Hope you all enjoy this Chapter, it's only one more left after this one. Then one to the next series!

Enjoy

- Kay

Should I really do this, am I even ready?

Sleeping together was the best I could come up with. Jesus Abbie you're losing it. He's already living here. Now you've invited him right into your bed. God Mama would kick my ass. But, he probably would just sneak in anyway like last night.

He went for it.

God, he really went for it.

He walked right up to me

He followed me to my bedroom door.

We're doing this.

I'm doing this.

Abbie kept playing his words over and over in her head. No matter how she tried to relax she couldn't, not even during her shower.

"Your room or mine?"

Abbie listened to Crane's voice echo throughout the corners of her mind. The way he turned towards her and looked her straight in the eyes as he started up the stairs. There was no shame involved, there was nothing but that arrogant know it all expression that Crane usually had plastered on his face when he knew the endgame.

He's such a smartass

He issued her a dare, so she threw it back in his face by challenging him, she just never expected that he would react the way he did. That he would take her up on the offer. That he would go for it that he wouldn't give his 'oh god no. I'm a gentleman' expression.

It wasn't the first time she heard him say something like that. But this time was different, this time it wasn't a harmless tease. This time even the air around them felt electrically charged. As mad as she was, she had to admit things between them were complicated.

In the past, even when he was married, they always teased each other and at times the games between them where inappropriate but he always backed down and she always let it go. But now there was nothing between them, no demonic son or wicked wife, no friend turned demonic henchmen, no dark angel bent on destroying the world. None of those things were an issue anymore there was only the two of them.

Standing in the shower she switched on the water, she had to admit that it was something watching him walk towards her, his face was nothing but a mask of determination and something she wasn't sure if she was ready to acknowledge yet.

Abbie sighed as water raining down on her began to gain its warmth for a moment she could see the prideful captain that she met in an ancient jail cell in 1781 it was as if time had warped itself and even the glare in his eyes became enthralling... Her hands cupped her breast and roamed over her body traveling lower and lower.

The way he strode up the stairs, how his long legs ate up the space within seconds, and the expression on his face when he looked down at her after reaching the top. There was something insatiable there, he was confidence personified. He called her bluff.

It was the first time she had seen him look strong, since he came home.

Seated on the showers bench, the clean little bubbles streamed down the drain and she leaned her head back against the shower wall as her legs drew closer to her body as they arched on the showers bench, her eyes closed as she found her slick center.

Abbie sat on her bed cross-legged dressed in only an oversized sheer light pink night dress and a navy lacy thong. If he wouldn't back down then she wouldn't either, all's fair in war. Besides, it was the kind of thing she usually slept in no need for changing things now.

There was a small tap on her door before he entered. His hair was damp and Crane had on a pair of black yoga pants and a white v neck tee. He slowly walked over to the opposite side of the bed.

"May I?" He asked as his index finger drew little circles on top of her duvet.

"You know I invited you this time right?"

"I know that but I just wanted to make sure that you were still comfortable with this."

"It's a bit awkward"

"If this causes you discomfort then I should leave"

"No wait. Stop, I don't want you to go. Crane just sit down and hear me out." He sat on the bed and watched her as she ran her hands through her hair.

"I think, I was just talking out of my ass before, but I had some time to think about it. I think it is better that we do this. I mean I don't want any secrets between us and if you're just going to sneak in later... I really am okay with it."

"If you want me to stop, Abbie I will. Initially it seemed like the only way to reach you."

"I understand, I was trying to protect myself"

"You were protecting yourself from me?"

"Yes, from you. You're the only person who knows me and when you left, I felt like you took everything with you. You're the first witness, not me you're where there when all of this began. I felt abandoned by you, by our purpose, by God, by Frank, by everyone. That was why I left home"

"I am so sorry Abbie. I didn't do it to hurt you, but I regret that I did."

"I know that. I'm glad that we're doing this. Talking, being honest with each other. It's the only way it works and I need you. Sometimes I hate that I do but, I do and I'm never going to apologize for that to anyone, even you. So don't ever run away without me again."

"I won't"

"You better not."

"Crane before we go any further with this, I have something else I need to ask you." She put her hand in his and gave it a tiny squeeze.

"Of course, ask me anything."

Abbie looked into his eyes and asked "Did something happen last night? I mean, you know, did you like, do anything to me?"

Ichabod's face was in complete terror. "You have to know that I would never take advantage of you. The very insinuation that you would think that I would dare"

"Crane, I just, I thought that I felt something last night. There was like this feeling or something. I don't know."

"Whatever you're trying to say Abbie, just say it, please"

"I mean, I just felt this ... shiver, this thing, that slowly traveled up my arm and across my chest" Abbie's eyes settled on him as she made the motion with her fingers, retracing the trail of the path on her body the night before. I didn't mean to accuse you of anything. I'm sorry alright."

Ichabod's face paled as he watched her tiny finger retrace the path his had taken the night before "Oh God ..."

"What?"

"Last night, when I entered the bed with you I noticed that your camisole strap had slipped off your shoulder into the crease of your elbow. I wouldn't have touched you that way without your consent but you were exposed to me and I only meant to cover you. I admit that maybe I shouldn't have rearranged your clothing. A woman as beautiful as you should be cherished Abbie, if I made you feel taken advantage of or victimized by me that is never what I wanted I just want to be closer to you. It's all that I want."

"Well, I usually sleep alone so being exposed doesn't really bother me. Before you moved in I didn't wear much of anything to bed."

"You're not wearing much now." He joked

"You don't like what I'm wearing, Ichabod Crane?"

"No, noo not at all" he stumbled over the words as he said them his hand twirling the edge of the bedcovers. His eyes seemed stuck on the duvet as if the fabric had morphed into somewhat of an interesting pattern.

"Crane, I'm ready for bed, let's get some sleep"

Ichabod looked up to see Abbie reaching for the lamp beside her bed, the edge of the pink nightshirt dress riding up. Her undergarments revealed.