Time, Death & Scar Tissue...

13. Clean and Bruised

Kathryn woke slowly and realized she was moving, being carried. She opened her eyes and tightened her limp arm around his neck.

“What's going on?” She asked, her voice groggy and uncertain.

“I thought you might enjoy a bath.” He smiled down at her and Kathryn relaxed again.

“You could have just woke me.” She blushed when he set her on her feet again, realizing as she stepped into the tub that aching pain radiated from between her legs. She winced a little as she settled in the water.

“You were sleeping so peacefully though.” He got in behind her, pulling her back against his chest. Kathryn sat with her knees raised, her arms covering her breasts. She still wasn't comfortable with him seeing her exposed. He chuckled softly, kissing the side of her head and slipping an arm around her shoulders. The heat of the water and the gentle surging jets along with his closeness made the remaining tension in her body slip away. She turned slightly, trying to find a more comfortable position.

Her eyelids still felt heavy as she looked more closely at the tub. It looked like it would easily accommodate four people and it was deeper than an ordinary tub. She noticed that he could stretch out comfortably in it though.

“This is incredible.” She said softly, feeling herself relaxing.

“And to think, people are willing to give up all this pleasure for expedience.” His hands caressed her arms and shoulders. She stretched out a little more, leaning back into him.

“I don't know if a shower is just expedience though. When I redid the bathroom I went with a steam shower with all the body sprays. After a run can feel wonderful too.” Kathryn sighed, her eyes closing again. She stroked his legs softly as she relaxed.

“I'm a bit surprised you remodeled so extensively. What little I've seen of your house it looked so antique.” His hands stroked over the column of her neck and then down further on her chest, her eyes fluttered a little as her nipples reacted.

“The house was built in 1903, and for the most part I just restored it. The bathroom was this awful little room that wasn't big enough to change your mind in though. I sacrificed a tiny guest room and got a good sized bathroom and small dressing room out of it.” His hands moved down, caressing her breasts. Kathryn tensed and then relaxed again, sighing softly.

“You're more popular than you lead people to believe.” He said. Kathryn laughed softly.

“I'm a hack. I just happen to be a popular hack that made good investments.” She blushed a little. His hands moved over her shoulders again. Her fingers traced lightly over his legs, enjoying the sensations of his touch and the sounds of the softly surging water. She moved her head and felt the world spin around her. She groaned softly.

“I need a towel.” She moved forward, causing the world to swim around her again. His hand gripped her shoulder.

“Why?” He held her firmly and she brushed at his hand, trying to orient herself and escape at the same time.

“Please, I'm really lightheaded. I haven't eaten in awhile, I just need some juice or something.” One arm went around her shoulders and the other around her waist, holding her still. She began to feel trapped and she struggled, starting to feel panic rising.

“Kathryn,” His voice was soft but forceful-sounding. He waiting until she stopped struggling before he spoke again, but Kathryn could still feel herself trembling. “If you're lightheaded you'll be unstable on your feet. You'll stay here, I'll be right back.” His voice was calm but his arms didn't relax around her until Kathryn nodded in agreement.

He ran a towel over his body and returned a few minutes later with a glass wine carafe filled with orange juice and a goblet. He filled the glass and handed it to her. Kathryn accepted it carefully and her hands trembled as she drank. He set the carafe on the tub surround and got in behind her again. She finished the glass and then refilled it, drinking more slowly this time.

“Thank you. I'm sorry, I get a little weird when my blood sugar gets too low.” He drew her back against him again and she finished the second glass. He refilled it again and Kathryn noticed that the tremor had left her hands.

“It's alright.” His fingers traveled lightly through her hair. “Feeling better?”

“Yes, some. This is an awfully nice glass for orange juice in the bathtub.” She looked up at him and saw an eyebrow raise as he looked down at her.

“You would have preferred the plastic bottle and a long straw?” His eyebrow arched.

“Of course not, at this time of evening I usually just stick a funnel in my mouth and pour.” Her eyes locked with his, a small smile on her lips.

“That quick tongue may get you in trouble one day.” He pinched her nipples firmly and Kathryn nearly dropped the glass when the mixture of pleasure and pain hit her. His mouth came down on hers again when she surrendered his fingers relaxed, caressing softly before retreating.

“What are your plans this evening?” His hands worked through her hair, starting to wet it. She tried to catch her breath and finished the last of the juice in the glass.

“Well, I should go home.” She said finally. Kathryn didn't really fear his reaction, but she had the impression that he wasn't going to like the idea of her leaving.

“Oh? To get something you need?” The tone was casual, but it was a forced casual.

“I have a few things to do, and I don't want you to get tired of my company.” Those things were absolutely true, but it was also true that she would miss him and she wasn't entirely sure she cared to spend the whole night and day alone until she could come back. He took the empty glass and set it next to the carafe.

“Slide forward.” She moved quickly and winced, the painful ache jarring her. He tilted her head back. He started pouring water over her hair from a pitcher. She sighed when he started working softly scented shampoo through it. “But you will be back to do a bit more research?” He rinsed her hair and started washing her with a sponge.

