a/n: this one is more on the fluffy side, but trust me...the angst is on its way. Love you guys! Enjoy!
We're collecting dust,
But our love's enough.
Sunlight streamed through the windows of the upstairs bedroom, nearly blinding the sole occupant of the room's queen bed. Stretching his muscular arms in an arc above his head, Toby wondered where his self-titled first mate had gotten to. He had slept later than intended, but that was no surprise with way his head had been spinning last night. Spencer had drifted off shortly after their middle-of-the-night conversation, slumbering soundly as evidenced by the serene rise and fall of her chest. Toby, on the other hand, was wide awake with an endless barrage of horrific scenarios playing on a loop—Spencer shivering alone in the woods, tripping over rocks and tree roots; The way she must have looked to the rangers who found her after being out there all night long; Spencer nursing a bandaged chin, suffering from nightmares and taking medication. It was enough to make him nauseous.
Spencer had shifted and slurred a few incoherent words, then unconsciously nudged her body even closer to his. She seemed to instinctively sense his despair even in her sleep. Toby had then tightened his hold on the one who held his heart, thanking God that he still could call her his own.
He did not deserve an ounce of her forgiveness, which was why he wanted her to have as much time and space as she needed. Someone still had her spooked, but Toby understood the crushing weight of secrets and lies better than anyone. He'd get it out of her eventually. They were making progress and that was all he needed for now…
Said progress would not continue, however, if he didn't find his precious partner in crime. Toby meandered through both floors of the cottage, but still no Spencer. After ducking his head into the pantry, he turned back into the kitchen, scratching his head in curiosity. It was then that he caught a glimpse of something in motion from beyond the glass French doors.
Grinning at her obvious choice, Toby slid the doors open and stepped onto the wooden deck that boasted a glorious view of the glimmering Atlantic. And there, sprawling across a multicolored hammock in the corner of the patio, was the objection of his affection with her attention trained on something in her hands. Now talk about a fantastic view…
Spencer's head perked up as he ambled toward her, a heart-stopping smile donning her face. "Hi, handsome."
"Good morning, sweetheart." he replied warmly, kneeling next to her and meeting her lips in an earnest kiss. Pulling back to see her fully, Toby's hands imbedded themselves in her glossy dark locks. "Have you been up for a while?"
"Not too long. I took a quick shower and then came down for some coffee. When I saw the setup out here, I just couldn't resist. I hope that's alright."
"Of course, Spence, I want you to feel at home." Applying pressure to the back of her head, Toby sought her lips again, feeling that familiar magnetic draw. As the fire between them increased, he leaned further in and felt her fingers massage his exposed back when—
A muffled, yet shrill, screech rang out as their foreheads unexpectedly collided with a sharp smack and Spencer's weight tipped forward into him. Toby's eyes popped open in time to see the panic written on her face. He reflexively bent backwards and shuffled his hands around to her front in an effort to stop her from rolling right out of the hammock.
Once he was positive that her balance had been properly restored, Toby exploded with laughter. "I'm sorry, Spencer…I—your face was—hilarious!" His whole body shook.
Her hand slapped teasingly at his bicep as she struggled to keep from joining him. "Toby! That is not funny! That was almost really bad!"
"What, babe? You just couldn't get close enough, could you?" Again he collapsed into a laughing fit, her frightened facial expression flashing through his mind again.
"Oh you are so full of it! You were the one who couldn't resist!"
He snickered in response as he finally caught his breath. "I can't argue with that," he murmured, closing the short distance between them with an open mouthed kiss below her jaw.
"Uh huhhh…just like that." Spencer's eyes involuntarily slipped shut as Toby repeated the action several times. "See, your fault," she said feebly.
"Maybe you just have balance issues. Not so graceful, perhaps?"
"Oh I'd like to see you try," She challenged.
She makes this so easy. Toby rose to his feet and threw one leg precariously into the hammock while placing a steadying hand onto the banister behind it.
"I did NOT mean right now!" Spencer shrieked, panic once again evident in her expression.
