To say that his sleep had been practically non existent was mild. Viktor wasn’t sure he’d slept at all, really. Except that his eyes must have shut at some point, since he opened them in the morning to find his legs tangled with Emlyn’s, and her body draped over his. His arms were wrapped around her, and her face was resting against his bare chest. Viktor came awake slowly, his eyes parting as he forced himself not to tense when he realized what positions they were both in. Her upper body was across his, and her leg was tangled between his, and Viktor leaned into her in a sleep dazed few moments, cuddling her closer before he suddenly realized a few things. Key things.

One: there was almost nothing between them except for her thin, silky nightgown and he could feel every contour of her body with a painful accuracy. Two: his pajama pants were definitely feeling tight, and that particular part of his body was pressed against her hip. Three: that silky nightgown of hers had ridden up her legs, and since the blankets had gotten tangled up and shoved aside at some point in the night, he could see tantalizing strips of bare skin on her thigh.

Viktor took a slow, deep breath, shutting his eyes tight against the visual assault. Of course it didn’t help him much with the assault on his sense of touch, but he couldn’t bring himself to move. Couldn’t bring himself to wake her, shift her or disturb her in anyway. He loved the feel of their bodies tangled together, loved the feel of her head resting against his chest, loved that she trusted him enough that she would unconsciously gravitate to him. His hand slid slowly and gently up and down her back, as he let himself relax a little, or at least as much as he was able. He wasn’t in a hurry to wake up all the way.

At first, when Emlyn awoke, she didn't remember where she was. Before she even opened her eyes, she naturally assumed she was at home and it wasn't until she stretched and shifted that she realised that this wasn't how her bed usually felt. It was harder, more solid and there was something poking her. Frowning, Emlyn blinked her eyes open and as she struggled back into wakefulness, she registered the arms wrapped around her.

And her mind shorted out for a moment in shock.

She was wrapped in Viktor's arms, her leg between his, their bodies pressed up tightly against each other, her hand resting on his chest along with her head and still something was poking her. Heat flooded her cheeks when it suddenly hit her what it was. A flood of nerves hit her as she scrambled off him, backing away onto the other side of the bed, her cheeks flushed and mortification rushing over her.

The moment that Emlyn came awake fully was a memorable one. Viktor wasn’t sure if he was hoping that she wouldn’t noticed certain... things, or if he was hoping deep down that her subconscious need to touch him would extend into her wanting to stay where she was. Neither hope came to pass. He let his arms drop as she scrambled away from him and out of reach, watching her face turning an interesting shade of scarlet red. He lowered his arms back down slowly against suddenly empty space, his eyes following her in her retreat.

“Hey,” he said softly, his voice raspy from sleep. Viktor wasn’t going to comment on what had clearly and obviously embarrassed her. He just smiled slightly at her. As much as he didn’t want her to be uncomfortable, it was just a fact of life that he couldn’t do too much about. And her reaction was a little endearing. Although for her sake, he wished there was someway that she wouldn’t have to deal with it.

It took a good few deep breaths for Emlyn to calm her nerves. She hadn't been expecting to wake up in his arms like that, lying on top of him. She felt the loss of his arms around her, his solid warmth against her, but she wasn't prepared for what else she had felt. It would give her something to think about though, because Viktor was a man, and clearly he had needs and Emlyn wasn't so naive that she didn't know what sex was (though the actual mechanics escaped her). Eventually, she managed to look over at him, her cheeks still red, though not as vividly scarlet as they had been moments ago. "Good morning," she said politely, tugging down her nightdress that she had only just realised had risen up her legs so high that she was almost revealing her underwear to him. Somehow the blankets had fallen off them in the night and were twisted up down the end of the bed, leaving her with nowhere to hide.

“Morning,” Viktor resigned himself to the fact that she wasn’t coming back to him, just yet. His back arched and he stretched with a quiet huff of air. Her innocence and sweetness were parts of her that he loved. As awkward as it could be, he wanted to stay as calm and encouraging and comforting about the whole thing as possible. Who knew how long this spell would last? And Viktor wanted to ensure that as much of their time together was as positive as possible. He smiled a little at her, a warm lift of his lips. Unfortunately, mornings meant a lot more awkwardness than just waking up a lot closer together than planned.

“Bathroom?” he asked quietly, as he sat upright and tilted his head slightly in question.

This was the part that Emlyn was dreading, even more than what had just happened, but there was no putting it off. "Yes," she replied, and turned away to slide out of bed, smoothing her nightdress down until it was hanging properly, down past her knees. Making sure she was aware of where he was as she moved around the bed, careful not to walk out of their five feet radius, Emlyn walked around to his side which was closer to the door. Her gaze dropped down to his chest as she neared him, his chest that she had woken up on, that she had been draped over as she slept, her breath catching slightly as she considered it, though she was very careful not to let her gaze drop any lower.

Reaching his side, she collected her robe and her bag of toiletries to take with her, assuming that once they were in the bathroom, they might as well get the whole lot over and done with. Turning back to him, she looked up at him, hating this part, even if she had enjoyed the cuddling yesterday. "How is this going to work? Your bath is too far away from the door for one of us to stay outside."

Viktor waited until she had slid out of the bed to do so himself, stretching again as he stood up and moved around the edge of the bed, careful to keep within the five foot distance as much as he possibly could. It was already becoming second nature, to keep himself within five feet of reach for Emlyn. His eyes moved over her face as they reached each other, wishing silently that there was some way that he could make this less awkward and embarrassing for her. Most young women her age in their culture were at least somewhat comfortable with this kind of a setting, but Viktor wasn’t interested in them. He loved those parts of Emlyn, and he wanted to make this whole mess of a situation as easy for her as he possibly could.

He waited quietly for her to gather up her things. All of his stuff was already in the bathroom. “I won’t look,” Viktor promised, reaching up to smooth a hand over her hair. As much as he might have wanted to, for her sake, he’d keep his eyes to himself. On his end of things, Viktor wasn’t nearly so uncomfortable with it, although as he considered the fact that it would be Emlyn’s eyes on him, his breath caught a little. Maybe he wasn’t as comfortable as he’d thought. He smiled just a little. “It’ll be alright,” he reassured her quietly, leading the way into the bathroom. The domestic, practical element was something that normally took a little time to reach in any sort of relationship. He and Emlyn technically didn’t even have a ‘relationship’ and they were already having to figure it out.

