Sam and Ashton lay naked entwined on the bed, the covers having been sent to the bottom forgotten. A light film of sweat covered their bodies, fusing them together in the physical world. Without opening her eyes, Ashton reached out and found Sam’s hand. Linking their fingers, she brought it to her lips to place small kisses over the knuckles and to rub it along her jaw line.
“I love you, Sam,” she said with no preamble, no hesitation, and no regret in her voice.
Time stood still for Sam as the words she spoke echoed in the chambers of his heart. They filled it to bursting, and he was awash with the love he felt for her. It sang through his veins until he could feel every part of him respond to her love. For the first time in his life, he wanted to return the words and mean them. He had said them before, but had meant them only in the sense of friendship. This feeling in no way resembled what had come before. He felt stronger because of her. Hell, he felt ten feet tall because of her, and he was complete. He was whole, realizing he had everything he would ever want or need laying right here beside him.
He became aware of Ashton trying to pull her hand away from his, and he could feel her stiffness as she lay rigid beside him. He realized he had hesitated answering her declaration of love and had unintentionally caused her pain and embarrassment.
“No my sweet,” he said, pulling her hand back into his and her body closer to him, “Don’t leave me. I was lost in thought, but it was all about you.” He tipped her chin up and looked deep into her emerald eyes. “You and I, and how much I love you. How your love makes me feel whole and good and complete. How I am more because of you. How I will never let you go.”
Ashton met Sam’s blue gaze. The light within those orbs spoke of truth and honesty, and reached out to assure her of his love. A love that was as strong and sure as hers, that belonged to her alone. Ashton’s emerald green eyes held Sam’s and words were not needed, as each could see for themselves the feelings the other had.
“I want to remember this moment,” Ashton said, allowing herself to fall into the teal blue eyes so close to hers. “Making love with you was wonderful and I have never felt that way before, but the feelings I have now, the way I feel now is what I will remember. The closeness, the oneness, the contentment, the completeness, the love. I wish I could explain it better, to help you understand.”
Sam gathered her to him and held on tight, as he saw the sadness lurking at the edges of her eyes. “Oh my god,” he cried inside, “you can’t take her from me. We’ve just found each other and I can’t lose her. Not now, not ever. Please Saul?” he begged, “don’t let me be without her.”
On the outside, Sam held her and whispered softly into her ear, “I do understand, Ash. I understand completely. My love for you goes deeper then the physical aspect of us. But come to think of it,” he said, with a devilish spark igniting his eyes and needing to lighten the mood before he fell apart completely, “that part was pretty damn good too. Maybe we’ll have to have a repeat performance just to make sure. No wait, many repeats. In fact, we may never have to leave this bed again. You realize that bathing is very over rated, as is eating and other boring daily routines.” He wanted her to be happy, to smile and have only good memories with him, for she was not the only one that would have to store them up.
Ashton giggled her amusement as she rose to his antics and lightly poked him in his side. “As good as all that sounds, I do have to get up now.” She sat up and swung her shapely legs over the bed.
Before she could make it all the way up, Sam wrapped his arms around her nakedness and pulled her flush against him, resting her back against his chest, her hips surrounded by his thighs. He nuzzled her neck and cupped her breasts from behind. “Where do you think you are you going?” he asked, his mouth getting busy tasting and kissing all of her that was within reach.
Ashton’s brain began to fuzz, but before she lost her intentions completely she pulled away and stood up. “Um,” she said, her tongue feeling thick in her mouth, “I have to pee.”
Sam was totally engrossed with the sight in front of him. Ashton naked, her hair in wild disarray, and her body rosy from their love making. What she said did not register for a moment, so taken was he with her beauty. The glow around her was brighter then ever, almost too much for him to take in. He was bordering on overload, but knew he’d gladly blow a gasket for her. Just as long as he had the chance to look at her, to be with her, to love her. God damn it, everything led back to the fact she was leaving him soon.
With that thought, his eyes darkened and the face of the Messenger could be seen. Dark, cold and focused. He was going to beat this thing or die trying.
“Sam?” Ashton questioned, “Is everything okay?” She had seen the change come over him and had no clue what was wrong. She was so happy right now that her insides felt like warm butter, all melted and gooey. But Sam looked like a stranger to her all of a sudden, angry and cold.
Sam blinked back to the present noticing Ashton standing uncertainly in the middle of the room. He wiped the look from his face, rose from the bed, went to her, and wrapped his arms around her. Their bodies came together, from the two dark heads, hers on his chest, his lowered to bring his cheek to the top of hers, all the way down to the legs that touched, Sam’s spread slightly giving her room to move in-between, letting him surround her, protect her.
“I love you, Ash,” he said into her hair, “I love you.”
Planting a kiss on her head and giving her cute butt a light tap, Sam stepped back. “Go pee,” he said and let his arms fall to his sides, as she turned to walk to the bathroom.
Sam wondered if she walked like that normally or if she was teasing him as she strutted her way to the bathroom, then closed the door firmly in his leering face. Sam took a step towards the door, intending to share a shower with his love and maybe a little more before they were done, but stopped in mid stride as he felt a familiar warmth at his back.
“Hello, Saul,” he said without turning around. “We have to talk.”