Integra looked at the gun aimed straight at her, thoughts chasing wildly through her mind while trying to think of a way to get out of this situation. Bloody hell, why was it that anywhere she went there was someone who wanted to kill her? She didn't want to die, but she definitely didn't want to die wearing nothing but her underwear!

Trying to stall, hoping that Alucard would make it back in time, she said slowly. "So you're the one who's been trying to kill me the past couple of weeks? I must say that there were some pretty poor attempts."

The man smiled coldly. "They weren't serious attempts, I just wanted to see how easy it would be to get to you on your own grounds." His smile widened, almost seemed pleasant for a moment. "But then here you are. Well away from your men with no protection other than that monster pet of yours. How could I not take the opportunity?"

"Who sent you?"

He laughed. "It hardly matters now. You won't live to see them punished."

She saw his finger begin to squeeze the trigger, but she refused to close her eyes. If she was to die she would face it head on. The sound of the gunshot echoed through the bathroom and then everything went silent. The only sound she heard was the water pouring into the bathtub and her own breathing. Her body was aching, but she had not been shot. It was the same ache as before, the pain of having being beaten by some giant's meaty fists.

Looking at the man now lying sprawled on the ground Integra breathed a sigh of relief. Alucard was moving towards her his scarlet eyes burning intensely.

"I can't bloody leave you for a moment," he growled. "These lowly bugs seem to be everywhere."

At that moment she didn't care about his condescending tone. Normally she would snap at him and remind him that she was capable of taking care of herself – and she really was. But right now she was too tired and too beaten up to argue. She saw the man getting up and starting to run behind Alucard and she nodded towards him.

"Shouldn't you catch him?"

"No," Alucard said grimly. "I won't leave your side until we've eliminated whoever is behind all this. I refuse to have some new piece of crap appear the second I turn my back to you. I will have Seras Victoria look for him."

Right then the idea of having Alucard close at hand didn't seem entirely bad. The last thing she wanted was some bastard coming out of the closet when she was alone and hurting. Normally she could fend off most assailants, but not when every muscle in her body was screaming in pain.

"Well, I'm going to take a bath." God she needed to relax and soak her aching body in hot water. "So I'd appreciate it if you wait in the bedroom."

"No."

The short, simple answer made her eyes snap back to his. "No?" she repeated incredulously. "You can't seriously believe that I will allow you to stay in here while I bathe."

"I don't very much care what you will allow right now," Alucard growled. "I am not leaving your side until we know you are safe."

"You don't have to be so literal about it," Integra grumbled as she limped over to the bathtub and moved her hand through the water. It was hot enough and the tub was nearly full.

Turning off the faucets she turned back around to face Alucard, and was shocked to see that he was busy shedding his clothes.

"What are you doing?" she squeaked.

"A bath seems like a good idea," he said simply while unbuttoning his dark trousers. "I will join you."

Integra watched with fascination as his trousers fell to the floor, revealing a pair of strong, lean legs. She'd never seen Alucard like this, wearing only his undergarments. He was tall and lean, his upper body hard and sculpted. A disturbing feeling of wanting to run her hands over his chest made her regain her senses a little.

"You cannot take a bath with me!" she protested.

He looked at her, his eyes a little amused now, as if he knew how uneasy he made her. "Oh, but I can," he said. "And I will."

She opened her mouth to protest again but he lifted a hand to stay her. "Don't," he said. "I am serious about not leaving your side. Also, you are in pain and need to be taken care of. I can do that best when at arm's reach."

Being in the bathtub with her was a lot closer than an arm, Integra thought glumly. But she knew he was determined and she didn't want to risk giving him a direct order that he'd disobey. Risking the precious bond of master and servant was something she could not do lightly. She was never quite sure how much of a servant Alucard really was, and she wasn't ready to find out.

"Fine," she muttered. "But you're keeping your undergarments on!"

A grin spread across his face and he nodded slightly. "As you wish, master."

He walked up to her and surprised her when he easily reached behind her to unfasten her bra. Quickly she pulled her hands up to cover herself as it fell down, but it only gave him the opportunity to pull off her panties.

"What are you doing?" she hissed, keeping her hands covering her breasts.

"I can wear my underwear, but you wearing yours defeats the purpose of you taking a bath."

She wasn't quite sure that was a good argument from his side, but standing buck naked in front of him she wasn't interested in arguing. Alucard surprised her again by picking her up and stepping into the tub. Sitting down in the water he then placed her in front of him with her back towards his chest and his long legs spread out on either side of her.