Bending slightly, he kissed her cheek, a gentle encouraging pressure of his lips to her skin. “I’m going to use the toilet,” he warned her quietly, giving her the chance to find something else to do while he was occupied.

This was going to be torture. Emlyn followed Viktor to the bathroom, but the instant he warned her what he was going to do, Emlyn put her things down by the basin and quickly left the room, closing the door behind her, but leaning against it so she was as close as she could be while outside the room. She didn't want to witness that any more than she wanted him there when she was going. Emlyn stared across at the blank wall opposite her, thinking about anything at all that wasn't what was going on in the room behind her. She really needed to go too, and ended up crossing her legs as she stood leaning against the door.

As soon as Viktor was finished and opened the door, Emlyn rather abruptly pulled him out of the bathroom and closed the door so she could go. It wasn't until she was already seated that she realised she had forgotten to turn on the tap in her hurry, and it was too late now. Glancing at the bath tub, she silently debated which was worse: what he was possibly hearing now or what was about to happen when she opened that door to let him back in.

After a few minutes, she opened the door again and let Viktor back inside. Now came the true test. "Do you want to go first? Or shall I?" she asked, glancing up at him as she stood near him. What on earth was she going to do while he was bathing? she wondered, glancing around the small room. Predictably, there was nothing to do. Except talk, and Emlyn wasn't sure how much she wanted to talk during such a private moment. It wasn't like she was used to having conversations while she was in the bath. It was rather intimate, she thought as her fingers brushed against his, tangling with them, seeking contact with him in some small way as they figured this out.

Viktor couldn’t help smiling, and even chuckling very quietly to himself, as Emlyn beat a hasty retreat at his warning. It was kind of adorable.

Both of them got through necessary business pretty quickly, and Viktor slipped back into the bathroom when she opened the door for him, closing the distance and looking down at her. Now came a first that Viktor was having conflicted feelings about. He hated that this spell was forcing Emlyn into a much deeper physical intimacy than she may have been ready for. He also felt pretty thankful for it, since it had opened a door for him that he wasn’t sure he was ever going to see cracked. His thumb stroked the back of her hand as she tangled their fingers together, his lips lifting into a small smile at the fact that she’d initiated it. He never got tired of touching her, no matter how small or insignificant the touch. But he liked that she was touching him.

“What would make you feel more comfortable?” Viktor asked quietly. He had stopped being embarrassed about being naked in front of people before he hit sixteen. Spending so much time in locker rooms with both sexes had pretty much eradicated any lingering shyness. For him, Emlyn’s comfort was the only thing that mattered. And whatever he could do for her to make it easier, he would.

Emlyn wasn't sure. She considered each scenario - him going first or her going first - but there didn't seem to be much difference between the two. The only difference she could see was that if she went second, she would be able to get dressed soon after, instead of sitting in her robe while she waited for Viktor. "You can go first," she said, squeezing his hand gently as she looked up at him. "I won't look."

She couldn't deny a certain level of curiosity. She might be inexperienced, but that didn't mean she wasn't curious. She had seen pictures, of course, when she was doing her training at St Mungo's, but she had never seen a naked man in person before. She had certainly felt it this morning, and her cheeks flushed a bit as she turned her back on the bath to give him privacy, at least, as much as the spell allowed her to. Five feet wasn't far at all when one of them was naked.

Should she say something? she wondered, wishing she'd brought her wand so she could summon her book. She didn't know what to say that wasn't trivial. What did one say to a man while he was bathing? It was altogether too surreal a moment for Emlyn. She was very aware of him behind her, though she would not turn around, not even for a peek. He was there, and he was naked, and he loved her.

Surreal didn't even begin to cover it.

Well. Viktor wasn’t sure how this was going to work. He honestly didn’t care if she looked, but as he dropped his pajamas to the floor, his eyes on her back, he wondered if for the moment at least, it was probably a good thing. He would make himself handle just about anything for her, but having her eyes on him and not being able to do anything about it would be a stretch. He was already wondering how he was going to endure sleeping together, touching each other, and having to always be within five feet of each other and not break from trying to hold his self control together.

It took a few minutes for the tub to fill up, and Viktor tried not to think too hard about the fact that he was standing there, naked, within five feet of the woman he loved. As soon as the tub was ready, he took a step in and sank down into the water with a quiet sigh. The walls of the tub helped hide pretty much everything, as long as you weren’t looking too closely. Viktor set about bathing as efficiently as possible, the strangeness of the whole situation hitting him against as he did, with Emlyn’s back right there just out of reach.

“You can sit down,” he said, wondering as he did whether it would help or not. “You won’t see anything,” having her stand there awkwardly was almost worse than just having her sitting and being able to see him. Viktor was trying to make this bath as quick as possible and still be clean when he got out of it. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do when it was his turn to be standing there, hearing the sounds of Emlyn bathing and trying not to picture exactly what that looked like.

At his words, Emlyn thought about it, deciding that was a good idea. She didn't mind waiting for him, but it would be easier to sit down and not feel so awkward, standing there. Without looking at him, she moved closer to the wall at one end of the tub and sat down, not looking over at him until it was impossible for her to see anything but his head and shoulders over the edge of the tub. It would probably be easier for him to see more, she realised, given how much taller he was, but that was why she had brought the bubbles with her.

"This is very strange," she stated outright, making sure her nightdress covered as much of her as possible as she sat there, though there was nothing she could do about how little it covered up top. Not that it probably mattered now, she thought, after the way they'd woken up together, so closely entangled that they might as well have been naked. Would that happen again tonight? Looking over at him, she wondered if this was as strange for him as it was for her. "Have you much experience with this?" That was vague, so she sought to clarify. "Having a woman around, I mean."

