I think we all know by now that I don't own any of these characters. They all belong to Tom Lynch and the people of South of Nowhere.

WARNING: The following chapter contains some fairly explicit stuff (hence the mature rating for this entire story), so if you're not into Spashley love, then don't read.

Also, thanks to all of you who have reviewed so far. It helps keep me writing! I really appreciate all of the positive comments, and any critical comments you may want to add. PLEASE continue to review!

I held on to Ashley tight. I didn't want to let her go. I had so many emotions going on in my head and through my body. I hated Glen right now, but at the same time I could understand how he felt. There was a time not so long ago when I was disgusted with myself for feeling this way. But now I knew it was ok, it was RIGHT to feel this way about Ashley. How could I not?

It felt like we had been standing in that parking lot, in that embrace, forever when we finally pulled away.

"Are you alright?" Ashley asked me, those beautiful dark eyes staring deep into mine.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I tried to smile at her. As I caressed her fingers in my hand, I realized that I needed her – really needed her – right now. "Take my back to your place. Please."

Ashley searched my face, and then realized what I meant. "Are you sure about that? I mean, you're an emotional mess right now and I don't want to take advantage of that," she said, somewhat surprised by my proposition.

I plastered a smile on my face trying to reassure her. "I'm ok, really I am. Besides, you asked me earlier to come over, and unless you're actually going to work on that English paper, I don't see any problem," I said taking a step toward her. "And you look SOOO hot in that top," I whispered in her ear, letting my lips lightly graze her lobe.

Ashley giggled and I saw her shiver slightly. She cocked her head and looked at me. "It's hard to say no to something like that, even if I know you're putting on a show."

I knew I was being uncharacteristically forward with Ashley, but I needed her now, and I didn't know how else to convince her.

"Spence, if you need me, now or ever, all you have to do is say so. You don't have to act like someone you're not," she said reassuringly.

Her loving tone made me smile. "Well, you do look really beautiful."

"Ha ha, thanks. You too. Now c'mon, let me take care of you," she said, and then pulled me in for a long kiss before we got in the car and left.

Later, at Ashley's house…

God, I had never needed someone so much in my entire life. It wasn't just the physical connection that I needed; I also needed that emotional connection I got with Ashley only when we made love. I had never connected with someone as deeply as I did with Ashley on a regular basis, and I didn't think it was possible to get any deeper, but it was on a whole other level when we were intimate.

I practically pulled Ashley's arm out of its socket pulling her up the stairs to her room. When we got there, I threw her onto the bed and immediately straddled her. There was nothing playful about this, but it was still ironically tender. I pulled my shirt up over my head, and then ripped my bra off. I did the same to Ashley and just sat there staring at her beauty for a moment before leaning down to kiss her.

This was a side of me I had never seen before, and certainly Ashley knew nothing about it. My behavior took us both by surprise in a pleasant way. Ashley was taken aback, but enjoying it, and I was too. I leaned in and grabbed her lips with mine, pulling on her lower lip, then moving to the upper. Both of us were breathing deeply – it seemed as if we were breathing off each other, exchanging breaths, keeping each other alive.

"Spencer…" she moaned as I began to nibble on her lower lip. She bit back then slowly traced my lips with her tongue. I answered with my own tongue, caressing hers lightly, teasing so she would want more.

She surprised me by grabbing my arms, forcing me over on my back and then getting on top of me, reversing our positions. "You don't get to do the teasing," Ashley said huskily. "That's my job…at least for today. I'm taking care of you, remember?" Her breath was still heavy, and her heaving chest was pressing into mine. "Let's take this very slowly…"

She kissed me again, very slowly and seductively, her tongue moving slowly but surely in and out of my mouth. I shivered underneath her as her lips brushed my cheek as she moved to my neck. Her lips and teeth found the place where my pulse was pounding. It tickled, but not in the way that makes you laugh. She concentrated on that area, purposely trying to make my heart beat faster. Just when I thought I couldn't take anymore, she began making her way down.

Ashley pushed her leg between my legs, putting pressure in an area that had become unbelievably warm and moist. My fingers dug into her back as she began kissing my collar bone. She used her mouth to slowly find her way to my left breast while her hand cupped and caressed the other.

I lay there in mind-boggling ecstasy as Ashley continued to tease me. She made her way down to a certain point, always returning to my mouth before starting all over again, making it only slightly lower each time. I could feel the blood and heat swelling where Ashley's leg was still stationed, moving faintly up and down, rubbing gently. I was getting to the point where I was afraid I might explode if Ashley kept teasing me when she finally got to the point I had been yearning for.

My back arched as I reached climax after what seemed like hours of Ashley's manipulation. I lay limp as Ashley came back up from under the covers and lay on top of me. The weight of her body was comforting, and it kept me from floating away.

"Are you feeling better?" Ashley whispered in my ear.

I giggled underneath her. "Ummm…yeah. I guess so, but I can't really feel anything right now. I've gone numb."

"Oh! Sorry," she said as she moved to get off of me.

"No! Not that," I said, pulling her back. "It's just…whew!" I sighed.

"Oh…," she said, understanding what I meant. "Well, in that case I'm not sorry." She smiled at me, her nose wrinkling up.

"Thank you Ash, for everything," I whispered. "For this, and for your support."

She didn't respond, just kissed me on the cheek.

"Let's just lay here for a while," I said, gently rubbing her bare back. "Then I'll return the favor."