Presque Vu

Chapter 21

As Raina lay there trying to recover, her breathing changed from ragged pants to deep gulps and then suddenly she was sobbing, so deeply that her whole body shook. It was a strange feeling, not like a normal cry, where the sadness seemed to be creeping in until it became overwhelming, but completely the opposite, like a release valve had been turned and all the negative things she had been holding were being washed away. She knew there was no stopping it but she didn't want to stop it. It felt cleansing and wonderful.

Of course, the guys were all over her immediately, removing all the remaining playthings and wrapping her in a big soft blanket. Shannon lifted her into his lap, stroked her hair and murmured reassurances while Jared went to fetch her a glass of juice.

"I knew this was going to happen with her," Shannon said when Jared returned. "She keeps herself wound way too tight."

Jared kissed her forehead and handed her the glass. "You need to try to drink that," he told her, still sounding as authoritative as he had a few minutes ago. When she took it and began to drink his voice softened. "Do you understand what's happening to you? Are you okay?"

Raina nodded weakly and hoped that would be enough. There was no way she could verbalize everything that was going through her head at that moment. She had spent years with Dan secretly searching out other people's adventures on the internet, reading about all the things she was convinced were never going to happen to her, but that she had desperately wanted. She was glad now that she had, her intense reaction would have felt overwhelming and confusing otherwise. She got about half the glass down before she had to hand it back to Jared, her hand shaking as the sobs continued to wind their way out of her. He just sat the drink aside, rubbing her back and telling her she was going to be just fine, just let it out. Then he got up and started to run a bath.

As intense as her tears had been they dried up much more quickly than Raina would have thought. By the time Shannon scooped her up and carried her to Jared where he was waiting in the bathtub she at least had dispensed with the outright sobs and graduated into sniffles and the occasional ragged breath. She still didn't feel capable of conversation, but Jared seemed to understand that and just wrapped himself protectively around her. He let the warm water of the bath help do the work of relaxing her, pouring it over her body and into her hair while he hummed softly behind her. She could hear Shannon in the shower, and even though the three of them were too much for the tub it was reassuring to know he was still close. When Jared began to lather up her hair she thought she might be ready to talk again.

"I'm okay." It came out as much a question as a statement. Jared kissed her cheek and rubbed the fruity smelling shampoo into her scalp.

"Yes, princess, you are okay. You did so well. I am so proud of you." He worked his fingers through her long curls, detangling them as he went. "It takes a while to come back down afterward for some. We'll talk about it all when you're ready. Just let me take care of you now."

Such a simple request would have been so difficult for her just a month ago. Hell, even last week she had bristled after too much attention and caring from Jared. Now she felt all the remaining tension leaving her as he gently rinsed the shampoo away and graduated to conditioner. By the time he had finished with her hair and carefully washed her aching limbs she was a relaxed, pleasant puddle. Shannon eventually reappeared next to the tub with the biggest, fluffiest bath sheet Raina had ever seen, beckoning her to get out and get dried off.

"I know you brought a bag but I have something for you," Jared said as he got out of the tub and began to dry himself off. "I bet you brought one of those little nighties to wear to bed tonight right?" Raina nodded. "As much as I love those things, I think something snuggly is more in order." He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Trust me."