68: 68 Caring for the 'Caring' husband (AVOT)

68 Caring for the 'Caring' husband (AVOT)

Daisy's worry for her mother weighed heavily on her, but that was only one concern among many. She was equally worried for Rhain. His instruction for her to take refuge in a basement while hunters pursued him left her with a gnawing sense of dread. Could life with a vampire ever be free from this constant, looming threat?0

"You're worried," Rhain murmured as he came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. His breath, warm and intimate, danced along her neck.

"Of course," she replied, keeping her focus on the onion she was dicing.

"Let me handle that," he offered, reaching for the knife.

"No, I need to do something," she insisted, refusing to relinquish her task.

Resigned, he returned to his previous embrace, peppering her neck with soft kisses that made her sigh involuntarily. "Rhain, you're going to make me cut myself."

"I'd never let that happen," he assured her, his hands delicately tracing the contours of her form through her dress.

Rhain had a knack for setting her aflame with his fleeting touches, only to withdraw abruptly when duty called. It was maddening, this game of unfulfilled desires that he seemed to enjoy playing.

"Is this a game to you?" she queried, unable to keep the irritation from her voice.

"What do you mean?" he inquired, feiging innocence and punctuating it with another nip at her neck.

"This pattern of starting something you don't finish," she explained, almost breathless.

She slipped from his grasp to fetch some potatoes. When she returned, he was quick to reclaim his hold on her, reigniting her simmering frustration. But as quickly as he'd returned, he was gone again, back to his endless duties.

Torn between irritation and worry, she ultimately found the latter more unsettling and focused instead on the memory of his touch. Once dinner was prepared, she peeked into his office, only to find him still engrossed in work. 

Retreating to her room, she took the opportunity to bathe, opting for a quick, efficient wash instead of the lavish baths the servants typically prepared for her.

When she was done, she contemplated whether to prepare a bath for Rhain. Seeing how engrossed he was in his work, she sensed that he could benefit from a soothing soak. 

Deciding in favor of the idea, she filled a tub with steaming water, infusing it with aromatic oils. Clad only in her chemise and a shawl draped around her shoulders, she ventured to find him.

Rhain looked up as she appeared in the doorway of his office. "Will you be finishing soon?" she inquired. "I've prepared a bath for you."

His lips parted in a moment of surprise before blossoming into a warm smile. "That's incredibly thoughtful of you," he responded, rising from his chair.

Offering her hand to him, Daisy felt an unprecedented sense of comfort wash over her. This was the domestic bliss she'd fantasized about but never dared to believe could be her reality. As their fingers interlocked, she led him away.

Daisy held him as if he was hers. He was. Happily. Since the day he married her, he had enjoyed every moment of being her husband. There was an intimacy to it that he had nowhere else. His parents had another son, Lysander had other prey, but to Diasy, she only had him as her husband.

She led him into the plush sanctuary she'd created. Wisps of steam floated up from the prepared bath, and an array of towels, fresh clothing, and fragrant oils were carefully arranged around the room.

"Would you like me to assist you?" she offered, her tone completely devoid of ulterior motives.

His eyes met hers, "I'd be honored," he said softly.

She watched him in silence as he undressed, and there was still that curious and appreciative look in her eyes. He liked it. Women had ogled him, but he liked the difference in Daisy's eyes. It wasn't just lust. He felt admired, as if only looking was enough to please her.

Slipping into the bath, Rhain sank into the heated water, his muscles uncoiling at the sensation. Daisy leaned him back and poured water gently over his hair, her fingers skillfully massaging his scalp.

"You seemed quite engrossed in your work today," she noted softly, her voice tinged with both curiosity and concern.

"Some days are more demanding than others," Rhain admitted, although he was actually working ahead, preparing for unforeseen events that could descend upon them at any moment.

"If only I could assist you. Perhaps you could teach me; I find myself with ample time," Daisy suggested, her voice tinged with genuine interest.

Rhain offered her a smile, his fingers reaching up to affectionately pinch her chin. "It's my duty, but I appreciate the offer."

"Well then, I shall take well care of you," she replied, her hands moving to his tense shoulders and kneading them gently.

Rhain's eyes flickered open, something intense and almost vulnerable smoldering in their depths. 'Take care of him?' He had long since buried any yearning for nurturing, convinced that it always came with a price attached. No one did anything without expecting something in return. Yet here she was.

He closed his eyes again, giving himself permission to simply feel her touch, which emanated a genuine warmth.

Daisy's hands glided over him with a tenderness that felt nearly sacramental. Her fingers worked their way down his arms, washing each hand with a deliberateness that felt like a blessing. As she moved to shampoo his hair, her fingers massaged his scalp with care that was so tender. 

This care, this intimacy, was something Rhain had never permitted himself or even thought of doing. But for Daisy, with Daisy, he could. 

Once the bath was over, he rose and remained standing, just observing her as she fetched a towel to wrap around him. She was smiling, her face glowing like morning light, as she tiptoed to reach his head.

"Rhain, would you bend down a bit, please?" She playfully complained, struggling to dry his hair.

Instead, he swiftly grasped her waist, twirling her around before seating her on a table against the wall.

"Oh..." she exhaled, momentarily disoriented. But then she realized he had elevated her to an optimal height for the task at hand.

She continued drying his hair, the damp strands framing his mesmerizing face. He was exceptionally close now, his eyes locked on hers, exuding an intensity that wasn't sexual, as she would expect after the bath and all the touching he had been doing. 

"What is it?" she asked softly. 

He gazed deeply into her eyes, as if searching for her soul. "While I may lack a beating heart or a soul, by whatever measures those are gauged, I've come to realize that there exists within me a space, an emptiness, that your presence alone has begun to fill. If I had the capacity for either a heart or soul, Daisy, you would be their singular obsession."

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