“You're safe.”
I make my way carefully up the stairs.Being gentle to not jostle her around, but being slow so I can enjoy this feeling of Rayna in my arms, her hands behind my neck, gripping tightly.
Getting to her bedroom door, I softly place her down, but keep my hands around her, making sure her putting weight on her leg doesn’t cause her any pain.
“I could have made it up the stairs on my own.”She laughs.
“This was quicker.Can you make it into the bathroom on your own?”
She takes a step away from me, out of my reach.And looks back.“Yeah, it’s okay.”
“I’ll be in my bedroom ready to take you back downstairs when you’re done.”
“Thank you.”She smiles, keeping the bedroom door open as she limps over to her bathroom and closes the door.
I don’t want to move, rooted to the space inside her door frame.The desperate need to be within earshot if she calls out for help is strong.Listening towards her bathroom.Water being turned on, whooshing powerfully, dominating the silent house.I hear the difference in sound as she steps under the water.Pausing for several minutes while my ears strain in case she calls out to me, the changes in water indicate she is okay.Retreating to my room, sitting carefully down on my bed, not wanting to do anything to distract me or make a noise that risks drowning out Rayna’s call.But I sit, my room looks directly into her room as I stare into the door frame, listening to the sound of water until it’s shut off.She takes a while to emerge from the bathroom until I hear the bathroom door click and open, and then she walks into my sight.Towel wrapped around her body, hair clipped up, exposing her neck and shoulders.She’s as gorgeous as she was when I first met her.She is the same person, but refined, evolved.And yes.Still very much a knockout, inside and out.Just as quickly as she was in my line of sight, she is out, into her walk-in wardrobe.
“Oh, my goodness,” I hear in a deadpan, monotone voice.
There is no urgency in the tone, but I’m up in a flash and standing at her door.
“You all good in there?”
“Yeah.You can come in.I’m dressed.”
Stepping into her room, I am hit with her vanilla scent.While I can smell it lingering in the house, it’s strongest here.
She is still standing in her walk-in wardrobe, wearing a long, loose t-shirt and loose shorts.She has the bruised side’s short leg hiked up, raw and red bruise shining away.
“You did a bang up job there.”
“If you’re going to do something, do a good job at it.”She shakes her head, still looking at her leg.The tone in her voice was more annoyed than anything.
My eyes wander around her body.Seeing her so close, I can confirm, still stunning up close.
She drops her short leg and turns around, still looking at herself in the mirror.Inspecting her body, gently touching and smoothing over the handful of grazes that managed to get through her clothing.
“How is it to walk on that leg?”I finally ask.Breaking my gaze on her body.
“Actually okay.Definitely sore and tender, but it could have been a lot worse.”
“Do you need a hand back down the stairs?”
“Maybe just walk in front, in case I fall down?”
“Of course.”
She very gingerly walks down the stairs.Death-gripping my shoulder and forearm.So tight I’d be surprised she didn’t leave fingernail imprints on my shoulder.
Guiding her to the lounge, I offer.“Do you feel like something to eat?”
“Yeah, maybe just a salad?I’m not feeling too hungry, but I should have something in case I need some stronger medication a little later.”
“Done.Sit tight.”I pick up the TV remote and place it in her hand, tease her by fluffing some pillows and putting them under her legs, and reposition the water glass from earlier on the coffee table by a few centimetres.Which yields the desired result.She’s laughing at me being attentively annoying.
Making a basic garden salad, taking it over to her and sitting with her to eat.She’s put on another Christmas romantic comedy movie.This one is not as raunchy as the last one I stumbled in on her watching a few nights ago, but it’s funny.It lifted her mood, which I love to see.
Spending the afternoon relaxing, we watch two more Christmas movies before I ordered a pizza.
