My note….I'm not changing the rating for this story as I had anticipated doing(let me know if you think I need to do so). Here is my WARNNG for this chapter...there will be some mature and sexual situations, although nothing overly graphic. I know I've touched on this subject in many of my other stories but I'm trying to change things around a bit, settings, situations…positions(winks). I really love writing Jimmy and Ashley 'together', I just can't write the descriptiveness of the actual…'together'. I've tried(and tried), I just don't have the knack for it like some authors(Heather). Trust me, you do not want to see what I came up with….so, this is the next best thing.
A DAY AT THE BEACH
CHAPTER 6: THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER
Ashley stirred slightly, causing Jimmy to smile and pull her tighter to his chest, both feeling completely content . "Mmm, this is nice", she mumbled groggily and nestled her head deeper into the crook of his arm.
"What?", he groaned, cracking one eye open, but not really focusing on anything but the strange feeling, stirring deep in his midsection.
"This…us…waking up in each others arms", she answered, a little more coherently.
Jimmy chuckled deeply. "Yeah, it is", he agreed wholeheartedly, trying to stifle a yawn.
Ashley shifted her body and propped her head up on Jimmy's chest. "And to think, in a few short weeks, this is how every morning will start", she pointed out, taking possession of his waiting lips.
"I think I can get used to this", Jimmy moaned into Ashley's mouth.
"Me too", she whispered, inching her body up his. Jimmy's strong hand left Ashley's shoulder and trailed down the curve of her side as Ashley brought her leg over Jimmy's, her knee and his arm brushing over the same spot at the same time…
"Oh God…Ash, I…", Jimmy stammered as he scurried away from Ashley, trying to claw his way into a sitting position, totally embarrassed.
Ashley blushed slightly and moved closer to Jimmy. "I take it this has never happened before?", she inquired tactfully.
Jimmy looked away and shook his head. "No, not since before….", he trailed off uneasy with the line of questioning, but quickly added an apology. "I'm sorry Ash".
"What? Jimmy, you can't be serious", she asked incredulously. "You have nothing to be sorry for. This is exactly what we've wanted for so long…..what we've been waiting for", Ashley added sincerely as she caressed his cheek.
Jimmy turned away slightly. "Yeah, but not like this", he muttered under his breath, catching Ashley off guard. She paused momentarily, registiring what Jimmy meant by what he said and how difficult this was for him. She knew how much he wanted this type of intimacy to be a mutual and controlled experience, not some radom event that just happened to occur whenever his body actually decided to respond.
"We can't just throw this opportunity away Jimmy", Ashley advanced suggestively, taking up her previous spot and kissing Jimmy's bare chest. "I'm game if you are".
Jimmy looked down, gaping at Ashley. "Not here Ash...not now", he stammered, motioning to the ceiling.
Ashley's stunned face broke out into a wide grin when she realized Jimmy was more reluctant because of where they were, rather than the circumstances of their little...prediciment. "Jimmy, come on...", she coaxed, glancing over at the clock. "...it's five thirty six, they're all still sound asleep". Jimmy half shrugged uncertainly. Ashley slid off the bed and walked over to the door, locking it for added measure. Shimming out of her night clothes, she crawled back into bed next to Jimmy. "I promise I'll try to be quiet", she inticed.
Jimmy twisted his jaw into a smirking smile and grabbed Ashley by the waist, pulling her firmly next to him. "Is that right?", he taunted and with both hands on her body, tested her reserve.
"I said I'd try, Jimmy", she squirmed breathlessly. "...but if you keep doing that...".
Jimmy laughed huskily into her neck. "Hey, you started it", he defended playfully.
"No I didn't...you're the one who woke up like...that", she teased back, pulling him closer for a kiss.
"Well, you're the one who insisted we...", he trailed off as she blissfully kissed his sensitive arms.
Ashley grinned deviously as Jimmy's gaze met her's. "And aren't you glad I did?", she asked passionately, her eyes twinkling as she pinned Jimmy onto his back and strattled his waist.
Jimmy looked Ashley up and down and his smile slowly faded. He could only feel half of her weight from where she was positioned and his thoughts immediately drifted to the foot mingling that took place under the sheets the night before. "This is the part I really wish I could feel", he tried to sound humorous but only succeeded in slightly masking his wistfullness.
Scooting back, Ashley took his hand and placed it on his chest at his sensation level, right where she had just been. "Oh, you will", she replied certainly
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The smell of fresh brewed coffee and the sound of sizzling bacon was enticing enough to wake the dead from their slumber...which it pretty much did. The sound of heavy, march-like clomping could be heard next as the zombies made their way down the stairs. "Coffee", Marco grunted as he rounded the corner into the kitchen.
"Do I smell eggs?", Ellie asked rubbing her eyes to focus on the stove.
"And hash browns", Spinner called out, rushing into the room.
"Good morning guys", Ashley greeted warmly as she placed more cold bacon into the hot pan. "Sleep well?".
