I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who has been send me all these ego boosting reviews. I truly appreciate your time and effort.
Yes this is a very short chapter but it's a good breaking point before I start the story on the next day.
Chris calmed himself and began to consider. Something in this exchange needed his utmost attention. Vin had said something important that he had missed. Chris studied the human a long moment before it all came together. Shit! You told me and I didn't listen.
"Vin come here," Chris coaxed. "Pard this link between us is forever. We can't ignore each other. I need some straight answers now. None of your I'm fines, OK," Chris ordered calmly. Vin walked over. He shifted uncomfortably but he held Chris penetrating gaze. "How are your pathways?" Larabee asked. A troubled shadow passed over the human's face.
"Raw," Vin answered.
"Your senses?" Chris asked quietly.
"Spikin'," Vin sighed.
"You need to link soon then," Chris nodded.
"I kin hold out fer a spell," Vin responded quickly.
"You'll be in pain," Chris said flatly. Tanner simply shrugged.
"I'm good for maybe three hours," Chris noted calmly. "You want me to suffer too?"
"I'll link," Vin sighed faintly.
"No submission Vin, if your not willing I'll wait," Chris said gently. Vin's head shot up his eyes wide with disbelief.
"I'll never take you like that again," Chris promised his words carried sincerity. A thousand thoughts seemed to dance within those sapphire eyes.
"Got no choice I'll link," Vin exhaled softly.
"So what am I doing wrong?" Chris asked gently. "You didn't flinch earlier when I touched you," Chris reminded. Vin didn't make any response beyond a thoughtful frown. "You seem comfortable enough with the link itself." Chris mused. "So it's the bonding that's the problem," Chris said. "OK let's deal with this," he urged. Where do you want to bond at?" Larabee asked. Vin blinked in surprise. "On the bed, outside, where are you going to be the most relaxed pard?" Chris coaxed.
"Here I rekin," Vin muttered.
"All right," Chris agreed readily. Vin studied Chris along moment in distrust. "Do you want some cushions?" the centurion asked.
"Nah," Vin studied his fingers.
"The floor's cold even with the fire. How about some blankets?" Chris suggested.
"Kay," Tanner seemed ...shy suddenly.
"Any special kind?" Chris coaxed. Vin's head came up once more his eyes wide.
"Sarah wanted 'her' blanket. It was this worn out pink fuzzy thing with pictures of Hoppers on it. She had from the time she was a baby," Chris offered a little part of his own past.
"Got nothin' like that," Vin looked away.
Way to go Larabee, remind him he doesn't have anything, not even himself. Chris thought watching the firelight dance on the steel locked around the human's throat. Silently Larabee turned and left the room. Several minutes passed and he came back with his arms full of blankets.
"Show me how to do this Vin," Chris asked. Hesitantly Vin reached out examining the blankets. Chris let out a sigh of relief when Vin pulled a blanket free. The human began to create a nest. The thick rug was drug closer to the fire. Every wrinkle was smoothed out. The blanket was laid over that and carefully smoothed. Chris smiled encouragingly as Vin came back to select the next layer. Three blankets were discarded at once. "Orta Fiber?" Chris asked curiously.
"Smell musty," Vin muttered distractedly now seeming focused on his project. Four blankets were laid out in smooth layers over the rug. A lupar skin blanket from Chris' own bed was laid over them. Then two more blankets were laid to the side. Chris' lips twitched as he realized they were Buck's visiting lady blankets. "Soft," Vin noted stroking the plush silky fur.
"It won't irritate your skin," Chris nodded his head thoughtfully. Vin looked up nervously.
"Take your clothes off now, Pard," Chris reminded the nervous Hunter. Vin stripped down and moved onto the fur laying on his belly. Thoughtfully Chris studied the resigned man. "You seemed OK at the creek when we were naked," Chris knelt down carefully keeping some distance. Vin nodded stiffly. "Would you rather wear your clothes?" Chris asked gently. Tanner shook his head faintly. Do you want me to stay dressed?"
"Need skin touch," Vin choked out.
"You're doing good Vin. If you need to touch then we'll touch," Chris praised. Raising a hand Chris laid it on the scared back. Muscles immediately tensed and the human flinched away from the gentle touch. "I touched you earlier at the creek," Chris reminded Vin that he didn't jerk away then. "So what's different now?" Larabee coaxed.
"Cain't breath when yah pin me down," Vin whispered brokenly hiding his face.
I was right. "That's good Pard talk to me," Chris urged. "Why don't you roll over and we'll try another position," Chris rubbed a bony shoulder.
"Wha'?" Vin hissed.
"We'll change position," Chris said calmly. "Sarah liked spooning when she was pregnant. She couldn't lay on her stomach," Chris reminisced.
"Ya'd do that?" Vin asked softly.
"Sure, we're in this for the long haul Tanner," Chris smiled at the troubled youngster. "Come on roll over some and get off your belly." Vin turned cautiously onto his side. "Your still to scrawny," Chris noted.
"I'se always skinny," Vin shrugged.
"Can I sit down. My knees are killing me?" Chris asked.
"Rekin," Vin muttered.
"Are you all right now?" Chris ducked his head trying to see Vin's face hidden by the loose hair.
"I'se fine," Vin said calmly. "It's OK," Vin said reassuringly at Chris skeptical humph.
"Hell of a scar," Chris muttered tracing the wide puckered line that ran from the human's lower ribs on his left side across his abdomen and down and over to the top of his right buttock. "What happened it looks like you were damn near cut in half?" Chris asked faintly.
"Happened a long time ago. Don' matter none now," Vin finally answered. "Best to leave it lay," Vin growled.
"Alright Vin,' Chris backed off immediately. "Are you ever going to touch me back?" Chris huffed in exasperation.
"Don' want ta loose mah hands. Human don't never touch a Centurion it's agin yer law," Vin responded calmly.
"Against the Law?" Chris stiffened.
"Yeah," Vin looked up.
"Hell," Larabee huffed as he stripped off then lay down beside his hunter. Rolling onto his side he faced Vin. "Are you OK with this?" Tanner nodded faintly. Slowly Chris reached out and simply placed his hand over Vin's wildly beating heart. "Vin nothing is going to happen unless you agree to it," Chris reassured. Long moments passed. Can you scoot over this way a little my arm's starting to ache," Chris coaxed. "Yeah, that's better," Chris sighed. "Open the link Vin," Chris urged keeping his need to take over the bond under firm control. "That's good," Chris sighed in relief as the shields came down. Slow go slow. He's so damn scared. You're a real bastard Larabee. Terrorizing a kid like you have been. Chris became trapped in the sapphire gaze. Mutual sighs of relief were heard as the link flared to life. Basking in the comforting presence Chris drifted off to sleep. His last conscious thought was amusement. Purring, Vin purrs.
A lupar is a wolf like animal