Chapt 11: Awaking a Dream

---------------------------

Ashlyn threw herself upright; fists balled, arms crossed protectively in front of her ready to fight off the next blow. Suddenly she felt arms encircle her from behind as hands fought to hold her struggling wrists. Warm air wafted across her ear. Slowly, as the air became sounds, the sounds became words, the words became broken sentences, she relaxed.

"It's alright. Ashlyn. You're alright. Shh, Ashlyn, shh. I'm here. You're not alone. You're safe."

His gentle voice soothed her and as the tension left her body he released his grip on her wrists, lacing his fingers of one hand with hers, while brushing the sweat and tear soaked hair from her face with the other.

Spencer. She was with Spencer. As the reality sunk in she turned to lean into the crook of his neck, letting his heat seep into her, replacing cold terror with warm comfort.

Ashlyn could hear herself mutter, "I'm sorry," over and over again mixed with Spencer's tender and soothing words.

Spencer held Ashlyn close rocking them both as she calmed and their heart-rates returned to normal.

Eventually, her muttering stopped and Ashlyn was able to speak sensibly again. "Guess you're not allowed to get a peaceful night's sleep with me around," she tried to joke away the underlying truth of her statement.

Depreciatingly, he shook his head. Growing more serious, "I wouldn't change it. It's nice to be there for someone who's still alive."

Ashlyn couldn't suppress her chuckle when Spencer realized what he'd said.

His entire body cringed, "Sorry. That wasn't very comforting, was it."

"Actually, it was," she replied as she ran a hand over his lightly stubbled face. "It was honest, a bit unorthodox maybe, but words from the heart often can be."

Straying from his face her hand absently traced over Spencer's bare chest. Her touch enticed a soft coo from her lover. Kissing his neck where her head was still nuzzled, in a whispered voice she sheepishly asked, "Would you be interested in finishing what we…"

The rest of her question was swallowed by Spencer's mouth as it covered hers.

As they kissed, Spencer eased her comfortably back into the bed. A soft whimper escaped her when Spencer's lips left her eager mouth and moved down her neck. He nipped at the sensitive area where neck meets collar bone, while his long fingers feathered over her body awakening every nerve and sensation. His tongue teased down between her breasts to stop just short of their base to place a tender kiss softly on either breast.

Ashlyn's shallow breath grew even more haggard with each touch and each expectation of the next.

Cupping her breasts he squeezed gingerly, coaxing a pleasant moan and arch of Ashlyn's back. As one hand continued to work her right breast, his other was busy running sensual circles over and around the opposite nipple.

Writhing with ecstasy under his touch, Ashlyn gripped and pulled at Spencer's bedding as if afraid that doing so to him could end the heavenly dream she was living. "More…" it was more of a mouthed plea than a whispered one.

Spencer obligingly increased his efforts as he simultaneously tried to marshal his own body- he wanted to extend the erotic torment for them both.

The hand that had been attending her breast was swiftly replaced by his lapping tongue, allowing him to roam further down her curvaceous naked body. Graceful fingers offered more sensual caresses to her smooth thighs which welcomingly parted in anticipation.

Ashlyn's mind was lost, sensations overwhelmed her and an eerie calm took over her body. She was Spencer's, completely and totally- the proverbial putty in his hands.

A low rattling moan came from Ashlyn as Spencer's agile hand swept over her swath of pubic hair. Pleased with her reaction he tore himself from her nipple to see her face.

It was all she could do to keep from crying upon seeing the care and love so pure on his expressive features. Instead, she found the strength to hold him to her as she kissed him with more need and hunger than she, herself, thought she possessed.