She's so soft and clean. She smells like lavender, lavender everywhere. What I would give...
Charon nodded against the top of her head, sighing in relief at her agreement. Spoon shifted underneath his arms, half turning so she could return what even he thought was an oddly-enthusiastic hug. She pressed up against his chest, nestling into him. The beads in her hair clicked softly.
Charon's breath caught in his throat when she moved to face him; the ghoul instantly shut his eyes and buried his face in her hair with a barely-stifled groan.
You're going to kill me, smoothskin. And I'm not going to mind one bit.
Charon eyes shot open when a hand gently touched his face.
"You can look, if you'd like. You don't have to hide from me." Spoon murmured. Her voice was so quiet, with just a tinge of teasing. Charon met her gaze, surprised when he saw nothing but interest and maybe...maybe something more.
"Spoon I..." Don't do this to yourself. Don't do this. 'Us' isn't something that happens to me. 'We' doesn't exist. Master and servant. Employer and employee. I am not an equal. I am not an equal. I-
Charon's mind spun in a frantic circle, and he crushed her to his chest in a fierce, almost territorial grip. "I'm terrified." he choked out. "I'm fucked-up and I'm old and I'm so, so afraid. What do I do, Mistress?"
I have never been this scared. I have never felt this way before. It's driving me fucking crazy, it's exhausting, I need guidance, help me Mistress helpCONTRACT HOLDER GIVE ORDERS CONTRACT HOLDER GIVE-
Spoon could feel him panicking, his heart racing against her cheek and fingers twitching on her back while his breath came in short, raspy bursts. He seemed to be avoiding meeting her eyes, fixated on a point across the room.
"Hey." was all she could think to say before gently cradling Charon's face in her palms.
His pupils were dilated, alarmingly huge and black behind the milky-blue film of his eyes. He had bared his teeth and now his breath hissed in and out through them. Charon leaned into her hands, making her wince with how hard he knocked his forehead against her own.
"Breathe for me, please?" Spoon requested finally, somewhat unsettled by how silent the ghoul had gone.
Charon nodded sluggishly, licking the corner of his mouth nervously before replying, "yes, Mistress."
"Charon, don't...um. I mean. I really wish you wouldn't call me that. You can if you want," or if you need to "but I really wish you wouldn't."
"Mistress." Charon practically purred the word, and Spoon was ashamed of the delicious shudder that ran up her spine at his tone. "Why did you write love on your note?"
"Uh." Spoon suddenly felt much more naked than her state of current undress could attest to, the ghoul effectively pinning her with the weight of his question. She shrank back in her now thoroughly cooled tub, muttering a swear when Charon followed. One of his hands 'plunk'ed into the tepid water (narrowly missing her leg), the other braced on the side as he shifted his legs into a crouching position.
"Mist...Spoon. Why?" The predatory look on his face fled, something softer taking its place. He was begging now, and it made her feel like she was wallowing in guilt.
"Because I care about you, you giant fucker." Spoon mumbled, looking down in embarrassment as she began to blush bright red. "Shut up, don't you dare tease me. Oh god-"
His mouth pressed to hers, swallowing whatever else she might have said. A fantastic static in Spoon's mind took over, her own breathing sounding so loud. He's kissing me. He's kissing me!
"Wow, Charon..." she managed when he finally drew back.
She was unprepared for the low, drawn-out groan that issued from him."God, smoothskin." The sudden heat that pooled in her abdomen was almost enough to make her shiver.
Charon leaned in again, firmly planting his arms in the water on either side of her body. He seemed to be hell-bent on kissing her breathless, and Spoon was happy to oblige.
AN: