Watching Over The Watcher

Chapter 2-3

Once there, she sat forlornly on a kitchen chair, saying nothing, stroking Sammy with unsteady hands while Brandon dug a rusty cake pan from the back of his cupboard and filled it with kitty litter left over from last winter. He set it in the kitchen, along with a bowl of water. Lifting the grubby kitten from Selene's weak grasp, Brandon introduced him to his temporary accommodations. As soon as he was released, Sammy took a long drink of water then streaked away into the living room.

One unexpected guest dealt with, Brandon returned to Selene, who was shivering harder than ever. He scooped her off the couch and hugged her gently. Her skin felt icy, and she smelled strongly of smoke. Smudges marred her face and clothing, and ash from Sammy's fur stained her hands nearly black. She clung to him.

“Come on, sweetheart,” he said soothingly, his hand circling on her back. “Let's get you into the shower.”

Selene allowed herself to be led, like a sleepwalker, into the bathroom. Brandon turned on the shower, filling the room with steam.

“Will you be all right?” he asked her, but Selene didn't reply. She just stared at him blankly.

Brandon cursed. Striving to remain impersonal, he removed her clothing and loosened her braid. Then he quickly stripped off his clothes and escorted her into the shower. Praying she wouldn't notice his unwanted erection and become alarmed, he dipped her into the water, wetting her hair and rinsing the soot from her face. He poured shampoo into his hand and massaged it, gently but thoroughly, into every inch of those extra-long corn silk colored strands.

Once Selene was clean, and her skin warm to the touch, Brandon dried her with one of the large purple bath towels Maggie had given him as a joke. It seemed to swallow her up, she was so tiny. He wrapped his usual green one around his hips.

Well, Price, what the hell are you going to do now? Selene had no clothes except the filthy ones she had been wearing. Now she stood before him, n***d under the towel and completely vulnerable. He wrapped her in a protective arm and walked her into his room, where he dug a tee shirt out of his drawer. He rarely wore it because it was so big on him, so on Selene's slight frame, it hung like a nightgown. That will work for the moment. Still she stood, frozen and unresponsive save for a slight trembling that set the tee-shirt fluttering. Reasoning that some sleep might help her, he led her to the bed and tucked her in.

Brandon had just turned to leave the room when he heard a soft, almost inaudible whisper.

“Don't go. Please, Brandon, don't leave.” Selene had snapped out of her stupor and was watching him with desperation in her eyes.

“Okay, sweetheart, I won't go. Just give me a minute to put something on.” He grabbed the first pair of clean boxers he found in the drawer and slid into the bed behind her, drawing her back against his chest and laying his arm across the narrow dip of her waist. She cuddled against him, and within moments her breathing became slower and more regular. Soon she dozed off.

Now what? It's only 9:20 and I'm not particularly tired, but I don't want to disturb Selene. So, he stayed, watching over her. It would be a lie to suggest he had never imagined this, holding her while she slept, but he certainly wouldn't have chosen these circumstances.

In his fantasy, of course, this would be the culmination of a night of fiery lovemaking. Of course, if I'm not mistaken, Selene admitted earlier that she's never been in a relationship before. I could very well be dealing with a virgin. I'll have to take this slowly—which will be uncomfortable—but the potential reward is immense. Selene isn't a one-night stand or even a hot affair. She's the kind of woman a man wants to keep for life.

Reminding himself he was getting way too far ahead, he kissed her softly on the cheek and closed his eyes. She feels perfect in my arms. Warm and content, Brandon fell asleep a few minutes later.