Storiesonline.net ------- Virtual Memory by Eon Copyright© 2005 by Eon ------- Description: Ashlyn Hale and Alexander Riley have been friends for years. She harbors a secret love for him, but fears she'll always be just Ash, one of the guys. While shop last minute for Valentine's Day, Ash and Alex stumble upon a strange store. The proprieter gives them the game Virtual Memory, which promises nostalgia and reminiscing. They couldn't have imagined, when they decided to play the game, just what memories would come rushing back. Codes: MF slow rom 1st cons het span oral pett ------- The onset of February had done nothing to ease the bitter cold of winter. Fortunately, even though he stood on the roof of the show, where he was more exposed to the wind, Cupid couldn't feel the cold. He leaned against the railing, watching people scurrying along below. Most of them walked past his shop without even glancing at it. Out of the hundreds of brave souls who had ventured out today, only two would actually be able to see the "Curiosity" shop he stood atop. Cupid could see them now, moving down the sidewalk side by side. He was tall, lanky, and handsome, and he walked along at a brisk pace. She was smaller, with her hair always pulled up into a ponytail and her body always hidden by baggy men's clothing. Despite the fact that she had to stretch her legs to keep up with him, she never complained. She was too in love with him for that. "Ah, mortals," Cupid sighed, rolling his eyes. "How is it they spend so much time ignoring what's right in front of them? Then again, I'd be out of a job if they didn't..." That was his job, after all. Finding two mortals who didn't know they belonged together and bringing them together. Except that these two had been together for most of their lives... as friends. The male was stubborn, always shrugging off his feelings towards her as brotherly. And she never even tried to steal his attention away from other girls. This is going to be work, Cupid thought, scowling. So much for a nice, relaxing endeavor. ------- "Aw, c'mon, Ash, what could it hurt?" Ashlyn Hale heaved a large, exasperated sigh, but as always it went completely unnoticed. She stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, folded her arms over her chest, and glared at her best friend, Alexander Riley. He was wearing that slightly rakish smile that made his bright blue eyes light up... the one that always meant trouble. Ashlyn had never been able to resist that smile. "We're supposed to be getting something for your mother," Ashlyn reminded him sharply. "Or did you forget that tomorrow is Valentine's Day?" Alexander pouted. "But Ash... I just want to have a little fun. Where's your sense of adventure? Besides, we haven't gotten to see each other in weeks." Well, that was true, although she didn't see what that had to do with any sort of adventure. Alexander and his family had taken a trip to California after Christmas. His hair was still bleached close to white from the sun and his skin was tan, more so than it usually was. Not fair, Ashlyn thought, scowling. He gets to spend weeks under the warm sun but I'm the one following his every damn whim. It was hard not to, though. As long as she could remember, even though she was a couple years younger than he, she'd been dragged along on Alexander's schemes like a favorite toy. Her first year of middle school, when other kids had teased her, it had been Alex the eighth-grader who had come to her rescue, making it clear that anyone who messed with her messed with him. And in high school, when Ashlyn had been fighting off the unwanted attentions of a very pushy senior, Alex had gotten himself suspended for three days because he punched the kid. Deserved it, though, Ashlyn mused, freakin' calling me an Ice Queen and talking about conquering me... should have hit him myself! "Are you listening to me, Ash?" Alex demanded, frowning at her. Ashlyn snapped to attention. "Yeah... right. So um... I don't suppose I have a choice in this, do I?" "No," Alex answered, grinning. Well, that was that. Ashlyn glanced at the sign on the shop door; faded silver letters said "Cupid's Curiosity's". Weird name, she thought, as she followed Alex into the store. She came down this way all the time, but she didn't remember ever seeing the place. It was surprisingly warm inside, and very crowded. Wooden shelves clustered close together, but many of them were empty. "There's nothing here," Alex said, disgusted. "Boring!" "Maybe the place is new," Ashlyn suggested. "They might not have had time to stock the shelves." Despite the fact that he thought the place was boring, Alex still felt the need to explore it. Ashlyn followed along behind him, trying to be irritated and failing miserably. He'd always been like this; curious to a fault, with no care whose toes he trod on. Watching him prowl around the shelves with all the discretion of a hyperactive kitten, she couldn't help but smile. I suppose I'm a complete idiot, Ashlyn thought, but I know I'd follow him anywhere. "No one is even here!" Alex complained, pointing to the empty counter. "This place is a complete waste of time!" "Wrong on both accounts, young sir." Alex and Ashlyn both jumped. They stared wide eye at the tall, light-haired man (at least, she thought he was a man) who was suddenly standing behind the counter. He was androgynous to the point that she wondered if he was perhaps a very tall, very flat-chested woman. Alex backed up a few steps, placing himself squarely in front of her. Oh my, Ashlyn thought, catching hold of the back of his jacket. She hoped he wouldn't hear her heart, which was suddenly pounding rather loudly. "Who the hell are you?" Alex demanded. "The owner of this cozy little establishment," the man replied, smiling. His voice had an odd, echoing effect, as if both male and female voices