Chapter 57: Lexa

It is Saturday morning, and I am waiting in Asher's room for him and Callie to get here to start our first adventure. I'm playing a video game to pass the time, but I'm really just thinking about Clarke and how I haven't seen her since my trip to the ER, although I've had her and Lilian's food delivered every day. I'm looking forward to spending time with Asher today, but I am really excited about tomorrow night and my date on Monday, even though I have no idea what Clarke has planned.

As I sit here waiting for Asher to get here, I call the florist and set up some flower deliveries for Clarke to the hospital. Each bouquet has a different meaning of love. I have a dozen Camellias in pink/red/white (Longing for you, you're a flame in my heart, you're adorable) sent first. The card reads, I miss you, my adorable flame to my heart. I'm longing for you every minute we are apart. Love, Lexa.

An hour later, a dozen white/pink carnations (Pure Love, I'll never forget you) This card reads, I love you more than life itself. I can't wait to see you. Love Ceilo. Then an hour after that, a dozen red Chrysanthemums (I Love You). The card on these reads, You will never know how much I love you. I'm so glad you took a chance on me. I can't wait for our date. Love you, Lexa. Next, a dozen white Jasmines (Sweet Love) mixed with a dozen red/yellow tulips (declaration of love, sunshine in your smile). This card says, My dear Sweet Love, Please accept these as a declaration of my love for you. I can't wait to see the sunshine that is your smile. Until tomorrow, Lexa.

About 11, I hear a knock on the door and then the pitter-patter of little feet running my way. After he tackles me, I say, "Are you ready to pull out our adventure for the day?"

"Yes, what is it?"

"I don't know. You have to pull out a piece of paper from your adventure jar. Here it is, just reach in and pull out one piece of paper."

He does and then hands it to me. I open it and read, "Golden Gate Bridge bike ride and Bay area discovery center." I have no idea about any of these things, but I look a Callie, "That sounds like fun. Can we take one of the small boats instead of driving? It'll be much faster."

I smile and say, "Of course, let's stop by the kitchen and get the lunches Petrona made for us, and then we can be on our way. Asher, grab your UFC backpack, and let's go."

We spend the day exploring the Golden Gate Bridge on bicycles before having lunch in Muir Woods and then spend the rest of the day letting Asher enjoy himself playing in the discovery center. We got back on the Untouchable around six and had a nice dinner before Callie said it was time for them to leave. Asher wanted to stay, but Callie noted that they had plans tomorrow with Amelia, so he needed to get a good night's rest.

Clarke

Saturday in the ER was ridiculous. I think the entire city went crazy. There are so many people in and out, I hardly have time to pee. Like clockwork at one, I get my daily lunch delivery from Lexa, but I really don't have time to eat. Lillian forces me to take a fifteen-minute break to eat even though I say I don't have time. I'm not sure I like how she has teamed up with Lexa to make sure that I take care of myself, but I'm grateful they care. Around five o'clock, I'm called to the nurse's station for delivery. Lexa has sent flowers once again. For the next four hours, I receive a flower delivery from Lexa, each of which has a special meaning. I can't believe how romantic she is, and these really help me get through this challenging day.

I can't believe it is finally Sunday. Now I just have to make it through the day, and then I get to see Lexa. I have our date all planned out. I know she likes to throw knives, so I found this place that teaches you to throw axes, and you can rent a lane by the hour. It also has a bar and bar food to snack on. After ax throwing, I thought we would see the new Wonder Women movie then go to dinner. I hope she likes everything. I'm nervous because I've never planned a date before or really had any say so in what I did on one.

Like clockwork at one, I am called to the nurses' station for my lunch delivery. Since Lexa came to visit the ER earlier this week and found out I hadn't been eating, she took it upon herself to have lunch delivered for Lilian and me. When I get there today, there are a dozen roses with a card that reads, 'I can't wait to see you tonight! Love Lexa' and of course there are two cheesesteak sandwiches with fries. Lilian walks up and says, "Aww…Lexa is so sweet. What do we have for lunch today?"

I shake my head, "Cheesesteak sandwiches and fries, but I don't have time to eat because I want to get out of here on time."

Her reply is, "It will only take you at most 15 minutes to eat, so let's go to the break room and eat. You know that I have to make sure you eat, or I don't get lunch anymore. I can't go back to the cafeteria food after this, so eat up."

