Caitlin stared into the fire, curled up on the couch at Barry's apartment. When she wasn't at the lab, she would be staying with him. Before she had left for Star City, she'd hired movers to place all of her belongings in storage, letting the lease go on her own apartment. There was no use paying rent for something that she wouldn't be using. Knees tucked up against her she sat in a snuggly ball, wearing an extra set of Barry's pajama bottoms and one of his old S.T.A.R. Labs tees. Wrapped around her was one of the blankets Barry had offered her, to help warm her up after having used all of her powers. The speedster was in his bedroom, taking a shower after a long fight.
Caitlin was glad for the time to herself. She needed to figure out what she would say to Barry now that the threats were taken care of. He wouldn't be put off any longer, and he shouldn't. They were bound together by a force out of their control. To be fair, Caitlin honestly wasn't complaining, she just wanted to make sure her previous track record didn't rear it's ugly head. Ronnie died, twice. Jay turned out to be Zoom. Julian was key in helping Savitar create his following, and then he made her Killer Frost. To top it off, Savitar was a future evil version of Barry; making her feel things she should only feel for the real Barry. Just thinking about it all made her head hurt.
She laid her head on her folded arms and waited for Barry to join her.
Several minutes later the couch beside her dipped, a long arm pulling her close to Barry's side. Giving in Caitlin tucked her head on his shoulder, relaxing into a boneless heap. He was still warm from his shower, smelling fresh and clean. She could feel his heart beating against her arm, strong and at a normal pace for him. They sat there, quiet and comfortable for the longest time, soaking in the peace of the moment. To Caitlin, it was almost like a dream, one of the romantic dreams of them she used to have before Zoom. Before Flashpoint.
"You feeling better?" Barry's voice was soft and warm. She felt him press a kiss to her head, his arm squeezing gently. He inhaled deep, breathing her in. It was magic.
"Yes." Caitlin sat back, just enough that she could look Barry in the face without getting a crick in her neck. His hair was messy, and he was dressed in sweatpants and a S.T.A.R. Labs tank top. "I'm just not used to using my powers like that."
"You wanna talk about it?" Barry tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, touch feather light.
"There really isn't much to tell." Caitlin shrugged. "My powers are extremely dangerous, and normally I keep myself in check. To not let the power get away from me. When I have to do what I did today I let myself be. I let my powers rage the way that they want to, feeding off the darkness of the act I'm committing. Before, when I was Killer Frost, I didn't have the will to pull my powers under control. Oliver helped me figure out the on and off switch when it came to that. Now I have control, a light inside me that outshines the dark. I don't have anything to fear anymore."
"I'm so sorry I didn't see what was happening to you. I got my priorities all mixed up and you ended up paying the price." The pain on his handsome face hurt.
"You weren't completely wrong Barry." Caitlin swallowed the bile threatening to rise as she remembered that last year with the team. "You did need to protect Iris, but you let that need blind you to everything else. Yes, you should have done things differently. Would it have changed the outcome? We'll never know."
"Still, I should have been aware on some level the fear and pain you were going through." Barry reached out and his warm palm cupped her cheek. "We've always been connected, even before this soul partner thing. You, me and Cisco have all shared this unique bond. Granted, the one between us is different, but in the past I had always been there for you."
"I wish we knew more about how the Lightning Rod bond worked." Caitlin let her eyes slip closed, savoring the warmth coming off the man beside her.
The couch shifted again, and this time Barry's soft lips were caressing hers. Immediately drawn into his spell she moaned and opened herself up to him, drifting away on a sea of peace. Gently, gently he kissed her, on and on, building the heat inside her slowly, hands tracing her body slowly. Every inch of her was suffused with a warmth, feeling the life force of the man pulling her closer to his chest.
"I think the best part will be figuring it out as we go." Barry murmured against her lips. "Open your eyes beautiful, let me see you."
Caitlin opened her eyes, drowning in the green ocean of his. This close she could see all the little freckles that dusted his skin, could marvel at how long his eyelashes were. Barry Allen was a beautiful man, but up close like this? He was breathtaking. She swallowed thickly, eyes mapping his face. Caitlin knew there would be no going back from what would happen next.
"Barry?" She could see a question in his eyes, but wanted to hear his thoughts.
"I want more. I want what the Speed Force wants. You." His voice was becoming thick and unsteady. "It's always been you. The first year after Flashpoint messed me up, and I regret that we lost our connection. It was something that I had felt was missing, but at the time I didn't know what it was. Now I know, and I can't go back to the way things were."