He couldn’t see her quite as well, from her seat at the end of the tub, but at least she wasn’t stuck standing there waiting for him. He just wanted it done, he wanted to get through the torture that he knew was coming once he got out of the tub. Viktor swallowed at just the thought of it, his eyes flickering shut briefly before her comment made him refocus. He reached for the shampoo bottle with a quiet breath. “Yes, it is,” he agreed, wondering if strange was a strong enough word for it. The actuality of having to share less than five feet of space with someone was sinking in. It would have been awkward no matter who it was. Having it be Emlyn made it both much more torturous, and much more rewarding in the same breath.

Her question made him pause in washing his hair. Merlin. Viktor bought himself a few seconds to think by sliding down to dunk his head underwater and rinse off the shampoo. It had to come up eventually.

Straightening back up, he looked over at her. “Some,” he answered, his voice quiet. Viktor hadn’t ever lived with anyone, but he’d definitely had a few girlfriends, and sharing space had been a point that he’d reached with a couple of them. Emlyn was different. She mattered more. A lot more. And he wasn’t sure he was ready to dig into his romantic history while he was naked and in the bathtub. He ducked his head for one last rinse and ran his hands through his hair as he straightened up again. He’d sped through the whole bathing process. A quick and rough all over scrub with the soap, and clean hair, and he was pretty much finished.

“I’m all done,” Viktor smiled a little at her, warning her and giving her time to turn before he moved.

Emlyn nodded at his comment. Of course he had. He was Viktor Krum, international superstar and triwizard champion. As she'd just seen yesterday, he had women throwing themselves and their enchanted objects at him all the time. So of course he'd had women in his bathroom before, and women in his bed. It gave her a rather odd feeling to think about it, one that she couldn't immediately define. It was completely out of her realm of experience. Though... it was similar in a way to the way she felt when she thought about Lucius and Anna's families, about other people's families in general. Not the same, but close enough that she could recognise longing when she felt it. Which was a rather strange feeling to have, she felt.

At his warning, Emlyn nodded again and turned away, preoccupied with her thoughts and only half listening to him behind her. What did that feeling mean? She wanted to be with him, and liked being close to him (usually, when it was something normal and not this enforced closeness in a moment that would normally be private) but was she ready for something like that? To be with him in that way? Despite telling herself that she shouldn't feel pressure to compete with the women in his past, she did. She wanted to ask him about it, but didn't know how to find the right words.

She went silent after his one word answer, and Viktor’s brow furrowed slightly as he watched her turn away from him. He hoisted himself out of the tub and grabbed a towel to quickly and roughly dry his hair and then wrap around his hips. He’d forgotten to bring clothes in with him from the bedroom, so the towel was going to be it until she was done bathing. He watched her for a moment as he fastened the towel around his waist, his head tilted slightly and his dark eyes thoughtful. He wanted to know what she was thinking. “All done,” he said quietly as he moved closer and into her range of eyesight.

“What are you thinking?” he asked her, his eyes soft and his voice gentle.

When Viktor moved into her line of sight, Emlyn rose gracefully to her feet, and was immediately assaulted by the vision of Viktor's broad chest covered by droplets of water. Her mouth went dry as her gaze followed a lone droplet as it slid agonisingly slowly down over a perfect pectoral muscle. Emlyn's mouth opened slightly, her tongue flicking out along her lips. She had a sudden longing to lick that droplet from his skin. To taste him. It warmed her right through.

The droplet was absorbed by his towel and only then did Emlyn lift her gaze, realising he'd asked her something. Blinking, she dimly recalled the question and her cheeks flushed. She couldn't tell him what she had just been thinking, but then he asked her before her most recent thought, so she needn't tell him that.

"I was just thinking about yesterday. That woman. You must have women throwing themselves at you all the time," she said evenly. That didn't bother her much. It was only natural, and she was used to fans of the players by now.

She was going to kill him. Emlyn wasn’t even touching him, and he could feel all of himself reacting to the way her eyes moved down his chest as if her gaze was a physical caress. Viktor swallowed roughly and licked suddenly dry lips as he watched her eyes move down to the edge of the towel around his hips. When she finally looked back up at him, his eyes were dark and heated, and as she blushed, grew a little more knowing. What he wouldn’t have given to be able to act on exactly what he was feeling in that moment. But... Viktor took a breath and huffed it out quietly. Acting on it wasn’t worth it. Not until she was ready, whenever that was.

He shifted his weight a little as she answered his question, his muscles tensing slightly. Viktor wasn’t comfortable with some elements of being as famous as he already was. The whole question of women was one of those elements. Yes, he had some experience dating. And yes, women did occasionally do something drastic, like throw themselves at him. But it wasn’t something he welcomed, appreciated or even understood. “Not very many as extremely as she did,” he replied. He shrugged his shoulders slightly. “It’s strange,” he admitted quietly.

Emlyn wasn't sure how to voice what she had been thinking before. She wasn't quite certain she understood what she had been feeling, and so trying to explain it to Viktor might just end up confusing the issue even further. Looking up at him, aware of how little fabric there was between them, Emlyn shrugged slightly, still pondering what it was she was trying to understand within herself. "I know that's the price you pay to do the job you love, but sometimes, I have to admit, it seems too high a price to pay." She didn't know a single Quidditch player who would give it up though, even if it meant a quieter life without the intrusion of the media or fans.

Stepping past him, she moved to the end of the bath to collect the bubble potion and her shampoo and conditioner. There was no way she was going to be as fast as he had been, she realised as she set them down where she could reach them. Turning on the tap, she poured some of the potion in and watched it bubbling up for a moment, considering the amount frothing up, then added a bit more for good measure. They would probably have to go and get some more before this was over, which brought up another problem. Glancing at him as she put the cap on the bottle, she said, "We can't go out in public, can we? Not anywhere that people will recognise you anyway." Emlyn had absolutely no desire to be photographed and talked about simply because of who she was with. Currently, she was ignored because she was boring and quite glad to be. She was one of many support staff who kept the team flying, and the focus was entirely on the players, as it should be. But the minute she stepped out with Viktor Krum, in a clearly social situation, or worse, a domestic one, she would become news, and that wasn't welcome at all.