I just laugh and follow her to the break room to eat. "You know, maybe I shouldn't have introduced you to Lexa. You seem to like her an awful lot. Should I be jealous?"

"Nope, I just enjoy the food! Although I do think that she is good for you. You need someone looking out for you while you try and save the world."

"Yes, she is an amazing woman, and I don't know what I would do without her."

Finally, my shift is over! I send Lexa a text,

Me: I am on my way. See you in twenty.

Lexa: I will be waiting on the beach for you.

Lexa

I get a text from Clarke letting me know that she will be here in twenty minutes. I double-check to make sure I have everything ready before heading down to the boat tender to pick her up from the beach. I look around to do a last-minute check. I have a table for two set up by the fire pit with a bottle of wine chilling in ice. I have a white rose laid across her dinner plate and the music playlist ready to go. Petrona will have the food served once we arrive. Everything looks great. All that is left is to go get my girl.

I take the tender to the beach and wait. I've dressed in a pair of black slacks and a white button-up shirt. I roll the sleeves up to my elbows. I even have on a black tie and my doc martin boots. I see her walking down the pathway, and my heart starts to beat faster. Even though she's still in her scrubs, she looks fantastic to me. Once her feet hit the sand, I start walking towards her at a quick pace. I hold my arms out, and she melts into my hug.

She pulls away and says, "Cielo, you look amazing, but I feel underdressed. I thought we were just going to chill tonight."

"We are, and you look beautiful to me. I just wanted to dress up for you since it seems like forever since I saw you last. Now let's go. Dinner is waiting."

"I swear you are trying to fatten me up with all this food."

"Nope, I just want you to be healthy and not look tired all the time. If you don't fuel your body, you will get run down and then possibly become sick. You're a doctor. You should know this."

Once we are on the boat, I send a quick text to Petrona to let her know we are on our way down so she can bring the food out. I led Clarke out onto the deck to the table and pulled out her chair as I started the music playing softly. She looked around in surprise, and then warm lips brushed lightly against mine. I tremble under the possessive hold of Clarke's hands as they grip my hips and pulls me closer. We are breast to breast as our mouths mold together. My knees buckle under the power of her kiss, and I have to wrap my arms tight around her neck to steady myself.

Her fingers run through my hair and hold my head in place. To my surprise, the pace remains slow and innocent, savoring this kiss after so many days without, our tongues hold a steady slow dance before we have to pull away breathless. I stare into her dark green eyes and smile before I say, "Damn, I have missed you and doing that."

She smiles and takes her seat just as Petrona arrives with our dinner salads. As we eat, we enjoy each other's company, and we talk about our weeks. I ask her what she has planned for tomorrow, but she says that I will have to wait and see. After dinner, I can see how tired she is, so I suggest we relax in the sauna for a bit before bed.

After relaxing for around a half-hour in the sauna, Clarke falls asleep. I hate seeing her so tired, but I don't want to make a big deal out of it. So instead of waking her up, I pick her up and carry her upstairs to the bedroom. I sit her on the couch while I run a hot bath for her. Once the tub is ready, I take her into the bathroom and step into the tub, placing her between my legs so that I can make sure she doesn't go under. Next, I slowly wet her hair and then massage shampoo into her hair which elicits a moan.

I'm not trying to arouse her; I'm just trying to take care of her. I rinse her hair and then massage in the conditioner before beginning to wash her body. I soap up a rag and slowly wash her starting with her arms and moving down to circle her breast with the soapy rag. She flinches at the touch and startles me.

I quickly say, "I'm sorry, did I hurt you? I-I was just trying to get you clean before putting you to bed. That's-that's all, I promise."

"What? How-how did I end up…babe, it's fine. I'm sorry, did I fall asleep?"

"Uh…um…yeah, in the sauna. I just didn't want you to go to bed sweaty, so I was going to give you a bath before putting you to bed. Then when I-I touched you…well when I touched your breast with the soapy rag, you jumped like I had hurt you and scared the shit out of me. I-I'm sorry if I overstepped, but I promise I just wanted you to relax and rest. I…"

"Cielo, it's fine. It is actually extremely sweet of you to take care of me like this. I'm sorry if I scared you. I'm not sure what happened, actually, but…thank you. Is there conditioner in my hair?"

