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She wrapped bandages with care and murmured apologies under her breath when he winced.

She reached for a salve. As her palm slid over the line of his hip, he let out a groan.

‘Fooookkkk,’ he rasped, head thudding against the pillow.

She froze, a rush of heat coloring her cheeks. His gaze caught hers, hazy, hungry, conflicted.

‘I swear I didn’t do that on purpose,’ she whispered, fighting a smile.

He gave the ghost of a smirk before closing his eyes. ‘I’m half scorched and still want you. Specters of the Wildlight, save me.’

She laughed under her breath, covered him, and tucked the blanket over his hips with a soft murmur. ‘Go back to sleep, tough guy.’

So he did.

She curled up again in the chair beside him, her fingers linked with his beneath the sheets.

The gentle beeping of the monitors and the slow rise of his chest lulled her into rest.

By morning, she woke to the sound of her name, said in a muffled, strained groan.

‘Savvine!’

She bolted upright, eyes adjusting to the med-bay’s dawn light.

Xander was out of his hover bed, gripping the doorway to the bathroom. His teeth were gritted, and his massive frame trembled.

He was half-slumped on the door jamb, breath shallow, sweat beading along his forehead.

‘I can’t, I can’t lift my hands right to get my shit off. I can’t shower.’

His timbre was hoarse with frustration.

‘I’ve got you,’ she murmured, rushing to his side and sliding her shoulder under his to help him through the door.

Inside the stall, she caught his weight with her body and helped him peel off his hospital gown, her touch gentle and reverent. She led him onto a stool.

‘Let me run a bath, it’ll be more relaxing for you, baby.’

He studied her silently as she adjusted the temperature, letting steam rise around them.

She then stripped, and he raked his eyes over her naked shape, eyes gleaming as she guided him into the water’s heated embrace.

He sighed as she reached for the soap and stepped in behind him, sinking under the surface, her thighs on either side of his hips, his back to her front.

‘Savvine-.’

‘I said I’ve got you, honey.’

Her touch was caring and tender, and he sighed in surrender, leaning back into her.

She worked the suds along his shoulders, arms, over his chest, down his back, the tension in his muscles leaking from him in increments.

Easing his head back to her shoulder, her fingers moved through his hair, rinsing sweat and ash and massaging his skull until he almost purred.

Instead, he grunted with pleasure and closed his eyes, surrendering to her attention.

Many minutes later, she rinsed him and then rose to help him.