Undercurrents

Last chapter of this story. My sincere thanks for all the kind words, the laughs, and everything else. Thank you for coming along with me on this journey; hope you like the other tales of Monoshizukanohi. Much love & pancakes.

~*~

Shika obeyed, and Neji noted that he stood on firm legs and fidgeted with his hands before putting them behind his back. Oh yes…Shika was eager and thought he had this all figured out.

“Follow.”

Neji turned and walked over to the seating area next to the glass bathroom. There was another long couch, two chairs, a table with a glass display top, and a giant, black, shag rug underneath all the furniture. The chairs faced toward the wall and the couch, the table in the middle.

In full view of all the seating and positioned to the left and right of the table, were the two spanking benches. One was an “open” design bench made mostly of metal. There were four platforms for shins and arms and an adjustable bar that would support a person’s weight just above their hips. It was an easy thing to lock a person’s arms and legs down to the cushioned platforms and let punishment commence.

The other bench was Neji’s favorite. It was a “horse” design: basically, an “A”-shaped piece of furniture with angled wings that came out to the sides to support arms and legs. The top was entirely covered with soft, padded leather. The front and back of the A-frames had several D-rings for bondage. The furniture was versatile…a person could be bound on their back with their legs spread, feet resting on the padded wings and hands secured at the other end.

Or someone could lay the length of their body over the padded horse and rest arms and legs along the sides.

“Stand here,” Neji said again, and pointed to a spot. Shikamaru stopped with his hands behind his back and head down, and Neji walked over to the table. He picked up a cock ring and a pair of simple nipple clamps and left the rest of the items laying on the table for now. Neji draped the clamps’ chain over one arm and returned to Shika.

Neji put the silicone cock ring in front of Shika’s face. “Kiss,” he ordered.

Shika blinked but dutifully placed his lips to the ring. Neji nodded and lowered his hands. There were two rings connected by a simple bit of leather. He carefully maneuvered Shika’s flesh into the snug enclosures and nodded when he was satisfied with their placement.

With a cruel little smile Neji raised the clamps and attached them to each of Shika’s nipples without ceremony. The Nara gasped, the skin still tender from the wax. His cock stirred in the rings, and he swallowed a noise once the clamps were in place.

“Very good,” Neji sighed. He turned and stepped away from Shikamaru. “Let’s go, pet. Time for a lesson in manners.”

Neji didn’t move much, but Shika took his cue and began to walk toward the couch. Neji repressed a grin.

“Where are you going?” Neji’s voice was sharp.

“I…I don’t know, Master?” Shika asked looking back toward him with confusion. So far this night had played out more-or-less as Shika described to Neji four nights ago. He didn’t have all the details, didn’t know all the possibilities…but so far things were fairly predictable. And in Shika’s version, Neji took him over his lap and spanked him.

But Neji wasn’t about to make it that easy on the Nara, and he enjoyed a quiet thrill because he knew exactly how Shikamaru felt about surprises.

“Do you think you deserve to be over my lap, boy, when you were rude to me?”

Shikamaru blinked and stood with his hands behind his back, unsure. “I don’t know, Master.”

Neji snorted. “Well, I do. And the answer is, ‘no.’” He walked over to the spanking horse and laid a hand on its top. “Over here will do, pet.”

Shika walked hesitantly over to Neji, looking at the apparatus like it might bite him.

“Put your knees here,” Neji said, gesturing to the padded ledges on either side of the bench. “And your chest on the top.” He waited a moment for Shikamaru to move, and when he didn’t, Neji sighed.

“While we’re young, boy. Or maybe you’d like to make it five times worse on yourself?”

Shika looked sharply in Neji’s direction at that before reaching over to brace himself and crawl onto the bench.

“There you go,” Neji cooed. “That’s better.” Neji helped Shikamaru settle on the bench – ass easily accessible at one end, body supported by the top, arms and legs to the sides – and then began to strap him down. Cuffs went around Shika’s wrists and feet and Neji secured them to the appropriate ends of the bench. Shikamaru endured all of that in silence, cheek resting against the padded bench. He looked perplexed and slightly worried.

With a small sigh, Neji rubbed his hand up and down Shika’s back and bent to speak next to his ear. “What did you tell me you wanted next, Shika?”

“Punishment, Master,” Shika said softly.

