Ronald shut the door behind him and locked it.

"Welcome home, you." Bonnie greeted him with a warm hug, stepping into his arms.

"Boy, am I gla-" he began, but her lips shut him up in the most wonderful of ways.

Bonnie stretched up on her tiptoes, her body pressed firmly against him, arms around his neck, her mouth claiming his completely. Her lips were soft but demanding, and Ronald felt his knees go weak. He took hold of her hips, all but grinding against her as his need for her took control of his better judgment. The tiny gasp of pain she breathed into his mouth was enough to bring him out of the trance so that he pulled back slightly.

"Sorry." his voice soft.

Sucking her lower lip into her mouth, Bonnie savored the remnants of the kiss. She would never grow tired of this, of how he made her feel. She'd die before she let it go. This belonged to her and nobody else.

"Trust me, it was so worth it." looking up at him coyly, her teal eyes dark with desire.

He smiled and planted a smaller kiss on her forehead. "Guess this means you missed me, huh?"

Running a hand down his chest, she nodded. Her fingers felt how solid he was, how warm even though he'd just stepped out of the frigid night air. Deciding to tease him a little, with a wicked grin he couldn't see, she pressed her cheek to his chest, drawing circles on him with a finger. "Yep. Tara and I practiced that kiss all day so I could get it just right for you."

His sudden intake of breath declared a mission accomplished.

"You are pure evil woman." Ronald said in a voice threatening to crack.

Tilting her head up, chin on his chest, she gave him one of the most sultry looks he had ever seen on a woman. "Is that so?" Her hands roamed over his torso, then found their way under his shirt so she could enjoy the feel of his bare skin under her palms. She splayed her fingers wide, wanting to touch as much of him as possible, her hands slowly gliding up his back now. "What did I say that was so evil?"

Ronald hadn't even taken three steps into his apartment. Hell, he was still wearing his leather jacket, but he was already a prisoner to her whims. Oh, he was so going to have his hands full with Bonnie.

"You know damn well what?" brushing loose strands of her dark hair from her face with a finger. His other arm holding her to him. This time, he was careful of her incision.

The sultry look was instantly replaced by one of utter innocence. "What Ronald? I don't understand." Those beautiful teal eyes of hers captivating him. "Tell me, please?" drawing out the please in a way so cute it was criminal.

He was onto her now. "Not a chance. I'm not that dense." Grinning down at her.

Oh, so he wanted to play it that way, did he? Ok, well, Bonnie was just fine with that. She's given him a little taste of how well she could play too. "Aww, ok then." raking her nails down his back swiftly so he arched forward with a groan. "I thought the idea of me and Tara making out while you were gone had upset you." pulling her hands from under his shirt, she literally purred as she pressed herself against him, making sure her breasts lead the way. "We were so bored. We had to find something to do. I guess things just... got out of hand." her own hand reaching down to cup his crotch gently.

"Bonnie." he growled low in his throat, almost losing control at the feel of her small hand caressing him through his jeans.

She'd meant to tease him, to give him a little taste of things to come, but the moment her hand found the growing hardness trapped inside his pants, her plan had backfired. Now she was the one struggling against a desire so profound it frightened her. Oh god, he felt huge!

Bonnie all but jumped back from him, pressing a hand to her chest, feeling the thundering beat of her heart. Holy shit that was intense, and it had just been flirting! After everything she'd been through, how could just flirting with a guy do that to her? Not that she was going to complain one bit.

"Sorry, guess I, um...took it too far." trying to keep her tone level. Reflexively, she started fanning herself. Down girl!

Ronald made a big show of taking off his jacket, his throat tight with the carnal desire to tackle her and take her right there on the floor. The only thing stopping him was that he didn't want to hurt her. Oh, but the moment she was healed up...oh, she was going to pay. Over and over and over. He'd see to that.

Hanging up his jacket, Ronald closed his eyes and got himself under control. Well, most of him that is. A certain part still demanded attention as it strained to be free of its denim prison. Something Bonnie didn't fail to notice as he walked past her towards the kitchen area.

There was just no way she thought to herself. He could not be... there was no way it was that... they'd been on the cheer squad together she'd have known if he had something like that hidden away. Right? Wait, no, that had been Ron on the cheer squad, not Ronald. Wait, they were supposed to be clones or something, so that meant Ron should... no stop it. Hold up. Nope, don't even go there, girl.

Though she did make a mental note to maybe get up the nerve to have a little Q and A with Kim later on.