"Someone's mighty chipper this morning", Paige stated pointedly as she grabbed a mug Jimmy was offering. She took one look at the grin on his face and added quite suspiciously, "Make that two someone's".
"Yeah, what gives...?", Spinner inquired grumpily. "..it's barely even nine am and you two are showered, dressed and...happy?".
Jimmy laughed. "Well, some of us can't just roll outta bed and start our day Spin", Jimmy replied, feighning frustration. "Some of us have needs to take care of", he added honestly, sneaking a smile up at Ashley when he emphasized the word 'needs'.
"Yeah right, I forgot", Spinner mumbled, lowering his head in embarrassment.
Ashley shot Jimmy a warning look for making Spinner misinterpret the meaning of his last statement. "Well I do", he whispered to her, in defense. Ashley rolled her eyes and playfully swatted him on the shoulder. "It's okay Spin", Jimmy said loud enough for Spinner to hear. "...it's not all bad", he added with an indifferent shrug and Spinner noticably relaxed.
Jimmy returned to Ashley's side and chuckled. "In fact, most of it was really good", he muttered, grabbing her around the waist and squeezing gently.
Ashley blushed furiously and jabbed Jimmy with the fork she was holding, then shooed him off to mix the pancake batter and turned back to the bacon. "Ow", she gasped as the grease spattered her arm.
"Some boyfriend you are...", Spinner teased, directing his attention toward Jimmy. "...all nice and cozy snuggled up with a mixing bowl while your girlfriend's at battle with the dreaded bacon".
"Dude, I'm practically eye level with that pan", Jimmy retorted, glaring menacingly at the stove then over at Spinner. "I would do it, but I really don't wanna find out what kind of damage hot grease can do to my face".
Spinner nodded dejectedly and sighed, silently cursing himself and wodering just how much farther he could stick his foot into his mouth.
Ashley could tell Spinner was still having a hard time trying to act 'normal' after what happened yesterday. "Cut him a little slack", she whispered to Jimmy as she leaned over his shoulder. Jimmy looked at her curiously for a second, then nodded agreeingly...chalking it up to the fact that Spinner was definitely not a morning person.
"Here Ash, let me", Spinner walked over and offered softly.
"Thanks", Ashley smiled, leaving Spinner to tend to the bacon. She headed over to the griddle where Paige and Marco where flipping the pancakes and grinned approvingly. "Looks like everythings just about ready...let's eat".
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"Hey man, time to pay up", Jimmy stated with amusement as he wheeled onto the deck.
Spinner shrugged hesitantly and waited for Jimmy to transfer out of his chair. Once situated and comfortable, Jimmy offered his seat to Spinner so he could make good on the dare he had accepted.
With a major scowl, Spinner sat down and crossed his arms over his chest. "Happy now", he grumbled.
"Yeah", Jimmy snickered satisfactorily.
Spinner listened as Jimmy gave him the finer points of starting and stopping and the do's and don'ts to avoid tipping over...surprised at how animated Jimmy became as he rattled off about the chair, very much like how he himself gets, talking about his car. Sure, Jimmy had a vehicle of his own, but the chair was his prized means of transportation, his freedom...his legs.
Spinner nervously shifted, surprised at how plush and comfotable the seat and back rest were, another luxury he knew would probably be lost on Jimmy. Once Jimmy was done with his tutorial, he chuckled heartily and sent Spinner on his way, "I'm kinda stuck here, so you should proably go inside to help them clean up".
Spinner sighed heavily and glared at Jimmy, not with contempt but wonderment, as he awkwardly inched to the door. He cursed when he banged his hand into the door jam while trying to manuever up the lip into the house. "A little help here", Spinner called from the doorway, mumbling incoherently to himself until Marco came over and pulled him inside.
Jimmy smiled to himself, relaxing into the chaise lounger as he opened his sketch book in preparation to draw.
Once inside, Spinner concentrated as he attempted to move on his own, in a room now full of potential obstacles...trying hard to remember all of Jimmy's instructions.
The others went easy on him at first after seeing the dificulties he was having just getting around the house, but Spinner didn't want any of that. He was taking this dare very seriously...maybe a little too seriously Ashley feared.
"Spinner, what are you doing?", Ellie asked incredulously when Spinner came crashing through the room with Ashley's large suitcase on his lap.
"It was too easy ", he grunted as he tried to push into the kitchen. "This way I won't use my legs unconsciously".
Marco shot Ashley a quizzical look but all she could offer was a shrug in return. "Whatever...I'm going to lay out", Paige announced obliviously. "You comming Ellie?".
Ellie paused, still puzzled by the scene in front of her. She quickly nodded and followed Paige out, grabbing her bag, guitar and Marco in the process.
Ashley walked over to Spinner and sat on the couch opposite him. "You don't have to do this Spin", she stated assuredly.
"Do what?", he asked cluelessly.
Ashley raised her brow challengingly. "Jimmy didn't come up this dare so you could punish yourself like this...he just couldn't think of anything better", she explained gently.
