Author's Note: Okay, okay-here's the sexy goodness. It's been a while since I've written anything like this. Hope you enjoy.

Trigger Warning: Mentions of past self-harm. If you read this and feel triggered, please PM me or reach out to someone else who can offer you comfort. You are not alone.

Chapter Eight

The cottage is modest but cozy, with an open concept living room, kitchen, and small dining table. The entire home is built from cob, an earthen building material that lets the natural lighting reflect on the walls and keeps the interior nice and cool compared to the humid Georgia weather, even in November. When I walk into the bedroom, our bedroom, I almost break. There are fresh cut flowers in a vase beside the bed, and the room smells like home. But not the home that I'm running from... No, the home I'm running to.

I turn to face Ali and can't find a single word to say. Instead, I take her face in my hands, gently leaving a kiss on her lips. When I pull away, I notice a hopeful grin taking over Ali's face.

"You know, this is our house. And we have the whole place to ourselves, for the first time..." Ali's voice trails off and I can see where she's going with this. I lick my lips, teasing her slightly, before leaning in for another kiss. She moans softly as I ease her back into the wall, but that moan turns into a loud groan when my thigh pushes between her own.

I start attacking Ali's neck with kisses, smirking as she breathes out heavily. "This is, ah, new to me-I've never-not with a girl, anyway. But I don't-oh, I don't care. Fuck, Em, I want you so bad."

I guess I'm doing something right. I back away for just a moment and pull my sweatshirt over my head. I wasn't wearing anything underneath it and become suddenly aware of the view that I've given Ali. Her jaw drops at the sight of my bare chest in front of her, but I don't want to be the only one on display. I tug at the hem of her shirt and she helps me lift it off. I lean into her, kissing her neck again as I unhook her bra. It falls to the floor, and I am left speechless. I have seen Alison topless before, but it was never intended for me. It was always at a sleepover while she changed into pajamas, or hopping into the shower in the locker room. This is different, though. This is a show intended for my eyes only.

Alison runs her hand down my torso seductively before reaching the button of my jeans. She pulls them off with ease, and I shiver as her hand grazes over my underwear.

But then she gasps.

And it's not the good kind of gasp, it's not the kind that one would hope to elicit, especially when standing naked in front of a lover for the first time.

And then I remember...the scars.

"Em," Alison breathes out as she reaches to touch me. When her fingers connect with the scar tissue on my thighs, I jerk away from her. I can't. I can't do this. I run to the bathroom, locking myself in.

She pounds on the door, but I block it out. I had practically forgotten about those scars. Even though I had left the newest mark on my skin just days before, it feels as if it's been years. So much has changed. I have no desire to harm myself now that I'm here with Alison, but the shame and guilt and hurt from the past boil to the surface.

I can't believe someone-Alison-saw my scars. I can't believe she touched them.

I gasp for breath, realizing suddenly that I haven't been breathing consistently. I feel as if I'm suffocating, like the walls are caving in, like I'm going to die here in this tiny bathroom with Ali waiting for me on the other side of the door. No one was ever supposed to see those scars, to know that I gave in to moments of weakness. No one, especially not Alison.

But I hear a knock at the door, a soft knock this time. The voice from the other side is very small. "Emily. You don't have to explain. I just...need to show you something."

I hesitate for a moment. I have come so far to be here with her, both physically and emotionally. I could stay inside this bathroom for ever and waste away out of fear, or I could walk back into the bedroom, where I will be face to face with the love of my life. Maybe she will understand. Maybe we don't have to talk about it ever again. Maybe we can just pretend...

And then I remember what she told me, back at the train station. It only takes twenty seconds of courage.

So I open the door, and right in front of my eyes is a very naked, very vulnerable Alison DiLaurentis. I face her, trying not to let tears cloud my eyes as they roam down her body. And then they stop, because right there on top of her left thigh, in the same placement as my own self-inflicted wounds, is a heavy, jagged scar. Alison closes her eyes as I take the sight in.

"I don't have to know why or when you did it, Emmy," she says, taking my hand in hers. She opens her eyes and leads me to the bed. We sit on the very edge. I don't want to seek comfort by stretching out on the bed just yet.

"Then what do you have to know?" I whisper, barely audible to either of us.

"Nothing," she says. Her voice is but a whisper as well. "But you have to know something. You have to know that I have hurt myself too, but neither of us are still bleeding. Those are scars on our legs, Emmy, not fresh cuts. Scars mean that we've healed. We made it out alive. They're a reminder of where we've been, and how we're so much better off now."

I choke. When did she become so wise, so brave? "I...I'm sorry I hurt myself, Ali. I'm sorry I can't offer you a perfect body, I'm sorry it's all scarred up..."

