A Moment

Juliette awoke only a few hours later. Looking at the night sky, she estimated it was still several hours to dawn.

She quietly got to her feet, and pulled on her boots. Shivering she pulled a blanket from her roll, and wrapped herself into it. Juliette went to Nathaniel's side and checked his pulse and breathing. He seemed to be sleeping well, and his color was better. Now that she was no longer afraid for him, she realized how filthy he had become.

Returning to her side of the fire, Juliette pulled a thick linen rag out of her pack. She poured some water from the bucket and into a shallow cooking pan, and placed it on the coals. A few minutes later, she tested it with a finger. She used the rag to lift the pan from the coals, and settled next to Nathaniel.

Blood matted his hair. His shirt was little more than shreds of material held together with mud and blood, his face just as covered. Juliette pulled at the seams of the shirt, and it gave way easily. She tugged hard to pull it out from under him, Nathaniel's sleep undisturbed.

Even in the filth, his muscular chest and belly were impressive, to say the least. "Oh my," she whispered, biting her lip in hesitation.

Juliette quickly resolved that she would not to notice. This man was her friend. This man had saved her life. The least she could do was clean him up without ogling his body. She dipped the rag into the pan and wrung it out.

She began with his face, gently wiping his brow and cheeks, and again, she noticed how handsome he had become. Wiping slowly, Juliette worked her way to his neck, pausing to rinse the rag. By the time she finished, the water in the pan was turning red.

Juliette dumped the water, and warmed fresh, returning to his side a few minutes later.

She pulled the blankets back from his chest, and settled them by his waist. Taking a heavy breath, she soaked the rag, and twisted it, wringing out the excess water. Carefully, lest she tear any of Anders delicate work, she washed his broad chest. The worst of the dirt and mud were on the left side of his chest and she leaned over him, carefully lifting his arm away from his side, and washed his flank.

He had dark hair, not everywhere, but a dusting on his chest and a trail that ran down his trim and contoured belly, disappearing under the blankets.

Juliette sat back on her haunches and rinsed the cloth again. She passed it over his right side, and could not help but notice that his nipple became erect. She held her breath, and ran her fingers gently over him again, watching as it become more taunt.

Nathaniel inhaled sharply, and her eyes flew to his, and saw he was watching her through lowered lashes. He lifted his head slightly.

"Nate?" she leaned over him, her chest against his, and whispered close to his ear, "You're safe. Anders healed you, everything is alright."

He didn't answer her but gave a miniscule nod. His eyes closed and he seemed to sleep again.

Juliette pulled the blankets up and over him, tucking him in. She made sure his roll was soft under his head. Smiling tenderly, she ran her fingers through his black hair and leaned across his sleeping form.

"Thank you, Nate," she whispered, touching his cheek one last time before she stood. She quietly emptied the pan, and laid the rag on a log to dry. A moment later, she was tucked into her bedroll.

Nathaniel let her think he was asleep. Her touch on his skin had been almost more than he could bear, the temptation to touch her extraordinary. It had been like a dream; waking to find the woman he wanted more than anything, washing his naked belly.

He had seen the way she bit her lip, how her hand slowed a little, touching his chest. Had she been thinking of him as well? Nathaniel wasn't sure, but the idea left him hard and throbbing. He closed his eyes tightly, and tried to redirect his mind. It took him several minutes, but he turned his head to look at her, softly sleeping, with the glow of the coals casting a hue on her. She was beautiful.

Maker, he could not allow himself to love her on top of everything else.

"You're welcome, Jules," he whispered, and tried to fall asleep.