“Good boy,” Neji purred and kissed Shika’s cheek. “Now then…You forgot yourself on four occasions, which means you get four times the number of strikes I’d originally planned.”

Shikamaru said nothing, but he tensed on the bench. Neji watched the muscles play and move in Shika’s back as he walked back over to the table and picked up a round, rather flexible paddle spotted with small holes. “The original number was twenty.” Neji swayed back to Shika and petted the smooth skin of his lower back and behind.

Breath catching, Shika made a soft noise and gripped the soft leather of the horse. Neji smiled. “And obviously, that’s too many for my hand, pet.” Neji touched the paddle to Shika’s backside before running it lazily up Shika’s body and down one arm. Neji stopped and brought the paddle to Shika’s face.

“Manners, boy. When I deem it appropriate you kiss the toy I’m about to use and thank me for what’s coming. Do so now.”

Shikamaru lifted his head and brought his lips to the paddle, eyes hooded. “Thank you, Master.”

“Good,” Neji praised and pet Shika’s hair back from his face. He ran his hand back down Shika’s skin as he took up position behind Shikamaru.

“You count the tens, boy, and you do it like this: ‘Ten, thank you, Master.’ I suggest you don’t forget to count or how…we could be here all night.”

Neji let his hand drift over Shika’s back and legs, petting and caressing the skin. Shikamaru looked delicious like this: chained, bent over, and shivering with anticipation. He felt Shika shift and heard a sharp intake of breath. Neji looked up and saw that Shikamaru stared into the mirrors that ran along the wall, which showed a clear reflection of Neji at the ready, paddle in hand, and Shika positioned to take whatever Neji gave. Shikamaru was careful not to meet Neji’s gaze even in the mirror, but he looked shocked at the sight.

Beautiful.

With a low chuckle, Neji quickly stepped to one side, brought his arm back and down, and the paddle met skin. It was a warm-up strike, barely a quarter strength, but Shika’s whole body jerked. Neji saw the Nara’s eyes go wide in the mirror as Neji brought the paddle down again.

For a lingering few seconds there was music, the sound of Shika’s startled breathing, and the impact of toy on flesh.

“Ten, thank you, Master,” Shika breathed when Neji reached ten without pause. At thirteen Neji stopped to run his hand over Shika’s skin, making the Nara gasp – more at the cessation of punishment than anything else. Neji said nothing, feeling Shika’s eyes on him in the mirror and letting that make him even harder beneath the leather.

Neji pinched Shika’s leg once lightly and then resumed the strikes. He varied position, strength, and type of strike: short and quick versus slow-armed and long. When Shikamaru thanked him for thirty, his head fell to rest on the bench.

Focusing entirely on the movement of his body and the impact the paddle had on Shika’s reddening skin, Neji danced and moved. His hair grew damp, the music picked up pace, and when Shika thanked him for fifty, he stopped to drag nails over the Nara’s skin. Shika cried out and pushed back into Neji’s hand, wanting more, body tense. Neji imagined the way the clamps would feel as the chain caught on the bench and pulled. He knew Shika was beginning to strain in the cockring as he pressed against the bench, shamelessly seeking friction. Seeing such blatant evidence of enjoyment made Neji chuckle darkly.

“And again…I’m not so sure this is punishment, boy.” Neji dragged the rounded edge of the paddle down Shika’s spine. “You like this, don’t you?” Neji purred, eyes hazy with lust and tone voicing his body’s needs.

Shikamaru ducked his head down and into one arm, looking away from Neji. “No, Master,” was the reply.

Neji cocked a brow, but he managed not to pause with the paddle. He worked it down and into Shika’s cleft, made him gasp, and Neji’s head tilted in curiosity. “No?” Neji asked skeptically. “You’re rutting against the bench, moaning, and your body’s begging for it, boy. And you say you don’t like this?”

It took Shika a second to answer. “That is correct, Master.” His voice was firm, but his back rose and fell in rapid breathing, and he squirmed.

Shikamaru had to be testing Neji. Every word the Nara said the other night was etched into Neji’s brain…

…make my skin glow red…

Was it because Neji didn’t use his hand? Was he irritated that the night had taken a turn from the predictable? Was this some ploy to get more?

Well, it didn’t exactly matter, now did it? The Nara was either lying to manipulate or lying because he didn’t want to admit something. Either way, same course of action.

