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I’er, blinded by deterhly concerned Miller

‘Calm Down Olivia,’ he warns on a quiet hiss in er is detectable through the combined heat of our skin ‘Don’tis heavy, o of hdeeply, he pushes his lips into my hair and releasesaway fro until I land in the en suite of the master bedroo-shaped tub and flip the taps on The anger swirling throughany instructions from my mind to calm down I need to calm down, but my hate for William and my mental torment over my er transfor into frustration In an attempt to distract myself, I squeeze some toothpaste onto my brush and scrub my teeth It’s a silly effort to rid ue

After spending farthan is truly necessary, I spit and rinse, then look up to the er and the familiar flush of desire that’s ever present these days But my navy eyes are disturbed After the horrific events that saw us fleeing London, burying norant head in a botto punished by relentless jolts of realism ‘Lock the world outside and stay here withmyself in the reflection of my own eyes My world slows around me as I braceto ht mind It’s unwelco to locate any scrap of resolve aain

On a heavy sigh, I glance up and find the water nearing the top of the bath, but I don’t rush over I haven’t the energy, so I slowly turn and drag my dejected body across the room to flip the taps off Then I step in and sink into the water, resisting the urge to closevacantly across the large rooree I concentrate of the pleasing tones of Miller’s voice, every loving word he’s ever spoken to me and every caress of my body All of it From the very start to now And I hope and pray that there is so ht tap on the bathroom door pulls my dry eyes across the rooain ‘Olivia?’ Miller’s voice is low and concerned It makes ently pushing the door open and holding onto the handle while he leans on the doorframe and searches me out He’s slipped some black boxers on and I can see a red blotch on his ribs, courtesy of uilt multiplies by ahis eyes to the floor ‘I’y confuses ’ He doesn’t hesitate ‘For letting you fall in love with me For’ He looks up attoo fascinated by you to leave you alone’

A sad smile forms onit up to hi , anything to steady our shaky world

‘Nothing would giveup the distance between us Dropping to his knees at the edge of the bath, he takes the bottle and squirts soive hiers push into limmer of peace into ed, I’ conditioner throughhis tiers as he hu to ’ He gathers the wet, slippery masses into a ponytail and twists forever until it’s all coiled around his fist ‘And I want to cos my face close to his

‘You want toin the water, so grateful for his intention to distract , either I know it I’htly on the lips, little soft pecks over and over, until his hot tongue pushes into ly I relax into his kiss, ood’

He breaks our kiss but keeps his face close as he unravelsdownin the water It’s grown far too long, now ski that way ‘Let’s get this conditioner out of your unruly locks’ He caresses my cheek with his thumb for a few e me to sink into the water I slide down the tub and closemuffled