Please note this chapter contains themes of a mature nature including sexual abuse. Please proceed with caution.
Zeev POV
I stepped Harlee directly into the shower as I had done on previous occasions.
"You can go." She sighed.
"If I do, I'll just dirty the house." I responded calmly. She looked at me and winced. Internally, I was seething, but outwardly I knew it was important to keep my cool.
"I suppose you're right." She muttered and turned the water on. The spray was icy and she dodged it, right into my arms. I turned her body away from the stream, shielding her with my own until the temperature could change. She looked up at me, huddling against my chest, a flood of emotions behind her eyes. I still had a grip on her upper arms, and she suddenly pulled away.
"Thanks." She said dully. I screamed internally, but just sighed on the outside. I knew I had betrayed her trust in me, and that this was my own doing, but I wanted to fix it. To apologize, to make things better.
"Harlee, I.." I reached for her face and the water finally warmed up behind me. I turned to adjust the temperature and then shed my clothes.
Harlee POV
I hadn't been this close to Zeev, and my soul fragment, in weeks. All of the numbness Ash had so carefully laid down was now gone, and the ache in my chest was intense. I was so mad at Zeev still, but my soul hurt. I could tell I had done some serious damage to it. I clenched a fist against the jacket before sliding it off. Zeev had removed his clothes and was silently washing off, but had not turned back to me-giving me my privacy. Our link was so weak. It was like it had withered. I could barely feel him now. The pain in my chest intensified. With a huff I flung myself against his back, huddling nearer my soul. Zeev's slumped posture straightened in shock for a moment. I let the water stream over me with my eyes closed, feeling the blood and tissues sliding down my skin. I missed Zeev's fingers on me, and his lips. I missed his smell. I inhaled deeply. The cinnamon conflicting with the chlorine of the tap water. Zeev turned around to look at me slowly, eyes wary, as if approaching a scared, stray dog.
"You hurt me. You betrayed me. You were supposed to be the ONE person in this world I could ALWAYS COUNT ON!" My voice started as a low murmur, but ended as a screech. I pummeled his chest with my fists. He took the attack, even as I increased the strength behind the blows. He exhaled sharply at each impact, but showed no other signs of discomfort. When I couldn't raise my arms to hit him any more, he smashed me against his chest, hand cradling my head, the other wrapped around my shoulders. I sobbed as my soul relaxed for the first time in almost a month.
Zeev POV
My heart was breaking. I held Harlee as tightly as I could. She could hit me all she needed, rip my Demon's Heart out of my chest if she had to, Hell I would do it myself and offer it to her. I just.. wanted to make her stop hurting. I was ashamed, I was terrified I had destroyed the most precious thing I ever had. If I could give my life to reverse time and take it back, I would.
"Harlee.." I whispered, my voice breaking, I tilted her face up to look at me and the tears mingled with the shower water. She looked so vulnerable, so fragile. I laid my hand along the Mark on her jaw and poured my emotions through, leaning in to kiss her gently. She jerked back from the contact, but then to my surprise, flung herself at me, jumping upwards to wrap her legs around my waist while she savagely bit my lip and then attacked my mouth with her own. She was being so aggressive, it was like she couldn't decide if she wanted to attack me or make love to me. I held still, but as her attack became more violent, to the point of drawing blood, I snarled and pinned her against the shower wall.
"We're still covered in blood Harlee." I told her.
"I don't care." She panted and bit my chest. It was enough to draw a bead of blood.
"Why.. after what I did.." I asked.
"Because I want to. Because you deserve a taste of your own medicine!" She screeched and her claws dug into my back. I twitched. I wasn't even aware she had learned to shift unassisted.
"So we're back to this?" I asked softly when she next released my lips. "Attacking each other? Hating each other?" Harlee shoved off the shower wall, knocking me backwards. I hit the edge of the tub and had to step out to keep my balance. The shower curtain ripped with a loud series of popping sounds at the hooks.
