From Tokyo With Love - A Norman Reedus Fanfic Romance

Chapter 18 - Hot Water

OLLIE

I groaned as he lowered me into the water.

Yes, we finally made it into the actual bath! Four hours and another soapy scrub after our first attempt. Not that I'm complaining about the delay, mind you.

Not one little bit!

Once Norman made sure I was settled he climbed in too. Floated over to the corner furthest away....then smirked at me.

"Don't pout, Little Miss! Think it'll be best if we maintain a bit of space between us. Cos I reckon Minnie will do more than wag her finger if anything other than a gentle soak goes on in this tub."

His mouth said one thing, yet his face was telling me a whole different story. A couple of stories at once actually.

The first can be classified as 'XXX'  rated. Every now and then his tongue raked across his lips. As if he was remembering or rather anticipating feeling my skin on them.

And his eyes then narrowed, focusing in on my body while gently I swirled the water around me.

Then suddenly he switched. Mouth opening along with his eyes....full of tenderness and almost....amazement? As if he couldn't believe his declaration of love would ever be reciprocated.

He's amazed????!!!!

When those words came out of his mouth? Have to admit....I was stupefied. Almost as if time stood still for me in that lantern-lit garden.

Did I hear him right? Did Norman just say that he fell in love with me too?

He loves me?

Afterwards, he went so quiet. Almost as if he was afraid of my reaction. I mean....it's only been ten days since we first met. Who wouldn't be scared witless? I know I was.

But I knew.

Knew within the first ten minutes of our meeting that this man was it!  My one and only. Took me a bit longer to admit it to myself....logical and methodical idiot that I am.

But I knew and apparently, so did he.

Norman's face returned to that look of amazement again.

"I love you like crazy....you big Doofus"  I whisper without thinking.

Making him shake his head and give a little embarrassed chuckle.

"What?"  I ask, my voice a bit louder this time.

"You've got no idea what that does to me, Ollie. Hearing you say it and knowing that you really mean it. And I feel  like a colossal Doofus. Because I just wanna hear you say it all the time....and tell you the same right back."

"And I used to think people who did that, were needy. Couldn't abide them. But I know better now. I'm more than happy to stand up and be counted as one."

"I'm a big needy Doofus who loves you back, Ollie Hardy. And I'm so fucking proud of it!"  He finished with a huge self-satisfied grin and we both burst into peals of laughter.

"So, what happens now?"  I ask when we get our breath back.

"Weeeellll, according to your plan....we've ticked off bed then food. It was supposed to be bed again then bath? So we appear to have skipped a step, my Little Miss."

Norman wagged a finger at me as if I've been derelict in my duties and I growled back at him in mock exasperation. He already knows how to flip my switches.