H&M: After a Long Day (locked to Gabrielle) (NC-17)

[iolaus_lj]

Who knew that repairing and sanding floorboards could hurt more than fighting a hydra?

Iolaus had been on his knees most of the day, hard at work on the flooring to the derelict building that would house Herculaneum. Almost a third of the surface had to be replaced with new wood, which required measuring, cutting, fitting, then more sanding

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[potadeiabard]

Gabrielle bent her head to give Iolaus better access to the ties of her halter top, or so it looked but she wasn't above taking advantage of the situation.

She placed an open mouthed kiss on a patch of skin on his chest that didn't have dirt or a bruise. Her lips curled into a smile against his skin as she felt his muscles jump under her touch.

"Yep, you were right about there." Gabrielle's lips were feather soft against Iolaus' skin as she spoke.

[iolaus_lj]

Iolaus replied with a short, surprised intake of breath as her lips and breath against his chest made his skin tingle. His fingers fumbled all the harder at her leather ties, finally pulling them loose. The halter began to slip and he helped it along by gently pulling the straps off her shoulders and down the length of her arms.

He hesitated to touch her creamy white skin with his grime-covered hands, and so let them begin to work at removing her leather skirt.

Glancing over his shoulder at the nearly full tub, he said almost casually, "I think we're about to flood the bathing room."

[potadeiabard]

Gabrielle had forgotten about the water, well not actually forgotten, but got distracted from the water. A slight pink tint colored her cheeks as she smiled at Iolaus and stepped out of her skirt that had pooled at her feet with his expert touch.

"I had my mind on other things and after the zombie destruction and monster goop throughout the hotel, we probably better not flood the bathing chamber." She reluctantly stepped back from Iolaus, before leaning over and turning off the handles of the spouts. "I promise I won't scent the water..." Gabrielle looked over her shoulder with a grin, "unless you want me to."

[iolaus_lj]

As Gabrielle bent over the tub, Iolaus let his gaze caress her naked body. Her buttocks were firm and creamy white, inviting him to reach out and touch. He looked down at himself, covered in dust and grime caked on by a day's worth of sweat, and forced himself not to reach out and touch her.

"Um, think I'll pass on the scented water, thanks."

[potadeiabard]

Gabrielle stood back up and nodded, "right, no rose or lilac scent for the water." She reached her hand out to him, "I'll let you get in first, then I'll slide in behind you."

It was so she could wash his back better and he wouldn't have to turn, but it was also so she could watch his movements getting in the bathing tub and washing. How would he hold his ribs? Did his back hurt from more than just day labor? Iolaus would try to hide the worst hurt from her, but she wanted to judge for herself.

[iolaus_lj]

"If you're sure you want to," he said as he took her hand. "That water's gonna get pretty filthy about 2 seconds after I get in."

Taking care not to put too much weight on her hand, he stepped over the basin rim and slipped his right foot into the water. Nice and hot, just the way he liked it. Still holding her hand, he brought the left foot into the tub. So far so good. Now to try and sit down.

Reluctantly releasing her hand, he placed his hands on either side of the basin and lowered himself into the water -- slowly, keeping his back and abdomin as upright as possible. There really wasn't any way for him to make it seem natural. Bending clearly hurt like hades, especially after a day's worth of working on hands and knees.

Looking up at her through a swirl of steam, he said, "Come on in. The water's fine."

[potadeiabard]

"We shared monster goop, I think I'll be okay with the sweat, slime and filth that you managed to acquire." Gabrielle had watched him carefully as he got into the tub and knew it hurt to bend over. She made a mental note to check his ribs and to not let him bend over when she washed his back.

She carefully got into the tub behind him, her hand resting on his shoulder, "No, don't move. I can get in behind you fine." Gabrielle reached for the cloth and soap and grinned. "I'm quite agile. I'll even demonstrate later, if you'd like."

[iolaus_lj]

He had tried to move a bit more toward the center of the tub but now held himself still as she settled in behind him. He could feel her legs beneath the water, smooth and silkly as they slipped to either side of him. It was a huge basin, with plenty of room for two, but so full that water still managed to slop over the rim onto the floor. Iolaus didn't care. He'd clean it up later. Right now, all he wanted to think about was the soothing heat of the water relaxing his sore muscles and the beautiful woman behind him.