spoke. "You can call me Cupid, if you like." Alex rolled his eyes. "Great, a lunatic. Come on, Ash, let's get out of here." "One moment, please," the man calling himself Cupid said. "As the first people to enter my new shop, I'd like to give you a free gift." Alex glanced back at her. Ashlyn just shrugged. Who is this strange man? she wondered, frowning. She should have been afraid of a stranger offering them something, but she really didn't find anything scary about this "Cupid" guy. If anything, he gave off a strong impression of being very nice. But mischievous, Ashlyn thought, frowning. I don't know why, but I feel like he's up to something. Not something bad, but up to something nonetheless. "We don't need anything," Alex said, eyeing the man warily. "Not from you." "We have shopping to finish," Ashlyn added, her voice quieter and gentler. "We're sorry to have bothered you." "No bother," Cupid said, with a mysterious smile. "Please, take this. It's one of the products I hope to sell here." Ashlyn blinked. For a moment she could have sworn he'd pulled something out of thin air. And he was holding something; a smallish box, done up in brilliant blue on one side and pink on the other. Where the colors met, silver words in a flowery script spelled the words "Virtual Memory". Ashlyn reached past Alex to take the box, despite his hissed protests. "It's a game I created," Cupid explained, smiling broadly. "It's... well, you'll see if you play it." "You created it?" Ashlyn's eyebrows lifted. "Hey, that's pretty cool..." "Forget it, Ash," Alex said, still scowling at Cupid. "Aw, c'mon, Alex, what could it hurt?" Ashlyn teased. He turned to look at her, frowning. But just like she never stayed mad at him for long, Alex never seemed to be able to stay irritated when she teased him. His boyish smile, the one that made her knees weak, curved the corners of his mouth. Ashlyn felt a thrill of pleasure as he put his arm around her shoulders. "Fine," Alex conceded. "Let's get going, though. I still have to find something for my mother." "That should teach you not to wait until the last day," Ashlyn taunted, as they headed out of the shop. "Don't tell me you waited this long to shop for Heather, too." Alex went silent, his pace dropping off. Puzzled, she turned to regard him curiously. He looked... well, not really sad. Disappointed, Ashlyn thought, turning back to him. He looks disappointed. He'd been with Heather for almost all of the last year, longer than she'd seen him with any other girl. Alex flashed a wan smile and shook his head, then began walking again. "How long?" Ashlyn asked, stretching her legs to keep up with him. "Since before we left for Cali, actually," Alex answered. "It's not a big deal, really." "You seemed to really like her," Ashlyn pointed out. "More than any other girl you've dated." "I didn't love her, though," Alex said. He glanced at her, then grinned. "Besides," he said, throwing an arm around her shoulders. "I've still got my Ash!" Ashlyn forced a bright smile to her lips. She huddled against the shelter of his body, sucking on the inside of her cheek to keep quiet. For as long as she could remember they had been Alex and Ash, best friends and nothing more. For as long as she could remember, she had been Ash, the pal, the buddy, practically one of the guys. And for as long as she could remember, Ashlyn had secretly been in love with Alex. ------- Alex had never much liked Valentine's Day. For some reason, even if he had a girlfriend, he always ended up breaking it off before he had to worry about chocolate and roses. Usually he spent Valentine's Day hanging out with Ash who, as far as he could see, never had a boyfriend at this time of the year either. Now that I think about it, Alex thought, glancing down the candy aisle to her, I've never seen her go out on a date or anything. "Ooo, peanut butter cups," Ashlyn purred, hefting a bag of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. "Now this is my idea of a good Valentine!" Alex chuckled. "They'll go straight to your thighs!" She glared at him, then broke into a smile. He looked away, forcing himself to concentrate on the candy on the shelf in front of him. Ashlyn always dressed and acted like such a tomboy that it caught him off guard sometimes, how feminine she could be. Her voice was soft and gentle, and she had such a bright smile. Dark brown hair brushed her shoulders and she had large, bright hazel eyes. Alex had met her when he was seven. She'd been five, wearing pigtails and playing with a set of Matchbox cars. He'd been so fascinated by a girl playing with boy's toys that he hadn't realized she was the new neighbors' daughter his parents had told him about. When she'd realized he was watching, she'd asked him if he wanted to play. Since that day, Alex had been close friends with her. In fact, he was so rarely seen without her that most people assumed they were a couple. Ridiculous, Alex thought, as he snatched the bag of peanut butter cups from Ashlyn's hands. She squeaked and chased after him, trying to get the bag back, but he was too strong and too fast. The truth was, one of the biggest reasons he never stayed with a girl for a long period of time was because they always complained about how close he was to Ashlyn. They always wanted him to stop being friends with her, and Alex wasn't about to give up his friendship. That doesn't make us a couple, though, he thought. "Heeeey!" Ashlyn cried. "C'mon, Alex, give that back!" "It's on me," Alex told her, catching her in a lazy, one-armed headlock. "I don't think I'm going to get candy for mom, though. I'll just pick up some flowers for her." "Well, if you're paying," Ashlyn said, slipping out of his grip. Alex laughed. "Come on. Let's get this paid for, then we should head home before it starts getting dark." They'd walked downtown from Alex's