"Why not?" His smug smile did nothing to alleviate her anxiety.
"TOBY CAVANAUGH, DO NOT—" he hoisted himself right into her space, causing the hammock to swing violently. "Tobyyyy, if you flip it, I—I'll…" Spencer's knuckles were white with the intensity of her grip on its edges, her eyes fastened shut.
"Open your eyes, Spence. Are you on the ground?"
She puffed out a big breath as she found his azure eyes just millimeters from hers. "You are crazy."
"And you love it." Toby brushed his nose against hers in anticipation of another kiss. Spencer waited until he closed his eyes to deliver a vengeful pinch to his side.
"Ow! That was not nice!" He exclaimed, his eyes darting back at her.
She stuck her tongue out at him, earning a snide remark as to how he could think of a better use for that. Ignoring him, Spencer sat up enough to search for her forgotten notecards. Plucking the stack from where they had astonishingly remained safe somewhere beneath her knees, she laid back and went to work on reorganizing them.
Toby groaned from his position beside her, pushing his arm beneath her head so she could rest on it. "Please tell me you did not bring flashcards with you."
She turned towards him with a mocking scowl. "Hey, mister. You were sleeping and I had some free time. In case you hadn't heard, my schoolwork has been a tad neglected of late."
His frown was genuine. "Spencer…have your grades suffered at all? Because of—"
Interrupting him with her index finger across his lips, Spencer cut in. "I was being dramatic. You know me, one B and I fly off the handle. I'm fine. I got extensions on a lot of assignments from earlier in the semester and I've already caught up. I was only kidding."
Toby captured her hand in both of his. "Finals are coming up though. If you want to go home early to study, I understand."
"Never." She planted a few kisses on his stubbly cheek, then moved to skim across his lips lightly. "This is what I want. To be with you, Toby."
He drew her closer, trapping her in a series of unhurried kisses. Spencer sketched the outline of his abdominals with her nails and was rewarded by the harsh quickening of his breath. Toby reciprocated by running his hands underneath the hem of her shirt and skating his thumbs higher and higher against her silky skin. The loud moan that formed in Spencer's throat encouraged his movements. The clashing of their tongues intensified, but a microscopic voice in Toby's head commanded—slow down.
He despised that voice. Putting the brakes on bit by bit, Toby removed his hands from their current spot and smoothed Spencer's shirt back down. His kisses became more tender until he gradually backed away.
Peering at the woman next to him, Toby wished he could have snapped a photo. Spencer's large brown eyes were unfocused, as if in a daze. Her pink lips were swollen and her chestnut waves were perfectly fanned out beneath her head.
"What is it, Toby?" Her voice came out low and raspy, exactly how he liked it.
"Nothing, love." He kissed her forehead, already missing the touch of her velvet lips. "Are you hungry for some brunch?"
"Starved." The glint in her mocha eyes let him in on her intended double meaning.
Chuckling at her flirtatious answer, Toby gave in to one last heated kiss. Just as he was about to shimmy out of the hammock, Spencer stopped him with a hand on his forearm. Her grave appearance halted him in place.
"I want to say I'm sorry, Toby. I know I brought the mood down last night. It was so sweet for you to bring me here and I hate that I ruined the whole thing by being so cryptic."
"Spencer, you don't ne—"
"Toby, I mean it." She stated resolutely, talking over him. "My secrets have driven a wedge between us too many times before and I won't let that happen again. I…I promise that I'll tell you everything, I just…I…"
His hands cupped her face, bringing her swimming eyes back to his. "You can tell me whenever you're ready. I trust you, Spencer. Take your time and I will be right here." He paused, leaving a kiss in her hair. "Now how about some brunch?"
Toby slipped out of the hammock with poise and retreated into the house, but not before throwing her a reassuring smile over his shoulder. Spencer felt her insides melt. For what must have been the millionth time in just the last month, she marveled at how she had ever managed to keep him. With a salty breeze stirring her thoughts, Spencer returned to her flashcards and shut out the possibility that her latest revelation would be the one that finally sent Toby running in the opposite direction.