[The image in his mind isn't far from the truth. She's sunk down to her shoulders in the water, hair haphazardly piled on the top of her head, eyes shut. She dumped some floral scented bath oil into the hot water, and she's thoroughly enjoying the scent and the heat.
She tells herself she'll get out once the water starts to cool, but a part of her wishes she could just sleep in the warmth.
It's the closest she gets to what she misses so dearly.
She can hear Clive's footsteps, and pretends she wasn't think of him.]
She tells herself she'll get out once the water starts to cool, but a part of her wishes she could just sleep in the warmth.
It's the closest she gets to what she misses so dearly.
She can hear Clive's footsteps, and pretends she wasn't think of him.]
[She stares at the closed door as she listens to him retreat. Something isn't right. She thinks back to the kitchen, wondering if she missed something obvious. No head wound. No bleeding. He seemed tired or spent, perhaps, but that's not unusual after hunting. Still, it calls for an end to her bath, and she pulls the stopper on the tub as she carefully gets out to dry herself off.
She steps out with her towel wrapped around her body just in case, heading over to her set of drawers to pull out a nightgown. She'll dress and go check on him, she thinks. Just to be sure nothing is wrong.]
She steps out with her towel wrapped around her body just in case, heading over to her set of drawers to pull out a nightgown. She'll dress and go check on him, she thinks. Just to be sure nothing is wrong.]
[The silence from the hallway is deafening. Jill stays where she is, out of sight, brows pinched together. He didn't just say what she thinks he said. He wouldn't.
But that tone...
No. He left her, and whatever desires are left between them are to be unspoken. That was their silent agreement.]
Did something happen tonight?
[Maybe she's misinterpreting this. Maybe he is hurt, and he just wants comfort. Still, she remains where she stands.]
But that tone...
No. He left her, and whatever desires are left between them are to be unspoken. That was their silent agreement.]
Did something happen tonight?
[Maybe she's misinterpreting this. Maybe he is hurt, and he just wants comfort. Still, she remains where she stands.]
[Jill looks up at him and there's a flicker of realization. Oh. Oh. He did mean what she thought he meant, and this close, she can feel the heat radiating from his skin, warming hers where it cools from the bath.]
... what are you afraid might happen, Clive?
[Like she doesn't know. It doesn't send her retreating to he room.]
... what are you afraid might happen, Clive?
[Like she doesn't know. It doesn't send her retreating to he room.]
[He hasn't touched her so boldly in months. He hasn't crowded her space like this in longer. It doesn't hurt, being pushed against the wall, but the air is knocked out of her lungs nonetheless.
She should tell him to go. This is a terrible idea, and it shouldn't even be a thing she entertains for a second. But the bitterly selfish part of her mind simply says why not? She's slept with others and it's meant nothing. She's sure he's slept with others, too. This can just be them, scratching an itch, and that's all.
And she's misses his body. Missed how strong and solid and warm he is, over her, inside her. He's so close she wants to tip her face upwards and claim his mouth for her own. But she doesn't. There can't be any question.
There's a sureness in her voice where there should at least be some doubt.]
Don't go.
[But don't blame me if you regret this in the morning. She tells herself she won't, because she has spent far too much time wallowing in her regrets here.]
She should tell him to go. This is a terrible idea, and it shouldn't even be a thing she entertains for a second. But the bitterly selfish part of her mind simply says why not? She's slept with others and it's meant nothing. She's sure he's slept with others, too. This can just be them, scratching an itch, and that's all.
And she's misses his body. Missed how strong and solid and warm he is, over her, inside her. He's so close she wants to tip her face upwards and claim his mouth for her own. But she doesn't. There can't be any question.
There's a sureness in her voice where there should at least be some doubt.]
Don't go.
[But don't blame me if you regret this in the morning. She tells herself she won't, because she has spent far too much time wallowing in her regrets here.]
[He's never kissed her like that. It's yet another surprise, but she melts into it, fingers digging into his sides as she returns the desperation with a hunger fueled by longing.
She hasn't kissed him in so long that it makes her dizzy, and she's grateful to be essentially trapped, upright.]
She hasn't kissed him in so long that it makes her dizzy, and she's grateful to be essentially trapped, upright.]
[When was he last so hard for her? Jill moans into his mouth, months of pent up longing making her feel ready to burst. He can take her against the wall as far as she's concerned--it wouldn't be the first time he had her like that.
There's nothing under her nightgown, and she's immediately frustrated with the fact that he's dressed as she drops a hand to feel him through his trousers. He wants her. If anything comes from this, at least it's that comfort: he did desire her, at least.]
There's nothing under her nightgown, and she's immediately frustrated with the fact that he's dressed as she drops a hand to feel him through his trousers. He wants her. If anything comes from this, at least it's that comfort: he did desire her, at least.]
[To be wanted is one thing. To be wanted by him is another beast entirely. Jill is breathless against him, wanting more and more herself, but when he releases her it feels like she'll drown.
But then she's being hoisted up, and she breathes out something amused. Her nightgown is short enough that it's ridden up in this position, exposing her. It's like some fantasy brought to life: Clive, unworried about somehow offending her, letting instinct win. Finally. She'll gladly let herself be manhandled by him to see what awaits.]
But then she's being hoisted up, and she breathes out something amused. Her nightgown is short enough that it's ridden up in this position, exposing her. It's like some fantasy brought to life: Clive, unworried about somehow offending her, letting instinct win. Finally. She'll gladly let herself be manhandled by him to see what awaits.]
[He's not tearing his shirt open. Jill grins, biting her bottom lip as she moves. Probably not what he wants, but as she shifts to her knees she tosses the torn nightgown aside. Her hands go to his stomach, passing over his abdomen, appreciating the muscle her fingers slide over.]
You feel like you're on fire.
[He always runs hot, but this is something else. Or maybe it's just been too long since she touched him like this.]
You feel like you're on fire.
[He always runs hot, but this is something else. Or maybe it's just been too long since she touched him like this.]
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