Bruises & Bitemarks (SasuNaru)

44.

In the slight warmth of evening in Spring and on a partly full stomach (Naruto's excuse is that we need to leave room for drinks, even if they may just be going in one end and out the other), everyone is eager to lose the week in a long night of drink and dance. I discreetly hold Naruto back as we enter the Stoneheads, going last in the group. We all leave our jackets and sweaters at the front before diving into the crowd. Naruto, having caught on by now, follows my lead as we trail behind the others, then we make a swift turn and weave away, losing ourselves in the midst of all the other partygoers.

Naruto is exhilarated by the mood in the place, and his own excitement is contagious, leaking into me, relaxing me. His hand trails up my arm even as we swiftly travel between heated bodies, his touch screaming impatience. Finally I lose it too and whip around, stopping so abruptly that Naruto nearly crashes into me. I take the opportunity to initiate a breathless kiss, moving my body to the music, pulling him into me. He overcomes his surprise easily and begins to dance, flowing into a seamless, fluid partnership from our mouths to our hands to our hips to our feet. Just like earlier this afternoon, he demands my reactions, insistently leading, pushing onward so adamantly that I'm almost forced to let him take me along. As it is, his confidence has been increasing lately and I feel more inclined to hand him the reins for a while. He does seem to enjoy the back role, so maybe there is some merit in it after all.

Naruto has a knack for rhythm. He holds the group steady in music class; he meshes with the music when he sings along; he's completely on top of any beat when dancing. He knows exactly what he's talking about when he teaches the steps to a dance. I don't think he knows just how much music suits him. He knows how to take the lead in an environment like this, with sound blaring all around us, the bass thrumming through our very bones. He says drinking loosens him up and gives him the confidence to be more assertive where he might not usually be, but most of the confidence he feels comes from being in his element. The alcohol might be more psychological than anything. He's completely unaware of just how right he looks here.

What with the combined effort of dancing and kissing, I soon have to part from Naruto so that I can get air into my lungs fast enough – breathing through my nose just doesn't cut it. He follows a little as I pull back, then his eyes open, revealing a somewhat resentful glare. I allow my hand to circle to his back and slide under the hem of his shirt, rubbing his skin in some sort of apology.

"Wouldn't want to... pass out... from lack of oxygen," I pant, amused.

"I could give you mouth to mouth," he smirks.

"In that case, I would faint any day."

"It's better when you're awake, teme." He cranes his neck forward and I allow another wet kiss. He licks my teeth, my tongue, the roof of my mouth; then he nibbles on my lips before putting a kiss on my chin and nudging it with his nose. I tilt my head back compliantly, letting him leave a trail of saliva down my neck. It's worth the attention he's giving my heated skin.

"At this rate we won't even need alcohol," I say.

He smiles against my collarbone. "Why pass up the opportunity to get even looser?" He leaves a series of bite marks as he circles to the back of my neck, his body following until he's behind me, his hands confident on my hips. "Let's go get wasted."

Despite his words, we're in no hurry; we dance in the general direction of the bar, moving through song after song, pressing our bodies together in a fervent attempt to feel as much of each other as possible. The ache in my lungs is a testament to the heat between us, the pain a blazing satisfaction within. At first it takes a conscious effort to refrain from taking over because of how natural it's become to me to lead the way for the two of us, but Naruto's higher up than me on the dance floor, and before long I find myself submitting to his confidence, fully willing to follow wherever he sweeps us.