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"No time to change out these barbells. Like them?"

She nodded, and a hint of playfulness returned to her eyes.

"Your turn," I said, when I finally ditched my socks. "Shirt first, but let's be careful, okay?"

She nodded and let me grab the hem of her T-shirt. A wince screwed up her face when she lifted her arms, but she managed generally well. I helped her wriggle out of her pants, before my gaze flickered all over her, assessing for any leftover damage of her milky-white skin. Paler than usual, but with only faint discoloration from almost-healed bruises, it soothed me to know she was generally on the mend.

When the tub filled more than halfway, I held my arms to her and she scooted forward, allowing me to pluck her from the counter. I urged her legs around my middle, and carefully stepped into the water with her.

The hot, steamy bath wrapped around us, and the higher it came up our torso, the tighter she squeezed me, a soft whimper escaping her.

"I have you, Kitten. I have you." I kissed her neck and shoulder, finally sitting down with her in my lap. I turned my knees out so that her rear hit the bottom of the tub, but our stomachs still pressed together. She drew in a soft breath, gazing down at the water between us. Her hands trembled and she closed her eyes.

"Look at me," I crooned, nudging her chin gently. "If you can see me, you know you're safe. Right? Closing your eyes keeps you in the fear."

Her eyes flew open when I said it, and she drew in a few slow breaths. She let her hands rest on my shoulders, and I brushed her hair away from her face. I turned off the faucet when the tub filled the rest of the way.

"There you go."

"Been awhile," she croaked, swallowing hard after. "Seeing you. Naked."

"A very long while." I smiled and took the puffy loofa off the end of the tub to dip in the water. With a drop of soap added to it, I began washing her shoulders and arms first. "Do I look older and fatter now?"

She shook her head, her smile broadening a bit. "Lean green bean."

I laughed, and she dropped her forehead against mine. "Sure am." I nuzzled her nose with mine. "You're still my Kitten."

Her smile remained, her soapy hands over my neck and shoulders. Life seemed to return to her suddenly, locked away in a private space together. She tilted her head to the side when I ran the fluffy pink thing over her neck, closing her eyes again, but this time, it didn't seem to be out of fear.

"You're beautiful, Nor." I brushed my thumb over her cheek. "And I still love looking at you."

"Perv," she whispered, and I laughed hard.

"I sure am." I grinned and nipped the end of her nose when she looked at me again. "I'll use my hands to wet your hair, okay?"

She gnawed her bottom lip then nodded. Slowly, and carefully, I cupped little bits of water over her head. Every time it trickled over her face, she flinched, but as long as her front remained pressed to mine, she didn't succumb to the sensation. I lathered up her hair, massaging her scalp in gentle circles. Her knuckle traced up and down my stomach while she allowed me to wash her, and I enjoyed every second of it.

"Good?" I asked.

She nodded, her bottom lip between her teeth in the way that I adored. "Yes."

I winked at her and she smiled. "Are you hungry at all?"

She shrugged, returning to trickling soapy water over my shoulders. "Little."

"Does it hurt when you swallow?"

She shook her head.

"Then how about I order us some yummy Italian food for lunch. Spaghetti and meatballs or ravioli? Garlic bread. The works." With caution, I used the sponge to begin rinsing out her hair. The more I talked to her, the less disturbed she seemed by it.

"Eggplant," she whispered.

"Ah. Eggplant parmigiana for my fancy Kitten it is." I grinned at her and finished rinsing most of the shampoo from her hair.

She smiled, her eyes locking on mine the entire time. I cupped her cheeks, using my hands to wash her face, and she let me do it all. When I finished, I held her around the middle and she draped her arms over my shoulders again, tugging my curls one by one so they'd spring back. Her smile never faded while she did it, just like she used to do.

"I can't believe we've never had a bath together before. Look what we've been missing," I teased, and she laughed softly.