CAPTIVITY

32. Cuddles and Sandpaper

(Ashley POV)

"AHHHHH" 

I yelp out in searing pain as Johnny places the ice cold towel against my back.

 "Aish, it's not that bad, stop being such a coward," he laughs and I lean forward with clenched teeth.

 "Says the one without postcoital injury! I feel like you fucking scrubbed my back with sandpaper and cat claws!" I yell at him as he cleans the friction wounds on my back.

 "Yeah, yeah I'm unscathed this time....Holy shit, some of these are actually bleeding out," 

He mutters and I turn my head to give him the deadliest glare I could muster. He avoids my sore back as he leans forward and gently kisses my cheek. 

"I'm sorry Ash, I wasn't thinking about the cast." he finally apologizes and I let out a long somewhat forgiving sigh. 

"Whatever," I murmur. feeling some sense of relief with the cold towel, but flinching when he dug into to the bad sections.

 "I'm almost done honey," Johnny says, finally showing a tiny hint of sympathy. I clench my hands together as he gets the last sore and pulls away. I pick up my navy blue shirt and try to put it on but the pain was so great I just end up hunching forward.

 "Maybe it will be better for you to sleep shirtless. The fabric might mess with the scratches and you need at least a few hours of sleep with our travels," He says gently resting a hand on my shoulder.

 "But what if I get blood everywhere?" I ask and he rolls his eyes.

 "Ash, I've seen all your bodily fluids. A little blood is nothing," He laughs and turns off the light as he crawls into bed. I scoot myself into bed with him and he curls up in my arms. 

"If we had just cuddled like I wanted to I bet you your back wouldn't have gotten so messed up," he adds and I drape an arm around his lean waist.

 "I live my sex life without regrets," I grumble and he chuckles softly. I loved his little laugh, even when he was making fun of me in the dark.

"Is that what you told Angel?"

"I never slept with Angel,"

"Why do I not believe you?"

"Because you don't believe anything I say,"

"That's not true,"

"Name one thing that comes out of my mouth that you believe,"

Silence.

"Mhm. I thought so,"

"I love you,"

"What?"

"That's what I believe."

"Oh, wow, that's it? Fuck you too then,"

He yawns into my chest, his soft hair just touching the base of my chin.

"It's true,"

"One day Johnny, I want you to believe everything I tell you,"

"Good luck,"