Bubble Bath
A Mentalist Fanfic
Usually, I am a hop in the shower, mostly air dry kinda gal. I would choose sleep over a bath any day of the week.
But tonight...I think I'll break with routine.
Vanilla bath beads dance around the running faucet and I find a bottle of body wash that will hopefully satisfy my need for bubbles. The intense woodsy scent of eucalyptus briefly eclipses the other aroma and I feel the tenderness in response.
If he was here, his hands would kneed the knotted muscles. Heated by his touch, the built up tension would fall away, the stress ease. My neck clicks uncomfortably.
My robe ripples to the floor as I lower myself in. I feel a bit like melted butter, all limp and warm. I allow the water to act as a buoy and my hands rest on the surface of its milkiness. The flickering of a small jarred candle casts friendly shadows on the walls.
My sigh is magnified in the stillness and time floats away. My lids close...just for a moment.
Air is siphoned from the room when he enters, moving silently enough to startle. Fortunately, my body recognizes his closeness. An empathic tsk tsk. Steam surrounds me, heavy but welcoming. I resemble a wilted flower. My limbs are steadily lifted from the water.
I wake slowly and see my husband, head propped up by an elbow, facing me on the bed.
"Hello sleeping beauty." The huskiness of his voice causes my cheeks to flush.
Only then do I realize I've been toweled off, my skin slightly pink from the bath. I'm wearing a pair of fuzzy socks and my favorite jersey shirt. My hair has been patted dry so I don't soak the pillow.
"I fell asleep?" I ask, already knowing the answer.
His eyes shimmer. Lips quirked up in a smile, he hums an affirmative.
"And you..."
His head dips towards a damp towel hanging over the door. His dress shirt is draped next to it, clearly dampened by his pulling me from the bath. "I did. You were a breath away from falling asleep. Can't have you drowning on me."
My chuckle joins his as I shift closer to his side. Have our pillows always been this downy? I stop shuffling and he brushes my knuckles with his free hand. Despite my nap, I'm pretty close to nodding off again. My eyes feel like they are weighted. "Thank you."
I yawn, feeling his fingers softly stroking my cheek. I'm almost gone when I hear, "Anytime my love."