The hot water enveloped her and it felt divine, yet she couldn't quite relax with Alucard sitting behind her. She was sitting straight up wanting as little of her as possible to be touching him. It seemed to amuse him because she could hear him chuckle behind her.

"Relax," he said. "I don't bite."

"Ha-ha.. Very funny," Integra muttered.

Alucard moved his hands up to move her long hair away from her shoulders as he began to gently rub and massage them. Closing her eyes Integra allowed herself to enjoy the simple touch, loosening up her tight muscles and making her relax slightly. When he gently pulled her towards him she let it happen, resting against his chest with her head back against his shoulder. It was a foreign feeling having a man's bare skin against her own, but not an unpleasant one.

The hot water and Alucard's hands kneading the aching muscles in her arms and chest had a calming effect and she found herself almost drifting off. She could get used to this. Being taken care of. It wasn't something she had ever allowed, and now that it was happening she almost began questioning why. It was a lovely feeling relaxing in someone's arms.

Alucard's hands caressed her chest and tummy, moving gently through the water. When his hand cupped her breast she didn't react, too intent on the soothing feeling working its way through her body. It felt so good having him gently massage her breasts, his thumbs gently moving over her nipples.

The hot, humid air in the bathroom made her blonde hair stick to her head and she was feeling hot and heavy, her body fully relaxed in Alucard's skilful arms. But when one of his hands gently slid down her tummy to rest between her thighs she finally reacted, stiffening in his arms.

"What are you doing?" she snapped.

"Hush," Alucard whispered in her ear, pulling her back towards him. "I'm just helping you relax. Let me take care of you, even if just tonight."

Mixed feelings of pleasure and guilt coursed through Integra's body as Alucard's masterful fingers slid between her legs, gently teasing and caressing. Oh she really shouldn't allow him to do this... but it was so deliciously good. The pleasure winning over her common sense Integra finally leaned back against Alucard and let herself be swept away on the waves of pleasure his fingers evoked.

Unfamiliar feelings of heady desire made Integra move restlessly against him, and she could hear him groan slightly as her bottom slid against his arousal. Normally the mere thought of Alucard in such a state would have horrified her, but right then she was enjoying the moment and quite liked the idea that she could have that effect on him.

When he finally rubbed the little nub where her desire seemed to centralise she came apart under his hands in a way she couldn't remember having done in her entire life. He held her close during her orgasm and as she settled down, panting slightly from the force of it, he placed a soft kiss below her ear.

As her elevated feelings came crashing down and reality started settling in Integra began questioning her sanity. She had just allowed Alucard to touch her in the most intimate of ways. In a way she hardly ever touched herself. And it had been glorious. She quickly pushed that thought away. This was wrong. On so many levels.

Her face was burning and she stood up and left the bathtub. While her body was still aching it felt a tiny bit better after the hot bath. Alucard was standing up as well, water dripping from his nearly naked body. Quickly hiding her face in a towel Integra made sure she couldn't look. Damn the man was sexy. But that was the problem, wasn't it? He wasn't a man, he was a vampire. A monster.

She almost jumped when the towel was suddenly taken from her hands and she was faced with Alucard, still standing almost naked before her. He didn't seem the least bit concerned about wearing nothing but his underwear, but then why would he? His body was beautiful.

Using the towel he dried her off, then quickly dabbed himself dry. Integra was still too embarrassed after what had happened in the bathtub to speak, so she let him continue. Not even when he lifted her up and carried her to the bedroom did she say anything. He put her down in the bed, found her nightgown and handed it to her. While she was pulling it over her head he changed his wet undergarments for a pair of dark pyjama bottoms, then walked around the room checking that the door and windows were all securely closed and locked.

When he came back to the bed and sat down Integra finally found her voice, she even managed to look at him without blushing furiously red. "You can't share my bed!" she burst out.

Alucard looked at her for a moment, his scarlet eyes unreadable. "I will share your bed," he said simply. "Because I will not leave your side until we have caught the people after you. He will be back, and I will not risk not being close. So I will share your bed."

When she opened her mouth to protest he lifted a hand to stay her. "However," he continued calmly. "I will not make love to you, if that is what you are worried about." He grinned, the old Alucard shining through. "Not until you ask me to. Then I will. Until you beg for mercy."

Integra felt her face flush red. "That will never happen," she said coldly, but after that evening she wasn't quite as certain anymore.