apartment, rather than driving. It was cold, but he liked to walk, and Ashlyn never seemed to mind. He paid for the candy, then put his arm around her again as they headed back outside. I guess I could see why someone might take us the wrong way, he thought, but Ash is like a... a... Alex found it hard to think of her as a sister. He tried, but for some reason it always bothered him. It was already starting to get dark out and at first he didn't realize why. Then he noticed that the sky was full of low, dark clouds. I didn't think it was supposed to rain today, Alex thought, frowning. No sooner had he thought it then the sky above them opened up, sending sheets of cold rain down on them. Ashlyn shrieked, ducking her head and bumping into him. He grabbed hold of her wrist and pulled her along as he raced down the sidewalk. "This sucks!" Ashlyn shouted above the roar of pounding rain. "Next time you can walk and I'll drive!" Alex's laughter quickly turned into a couch. "Don't... don't waste breath on talking. Just run!" They dodged other people on the sidewalk as they ran. Most people were finding shelter in the shops, restaurants, and cafes along the street. Alex might have pulled Ashlyn into one of them, but they were quickly becoming crowded, and he didn't know how long this rain would last. Besides, their sprint carried them quickly to his apartment building. The metal stairs leading up to the apartments were covered, so they slowed when they reached them, breathing hard. "I... didn't know... it was... supposed to rain," Ashlyn panted. "As far as I know, it wasn't," Alex told her, as he fished in the pocket of his coat for his keys. "Good thing I drove over here," Ashlyn said wryly. Alex grabbed hold of her before she could head for her car. "Don't be foolish. You can't drive in that. Come inside and get dried off." Glancing at her, he noticed that her cheeks had turned red. She was incredibly cute that way. Alex gave himself a mental shake, then pushed her into the apartment. They were both dripping water on the carpet, but that was the least of his worries. He took Ashlyn's coat from her and hung them both up. Despite the fact that it was warm in the apartment, both of them were shivering from the cold and wet. Alex dropped to the floor and began unlacing his boots. He watched Ashlyn do the same. Other girls he knew would have been complaining about their hair or make-up right now, but not Ash. She did wrinkle her nose as she pulled off her socks, which were soaked through. "Last time I go along with you when you decide to walk," Ashlyn muttered, as she pulled her hair out of its ponytail. "You know, you are so much trouble... why do I hang out with you again?" Alex grinned. "Because I'm so cute and wonderful?" "You wish!" Ashlyn snorted, rolled her eyes, and flung a wet sock at him. Laughing, he ducked out of the way, then sprang to his feet. Alex gave himself a shake, splattering droplets of water in every direction, and leaving his hair in damp spikes that stuck out in all directions. Ashlyn leapt to her feet as well, her laughter quickly interrupted by a sneeze. "Uh oh," Alex said, sobering up quickly. He caught her around the shoulders. "Come on, Ash. I'll run you a hot shower." Ashlyn's eyes widened slightly and her cheeks turned red. "Oh, uh, no... that's... not necessary..." "Don't be stupid," Alex chided, pulling her along. "You'll catch a cold, and then your mom will kill me. "Just like the old days!" Ashlyn laughed. "You'd think I really was your brother, the way she chews me out," Alex added, rolling his eyes. He felt her shoulders tense and glance at her, puzzled. Ashlyn broke away from him as they reached the bathroom and opened the door herself. Her back to him, she caught the hem of her shirt and pulled it up over her head, then tossed it aside. Alex took a step back, startled. "A-Ash..." he stammered. "Um... at least close the door." "What for?" Ashlyn asked, turning to face him. He couldn't help the feeling that she was irritated with him for some reason. Alex watched, barely able to breathe, as she struggled out of her rain-soaked jeans. She has lovely legs, he thought, well aware of the fact that he was staring. Ash had the long, toned legs of a girl who was healthy and athletic. Underneath the baggy clothing she always wore was an hourglass figure that most women would die for. Alex swallowed hard, his mouth going as dry as a desert as she reached back and unhooked her bra. "Ash..." Alex protested weakly. "Don't get so upset, Alex," Ashlyn teased. "We're adults now. It's not like that time we got caught running through the sprinklers naked." "Yeah, we were kids," Alex reminded her. "It's not appropriate for us to..." Ashlyn rolled her eyes. "Well, if you're gonna get sick because you've got a stick up your ass about this, then fine. But I don't see why we can't handle taking a shower together just to get warm." Alex should have closed his eyes. He really should have. Instead he continued to stare as she pulled her panties down and kicked them aside. On a rare occasions he saw this side of Ash; a fiery, beautiful seductress who loved to taunt him. She's angry about something, he thought, frowning. She never acts like that unless something pissed her off. Alex watched as she slipped behind the shower curtain and under the spray of hot water. This is a really bad idea, he thought, even as he struggled out of his clothes. This is a really, really bad idea. And yet in moments he was pulling aside the curtain and stepping in to join her. Ashlyn was facing away from him, her face lifted to the spray, for which he was grateful. Alex didn't want her to see the reaction her taunting had produced. After all, just because they were only friends didn't mean he wouldn't react to seeing her naked, right? Ash half turned to look up at him, peering up from beneath