With a curious noise, Neji dropped the paddle and scraped both sets of blunted nails over Shika’s tender skin.

“Mmm…Master!” Shika gasped.

“Poor pet…but I suppose if you already hate it, then you won’t mind me making it more interesting for myself.” Shika’s head snapped up and looked at Neji in the mirror, but Neji merely tossed his hair and turned. He walked quickly back to the middle play area and picked up the blindfold before returning to Shika.

“I think you do better when you don’t know what’s coming, boy,” Neji murmured as he wrapped the cotton around the Nara’s face again. Shika’s breath came in harsh gasps, now, and he whined.

“Don’t worry, boy…I’ll get back to the punishment in just a minute.”

Shika made a noise made of anxiety and fear, and Neji was glad Shika couldn’t see him as a shiver shook his shoulders.

Moving fast, Neji went to the front of the room to his glass case. He gathered a flogger and a different paddle, this one harder and narrower than the other. Then he turned and moved over to the large chest and gathered lube and a plug. The plug was metal, and on his way back to Shika, Neji grabbed the bucket of cold water.

Neji didn’t respond well to manipulation. Occasional disobedience could be fun, but this was evidence that Shikamaru was still entirely too much in his head. That needed to change – now.

Setting everything down, Neji removed the metal plug from its case and dropped it into the cold water silently, a satisfied smirk pulling at his lips. Turning, Neji walked to the front of the bench - at Shika’s head. He picked up a bit of chain that hung down the front of the horse.

“Brace on your hands and lift up,” Neji ordered.

Shikamaru obeyed, resting his palms on the angled sides, and Neji clipped the bit of chain to the one running between Shika’s nipples. It would let him lay down, but now there would be a constant tug. Too much movement and the clamps would simply come off. The addition earned Neji a pant, and he saw Shika’s leaking cock on the leather below.

“Stay that way.” Neji uncaringly tossed the command over one shoulder. Already Shikamaru’s arms trembled, but he held still as Neji walked back to the table and removed the cold plug. He dried it with his shirt and then coated it with lube before returning to the bench.

With a firm touch, Neji spread Shika and let his thumb press over his entrance. He knew this would be tricky – knew it would be difficult for the Nara. Time to remind Shika that he could get out of this…and to reassure himself that he did this for both of them.

“Safewords: what are they?” Neji intoned.

“C-canary and…rouge, Master,” Shika breathed.

“Good,” Neji said and placed the cold tip of the well-slicked plug to Shika’s entrance. His entire body jerked and went tense, and he made a positively delectable noise.

Rubbing circles on Shika’s lower back with one hand, Neji slowly pushed the plug into Shikamaru’s body. The Nara shook his head violently, a silent no; a fight with himself. Neji said nothing and continued the gentle push, eyes watching Shika in the mirror.

Fuck that was hot.

The end of the plug was curved and pressed into the area between balls and entrance; Neji gave it a little nudge once he was done.

“There, now…very pretty,” Neji said softly. “Now where were we…”

With a sharp jerk of his arm, Neji’s hand smacked onto Shika’s backside, making him jerk and cry out. Neji watched Shikamaru bite into his lip in the mirror, the view making Neji positively ache.

“Oh-ho,” Neji nearly laughed, voice controlled and devoid of the sheer desire spiking through his body. “Nipples and plug and ass, oh my,” he said. “This is more like it. So glad you decided to be obstinate, pet. Honestly, it’s just more fun this way.”

Neji retrieved the new paddle from the table. “New rules: I count, you beg, and it stops when you quit lying to me.”

The paddle met Shika’s skin with a solid noise and Shika cried out without restraint. It wasn’t a full-force swing by any stretch; Neji truly wasn’t into pain, and he was happy with reddened skin more than black-and-blue. Still, Neji didn’t pause – and he heard the air rush as the solid paddle connected to red flesh over and over again.

“No, please…please…” Shika begged and Neji ignored those words for the sake of others. And when those didn’t come, he continued. Neji heard the pleas, rather enjoyed the cries and whimpers, and only when he felt the burn in his arm begin to slow him down did he pause the swings. With a small smirk, he straightened his back and brought the paddle to lightly tap on the end of the plug.

“Something to say, boy? Anything goes…I’m listening.”