Viktor just nodded silently in agreement with Emlyn. It was a price that he didn’t understand, tolerated at the best of times, and made it hard for him to live his life from day to day. A price to do something that he’d been born to do, something he’d done professionally since he’d been sixteen. It was a cost that he’d been familiar with for a long time, and from a very young age. As much as it irritated him sometimes, it was something he’d learned his way around for the most part. Being a private person in a sport that attracted a lot of media attention, and being a player that got a lot of attention period, Viktor sometimes wished that he could return to obscurity. He ran a hand through his damp hair, sticking it up on end.

He watched her get the tub ready again, his dark eyes thoughtful. For Emlyn’s sake, staying out of the public eye for as long as this spell lasted was probably the wisest choice. He didn’t want her being bombarded, photographed, or harassed simply for being with him in any sort of context. “Probably not,” he agreed quietly, his brow furrowing a little. That severely limited what they could do with their time, and Viktor wasn’t sure how successful he’d be at controlling and restraining himself for endless periods of time without some sort of distraction. His eyes lingered on her as the water level in the tub rose. “Muggle places come in handy sometimes,” he smiled slightly. He’d introduced Emlyn to the Muggle bookstore in Caerphilly, but he was pretty sure that she didn’t have much experience in that world.

Turning off the tap once the water was high enough to conceal her intimate parts, Emlyn looked over at him and returned his smile. "Maybe this is a good chance to explore more," she suggested, having enjoyed their visit to the Muggle bookstore. Viktor had made it so easy for her, and she had never once felt unsafe or on her own. "Could you turn around now please?" There was no putting if off any longer. She was going to have to get naked. Drawing in a slow, steadying breath, she waited until his back was turned to her, but even then it took her a moment to find the courage to pull her nightdress up over her head.

As soon as the nightdress and her underwear were gone, she stepped into the bath and sank down until only her shoulders were visible above the bubbles. "You can sit down now, if you want. I don't think you'll be able to see anything." At least, she hoped not. Not yet. Maybe one day, which gave her a warm fluttery nervous feeling deep inside. Picking up the soap, she began to wash herself, keeping one eye on him just in case. The water and bubbles moved as she did, but she was careful not to let anything be revealed. And still, even as the conversation moved on, and she was busy with such a mundane task, her mind was preoccupied with figuring out just what it was she was feeling.

He turned his back, his breathing quickening just a little at the thought of what exactly she was doing behind him. Viktor closed his eyes and waited as he heard the water shift, trying not to picture exactly what she looked like in every detail. Muggle stores. Muggle food. Muggle transportation. Viktor made his mind think about pretty much everything but the fact that she was currently naked behind him. He turned at her permission, his eyes skimming quickly and subtly over every part of her that was visible, before he sank down onto the floor in the same place she’d been. The foot of height he had on Emlyn made it easier for him to see directly across the tub to her face, but Viktor kept his eyes as occupied elsewhere as he could.

This was only the first morning. Viktor’s eyes moved to the opposite wall. The first morning. His expression grew a little more sober. They were sharing a bed, a bathroom, and essentially bathing at the same time. Viktor’s eyes shut. The spell wasn’t showing any signs of lessening yet. And Em knew how he felt now. She knew that he loved her. He realized with a jolt that he hadn’t said the actual words yet, but he’d said just about everything else. She was so sweet, so innocent in some ways, and Viktor wanted to protect and preserve that. His jaw clenched a little. He would hold onto his control with both hands for her. He’d survive it.

He’d been preoccupied with his own thoughts, but as he lifted his head and opened his eyes, glancing over at Emlyn’s face, he realized that she’d fallen quiet as well. She was handling this whole situation so well, in spite of having her privacy invaded and being forced into a situation that was awkward at best. Viktor’s eyes softened, his lips curving into a small gentle smile. He wasn’t sure he had words for what he felt. She was amazing.

Emlyn didn't mind the silence. It was comfortable, or at least, as comfortable as it could be in a situation like this. She liked that they could be quiet together. Reading together yesterday was becoming a favourite memory of hers, and she hoped it would become a more frequent occurrence. Simply cuddling and reading, lovely though it was, couldn't be enough for him though, and as she washed herself, she considered the other women he had been with. It was more academic curiosity than anything else. She found herself wanting to be everything to him, including this most intimate of things. She wanted to be everything he needed, to give him everything he wanted, even if she had no idea how to.

Looking over at him, she noticed he wasn't looking at her and took advantage of the moment to study his face. Sighing quietly as she drank in how beautiful he was, she briefly wished he was in the bath with her. How lovely that would be, especially if they had scented candles around them with their romantic flickering light. Maybe one day that would become reality. Leaning against the edge of the tub closest to him, carefully making sure the bubbles were still in place, Emlyn looked back at Viktor again. She still had no idea how she was going to ask this, but the questions were starting to push at the back of her teeth, eager to be asked. "Viktor..." she began hesitantly. "Have you... been intimate with many women?"

That wasn't quite what she wanted to know, but perhaps it might help her to clarify just what that was, since she couldn't seem to figure it out yet, just what she was feeling.

Ah. So that was what she’d been preoccupied with. Viktor’s eyes moved over her face as she leaned closer to him. He didn’t regret the girlfriends he’d had, or what they’d shared, but none of them could hold a candle to Emlyn for him, in any way. He wasn’t sure how she felt about it, or what specifically she was getting at, but he’d answer anything she wanted to know as clearly and openly as he could. What he felt for her completely obliterated what he’d felt for anyone else, and for her, he’d wait forever. And he wanted to show her that, somehow.

“A few,” he answered her, honestly and quietly. It hadn’t been nearly as many as it could have been. Viktor had never slept around just because he could. But he definitely wasn’t inexperienced.

That answer caused a strange feeling in Emlyn's stomach. She wasn't jealous. She wasn't upset. But she was unsure, mainly of herself. Her eyes were on his, reflecting her uncertainty, but also a desire to please. She wanted to be loved so badly, and enjoyed every drop of affection that Viktor bestowed on her, and this was the ultimate expression of love, wasn't it?

"I've never," she began, though he had to have guessed by now. "Been with anyone like that." Her voice was softer now as she added, "I don't know what to do."

