Emilia lost twenty minutes being entangled in Magnus' arms, lips, and caresses. When she finally pulled out of his embrace, she kissed his fingers as she kicked the covers off.

"You know," she sighed, "once we get out of this bed, it's back to less intimate interactions."

"I know," he replied, reaching out to run a hand up her arm. He moved closer to her again, cupping her face. "So no more words. Just this." Emilia felt ripples inside her before their lips connected, and once they did she lost track of everything but his touch.

Magnus was the one to break and slide out of bed, Emilia left nearly breathless.

"You were saving that, weren't you?" She murmured as he moved toward her bathroom.

He looked over his shoulder at her and grinned, then kept walking.

"Tease," she muttered as she clambered out of bed and quickly made it. She shuffled downstairs and had pulled out the coffee and filters when Magnus came down to the kitchen. He went into the closet, pulling out a tee and putting it on before joining her in the kitchen.

"When is Kurt supposed to come?" She asked, not really wanting to know.

"Around noon, I think. He said he'd call this morning."

"Breakfast?" She asked, starting to prepare the coffee.

"Mmm," he nodded approvingly.

She looked back at him and saw him flexing his hands. She smiled at him, trying not to blush. "We can do this."

"I know," he sighed. "Just need a couple of minutes."

Her smile softened as she moved to him. She took one of his hands in hers and held it for a moment. When she released it, she moved into the living room and flicked on the TV. She chose a mid-century R&B station on the satellite radio and immediately began swaying to the music.

"Try it," she said, casting a smile towards him. "It might help."

He watched her for a brief moment, before a smile broke through. He began to to move his head and shoulders in time to the music. As Emilia made to slide past him, he reached out and pulled her toward him by the waist. She smiled, giving him a moment to to indulge in them swaying together before extricating herself. She kept moving in little shuffles and sways about the kitchen as Magnus expanded his dance floor to maneuvering around the couch and coffee table.

"You're right," he said, moving around the living room area as Emilia started breakfast.

"About?"

"It helps," he smiled.

After breakfast, Emilia worked on her article while Magnus cleaned up the downstairs and scanned through some emails on his laptop. A couple hours later, Emilia called down from upstairs.

"Article done. I'm going to take a bath. No word from Kurt?"

"Not yet," Magnus called back.

"Ok."

A few seconds later, Magnus' phone buzzed. The station. He picked it up and endured one of the most frustrating and awkward conversations of his career.

Magnus ended the call with Kurt and tossed his phone on the couch. He shuffled upstairs and knocked on the door frame to Emilia's bedroom.

"Mia?"

"Yeah?" Her voice echoed from the bathroom.

"Remember how I said Kurt and I, erm, discussed some aspects of your protection that we'd talk about later today?"

Emilia stepped out of the bathroom in a short silver robe and terry cloth slippers. "Oh god, now what? I was just about to get in the bath."

"Well, it's just that…" Magnus sighed. "It's completely ridiculous. I know he wasn't being literal even though he says he is."

"Magnus?"

He sighed. "He said unless one of us is using the toilet, you're not to be out of my site for more than five minutes. Even if I have to stand outside your shower or vice versa. Look, he's just concerned and I understand, but-"

"Come in," Emilia gestured to him. "We can talk about it while I'm in the bath."

Magnus swallowed, but stepped into the room. "Do you really think that's a good idea given, you know, us?"

Emilia stepped back into the bathroom, closing the door as she spoke. "I'll let you know when I'm in the tub, then you can come in. The frosted glass will provide some semblance of privacy for us both."

Magnus waited for a moment, shifting on his feet, then running a hand through his hair.

"Look," he said, leaning his head against the door. "You don't have to do this. Even without our own complications, this is a gross invasion of your privacy, which I tried to explain to Kurt, and -"

"Come in," Amelia stated.

Magnus sighed, but twisted the handle and opened the door a crack. "Are you sure about this?"

"I said we could talk about it. Doesn't mean we're going to do what Kurt says. Now get in here before the steam dissipates."

Magnus slid in the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Emilia's private bathroom was spacious and comfortable. There was a vanity with a stool, a large counter and sink, the toilet, and a shower-tub combination easily large enough for two people with a sliding, frosted glass door encasing her inside.

"You can sit on the stool or the counter if you like. Whatever makes you more comfortable. Or you can just settle in on the floor beside the tub."

The last sentence had a tone of playfulness in it that almost made Magnus blush. He opted for scooting onto the counter, his long legs dangling a bit as he sat.