“D-don’t do that, please…Master…” Shika groaned and tried to squirm away from the light tapping. Neji chuckled at the polite request, amused. Shikamaru’d held completely still for the swings – moving only when he couldn’t help himself – and this is what made him try to get away.

“What, this?” Neji tapped slightly harder for emphasis.

Shika just panted.

“Asked you a question, boy,” Neji said warningly. He brought the paddle down low on Shika’s ass, right above his leg before quickly tapping the plug. He repeated the move: hit and tap, hit and tap.

“Answer. Me.” Neji’s voice was cold.

Shika jerked, and the chain connecting to the clamps pulled, making him let out a sobbing little cry.

“Oh? Are those distracting? Here…” Neji tucked the paddle under one arm and quickly removed the clamps. Shika cried out – somewhere between shock and pain.

Neji stepped back and brought the paddle back down on Shika’s skin just as the Nara let out a near scream when the blood started rushing back to his abused flesh. Jaw set and eyes focused, Neji tossed down the paddle in lieu of his hand. He braced one arm across Shika’s lower back and brought his bare hand down onto bright red skin.

“Master, please…please…”

Neji grabbed the plug and pulled it out only to push it back in. Shika’s entire body spasmed and he yelped.

“I know what you want, pet,” Neji said coolly. He alternated between pulling and pushing the plug and smacking his hand against skin. Neji’s hand began to tingle and burn after the fourth impact, but he barely felt it.

“And I don’t have much use for liars.” Pull, push, pinch, smack.

Shika begged and pleaded, incoherent and drowning. And Neji was just about to show mercy – just about to change tactics entirely…pick up the flogger and drag tails over skin, make Shika think the worst was yet to come…and then -

“Oh FUCK, Master!” Shika’s arms gave out and he collapsed down onto the bench, slick skin meeting damp leather. “Please…please…I love it, I want it, I need it…god…yes, oh!” The words dissolved into a moan when Neji pulled the plug and fucked Shika with it slowly.

“That’s better, boy,” Neji nearly cooed, voice kind and clear.

Neji brought his hand back down in a solid spank, and Shika growled a loud, solid, “Fuck…yes, Master, please!”

Another spank, another push of the plug, and Shika coughed and choked on syllables of want.

So Neji did it again, lips parts, eyes intent, ears straining to ear every little gasp.

“Something else to say?” Neji asked, hand teasing over Shika’s skin.

“Please, Master…” Shika rolled his head against the leather, his skin covered in sweat, his body loose and pliant. “Fuck me, spank me, punish me…god, anything you want. Anything…I’ll do anything…” Shika’s voice was caught between desperation and arousal, and Neji’s cock ached, dripped, and he positively burned.

“That’s what I wanted, Shika,” Neji purred in the other man’s ear. In seconds the cuffs were undone around Shikamaru’s wrists and ankles, blindfold pulled off and away, and Neji helped Shika slide off the top of the bench and onto the side. Riding waves of endorphins, Neji scooped Shikamaru into his arms and headed for the bed. Around them the lights dimmed – some of them going out and leaving the room a dark blue. The music softened as well, the volume decreasing. Neji made note of the atmosphere change – it was a little early, but they’d spent far longer playing than he thought they would.

Not that Neji was complaining in any way, shape or form. He just had concerns about Shika. Neji hugged the Nara to him gently just as they reached the bed.

Shikamaru stirred in Neji’s arms. “Please…” Shika said in a soft voice. “Not over, yet, Master?”

Eyebrows raised, Neji thought that perhaps he should be more concerned about his own damned stamina rather than worrying about Shikamaru’s.

Chuckling, Neji gently set Shika down on his feet, supporting him with one arm and using the other to pull back the coverlet. Shika buried his face in Neji’s shirt, fists clutching at the fabric. “Please…please, Master, please…”

“Patience,” Neji said, thinking he had very little of that left, himself. “Lay back,” Neji said pointing to the bed. Shika caught the edge of the mattress and sat down – careful of the plug - and looked to Neji as he lay down with a soft hiss as fabric met skin.

Neji nodded. “Good,” he said, turning. There was no table next to the bed, but the four corner posts had small, round ledges wide enough to hold small items. Neji picked up a pair of safety scissors and stepped between Shika’s legs.

“Hold still.”

