Hey everyone, sorry for the delay. Truth be told I'm actually two chapters ahead of schedule. I have been since the inception of the story. I meant to post once a week but life loves to be a nuisance at times. So, the chapter isn't long but that's because the last few are going to be quite lengthy, so don't think I'm just spouting stuff out for spout's sake. (I don't think what I just said is an actual thing but pretend it is)Anyway, I'll stop rambling, you can give a thank you to sonfanatic, I'm not sure if she meant for her review to came off sassy or if she were asking nicely but it sassed a chapter up so sonfantic I was worried what you'd do to me if I didn't post before the year was up. Happy New Year everyone, please be safe and thanks so much for giving your time to read this and review. Have a good one!

Day 7

She wipes the tears from her eyes as she turns the page. "Spencer."

"Hmmm?" Spencer asks not turning her head away from her typewriter as she continues typing the second half of her novel.

"This is amazing."

Spencer breathes out a small laugh. She's more embarrassed than anything. She didn't expect Ashley to read her first draft in front of her. The Dean had spent the entire morning bugging her about it. If she were her muse she had the right to see what she inspired, she had argued simply. After a large display of puppy dog eyes, Spencer finally relented. The blonde had said she needed something to preoccupy her while she made herself vulnerable. They went and searched for paper specific for typewriting. When Spencer found one that's close enough with the model she preferred the blonde spent the morning writing while Ashley read.

It's been an hour since they've returned to the blonde's apartment finding it completely bare, only a note on the island informing Spencer where her roommates had gone. Stevi got a last minute gig to spin at a party in the Hamptons, lodging included and Niko rode out with her, never passing up a chance to party in the Hamptons.

Ashley liked that they could spend the day alone at Spencer's. Not that she didn't like hanging with Stevi and Niko, Spencer's apartment had a cozy lived-in feel and it felt familiar even though she had only been there a few times. Resting on Spencer's bed, in her clothes—which she loved wearing—content with not really having anything to do.

Spencer's novel had been spectacular. The concept heartbreaking and at the same time impossible not to fall in love with. The woman clacking away certainly had a way with words.

"I mean it, Spence, it's beautiful."

"You're beautiful." The writer answers with no hesitation, her writing rhythm still flowing nicely.

"You're terrible at taking compliments." She quips as she swings her legs over the edge of the bed, resting her feet against Spencer's chair.

She sees the blonde smirk slightly. She really loves how good she looks in this moment, her hair thrown up in a messy bun, her black framed glasses complimenting her face, and a black pullover hoodie. The weather had taken a turn for the worse a heavy thunderstorm catching them several blocks away from the apartment, drenching them and making the air a little chilly. She really wants to feel the blonde's body on hers. Granted they spent the majority of the night doing what's running through her mind but she doesn't want to disturb Spencer.

"Give me twenty minutes," Spencer says casually.

"Huh?" Ashley had been daydreaming about her favorite thing Spencer had done her last night. Every time it's different. She isn't exactly sure how many tricks Spencer has up her sleeves but her sleeve is about as deep as Mary Poppin's magic bag.

"I'll make love to you... in twenty minutes." Spencer sings the first half in Boys II Men fashion making the brunette giggle cutely. Ashley isn't quite sure how Spencer knew. Maybe she groaned out loud at how good Spencer looks right now. Her thoughts often run amuck and burst from her mouth without her realizing. Possibly a symptom of always talking to herself when she's alone, biting her in the ass.

"Take your time Spence."

"Oh, I will," She responds suggestively.

The brunette smirks and falls back onto Spencer's bed. She burrows further into the mattress, loving how comfortable it is. She closes her eyes and allows her mind to wander to the characters in Spencer's book, Max and Lacey. She wrote couples really well…really well. Another reason why this book is going to be so successful. Without thinking Ashley's lets her question spill from her mouth.

"How many relationships have you been in?"

"Depends."

"Depends?"

"Yeah, the level of relationships vary, so which level are you asking?"

Ashley smiles, the blonde always had to be difficult, flaw number two. She never likes to give a straight answer. The brunette goes along with Spencer's line of questioning knowing that's just how she operates. It's just how her mind works, she has a sexy mind so she won't argue.

"What are the levels?"

"Well there are the booty calls, so-so friends, regular friends—obviously—friends by default, then there are domesticated friends—me and Stevi—then there are friends with benefits, and lastly there are girlfriends." Spencer ticked each category off with her fingers. She wiggles her seven fingers taking a second to make sure she's got them all. Satisfied she places her hand back on the typewriter and resumes to her work.

"Wow, I didn't know the list was that extensive."

