The next day, the sun shone brightly. Autumn woke up, feeling that she needed a bath. She got up. She opened the door. Daniel was walking toward her, carrying buckets of water. He stopped in front of her.
"I knew you would be needing a bath," he said, "so I drew water for you."
He came into the room. He poured the hot water into the tub next to the closet. She waited until he put the buckets down before throwing her arms around him.
"Thank you, Daniel!" she said, scattering kisses on his face. "Thank you!" She pulled away from him. "How can you stand being so close to me? I stink!"
"I hold my breath," he said, smiling.
"Oh, you!" she said. She swatted his arm.
He moved toward the door. "I will go and let you bathe," he said.
"Before you go, can you unbutton the dress?" she asked.
He nodded. He moved toward her. She turned around and lifted her hair. He quickly unbuttoned her. He fought the urge to run his finger down her spine. She turned toward him.
"Thank you," she said.
"You are welcome," he said. He quickly left. He shut the door.
She let the dress pool to her feet. She slipped off her panties. She cautiously put one foot into the tub. Daniel got the water at the right temperature. She sighed in pleasure as her body slid into the water. She laid her head back against the rim of the tub. She grabbed the bar of soup. She soaped her arm.
After she bathed, she laid in the tub for awhile. There was a knock at the door. Then the door opened. Panic rose in her throat. Daniel came into the room. She sighed in relief. He seemed to be carrying towels. He shut the door behind him. He blushed when he realized she was looking at him.
"I-I just came to give you something to dry off with," he said. "I also brought a shirt you can wear. So that you don't have to worry about your towel falling off while you get dressed."
"Come here," she said.
He got on his knees beside the tub. He looked at her. She brushed the back of her hand against his cheek.
"You are too good to me," she said. "You are sweet and kind. Any girl would be lucky to have you."
Why cannot it be you? he thought, sadly. She drew his head toward her. She kissed him slowly. As if his hand had a will of it's own, it slipped into the water and cupped her breast. She gasped against his mouth. He fondled one breast, then the other. He pulled away. He looked at the floor, ashamed.
"I am sorry," he said, on the verge of tears. "I do not know what has come over me."
She took his hand. She put it on her breasts. He pulled it away. He took her hand.
"Please say I have not lost your friendship," he said, his voice cracking. He pressed his face against her hand. Her hand rested on the rim of the tub. He began to cry.
With her free hand, she stroked his hair. "You haven't lost my friendship," she said. "Nothing can come between us."
He kissed her palm. She shivered in delight. He pulled away.
"You should get out of the tub," he said. "You have been in there too long."
"Will you turn around, please?" she said.
He nodded. He turned. She got up. He handed her a towel. She quickly dried herself and put on the shirt. She went up behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist. She slipped her hand under his shirt. His muscles rippled as she stroked his stomach.