Admitting to something like that, whether he'd already guessed or not, was putting her in a rather vulnerable position, while she was naked, no less. Being in the bath while having this conversation with him made the situation even more surreal. She still had to wash her hair, but she couldn't think of doing that when she was so involved in this conversation and couldn't drag herself away back to mundane tasks just yet.

Viktor’s eyes were soft, tender and understanding, and tinged with an edge of protectiveness at her willingness to open up to him. It wasn’t a surprise, but having her tell him herself made it seem more special somehow. He reached up and cupped her face in his hand, very gently, his thumb stroking soothingly against her cheek. That she had even thought about it, that she maybe wanted that with him, made his heart feel full. It was ironic that this whole conversation was happening while both of them were essentially naked. He wanted to comfort her. He waited a moment, trying to get his words together.

“It’s alright,” his voice was quiet and soft, his eyes warm. He wanted to tell her that he wouldn’t let her get hurt, that he wanted to make it as perfect as it was in his power to make it, that she didn’t need to be worried or afraid. Viktor wanted to kiss her, so he did. He leaned up and across the distance, keeping his eyes on hers, and he kissed her carefully and sweetly. Sitting back against the wall, he smiled just a little. He couldn’t find words to say what he was thinking. Words that were big enough or eloquent enough.

“I am not going anywhere,” Viktor’s eyes stayed on hers, his voice gentle and reassuring. He wanted her to trust him, that he would be there, that he would help her.

That wasn't quite the response Emlyn was hoping for, not that she knew what she was after exactly. She just knew that wasn't it. She already knew that Viktor wasn't going anywhere. He had made that perfectly clear, and she trusted that would remain the case even if she was terrible at it. The kiss, however, was very welcome, even if it was the strangest place to be kissed. Her fingers lifted out of the bubbles to skim wetly along his jaw as she enjoyed one of the sweetest kisses she had ever been a part of.

"I know you're not going anywhere," she assured him with a soft smile. "I just-" she paused, considering her words. Her eyes on his, she figured in for a knut, in for a galleon. "I don't want to disappoint you." The soft admission was fervent. She could tell that this relationship, with him, was an all or nothing type of thing. And strange as it was, this was her way of showing that she was all in and as such, she wanted to please him.

“That’s not possible,” Viktor answered, right away, his voice still soft but firm. Both of his hands came up to frame her face, forgetting for a moment that she was in the bathtub and that he was wearing nothing but a towel. How fervent her voice was, the soft way she was opening up to him, Viktor wasn’t sure his heart could take it, could take the leap of joy in his insides. His face was lit up, and his eyes were filled with a wordless, tender, gentle hunger. He knew how much it meant for her to be sharing this with him.

“I love you,” the words just came out of him, and the aftermath was a rush of emotion that he had no frame of reference for. His voice was low and fierce. “I want to share everything with you.” Viktor’s thumbs stroked her cheeks. His eyes moved over her face and he swallowed roughly. “That you would want to share that with me...” he paused, his expression lit with a protectiveness and a tenderness that made his whole face seem incandescent. Leaning forward, he kissed her again, with more emotion and heat than he had the first time. Pulling back just a little, his lips still within scant inches of hers, Viktor’s eyes opened and met hers. “I’ll take care of you.” It was low, fervent and deeply meant.

Emlyn hadn't been sure of what she needed to hear, but as Viktor spoke it immediately became clear that what he was saying was exactly what she was after. With her face cupped in his hands and her breasts pressed up against the side of the tub, Emlyn's hand ran lightly along Viktor's arm as she gazed at him. A smile transformed her face. It was light and happy and she reached out to curl her fingers around the back of his neck, pulling him back in for another kiss, this time lingering over it, holding him there while she kissed him deeper this time.

He loved her. He really did love her. She had known that for a while now, since he had told her he was hers, but to hear the words was something else entirely. She wasn't sure she was ready to say them back yet, wanting to be absolutely certain before she did that, but she was definitely able to show him how she felt with the warm kisses she was sharing with him. "I do want to share that with you," she murmured softly against his lips. She still felt nervous about it, at the unknown element, but she trusted Viktor. He would take care of her. He would show her what to do, and it would be alright. He loved her. He would never let anything bad happen to her.

Her initiation, the way her hand curved around the back of his neck and pulled him back into her, made Viktor smile, his eyes lighting up in delight. He kissed her back, deeply and thoroughly, letting her hold him in place, his thumbs continuing to gently stroke her face. It almost didn’t matter in that moment how exposed they both were physically. He cared much, much more about how exposed they were both being emotionally. He had never loved anyone the way he loved Emlyn, and he knew, knew that he could never love anyone else. She was it for him, Viktor just knew it with a certainty that was bone deep. His heart gave a giant, exhilarating leap at her murmured words and he kissed her again, with all of the exuberant emotion it created.

His hands framed her face gently, his lips and tongue doing all of the talking for him, as he leaned into her. Emlyn’s trust in him was not something that he ever intended to take for granted. It was too precious. Before he lost himself in her lips, Viktor pulled back just slightly, his mouth hovering over hers. He took a breath in, a little shaky, his eyes half shut and his lips curved upwards into a small, incandescent permanent little smile. “I love you,” he said again. Not because he wanted to hear anything back, but because he wanted to cover her, surround her with it, with the assurance of how he felt.

That was exactly how Emlyn felt: surrounded by love. She was so used to being alone in her quiet little cottage, knowing that there were a few key people out there in the world who loved her, but never had she felt this level of affection. It was exhilarating and addictive, and she never wanted to let it go. Her thumb was gently stroking the back of his neck as she gazed up at him, her own smile just as brilliantly bright as his was. She would never have to be alone again, if she didn't want to be. Viktor would always be there, loving her and protecting her. It was almost more than she could handle, but in the best possible way.

His words made her light up inside, and because she wasn't ready to say it back yet (in part because she didn't want him to think she was only saying it because he did) she kissed him again instead. It was coming naturally to her now, kissing him like this, and the more they did it, the more comfortable she felt in initiating it. "I need to wash my hair," she said, coming back to the more practical aspects of where they were right now. "And then..." And then she had no idea what would come next, but she needed to get out of the water before she wrinkled up.

