The tub was filled, a hardened clay basin similar to the one in the temple she had resided in for most of her time in the palace. Steam rose from the hot water that had been tossed in by servants, a concept that Kaija was still uneasy with. As they worked, Atem removed most of his earrings, cloak and collar before washing his hands in a nearby basin. Kaija remained on the balcony, not wanting to watch someone dote on her by filling up a massive tub. It took them a good 45 minutes to get the things full, the water still more than warm by the time they were finished.
Atem had tried to convince her to remain in his lap, to allow him to continue showering her in affections, but discomfort of others seeing them in such a state had Kaija rejecting the idea. Having Set walk in and see them was more than enough embarrassment for the day. Still in her robe and under slip, she leaned against the railing of the balcony, elbows resting upon it to cup her chin in her hand. Having her so out in the open had Atem nervous, as an open window was one of the reasons she was taken away from him in the first place. He was surprised that she was as comfortable with standing on an open ledge as she was.
Though their (very loud) discussion had cleared some of the air, Kaija still felt a twinge of uncertainty - whether it was towards her future with Atem, or the fate of herself and her millennium item, she wasn't sure. It just left a knot in her stomach.
If anyone were to see her face, she would look extremely far away, as if her mind were elsewhere - as it was. If there was something Kaija struggled at, it was keeping her face from showing her emotions - she wouldn't make a very good ruler in that sense. A pang of realization hit her at that thought; she was going to be a ruler. Not only a ruler but on the rulers. That brought her out of her daze somewhat, drawing in a breath through her nose and straightening some, arms holding herself slightly with that same sense of uncertainty. It wasn't until she felt his presence behind her, slowly and cautiously wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder, that she was brought back fully into the present.
"The bath's ready," he mused, pleased that she didn't seem to flinch at all at his approach, even leaning into him slightly as she nodded in acknowledgement.
With the chambers empty, aside from themselves, Atem lead her to the bath, taking her hand and lacing their fingers together as he did so. Kaija stayed close, though slightly behind him, mentally preparing herself for what she was about to do. Modesty hadn't been something she'd been worried about two years ago, but now, with her body having been used in such a way, it felt sacred to her.
As they stopped at the bath's edge, the Pharaoh turned towards his partner, seeing the uneasiness in her eyes and feeling the slight tensing of her muscles, "I can go," he began, only to have Kaija shake her head immediately.
"No. I need to do this - I need to do something and this...it feels like a good place to start," she assured him (as well as herself), peering up at him with those misty pools that he knew he could get lost in. Atem nodded, reaching down to pull at the belt of her robe, only to be stopped by her hand, "I-" she needn't say more, he understood. She had been without control for so long, it was only natural for her to be afraid to lose it again, even in something as small as this.
Untying the belt of the robe, she shrugged it from her shoulders, left in nothing but her slip. It was sleeveless and shapeless, hitting the just above her ankle to keep as much modesty as possible. The ties at the front were loosened enough for the collar to open and slide off her shoulders. Before she let it fall any further, she stopped, seeing Atem staring at her face intently, that familiar violet seeming to burn into her soul and make home there. They held affection, love and patience, something she hadn't ever had when she was in a similar situation, and it gave her enough courage to let the fabric drop, pooling at her feet and revealing her body.
It was still slightly fail, but the natural curves had come back, weight resting at her hips and thighs. Arms covered her breasts, legs coming closer together as she averted her gaze from him, "Kaija..." her name left him like a gasp before cupping her cheek and offering a reassuring smile, "You're beautiful," the touch was gentle, holding extreme care within it. The priestess allowed her gaze to find his, finding that same smolder that made her weak and pliable within his fingers. Her arms dropped, revealing her breasts, round and shapely, with dark pink peaks in the middle of them. They were slightly larger in comparison to her frame, but that didn't take much with having such a petite one.
Even still, she saw Atem's gaze on her face, drinking in those features as he watched her cheeks turn red and her jaw clench slightly, as if she was trying to keep herself from doing something, "Y-You can look," she finally said, feigning more confidence than she actually had, "But-" Atem had just about made his way to looking, when she stopped him, "Don't...don't touch. Not yet," with a nod of acknowledgement, he peered down, drinking in the shape of her. There were less scars than he had thought, only seeing the ones that circled her wrists, ankles and neck, along with one just below her collar bone. It was short but Atem could tell it had been deep, the desire to lean forward and place a kiss to it over whelming him, but he forced himself to continue his gaze's path instead. The one on her rib was still there, though had already turned white. For her to deny him the gift of touch, it was torture in and of itself, but he knew that he couldn't go against her wishes, not if he wanted her trust.