It was now or never Caitlin.
"I have a confession." She watched his brow crinkle and felt his arms tighten around her, pulling her closer to him. "I - I've been in love with you for a long time." She could feel herself shaking as she told him the truth.
"I think I fell for you the night we went out for karaoke." A small grin bloomed on Barry's face as she continued. "Yeah, I let myself get drunker than I ever had, but I knew you were there to take care of me. I let my guard down around you. I let you see the real me."
Barry remembered that night like it was yesterday. He had felt something between them then, but tried to ignore it, not completely over Iris yet. Looking back now, Barry saw the evening from a different perspective, and his heart clenched at how much she had indeed let him in that night. So carefree and happy, it took his breath away when she had walked in wearing that sparkly black dress, looking prettier than anything he had ever seen. He felt a pinch of pain, thinking that there was so much they had missed out on because he was unwilling to take the leap.
"I think that was the night I knew I could love you." Barry watched her brown eyes go all soft, tears shining on her eyelashes. "I knew there was more to how I felt about you though when Snart took you. The fear was crippling, but at the time I thought I was just worried for my best friend. Now though, I know different. The fear I felt when I thought of Savitar killing Iris was nothing compared to what I felt when you were gone."
Caitlin gave a watery snort and laughed lightly.
"For being quite the pair Mr. Allen, we tend to go about things backwards." Her tone was teasing, lips curled into a delicious smile. Barry was unable to resist and dipped his head for another taste of his Dr. Snow. She opened under his lips like a flower, eager for his touch. It was enough to make him want to melt on the spot or burst into flames. A tiny moan echoed from the back of her throat as her arms slid around his neck, shifting closer to him.
He scooped his hands under her thighs, pulling her up and settling her on his lap. He needed to be closer. Caitlin's mouth was warm and sweet, pulling at his soul. Her breath mingled with his, and he could feel a part of her soul twining its' way into him, wrapping around his heart like a cat. There was no end and no beginning, just this moment. Barry and Caitlin, Soul Pair. It was paradise, and Barry knew he would never, ever get enough.
Eventually they had to pull apart to breathe, chests heaving. Barry realized the position they were in, and it thrilled him. Caitlin had discarded the blanket, half of it hanging off into the floor. She was straddled across him, thighs holding his hips to hers. The neck of his old shirt had slipped, letting one delicious shoulder peek out at him. Blood roared to life as he looked at the woman in front of him, coming alive in ways he never had before.
Long silken hair the color of fresh snow trailed across her shoulders, framing her face and eyes. Those eyes, big and warm, a rich deep brown were watching him, pinning him where he sat. Shivers raced down his spine as her hands drew lazy trails across his exposed shoulders and arms, his hands flexing in her hips, edging under the shirt she wore. Even though her powers were cold based, heat poured off of her in intoxicating waves, bringing her scent to his nose. Crisp and clean, with a hint of heat beneath. Barry, needing to indulge in her more, dipped his head to her neck and breathed Caitlin in. With a sigh she tilted her head to give him better access.
"Barry." His name was a whisper through her lips, her body slowly beginning to rock against his. Lazily he drew patterns on her neck with his tongue, addicted to her flavor. Her nail dug into his shoulders, her body beginning to shake.
"Yes Caitlin?" God, he loved saying her name. It was tattooed onto his heart and sewn onto his skin. He was hers, there was no way around it. What he was feeling was so completely more powerful than anything he had ever experienced before. He knew part of it was the fact she was his Lightning Rod, but in the end, it was all her. It was Caitlin. His Caitlin.
"Shouldn't we put out the fire?"
"Oh we will beautiful, just not in here." He loved that he could be like this with her, full of innuendo and promise. It turned him on so hard.
"Not that one." She laughed, gently prying herself out of his grip, shimmying and moving like a woman on a mission. Barry's chest felt tight with anticipation as he stood to bank the fire in the fireplace.
Once the fireplace was dark, Caitlin reached out and took his hand. With a grin Barry led them further into the apartment, ready to seal their bond forever.
Mmmmm, I told you it would be a slow burn. I wanted this to be more than just sex. I wanted this to be real; a real relationship that was built on a solid foundation.
*ducks flying debris*
Trust me, it will be worth the wait. My hope is when they do make love, it will be hot enough to melt the computer I'm typing it on. I'm not sure when that part will be done with the 4th of July weekend coming up.
As always, let me know what you think.