He loved seeing the look on her face, the way she seemed to light up from the inside out every time he said it. Viktor decided then and there that he would never stop telling her, or showing her, just how much he loved her, just to be able to see that look on her face every time he did it. He leaned into her, enjoying kissing her again, and enjoying how much she was relaxing and taking the initiative. His hand stroked over her damp hair, and he pulled back a little with a quiet sigh and a smile, his eyes warm. “If you have to,” he teased her gently, his eyes lit with a deep, inner spark of light and happiness.

Viktor sat back reluctantly to let her finish with her bath, his eyes on her face as much as possible, just enjoying drinking her in. He was mostly air dried now, and clothes were waiting in the bedroom.

Emlyn didn't want to let him go, but she could already feel her fingers beginning to wrinkle and knew there were much better places for them to talk and kiss once she was finished here. There was a lightness to her as he moved away and let her get on with what she needed to do, and she kept looking over at him and smiling in joyful wonder in between the process of washing her hair. When she was finished with all that she needed to do, Emlyn was more than ready to get out of the bath and get on with their day. "Could you pass me a towel, please?" she asked, her fingers on the plug but she didn't pull it out just yet. "And, could you turn around again?"

She might have just agreed to be with him intimately, but that didn't mean she was ready to stand up naked in front of him right this minute. Only when Viktor had turned around did she pull the plug to let the water out and stood up, wrapping the towel around herself to dry off as much as she could before stepping out of the bath. Her robe was soon wrapped around her and she was towelling dry her hair as she said, "You can turn back around now."

Viktor couldn’t help smiling a little at her request that he turn around, but he immediately obliged after handing her a towel. He stood up and turned his back on her, his hand dropping to help hold his towel closed as it hung a little low on his hips. He waited quietly and patiently for her to finish, his eyes on the wall opposite him, his lips lifted in a small, pleased smile that he wasn’t sure was ever going to leave his face. The deep sense of well being and joy in his middle wasn’t anything he’d ever experienced in his life, and in fact was something he didn’t think he’d ever get to feel. His smile sobered a little. He would never, ever stop regretting what he’d done to Emlyn. But the fact that he’d found her in the process, that he’d discovered someone that had completely altered his life, wasn’t something that he would change. Emlyn had worked her way into every part of his being. His whole body and heart and mind felt wrapped around her and through her, and Viktor never wanted that to change.

At her permission, he turned back around and crossed the distance between them. He waited until she lowered the towel she was drying her hair with, and then wrapped his arms around her and pulled her up against him gently. He bent down to kiss her again. He couldn’t stop touching her, and he didn’t want to. He kissed her until they were both breathless and then pulled back with a smile that was filled with subtle humor. “Back to the bedroom?” he asked, ready to get out of a towel and back into actual clothing.

Emlyn loved the way Viktor pulled her close and kissed her, like he couldn't wait a moment longer. Her towel fell to the floor and her hands slid up his strong arms, up around his neck as she kissed him back, enjoying the easy affection they were able to share now. It was still so new to her, all of it, but she loved it already. She had always loved it when someone hugged her, or even simply stood close, their shoulders touching, or the way Georgie would lean against her sometimes when they were playing together, but this was on a whole new level, one that Emlyn never wanted to let go of. If she let herself, she could quite easily panic about how much Viktor was coming to mean to her, and how heartbroken she would be if she lost him, but it was far too late to walk away now, even if she could physically make herself do it.

"Back to the bedroom," she agreed, leaving her things in the bathroom and slipped her hand into his as they left the room. She could see how it was eventually going to become second nature, always being together, side by side, no matter what they were doing. She wondered how they were going to go back to normal after this.

In the bedroom, Emlyn considered the clothing she had brought with her, most of it comfortable clothing to wear at home, though some of it was brought with outings in mind, since they couldn't stay cooped up here all the time. "What is the plan for today?" she asked, glancing at him, needing to know so she knew what to choose to wear. "Are we staying here? Or going out somewhere?"

Viktor’s towel had nearly hit the floor when he kissed her, but he managed to keep a grip on it. Barely. By the time he pulled away, his towel was dangerously loose. He held it closed with one hand, his eyes on her face and his hand in hers, fingers laced together and his thumb brushing back and forth along the back of her hand. He couldn’t imagine her leaving. Couldn’t picture his house without her in it. He didn’t want to think about that. This spell had given him an opportunity that he didn’t want to waste. Every last minute he got with Emlyn, he was going to make the most of. No matter what.

He bent as they walked and kissed the top of her head, just because he could.

At her question, Viktor smiled a little, his eyes warm and a little bit heated. “Lets go somewhere tomorrow,” he suggested quietly. The idea of just spending time with her, touching her, was too good to pass up. Towel still in hand, although it was riding dangerously low now, Viktor tilted his head a little and smiled down at Emlyn. “If that’s alright with you.”

Emlyn smiled, nodding in agreement. "Tomorrow sounds like a good idea. We can explore the Muggle world some more." It was a good plan, and one which meant Emlyn could cuddle close to him today and kiss him some more. She was addicted already. Her gaze dropped down over his chest, to where his towel looked to be perilously close to falling off. Cheeks flushing, she looked away, then back up at him, smiling in gentle amusement. "We should get dressed." Before he lost his towel. "Without looking," she added, smiling at him. She didn't want the first time they saw each other naked to be a moment like this, when they were getting dressed. It should be more romantic than that, she thought.

With their backs turned, Emlyn got dressed as quickly as she could, choosing clothing that was comfortable to wear around home, though she still ended up looking far more formal than most women her age would for a day spent at home. It was just who she was, and how she preferred to dress, feeling more comfortable in dresses and skirts than anything else. The earrings were the ones she wore more often than not and were simply a part of her by now. She waited until Viktor was ready and then stepped past him to pick up her necklace off the dresser to put it back on. It was one of her most treasured belongings, which was why it had had to come with her over here. She couldn't leave it at home while she was away. The ring was tucked beneath the neckline of her dress and she turned to him. "I just need to brush my hair," she said, looking up at him. "You need a mirror in here," she added, smiling at him. It was obvious that a woman had never lived here, which pleased her. Of course, he hadn't been in the country long, but that wasn't the point.

