A/N:  I've been putting this off.  Unfortunately, I couldn't avoid it any longer.  After all the build-up, I hope you are all satisfied with the payoff.

Disclaimer:  Nope.

Chapter 11:

Lover Lay Down

Rachel relaxed against the nest of pillows, watching Chandler under her eyelashes as he shed his clothing, the candlelight playing against his skin.  Shadows flickered around the room with his every movement, mirroring Rachel's nervous impatience with his process of undressing.  After what seemed like an eternity, he completed his task and eased onto the mattress beside her, propping himself up on one elbow.  He stared down at her with darkened eyes, making a thousand promises, each of which spread like wildfire throughout her body, the flames searing her skin and licking at her toes.  She reached up to stroke his cheek, the light stubble tickling the sensitive tips of her fingers as her hand moved downward towards his collarbone, where she settled for a moment before sliding around to the nape of his neck and threading her fingers through his chestnut hair.  He didn't resist when she pulled his mouth down to hers, but took the opportunity to slip his free hand underneath her hips, urging her closer. 

Any semblance of restraint that either may have possessed had evaporated; the kiss was deep, unrelenting, and Rachel felt herself being swallowed up by the intensity of her feelings.  Gone was the hesitation they had both exhibited in days past; gone, too, were her previous worries about the effect their actions may have on Ross or anybody else.  She had handed herself fully to Chandler when she closed the bedroom door behind them, shutting out any thoughts or concerns from the outside world as she did so. 

She wanted to tell him to hurry up, to dispense with the formalities, but, judging by his languid, patient movements, he was apparently in no mood to rush.  As his hand glided lazily across her hip, she succumbed to his pace, willing herself to savor the moment.  She studied his face, admiring the strong angles of his jaw line, the awed expression in his eyes, which somehow managed to be simultaneously gentle and intense.  She moved her hands across his shoulders, relishing the tremor in his body that her touch elicited.  The warm yellow light dancing around the room sparkled at her from within his dark pupils, suggesting an air of excited anticipation reminiscent of the emotion bubbling up from within her stomach, threatening to burst from her throat in an audible explosion of desire long-suppressed.  Unbidden, her hips moved under his, and he moaned against her lips, a soft, nearly silent vibration that resonated somewhere deep inside her, in a place that hadn't been awakened at any point in her recent memory.

Chandler's mouth returned to hers, his tongue probing, somewhat more hurried than before, tracing the underside of her top lip in curious exploration.  His hand moved to her hair, wrapping it around his fingers, his hand tightening into a fist that betrayed his outward composure.  Abandoning the silken halo in favor of bare skin, his fingers drifted along her jaw line, to her shoulder, along her arm, down to her ribcage, and then up, causing her to gasp in surprise at his caress.  "Chandler…oh, God, I need you…." His stomach clenched at the intimacy of his name on her lips.  Reflexively, he edged closer to her, bringing his entire body into contact with hers. 

His nimble fingers burned a trail of molten lava across her chest; her breathing became labored as she pressed kisses against his neck, willing him onward.  Unable to wait any longer, his hands slipped under her hips once more.  Her head fell back against the pillows and he held her gaze as he joined their bodies in one long, fluid motion, a deep, guttural sound issuing from his throat.  Her eyelids fluttered closed as they moved together, drifting off into a world where no one existed except the two of them.  She slid both of her arms around his waist and pulled him closer still.  He nuzzled her neck, tasting her, brushing kisses along her earlobe.  "Jesus Christ, I can't – I can't get enough of you, Rach…"

She moaned in response, awed by the unbelievably powerful emotions he evoked.  New, unidentified feelings erupted in her chest, alien sensations she had never experienced rising up in her throat.  She gazed up at his face as his hand wandered along her waist, and realized with a jolt that the sights, the sounds, the chemistry – everything – felt like home.  It was as if she'd been searching for this exact moment her entire life without realizing what she was looking for, and she was struck by the irony that, for the past four years, it had been right there in front of her.  Chandler's eyes sought hers, held them, and she felt vulnerable, as if he was looking right into her heart, directly into her soul, sensing her thoughts.  Her first instinct was to avert her eyes, but she was mesmerized, unable to look away.  Moments melted away, paraffin under a midday sun, and Rachel found herself awed as unspoken novels passed between them, painting elaborate stories of their pasts and futures, stories that audible words would only tarnish.