her dark, thick lashes. "Wash my back for me?" she asked, holding up a soapy sponge. "S-sure..." Alex stammered. His mouth was as dry as paper. This was not the first time they'd ended up like this. A little over a year ago, in the dead of winter, they had gone on a walk into town. The sun had set while they were out and the temperature had dropped to nearly zero. The similarities in the two situations brought memories rushing back to Alex. He closed his eyes, savoring the feeling of her as she brushed up against him and remembering... ------- Winter, one year ago... They'd stumbled through the door, both of them shaking, their teeth chattering so hard that neither of them could speak. Moving had been painful and they'd had to help each other out of coats, scarves, gloves, boots, and socks. Alex didn't remember the incoherent words Ash had tried to chatter to him. He'd picked her and carried her into the bathroom, depositing her in the shower. Stepping in with her, he'd turned the hot water on, and they'd stood there together, shivering beneath the hot spray. Once they were warm enough to move, they'd begun to help each other out of their soaked clothing. That had been the first time since they were really little that Alex had seen her without clothes. At first he'd been in so much pain from thawing that he didn't realize he'd begun removing her clothes with much more urgency. And Ash had, in turn, been quite adamant about getting his off. Even after it happened, Alex wasn't quite sure how they'd ended up in one another's arms. All he knew was that they were suddenly kissing, and she had been like fire, hot and tempting and dangerous. He'd lapped the water from her skin, teased her neck with his teeth, and eventually pinned her against the wall. Ashlyn hadn't protested at all; in fact, she'd been encouraging him. Alex had been unable to stop himself from sliding his hand between her thighs. The way she'd moaned as he'd stroked her had driven him crazy. He'd held her in place, teasing her until she had come. While she shuddered and sighed, he'd held her. And afterward Alex had helped her clean off. While he'd been toweling her dry he'd come to his senses and nothing else had happened between them that night. ------- "Your turn." Ashlyn's voice brought him out of the memory. He blinked at her. When he realized she was holding the sponge again, Alex turned to allow her to wash his back. Anything other than having her see how aroused he was. As if showering with her wasn't bad enough, that memory had made it even worse. The awkwardness of that incident had lingered between them for more than a month and he didn't want that happening again. So why am I doing this? Alex wondered. Okay, he could admit that it was really nice to have her wash his back. He wouldn't allow her to wash anymore than that, though; the last thing he needed was her sponging him while he was hard. But she convinced him to let her wash his hair, and that he enjoyed quite a bit. Ash's fingers massaged his scalp, soothing the slight ache in his head. When they were both clean and warm, Alex made sure he was first out of the shower. He wrapped a towel around his hips, then grabbed one for her and held it up. As soon as Ashlyn stepped out of the shower he wrapped the towel around her. If he'd thought covering her up would help, he'd apparently been wrong. Alex squirmed uncomfortably beneath her knowing gaze. "Embarrassed?" Ashlyn asked, smirking mischievously. "It's not my fault," Alex mumbled, turning away from her. "I know," Ashlyn said. "It's just a normal male response to the female body." Alex hesitated a moment, uncertain what that tone of voice meant, then said, "I could give you something to wear. We can't get down to the laundry room until the rain eases." "Well, I'm not going to stand around in a towel all night," Ashlyn shot back, grinning. "Unless you want me to." I wish she wouldn't do that, Alex thought, as he headed into his room. First he pulled on a pair of jeans, then he got an old t-shirt for her. Fortunately the t-shirt was big on her and it fell down to her knees. Breathing easier, he dropped down into his computer chair while she retrieved a phone book. Ashlyn sat on the couch, flipping through, looking for a good place to order from. "Pizza?" Ashlyn asked, looking up. "Ugh, no," Alex replied, shaking his head. He grabbed the plastic bag with her peanut butter cups in it. "Call Dragon Dynasty. They're good, and they deliver." As Ashlyn continued flipping through the phonebook Alex pulled out the bag of peanut butter cups. The game given to them by the strange store owner fell out of the plastic bag and landed in his lap. I totally forget about this, he thought, picking it up. There were no pictures on the box and only a short description blurb mentioning reliving the best moments of one's life. Some kind of photo program, maybe? Alex wondered, as he opened the box. There were no instructions inside. That made him rather wary; no instructions and it was a homemade game. Still, he couldn't see why the shop owner would hand them something with a virus on it. They knew where the shop was, after all. Curiosity overrode caution and Alex found himself putting the disc into his computer. He expected an installation window to pop up, but instead a screen showing the inside of a small, cozy room had appeared. "Hey, Ash," Alex called. "Come take a look at this." Ashlyn finished speaking, hung up the phone, then stood and walked over to him. "What is it?" "Check this out," Alex said, pointing to the screen. "Isn't that the guy from the shop?" A figure had walked onto the screen and it did indeed look like the man from the shop. He perched on the arm of a large, overstuffed couch, folding his hands on his knees, and stared at them expectantly. Ashlyn and Alex exchanged a glance. She went into the