"I don't hate you. That's part of the problem!" Harlee's voice was somewhere between a scream and a sob. She pounded her fists against my chest, and this time I let my body topple backwards onto the floor, with Harlee on top of me. She ground herself against me, and even with my own Demonic abilities, I wasn't able to control my body's reaction to the movement. I groaned and bucked. Harlee snarled and bore down harder, digging her nails into my abdomen. I felt them pierce the flesh and sucked in a breath. I gripped her arms and tried to pry her hands loose, but she snapped at me, and then leaved forward again to bite at my lips, my tongue. I felt the blood well up there too. Harlee was suddenly a wild beast that couldn't be tamed, and I was the prey she was intending to devour.
Harlee POV
I woke up on Zeev's chest in our bedroom. My chest felt so much better, and Zeev's cinnamon smell was very strong. I sat upright swiftly. Zeev's chest was covered in healing wounds and fading scars. I flinched. I did that. I was afraid to look at his face.
"Harlee, it's ok." Zeev said softly, sliding a hand along my cheek, wiping away an escaped tear.
"No it's not! It doesn't matter what you did to me before-I didn't have the right to do this to you." I cried, covering my face. There was a long pause.
"I wouldn't know. You're talking about human morals now. Divine and Demonic principles are not the same. Demons are generally more revenge-based creatures and Angels, well we just do-did-what we were told. And let's face it, a lot of Divine Retribution looks a whole lot like petty revenge." Zeev chuckled. I looked through my fingers at his face. His lips were still swollen and bruised, dried blood clung to the corner of his mouth. The damage continued down his jaw and neck. I groaned.
"For fuck's sake, you should have stopped me Zeev. And why aren't you healing?" I moaned.
"Little low on juice." Zeev chuckled and I blushed. I had been neglecting him for almost a month.
"Zeev, could you.. bring out your Demon teeth?" I asked uncomfortably.
"Why?" Zeev's confusion was apparent, but he opened his mouth to show the teeth anyway. Before he could stop me, I plunged my hand at his mouth and nicked three of my fingers on his sharp teeth.
"Harlee!" He cried out, grabbing my hand and looking at the deep wounds.
"Is my blood still useful to you?" I gasped as the blood began to well up and roll down my fingers.
"Yes, but not if you incapacitate yourself!" Zeev snarled.
"Then here!" I put my fingers to his lips. The pain was much more intense than I had anticipated and my hand was trembling. Zeev noticed the movement and kissed the fingers gently before licking the trail of blood from my arm, up my hand and then popping the fingers into his mouth. He groaned and I felt his tongue press against the wounds eagerly, licking the blood away as fast as it could pour out, curling around my fingers like they were a lollipop. The roughness of it hurt, and I muffled a squeak of pain. Zeev's eyes flew open and he looked at me, then proceeded more cautiously, shifting his tongue back to that of a humans so that the soft warmth was not as painful. He sucked gently on my fingers and I squealed lightly. It was a strange sensation and I wasn't sure if I hated it or liked it, or maybe a little of both.
"Are you ok Harlee?" Zeev asked, licking his lips, his orange-yellow eyes glowed brightly.
"Yeah." I replied softly. My fingers were still bleeding lightly.
"Then may I continue?" Zeev looked at my fingers eagerly.
"Mmm." I agreed and then he was licking my fingers like an ice cream cone before popping them back in his mouth again with a moan. He pulled me to him and laid me back on the bed, hovering over me with his Demon eyes glowing.
"Harlee." He panted, holding my fingers in front of his lips. "I want more. I want you." His wounds had begun to heal and I placed a hand on his cheek.
"You know I haven't completely forgiven you." I said and he bowed his head. "And you know it's going to take a long time to get over it."
"I understand." Zeev said, backing away.
"But.. I've missed you Zeev." I pulled him back towards me. "So yes please, but don't mistake this as forgiveness. You have to re-earn my trust. Being horny and lonely doesn't mean I forgive you."
"I understand my Lady." Zeev murmured softly and leaned forward to kiss me gently.