“Oh look,” Ashton chirped, “grapes.” She held up the fat, juicy bundle, and managed to look everywhere but at Sam. If I look at him, she thought, I’m going to fling the tray across the room, followed by my clothes, and have to claim amnesia if Saul finds out I took advantage of a wounded man.
Sam on the other hand watched Ashton as she held up the grapes, avoiding his eyes. He noticed the slight trembling of her hand as she held the unwanted fruit. He wanted something juicy and ripe but it was most definitely not the grapes. Sam sat up straighter in the bed, pushing the tray aside. Dumping the bundle of grapes back down on the tray, Ashton took it from his hands and stood by the bed.
“I’ll just go put this in the kitchen, and then I’ll be up to tuck you in,” she said nervously. Her face became flushed as she heard what she was saying, and watched humor run rampant on Sam’s face. Oh god, she thought in frustration, it sounded okay in my head before it came out.
Sam chuckled low as he watched Ashton escape from the room with the tray full of dishes. He knew without a doubt that Ashton was thinking the same thing he was. Both of them wanted to put an end to the frustration and give in to their desires.
Sam had every intention of making love to Ashton tonight, and the only way she was going to get to tuck him in was from under the covers. He leaned back against the pillows and waited for her to reappear. When she didn’t come back, he became restless, twisting and turning until the covers were a tangle around his body. Finally he settled and once again set his eyes on the unopened door. As the minutes ticked by, his eyes began to droop. The lids, covering half of his teal blue orbs, were so heavy that they refused to open all the way, no matter what he tried.
Ok, Sam thought, maybe I’ll just rest for a few minutes until Ash gets back. He told himself that he could and would wake up when he heard her come into the room, so a little rest wouldn’t hurt. Gently he closed his eyes and slipped into a light slumber.
Ashton took the tray downstairs into the kitchen, putting the dirty dishes in the sink and the grapes back into the fridge. She didn’t trust herself to go back up just yet, so she filled the sink with hot soapy water and washed the few dishes from their meal. She wiped down the cupboards, the table, the stove, and every surface she could reach, stalling for time. Finally, when the whole kitchen was spotless and she could find no other excuse to delay, she made her way back up the stairs.
Slowly she climbed, telling herself the whole way, that she would not climb into bed with Sam, no matter what he said or how good he looked. Squaring her shoulders and pasting a smile on her face, she entered the room. The vision that greeted her stopped her where she stood. From across the room, she looked at Sam, and her heart melted. He lay in the bed, the covers bunched around him like a nest, fast asleep. His head was turned to the side and his hands lay open and relaxed on his lap.
As Ashton watched he moved, snuggling down into the bed and pulling the covers up under his chin. He looked so warm and innocent, this dark, handsome dangerous man that she had fallen hopelessly in love with.
Unable to resist any longer, she crossed the room and sat on the side of the bed. Sam did not stir, as she bent to remove her shoes. Looking down at the clothes she still had on, she rationalized that she could not sleep in what she was wearing. Crossing the room she rummaged through the dresser drawers until she found a small, stretchy pair of shorts with the words, oh baby written across the butt, and a spaghetti strapped tank top. These would have to do, she told herself.
She went into the bathroom, stripped off her jeans and shirt, and put on the pajamas. She washed her face, brushed her teeth, combed her hair until it shone with dark, rich highlights, and, as a final touch, she placed a dab of her favorite perfume behind each earlobe. Looking at herself in the mirror, Ashton decided that a quick swipe of the mascara wand was needed. Satisfied, she turned off the lights and walked on bare feet to the bed.
It didn’t even enter her mind to sleep in another bedroom. She was sleeping with Sam. She had done so the night before and it had all worked out. Besides, if she was in another room she wouldn’t be able to hear him if he needed her in the middle of the night. Feeling quite justified, she lifted the sheets and eased herself in beside him.
He was lying on his side, facing away from her, so Ashton mimicked his position from the night before and spooned up against his back. Her hair streamed out behind her covering her pillow, her head sharing Sam’s. She buried her nose in his silky softness and breathed deep of the warm, male scent that was his alone. She draped an arm across his waist, and pulled her legs up to fit as best as they would behind Sam’s, as she was almost a foot shorter than he. She could feel the short dark hair on the backs of his legs tickling her smooth thighs.
Her skin became acutely sensitive, the spots where their bodies touched burning with the contact. She wanted to run her hands, and lips, up and down Sam’s body, learning the textures of his skin, the contours of his muscles. No, she thought to herself, Sam needed to rest for a little while longer. She could wait.
Reaching behind her, she turned off the lamp leaving the room dark except for the moonlight spilling in through the curtains, then snuggled up once more to Sam’s back. Slowly relaxing, Ashton enjoyed the closeness of him. Her arm that had been firmly around Sam’s waist, loosened as she slipped towards sleep.
Maybe tomorrow, she thought, maybe tomorrow she and Sam could be closer. Her last thought before she totally succumbed to sleep was that she was finally home, finally complete, finally whole.
Saul watched from the corner of the room, not having revealed his presence to Ashton or Sam. He smiled gently as Ashton gave in to sleep, marveling at the restraint she had displayed. He knew they both wanted and needed each other, and he knew those feelings were beyond strong. But Ashton had resisted because of her love for the man beside her, and her need for him to be well and healed. He had cautioned Ashton about rushing into bed with Sam to give them both a chance to see if they really felt strongly about each other. From what he could see and feel, they both were ready for the commitment of love.
Soft white, ropey tendrils once again extended from Saul to Sam, as Saul began the process of speeding Sam’s healing. He poured energy into the body he was attached to and remained that way throughout the night. At morning’s first light, he removed the connection and was satisfied that Sam was almost completely well.
He spared the couple, so closely entwined, one more glance before he began to fade from sight. He would keep and eye on them, but he felt sure he was no longer needed. Thirty days Ashton, he thought, I’ll see you in thirty days.