Shika’s breathing went erratic and fast as Neji slipped the scissors beneath the silicone cock ring and clipped it away from Shika’s skin.

“Ooh-oh…” Shika moaned and closed his eyes.

Neji put the scissors down and smiled, hands already coming up to the zipper on his shirt. He undid it and shrugged out of the soft fabric, carelessly tossing it to the floor. The skirt came next, and just as Neji’s fingers reached that zipper, Shikamaru sat up and slid off the bed. Eyes came up to meet Neji’s and Shika flinched, looking away. Neji clucked his tongue.

“Forgiven,” he said softly. “If you undress me.”

Shikamaru nodded and deftly undid the skirt’s zipper, leaning forward to kiss the top of one of Neji’s thighs as he slid the leather down Neji’s body. Smiling at fond memories, Neji stepped out of the skirt, watching as Shika folded it almost reverently and put it aside.

Neji’s lips parted when Shikamaru’s hands circled his ankle in the boot and slid up his leg to the top. The sound of this zipper was louder in Neji’s ears, and he stepped out of one shoe only to have the same treatment for the other leg.

“Shika…that was perfection,” Neji sighed, fingers in Shikamaru’s hair. The man at Neji’s feet turned his head away from Neji’s arousal and rested his cheek on Neji’s thigh with a shaky breath.

“New rules, Shika,” Neji said softly as he ran fingers through Shika’s hair. He cradled the back of the Nara’s head and pulled gently. Shikamaru easily took the hint and stood on semi-sturdy legs, eyes still down and lips parted. Neji pulled them flush and gasped as skin met skin.

“Names and rules don’t matter…this is just for us…” Neji breathed and Shikamaru immediately looked up, lashes wet, and his mouth covered Neji’s in a harsh kiss accented by a low groan.

Neji echoed the sound, his brain went to white noise, and the two tumbled down onto the satin sheets. Shikamaru writhed in some combination of pain and pleasure, and Neji’s hands were everywhere; touching, stroking. Shika pulled away with a gasp and then rolled them both, his head dipping down to suckle at Neji’s neck while his hands did a similar dance on Neji’s body.

“Shika…” Neji whispered, eyes closing and hands caressing hot skin. When Shikamaru’s mouth closed over Neji’s nipple, he groaned and pressed Shika down against him. Friction and pleasure sparked in Neji’s body, and Shikamaru cursed and panted over Neji’s skin.

“More,” Shika gasped, coming back up to look at Neji in the eyes. “Please…sir, more…”

Neji pulled Shika down for a kiss that was sloppy, wet, and urgent. He couldn’t think of anything except the way Shika felt under his hands and against his body. Neji let go of some of the last vestiges of his control in favor of just doing what he wanted and what felt good. He rolled them back and ground down. Shika clutched at Neji and whimpered as his tongue danced with Neji’s and his hips jerked up toward the sweet heat.

…and when you’re done, when you’ve forced me into my place and all I want is to be yours…

Neji panted against Shika’s skin and then forced himself away from the heated embrace long enough to grab lube from under a pillow. His body felt instantly bereft, and Neji covered Shika again as he uncapped the tube. He bent to kiss Shikamaru, but the Nara turned his head and grabbed Neji’s wrist.

“Shika?” Neji asked, but Shikamaru just shifted, forcing Neji to brace himself with his other arm. Neji watched as Shika grabbed the tube and then rolled onto his back. He tugged on Neji’s wrist and looked up, brown eyes meeting gray.

“Let me…” Shika said. He kissed Neji’s palm and with a shudder that hit Neji like a wave of electricity down his spine, Shika uncapped the lube and started coating Neji’s fingers.

…and we get there fast, sir. I love what you do to me. I was yours from the moment we started…

Neji groaned and let his head fall down to rest on Shika’s shoulder. He kissed and marked Shika, adding to the other bruises, lips pulling fast and hard. The Nara panted and shoved Neji’s hand down.

“Please sir…God…fuck…”

“Spread your legs,” Neji ordered, voice rough and gone with lust. Shika obeyed at once, and Neji reached slick fingers down and grasped the end of the plug. Shikamaru’s eyes went hazy and his breathing erratic. Neji gently pulled the silver plug out and pushed it slowly back inside Shika, licking his lips when it made the Nara groan.