Finding his gaze catching her eyes once again, he gave another smile, Kaija taking in a deep breath before releasing it and returning said smile, "You better get in before it gets cold," he mused, taking her hand and helping her over the ledge. Kaija allowed him to do so, stepping into the hot water with a hiss - not out of discomfort, but relief. Atem watched as he back faced him, seeing hints of more scars that seems to litter her shoulder blades, as her hair covered most of her back an the top of her rear. As she sank deeper into the water, her hair seemed to float behind her, finally submerging just to her shoulders. Tresses of silver swirled around her, keeping her back to Atem as she heard him move to take a seat behind her, though not get in with her. At least now he couldn't see all of her.
Kaija moved more into the middle of the tub, submerging herself completely before resurfacing and brushing her hair back and out of her face. It was there was she remained, almost afraid to head back to the edge where Atem now sat on the ledge, his feet hanging in the water.
Then his voice beckoned her, calling her name with such a gentle tone and gesturing for her to come back, closer to him. With every instinct she had, it told her to stay away, that he would somehow hurt her; but she always had a hard time denying him anything. Slowly, she made her way back to him, still keeping herself submerged to her shoulders so he couldn't see much. She stopped just a few inches from where his legs dangled in the water, peering up at him as she sunk even farther so the water stopped just below her nose. The sight had Atem grinning, finding the sight to be rather endearing, as her large eyes remained on his face. The look on his face had her brow furrowing some, tilting her head just enough to bring her mouth from the water, "What's that look for?" The attitude that was held behind the statement had Atem chuckling softly, reminded of the Kaija he knew before all of this happened.
"Nothing, you just look..." cute was the right word, but not the one he wanted to use, "Like yourself," he managed to say, hoping that it came across the way it was meant to. Kaija's expression softened then, moving to sit between his dangled legs with her back turned to him, the water now just below her shoulders. With the invitation placed before him, he grabbed a washcloth, wetting it in the tub before gently moving her hair over one of her shoulders. It was then that he got a better view, seeing the large slash that seemed to start at the top of her right shoulder and move down - he couldn't see to where.
He paused for a moment and the woman between his legs knew exactly why, shoulders lifting as if she were trying to make herself smaller. Silently, Atem cursed himself for making any reaction at all, and instead leaned down to press a kiss to the top of her head, hand then moving over her shoulder blades and the curve of her shoulder before he coaxed for her to lift her right arm out of the water. When she did, he lifted it up enough for him to run the cloth over her bicep, forearm and hand, taking his time with each finger. When he was finished, he placed a kiss to the back of her hand and let her bring it back into the water. The same was done to her left hand, ending with a kiss to the back of her hand and letting her bring it back into the warm water.
Kaija didn't resist much of him, aside for an initial shock when he pushed her arm up, instead simply trying to remind herself that she was safe and he wouldn't hurt her. It wasn't until her ran the cloth forward, running over her collarbone and throat that she leaned her head back, peering up at him. Atem stopped what he was doing then, able to read that perhaps this was too far, "Do you want me to stop?" he asked, Kaija suddenly looking conflicted with her answer, "I can stop," he cooed, going to remove his hand, only to have Kaija grip his wrist.
"No," her voice sounded meek before Atem leaned forward to press a kiss to her forehead.
"Well, if you want me to continue, I'll need to get in with you. I can only reach so far," he murmured, keeping his voice low, as if he were to speak to loud or too fast, he would spook her. A sharp inhale was taken through Kaija's nose, averting her gaze with a slight swallow.