The blush on her cheeks as she glanced down his chest to where his towel was barely hanging on made Viktor smile a little, his eyes dark and lit up with quiet amusement. He nodded in agreement to not looking. “No looking,” he agreed, with a quirk upwards of his lips. He turned his back on her deliberately, and quickly tugged out some clothes from his dresser. Dropping his towel to the floor, he got dressed and just went for comfort: some of his favorite jeans, a long sleeved tighter fitting casual t-shirt. Just the basics. When they were both ready, he smiled a little at her outfit. It was so feminine and pretty, and completely Emlyn. She looked beautiful. He watched her put on the necklace with the ring hanging from it that he’d noticed the day before, his head tilting slightly in interest.

He chuckled quietly. “I never needed one before,” he replied. Viktor led the way out of the bedroom, bending to kiss her briefly before they moved out of the room and back into the bathroom. He waited quietly while she started with her hair, his expression thoughtful. “That’s a beautiful ring,” Viktor commented, with a tip of his head toward where the chain disappeared under the neckline of her dress. He let his eyes linger there for a moment, for reasons other than the ring, before looking back up at her with a smile.

"You do now," Emlyn replied, smiling at him. Not only because she might be here a while, but also after the spell wore off. She hoped to be visiting often, and had a feeling Viktor would like that too. In the bathroom, she found her brush and glanced at him as she began to brush her hair, her free hand briefly touching her dress, where she could feel the ring resting against her skin beneath it. "It was my mother's," she explained somberly, and returned to brushing her hair as she spoke. "She gave it to me not long before she died. I've kept it with me ever since." She had been so young when her mother had died, but she had been old enough to understand what a treasure her mother had given to her, and she had kept it safe all these years.

Viktor filed that information away in his mind, his eyes keenly interested. He just nodded quietly in understanding. He got a little distracted by her hair, his expression softening a little as he watched her brush it. He moved up behind her as she was nearly done, his hands sliding around her waist and holding her gently against him, as he bent down and buried his nose in her hair, eyes falling shut for a few seconds as he just wrapped her up in him. He kissed under her ear and down along the side of her neck, just gentle, soft presses of his lips to her skin. He pulled back and smiled at her in the mirror.

“Hungry?” He asked, his voice a little bit rough around the edges. He didn’t want to let her go, but his stomach was demanding food. The amount of time spent in the bathroom had been considerably longer than normal. And Viktor was actually a passable cook. Sofia had seen to that pretty early.

He led them down the hall and into the kitchen, and got busy making food. His mouth lifted into a smile as they moved around each other with an ease and a comfort that belied the fact that they had only spent a single night together. With the kettle on for tea, and a simple but tasteful breakfast of bacon, eggs, toast and fresh fruit just about finished, Viktor dropped another tender kiss on her before reaching above her head to pull out some plates.

Emlyn put her brush down near his when he stepped up behind her, enjoying the way his arms went around her, head tilting to one side as he kissed her neck. Her eyes closed briefly as she leaned back against him, immensely enjoying the way he held her, and loved her. It brought a sweetly joyful smile to her face as she opened her eyes, meeting his in the mirror. She couldn't remember feeling this happy before, this safe or relaxed. Living alone meant a certain level of anxiety for Emlyn that she had gotten used to over the years, but now, with him beside her, wrapped around her, she was noticing that it had lifted, leaving her feeling much more at ease.

"Yes," she replied, though she didn't want to move away from him either. Breakfast was necessary though, and she followed him through to the kitchen and helped as much as she could, learning the layout of his kitchen and where things were kept, since she might be here a while. Once or twice, in her eagerness to help, she had inadvertently stepped past the five feet of safe space they had between them, but the quick flash of pain quickly had her stepping back towards him. Emlyn had never felt comfortable initiating contact with people before. There was never anyone she felt close enough to in order to try it. Lucius was probably the closest she got, in a fatherly way, sitting close to him when she could, but it wasn't often at all. Now though, with Viktor's obvious permission, Emlyn found herself touching him frequently, little things, a hand on his back as she reached past him for something, her fingers tangling lightly with his when there was a spare moment just because she wanted to. It was a heady feeling, and one that Emlyn relished.

Once their breakfast was ready and on plates, they sat down together, side by side, their chairs moving closer together than they might normally sit with anyone else, but ensured they were touching. It seemed to happen in tandem, without a word said, both moving as one with the same need to be close. Emlyn smiled at him as she sat down. "This is lovely, thank you," she said, innate politeness coming to the fore. As they ate, Emlyn found that somehow their legs crossed beneath the table to connect at the ankle, similar to how they had during the night. She couldn't stop smiling at him, incandescently happy just being there beside him. There was nowhere else she would rather be, she decided.

Tucked up next to each other, shoulders just touching barely (or actually his bicep and her shoulder), Viktor felt more peacefully, perfectly happy than he had in a very, very long time. Years. The way their legs twined together, their bodies tilting just slightly toward each other, as they ate, felt right. He smiled down at her, a deep satisfaction filling him at the way that her face was lit up, at the smile that never seemed to leave. He wanted that there, always. “You’re welcome,” he said quietly.

Their breakfast went pretty quickly, something Viktor was thankful for. He just wanted to touch her again, and as they finished eating and stood to deal with plates, he bent kissed her nose, his eyes warm and a subtle, pleased smile on his face. He took her dishes from her and carried them to the sink, murmuring a quiet spell to fill the sink with water instantly. Chores needed to be done quickly. Once dishes were washed and drying, Viktor turned away from the sink and wrapped his arms around Emlyn, bending to kiss her gently once, twice, before smiling down at her. “The couch sounds good right now,” he said, with a subtle, playful hint of suggestion.

Sliding his hand into hers, fingers twined together, he led them both into the living room and sank down onto the couch, tugging her gently down next to him. His arms wrapped around her, and he kissed her neck gently, moving his mouth slowly up the line of her throat, smiling a little against her skin.

