What a day! Practically walking out of the door for our family mini break and the living room ceiling caves in woth a waterfall of water! Welcome to the mad house. Oh well, hopefully Kevasty can be suitably cute now to take my mind of it.

Chapter Seventeen

Dynasty's skin was alive with a cold sweat that washed over her in a rush. She cringed away from the twisted face that leaned in close to her neck and wrinkled her nose against the stale sour breath wafting across her skin. Dynasty's legs kicked out frantically but the hard body that pressed down on her own forced them to still. With burning lungs Dynasty screamed noiselessly, her voice trapped in her throat.

"Dynasty."

The urgent voice was far away, calling to her from beyond the flat. Dynasty prayed that it would come closer, prayed that whoever the voice belonged to would save her from the monster whispering frustrated curses in her ear.

"Dynasty!"

Louder. Before Dynasty could cry out and beg for help she felt smooth hands, unfamiliar of her attacker, on her face and shoulders. They shook her slightly.

"Dynasty, wake up."

The weight crushing down on Dynasty's shivering body lifted suddenly and her eyes snapped open.

Dynasty placed a shaking hand on her heaving chest and sat up slowly, ignoring Kevin's worried face.

His palm ran back and forth across her back soothingly.

Dynasty swallowed back the tears that began to build inside of her.

"Okay, come here. It's okay."

The warmth that encircled her when Kevin pulled her to his chest seemed to jolt Dynasty into life. Hesitantly, she snaked her arms around Kevin's waist and allowed herself to be drawn back down to the pillows, gasping a little as the wound Steve-O had left her throbbed painfully. Desperate for comfort Dynasty dropped her head down onto Kevin's chest, her cheek pillowed above his heart. She breathed deep, calming breaths, inhaling the soapy scent that sent waves of relaxation through her. Dynasty was surprised to find that she did not feel the suffocating panic that had flooded her senses earlier, but instead felt liberated by the safety that Kevin's touch brought her.

The dull thumping of Kevin's heart relieved Dynasty's anxiety until she was sleepy again from her emotional exertion.

"Thanks," Dynasty murmured against Kevin's shirt. "I'm sorry if I woke you up."

She closed her eyes as his lips touched her sweat dampened hair.

"I was already awake," Kevin said, loosening his hold around Dynasty's shoulders so she could relax against him.

"I guess we can 'not sleep' together then."

Kevin laughed and muttered his agreement, leaning his head back against the headboard. Slowly, he drew his fingertips along Dynasty's side and down her arm.

Dynasty simpered to herself in response to his attention.

"Can I ask you something?" Kevin inquired, sensing Dynasty's complacency.

Dynasty nodded into his shirt, her hair spilling wildly across his chest.

Kevin opened his mouth but paused as he thought how best to phrase his question.

"How does it feel when I do that?" he said quickly, tracing the curve of Dynasty's elbow as he continued his exploration, or rather rediscovery, of Dynasty's skin.

Dynasty bit her lip.

"Good," she breathed simply, squirming closer until Kevin could feel her leg against his.

"So, not like before?"

Dynasty shook her head. Haltedly, Dynasty pulled herself up, ignoring the stabbing sensation in her stomach. She dragged the pillows under her head and urged Kevin to lay down beside her, their noses inches apart.

"I'm sorry," Dynasty began, briefly running a light hand along Kevin's jaw. "That was just, I mean, it just came back for a second. The doctor told me that can happen. I didn't mean to freak you out."

"Well, it did," Kevin chuckled, pushing Dynasty's hair over her shoulder and away from her face.

Whilst Kevin still admired the beauty of her bright sapphire doe eyes, he couldn't help but be saddened by the dark blue-grey smudges beneath them or the slight dullness, her usual fire burning as only embers, within them.

Dynasty lowered her gaze guiltily.

"It's not your fault, Dyn," Kevin murmured.

Cautiously, Kevin leant forward and kissed Dynasty's forehead the way he had the last time they had shared a bed together. He smiled contentedly as he pulled away to see that Dynasty had closed her eyes, a shy smile curving her pink lips.

Dynasty pulled the covers up around her neck, snuggling impossibly deeper into bed.

"I know it's selfish to ask you to wait but I need you," Dynasty whispered.

"What do you need me to do? I'll be whatever you need me to be," Kevin promised.

Dynasty's eyes fluttered open and she fixed her gaze on Kevin.

"I need you to push me. I miss you. I want you. But there's this instinct, a feeling that I get whenever things start getting... you know..."

Dynasty took a long, shuddering breath before steeling her nerves and continuing.

"I need you to pretend all of this never happened. Just do whatever you would have done when we first got together. I know it'll be hard and I know you'll probably want to kill me sometimes when I say no, but one day, I will say yes."

Dynasty huffed as she finished, suddenly very aware of the mumbled rush that her words had emerged as.

Kevin stared at her blankly, contemplating her proposal.

"Exactly like before?" Kevin confirmed, trailing his fingers steadily across the yellowing bruises that marred Dynasty's throat.

Dynasty blinked silently.

"Okay," Kevin murmured under his breath.

Tenderly, he graced his fingertips along Dynasty's jaw before pulling her face gently toward his. Dynasty's eyes drifted closed as Kevin tucked his finger beneath her chin and lifted her lips to his.

Dynasty relaxed limply as the familiar warmth pooled in her stomach. Regardless of the agony it caused her body, she shifted closer to Kevin.

His hands dropped from her face; one running the length of Dynasty's back before holding her firmly whilst the other sought out her hand. As Dynasty gratefully twined their fingers together, Kevin drew away, only an inch, and closed his eyes without a word, falling into a dreamless sleep beside the only woman he had ever loved and the last person he had expected to fall in love with.