Chapter 43 Chapter 43: A Moment Of Truce

Chapter 43 Chapter 43: A Moment Of Truce
Sebastian Silverow's POV:

We have now come down to the moment of truce. I was finally standing up in front of the young woman whom I first saw outside my terrace earlier that morning. Little did I know that this single day, in all of my days, was going to change everything... and by that, it meant that it all came down to her and the meeting that was never expected.

It started with the past that she was trying to leave behind. I didn't know it then, but I did know that there was something about her. Something that I couldn't place in that particular moment. You could still hear the water running, knowing that it was just about to the filling point.

"If you will allow me," I said as I could feel her hands resting on the outside of my arms just above my elbows, with my hands placed down at my sides. "Turn the water off and assist you into the tub."

"How will you see?" I heard her ask me.

"Ana," I said as I turned toward the tub, my eyes still closed, before looking back at her. "I can tell just by the sound. I have moved around in rooms of complete darkness, and only then was I able to rely on my sense of hearing to navigate by what I heard around me. Will that answer suffice for now?"

"I guess so," I heard her voice say, as I could tell she was looking down and away from my face at that moment.

When she dropped her hands, releasing the grip on the outside of my arms, I finally got an opportunity to turn and slide my hands along the edge of the clawfoot bathtub until I reached the faucet. I turned off the water, ensuring there was no dripping. I then supported myself on the edge of the tub, placing one hand there as I slid one hand down the interior edge of the tub to fill the water to the exact level.

"Just as I thought," I said lightly as I turned my head back to the side, showing her that my eyes were still closed as I knew she was standing there naked beside me. "The water level is at a height that I think you will like most." I then stood back up to my feet, turning to face her as I reached out one hand. "Are you ready to step over the edge? Or are you going to need me to place you inside instead?"

I could feel the tension in the room grow as to my last statement. Instinctively, I stood up completely. I turned around to face her, as I was previously leaning to the side over the edge of the tub.

"You have total control over this," I told her in that moment as I took a step closer to her.

I could feel the distance between us narrowing and exactly how close I was according to her next breath. I pretty much figured that her hands were once again crossed in front of her chest as she reached out with one hand and placed it on the center of mine. She was trying to keep me at a certain distance. I understood that. I also wanted her to understand that she was the one in complete control here.

"I know you are not used to being in control," I said right then, trying to drive my point home. "You say what goes and what doesn't. He said my eyes and remained closed. As you can see, they have been. Now, are you ready for me to assist you? Or are you going to step your leg over the edge into the tub yourself?"

"I think..." I heard her try to say when she paused.

"Go on," I said, trying to give her a bit of encouragement. "Finish what you are going to say."

"I think the edge is a bit tall," she finally managed to finish her statement.

I nodded my head in understanding. Whenever I looked over towards the tub, my eyes still closed, I looked back at her when I spoke next.

"Is that a statement requesting assistance?" I asked, and I couldn't help but smirk slightly at the possibility of helping her into the tub.

I wanted nothing for her but for her to trust me. I have known others in the department who would possibly use the circumstance like this to their advantage. Throw trust out there easily and then break it. Once you break a bridge that you tried to build with trust, it is not easily rebuilt.

"You can..." I heard her say, and then she inhaled sharply when she added, "You can assist me. I just..."

"I know," I said, so she didn't have to. "I understand that you are... You are a bit leery about all of this. Knowing everything from what the doctor had previously told me, I do not blame you for being. I guess a better way of saying it is on edge."

I heard her lightly chuckle for the first time, letting me know that she did agree with that former statement. I also smirked at the same time as nodding my head, pleased that I was making headway with her. Progress may be slow, but progress is still progress, especially considering everything that I knew that she had possibly endured. Just not the actual facts.

"What I want you to do first is reach up and place her hand on top of my shoulder," I said in an instructive manner. "That way it will let me know where you are, so that I can pick you up and step closer to the edge before setting you down into the water."

I was pleased when there wasn't that much of a delay this time. I could feel the distance between us narrowing even further as she removed her hand from my chest and slid it all the way up to my shoulder. The smirk still remained on my face as I let her know I was pleased with her trusting me.

After she took a breath and released it, I used my other hand, slightly leaning down, as I placed it underneath her, supporting the back of her knees, and wrapped my other arm around the back of her shoulders.

"All right," I told her in an impressive tone this time. "I'm pleased to hear by your voice that you are starting to trust me a little bit more than before. You go as fast or slow as you wish, and I will do the rest."

I walked close to the edge, using my knees and upper legs to fill the clawfoot bathtub before I slowly started to lower myself down, making sure to hold her over the edge. I could feel the heat radiating up from the water, so I knew I was getting close to the level of water earlier when I reached into the bathtub.

"If you wish, reach down," I told her, pausing while holding her up as I knelt on one knee. "How's the water temperature feel?"