Shades of Sasuke [Sasuke Uchiha X Reader]

Chapter 9

Sasuke rubs his chin with his long index finger and thumb as  he contemplates my answer. Or perhaps he is just bored and tries to hide it. Yeah, that must most likely be it. Nobody cares for books anyway in this century. 
        "Anything else you need?" I have to change my way of thinking, that subject is distracting -- and those fingers on that face are beguiling. 
        "I don't know. Would you recommend me anything else? You are more informed than I am, Miss [surname]."
        What I would recommend? Sasuke Uchiha, I don't even know what you are going to do with these supplies. You are just the biggest mystery of a man. The way you look, talk and act; I simply cannot comprehend or predict you. 
        "For a do-it-yourselfer?"
        He nods, his eyes alive with wicked humor. I flush, and my gaze strays to his jeans. Hopefully he doesn't notice.
        "Coveralls," I reply, and I know I am no longer screening what's coming out of my mouth. I just have the urge to slap myself over and over again. Or simply put a hand over my damn mouth.
        Sasuke raises an eyebrow, amused yet again. Aren't I an entertainer?
        "You wouldn't want to ruin your close, right?" I try to reason, gesturing vaguely in the direction of his jeans.
        "I could always take them off." He smirks. 
        "Um." In my head forms a picture I shouldn't imagine. I feel the heat rising in my cheeks. I must have already taken the color of the Kazekage Gaara's natural hair color by now. Stop talking. Stop talking. NOW, please!
        "I'll take some coveralls. Heaven forbid I should ruin any clothing," he says dryly. 
        I don't question him any further, my mind is occupied with a pleasant picture, but I try my best to dismiss the unwelcome image of Mr. Uchiha without wearing jeans...and boxers. 
        "Do you need anything else?" I squeak out my question as I hand him three blue-colored coveralls; electricity running through my body as his fingers brush faintly over my hand. Try to stay calm. You are calm like the ocean. Pah, I am more likely an up-coming flood! So not calm at all! Noah better built another ship soon for me...
        Sasuke ignores my inquiry.
        "How's the article coming along?"
        He's finally asked me an easy question, away from all innuendo and the confusing double-talk . . . a question I can answer without overthinking my every word. I grasp it tightly with two hands as if it were a life raft and I go for straight honesty. 
        "I'm not writing it, Rin is. Miss Nohara. My friend and roommate, she is the one writing the article for my mother's school's newspaper. She is very happy with it. She is also the editor of the newspaper, and she - and my mother - was devastated that she couldn't do the interview in person and had to send me." I feel like I've come up for air -- at least a normal topic of conversation we have here. A topic I am very glad we talk about. No pant-less Sasuke Uchiha CEO anymore. 
        "Her only concern is that she doesn't have any original photographs of you."
        "What sort of photograph does she want?"
        Okay. I did not factor such a response coming from him. I just shake my head, because I just don't know. Both; my answer and Rin's wish. 
        "Well, I'm around. Tomorrow, perhaps . . ."
        "You'd be willing to do a photo shoot?" I sound surprised, well, I am. Rin will be in seventh heaven if I can pull this off. And you might see him again tomorrow, that dark, godforsaken place at the base of my newly-discovered perverted brain whispers seductively at me. I shove the thought away -- of all the silly, ridiculous. . .
        "Rin will be delighted -- if we find a photographer that is." I'm so pleased, I smile at him broadly. His lips part, like he's taking a sharp intake of breath, and he blinks. For a moment - one or two seconds at most - he seems to be lost, somehow, and the Earth shifts slightly on its axis, the tectonic plates sliding into a new position. Even my breath is taken away. 
        Oh my! Sasuke Uchiha's lost look.
        "Let me know about tomorrow." He reaches into his back pocket, pulling out his wallet. "My card. It has my cell number on it. You'll need to call before ten in the morning." 
        "Okay." I grin up at him. Rin is going to be thrilled. 
        "[Name]!"
        Kushimaru Kuriarare has materialized at the end of the aisle. He is the adoptive brother of Mr. Momochi. I'd heard he was home from the land of tea, but I wasn't expecting to see him today. 
        "Er-" I turn to the onyx-eyes male. "excuse me for a moment, Mr. Uchiha." Uchiha frowns as I turn away from him. 
        Kushimaru has always been a buddy, and in this strange moment that I'm having with this rich, powerful, awesomely off-the-charts attractive control freak Uchiha, it's great to see a person who is actually normal. Okay, let's face the facts, everybody would be normal compared to Sasuke Uchiha. Kushimaru hugs me hard, taking me by utter surprise, but I, sneaking my arms around his torso, hug him back. 
