Any Reward?

The rain seemed ceaseless, continuing its inundation long into the night. In the bedroom, William sat shirtless by the bed, Valentina standing before him, needle and thread in hand, tending to the wounds on his bare torso. More than a dozen needles adorned his chest and waist, making him resemble a human hedgehog. William asked, "Feel better now?" Distracted by his question, Valentina cast him a sidelong glance. "When did I ever say I was upset?" she retorted, only then noticing his hands resting on her waist. When on earth had he moved them there? Has she been so deep in thought that she didn't notice, she wondered, grumbling inwardly to herself. William didn't move, however, merely looked at her and said, "You may not have said it out loud, but I can sense you're not in top form." Although Valentina didn't let on and even dined with Kenneth as per normal, William could tell. The needles on his body were proof enough of her instability. She never said why he needed actupunture, but he