Rekka whimpered with dread, her misery total as the terrible man continued to torture her. She struggled vainly against his brute strength, but escape was impossible. She questioned despairingly where her gentle loving husband had gone, leaving her with this despicable unfeeling beast.
"Oh, quit your bitching, I'm nearly done," Bill said, wheedling yet another knot free from the handful of damp hair he held in his fist.
The wholly insufficient comb struggled valiantly against the hellhounds fluffy mane that had been more tangle than tress when they'd begun. Likely the little ivory instrument had been meant for its previous owner's curling mustache. Bill adapted to its shortcomings, the job was just too important to him.
Rekka's struggles increased, her whimpers turning to vexed snarls as she tried to pry his legs from around her waist, currently holding her hostage by the stream bank.
Bill sighed, the morning had started off so wonderfully, too.
-
When they woke Bill had peeled himself from the furs after their night of debauchery and they broke their fast on more venison. Once again, he'd fed her first with her lying in his lap, entrenching a tradition that would likely follow them throughout the unconventional relationship.
Bill didn't mind, nearly everything Rekka did served to endear her to him more. Perhaps he just enjoyed pampering women, though none of his previous relationships had mirrored this in the least. Probably explained why they hadn't lasted.
When he finished feeding himself, and saw that Rekka was distracted by chewing on the meaty bone he'd roasted for just this occasion, Bill bent to the herculean task of taming Rekka's hair. Bill certainly found her tangled mop attractive in a savage barbarian sort of way, but when he imagined it groomed and free of debris he knew it would be glorious. He'd readily admit he was entirely obsessed by this point, though he'd never payed much attention to a woman's hair before. Another point in the poor prior relationship tally.
Bill committed to his mission with single minded determination. He ignored the tangles, for now. There were just too many, set in their ways with no desire to change. A few had grown powerful and cunning, likely older than his boots and wise to his tricks. He'd not attack them until after the bath he'd planned for her next, soaking them thoroughly until they loosened with the help of a little soap. Instead he simply wanted to remove the detritus that had accumulated from her daily roving about the wilderness.
A growing pile of twigs and dry leaves grew as he labored. Among the more surprising finds was the small desiccated corpse of a lizard, having spent its final desperate moments in battle with one of the craftier tangles. Bill tugged if free at last, turning it over in his hands, fascinated by the look of horror on its reptilian visage.
So intense was his scrutiny he was surprised when he realized that Rekka had begun humming quietly. She seemed to be relishing the attention he lavished upon her, eyes closed and completely relaxed. The formerly meaty bone, now stripped clean, lay under her paw as she gently rolled it back and forth.
Bill smiled to himself, taking most of her hair in his hands and shaking it a bit, interested to see if any other lost woodland creatures would tumble forth. None did, likely the tangles held them fast, guarding their prizes jealously.
Job complete, he scratched at Rekka's ears and scalp, enjoying her closeness and listening to her hum for a bit.
"Glad you enjoyed that as much as I did," he commented.
Rekka's eyes popped open, and she twisted about until she was lying on her back in his lap, a slight smile on her lips.
"Yeah... My papa used to do that for me, when I was small. I hated it then, didn't like sittin' still. I'd rather be wrestlin' or playin'," she said softly, seeming to lose herself in her bittersweet memory. Finally, she focused on him again.
Smiling warmly, she said, "Now it's... nice."
Reaching for her paws he pulled her up to him, kissing her gently for a moment before pushing his legs under himself and drawing them both to their feet.
"C'mon, lets get cleaned up. I'm dying to try out that soap, and you can watch me use that straight razor. I may need you patch me back up," he said lightly, truthfully worried about the razor, but mostly he was waiting to see how she reacted to the prospect of a bath. He didn't relish the prospect of dragging a disgruntled hellhound into the water. He'd do it, though, he'd have that hair combed yet.
"Kay!" Rekka replied, pulling free and happily skipping towards the exit.
Bill shook his head, amused. He really shouldn't have been surprised, of course she bathed regularly. He knew from experience that she was clean enough to eat off of. It seemed she just didn't worry too much about her hair. Well, from now on that would be his cross to bear.
Bill took a moment to gather up the little pile of debris and place it onto the glowing embers of the fire, dropping the dried lizard on top. It would serve as its pyre, and send the brave little warrior's soul off to Valhalla.