"Agile, huh?" he grinned, turning to kiss the hand on his shoulder. "Now there's a demonstration I'm not about to miss!" He just hoped he was up to a few demonstrations of his own.

[potadeiabard]

She loved the feel of his muscular legs against her smooth ones. It was still something that she was getting used to, being comfortable and at ease around a male. It was odd for it to feel natural at the same time as different. Her hand dipped the washcloth into the water and rubbed the soap in it, making it frothy. Very gently Gabrielle began to wash Iolaus' back, being extremely careful of his hurts.

"You've been working so hard on Herculaneum, I can help you more if you want. Even if it's to rub your shoulders when they start getting tired." Gabrielle ran the cloth over his shoulders, before she leaned in and placed a soft kiss between his now clean shoulder blades.

[iolaus_lj]

As far as Iolaus was concerned, the warmth of the water and the soothing softness of her touch were exactly what the doctor ordered.

"Gods, that feels wonderful," he sighed. Dipping his hands into the water, he caressed her legs, which were about the only part of her he could reach at the moment.

"I think the worst part is over. As of today, the floor's done. Everything else is mostly cosmetic." He turned his head, trying to see her over his shoulder. "I don't want to take you away from your writing. I know how much it means to you."

[potadeiabard]

Gabrielle moved her arms to Iolaus' chest, blindly washing the muscles, but it was an excuse to put her arms around his body. She was very careful not to venture lower to his abdomen and the bruises.

"I can't wait to see it. I know it'll be beautiful." If for no other reason because Iolaus put his heart and soul into it. Gabrielle placed a kiss on his shoulder. "I can always write in the evening if you need me." She smiled against his skin before straightening back up. "I hadn't realized how much I missed writing until I started up again. I mean I write when I'm with Xena, but that was only our adventures, not made up stories to entertain."

[iolaus_lj]

As she slipped her arms around him, he gently caressed her wrist and hands. I he hadn't been quite so stiff, he would have tried to lean back into her arms. Or maybe even turned and returned the favor. But for now, he allowed himself to enjoy her minstrations and the sheer nearness of her.

"I don't know if the floor's exactly beautiful," he admitted modestly. "Servicable maybe. And splinter-free." Tracing a pattern in the lather that covered her hands, he said, "The only things left to do is finish painting and building the equipment." Reluctantly, he stopped caressing her hands and started to lather the parts of his body she couldn't reach.

"I'd love to read what your stories when you're finished." He glanced over his shoulder again. "Actually, I'd rather hear you read them. You're a natural story teller."

[potadeiabard]

She took advantage of Iolaus taking over his bathing, by running her slick hands over his arms as well as sliding the bottom of her foot over the top of his.

"Splinter-free is definitely a good thing, especially since I envision myself spending a bit of time on it." Gabrielle smiled and placed a kiss on Iolaus' cheek. Her smile turned soft at his compliment of her story telling ability. "I'd like to read some of them to you. Stories are always best shared."

[iolaus_lj]

Nodding his agreement as he lathered his lower abdomin and further down, he said, "There's something about a good story that brings people together, you know? I can repeat stories I've hard well enough and entertain kids, but I could never create one out of nothing." He captured one of her hands and the palm. "Thank the gods for bards. Especially this one."

[potadeiabard]

"And thank the gods for those that like to listen." Gabrielle gently wrapped her free arm around Iolaus' waist, very careful not to hurt him. "Especially this on."

Her eyes closed for a moment, enjoying the feel of being wrapped around him. "When I was little, I used to make up stories for Lilla. We'd be laying quietly in bed but we couldn't sleep, so I'm make up stories about the animals in our village. They had a secret life when the sun went down, a life we didn't know about."

Gabrielle laughed slightly, "It's the beginning of when I knew I would never fit in in Potadeia."

[iolaus_lj]

"I never had anyone to tell me stories," Iolaus said quietly, then gave a little shrug. "Mother had to work too hard to keep food on the table, so she wasn't exactly the story-telling kinda woman. Not that it really mattered, since I was hardly ever home. When I thought I was old enough, I was outta there like an arrow."

His hands were in the water again, caressing her thighs on either side of him. Loving the feel of her pressed against him and wishing he felt a bit more agile so that he could turn the tub into a playground. Next time.

"I can't imagine you spending your life in a small village, weaving clothes and farming pigs. You were born to do so much more," he told her sincerely. "And mark my words, Gabrielle. Some day, all of Greece will know your name."