"Have you eaten?" Ronald asked, opening the fridge and taking out a bottle of water.

Clearing her head, Bonnie joined him in the kitchen area, leaning against the short counter that doubled as food prep and a table. "Yeah. Just a sandwich. I'm not really hungry."

Twisting the cap off the bottle, he frowned a little. "I can whip something up for you." taking a drink.

Bonnie watched his throat work as he swallowed, fighting the urge to run her tongue over his throat as he did. Oh god, what was wrong with her? She'd never been this worked up over a guy. Where was it coming from all of a sudden? It was like a wild animal had been let loose inside her. Was this was it was like to actually want to be with somebody in a real way? All her relationships up till now had been hallow things that either elevated her in some way or at the very least kept the status quo back in high school. Then, she had come her years out in the real world, and she didn't count any of those as relationships at all. More like exchanging services for compensation.

Suddenly, she felt unclean. Flashes of things she'd done, places she'd done them in, the leering faces of the men, all of it brought the bitter taste of bile up her throat. She was going to be sick! Sprinting across the room, Bonnie was through the bedroom door and into the bathroom just in time to reach the toilet.

Ronald tossed his water into the sink and was right there when the first splashes started. He grabbed her hair, leaning over her as she braced both hands on the toilet's rim heaving. She wretched so hard that she thought she might break in half. It just kept coming until she was empty, but then her body refused to give up and kept clenching, trying to squeeze out every last drop. Every part of her face was dripping something, and none of it was pleasant.

Ronald kept making soothing sounds, being sure to keep her hair out of her face. He was worried. Hell, he was scared shitless if he was honest with himself. Was this a complication from the surgery? Was she sick with something else? He needed answers, but he wasn't going to press her right now. He felt so helpless, though, but all he could do was be with her.

Bonnie sank to her knees, resting her arms on the rim of the toilet and letting her head fall atop them. Ronald heard her spit a few times and the miserable groan that she let out.

"Well, I didn't know my offering to cook would have this effect." he joked, then wanted to smack himself for it. Smooth move dumbass he thought.

Despite how utterly horrid she felt, Bonnie gave a weak chuckle.

"You ok?" The worry clear in his voice.

One of her hands lifted, and she gave a shaky thumbs up, still not ready to talk. How could she ever talk about the things she'd done all in the name of getting by? There wasn't a part of her that was clean, and she knew it. No amount of scrubbing would ever erase the things she had done and allowed to be done to her. Ronald deserved better than her. If he knew the things she'd done... God he wouldn't even be able to look at her.

Standing, Ronald gave her a gentle pat on the back and stepped to the shower. Twisting the knob so the water came on, he tested it with his hand till it was warm enough.

"Let's get you cleaned up." he offered, leaning over to touch her sides carefully to help her stand.

She allowed him to help her up but refused to look at him. She knew she looked like something out of a horror movie. She could taste and smell the puke. It was everywhere. Up her nose, running down her chin. Great Bonnie, just great. Way to turn a guy off.

Ronald took hold of her shirt and began to slide it upwards. "Arms up." he said.

Without complaint, she did as he asked. Not like things could get worse, she reasoned. Soon, her skin was prickling when exposed to the air, but the bathroom was heating up due to the hot water of the shower. Steam was beginning to fog the mirror even as she tried to catch a glimpse of herself in it.

Despite how miserable she felt, the sudden snap of her bra clasp surprised her. She hadn't even felt him messing with it. She let out an audible sigh of relief when her breasts were free of constriction. Ronald slid her bra off her arms and tossed it into the dirty laundry bin to join her shirt. The crouched down in front of her and began pulling her shorts down. She lifted the first one, then the other foot so he could remove them fully.

Bonnie didn't know how to feel at this moment. One the one hand she'd been ready to jump Ronald as soon as he came through the door, then she'd teased him in the most wicked way, only to suddenly remember that she was damaged goods, and the thought of losing him over her past had torn her up so badly it had made her physically ill. Now standing here in the aftermath of all that here he was, her Ronald, showing her nothing but support and being so kind. He was something else. Despite everything from her past, all the memories that demanded she accept that she was no good, he made her feel...well Ronald made her feel important. She knew this was happening fast, but so what. She'd found something amazing in Ronald, and she wanted it, even if she wasn't worthy of it.

"Please tell me if you have to puke again. I don't need a shower just yet." he said lightly, trying to keep things from being weird. They were crossing a line they hadn't before, and though undressing her should have been sexy as hell, right now, he was more worried about her health than any of that. In fact, he'd been very sure not to look at her breasts at all so far. It was a battle of will that he was proud of himself for winning.