What's the difference between a booty call and a friend with benefits, aren't they technically the same thing, wondered Ashley. She'd ask Spencer to explain another time. Right now she just wants her to answer the question.

"Yes, it is." Spencer answers absentmindedly and finishes up her thought. She clicks the last key and raises her hands above her head. She swivels her chair and leans her elbows on her knees. "So, which one?"

"Girlfriends. Seeing as I'm curious if you've been in a serious relationship."

"Yes."

Spencer sits up straight leans her chair back. She smirks and it turns into a full blown laugh as Ashley groans.

"Spencer, come on!"

"Alright, alright. Yes, I've been in serious relationships...three, the longest lasting one ten months. Her name was Tiffany she was my first love, and that was high school. We were best friends, we were attracted to one another, thought we'd be together forever, but again high school. Broke up the summer after graduation. She wanted to stay in Ohio and well I wanted to be in New York. She's a small town girl and I never will be. Then the third year of college messed with a straight girl. She pursued me, hard, and well she was a beautiful but big mistake." Spencer takes a moment and laughs at herself. She recovers easily. "That lasted six months, now she's married with kids. Last was about a year and a half ago and we made seven months before she realized that I was more in love with my work than her."

"So have you been in love?"

Spencer shrugs. "I don't think so. I've loved…never been in love. At least not to the extent I would imagine it to feel. You?"

Ashley freezes she didn't expect the tables to turn. She had just been curious about how Spencer had been so good with writing relationship. Ashley pats the spot next to her and the blonde diligently gets up and lies next to the brunette. Resting her head on her palm.

"Well you know there's my ex." Spencer scowls and Ashley giggles, turning to line her body with Spencer's. She tangles their legs, loving how well they fit together. "Then there's Hailey, my first girlfriend at age eleven."

"Eleven! I thought we said serious?" Spencer asks with a small laugh. She slides her hand over Ashley's waist and rests it against her lower back.

"Oh it was, we were getting married and everything. Then two weeks later I didn't want to share my tapioca pudding with her and she divorced me."

"Well I mean it is tapioca," Spencer states as if it's the most reasonable thing in the world.

"Exactly. Then I had a high school sweetheart as well Rachel, she was a bit of a partier, super out of control for me. Then college, I hit a bit of a dry spell."

Ashley's eyes shift away shyly, she feels Spencer slowly drag her nails across her back seductively. "We'll make up for that."

Ashley smirks and looks into Spencer's eyes. "I don't doubt that. Then after my drought." Spencer breaks in with a snort. "I started working at the school and had a little weird relationship with a coworker. It ended as weirdly as it started, mostly because I got the job she and I were both matched up for. She changed schools and I was kind of alone."

Spencer pouts and Ashley laughs lightly.

"It's fine. It gave me time to myself. Learn what I like, what I didn't like. I excelled professionally. I think I spent so much time with myself I forgot what it's like to be with other people. Which circles us back to Heather."

Spencer growls and Ashley smirks. "It's not a big deal…I mean it is but it's not as much of one anymore. You've just been so amazing Spence and even though I still get a little down about it. You've made it practically painless." Ashley shrugs "I don't know she was great at the start."

Spencer shifts closer to the brunette, she slides her sock clad foot up and down Ashley's calf. Soothing the brunette as she begins to talk about what's been upsetting her since they've met.

"She was sweet and fun but the friend we shared had feelings for her and was basically too afraid to really say anything. They ended up hooking up. I don't know if that was the first time or if there were others. It hurt to be humiliated, lied to, and taken advantage of in that way. I don't know I just, I expected more from them, from her. They were people I really cared about, and I invested so much into both of them and…"

Ashley stops talking and lowers her head.

"Heather's a complete idiot. If you were my girlfriend I wouldn't have let anyone take you from me."

Ashley's voice gets caught in her throat. "I…uh…"

"Ashley I'm just saying, no need to get freaked out," Spencer reassures.

"I'm not freaked," Ashley states defensively. She hadn't been. The idea catching her off guard but also extremely titillating.

"Stumbling over words means freaked out." She teases lightly.

"I'm intrigued."

It's Spencer's turn to be caught off guard. There was a bit of silence between the two of them. The only thing that can be heard is the heavy rainfall and thunder as the storm continues, keeping them inside for what seems like the rest of the day. "You're…wait."

Ashley smirks. "Freaked!" She accuses playfully.

"Intrigued." The blonde shoots back and stares deep into Ashley's eyes. She rests her forehead against Ashley's, brushing her nose gently across the brunette's. "Another time," Spencer suggests in a quiet voice as she brings the conversation back to something less awkward. Even if it had been something they both were intrigued about.

"So you've never known love either."

"Not the way you write it, no."

"I don't think anyone knows love the way it's ever written."

