Sabretooth and Birdy belong to Marvel, all others are of my own creation.
Reviews and constructive criticism welcome.
Did she get up and pretend last night didn't happen, or did she continue to lie on the cold floor until he woke up? Emma shivered again and heard him shift in bed. He would not be up for a while yet. She made a decision then stood up, making her way to the washroom.
She let out a sigh in relief as her bladder relaxed then went to the faucet to wash her hands and face. Her reflection made her look ill and her body told her she was sore and exhausted.
The door opened noiselessly as she turned the knob and she was forced to look up at her husband as he towered over her in the door frame, just waiting for her to emerge.
They stared at each other until finally Emma told him she hated him in a vehement tone. Creed laughed softly at her, pulling her out of his way and slamming the bathroom door shut in her face.
She sat down in front of the balcony doors and let the morning sun warm her skin while he took a shower. Thankfully he would be gone before lunch on another flight far away on business. Suddenly she felt his overbearing presence behind her and she cursed his stealth.
"I'll be leavin' in a bit and you'll be stayin'. In fact, you'll be stayin' right here in this room until I get back. I don't care if the house is burnin' down, you don't leave this room." Creed bent down, his wet hair dripping down her shoulder, under her shirt and around the crevice of her breasts. "Do I make myself clear?" He didn't need an answer but he gave her a sharp tug on her hair to impress his order on her.
In an instant he had disappeared, his presence no longer hovering over her like looming Death. She started to breath again, not realizing the pain in her lungs until her first intake of breath.
Emma hadn't bothered to move even hours later as she watched Birdy drive Creed to the airport. She would be joining him on this bit of business so had left Emma with some food stuffs in the room, hoping it would keep her fed without having to break his rule and be punished.
Finally she unfurled herself from her fetal position, much to the anger from her knees, and made her way to the shower. The claw marks across her face had healed fairly well but the scars were still lightly visible in the light. She washed her hair, and then washed it again. She stood under the flowing water nearly ten minutes before even considering how to go about her day.
First she pulled all the old sheets off the bed then she put down fresh new sheets. Then she vacuumed. The bathroom was cleaned and Emma threw all the dirty laundry into a basket and left the bedroom.
She started the washer and left to go clean the kitchen and downstairs rooms, which took the better part of the day. She finished with Victor's study by dusting and straightening and cleaning the ashes out of the fireplace. When she looked up, it was nearly 6pm and she hadn't eaten a thing yet. As she brought up the fresh laundry, she dialed her mobile and pressed it up to her ear.
ooooo
"He's a good enough guy, really." Emma said and took a bite of her pasta.
"See, I'm not sure you understand what 'good' actually means. He made you sleep on the floor after strangling you and cutting up your face. And then he demanded you remain in the bedroom for five days." The man replied animatedly, even if in low tones while in the restaurant. He hadn't yet touched his chicken.
"Excuse me all to hell for defending my husband, Gavin." She replied sarcastically before reaching for her wine. Gavin raised his hands defensively.
"You haven't told him about me then?" It didn't sound like a question so Emma didn't respond, the answer was obvious. "Why don't you just leave him?"
She looked up at him, he looked young for thirty-four, his reddish-blond hair had not yet thinned or grayed. He had a lot of wrinkles around his blue eyes from smiling. "Victor has a particularly well honed talent for hunting. There's no where I could run to that could keep me safe from him." It was her calm and resigned tone that made him react so strongly then.
"Your blind devotion to this man has me completely baffled!"
Emma couldn't help but laugh out loud to that. "You're baffled over blind devotion? You're a priest for Christ's sake!"
They were both silent. "I'm not exactly the model of priesthood lately, as you know."
She nodded conceit and they continued their dinner in a more jovial attitude.
ooooo
Emma was home this time when Creed returned, however she was very far from the bedroom and showed no signs of caring. She was on the couch curled up with a book by the fire place, warding off the chill that entered the house as soon as the door was opened.
Creed kicked off his shoes at the front door then stalked to the end of the couch down the long hallway.
"This doesn't look like the bedroom." He growled.
"I'm reading, be quiet." Emma snapped, not bothering to look up. She was rubbing her temple trying to focus on the page in front of her.
Creed crept closer and sat beside her feet, which were up on the couch. He licked his lips and rubbed his hands together but didn't look at her.
"Maybe," he started, "maybe I'm goin' about this the wrong way." Emma didn't respond. "I don't control you and you can do as ya please, but I would hope that you would never do anythin' t'hurt meā¦and make me hurt you back." He had stretched out with his arms along the back of the couch now and was watching her.
"You've hurt me more than I can ever make up." Emma turned the page of her book and continued to ignore his stare. Finally Creed snatched the book from her hands and threw it across the room, smashing a vase in the process. Emma's face contorted in rage and she managed a fierce slap across his face before he could react.
It took a moment before Creed could feel it. It didn't hurt, it burned. His face felt like it was on fire. He reached up to find the source but was disappointed to find nothing on his skin, the burning amplified as he touched the path of her slap.
"What did you do?" He pressed his palms into his face making it worse. Emma looked startled herself and she ran to pick up a vase left unbroken and pulled the flowers out.
"Victor, look at me!" She shouted with urgency. He complied confused, his face bright red and his eyes watering. She threw the water from the vase into his face, making him sputter and blink. The pain subsided almost immediately.
Creed could only stare at her incredulously. "What was that?"
"It's what's going to happen to your balls the next time you piss me off!" Emma smashed the porcelain vase on the ground at her feet and marched off.