The plug wasn’t very large or long, but Shika gasped when Neji removed it and tossed it aside. Immediately he pushed two long, slender fingers into Shikamaru’s body, and Neji bit his lip when Shika cried out.

“Yeah,” Shika panted. “Ooh fuck yeah…”

“God…” Neji sat up and watched his fingers work, torturing himself as much as he tortured Shika. The Nara’s skin was still bright pink from earlier games, and one arm flew above his head while the other came up to play with a hard nipple. Neji’s mouth fell open in naked want as he watched Shika’s eyelids lower and he looked at Neji through thick eyelashes.

“Sir…Fuck me…please…”

Neji grinned and pushed his fingers deep into Shika’s body as he slid back up to kiss at Shikamaru’s mouth and tongue. Noises got lost in translation – which were Shika’s and which were his own, Neji didn’t know anymore. He scissored his fingers and Shika begged hard and loud before Neji finally couldn’t take it anymore.

…and I want…

Neji kissed Shika as he lined himself up and felt legs wrap around his waist; pulling, encouraging, demanding.

…more than anything…

Neji pulled back from Shika’s mouth with a wet sound and his hips pressed forward. He watched Shika’s eyes go wide and then shut tightly, and he felt hot, writhing warmth engulf his cock as he carefully pushed into his lover’s body.

…for you to be inside me…

Shika’s head went back on the bed and his fists clenched satin in a vicious twist of slick fingers.

“Oh God…” Shika gasped.

“Yeah…” Neji breathed.

“Feels so…”

“Tight, holy…” Neji clenched his teeth and grunted.

“Please…please…oooh…”

Neji sank into clenching and spasming depths, and Shikamaru made the sweetest noise of need, pain, and pleasure he’d ever heard. He wrapped a hand around Shika’s leg and braced the other on the bed, head down, hair trailing, and breathing fast. Shikamaru reached up and wrapped his hand in Neji’s hair and pulled with a sharp twitch of his wrist.

Eyes flying open, Neji met Shika’s gaze, and he groaned at the hunger there. He grinned – feral and fierce – and rolled his hips. Shikamaru cried out and cursed the air black as Neji did it again…and again…

“Oh holy fuck, sir - !”

Neji laughed a low sound and nearly growled as pleasure pulsed and danced low in his body. He felt light-headed and feverish and perfect.

And it wasn’t going to last long.

“You feel…” said one.

“So good…” said the other.

And hot sounds of skin-on-skin filled the air around them, the music quiet and the lights dim. Sweat dripped down Neji’s nose and Shika leaned up to lick it away, his body moving easily with Neji’s now. With a smile, Neji pulled out and pushed sharply back in, and Shikamaru’s breath hitched as Neji’s angle changed. His eyes went wide and the hand in Neji’s hair pulled with a harsh tug.

“Oh my god…fuck – don’t stop…please, Master, Sir, oh…”

“Won’t stop…can’t…” Neji panted, and he clenched his teeth.

Words dissolved into moaning sighs and punctuated cries. Neji tasted salt and sweat and Shikamaru beneath his lips and tongue as he kissed chest and shoulder and neck. Shika’s arms and legs wrapped around Neji and clung to him, and he gave little choking cries with every one of Neji’s thrusts.

“Oh holy god…I’m…I can’t…don’t stop,please!”

Neji pushed back up onto one arm, rhythm erratic and hard, and he reached down to stroke Shika’s cock, the tip dripping even after multiple rounds of pleasure.

“God, baby…come for me…I want to see you…let me…”

Shikamaru made a muffled noise and stiffened beneath Neji. Shika’s mouth fell open, his back arched, and Neji watched as Shika met his release in breathless silence, one hand in sheets and the other in Neji’s hair. The tense and clench of his body around Neji made him hiss, and Neji managed one more hard thrust before he was shuddering and collapsing into Shika’s arms. The orgasm made him weak and seemed like it would never stop…the delay of an entire evening making the pleasure sing in high notes that lit up the back of his eyelids with white starbursts.

Exhausted, the two men lay in a tangled mess of sweaty limbs. Shika went boneless beneath Neji, and they both dozed. Neji came to consciousness when his back began to ache in its twisted state, and he pulled away from a grumbling Shika only to fall over on his side. The light in the room was deep blue, all the spotlights off on their timer. The music shut off as well, and Neji rested his cheek on the smooth sheet. Sleep became a foregone conclusion, and Neji reached out to touch Shika’s arm as he fell into a dreamless, sated, slumber.