"I'm not punishing myself Ash", Spinner said dismissively as he attempted to back up. "I accepted a dare and I"m taking it seriously. Okay?", he defended and tried to turn unsuccessfully.
Still unconvinced, Ashley hesitantly shrugged and stood up. "I left the dishes in the sink, they're rinsed...all you have to do is load them in the dishwasher", she instructed as she walked out onto the deck, wincing slightly when she heard him crash into something else.
"So, how's it goin' in there?", Jimmy grinned up at Ashely, holding his arm open for her.
Ashley willingly accepted Jimmy's offer and squeezed herself next to him, handing him a glass of ice water. "Nothing's broken...yet", she joked playfully. "...mostly just bruised and battered".
Jimmy's laugh trailed off and he cringed at the thought. "What about the furniture?", he questioned cautiously.
"I was talking about the furniture", Ashley giggled and took a sip from their shared glass. "So, how's it goin' out here?", she inquired curiously as she reached for his sketchbook.
Ashley looked down at the blank page, then up at Jimmy. He smiled innocently. "I guess I was waiting for some inspiration", Jimmy replied suggestively and softly kissed the top of Ashley's head.
"And now?", Ashley asked in return.
Jimmy pulled her closer and sighed happily, "Now, inspiration will have to wait 'til I'm done holding my girlfriend".
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They hadn't intended to fall asleep, but laying comfortable in each others arms under the clear sky, listening to the lapping waves and chripping birds was beyond relaxing for Jimmy and Ashley.
A loud thud from inside startled them awake. Ashley jumped up and ran into the house to find the source of all the commotion.
Jimmy chuckled at the muffled sounds coming from the other side of the wall. He looked out over the railing to see Paige laying on her towel in the sand, Marco and Ellie were a few feet away, under the umbrella, plucking at the strings of her guitar...and smiled.
Spinner appeared at the doorway about ten minutes later. Jimmy noticed his reservation and instructed calmly, "Push firmly...but don't lean too far forward". Spinner did as instructed and bumped hard down the step, splattering his pants with the iced tea he held in his lap. "Your not supposed to fill it up to the top Spin", Jimmy laughed.
Ignoring Jimmy's previous comment, Spinner inched forward. "A request from your woman", he grumbled, offering Jimmy the now half full glass.
After brushing his pants off, Spinner slowly moved to far side of the deck. Jimmy watched uncomfortably...the sight of Spinner just sitting there in his chair was disturbing and not for the reasons Jimmy thought it would be. He wondered if it was the same for his friends when they first saw him in his chair...if they still felt it when they see him now.
"Hey Spin, dare's over", Jimmy called out anxiously.
Spinner looked over his shoulder and replied, "But I still have another hour".
"Naw man, you're done...you did good", Jimmy insisted, desperately wanting to erase the unnatural image of Spinner in a chair.
"Thank God, I gotta pee", Spinner let out a relieved sigh and pushed back over to Jimmy.
"Looks like you already did, man", Jimmy teased, eyeing the tea stain on his shorts.
"Very funny", Spinner mocked and stuck his tounge out at Jimmy.
Jimmy waited patiently for Spinner to get up, but he just sat there, looking out at the view. "Ah Spin, I kinda need it back", he quipped. Spinner looked at him curiously. "I thought you had to pee...", Jimmy paused for a second and smirked. "...unless you wanna use...", he trailed off and motioned to the bag under his chair.
Spinner's eyes widened in horror. "Dude, don't even go there", he gasped and jumped out of the chair.
Jimmy grinned and effortlessly trasnferred, then situated into his chair, tucking his sketch book in the net and the untouched glass of tea in his lap. Spinner watched with a new found admiration, impressed by Jimmy's strength and grace.
"Man, how did you do that?", he asked as Jimmy took the step up with ease and without spilling a drop of the tea.
"I'll show you later", Jimmy promised, clapping Spin on the shoulder before he headed in the opposite direction.
"Back so soon?", Ashley asked as Jimmy entered the kitchen.
"It was getting hot out there", he replied, pulling her down for a kiss.
"I thought you didn't get hot", she stated teasingly.
"Oh, I get hot", Jimmy quipped, his lips trailing down her neck. "I thought we could cool off before lunch", he offered suggestively.
"Bath or shower?", Ashley whispered seductively.
"I was thinking swim", he proposed, a bit guardedly.
Ashley beamed, pleasantly surprised by his request, "Then a swim it is".
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Thank God it's finally done! I had soooo many rewrites on this one and I'm still not entirely thrilled with the finished product. I hope you all liked it. I know there's a lot of Jim, Ash and Spin going on right now, but I will get more into the other characters soon.
I apologize to my Canadian friends out there for using regular bacon in this story...it was for splatter effect only.
Many thanks to Sunshyne08, lilfiftyfour and havocmangawip for their wonderful and much appreciated reviews.
Degrassi is not mine.