In Charleston, South Carolina

[wheelsy_sheriff]

["I'm exhausted in a good way for once."]



The room is bright even with the curtains drawn when Bill cracks his eyes open.

He smiles to find Kate in his arm, her back pressed against his chest, her arm over his around her waist.

Tightening his hold on her, he pulls her closer and presses a kiss into her hair.

Breakfast will be ready soon (if they haven't missed it already), but this is a good way to be waking up, and he wants to enjoy it a bit.

Comments

[justdidntseeit]

"Mmm."

She's as malleable as warm clay in his arms, her spine fitting closer against the solid lines of his body.

"Already sent the e-mail."

She draws up one knee, her bare skin sliding over cool Egyptian cotton.

"S'attached, PDF. E-signature."

[wheelsy_sheriff]

He arches a brow when he hears her sleepy words, then quirks a smile.

"Kate."

His lips move from her hair to her ear.

"Honey, you're breakin' the rule." His mouth goes to her neck and then her shoulder. "Y'told me no work while we're here."

[justdidntseeit]

"I know."

She breathes in and out, slow and deep, still caught in the fugue between awake and asleep.

"S'just this account ... "

Her fingers tighten briefly on his forearm, and one ankle slips between his calves.

"All done."

[wheelsy_sheriff]

Her slowness to come out of it makes him chuckle.

"Y'sure?"

His arm slips out, and he lifts his hand to her shoulder. Running his palm down along her side slowly, and taking the sheet with it, his eyes follow the path of exposed skin.

"I don't see that e-mail."

[justdidntseeit]

She murmurs at the touch, and takes in another deep breath as her eyes flutter open.

"E-mail?"

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"You were sayin' somethin' 'bout a PDF."

His hand pauses a moment, and he grins.

"That's 'Pretty Damn Fine', right?"

[justdidntseeit]

Her shoulders shake with silent laughter.

She twists beneath his arm, tipping her head so she can look at him.

"You didn't just say that."

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"What?"

His features heat and he tries for a smirk that comes out more embarrassed than smug.

"I heard it on TV."

[justdidntseeit]

Caught between a chuckle and a yawn, she wears a wide, teasing grin as she stretches, muscles pleasantly sore.

"Oh, I'm sure you did, handsome," she says, kissing his chin.

[wheelsy_sheriff]

He ducks his head, eyes closing briefly with the kiss.

"So how'd y'sleep?"

[justdidntseeit]

"Like a rock."

She snakes an arm up and around his neck, fingertips raking through his hair; the sheet rides lower on her torso and hip with the movement.

"A really, really satisfied rock."

[wheelsy_sheriff]

He smiles down at her as his hand starts moving along her side again.

His eyes follow her curves as his palm maps over them.

"That's good. I-- "

Something on her skin draws his attention and cuts his words off. Lifting his hand, he frowns when he gets a better look at the purple splotches on her hip.

"Kate-- "

[justdidntseeit]

Her smile fades when he sobers.

Looking up at him, questions clear in her eyes, she follows his gaze.

Spotting the finger-shaped marks from the night before, her mouth opens soundlessly; she doesn't remember pain.

She extends her calf, rubbing her leg against his.

"That? That's nothing, sheriff."

[wheelsy_sheriff]

He draws back, his hold on her loosening.

"I'm sorry, I didn't-- "

His eyes start scanning her over, trying to see if he left any other bruises.

"I didn't mean t'-- "

[justdidntseeit]

The look in his eyes -- something close to quiet horror -- makes her ache.

"No, it's -- "

Reaching for his hand, she shakes her head.

"You didn't hurt me."

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"I wasn't tryin' t'be-- rough."

But he was. He remembers gripping her in the heat of the moment, and wanting more, but didn't realize how much force he was using to get it.

"Are y'sure you're alright? I'm sorry, Kate."

[justdidntseeit]

"Bill, hey."

She gives his fingers a gentle squeeze before shifting onto her back, all the better to see him.

"Last night was great. This isn't -- I bruise easy."

She chances a tiny smile, for his sake and hers.

"Remember that time in the shower?"

[wheelsy_sheriff]

He studies her before giving a small nod.

"Yeah, I remember."

He hadn't felt so guilty then, and he doesn't know what to make of the feeling now.

Last night was good, but the thought of hurting her hurts him, especially after her time in the infirmary.

He tries for a smile, squeezing her fingers back lightly.

"That was a good time, too."

The small lilt in his voice almost makes it a question.

[justdidntseeit]

"It was."

She lifts his hand to her lips, and presses a kiss to his knuckles.

"And besides, if you roll over, I bet I'll see some damage on your back -- I don't hear you complaining about that."

[wheelsy_sheriff]

He knows she's right, he can feel the slight sting of the sheets against the scratches on his back, and there's even a few raised welts on his chest from her nails.

"That ain't-- I don't mind that."

[justdidntseeit]

"Well, I don't mind this," she says softly, guiding his hand to rest low on her stomach.

"You've been so careful with me since I got sick -- "

She looks up at him, eyes filled with concern and something close to regret.

"Sometimes, I thought you were afraid to touch me."

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"No, I-- "

He stops himself and thinks about it a moment. Looking back at her, there's apology already written in his features.

"Have I been too careful?"

[justdidntseeit]

"Only because you love me, sweetheart."

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"I do, but I'm guessin' it's bothered you."

He knows how much he's hated all the extra worry spent on him since getting back to work.

"I just didn't realize that's what I was doin'."

[justdidntseeit]

"It doesn't bother me so much as it — "

She pauses, angling a glance at his hand on her abdomen while she runs a fingertip along the ridges of his knuckles.

"It can be a little frustrating, sometimes, because I don't want you to think you have to walk on eggshells with me."

Though she's the pot calling out the kettle, because she was afraid to touch Bill while he healed after the shooting in Wheelsy.