Slowly Barry came to, not wanting to wake up. The tempting scent of cooking food won out though, his stomach growling loudly. He loved Caitlin's cooking, having eaten it several times in the past. She was usually in the kitchen with Joe whenever they would have a get together, the two of them making sure everyone was fed and happy. Iris was useless in the kitchen, the only person he knew of that could burn water.
Barry sat up, realizing that he'd been covered up by Caitlin. He also realized his shoes were missing from his feet, and he felt himself blush. She had taken off his shoes, and that seemed like a very intimate action to him. Was it a sign of something more? Could what he saw in the pipeline really be happening? He hoped so. He felt so relaxed and comfortable yet excited when he was around Caitlin. Being alone with her after having his world tilted felt exactly like what he needed to recover.
"Hey sleepyhead." Caitlin called softly.
She was curled up in the large wingback chair that sat perpendicular to the couch. In her lap sat a book and at her elbow sat a steaming mug of tea. Her outfit made him take a double take. Black yoga pants hugged her curves and a baggy sweater with the Labs logo on it draped off one shoulder. The thing that really woke him up was the fact there was no bra strap slicing across the skin of her shoulder. It was the most relaxed he had ever seen her, and it was a huge turn on.
"What smells so good?" Barry had to clear the lump in his throat, trying to get his body under control. Long brown hair slid over her bare shoulder, and Barry's already fast heartbeat picked up the pace.
"Gramma's rotini, garlic breadsticks and a garden salad." She smiled at him, the image of her being etched into his heart. "I already ate, so help yourself."
Barry wandered into her kitchen, helping himself to a huge portion of everything. It all looked delicious and smelled like heaven. As he was banging around Caitlin called out,
"There's sweet tea in the fridge. You can also come back in here and eat."
Gosh, she took such good care of him. Barry honestly didn't know what he would do without Caitlin. She kept him healthy and sane the last few years, knowing how to calm him down and put him back together when things got tough. He rejoined Caitlin and watched as she marked her place in her book before turning on Netflix.
"I didn't want to wake you up by turning on the the TV." Caitlin smiled at him as she selected How the Grinch Stole Christmas. "Lame, I know, but it is almost Christmas."
Barry ate in silence as they watched the movie. Well, Caitlin watched the movie; he was watching her. His mind was turning the information from the Speed Force over and over, knowing he would need to tell her soon what the glyphs said. Killer Frost had asked him, but he had managed to deflect, be he knew he needed to tell her. At one point she paused the movie to put up his dishes before settling down next to him on the couch. Barry gulped as Caitlin curled up against his side, pulling the quilt over her lap.
"Do you remember Killer Frost asking me about our glyphs in the pipeline?" Barry asked before Caitlin could restart the movie, deciding he needed to jump in with both feet.
"I do actually. I'm curious too, but I figured you'd tell me when you were ready."
She shifted beside him, tilting her head back slightly to look him in the eye. Barry gulped again, everything inside him lighting up. This close Barry could see the small light freckles that dusted her cheeks and kissed her eyelids, catching a brief glimpse down the neck of her sweater. Suddenly everything inside him was screaming at him to take a hold of Caitlin and make her his. It was something that had been simmering under the surface for years, but the time was never right.
"There is something to them. Remember back when we first faced Snart? Cisco said speed and cold are opposites. Well, opposites attract. The glyphs say that you are the woman I end up spending my life with, not Iris." Caitlin's eyes got big, full of hope. That in turn made Barry feel better about his decision.
"Iris is only ever mentioned in the past. Once Elseworlds happened, she disappeared from the record. You are the one who holds me to this reality when the crisis comes to call. Without you, we lose and reality is completely erased."
"Are - are you saying that I'm - that you - we -" For once the unflappable doctor was speechless. Barry, unable to hold back any longer, reached out and pulled her to him. He settled his lips over hers, needing her in a way he couldn't describe. His whole body lit up, his entire focus narrowing to this moment in time and the woman in his arms. Caitlin gasped and Barry followed, drowning in her taste.
A low moan into his mouth and Barry knew Caitlin was giving in. With gentle hands he pulled her into his lap, cradling her to him. His head was spinning with the cool taste of her as she maneuvered her way around, straddling him, settling against him erotically. Body coming to life Barry rolled his hips, hands inching up the back of her shirt, manhood hardening painfully when he realized she indeed was braless. Their kisses were messy and hard, making up for lost time. Caitlin ground herself into him as his hands moved around to cup her breasts, her skin so very soft.
Holding her close Barry moved his lips to her neck, breathing in her scent. Her nipples were hard in his palms, breasts heavy and heaving. Caitlin's arms were around him, one cupping the back of his head, the other holding onto his shoulder as she rocked. He felt so alive right now, full of light and desire. Caitlin was bucking her hips, pressing down onto his sex hard, mewling in longing. Wrapping his arms tight around her, he flashed them to her bedroom, needing to make love to Caitlin so very bad.