Emilia shifted around in the water, the sound both soothing and appealing to Magnus.

"So Kurt really said all that, like, verbatim."

"Pretty much," Magnus nodded. "And I tried to reason with him. He's just… I know he's worried, but that's not a reason for this in any circumstance."

"Well, it's even better he doesn't know how we feel about each other, then. He'd pull you off in an instant and stick me with god knows who, and you think I'd be comfortable letting them around me like this?"

"I'm sorry, Mia, I just don't know how to tell him off."

"You don't have to," she replied. "I will."

"Then why-"

"You're really going to object to spending time less than ten feet away from me being naked, particularly when your job is requiring it?"

"This isn't exactly how I imagined being this… intimate with you going."

Emilia laughed. "Me either." There was some more splashing and movement before she asked, "When was the last time you had a pull?"

Magnus blinked. "I'm sorry?"

"Well, it just occurred to me. You've been here several weeks, not exactly watching my every move but it's not like we've really been apart. I mean, you have time in the shower, and I was just wondering…"

Magnus rubbed his hands just above his knees. "Well, um."

"If you've done it here, I'm not going to criticize you. We all need the release. I just happened to think of it, us being, as you said, intimate."

Magnus gave an uncomfortable chuckle, his tongue sticking out a bit as he bowed his head.

Emilia shifted in the tub. "Magnus, are you nervous? Because if you're jumpy with me just asking about sex, yet you intend to one day actually have it with me-"

"Last week," Magnus jumped in. "After we got back from the park."

Emilia smiled. "I remember. You asked if you could shower before me."

"It's your fault," Magnus teased.

"Was it the running or the yoga?"

"Both," he smiled. "And so much more."

"I'd ask what the more is, but I wouldn't want to get you worked up again."

"Stop it," he laughed. "It's not like I can't control myself around you. I think I've done very well all things considered."

"You're right. Very professional… excepting yesterday," she teased back.

Magnus was silent for a moment.

"Magnus?"

"You know that wasn't why."

Emilia shifted. "Will you hand me a towel?"

Magnus reached across to the towel bar on the outside of the sliding door. Emilia slid the door open and reached out a hand, taking the towel.

"Close your eyes."

Magnus was about to object, then did so. "Alright."

She stood up and wrapped it around herself, then slid the door open more and stepped out of the tub. Moving to Magnus, she placed her damp hands on his knees. Het let them fall open and she stepped between them. Emilia reached forward and placed a hand on his face, almost cupping it. She leaned in and kissed him. Magnus put his hands on the counter, pressing them down on the tile. When Emilia pulled back, he exhaled deeply.

"I thought you said-"

Emilia placed a finger on his lips. "I did. And we shouldn't anymore. I just wanted to say I'm sorry if you took that last comment as a slight. I was only teasing, but I realize I shouldn't do that with your job. You've done a very admirable job both at your work, and restraining yourself with me."

"It's hard," he whispered. "Not protecting you, but the other."

"I know. If I'm making this too difficult, I can talk to Kurt when he comes by later. Get him to assign someone else and-"

"No," Magnus' eyes flashed open. He couldn't help himself glancing over her body, the towel wrapped around her glistening skin and curves. Yet her words had spurred him to keep himself in check. "I can do this. I need to do this… that is, if you want me."

Emilia ran her hand up around his neck, massaging the back of his head. "You know I don't go in for the damsel thing. I've always been independent and I'd like to think I can hold my own, protect myself, but I also understand it's not safe for me to be alone. I need someone with me. I -"

Her voice hitched and Magnus reflexively put a hand on her waist.

"I need you, Magnus. I want you."

Magnus nodded. "I know the feeling." He kissed her forehead before leaning back. "If you're going to stay looking like that, however, I should probably give you some privacy."

Emilia smiled. "Give me a few minutes to finish up and get dressed. And then you," she added playfully as she slid a hand up his thigh, "can take a long shower."

Magnus' grip tightened on her waist. "Is that you giving me permission to-"

"Yes."

He leaned forward, almost brushing her lips with his.

"We weren't going to," she began.

"Just once more. Please."

His pleading yet seductive tone burned through her resistance and she closed her eyes. His lips pressed to hers and she fought the urge to drop her towel and pull him into the spacious shower with her. From the grip he had on her waist, holding her firmly in place but squeezing her flesh, she imagined he fought a similar urge.