Dominic loved Dawn, would have changed places with her in a heartbeat. However, as the process of treatment began something changed. He found that he couldn't handle the physical reality of what she was experiencing and he hated himself for it. If he let his mind actualize her treatment he choked back tears and a fear he'd never felt before. He did what he could, he worked hard to assure her the best medical care, took care of the household, the mundane things like chores and went to doctors appointments when he could but for the most part her mother took on the majority of the burden. Dawn understood why Dominic couldn't handle it and was, in some ways, relieved that he could remain in the dark about certain things. But there was still a small part of her that felt abandoned. His warm full bodied bear hugs became soft embraces, their teasing and wrestling like kids became gentle shoulder shoves and love pats and when he looked at her the fire that was there was replaced with sheer panic and pity. Every move she made him twinge with fear and "Are you ok?" was in the structure of every single sentence he spoke.
The joyous passion they shared was gone. No lifting her to the kitchen counter... no reckless abandon... no sofa quickies... no Fantasy Nights with costumes and toys and definitely no fucking. But he held her every night and his displays of affection were often. In those first few months he couldn't even embrace her let alone make love for fear of hurting her. But she needed him so badly. Despite the chemical warfare the one constant that reminded her she was alive still throbbed and ached between her creamy thighs. She still woke with the same arousal and deep need.
A few weeks into treatment she lay in the hospital bed, sick and tired of being sick and tired. Her body was tight and strung like steel wires. Although she had a private room she had been unable to sleep let alone bring herself to climax and yet her body needed that release so desperately.
Dom came to visit late that night and as had become routine he crawled into bed next to her, she wrapped herself around him and found some peace there in his arms. The nurses were generally busy after dinner had been served, setting up pills and syringes full of toxic waste for her and those in the ward around her, so they were rarely interrupted and usually Dawn was able to get a few peaceful hours of sleep. But not this night. She fidgeted and squirmed until Dom finally asked.
"Baby, are you ok? Am I hurting you?" He started to pull away but she wrapped her arms around him tighter. The tears welled in her eyes as she turned her face down.
"What is it, Dawn?" he whispered
"I can't say." She muffled back a small sob.
"Yes, you can, baby." His tenderness tugged at her, he loved her so much.
"I need something." She said hesitantly. He didn't understand until her eyes met his and he saw that smoky look he knew so well.