“I don't know.” Kathryn found she had a very hard time thinking of reasons not to come back. She let him move her body, enjoying his gentle but thorough ministrations. “I have to call my father again, just to make sure that he hasn't gotten any more phone calls from a certain someone, and I'm sure that Corey will want to know that I'm alive.

“She believes you wouldn't be?” There was a note of surprise in his voice.

“She has all kinds of strange ideas.” Kathryn waved her hand dismissively. “She'll have a million questions and I'll answer two of them but it would be mean to let her worry.”

He moved around her and pressed her back. Kathryn blushed and looked away. His hand worked from her feet up to her upper thighs before opening her legs wider. She retreated as much as she could. His mouth found hers as his fingers rubbed gently. She winced and whimpered, crying out sharply as one finger gently probed her entrance. He caressed the tiny button that nestled in her folds before taking his hand away, and then his lips. He moved behind her again and Kathryn curled up against his chest, quivering and trying to regain her composure again.

“You will heal Kathryn.” His voice was reassuring, as were his hands stroking her back. She felt herself relaxing again.

“I know,” Her arms slipped around him again, her legs relaxing.

“And you will heal as well here as at home.” Kathryn looked up at him and kissed his collarbone lightly.

“You're very used to getting your own way, aren't you?” She was unable to keep the little smile off of her face.

“Of course,” He chuckled softly and stroked her cheek. “Though thus far you have proved to be much more challenging than I would have first thought.”

“I don't feel very challenging right now,” She blushed a little and picked up the sponge and bath gel.

“So you will come back?” He handed her a different bath gel and relaxed when she started washing him.

“I'll come back.” His eyes closed and he relaxed, moving from time to time to expose a new area. “I'm not sure about staying though. I have belly dancing tomorrow night and I know Corey will want to get some dinner after.” He hand stopped on his lower stomach and he gripped her wrist, pushing it lower. She blushed but allowed him to guide her movements. He released her hand and pulled her back against his chest again.

“We will deal with tomorrow when it comes.” His lips brushed the bruise on her shoulder and Kathryn stiffened immediately, sliding her hand over it. “Kathryn-”

“Please, don't say anything. It's just sore. It'll heal too.” She smiled and kissed him softly.

“So you remember how it happened?” His eyes had narrowed slightly and for some reason that made Kathryn nervous.

“That's an odd question. You bit me.” His eyes widened. “Why do you look so shocked? I wasn't quite that out of it. Corey has marks all the time, she never said they hurt, but I never asked either.”

He tilted her head and moved his mouth over the same spot on the other side of her neck. Kathryn moaned when his teeth grazed her skin lightly, for some reason the sensation seemed sharper than what she would have expected, but she wasn't in the mood to analyze it. Her body relaxed against him.

“Will you be sharing that mark with her?” His mouth moved up the side of her neck, and she turned her head to meet his mouth.

“Of course not! Honestly I think you have strange ideas sometimes too.” She laughed softly, perfectly comfortable in the moment.

“Perhaps I do.” He stroked her cheek softly, looking and feeling more relaxed against her body. He was a study in subtleties, but she was starting to pick up on his cues.

“Why isn't the water cold by now?” She looked a bit confused. She had noticed that the water temperature hadn't really changed since they got in. Her fingertips were turning into little prunes but the water was still deliciously hot.

“It's heated as it's recirculated. I dislike having to time the length of my soak to the length of time the water stays the right temperature.” One of his hands stroked her side lightly.

“That's absolutely brilliant. I guess if the Romans had hot baths why not?” She gripped his hand as it rested on her stomach, lacing her fingers with his.

“More research for your book?” She heard the mild note of surprise in his voice.

“No, not specifically but I read about it somewhere and it stuck. The book said it had something to do with convection I think. Something about cooler water sinking and warmer water rising and that kept it circulating. I think it was convection, I don't remember now. I'm too relaxed.” She laughed softly.

“You don't forget much do you?” Kathryn's eyes were closed, but she could hear the little smile on his lips.

“Not usually, no. I am getting pretty hungry though. I think I should eat something and get home so I can get back at a reasonable time.” She shifted and he gripped her hand for a moment, holding her close.

“Even if the time is unreasonable, you will still return.” He said, raising her chin and looking into her eyes.

“I will.” Kathryn could hear the command and her simple, immediate response to it confused her. She told herself that she was still off balance from the events of the last few hours. He kissed her lightly and helped her out of the tub, wrapping one warmed towel around her body and offering her another for her hair.

“There are several boxes in the dressing room to the right. Everything in them is yours and should fit properly.” He smiled and Kathryn shook her head a little.

“You'll spoil me.” She stood on her tiptoes and swirled her tongue softly in the hollow of his throat.

“Careful girl, I may not allow you to leave.” He growled softly, his lips coming down on hers. Kathryn felt a shiver race through her body.

“Not my fault, that's all I could reach. I'm short you know.” She smiled and slipped out of his arms.