She laughs gently, taking my face in her hands. "You are the most perfect person I will ever know."

With that, she eases me back onto the bed, where we stretch out with each other. It suddenly occurs to me how absurd it is that I am naked in bed with Alison DiLaurentis, yet I've spent the whole time crying. I laugh out loud, covering my face with my hands, and she laughs too. Without warning, I climb on top of her, pressing the length of my naked body against her own. She gasps, again, but this time, it's the good sort of gasp.

"Can I make love to you, Alison?" I whisper against her neck as my knee makes its way between her thighs. She doesn't answer me verbally, but instead, moans and nods her head. Yes. I kiss her hard, and suck her bottom lip into my mouth, nipping on it while my leg rocks into her center again and again. Sparks are flying-this is the dream, the novelty, the prize for the fight that I have fought so hard.

I have fought so hard to share this bed with her.

My passion takes over and my hands roam freely, feeling every curve and every inch of smooth skin. Her whole body bucks upward when my thumb brushes over her nipple, and I chuckle to myself. "Tell me what you want, love," I breathe into her ear. She responds by mumbling incoherently. I take that to mean that she wants me to have my way with her, so without hesitating, I suck one of her nipples into my mouth, rolling it gently between my teeth.

"Ahh, Em!" she nearly screams. "Please, fuck, Em, fuck me. Now. Please."

I look up at her teasingly as I leave a trail of kisses between her breasts and down her stomach. I make my way past her belly button and further into dangerous territory, and then I exhale, sending my hot breath onto her center. She releases another moan, and I consider my next move for just a moment. I could use my hands just fine, but why do that when I could taste her?

Without thinking any further, I lean forward and flick my tongue across her clit in one quick movement. She bucks upward, into my mouth, and I moan as I taste the sweetness that is Alison DiLaurentis. I suck her tiny bud into my mouth and swirl my tongue over it, wrapping my arms around her legs to pull her closer to me. The moans and gasps coming from Alison are like music to my ears. My tongue slips down into her folds, and I push it in as far as it will go. Ali lifts up to meet me as my tongue thrusts inside her. Her wetness is intoxicating, exhilerating.

I replace my tongue with two fingers, slid quickly inside her wet folds, while my tongue travels back up to her clit. Ali grabs onto the short hair on the back of my head and pulls me into her, begging me for more and more of everything I'm giving. Her walls are so tight around my flesh, but I manage to slide a third finger in, still circling her clit with my tongue. As I curve my fingers upward inside her, something within her is triggered. Her whole body begins to tremble and she sits up on her knees, my fingers still buried deep inside her. Her orgasm seems to last for an eternity, but still not long enough, as she rides my fingers. Her wetness puddles into the palm of my hand and I groan at the erotic scene unfolding before my eyes.

Ali collapses onto the bed and pulls me up to lay beside her. She grabs my hand, the one still coated in her juices, and licks up and down each finger as she tastes herself seductively. I groan and instinctively lift up my lower body, begging her to touch me, to bring me to the point where I just brought her.

Knowingly, Alison dips a finger into my folds, coating her own skin with my wetness. She brings it to her lips and makes a show of getting a taste. She kisses me deeply, letting me taste both of our juices from her tongue. I'm so lost in the moment that I don't notice that Ali has traveled further south. Her nose nudges against my clit as her tongue slides easily into my core. Her rhythm is steady but keeps me guessing, leaving me completely at her whim. I have had a lot of sex over the years with several different girls, but nothing-no, nothing-compares to this moment with Ali.

My fingers travel to her soft, blonde curls as she penetrates me gloriously with her tongue. I tilt her head up slightly. Though she's still inside me, she's now able to lock eyes with me. That's all it takes for me. I feel myself tighten around her tongue while my grip tightens on her hair.

"Oh, Ali! Oh, God, yes, yes, yes!" I exclaim. She laps her tongue over my clit repeatedly while I ride out my climax. Alison finally collapses onto the bed beside me and pulls me in for a close embrace.

If this is what life on the run looks like, I will keep running every day.

Author's Note: Hey folks, hope you liked this chapter. I had intended to write about more than just sex, but hell, this seemed like a good enough stopping point for the chapter. If you liked it, please let me know via reviewing or following. :) Also! I know I have mentioned this previously, but just thought I'd put it out there again. I have a published book of poetry and short stories that you might be interested in if you like my writing. It's only $2.99 for the ebook and $7.99 for paperback, so if you want, go over to Amazon or Barnes and Noble's website and search for "Barefoot" by Elijah Walker. That's me! If more folks buy my book, it means I'll be able to spend less time marketing (boring) and more time writing (which means more fan fiction for you!) Thanks everyone for all your support! Light and love. 3