mini-kitchen, grabbed a chair, brought it back, and sat down next to him. While she read the back of the box, he tried to figure out what had happened to his cursor. "It says it has voice recognition," Ashlyn commented. "Is the microphone hooked in?" "Yeah," Alex said, pulling the microphone from beneath a pile of junk on the computer table. "But that doesn't tell us what we do." At that moment the man on the computer screen stood up and clapped his hands together briskly. Both Alex and Ashlyn jumped and stared at the screen. The man tossed back his long white hair, smiled, and spoke, "Hello there! Welcome to Virtual Memory, the game that will having you reminiscing about old times. The results of your experience will no doubt reveal many things you may have thought well hidden in your psyche. I am Cupid and I will be your guide." Alex and Ashlyn stared at each other. He imagined his expression must be a pretty close match to hers; that was, both eyebrows skeptically raised. The Cupid on the screen was still watching them expectantly. Well, we have time until the food arrives, Alex thought, settling back in his chair. He positioned the microphone on the computer desk, on a stand. It should pick up both of their voices. "What are we supposed to do?" Alex asked. "Tell me your names," Cupid responded immediately. Alex and Ash glanced at each other uneasily. "Also, your ages and your current relationship to one another," Cupid continued. "How... ?" Ashlyn hissed, glowering at the screen. "Must be able to recognize the word 'we'," Alex said, shrugging. He leaned forward a bit and spoke again, "My name is Alexander Riley. Or just Alex. I'm twenty-three. And Ash is my best friend." Looking a little unsettled, Ashlyn spoke after him, "I'm Ashlyn Hale. Or just Ash. I'm twenty-one. And... yeah, Alex is my best friend..." "There's something you two aren't telling me," Cupid chided, smiling. Once again they glanced at each other. This is terribly weird, Alex thought, but kind of intriguing, too. He could tell by the look on Ashlyn's face that she was unsettled by this and didn't really want to find out more. But she would always go along with his adventures if he asked her to. Alex settled his hand over hers, which was tapping nervously on the arm of the computer chair, then turned back to the screen. "You will be asked a number of questions," Cupid told them. "How much you elaborate on your answers is up to you. Please note, however, that the system will know if you're lying." Alex's eyebrows rose. "Well now... that's some advanced technology. What sort of questions?" "Questions about your lives, of course," Cupid replied. "I ask only that you be as honest and elaborate as possible, in order to fully appreciate Virtual Memory." Without waiting for them to respond, Cupid pulled two scrolls from... well, from out of thin air, it seemed. He shook them open and they grew until each one filled half of the screen, completely blotting out the room and Cupid himself. There was nothing written on the scrolls, however. Frowning, Alex leaned back in his chair. A moment later writing began to appear across the scrolls in silver, flowery font. "'How old were you when you first had a crush?'," Ashlyn read out loud. "Oh, geez... I dunno. Twelve maybe?" As she spoke the words appeared on the scroll on her side of the screen, in the same flowery writing, but in pink. However, rather than the words staying on the screen, they vanished, to replaced by the word "lying" in bold, bright red. Ashlyn stared for a moment, then slumped down in her chair, muttering something incoherent. When the red word didn't disappear, she spoke a bit louder. "Six," Ashlyn growled. "Sheesh... I wouldn't think that would count at that age..." Alex chuckled. "I've been all about the ladies for as long as I can remember. I think I had a crush on my pre-school teacher." The words appeared, in blue writing. They did not disappear as Ashlyn's had. Instead another question began to form on both scrolls. It asked about the first time they'd held hands with someone. "That's not very specific," Ashlyn said, rolling her eyes. "Our parents used to make us hold hands crossing the street when we were little." Alex laughed. He could remember those times when he and Ashlyn had gone to the park across the street. Their parents allowed them to go alone, as long as they held hands the whole time and didn't speak to anyone they didn't know. He and Ash had gotten into quite a bit of trouble, including disturbing a beehive and taking on a couple of bullies twice their size. Those were the days, man, Alex thought, leaning back in his chair. "'Who was the first person you kissed and how old were you?'," Alex read. "Geez, these are personal." Ashlyn was silent. Frowning, he glanced over at her, and saw that her cheeks were red. That made him curious. Alex lifted his eyebrows inquisitively when she looked at him. What's bothering her? he wondered, reaching out to gently brush some stray, damp hair from her face. The way her eyes lit up startled him. She turned back to the computer and sighed heavily. "Alex," Ashlyn said quietly, startling him. "When I was eighteen." That knocked him for a loop. He leaned back in his chair, chewing on his lower lip as memories came flooding back. Alex knew exactly what time she was talking about. It was as vivid in his mind as if it had been just yesterday... ------- Summer, five years ago... Unbearable heat had driven both Alex's and Ashlyn's families out to the beach. It was her eighteenth birthday, anyway, and she loved the ocean, so there was no better place to spend the day. After a long, tiring, but very fun day, after the sun had slipped beneath the horizon, they were to be found on the beach, in the dark. Alex had been wearing just his swim trunks and Ash had had a shirt over her bathing suit. They sat in silence for a