Page 33 of Red Waters

My true name from his lips was like a ray of sunshine finding me in the cold night.

Yury knew he had finally found a way to reach me as my sobbing stopped and my head rested against his shoulder. His lips caressed my forehead. “I have hot water.”

I had never felt so drained as I did that night. My body went limp, so ready for warmth. “Thank you.” I didn’t say Master nor Yury. I had finally figured out… “Will you ever tell me your true name?” If hearing my name was so fulfilling, no wonder he would get so irritated not hearing his own.

His cheek rubbed against mine. “No… It will only remind you of this place.”

Tears exploded from me. His words were the confirmation I had prayed for. Yury was going to let me go someday. My weak arms found enough strength to hold his neck tight, so grateful for this epically tender moment. Barely hearing myself, I said, “I don’t want to be in the tub alone. I don’t want to be alone again.”

Yury carefully stepped into the tub and slowly sank us into the water. The warmth caused me to moan and melt to his body even more. I didn’t care that he was naked. His skin only brought more heat.

His toe turned the nozzle once the tub was filled to the rim. Water gently waved, almost petting my face that rested on his shoulder. In the moving water, ease took over me. Maybe because water usually brought me peace. It brought me Link. And, now, I knew I would someday see him again. That was enough to get through whatever unknown was to come. It was enough to get me to appreciate the little things again, and that included the one holding me.

Yes, he was a beast, the worst of men, but his kindness that night was soothing my damaged soul. With sincere concern, I touched his scarred upper lip. Tenderly, he removed my hand. I understood. “Crash never wanted me to touch his scars either. Bad memories.”

Yury leaned his head back against the tub. “My father was brutal with his training.”

“You were young.”

“Yes.”

How someone can treat a child in that manner is heart-wrenching.

I pressed my lips to his neck, apologizing for the bite marks I had left. I caressed his cheek with my lips, full of sorrow for smacking him over and over. I kissed his lips to say thank you for not punishing me for my heinous actions. This time, when I kissed him, I felt it in my belly. I knew this feeling. I had it before. With Crash and Link.

Link…

Missing him desperately left a hole somewhere inside me. Tonight, I had a chance at a temporary fix. I had a chance at shedding loneliness and having true affections. I needed to be touched. I needed contact.

Still lying on Yury, I ran my wet hand through his thick dark hair. “That woman, the one who kissed you once. Did you love her?”

After a slight hesitation, Yury replied, “No.”

“What happened to her?”

He was very quiet as he said, “I destroyed her.”

I touched his face. “You regret it.”

“I do.”

I kissed him again. His lips were soft and comforting, stirring alive desire and, most of all, hope. Hope that I wasn’t completely destroyed inside. My body raised in and out of the water as his breathing began to pick up speed. Yury watched me, intently, as my lips caressed his, wanting to feel even more of his human side. When my tongue asked for entrance, Yury’s mouth opened so I deepened the kiss. With all the sexual experience he had over me, kissing was not one of them. I could tell by the way he searched as if new to the whole experience of a seductive kiss. Maybe he was just searching for me, as I was him.

Slowly, I rolled and sat in his lap while kissing him, showing him attention he had never received. Losing my own breath with the sensual moment, I asked, “Hold me.”

It was the permission he so wanted from me. Thick, strong arms rushed around me as his upper body sat up, pressing closer to mine. Chest to naked chest, Yury’s tongue delved into my mouth, and I wanted it to. And that’s all we did. We kissed each other with innocent despair.

Yes, my abductor and I found innocence within the madness.

“Whitney.” We kissed, tightening our hold on each other. “You bring me peace.”

It was almost torturous to learn his life had been such a horrible journey. Neglect had turned him into a monster, one that almost destroyed me.

“I understand now, why Crash gave his life for yours.”

Emotions so intense, due to so many years of feeling lost in our own lonely worlds, had us on the same wavelength. I could finally read him as well as he could always read me. There was beauty in the union of hearts, whether it was meant to last or not. We both held on to the next moments of need and moments of solace that only two lost souls could share.

My legs wrapped around his waist as he stood, carrying me from the bathroom. Water dripped behind us as if a trail of tears lingering behind evident sadness. The real world felt so far away as we escaped reality, together. Connected on such a level, he laid us down on his bed, our lips never parting to face a future that would and could never be. We continued to kiss. Even past the point of my lips becoming sore. I refused to stop tasting his pain and gratitude for our joining hearts.