Brad nodded and continued to gently wash her back, “No worries. It is not like we are going anywhere tonight.”<br/><br/>For several moments he was silent, the thought being to give her the chance to just relax and work through whatever thoughts she might have had. This was not ideal and if anything it was far more dangerous than anything they had done previously together. Sure, before it had been a daily thing, when they would meet, talk and make love. Now, though it was different. She was different and perhaps he himself was different as well. This was not like him, was not like the man that many knew him to be. Sure, he had been known to be kind and generous to those in need, but never before had he told anyone he loved them. Never before had he gone out of his way to see someone knowing that it was more than a few nights in jail waiting for him.<br/><br/>Yet, here he was with Maria. In a house he built with the sole purpose to be closer to her. To be closer to a woman that he had no right to, no claim to and still there he was.<br/><br/>The bath began to cool, so he stood and grabbed a towel. “Here,” he held it open for her. “You can dry off with this; I’ll go and check on dinner. There is a robe behind the door for you to put on when you are ready to come out.”<br/><br/>He tried to be as gentle and encouraging with his voice, to not make her feel pressured at all. At a last moment of impulse he leaned down and kissed the top of her head then promptly disappeared from the room to give her some privacy.