long time, letting the cool surf lap at their feet. "So... good birthday?" Alex asked, when the silence finally started to get to him. "Get everything you wanted?" "Mostly," Ashlyn answered, leaning back on her hands and sighing. "There's one thing I still haven't gotten..." Alex's eyebrows rose. "And that is?" "A kiss," Ash said, so quiet he almost didn't hear her. "You haven't been kissed?" Alex inquired, incredulous. "I'm Ash... one of the guys, you know," Ashlyn reminded him. "No one wants to kiss me." She sounded so sad. It was true that Ash could usually be found hanging out with the boys as if she was one herself. Alex was so comfortable around her that he thought of her as his best friend, rather than a girl who was his best friend. But she is a girl, he reminded himself, turning to look at her. A faint, warm breeze lifted her hair off her neck and he realized that she wasn't a girl... she was a woman. Without really thinking about what he was doing, Alex placed a hand against her cheek and turned her face towards his. He pressed his mouth lightly to hers. Ashlyn's eyes widened for a moment, then fluttered shut. She let out a soft, pleased sigh that sent arousal of startling intensity through him. Alex braced a hand behind her head and deepened the kiss. When he pulled away, she was breathless and amazed... ------- "Alex?" Ashlyn's voice snapped him out of the memory. It was another memory where nothing more had happened between them. Their parents had called them in for dinner and after that, the awkwardness between them had kept them apart for several weeks. When Alex had finally been able to speak to her again, they'd both pretended as if nothing had happened. She did, he thought suddenly, frowning. I was actually thinking that just maybe... "Answer the question before I have to smack you," Ashlyn growled. "Right," Alex said, turning his attention back to the screen. "Hmm... if I remember correctly it was Angie Hart, when I was fourteen." "Her?" Ashlyn stared at him. "She was such a skank!" "She was not!" Alex argued. He stared into those soft hazel eyes for a long moment, then grinned. "Okay, she was." "And a slut," Ashlyn added, scowling. "Giving guys blow jobs behind that old pizza place..." "Yeah, she was good at that," Alex agreed. It must have taken Ash a moment to realize what he'd said. When she did she made a soft, strangled sound of disgust and pounced on him. Laughing, Alex wrapped his arms around her and held on as her momentum carried his chair over. She's so cute when she's irritated at me, he thought, tugging on a hank of her hair. At that moment there was a knock on the door of his apartment. "Food," Alex said, gently pushing Ashlyn aside. "We can continue this after we eat." ------- Full of fried rice and egg rolls, Ashlyn was feeling pretty good. She settled back into her chair, next to Alex's, and glanced at the computer screen. This game, while incredibly personal, was interesting in its way. It was bringing back things she hadn't thought of in a long time. The only problem was, sitting next to Alex, Ashlyn was very aware of her unrequited feelings for him. "Oh, this is good," Alex said, leaning back in his chair. "The prom... I went with Hannah Kline." "I didn't go," Ashlyn said. Alex glanced at her. "Why not? Surely someone must have asked you." "Not someone I wanted to go with," Ashlyn told him. "Next question... favorite birthday gift? Well that's a topic jump..." Alex laughed. "It's still kind of personal. I mean... my favorite birthday gift was that little teddy bear you made for me in home ec." "It was not!" Ashlyn retorted hotly. "Don't lie!" Alex pointed to the screen. His words had appeared there and they stayed there. Ashlyn warmed straight down to her toes. The teddy bear, with its head that flopped around and its mismatched eyes, hadn't gotten her a very good grade, despite how hard she'd tried. When she'd given it to Alex that year, because she didn't have any money, he'd acted so pleased that she'd forgotten all about her grade. He really did like it, Ashlyn thought, smiling. "Your turn," Alex reminded her quietly. Ashlyn's cheeks burned. "Um... what you gave me for my eighteenth birthday..." "Hey, no fair!" Alex exclaimed. "No fair weaseling out of saying it!" She stuck her tongue out at him. He stuck his out in turn. She huffed, then let out a loud raspberry. Alex crossed his eyes at her, puffing out his cheeks. That looked so silly that Ashlyn just had to laugh. Drawing her knees up to her chest, she wrapped her arms around them and looked back at the screen. The next question made her swallow hard. Have you ever been kissed beneath the mistletoe? she read, her mouth suddenly dry. Next to her, Alex was just as still, and she wondered if he, too, was remembering... ------- Winter, four years ago... Every year their parents held a Christmas party at one house or the other. It was Ashlyn's parents who had hosted it this time. Sometime after midnight, when all the guests were gone and her parents had stumbled upstairs to bed, she began to clean up. But all the guests weren't gone, as it turned out. She'd been startled when Alex had come out into the living room with a trash bag and a bright, cheerful grin. Ashlyn might have smacked him for looking so energetic and cheery if she hadn't been so grateful for the help. "Ewww..." Ashlyn muttered, wrinkling her nose as she emptied an ashtray into the garbage bag. "I can't stand cigarettes." "Aww, what could you possibly have against something that blackens your lungs and gives you Cancer?" Alex teased. "Life's too short as it is," Ashlyn said, shaking her head. "Why anyone would knowingly make it shorter..." "Ah, none of that," Alex chided, reaching over and tweaking her nose gently. "We know Ashie's opinions are very strong, but we must remember that they're not the only opinions." "Oh, piss