~*~

Some time later, Neji opened his eyes, and immediately his body protested consciousness. It demanded restful oblivion: Neji was exhausted, content, and wrapped in satin and Shika. It felt like they floated on the bed in space – suspended and solitary. He sighed in happiness and something like amazement at the night. His eyelids fluttered even as his brain told Neji he should check on Shika – it had been one hell of a night for the man, and Neji still had concerns that it was entirely too much for him to handle.

Neji was well on his way to falling into dom guilt when fingers played through his hair. Surprised, Neji lifted his chin until his eyes met Shikamaru’s lazy expression.

“How are you even awake?” Neji whispered, pulling himself forward to put a leg over Shika’s hip.

“Bathroom,” Shika explained, also whispering. “And Tylenol.”

Neji struggled to sit up, cursing himself for all-but passing out, but Shika tugged on his hair.

“Stop it,” Shikamaru whispered. “I’m fine.”

“I’m sorry,” Neji said softly. “I should have-“

“Neji.” Shika cut him off, and Neji blinked at the Nara. “Don’t do that…this was…” Shika sighed and his expression was one of abject satisfaction and contentment. “Exactly what I wanted and needed.”

Relaxing a little as Shika continued to play with his hair, Neji blew out a little puff of air. “It was entirely too much,” he said. “First time in here and I-“

“Can I stop your self-flagellation so I can say something?” Shika asked, eyes closed and lips quirking.

Neji chuckled. “Fine, fine.” He was too tired to really argue or truly get worked up. And with Shika in his bed and so close, everything else dimmed in importance.

“It wasn’t too much,” Shikamaru said very quietly. “I asked for all of this, and I could have made it stop at any point. I didn’t lose myself until the bench, and…” Shika bit his lip. “And that was my favorite part. The wax was incredible – want to do it again – but it didn’t…I don’t know. Get me there.”

Neji slowly blinked and reached over to rub Shika’s arm.

Shikamaru breathed in deeply through his nose, and Neji knew from experience that talking like this wasn’t easy for Shika. He didn’t mind talking about what he wanted – but discussing how it all made him feel afterward? And saying if he didn’t like something?

Well…they were working on it.

“And then you changed it up,” Shika continued. “And Neji…that was…” He shook his head against the mattress. “I was pissed. And then I was fucking terrified. And then I was so hot and turned on I couldn’t remember my own damned name.” Shika looked up and met Neji’s eyes. “….thanks.”

A laugh bubbled out of Neji’s throat, and he slid forward to kiss Shika’s nose. “That brain of yours: gift and curse,” Neji said tenderly.

Shika sighed. “Yeah…but good news is the, er, paddle seems to turn it off pretty well.” He chuckled a little nervously.

Neji made a soft sound, struggling against the darkness that beckoned like an old friend. “Thank you for telling me this, Shika. Needed to hear it.”

Nodding, the Nara reached down and laced his fingers with Neji’s. “You were doing that thing where you kick yourself for being imperfect. I kind of like the imperfection.”

Neji chuckled and felt sleep tugging at him again. He needed a shower and his mouth was dry, but the bed was too soft and Shika too comforting.

“Neji…I’m sorry I lied.”

Eyes opening, Neji made a soothing noise and he brought Shika’s hand to his lips. “If you always did what I thought you would or were told, it wouldn’t be as fun.” Neji cocked an eyebrow and was amazed at the effort it took. “’sides…think I can handle your little moments of rebellion.”

Shika shivered and moved closer, their noses almost touching. “Yeah,” Shika whispered.

Neji hummed and drifted, coming back to himself when he felt a kiss on his forehead. “Sleep, Shika…” Neji murmured.

“I love you,” Shika whispered.

Neji felt more emotion mix and swell to mingle with the tranquility, and he managed to shift up on the bed to tuck Shikamaru under his chin, arm and leg holding him in a loose embrace.

“I’ve loved you for a long time, love you still, and will love you from now on…” Neji heard Shika’s breath catch, and he smiled.

“Sleep, now…make you pancakes when we wake up.”

Shikamaru nodded and snuggled into Neji’s arms: safe, happy, and at peace.

/fine