Bloodstream by Stateless

You've gotten into my bloodstream
I can feel you flowing in me

4. Healing

She feels slightly unsettled when Red tells Dembe to take the night off and go to his room down the hall. At first she doesn't know whether to protest or demand that he call her a cab. However, the aspirin he offers her and the warm towels and wine he calls for are too tempting.

"Sit down," he demands in a gentle tone.

She eyes him warily before relenting and sitting at the edge of the luxurious sofa in the middle of the living room. He sits on the coffee table in front of her and lays a first aid kit beside him. Carefully he grabs her shin tilting it to the side and inspects her mouth with a slight frown.

"What did he hit you with?" He asks as his eyebrows furrow.

"He punched me," She mutters, averting her gaze from his piercing green eyes.

Without another word he takes a small envelope from the kit and tears it open. The strong smell of alcohol hits her nose as he pulls a wipe out. She flinches in pain when he begins dabbing at the corner of her lips and he immediately stops. A look of worry flits across his eyes.

"Sorry..."

Elizabeth watches him for a long moment. She can't tell whether he's apologizing for her lip or for the whole situation in general. He's never shown any regrets for anything that he's ever done. And she can't for the life of her figure out why he regrets anything now of all days.

He dabs at her lip again but this time he presses his large smooth palm against her cheek to hold her steady. She can feel the heat rise on her skin where she's touching her and she desperately wants to lean into his hand for all the safety and warmth that she feels with him.

She hasn't felt either of those things since finding Zamani in her house. Not since finding the passports under the floorboards. She doesn't know her husband anymore. Did she ever? But why does she feel that she knows Red better than she ever knew Tom? She doesn't want to admit it, but it's the truth.

"Are you alright?" He whispers when she begins to close her eyes.

She nods. "Yeah…just a bit tired."

He nods in reply watching her with his half lidded gaze. Slowly he begins to caress her cheek with his thumb leaving the trail he leaves behind tingling with warmth. She leans further into his hand and he leans towards her holding her face so close to his that she can feel the warm air flowing from his nostrils.

"Lizzie?" He murmurs.

For a moment she wonders what he's asking. Then she realizes that he's asking for permission. He's leaving the final decision up to her. Giving her control over the situation before things escalate further. With a jerk of her head she nods before closing the distance between them and pressing her lips against his.

A/N: You guys are all amazing! Thank you for your continued support, it makes me want to write more! Hopefully this makes up for making some of you cry :D