" Yes, mama I landed safely."

" Yes, mama I drank enough water."

" Yes, mama I'm in the cab home."

" Yes, mama I remembered to lock my doors before I left."

Zhara answers question after question from her persistent mother, despite the fact that she just saw her a few hours ago.

" You will visit me again soon, yes?" Esther asks.

" Yes, mama," Zhara affirms with a chuckle, " Mwen renmen ou (I love you)"

"Mwen renmen w tou (I love you too)"

The phone call ends just in time for Zhara to exit the cab and head up to her apartment. She's joined by a few of her neighbors in the elevator, but soon comes to her floor and steps out. She walks down the hallway and gets the keys from her purse to unlock the door, only to realize that it doesn't need to be unlocked.

The door wasn't locked.

Zhara opens the door, slowly, cautiously, eyes wide open and alert. She places her keys between each of her knuckles on her right hand, forming a fist as she anticipates an intruder, but the sound of the front door closing behind her makes her jump. Zhara turns around, ready to strike whoever finds themself on the other end of her fist, but she pulls back once she recognizes the face.

" For fuck's sake, Erik, don't scare me like that!" Zhara exclaims as she backhand slaps his chest.

" Why would I stop when you look so cute with your lil wolverine claws?" Erik teases as he holds up her fist with the keys, " I mean come on, look at this."

Zhara pulls her hand away from his grasp, but can't help but smile as she looks up into his eyes.

" I missed you," She states.

" I missed you too, baby," Erik smiles.

The tall man steps forward, his hands making their home on Zhara's hips as his lips crash down onto hers. Feverishly, passionately and aggressively. Erik makes his desires known as his hand tightly grips her hips and pulls her even closer to his body. And while Zhara loves the affection, she's just not in the mood.

" How about... we take... a bath?" She suggests in between kisses.

" Bet," Erik smirks, then brings his hand down to land a smack on her ass, " Let's go."

Zhara rolls her eyes with a grin as Erik saunters into the bathroom, where he turns on the water to fill the tub and adds a few bubbles to it as well. The water is hot. Not warm, not boiling, but hot.

She enters the hot and humid room to see Erik taking off his shirt, a sight she loves to see. She thinks his scars are beautiful and make his features look so hot.

One by one, they step into the tub. Erik first, then Zhara. She stands with her feet submerged in the water facing Erik. His hands gently caress her legs as his lips leave little kisses along her thighs.

Zhara sits down in the tub with her back against Erik's chest, and she takes this moment to close her eyes and take deep breaths. Erik joins her in this moment, knowing how much intimacy and connection during little moments is for her.

With her, Erik is able to access a different part of himself. A part where he's not angry. A part where he's not plotting revenge in his mind. A part where he can just... breathe.

Zhara soon leaves forward as Erik grabs a bottle of body wash. He squirts some of the mango-scented liquid into his hands and rubs it to create some bubbles before he begins massaging it into her long and toned back.

He massages her godly dark skin, sometimes using his nails to scratch. He washes her body as if she were a Goddess. As if she were a Queen.

And that's exactly what she is in his mind.

Then comes Erik's turn, and Zhara then squirts the body wash into her hands and begins massaging Erik's skin. She's careful with his scars. He's told her many times that it doesn't hurt, but she never believes him. She believes that the scars hold pain. Pain that Erik feels physically and mentally.

She knows of Erik's military background and has never pressed him to get answers. She finds war to be useless and pathetic, that much is true, but she would never judge Erik for the things that he did. She will always accept him no matter what.

Zhara washes the bubbles off of his rough skin, giving a few of his scars some gentle kisses along the way.

The couple then exits the tub, drying off with a towel before changing into comfy sweatpants and t-shirts.

Zhara searches for a movie as Erik goes into the kitchen to make them some food. Nothing too fancy, just some pasta. He pairs the meal with two glasses of red wine, then joins his girl on the couch to watch a movie.

They enjoy their food and sip on their wine, eyes locked on the screen in front of them and legs tangled underneath the white fluffy blanket on the couch. They place the empty bowls on the small table in the living room, and the get even closer to one another. Zhara lays in Erik's arms, her head resting on his stomach and feet dangling off the arm rest.

But once the closing credits come, Erik hears some soft snores escaping Zhara's mouth. He laughs as he looks down at her low-hanging mouth, but doesn't dare wake her. He picks up his girl with ease and carries her to the bedroom. He lays her down on her designated side of the bed, then covers her with the covers.

Erik climbs into bed as well, making sure to kiss his girl goodnight before he rolls over and closes his eyes to get some much needed rest.

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[ zhara is the strong independent woman i aspire to be fyi ]