Chapter 22

-Hinata's POV-

I woke up in the middle of the night to my hair being brushed out of my face. My brow furrowed slightly before I blinked a few times so my eyes would adjust to the dark room. Then, finally, I realized Naruto was lying on his side with his head propped up on his fist as he looked at me. Immediately, my face warmed at the realization that he'd been watching me sleep, but I was happier to see him than anything else.

After talking to Sakura earlier and trying to cheer on her attempt at communicating with Sasuke, I realized something important. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but the fact that I've been holding back from Naruto was just as unfair as what I thought I was avoiding by doing so.

"Hey.…"

Gorgeous blue eyes beamed warmly down at me, and the corner of his lips twitched as though he wanted to smile, "Hey."

Before I could chicken out, I spat the words out that'd been on the tip of my tongue for weeks now, "I d-don't want to just be friends. It's selfish to feel this way for you, b-but you said I need to be more selfish when you're involved, remember?" He told me that right before he kissed me for the first time while we were dreaming. That day felt so much longer ago than it was.

His lips did turn up into a smile this time, and it warmed my heart to see a positive reaction to my confession. I thought he'd say something in return, but he didn't. Instead, he let himself fall back against the pillow at my side with a relieved sigh.

I turned onto my side to face him, "I-I hope it's okay I said that…."

He grinned widely at the ceiling, speaking in an amused tone, "Don't announce that you're gonna be selfish and then apologize," he turned his head to look at me, "I realized earlier that you're capable of much more than you and I have been giving you credit for."

Confusion was likely written all over my face because he continued, looking back up at the ceiling as he moved his hands behind his head, "Sakura told me I was underestimating you, and she was right. I owe you an apology." Suddenly, one of his arms slid under my waist, and I was pulled up on top of him, straddling his hips.

A small squeak slid past my lips, and my hands instinctively pressed against his chest to lift myself upright, "N-Naruto!"

"Let's make a deal, Hinata."

My eyes were wide with surprise as I looked down into his off-puttingly calm ones. Something had definitely changed within his mindset because his approach was leaps and bounds more forward than before. The heat from my blush was incredible, and I felt it flowing throughout my body, especially where it came into contact with his. I was very nervous but forced myself to keep it together as I nodded so he could continue his proposition.

"You can be as selfish as you want with me if I can do the same with you. Agreed?"

To anyone else, his words might've sounded purely sexual, but I knew better than that. While some of the stuff he was referring to being selfish about would indeed end up being sexual, Naruto was primarily talking about what we want to gain from one another.

I can't speak to what he hopes to achieve by getting romantically involved, but I know a few things I want. There are things that he's given me small doses of that have left me yearning for more: intimacy, comfort, passion, and understanding. These things, and more, are what I've wanted since before I even realized I like him. Receiving them from anyone other than him was unacceptable. Because of this, I nodded without a word.

He tilted his head slightly, "I'm glad. I was gonna be-"

I cut him off by bravely pressing my lips against his, with my entire being trembling with anxiety. He said it himself: I can be as selfish as I want. That meant I could kiss him even if my body was questioning whether I was ready for it.

Naruto froze beneath me barely a second before naturally kissing me back while moving his hands up to hold my waist. After a few seconds, I pulled back and released an exasperated gasp before letting myself fall against his chest to burn into a puddle of humiliation.

He laughed as he wrapped his arms around me so I wouldn't fall off him, " I'm thrilled, but you don't have to push yourself so hard you nearly faint."

A small laugh came from my lips, and I pulled back to look him in the eye with my hands against the pillow on either side of his head, "I don't have to do anything." He nodded with a grin, meeting my lips for a softer kiss when I leaned in as though he could read my mind.

As bashful as I felt, his blatant encouragement gave me the strength I needed to say something that'd been on the back of my mind since I first woke up in this house, "We should t-take advantage of having our own room while we can."

His grin fell, and eyes widened, "It sounds like you're saying-"

I cut him off again, mentally trying to keep my courage from shattering, "I meant what I said before. As long as it's y-you, it's fine."

Bright blue eyes seemed to glow with intrigue as he sat up underneath me, chest pressed against mine. My arms rested over his shoulders, and he held my lower back until we were upright when he pulled back slightly to look over my appearance, "You're serious, aren't you?"

Our emotions were barely ever not actively being shared these days, so I responded with a shy grin, "You know I am."

A light blush met his cheeks, but it was nothing compared to mine. No matter how confidently I spoke, my red face would always betray my bashfulness.