Watching her carefully for any signs of discomfort, Chandler quickened his pace.  He moved against her with an agile grace of which she hadn't previously thought him capable.  Supporting himself on one hand, he used the other to smooth her hair back, tracing the outline of her cheek as he moved his hand away, down her neck, across her shoulder.  His fingers danced along her arm, finally slowing to entwine with hers, pulling her hand to his chest and cradling it there.  She squeezed her eyes closed as her feelings intensified, gasping for breath as the passion built in her abdomen, and then she knew she couldn't take it any longer; a billion stars erupted in the darkness behind her eyelids.  Conscious thought fled; every cell of her body screamed his name.  Somewhere in the distance she heard him whispering, "Rachel, oh God…" as her hands flew around his neck, grasping for him, steadying herself as she fell back to Earth.  She felt his entire body tense as her nails dug into his shoulders, the bright lights receding.  He groaned deep in his throat and she forced her eyes open wide, memorizing every line in his face as he pressed himself into her.

Gasping for air, he collapsed against her, and, with some effort, she rolled them both onto their sides, affectionately brushing his hair away from his face, stroking his cheek, his neck, his shoulders, murmuring his name over and over.  Pressing kisses onto her forehead, he pulled her closer, holding her against his chest, relishing the feeling of her heartbeat racing alongside his own.  After several long moments, he loosened his grip on her and slowly opened his eyes.  Inches away, Rachel gazed back at him with an awed reverence, her eyes soft with satisfaction and warmth.  He sighed languidly as his mouth curled into a lethargic smile.  "Oh my God…"

Her eyes crinkled with understanding and amusement.  "I know!"

He traced large, lazy circles between her shoulder blades, studying her face closely.  "This is going to sound like an incredible understatement, but…dude."

She snuggled closer to him, pressing her forehead against his shoulder, searching desperately for a meaningful way to describe how she was feeling but unable to locate an adequate combination of words anywhere in her vocabulary.  "It was…it was amazing." 

He shifted away from her and she frowned, tightening her hold.  "Where are you going?"

Chandler smiled and brushed a kiss into her hair.  "I'm going to blow out all these candles and lock the door.  I promise, I'll be right back."

Reluctantly, Rachel allowed him to slip from between the sheets and watched as he stepped into his jeans.  At the sight of his retreating back, she rolled onto her stomach, pulling the blankets more tightly around herself.  The sounds he made as he moved around the apartment sounded irrationally comforting; she listened as he lifted the window leading out onto the balcony and grinned into her pillow.

Outside, Chandler lit his cigarette and took a long drag.  The cool night air danced against his bare skin; shivering, he crossed his arms and stared, unseeing, across the street at the neighboring apartment building.  He hadn't been prepared for the visceral reaction he'd experienced as he watched Rachel's face shimmer in the candlelight.  Certainly, he had already known that he had strong feelings for her, but it had only been a few days.  What he was feeling now – what he thought he was feeling, anyway, as he had no prior experience to draw from – that took a long time to develop, months, years, even.  Right??

And how long have you known Rachel? his stubborn subconscious reminded him.

Uncomfortable with this line of thought, Chandler stubbed out his cigarette and dropped it over the railing.  Not yet, he insisted.  Not ready for that yet.  He stepped back into the apartment and closed the window resolutely.  Making his way into the bedroom, he stopped short at the sight of Rachel, sound asleep, her hair fanned out over the pillow.  Hypnotized by her vulnerable beauty, he stared, his chest tightening as he noticed her hand curled into a fist around the edge of the blanket, tucking it under her chin, identical to the way she had lain just four days ago, in that hotel room on the other side of the Atlantic.  Not.  Yet.  Pointedly ignoring the fluttering in his stomach, he extinguished the candles and slipped back into bed beside her.

***