It took several weeks for me to heal enough to gain full ability to take care of myself. It was a relief to move my nurse back to her own room and get some of my freedom back. She had split the duties with Johnson and with the help of both, I had been kept clean, fed and forced to rest regularly. It was in the midst of my first self completed shower when I first felt more myself. The simple act of not being forced to rely on another felt wonderful and so freeing. I could soon allow myself to fall into my routine and get back to normal.

I left the steaming bathroom with a towel wrapped around my waist, drops from my wet hair running down my face and hitting my bare chest. My fingers worked through the items hung in my closet until I selected what I was to wear and began laying it out to dress. I stood at the foot of my bed, glancing down at my stomach where the tight, wrinkled patch of new skin lay, still inflamed and likely to scar, I surveyed the wound that nearly ended my life. Pondering over that, I wondered briefly if it would have been a bad thing if I had not survived. Johnson had always been well cared for in the will I set up the moment I retired from the Navy and returned home, but the girl…what would come of her if I were gone? This was far from the first time the thought of my own death had crossed my mind, however, it is the first time it had happened when someone else might have been negatively affected. Sure Johnson might mourn the loss, perhaps have a time where he searched for a new purpose, but in all, his life would turn out much better in my opinion. Loads of money and lack of a demanding boss. The girl, however, would still be hunted and have nothing.

A strong exhale of breath followed the decision to take a new look at my will. At least for the time being. Things were very likely to change in the future. When the girl grew tired of my ways and left just like every other one, found herself one she actually wished to marry, unlike the brute after her, and became properly settled, the will would be changed again, but until then… The feeling the thought provoked surprised me. That feeling, I refused to give name to, and the knowledge I will have to go on living at least for the time being had me turning from the bed and returning to the closet. I withdrew a well worn pair of pants and put them on, left the towel behind on the floor and left my bedroom.

I knocked firmly on the closed door a few down from mine. It was late, I knew, but not the first time, at this time. After a few moments, the door opened. Her hair was messy, eyes heavy with sleep, but it only took one look at me that had her nodding and turning back into the room to change. I waited by the door until she returned from the bathroom and grabbed the pair of leather gloves resting on her dresser. She looked refreshed and fully awake, no sign of inconvenience or irritation at the silent request. With that observation as reassurance, I felt a weight lifting already as I turned from her door and headed down the hall to the back stairs to head down silently, knowing she would follow in a moment.

–

The scent of vanilla was the first thing I noticed upon waking. My eyes still closed, body still completely relaxed as the calming smell helps to pull me from my sleep induced fog. I feel smooth silk sheets against my bare skin as my limbs move, stretching out. The muscles of my back flexed, pulling my skin tight, flaring up the sting of fresh welts. The satisfying pain brought a soft groan from my lips. My eyes opened and found the dark room illuminated softly by strategically placed candles and it all came rushing back instantly. I had fallen asleep. That was certainly a first. The last thing I remembered was the soft brush of microfiber cloth and expensive leather over my back as it was cleaned and lotion was applied. My head lifted at the realization and eyes searched until they found her. She had changed, likely for comfort, and settled in a nearby chair reading. The image was odd for the surroundings. The soft sweats and t-shirt certainly did not match the harshness of the leather and dark contrast of colors filling the room. The sound of my groan had gotten her attention and I watched as she closed the book and set it aside.

"Hey," The smile that followed the word was warm, inviting.

I slowly worked to sit up while covering a yawn before I spoke, "Hey, I, I'm sorry I guess I fell asleep." A light, awkward chuckle spilled from my lips, fingers brushing through my now dried hair. "You didn't have to stay down here." Realizing just how exposed I was, I grasp the sheet and drag it over my lap. The act brought a small laugh from my companion.

"I didn't mind. I only left for a moment to change. I wanted to be sure you were alright. It wasn't too much?" Her eyes fell to the barely closed up wound on my stomach.

"No, not at all. I feel good, guess I just got too relaxed." My shoulders lifted in a shrug, that stopped half way when I noticed her face brightening. My head tilted as I took in the change and wondered at it briefly, but did not allow myself to dwell when her features changed and I knew she was about to inquire as to my own change. I cleared my throat before asking, "What time is it?"

"I looked when I went upstairs, it was about 2:30, and I've read a chapter, so I'd guess it would be about 3:00."

"Ah." I nodded, glancing down at the dark red sheets surrounding me, "I am not going to try and make it back upstairs just yet." Another yawn spills as I allow myself to lay back down, I started to go down on my back, but the second the sheets touched my marred flesh, I rolled to my side, hiding a wince. I could hear rustling as she stood, assumed to go upstairs and back to bed until I felt the mattress dip with her weight. My entire body tensed, preparing for touch, ready to move at the barest brush of skin, but it didn't come. I turned my head, watching curiously as she was tugging a hooded sweatshirt over her head. Afterwards, she pulled on a clean pair of leather gloves, ensuring the gloves and the sleeves of the sweatshirt met fully and settled back against the headboard.

"I want to try something, if you'll allow it." She patted her thigh, indicating what she was asking for without having to specify, while also giving me the ability to ignore it completely.

I just stared at her for a moment, held still in a mix of shock, apprehension and curiosity. A large part of me wanted to bolt from the room, possibly yell at her for the presumption, but I also considered how much she had done for me over the past months, let alone the past few weeks, and figured I owed her at least an attempt. It had never been that I did not desire closeness with another person, it was more the very real feeling of needing to throw up at the mere thought of skin touching mine. Decision made, I released a soft sigh and gave in. My body turned, one hand shifting the sheet around my waist as I allowed my head to rest tentatively against her thigh. My eyes closed, waiting for the feeling, the sheer terror, and when it did not come, I allowed my arm to drape across her legs and I let myself fully relax against her covered body.

I was grateful for the time she spent just sitting there, allowing me to take it in and relax fully before I felt the brush of cotton fabric over my back as she draped her arm there. I tensed briefly and felt her arm lifting back up. My head shook instantly, "No, it's okay." With the words, I felt the weight falling back against my skin again and I laid there like that for a while. I appreciated the silence, the lack of pressure, the ability to just exist as I am.

I don't know how long I stayed there, fully awake but fully relaxed, growing more and more comfortable with the proximity as time went on. The silence continued until I broke it, finally deciding to give in fully, "I was beaten." The words murmured against the soft fabric resting against my cheek. I was silent again, and thankfully so was she. I assumed she was awake, but I could not bring myself to check, I didn't want her to say anything. If I dwelled too much on the fact that she was there, I likely wouldn't say another word. Yet, after a few moments, I continued, "I was beaten, badly, for several years by my uncle, then again as a POW."

Realizing more details would be required for understanding, I backtracked a bit and started with the happiness of my childhood, the horror of my parents' death, and walked her through every instance where my life had been good, then entirely wrecked over and over again. Explaining the sheer cost of my survival in the end that left me with the inability to stand physical touch. Through each new, horrifying revelation, my companion sat there silently, unmoving. It was only once I stopped talking that I felt her gloved hand softly stroking over my back. She never said a word, somehow she knew that was exactly what I needed. It was not long before I fell asleep again, the sheer knowledge that she heard and still remained silent but present relaxed me and I slept deeper than I ever had before. Somehow this Beauty knew exactly how to tame the Beast inside me.