off," Ashlyn growled, jerking the garbage bag away from him. "And don't call me that!" A length of garland that had been knocked down caught around her ankle as she moved away. It was amazing how much damage that many younger cousins could do to a place in one night. Gripping the trash bag, Ashlyn tried to get her foot free. She lost her balance. Tossing the bag aside, she flailed wildly, afraid she was going to crash into the wall, until Alex caught her. "Careful," Alex warned, pulling her up against her. "You might get hurt." "I won't get hurt," Ashlyn grumbled. "Let me go!" They just stared at each other. Slowly Ashlyn lifted her gaze to the mistletoe hanging above them. Suddenly her heart was pounding so loudly she was afraid he would hear it. She hadn't had a kiss since the one he'd given her. If it wasn't Alex, then she didn't want any kisses. Ashlyn lowered her gaze again and caught him looking at her, his expression slightly bemused but curious. When his mouth settled over hers it was with that same tenderness as the first time. Wonderful, but she wanted more. Alex's mouth teasing hers, his teeth nibbling at her lower lip, his tongue faintly brushing against the tip of hers... it was slow torture. Ashlyn put her arms around him and opened her lips willingly. She moaned softly as his tongue dipped inside her mouth. Alex's hands, which had been braced against her back, began to wander. She shivered as they slid beneath her shirt and up over her sides. His touch sent fire roaring along her nerves. Ashlyn leaned into his hands as they slid up over her ribs to cup her breasts. His thumbs brushed her nipples through the thin lace of her bra. She lost herself in the quiet insistence of his mouth and hands, feeling ever so pleased. Alex had just pushed her bra up, had just rested his hands against her bare breasts, when a sound on the stairs startled them. They scrambled away from each other, Ashlyn quickly straightening her clothes. When her mother came into the living room, they were working together in silence, picking up trash and clearing away dishes. ------- "Maybe we should stop." Ashlyn blinked at the sound of Alex's voice. She glanced over at him and noticed that he sat ramrod straight in his chair, his hands resting in his lap. Well, well, well, she thought, fighting a smile. I guess I'm not the only one who remembers that kiss. She was pleased that the memory effected him so. Resting her cheek against her knees, Ashlyn watched him until he was squirming in his chair. "Stop that!" Alex growled. "Stop what?" Ashlyn asked, her voice teasing. "Alex... you remember that kiss beneath the mistletoe, don't you?" It wasn't like her to press, but she couldn't stop herself tonight. She couldn't be imagining the attraction between them, she just couldn't be. Ashlyn had waited years for Alex to look her way. Her hopes had been high after that first kiss, so many years ago, on the beach. Nothing had come of it, leaving her disappointed and confused. Nothing ever came of their encounters, aside from a long steak of awkwardness. Now, stuck together while it poured, Ashlyn wondered if something might come of it this time. "Let's just play the game," Alex muttered, looking back at the screen. "Valetine's Day last year... what did we do, Ash?" "If I remember correctly," Ashlyn said, "We sat around and watched a bunch of Jim Carrey movies... which were incredibly funny after all the sugar we consumed." "Ah yes," Alex said, closing his eyes and adopting a blissful expression. "That was when Amanda broke up with me the day before, so we ate all the candy I bought her." "She was a bitch," Ashlyn growled. "And if you want my honest opinion, so was Heather." "Can't disagree with you there," Alex said, sighing. "Still, that was so much fun." Ashlyn snorted. "Aside from the tummy aches we had! Up at two in the morning chugging Pepto Bismal... never again!" Alex laughed. His laughter was infectious and soon they were both practically hysterical. It hadn't been funny at the time, but looking back at it, Ashlyn couldn't help feeling like they'd gotten what they deserved. It hadn't been the first time they'd eaten themselves sick watching movies of some sort. Usually comedies. "Hey, it wasn't as bad as Halloween, our senior year," Alex reminded her. "Oh god!" Ashlyn exclaimed. "As if my stomach wasn't sick enough from that damn haunted house... all that candy... ugh!" Alex grinned. "My ears are still ringing from your screaming!" "They are not!" Ashlyn growled, punching him in the arm. This started them on another round of rude noises and silly faces, which in turn started them laughing again. It felt so good. Ashlyn had been so depressed while he'd been away. She hadn't laughed or smiled at all, except when he called her to tell her about his day. Alex had called her every night without fail. She realized then that he had fallen silent. Alex stared at the screen, the expression on his face hard to decipher. Ashlyn glanced at the screen, then gave it a good hard look. Oh no, she thought, biting her lip. Not that question! This damnable computer game wanted to know if she was a virgin. Of course, Alex must have realized what her answer would be. And she was pretty certain she knew what his would be. "No," Alex said quietly. Ashlyn sighed. "Yes." "I knew it," Alex said, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Shut it!" Ashlyn growled. "Ooo, look at this one, Ashie," Alex taunted. "The last time you had an erotic dream... are you a virgin in your dreams, too?" She knew he was teasing, but she still wanted to smack him. Except that she couldn't even move. Ashlyn felt her cheeks turning red, felt the flush creeping up all the way to her ears. Her last erotic dream... she had them far too often. Never once did she dream of someone other than Alex. And her last dream, from the night