"Well, yeah. I already washed your hair, so I put the conditioner in while I was washing you. Would you like to finish washing, or would you like me to continue?"

"By all means, continue." She says with a smile. "I could get used to this kind of treatment."

"It could be a nightly ritual if you want it to be." I continued to wash her, and again she flinches when I touch her breast. When I finish washing her, I rinse the conditioner out of her hair, and she got out. I quickly wash myself. After we were both dry, I hand her a bathrobe that I had bought her and put on a matching one. "I hope you don't mind if we match."

She laughed, "Not at all. Hey, thank you for everything. I'm sorry that I fell asleep on you. It's just work has been exhausting these past couple of weeks, and…."

I cut her off with a kiss. "Baby, it's fine. I completely understand. Let's go to bed. I just want to hold you, if-if that is okay. I want you to sleep as long as you like, okay. We can go on a date anytime. I just want you to rest."

"Nope, but we don't have to be anywhere until noon. I love you."

"I love too. Now get some rest, please." I send a quick text to Patronia asking for breakfast in bed around 11.

Clarke

The last thing I remember is laying in the sauna with my head in Lexa's lap while she ran her fingers through my hair. When I am startled awake, I'm in the tub with her, and she has washed my hair and has conditioner in it. As soon as I flinch, she starts stuttering about how she was only trying to get me clean before putting me to bed, and she hopes that she didn't overstep. I just smile at her. She is adorable when she is unsure of herself, which I have found is usually around me.

I know she is new to relationships, but I really wish she would relax and not worry when she is around me. I think she is scared to be herself because of everything that I have been through. I really need to talk to her about it because I think it makes me more uncomfortable knowing she is holding back because of Finn.

I interrupt her rambling and tell her everything is fine. Although, I don't know why my boobs are so sensitive. Maybe I'm getting ready to start my period. Wouldn't that be great with tomorrow being my only day off, and I am spending it with Lexa. When she finishes giving me a wonderful bath, I decide I need to talk to her about being scared of hurting me.

"Hey babe, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, anything."

"Why do you second guess yourself with me?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Well, for instance, just now. Why did you think that I would be mad that you were bathing me?"

"Um…I just don't want you to feel like I am pressuring you or doing something without your consent. After everything, you have been through with Finn…I just don't want to hurt you or trigger you."

"Trigger me?"

"It's something that my therapist explained to me. He said that some things might trigger emotions that cause me to act out in a way that a normal person wouldn't. Like if someone were to sneak up behind me at a club and grab me, I may instinctively punch the person. Where a normal person would just be startled. I don't know if I'm making sense to you or not, am I?"

"I think so. You are saying that you were afraid that because you didn't have my permission to bathe me that when I jumped when you touched my breast, you thought you might have triggered a response because of Finn rapping me. So you thought that I would think you were forcing me to do something that I didn't consent to. Is that it?"

"Yeah, I would never…."

I lean in and kiss her, "Sweetie, I know you would never do anything to hurt me or force me to do anything I don't want to do. But it does bother me that you are afraid to be yourself around me. It's like you are scared of me like I'm broken, and you are scared you will break me more."

She grabs my face in her hands and looks me dead in the eyes, "Clarke, you are not broken. He did not break you, and I am sorry that I make you feel like this. From now on, I will be myself completely, but only if you promise to let me know if I say or do anything that makes you uncomfortable. We need to communicate about what we feel and what we need so that things like this don't happen. I also need you to know that you can talk to me about anything, even what happened with Finn. Remember, I have been through it as well, and I am here for you. I need you to know that."

I grab her hips and pull her in close and capture her lips in mine for a long slow passionate kiss. When I pull away, her face is a flushed pink color. She smiles, "Now I need you to get some rest, please. You look exhausted."

Her reply is, "But, it's been forever since I've been with you, and I need you tonight."

"As much as I've missed being with you, you need to rest. We have all day together tomorrow. I'm not going anywhere, but iI need you to get some rest."

"But…"

"No buts, we are going to bed to sleep. Nothing else, just sleep." She sticks her bottom lip out in an adorable pout. I lean in and kiss her, nipping at her bottom lip as I scoop her up and lay her in the bed.