Domitius was covered in wounds. The savage lines cut through his Shrouded Armor and his entire body trembled as shock damage pulsed through him. His arrow was drawn tight against the bowstring, but from where I stood I saw how his hands shook.

The woman threw some sort of spell at him, but it didn't seem to work. Then she drew an orchish mace and charged him. Up closer, Domitius' aim was that much better, and when he let it fly it met the center of her forehead with a wet cracking sound.

Soon after she fell, so did he. He sank down to his knees, his limbs sagging tiredly and his body convulsing as another wave of aftershock shot through him. He looked like he was going to pass out until he leaned forward and retched.

"Domitius," it was a choked, quick sound, and I rushed to him. His heartbeat was strong, albeit a bit fast, and he was still concious. This was good.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," he muttered thickly, and I helped him stand. He reached up, summoning his Magicka for a heal spell, but the normally white-blue aura changed to an ugly green color and he fell back into my arms with a short, pained cry.

"She damaged your Magicka," I told him, pulling him to his feet once more. "We have to get out of this place."

"And go where?" he looked up at me; his pupils were pinpricks in his sky-colored eyes.

"Focus, Domitius," I slapped his cheek lightly for emphasis. "I have a home in Anvil."

He made a noncomittal noise in the back of his throat and we began our journey out of the four-level fort. Back on the ground I helped him onto his horse and tied its reins to Shadowmere's saddle - he was unconscious in seconds.

...

"Domitius."

Nothing.

"Domitius, wake up," I hissed, putting a portion of mort flesh under his nose. He woke with a groan of displeasure and pain.

I helped him off of Crue and into Anvil, then to the home which had previously been Benirus Manor. It was mine now, though I rarely came here.

After a good few minutes of Domitius lapsing in and out of conciousness, I had him laying on my bed and my heal other spell at the ready.

I didn't want him harming himself trying to take his armor off, so I did it for him. There were plenty of latches and clasps to open and unhook, and I had to so without hurting him. It was definitely an exercise in patience.

There was so much blood... I swallowed hard and proceeded to wipe some of it away as carefully as I could, though he squirmed some a few times. I wanted to lean forward and lick it all off of him, but it would probably hurt him more than it helped me. Besides, I'd already eaten today. No need to be a glutton.

"This may hurt a bit, Domitius," I warned. He nodded with a slightly scared look on his face.

So I summoned enough Magicka for a consistent heal other spell and began my work. Domitius let out a small sound of pain and I frowned, but continued. The slashes were littered across his muscled torso, and there were some on his legs. But right now I was focusing on the ones near his heart.

When his torso was laced back together I moved down to the gashes on his legs. My hands traveled lightly over his strong thighs, the muscle and skin patching together, when the sound of his heart broke my concentration.

It was beating far quicker than it had been. There was heat coming off of him in pulsing waves, and his body was a slight shade of red. I looked up at his face - he had a furious blush painted across the bridge of his nose, and his eyes were squeezed shut. He was either in incredible pain, or he was enjoying this more than I thought he would.

"Domitius." I said quietly. He opened his eyes. "Breathe."

He drew in a shaky breath and his heartbeat slowed a little, but as soon as I resumed healing it I spiked again. He liked it.

I couldn't help but indulge him.

...

My heart was thumping in my ears and my face burned. The pain was pretty much gone but the skin was still sensitive, which made me especially susceptible to the feeling of Aerius' hands caressing my thighs.

The shivers relaying my spine had nothing to do with aftershock.

My eyes loyally followed the catlike arch in his back as he moved, past my hips and up to my abdominals. It was entrancing, I was lost in the languid movements of his beautifully lithe body...

What was I doing? He was my Listener, for Sithis' sake, I can't go lusting after my superiors! I squeezed my eyes shut. Aerius would probably kill me if he knew what I was thinking. And yet...

"Domitius," was spoken quietly, and I could feel his breath on my lips. I opened my eyes; he was inches from my face. The burning in my face intensified.

"Congratulations," he said, "You have successfully captured my attention."

I clenched my jaw in anticipation.

His hand moved around to my back and jerked me forward; I gasped, and the thumping in my ears grew more rapid.

"Oh, how adorable," he purred, pressing his nose into the vein below my chin.

Fear iced over me. "Y-you're not going to bite me, are you?"

He chuckled, and I felt the rumble in my skin. "Why would I? Your heart is so... Vocal. I wouldn't dare silence it."

I breathed a sigh of relief and he placed a kiss to the skin over my jugular. "Get some rest," he murmured, "We're leaving in the morning."

...

A/N: okay, this time the fluff bug bit me. I needed to write something cute.