“Yes.”
“It seemed like forever.” She swallowed heavily as he came back to her. She watched as he placed the shampoo and soap down and quickly shed his pants. Her mouth went dry as she took in his magnificent, powerful body. He slid into the large tub behind her and his legs clasped hold of her sides. Pulling her into his lap, he rested her back against his chest as he leisurely began to rub and massage her aching muscles. She leaned into him, savoring in the tender way he touched her, and the exciting new way he felt against her skin. He worked steadily over her body, rubbing and kneading her with a tenderness no one else had ever seen from him, or ever would.
“You stayed with me,” he whispered as his fingers worked over her arms.
“I told you I would.”
His hands stopped moving over her as they enfolded her against him. “I was still worried.”
“I know; so was I,” she admitted.
He turned her head toward him and nibbled on her lower lip as he kissed her. Heat sizzled through her as a rocking sensation unlike anything she’d ever experienced shot through her. His kisses had always melted her, but this was different, it felt as if she were actually dissolving against him. She needed to feel the reality of the press of his lips against hers, of the warmth of his tongue caressing her mouth. She’d been so frightened she would never feel anything like this again.
He pulled slowly away, his eyes intense and fiery as they bored into hers. The dark shadow lining his jaw made him appear harder and more dangerous as her fingers trailed over the bristly hairs. He was glorious though, and he was hers, forever.
Everything she had just endured had been completely worth it.
His fingers started to work over her muscles again; he washed her hair for her and cleaned the shampoo from it before washing his own, and helping her from the tub. Her legs were shaky, she felt like a newborn colt, and she supposed in some ways she was. She was able to stay on her feet as he towel dried her, wrapped a robe around her, and loosely knotted the belt. “Do you want me to brush your hair for you?”
Though it sounded appealing, she didn’t like feeling this helpless and needy. “No, I think I can handle it.”
He nodded, but he stayed within the room, leaning against the counter as he watched her. She felt slightly uncomfortable with his scrutiny. “I’m not going anywhere,” she assured him.
“I don’t know that yet Aria, not for sure.”
“I’m sorry for what you went through.”
He frowned at her as he folded his arms firmly over his chest. “What I went through was nothing compared to what you went through. I would do everything in my power to take away what you just experienced.”
“It was worth it.” He remained doubtful looking as his eyes scanned over her. “I would do it again for this result Braith. Don’t ever doubt that. The memories of the pain will fade, the millions of memories we’ll make together will last forever. Life is so fragile and delicate all the time, we have to seize every moment we have together, have to cherish every gift that has been given to us, and this is one such gift Braith. We can be together, forever.”
She didn’t realize she was crying until he leaned across the counter and wiped the tears away with the pads of his thumbs. “I do cherish it,” he whispered against her lips as he rested his forehead against her. “And you. I look forward to every one of those memories.”
“Good. Now, can you stop watching me as if you’re afraid I’m going to go toe up again at any moment?”
He laughed quietly as he kissed her. “Ok.”
She reluctantly pulled away from him and wiped the steam from the mirror. She stared at her reflection, surprised by the sight of the woman staring back at her. It was her still. She was tired, drained, and beaten looking, but it was still her. Relief filled her. Despite what Braith had said about her being the same, she’d still been terrified she’d be confronted by a half crazed monster with red eyes and fangs, or a shadow of the person she’d once been. Instead, it was simply a girl with dark auburn hair made darker by the water, brilliant blue eyes, and a face that had thinned out from grief, staring back at her.
Braith rested his hands on her shoulders. “Are you ok?”
“It’s still me,” she breathed.
“It is.” Her fingers slid over the mirror as she traced her features. “Let me.” She didn’t argue when he took the brush from her hand and began to work it through her hair. “Were you expecting someone else?”
“I didn’t know what to expect,” she admitted. “I half feared I’d be a monster.”
He met her gaze in the mirror, holding it for a poignant moment. “You could never be a monster Arianna.”
She smiled shakily at him, acutely aware of the fact that when it came to him she very well could be a monster in order to ensure he survived. She closed her eyes and relished in the comforting feel of him pulling the brush through her hair. She was also becoming aware of a new scent and a new discomfort growing within her belly. She didn’t understand what it was though, and as she hesitatingly scented the air she couldn’t place the delicious aroma.
Braith placed the brush down and led her into the bedroom. She slumped onto the bed, tired and still a little sore. That growing twinge in her stomach was starting to spread outward. It was actually becoming uncomfortable as she shifted on the bed in an attempt to ease some of the discomfort growing within her.
Braith’s eyes narrowed. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted. Her hand fluttered up to her chest, she swallowed heavily as a rush of saliva filled her mouth. “But I don’t feel right. There’s something, it’s here, it’s aching.” She pressed her hands to her stomach and her chest. She couldn’t find the words to describe the growing distress of her body.
“Ah,” he said with dawning realization. “You’re hungry.”
She frowned fiercely at him as she shook her head. “No, I’m surprisingly not hungry.”
His smile was sad and understanding. “Yes Aria, you’re just not hungry for mortal food, not anymore.”
She felt like an idiot as her mouth parted. “Oh,” she breathed as understanding filled her. “I see.” Her gaze strayed to his neck, the solid muscles that corded it, and the vein she saw running just beneath the surface. She tore her gaze away from his dampened skin as the discomfort bloomed into a scorching fire. “Is this what you experience all the time?”