Snatching up a saddlebag he'd filled with the toiletries and their spare bandages he jogged to catch up with Rekka. She waited for him in the morning sunlight. Linking her arm through his they strolled to the stream.
When they arrived, he unwound the bandages to inspect his wound. It seemed alright to him, far less blood soiled the bandages than expected, and it wasn't leaking anything green or noxious. Itched like the devil, though he managed to resist. Rekka sniffed it a bit and proclaimed it to be healing nicely.
They undressed, Rekka tossing her strips of leather one could generously call an outfit onto the pile Bill had gathered into his arms. Laundry was apparently his duty as well. She ran into the water, screeching and laughing from the cold as she ducked into the waterfall. Grabbing the soap, Bill followed at a more sedate pace, enjoying the view.
Bathing with Rekka was an experience. He was glad for the cold water, otherwise he was certain his physical response to seeing a nude Rekka, her wet skin sparkling in the sunlight, as she splashed joyously through the little waterfall would have been all the excuse she needed to delay their impending trip for another day.
He quickly scrubbed their clothing out while she played, then set them aside and pulled her close. They delighted in washing each other's bodies, taking much more time than was really necessary to scrub the other clean. Bill was honestly surprised her breasts weren't polished to a mirror sheen when he finally relented.
At last he got to her hair, using a good portion of the bar of soap to lather her to his satisfaction. He worked at her scalp and locks diligently, trying to ignore Rekka's ass pressing into him as she luxuriated in the sensations his hands were giving her.
Bill glared at her hair with mad intensity, trying to will the tangles into surrendering their hold. Right now, he'd butcher a round table of knights for a bottle of conditioner. Not fully satisfied, but beginning to lose feeling in his extremities from the cold despite Rekka's warmth, he rinsed her clean and together they exited the stream.
While Rekka shook her body dry in a spray of droplets Bill laid out their clothing in the sun, pausing to watch her keenly as she gyrated. When the show ended he pulled out the straight razor and used a bit more of the soap to lather his face. Hesitantly he drew the razor across his stubble. Finding no blood when he felt at the smooth skin he began to shave, becoming more confident as he went. Finishing, and only nicking himself twice, he rinsed himself off. Rekka cooed as she rubbed the pads of her paws over his now smooth face.
After she assisted him in redressing his wound Bill sat Rekka down in front of him to comb her hair. At first, she was pleased for him to pay her more attention. Until, that is, he lost his grip on her damp hair and tugged her scalp as the comb hit a snag. She'd have leapt away and be done with the whole process if he hadn't locked his legs around her and held her tight. Now the real fight would begin, as she howled and protested his every stroke. Bill refused to yield, he would not be denied.
-
"Finished!" Bill said with a cry of triumph, sliding the comb free and flexing his cramping fingers.
It had finally begun slipping smoothly through her hair without snagging. He beheld her long silky black tresses, his great work complete, his joy boundless.
Rekka had gone still, her protests silenced. A trap, he knew. She was planning her revenge, waiting for him to lower his guard. He'd have to act swiftly to avoid whatever dire plot she'd concocted. Stretching over to his boot he pulled out his phone, tapping quickly to open the front facing camera.
Ready, he relaxed his grip on Rekka with his legs. Immediately she jumped to her feet and wheeled on him, a ferocious look in her eyes. Bill held up the phone like a talisman.
"Just take a look before you do anything I'll regret for the rest of my life," he said, praying she wouldn't just slap it away and take her vengeance.
Rekka's eyes glanced at the phone, then back to him. His heart quailed for a moment, but her eyes drew back to the phone and she inched forward a bit for a better look, now curious. Her lips parted, astonished at what she saw. Bill expelled a relieved breath, and struggled to his feet awkwardly, still holding the phone up to her as she now twisted and turned, trying to see her hair from every angle.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" he asked as she posed.
Ignoring him she drew her shiny hair over her shoulder to look at it directly, amazed at how it curled, flowed and reached nearly to her waist. She ran her claws through it, a delighted smile playing on her lips. Bill handed her the phone and showed her how she could angle it around for a better view. He watched her with pride as she twirled, laughing as her hair flowed behind her like a glossy cloak, amazed at how it fell to her tail when she stood still. Satisfied, she handed him back his phone and pressed herself to him, her face in his chest.
Quietly she said, "Thank you, husband."