"...kay..." her voice sounded weak and raw.

Bonnie's mind, on the other hand, was racing a thousand miles a minute with a sudden realization of what was going on. This wasn't how it was supposed to happen. He was taking her clothes off! She was standing in only her panties! This was too much too fast. From grabbing his crotch to puking her guts up, now this! She couldn't handle it. Nope. She was on autopilot now. It was the only way she could deal with it.

When she felt him reach for her panties, that was the last straw.

"I can do it." she said weakly, taking a step back.

Ronald stood, turning away from her as he did. "Sure thing. Sorry." reaching up to scratch the back of his head vigorously.

He was so sweet, she thought as she slipped out of her panties and tossed them in with the rest of her clothes. Gingerly, she stepped into the tub, bracing against the hot water when it struck her skin. She pulled the shower curtain, sealing her off from the rest of the bathroom.

"Ok, I'm in."

Ronald turned around. "Are you sick, or is it something with the surgery?"

"No, I'm not sick or anything." came her reply.

Moving to the toilet, Ronald made sure not to look in as he shut the lid and flushed it.

"EEEK!" Bonnie yelped.

Ronald winced. "Sorry! So, sorry!" Smacking himself with the palm of his hand.

"So not cool." she said from the far end of the tub where she had darted in order to escape the sudden temperature change of the water. Slowly, she stepped back under the spray. She let the water surround her with its heat. I feel more human every second. Opening her mouth, she filled it with the steaming water and swished it around before spitting it out.

From the other side of the shower curtain, Ronald asked, "Is it ok to get your incision wet?"

"Yeah. They told me it was ok if my stitches got wet in the shower, but not to soak in a bath. I just have to be sure to pat them dry when I get out." she explained, almost back to normal now. "Can you pass me my toothbrush and toothpaste?"

A second later, his hand appeared in the shower, offering the items to her. "Thanks." Taking them, she began to brush her teeth like there was no tomorrow.

Ronald took a seat on the toilet lid, resting his elbows on his knee. "So I never knew you were in the Exorcist." teasing her now that she seemed in control of herself.

"Ha ha." she said around her toothbrush. Spitting into the tub, she took a deep breath. Oh, she was going to be sore very soon. The muscles around her incision were not happy at all. She could not wait for that damn thing to heal up. It might be a small thing, but it was really being a bother.

"Seriously, Bonnie, what happened? One second, you were fine and then -"

"Please do not remind me. Ugh." her weak groan came from the shower.

"I'm just worried is all."

Bonnie could tell he was worried. He sounded worried. Who could blame him. Still, she had to admit that Ronald had earned him some definite boyfriend points with how he handled things. He'd been by her side, making sure she knew he was there, but not being overbearing or demanding. He'd been perfectly wonderful while she tried to puke up her skeleton from the feel of it.

How could she tell him about what had made her sick? Just thinking back on some of the things she'd done was enough to make her gag all over again. Luckily, there was nothing left for her to throw up, but it still sucked.

"Ronald, I need to ask you something, but you can't ask me to explain, ok?" leaning her head against the wall as the hot water beat down on her back.

"I can do that." he said without hesitation.

"Thanks." Taking a breath to steady herself, "I'll tell you what's wrong, but not right now. I'm not ready for that. So...can you give me time to get ready?" closing her eyes, bracing for his answer.

Ronald stared at his hands, where they were clasped together between his knees. She needed time, well, that was easy enough. "You got it. I'm here whenever you're ready. I'm not going anywhere." he vowed.

In the shower, Bonnie sank down into a sitting position in the tub. She didn't deserve him at all. He was too good for her, but damn if she wasn't thankful to have him. Oh Ronald, you have no idea how important you are to me. "Thank you."

"No, thank you." he said lightly. "Not every day a guy gets to undress a sexy gal and then watch her take a shower."

"Goofball." was her only response.

Twiddling his thumbs, Ronald kept his eyes cast down. The shower curtain wasn't clear, but it also didn't leave much to the imagination as far as shapes were concerned.

"You'll never guess who dropped by the diner tonight." he began, hoping that a different subject would help. It never occurred to him that this particular subject might be a mine field.

She was just starting to work shampoo into her hair. "Really, who?" she was pretty sure her hair had been spared the vomit comet, but she intended to give her entire body a good washing anyway.

"Kim."