Unhappy Endings

147: Cleaning Up

"Of all the preposterous things to happen!" Severus stomped into the room and proceeded to pry his shoes off without use of his hands.

"The boy or the vomit?" You chuckled lightly and removed your heels.

"Both! And more!" After prying the socks and tie off his body, he laid back on the bed and let out a groan.

"I've just realized, I know just what you need." You wandered over to him and sat next to him with a hand on his leg. "A nice warm bath. I'll go and draw you one right now. That silken robe ought to cover you well enough while it fills."

You left the room, and he soon heard a stream of water.

As you closed the door, Severus started to take off his clothes, folding them on the nightstand. Feeling the sheets below him, he noted that they were incredibly soft. He thought ruefully of his childhood, with a thin mattress and the roughest sheets, if that. The single life wasn't much better, but he certainly had gotten used this. He only wanted the best for you.

You stepped out in the fluffy robe he had gotten you for your birthday wrapped it around your naked body.

"Come through, my love, it's ready!" You cheered with a smile. He stepped through into the bathroom and his eyes widened in surprise. He noted that you were walking with him towards the water, seeing steam rising from the warm water. A candle was lit on the counter, filling the room with an herbal scent. The candles were dimmed, and as you looked at Severus standing beside the bath, your eyes were sparkling in the flickering light. "I hope it's the right temperature. Just step in and give it a try... Let me know."

"You are very kind," He paused as you walked toward the bath.

"Is this... okay?" Still, he didn't move. Paralyzed with the strangeness of the situation, you made a split-second decision, and started to untie your robe. You almost expected him to walk out of the room, but he just began looking up you with a sly smile. Now that you had started, you couldn't exactly stop, so you opened the robe, and slowly dropped it from your shoulders, unveiling all the familiar pieces of yourself to Severus.

He couldn't look at you anymore without nearly exploding in pleasure, but stared fixedly at the steam curling upwards from the bathwater instead. You felt like your mind had gone blank, and as though in a dream, you walked towards the tub and slowly lowered yourself into the warm water. Severus' voice soon cut through the silence.

"How is it? Are you comfortable, Esmeralda?"

"It's perfect."

"My Esme..." His voice was a low purr, and you felt him approaching. "I'll help you get clean... But can I do something first?"