Naruto pulled his arms from around me before slowly undoing the tie holding my thin bathrobe closed. My eyes widened slightly at how quickly he'd decided to go for it, but I forced myself not to panic. He was moving slowly so I'd have a chance to stop him, but he knew I wouldn't. Instead of focusing on my nervousness, I mirrored his goal and gently pulled his shirt off over his head while the silk cloth of the robe slid off my shoulders.

I thought he'd take at least a moment to stare since the only item of clothing left on my body was underwear, but he shocked me by eagerly pressing his lips against mine instead. A slightly shocked sound was muffled by his passionate actions, and I let myself go with the flow of it.

Despite his excitement, he gradually deepened our interaction so I'd have time to adjust and figure out how to react to each little change. Naruto's the first and only person I've kissed in my life, a fact he's well aware of, so he gave me time to learn rather than forcing himself on me.

Warm hands gently ran over the bare skin on my arms, back, chest, stomach: whatever he could reach. My fingers trembled slightly, but I eventually regained the courage to touch his chest. Firm muscles flexed under my touch, making a wave of something I couldn't ignore run up through my spine and down into the pit of my stomach. My curiosity was interrupted when Naruto slowly worked his tongue into my mouth before coercing me to interact with him by angling his head and leaving me no room for escape.

My breasts pressed firmly against his chest when another wave of that unique emotion surged through me, and instead of holding back in fear I'd make a fool of myself, I let my body react to it naturally. My hips moved ever so slightly against his, and the tiny bit of pleasure the act caused made my breath hitch.

One of his hands suddenly came to my back to hold me against him as he moved us, so I was lying against the mattress, and he was on top of me. Once there, his hand moved from my back to firmly caress my waist before squeezing my breast.

I could tell how much he desperately wanted to be rougher by the short bursts of emotion being sent my way, and I tried to wordlessly communicate to him that it was okay so long as he'd stop if I asked. The message seemed to get across quickly and clearly because he pressed his leg between my knees before forcing them apart and sliding between them.

Another small sound got lost between our mouths when I felt pressure against my underwear, likely a particular part of his body. The new sensation felt surprisingly good, and a gasp came from my lips.

Naruto gently grabbed my jaw and made me arch my neck in a way that gave him plenty of access so he could press hungry kisses there. My legs bent further until I couldn't help but lift them up around his hips so the short, rhythmic bouts of pressure he was putting against my lower regions would be easier for him to perform.

One of my hands wrapped in his hair, and the other ran over any bare skin I could reach, whether it be his torso or back.

He pressed against me again, but this time the placement was just right, and a wave of intense heat coursed through me, bringing my body beyond my control. A soft moan left my lips, and my back slightly arched.

"I never thought I'd hear you make sounds like that."

My eyes shot open, and I looked over to see his face was still buried in my neck. A grin tugged at my lips, and I held his body more firmly against mine before closing my eyes once more to return to enjoying the incredible sensations he was spoiling me with. His lips slowly moved down from my neck to my collarbone, then in between my breasts, before he took the nipple of the breast he'd been kneading into his mouth.

The blazing heat of my blush, which had started to fly under the radar with everything else going on, flared back up when he glanced at my face to see my reaction. Hot breath dusted against my damp skin as he chuckled from where he was, "You're so shy."

My brow furrowed. My eyes squeezed closed, and I wanted to respond, but he moved his mouth from my breast to my ribcage before completely freezing all actions. I looked down at him again, only to see him rise to his hands and knees with his eyes trained on my stomach.

Did I do something wrong?

Why did he stop so suddenly?

"Naruto?"

Blue eyes lifted from my body to my face, and I was stunned to see tears welling in them. I sat beneath him, causing him to sit back on his knees, "Naruto, what's wrong?" He gave me an unreadable look, and I sensed a heavy wave of distress.

The blonde man gently lifted a hand to my stomach, and goosebumps rose to my skin when he lightly traced the scar from my emergency surgery after Hidan had shattered my ribcage. My own eyes watered when I finally realized why he'd stopped. He saw the scar and was reminded of that awful time. I suppose I was lucky he hadn't also reacted to any lingering bruises from the dreadful chase I'd been a part of the other day.

My chest warmed at the tender way he was suddenly treating me, and I realized we wouldn't go further tonight. That was fine by me. We'd taken a giant step today. Naruto finally understood my feelings for him, and that was enough for me.

I gently grabbed his free hand and guided him to lie beside me. He obeyed my wishes and kissed me sweetly for a moment after pulling the covers over us. As we settled down, one of his hands remained on my waist so he could softly run his thumb over that terrible scar.

For a moment while we were making out, I'd gotten so lost in the heat that I'd forgotten how strongly we cared for one another. We were friends first, so regardless of what this relationship evolved into, our emotional bond will always be the most vital aspect of it.