        "[Name], hi, it's good to see you!" he gushes. 
        "Hey, Kushimaru, how are you, man? Are you already home from your cousin's birthday?"
        "Yep. You're looking well, [name], really well." he grins as he examines me at arm's length. Then he releases me, but keeps a possessive arm over my shoulder. I shuffle from foot to foot, embarrassed. It's good to see him, but he's always been overfamiliar. 
        When I glance up at Sasuke Uchiha, he's watching us like a hawk, his eyes hooded and speculative, his mouth a hard, impassive line. He's changed from the weirdly attentive customer to someone else -- cold and distant, maybe dark even. 
        "Kushimaru, I'm with a customer. Somebody you should meet," I say, trying to defuse the antagonism I see in Sasuke's expression. I drag the owner's brother over to meet the CEO and they size each other up. The atmosphere is suddenly changing -- becoming arctic. 
        "Er, Kushimaru, this is Uchiha Sasuke. Mr. Uchiha, this is Kushimaru Kuriarare, his brother owns the place." I don't know why, but I have the sudden urge to explain everything a bit further, more detailed. 
        "I've known Kushimaru ever since I worked here, though we don't see each other that often, He's back from the land of tea, where he is studying business administration." I'm babbling . . . Come to an end, goddamn!
        "Mr. Kuriarare." Sasuke holds his hand out, expression unreadable.
        "Mr. Uchiha." Kushimaru returns his handshake. "Wait up, not the Sasuke Uchiha? Of Uchiha Enterprises Holdings?" Kushimaru goes from surly to awestruck in less than a milli, heck, nanosecond! Uchiha gives him a polite smile that doesn't reach his eyes. 
        "Wow -- is there anything I can get you?" 
        "[name] has it covered, Mr. Kuriarare. She's been very attentive." I don't utter a word and take in his words. The way he speaks, his tone and mimic; so impassive. It's like he is saying something entirely different. It's baffling. 
        "Cool," Kushimaru responds. "Catch you later, [nickname]." 
        "Sure, Kushi." I watch my friend disappear toward the stockroom. "Anything else, Mr. Uchiha?"
        "Just these items." His tone is clipped and cool. Damn . . . did I offend him in any way? Was it about Kushimaru? Ugh, why can't I read him. How is he doing all of this!? 
        Taking a deep breath, I turn and head for the register. What is his damn problem now?
        I ring up the rope, coveralls, masking tape and the cable ties; still not knowing what in heaven's name he is going to do with these. 
        "That will be forty-three dollars, please." I glance up at Uchiha, and I wish I hadn't. He is watching me closely, my every movement intently. It's unnerving. 
        "Would you like a bag?" I smile, awkwardly, as I take his credit card. 
        "Please, [name]." His tongue caresses my name, my heart, once again, is frantic. Breathing becomes a hard deal for my lungs. Hurriedly, I place his purchase in a plastic bag. 
        "You'll call me if you want me to do the photo shoot?" He's all business, again. I nod, rendered speechless yet again and hand him back his credit card. This time, surviving the little touch of his skin on mine. 
        "Good. Until tomorrow, perhaps." He turns to leave, then pauses in his tracks. "Oh -- and [name], I'm glad Miss Nohara couldn't do the interview." He smiles, then strides with renewed purpose out of the store, slinging the plastic bag casually over his broad shoulder, leaving me a quivering mess of female hormones. Several minutes I stare at where he just was, the closed door being my center of focus, until I finally realize that he has left and me eventually returning to planet Earth. 
        Okay -- I like him. There, [surname]! I've admitted it to myself. The hiding from my own emotions has come to an end. Never have I felt like this before. I find Sasuke attractive, very attractive, too attractive for the adjective "attractive". But it's a lost cause, I know, and I sigh with bittersweet regret. But still, I can admire him from afar, surely. Sasuke Uchiha will be like one of those anime or celebrity crushes. Another male individual to my list that I thought has disappeared years ago. But it is more intense than ever. Because, I actually got to know him a little and did not just fall for a picture. I saw him first in person, and not through a picture. I know, it is hopeless, and that is why there is no harm for me, right? I said it myself, I'll admire him from afar. And if I find a photographer I can admire him from a little bit nearer, like today, once again. I bite my lip and find myself grinning like a schoolgirl. I need to phone Rin and organize that photo shoot. 
        I so want to see him again!

A/N: Hope you liked this chapter! Btw!, follow @snowlight1 because I want her to update her Ayato story lol. (If she reaches like 5 new followers you get LOOOONG chapter by me xD)
Oh, and tell me what you think of the story so far ;)