"I don't believe that. I think people are capable of feeling that way, especially the people who write it. If they find that person they want to love in that way."

Spencer just shrugs up one shoulder, she falls onto her back, the previous position becoming uncomfortable. She lifts her dead arm up in the air and grunts, wordlessly asking Ashley to occupy the space in her arm. The brunette obliges, hiding the glee she feels as she lays her head on Spencer's chest. Their legs still tangled together. Their feet hanging off the bed lazily, Spencer rests her chin atop Ashley's head.

"You'd be open to being loved like that after what happened?" Spencer asks daringly.

Ashley feels the vibration of the blonde's voice. She feels the quickened heartbeat and knows that Spencer is extremely nervous asking this question. Ashley also can feel her heart rate rise and she's sure with how close their bodies are, Spencer can feel it too.

What is happening right now? Weren't they avoiding this conversation? Weren't they just going with the flow…is this where the flow is going? Isn't this just supposed to be about sex appeal and that's it? Ashley bites her lip as she thinks. Spencer's appealing in more ways than just sex. Is she really open to that possibility, was she ever really in love with Heather or was she in love with the feeling of having someone? Is that all this is with Spencer, loving the excitement? Loving the newness and not really the person? Why so many questions, and why does the idea of not having any form of a relationship with Spencer hurt more than Ashley moving on from Heather.

"If the person is capable of loving me that way, then yes."

They sit quietly for a moment before Spencer breaks the rain filled silence. "Okay."

Ashley picks her head up and looks into blue eyes. They are vulnerable and Ashley knows hers are as well. Surely there aren't in love but if they keep this up, they very well could be.

"You said twenty minutes." Ashley reminds Spencer.

The blonde quirks a brow unsure of what her friend is referring to. Ashley hums the song and Spencer laughs.

"Close your eyes." She sings cutely.

Ashley giggles as Spencer dramatically sings, climbing onto the Dean. She bites her neck playfully.

"I'll make love to you." Spencer scream-sings as she settles on Ashley's lap, closing her eyes and lifts her hands in the air.

Ashley erupts into laughter. She only brought the twenty-minute thing up to bring the conversation in a direction they were used to. She doesn't push the sex thing, she's enjoying the silliness that Spencer has found herself in. Ashley sits up, wraps her arms around the blonde's waist.

"You're ridiculous." She gets through her fit of giggles. Spencer just drops her arms over Ashley's shoulders and plays with the stray hairs at the back of her neck.

Spencer gives the Dean a cheeky smile. Ashley steals a quick kiss. Spencer steals one herself. They stare each other down. Spencer runs her tongue over her bottom lip. She inhales deeply and drops her head back. The amount of heat between them is intense. Spencer climbs off the brunette and begins to pace the floor. Ashley smiles as she recognizes the blonde's normal attempt to process.

"What?" Ashley asks.

"What, what?" Spencer asks absentmindedly.

"You're pacing, which means you're thinking, which means you've got something going on that you need to be express."

Spencer does an about face. "You know me?"

"Trying to," Ashley confesses softly.

"Hm." Is all Spencer says as she begins to pace. She stops and looks at the brunette again.

"Are you going to tell me?"

Spencer tilts her head to the side. "I really loved fucking you."

Ashley's eyes widen in surprise. Spencer's never talked like that ever. She isn't even sure if she's even heard the blonde use profanity except that one time she panicked when she forgot about the celebratory dinner slash party her friends were throwing her. Her mouth hangs open a little and her lip quivers as she tries to figure out something to say. Spencer shakes her head.

"I know I'm never that vulgar, to be honest, I hate using that word. You'll rarely hear me talk like that. One in a hundred thousand, scenario. I had a point! The point is…"

Spencer sighs as she pushes back a few strands of hair that's fallen into her face. She takes off her glasses and drops them next to her typewriter. Ashley pulls her lips into her mouth trying not to laugh at the very flustered blonde. It's like they've changed personalities. It's usually Spencer that's calm and collected and free spirited. Now she's all caught up and not sure what to do with herself. Ashley found it adorable but knew it wouldn't last long.

"The point is…" Spencer starts again making sure to use the proper words. "It's not just that anymore. I love making you feel good, I never just liked it, you know?"

Ashley nods, knowing what she meant. It was never a passion that started off slowly, it exploded. You're interested in something, then you like it, then you love it, lastly you can't do without it. Ashley knew exactly what Spencer is talking about. Spencer continues.

