Hey all: thanks for the reviews. Here's the new chapter. Please tell me what you think.
When she wakes, she feels like she's in a furnace. Albeit one that is soft and smells ridiculously good.
Andy's hand is tracing a soothing pattern across her back. Still clinging to sleep, she snuggles closer to him, wincing immediately as her bruised face presses painfully against his chest.
"Sharon."
The gig is up now, he knows she's awake, but she closes her eyes tighter, willing away the day. The fabric of his shirt bunches under her fingers, and he tries again.
"Sweetheart, you should eat something."
She considers his words for a moment.
"No."
He chuckles as he registers what she said, voice full of mirth when he responds.
"No?"
Her head is still leaning on his chest, she can't see his face, but can picture the sparkle in his eyes, the beaming smile that's always directed at her when they're alone together. And often when they're not, though she pretends she doesn't see it.
He shifts and for a moment she thinks he's jumping into caretaker mode, but instead he presses his lips into her hair, and pulls her just a little closer. She snakes her arm around him squeezes back, quite certain they're now sporting identical smiles. She's enjoying being held, it's been awhile since she's felt cherished. Far too long actually.
They relish in their closeness for another few minutes before she feels his lips against her hair again and the rumble as he speaks.
"Okay, how about you have a soak in the tub while I make us something to eat?"
She acknowledges his words with a pat on the chest before speaking, "I quite like where I am, thank you."
His hand covers hers, pressing it against him, "Sharon."
She sits up now so that she can see his face. "Andy, I'm fine."
He gaze is focused on their entwined hands when he answers, thumb stroking her fingers.
"I know. I know you are, but – please."
She removes her hand from his, placing it against his cheek instead, tilting his face so she can read his expression. It is such a mix of sad and hopeful that she would agree to do anything he asked just to get a smile back on his face, but before she could say anything, he kept talking.
"I'm here, I can easily make something for supper. You know you're going to be sore, you've had a hell of a day honey, and though you're one of the toughest people I know, no one can take what you did without feeling like crap later. I just… I would just like to help. You know… If that's alright. I'm here, I would like to do something."
Her thumb brushes across his cheek, feeling the roughness of the stubble. Oh how far they'd come. Was this really the man who'd looked at her with such contempt just a few years ago? Who'd thrown around the names 'ice queen' and 'wicked witch' so easily?
His eyes held nothing but concern, admiration, and, dare she say it, love.
Yes, this was the same man. She knew he had regrets about his actions in the past, didn't they all? It had been the subject of many a conversation throughout their friendship. She had a few regrets herself, but mostly they knew their tension and perceptions had come from only seeing the surface of each other. The distant, cold Captain from FID, the dismissive, hot-headed Lieutenant. That was the danger of making judgments about someone too quickly, you could miss out on something wonderful. She was so glad they didn't miss out on this.
She strokes his cheek again, "Okay." Another smile lights up his face and she can't help but plant a lingering kiss on his lips.
"Okay, but there's some leftover takeout in the fridge that you can heat up. No need to make anything from scratch." As she says the last word her fingers slide into his hair, caressing just behind his ear, "and a bath does sound wonderful."
She slides off his lap and stands, his hands landing on her waist to steady her.
"What do you think Lieutenant? Think you can handle the microwave or do you require further instruction?"
His thumb caresses her hip and she feels warm all over again when he speaks in a low rumble.
"Oh, I think I've got it covered Captain." His eyes sparkle before he continues.
"What about you? Will you be requiring any … assistance preparing for your bath?"
That damn grin was almost irresistible, she knew he was joking, he was respectful about letting her set the pace, never pushing to do anything she wasn't comfortable with, but he was quite the flirt. And she loved it.
Now it was her turn to get him flustered.
Her fingers land on his stomach for a moment, gently grasping where his suspenders meet his pants, before trailing up his chest and linking at the base of his neck, playing with his hair as she leans in. Her lips brush his ear as she speaks.
"Not tonight Andy, but once I'm a little less sore, there's plenty of room in that tub for two."
She presses an open-mouthed kiss against his ear before heading off down the hallway.
A low groan emanates from the living room before she closes the door to her room and she giggles when he practically moans, "my god woman, you're going to be the death of me."
Hope you're enjoying it!
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