Fire bit her fingertip. She hissed, shaking her hand violently to put the match out before dropping it into the bathroom trashcan. "Typical," she muttered, sucking on the injured digit. Frowning, she surveyed the room. Candles on the corners of the bathtub, tub filling with hot water and bubbles. She rubbed one shoulder, sighing. She really needed this right now.

"Hey."

She started violently, whipping around to face the bathroom door. Tony was standing in the doorway, hands in his pockets. He looked surprised at her reaction.

"Hey," she said belatedly, breathing to try and calm down her pounding heart. "I didn't realize you were home."

"Just got here." He took a step towards her, his dark eyes concerned. "You okay?"

She nodded a few times, looking away. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. Just..."

"Bad day?"

She nodded again. "Yeah."

He closed the distance between them, touching her face gently. "Want to talk about it?"

"Not really?" She winced a little as she said it, hoping he didn't take it wrong. "I really just want to take a bubble bath and relax and not think about work for a while."

He nodded easily, looking quickly over her shoulder at the tub. "Want some company?" he asked softly.

"I... I do, but..." She glanced away then back up at him. "I'm not really in the mood. That's not a no," she added quickly, searching his face. "I just..."

Understanding dawned on his face. He squeezed her shoulder lightly. "I'll be a gentleman. Keep my hands and other body parts to myself." He shrugged a little, a small, sexy smile touching his lips. "At least 'til you say otherwise."

Michelle let out a breathy laugh, relief loosening her taut muscles just a hint. She moved forward into her husband's embrace, resting head against his. His arms came around her, pulling her close. She could have stayed like that for hours, but he murmured, "We should probably turn off the faucet if we don't want the room to flood."

She smiled and pulled away reluctantly. He stopped her, kissing her lips gently before letting her go. She turned off the water and checked the level and temperature. Standing, she stripped off her shirt, dropping it onto the ground. The rest of her clothing followed, along with Tony's. He stepped into the tub while she pinned her unruly hair to the top of her head. He grimaced, seating himself gingerly. "Hot."

She came up to the side of the tub, smirking at him. "Me, or the water?"

"Both." He held out a hand. She laid hers in it. His thumb brushed gently over her fingers. "C'mere."

She stepped into the tub, drawing in a quick breath at the heat. She liked her baths to be scaldingly hot, but they still took her by surprise at first. She slid carefully down into the water. The bubbles tickled against her skin as she went through them.

She settled herself between Tony's legs, her back to his chest. His arms went around her waist, tugging her more firmly against him. She laid back against him, her head resting on his shoulder. A sigh escaped her, taking with it some of the pressure that had been pushing at her all day. She closed her eyes, soaking up the heat of the water and Tony's embrace.

"Better?" he murmured in her ear.

"Mm, getting there." She rested her arms on top of his, lacing their fingers together. "By the way, if the phone rings..."

"We'll ignore it."

"Good." She smiled a little and turned her face, nuzzling his neck. "I love you, you know that?"

He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I love you too, sweetheart."