Chapter Fifteen

He holds me tight and stands up. He takes me over to the tub and gently puts me down in it. He took his pants off and got in the tub behind me.

"U-um, Aidan?"

"Yes?" He asked in a seductive tone.

"Th-this is the sort of thing m-married couples do?" I questioned.

"This is the sort of thing people in love do. Don't you think?"

"I-if they're married."

He chuckled. "I don't care about that sort of thing."

"You should."

He pulled me up onto his lap and turned me to look at him.

"And why is that?" He asked.

"W-well, I'm not truly yours until we're married right?"

"I'll have the priest come up here now if you aren't certain you're mine."

"Wh-what? N-no one can come in here w-while we're like this."

"Then get this 'you're not mine' business out of your mind."

He grabs the soap and starts to rub it on my shoulders.

"Wh-what are you doing?" I ask.

"Washing you. Then you can wash me."

"Wa-wash you? I-I can't do that."

"Why not?" He asked as the soap kept moving farther south.

"It's too embarrassing."

"No one's here but us."

"I know."

"Or is it being with me that's the embarrassing part?"

"No." I say and shake my head.

"Good then-"

"Aidan, you're not listening."

"Ok ok, I can wash myself." He puts the soap back and starts pouring water over my shoulders.

"Ar-are you going to put me down?"

"Not yet." He says and pulls me to him. "I just want to hold you like this forever."

He puts his arms around me and I lean back onto his chest.

"Don't be embarrassed." He said and placed a kiss on top of my head.

"I-I'm not."

"It's ok, you'll get used to it."

"Used to…bathing with you?"

"Being naked around me. Being intimate with me."

"It-it's not you. I just…feel vulnerable like this…"

"Because of what happened?" He asked and I nodded. "No one will ever hurt you again. I promise you."

"I…I feel safe with you."

"If this is a dream don't wake me." He places a kiss on the top of my head.

"We should get out and start the tattoo process."

"That eager to get out?"

"It's starting to get cold. Be-besides you said they're all over my body?" I asked.

"Yes?" He asked curiously.

"We-well you'll have your fill then."

He laughs. "I'll never have my fill of you."

I leaned up and kissed his cheek. I decided to be bold. I got out of the tub, walked over to the fireplace, grabbed a towel and wrapped it around my body. I grabbed another towel to dry my hair.

The heat from the fire felt great on my skin. I closed my eyes to bask in the warmth while I dried my hair and my body.

"That was bold." I hear and open my eyes.

"W-we needed to get started." I said.

"Yes we do." He said. He reached around and undid the towel so it fell down to the floor.

"Ai-Aidan we jus-we already-"

"Get your mind out of the gutter. I need to see you to tattoo you. I'll start on your back."

"R-right."

"You can lay down on the ground here to stay warm." He placed a kiss on my shoulder and I nodded. I was a little embarrassed that I jumped to conclusions but I shook it off and bent down to spread the towel out on the floor.

I laid down on my stomach while he brought his tools and ink over. He set them down and sat down next to me. He caresses my back and slides his hand down my body to feel my bottom and my leg.

"Th-this a part of the tattooing?" I asked.

"Nervous?"

"N-no."

He leaned in close, "because your nervous stutter has come back." He whispered into my ear.

"S-stop Aidan." I say and playfully push him away.

"It's cute. I like it."

"Ca-can you put a towel over the area you're not working on?" I ask to change the subject.

"Why?" He teased.

"T-to cover me."

"Don't be embarrassed Ari. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. You don't have to cover up, neither do I want you to."

"O-ok." I said, still embarrassed.

"But if it makes you uncomfortable."

"A little." I say blushing.

"Well, tell me if it gets too overwhelming."

It takes many hours, deep into the night to cover my body in the temporary tattoos. I did ask that my front be covered when I flipped over for him to tattoo my front side. I wasn't used to being naked and it was more comfortable to be at least partially covered up.

When we were done he picked me up and put me in the bed.

"Sleep now." He whispered into my ear before standing back up.