"I love making you smile, hearing you laugh, I love how good you smell, like seriously what the hell is that because I can't put my finger on it." Ashley giggles but Spencer doesn't give her a chance to answer, enjoying the mystery smell on the brunette. "I love how good you look in my clothes, I love ripping them off you, I love the fact that you're a Dean, that turns me on so much it's ridiculous," Ashley looks down trying to hide the fact that she knew that already, courtesy of Stevi. "I love that you steal my sesame chicken. I love that your eyes are green. I loved fucking you but I love that it's not just that anymore."

Ashley stands up, the rain still adding to the ambiance. The apartment dark because of the ominous clouds. Spencer kept the apartment with the lights off, the gloomy atmosphere a giant inspiration for her. The thunder claps but neither of them jump in surprise, too entranced by one another.

"I know it's changed. I don't know when it did but it did."

"Yeah." Spencer agrees cutely, her shoulders drop because it wasn't supposed to. This is supposed to be easy, and she feels a lump in her throat forming as the realization grows because when it gets complicated, that's when it has to end.

Ashley laces her fingers with Spencer's, lifting her arms up to rest on her shoulders.

"Spencer, I love it too."

Ashley sees Spencer's jaw clench and the brunette guesses it's the blonde trying to keep herself from getting too emotional. Spencer slides her arms off Ashley's shoulder, grabs the hem of the shirt Ashley's wearing and starts to lift it. The brunette raises her arms above her head, letting Spencer undress. She tosses the shirt on the floor, Ashley smirks loving how serious Spencer is being. She's definitely back to her normal self. Spencer gently pushes the Dean back onto the bed. Her eyes fueling with fire.

With a gentle bounce, Ashley pops up and she scooches back, making sure to lie in the middle. She can feel the heat building between her legs. She watches as Spencer eyes her body, licking her lips as if she's planning on what to do. Ashley clenches her stomach trying her best to control the rage of hormones flooding her body.

"Your pants…take 'em off." Spencer orders, her tone authoritative but gentle at the same time.

"You take them off," Ashley says a bit more forceful than Spencer.

Spencer shuts her eyes as a wave washes over her, the authority of Ashley's voice making her knees give in slightly. She moans a little and recovers quickly. She kneels on the bed and grabs the top of the sweats. Ashley lifts her hips so they can be pulled off easily. Spencer continues to examine Ashley's body, the gesture complete torture to the brunette. She whimpers a bit and Spencer chuckles.

As she tosses the sweatpants over her shoulder, she holds herself up over Ashley's body.

"What?" Her voice, raspy as it gets over the lump that formed there earlier.

"I want you." Ashley answers.

"You got me."

There's a deeper meaning to this, there seems to be a deeper meaning to everything with them. Completely unintentional but a result nonetheless. Spencer pushes herself up and pulls off her hoodie and t-shirt casting it aside in the same fashion that she did with the clothes Ashley had been wearing.

"You still gonna take your time?"

Spencer breathes out a laugh as she leans in to kiss the Dean. "Is that what you want?"

Spencer's question is followed with a gentle nip on Ashley's bottom lip. Ashley just nods. Spencer shakes her head.

"No, tell me what you want."

Ashley gulps. Spencer usually doesn't vocalize her dominance but she likes it. Hell, she likes everything Spencer gives her when it comes to physical stuff. There hasn't been a time where it hurt, or it was weird, or it just didn't do anything for the brunette. It's like there had been a personal manual to Ashley and Spencer had memorized it front and back and even discovered her own tricks to make the Dean climax.

"Tell me what you want baby."

If Ashley weren't lying down already her knees would've given out on her. This had been the second time Spencer used a pet name on her and though the pet name common it sounds brand new coming out of the blonde's mouth. Ashley lifts her hips up, pushing into Spencer's thigh hoping to ease just a little bit of the ache that the term of endearment alone had caused. Ashley closes her eyes, every inch of her skin sensitive to even the slightest touch. Spencer drags her short nails up Ashley's bare leg. She shudders, the sensation too much to handle.

"I can't do anything until you tell me." Spencer teases as she pushes Ashley's legs open a little wider to trace circles on her inner thigh.

"You can not tease me, you can do that." Ashley whimpers as Spencer stops her circles but goes back on the outside of Ashley's thigh and drags her nails up them again. "Spencer…"Ashley moans. "Please."

"Then tell me," She orders again lifting Ashley's leg and resting gently around her waist.

Ashley takes a deep breath, controls herself. She lifts one hand and places it gently on Spencer's cheek. She stares into her clouded blue eyes. She answers her but she's not sure if it's the answer Spencer's expecting but it is what she wants. That's what Spencer has told her to tell her. 'Tell me what you want baby.' The invitation had been so warm, gentle, sweet, and so much more. It had been Spencer. So she tells Spencer exactly what she wants her to do to her. She swallows thickly and allows herself to be honest.

"Make love to me."

So what's the verdict?