"It does," Emlyn agreed, smiling up at him, a shiver of delight rushing through her at the playfulness in his eyes. Following him into the living room, the fluttery nervous feeling was back, but as he pulled her down beside him and wrapped her in his arms, his mouth on her neck, the nervousness disappeared to be replaced with pleasure. Her hands were resting lightly on his chest as her head tilted while at the same time arching into him. Her breathing had quickened already and she shifted closer, unsure really what to do, but she wanted to be close to him. Warmth had flooded through her in places that she had only felt it when she was with Viktor. He awakened places and feelings inside of her that no one else ever had, and when she thought about life before this, it seemed quite pale and dull in comparison.

Her hand slowly slid up over his chest, tentatively touching him in ways she had never let herself before. Her touch at work was highly professional, but this was completely different now. She was allowed to touch simply because she wanted to, because she needed to, and he wanted her to. "Viktor," she breathed, her hand sliding up to cup his cheek as she moved to kiss him again, missing the feel of his lips pressed against hers.

There was still an element of tentativeness to the way Emlyn touched him, and he wanted to encourage her. Viktor leaned into her hand, kissing her back slowly and thoroughly and sweetly, showing her as clearly as he could that he loved it when she touched him, when she initiated. His hands slid further around her waist, holding her close against his body. There was absolutely nothing else he wanted to be doing, absolutely nowhere else he wanted to be. He shifted her sideways a little and tugged her gently into his lap. He couldn’t get her close enough.

Both of his hands slid up her sides slowly, and he tilted his head a little, deepening the kiss and shifting it from slow, sweet exploration into something a little more heated, a little more suggestive, a little hungrier, teasing her tongue playfully with his.

Emlyn was quickly finding it very difficult to think of anything other than his hands and his mouth, swept away by the feelings rushing through her as they moved together. With her legs pulled across his lap like she was now, she was twisted towards him, not noticing at first as she got caught up in the heat in that kiss. Her fingers were stroking his cheek, her other hand still pressed to his chest, enjoying the strength she could feel there and had always admired. It wasn't that she didn't want to do more, she just wasn't sure what exactly to do. She shifted towards him, trying to ease the pressure on her back as it protested the way she was twisting towards him. It didn't really work, but she knew a better way.

Breaking the kiss, her eyes opening to gaze at him with swollen lips and gray eyes lit with the heat he was inspiring in her. Her thumb lightly stroked along his bottom lip as she drew in a ragged breath, then shifted until one leg was on either side of his, straddling his thighs so she was no longer twisted towards him. Her skirt slid up her thighs as she moved until it was much, much shorter than it had been before, revealing the darker tops of her stockings, just stopping short of revealing any skin.

The tip of Viktor’s tongue darted out and teased against her thumb playfully, his eyes dark and heated. His hands moved down her sides as she straddled him, his breath catching at the feeling of her settling over him. Eyes skimming over her swollen lips, his own mouth curving into a smile, Viktor let his hands drag down her sides to her thighs and all the way down to her knees, before sliding them back up, the tips of his fingers teasing the hem of her dress. He didn’t quite push it up, but his fingertips slipped just under it, his palms wrapped around her legs. A flash of how surreal this was flickered through Viktor’s mind, but he dismissed in favor of leaning up to capture Emlyn’s mouth again.

His legs shifted a little further apart, to get a little more comfortable. The way he was kissing her was deep, thorough and heated and tinged with playfulness. He could kiss her forever, their tongues and lips tangling together and stoking a fire in his gut that had been forcibly banked for a very long time.

Emlyn didn't think she'd ever get used to the way it felt to have his hands on her like this or his mouth kissing her like he was. It felt incredible and she leaned into him, feeling a bit bolder now, letting her hands roam down over his chest and stomach, feeling the muscles she had been so intent on this morning in the bathroom when he'd been wet. He was so... sexy really was the only word for him, which wasn't a word she had ever applied to anyone before, but it fit now. He didn't seem to mind what she was doing, but now she found that all she could think about was him shirtless, which she had seen countless times before but hadn't had the opportunity to touch that she did now. Her fingers found the hem of his shirt and she hesitated a moment, breaking the kiss with difficulty (she didn't want to ever stop kissing him) to ask, "May I?" as she lifted his shirt a little to indicate what she meant.

She was growing a little bolder, and the way her hands moved over his front were making it harder and harder for him to keep his own hands still. Viktor felt as if every small move she made, every place that her hands touched him, was like a lit match touching gasoline. He’d never had such an instant response, his whole body reacting to Emlyn. Her question was so sweet, and Viktor’s eyes darkened, his lips lifting a little into a smile that was very appreciative. He nodded and lifted his arms, letting her tug his shirt up. He took hold and tugged it off of his arms, tossing it aside. The tantalizing glimpse of the tops of her stockings was tormenting him, and Viktor returned his hands to her legs. His fingers inched upwards, his palms stroking slowly up her thighs and pushing the skirt of her dress up until he felt bare skin under his fingertips.

His thumbs slid inward, rubbing gentle and soft patterns on the sensitive skin of her thighs. Viktor leaned forward, and closed his mouth against the side of her neck, just where it joined her shoulder, his tongue flicking playfully against her skin.

The shirt gone, Emlyn's eyes dropped down to the expanse of chest that she had been so captivated with earlier. Her hands settled on bare skin this time, smoothing over it as she touched muscles and warm skin and thought about what it would be like to follow her hand with her lips. His hands were back on her thighs again, and she felt it the instant he touched bare skin, feeling a shock of pleasure in her very core that only heightened as his thumbs moved inward, closer to somewhere that was feeling vastly different to usual, heated and desperately wanting to be touched. Emlyn had never been touched like this at all before, never had someone's hands on her legs like this, and couldn't imagine allowing anyone else to touch her this intimately.

She shifted closer to him, moaning softly in his ear as he kissed her neck, her hips finding it difficult to stay still now, as needy pleasure filled her up but only left her wanting more. "Please," she whispered breathlessly, but had no idea what she was asking for. It hadn't taken long for him to heat her up again, though she had been in a heightened state ever since she'd seen him clad only in a towel with water dripping off him, and the kisses and touches they'd exchanged since had only served to keep her warm inside. Her fingers were trailing over his abdominals by now, venturing close to the waistband of his jeans, exploring his body in ways she had never dreamed she would.