Delicate by Damien Rice

8. Moment

Red felt slightly ridiculous turning his back while Lizzie removed her clothes after the heated and passionate kiss they had just shared. However he did not want to push anything that she wasn't prepared for yet. So being the gentleman that he was he kept his back turned until she had stepped into the tub. When he finally heard the hesitant step she took into the water and had waited several seconds to assure himself that she was in fact slightly decent he turned around and sat on the stool beside the tub.

She looked flustered sitting there naked next to him. Red couldn't see anything provocative of course, due to the exuberant amount of bubble bath he'd poured into the hot water. He didn't think she appeared vulnerable in any way. Quite the contrary, she seemed to put up her steely demeanor a bit more. But he couldn't help but think that she looked beautiful sitting there before him bare shoulders and all.

She shifted her body making the water slosh around in the edges of the white porcelain tub. The steam rose around in small swirls around her tired face. She gazed at him with heavy eyelids.

"Is the water warm enough?" he asked with concern.

"Yes it is," she mumbled.

He reached out and took her had in his rubbing small circles on it with his thumb.

"I realize that we've jumped the gun before making our...feelings known." he said with amused eyes.

Liz cocked an eyebrow at this. "I think that nearly having sex on your living room couch goes slightly higher than just 'jumping the gun'."

Red laughed loudly. "Oh Lizzie, you do have a way with words." He smiled at her before raising his hand back up to caress her face as a thoughtful look overcame him

"I shudder to think what he would have done to your precious face had I gotten there later."

Liz shut her eyes and turned away from him. "He probably would have gone ahead with it." she said darkly. Red could see her frame tremble slightly.

"Elizabeth," he said grasping her arm. "Please look at me."

She did.

"I promise you. I'll never let anyone hurt you that way. Ever. I'll die before I let that happen." Red said earnestly. "This isn't just some game to me. I want you to know that. This is real..."

Liz watched him as his green eyes bored into hers.

"I do care for you, Lizzie. So very much."

She nodded silently and reached out to take his hand in hers.