Bathtime

He scrubs his eyes, intensely glad that the day is over. Divorce was closed and done with, finally, after three whole years of courts and pointless arguments with Terri. What he wanted to know was why she was still clinging to him: they had both moved on, she had a new boyfriend and things seemed to be going well. And he had a girlfriend.

A lovely, clean, sweet, gorgeous girlfriend who behaved the exact opposite of his ex-wife. Emma always acted thrilled to see him in any context. He'd never lived somewhere that was so well kempt, because she was always cleaning. A fresh smell of flowers followed her wherever she went, and it was incredibly intoxicating. Without a doubt the most amazing woman he'd ever met.

And he was glad to come home to her, slipping off his shoes and coat, throwing his keys onto the counter.

"Hon, I'm home!" She emerges from the bathroom, wearing a fuzzy red robe. She walks forward to fold herself into his arms.

"Hi. How'd it go?" He sighs in fatigue.

"Great. Everything is over." He smiles, kissing her hair. "God, I just want to celebrate. Let's go somewhere. Now." She laughs.

"This very second? Where would you like to go?" He rubs the small of her back.

"Anywhere. As long as it's with you. We could go to Europe. How does Ireland sound?" He feels her lips on a button of his shirt.

"Fantastic. Let's empty our bank accounts and just escape." She opens the button and kisses the skin underneath. He helps her undo the rest. "Cold out today." He nods, allowing her to slip off the shirt.

"Frigid. My bones feel like they've frozen together." Her hand slides into his.

"I just got a bath set up, want to join me?" He unties the knot on her robe, pushing it down her small shoulders.

"Of course." He follows her to their bathroom, the warm smell of peach bath salt surrounding them. She leans against the wall, waiting for him to get out of his clothes. He settles into the blissfully warm tub, relaxing immediately as she climbs in and settles between his legs.

She leans into his chest, and his arms wind around her belly under the white foam of bubbles.

"You wanna talk about it, at all?" She doesn't quite want to talk about Terri, but she doesn't want him to hold everything in either. He shakes his head.

"No. I just want to be with you right now." She feels his lips on her ear and she tilts her head so he can reach her neck.

"Are we going to have sex?" She finds his hand and kisses his fingertips, feeling her flesh begin to thaw. She'd spent the day shoveling the driveway to exactly her standards (the snow had to be lined up neatly on the edges, exposing every inch of the driveway with a straight line on either side. Quite a chore).

"Hmmm, maybe." His response is a chuckle, and he brushes her ticklish stomach with a rogue washcloth. "We could just cuddle. Save all that for later."

"Cuddling is always good," she sighs, resting her head on his shoulder. He continues to gently drag the cloth all over her body, and for the first time in five-odd years, the couple can completely relax.

Short and sweet :)