"Can you...come in with clothes on?" It felt like an absurd request - to bathe with clothes on, but she didn't know if she could have a naked man so close to her, even if it was Atem. Without a moment to really register what she asked of him, she hear some soft clinking, seeing Atem take off his crown, chest piece and belt before sinking into the water himself. The sensation was odd, as if he felt heavier than normal, almost slowed down by the fact that his body was covered in fabric while submerged. Standing up, the water reached his waist, peering down at her and seeing a genuinely surprised look on her face, "I didn't think-"
"You asked," he stated, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, "Now come, let me continue washing you," the velvet of his voice coaxed her to come closer, finding the courage to climb to her feet, though her arms still covered her breasts, trying to get used to the fact that he could see them. Atem leaned down, catching her lips in a gentle kiss as he reached around her, running the cloth over the span of her back and downward, to the small of it. The other, cupped her cheek, continuing to kiss her as he let his hand run wherever he felt was safe. Kaija sank into the taste of him, knowing that this was safe - this taste, this touch. It distracted her from the wandering hand on her back as well as the movement of her arms coming uncrossed, instead resting on his chest.
A soft whimper left her at the sensation, finding it to be more enjoyable than it was uncomfortable or scary, "Atem..." his name laced in a breath as she brushed their noses together. Gods, how she wanted to be able to have more of this - to let him feel all of her and her feel all of him. How she had begged for this day to come when they had first began their courtship, only to have it dashed by terrifying and unjust circumstances, "It-" she drew in a deep breath for a moment before running her hands down to his waist, "I want-" how could she articulate what she needed when she didn't know what it was herself, "More," it was the only word that felt right.
The desperation in her voice, paired with the actual words she spoke, it sent a jolt of electricity to his core, "Kaija," her name felt like a prayer, moving his hand behind her ear to partially cup the back of her head. His thumb rested on her jawline, seeming to frame her ear with the space between that and his index finger, "I don't know what more is - I don't want to hurt you. To scare you," he mused, head shaking slightly, "You need to tell me," none commanded him like she did, none had control over him. He was Pharaoh, but she was his keeper. With no real answer, Kaija captured his lips once again, causing a low grunt to leave the Pharaoh's lips from the sudden motion.
It was a tactic that Kaija had come to realize - if she just kept kissing him, everything was less scary. Gingerly, she reached to the hand that rested on her back, taking his wrist and pulling it to the front of her, washcloth and all. She moved it up her stomach and over her ribs before pushing it between her breasts. The feeling had her hair stand on end, but not in the way she usually did - not of fear or flight - but need, "Here..." she whimpered against his lips. Atem groaned against her lips, letting the cloth fall into the water as her too the opportunity to cup beneath her right breast. It was the most he had felt of her since they'd know each other, and it shot another jolt of need to his loins.
"Gods..." he breathed against her lips, palming the breast then before brushing his thumb over her nipple. The touch had Kaija gasping - he wanted more of those noises, as many as he could get before she stopped them. His touch was firm, but held care, showing restraint when all she knew was the intense, pain grip of someone that didn't care whether she lived or died. This was different, and obviously so, only driven home at the sound of Atem's voice, "I love you," they slipped from his lips, not even really thinking but knowing that it what his heart needed to say.
"I love you," she returned soon after, running her hands up to his shoulders to pull herself closer. When she did, she felt a hardness against her thigh, stopping and tensing at the realization of what it was. Atem sensed it and stopped moving his hand, instead placing it on her rib instead of her breast.
"It's alright...I'm not..." he tried to explain that he didn't intend to go farther, that it was only natural and a sign of how beautiful he thought she was. Leaning into him, she rested her forehead against his shoulder, gripping the fabric of his shirt, "Do you want to stop?" Kaija nodded in response, pulling her head away before covering herself again and taking a step away from him. Atem got the message, turning and stepping out of the bath. Turning the corner and out of sight, he peeled off his wet clothes and grabbed his own robe before coming back and seeing Kaija had done the same.
She felt guilty stopping them when she did, but she knew in her heart that it would be a long time before she would be comfortable with touching him or letting him touch her in any of those areas. Atem could see the apology on her face, offering a reassuring smile before taking her hand and resting it on his cheek, "Are you hungry?"
The sound of Kaija's stomach gave it away, seeming to react just from the word 'hungry'. The two of them laughed softly at the timing of it, "Seems I am."
Taking her hand, he lead her back to the balcony, leaving her there before pressing a kiss to her temple, "I'll ask the guards to get us something."
As he walked away, she leaned on the balcony as she had earlier, but instead of getting lost, she remained in the present, rather pleased with the progress she seemed to have made.