before, was still so vivid in her mind... ------- The night before... She tossed and turned restlessly in bed. In her dreams she couldn't sleep, stifled by the thick heat of summer. This dream was meant to be last summer, at the family beach house. Alex had brought Heather along. Unsettled and upset, Ashlyn could not sleep. The sheets were tangled around her bed and she was sweating enough that the thin white camisole she wore clung to her uncomfortably. In the memories of the waking world she had lain awake all night. In her dream, as she stared at the ceiling in morose silence, she was disturbed by a faint thud from somewhere in the darkness. Startled, Ashlyn sat up, kicking the tangle of sheets away from her legs. Someone was in her room. Someone lurked in the shadows of a darkened corner. Her heart pounded loudly in her chest. Until Alex stepped out of the shadows. Relief flooded through her, followed by confusion. He was wearing only a pair of jean shorts and his hair was damp. He was supposed to be out skinny dipping with Heather. Ashlyn sighed heavily and flopped back on the bed. "Did I scare you, Ashie?" Alex asked, as he plopped down gracelessly on the foot of the bed. She loved it when he called her Ashie, but she'd never tell him that. "You startled me a bit, is all," Ashlyn grumbled. "Why aren't you out with Heather?" "Because I don't want to be with her," Alex answered, his voice soft. "I wanted to be with you." Startled, she sat up. Alex caught hold of her ankle and slid his hand up over her calf, making her shiver. She sat stock still as his fingertips trailed slowly up over her thigh. Ashlyn's pulse was suddenly racing. She leaned forward as he did, her lips meeting his eagerly. Alex caught her around the waist quite suddenly and pulled her up against him. "What... what about Heather?" Ashlyn stammered, finding it difficult to sleep with one hand just beneath her breasts and the other on her thigh. "She isn't who I really want," Alex said, nipping lightly at her lower lip. "You're the one I want, Ashie. You're the one I care about." The tenderness in his voice warmed her down to her toes. She shifted onto her knees, pressing against him as their mouths met once more. Alex closed his arms around her, his hands pushing up her camisole as they traveled up her back. Ashlyn whimpered as he pulled his lips from hers. But it was only so he could pull of the thin cotton and toss it aside. When his grip on her tightened again and his mouth lowered to her breasts, she arched her back, pressing against the long, lazy stroke of his tongue. The heat and moisture of his mouth made her tingle. Alex trailed his hands down her sides, over her hips, teasing her with the tips of his fingers. He shifted, forcing her to shift as well, to lower herself back to the bed. Without breaking the restless roving of his mouth he settled on top of her, resting between her thighs. Ashlyn buried her fingers in his hair, moaning softly with each lick and gentle nip. Alex moved just enough so he could slide a hand down her stomach and slip his fingers beneath her panties. She gasped at the first touch of his fingertips to her soft flesh. He stroked her, teased her, making her squirm. Ashlyn's moans built into cries, louder and louder as he continued to touch her. Alex lifted his mouth from her breasts and pressed it to hers, stifling her cries with a hot thrust of his tongue. She shook, her nerves on fire, so close... And woke up, frustrated and freezing cold. In the heat of her dream she had kicked her blankets off. Ashlyn collected her blankets, wrapped herself in them, and settled back down, knowing that wonderful dream would not come back. ------- "Ashie?" She hadn't been expecting Alex to be so close when she looked up. He'd risen from his chair and was leaning over her, his hand pressed against her forehead. The look of concern in his eyes was enough to make her want to cry. Ashlyn looked up and him and offered a faint smile. "Are you all right?" Alex asked, dropping to his knees in front of her chair. "You're all flushed and you were spacing out..." "S-sorry..." Ashlyn stammered. "Maybe... maybe we should stop playing this game..." Alex continued to stare at her, faint bemusement showing in his eyes. His hand, which was still resting on his forehead, slid down to cup her cheek. She sat very still as he lifted his mouth to hers. The first, light brush of his lips had her nerves singing. Ashlyn leaned into his kiss, lifting her hands to rest on his shoulders. For long moments the kiss was only bare, tentative touches, chaste and sweet. Then Alex closed his arms around her and swept her down into his lap. Ashlyn was surprised, pleasantly so, by the sudden hunger in his kiss. Alex's tongue touched her lips, not a quiet touch, but a demanding touch that had her opening to him. She held him tight, her fingers curled around the fabric of his shirt, as his tongue dipped into her mouth. Alex shifted so that he was sitting, and she was settled more firmly in his lap, her thighs against his hips. Ashlyn could feel him, hard and hot, through the thick material of his jeans. His hands slid up beneath her shirt, settling on her hips. The realization that she wore absolutely nothing beneath the shirt had her trembling in anticipation. Alex's hands traveled up so slowly that it was torture. Ashlyn caught her breath as his fingertips brushed the underside of her breasts. The sound made him pull back suddenly, nearly tumbling her from his lap. "Shit!" Alex hissed, scrambling out from underneath her. "Ash, I'm sorry." So, she was back to being Ash again. "Sorry for what?" Ashlyn growled. "I shouldn't have done that," Alex said quietly. "And why not?" Ashlyn demanded, jumping to her feet. "Why not me? What's wrong with me!?" Alex sighed and rose as well. "Ash, we've been friends for years. We can't just... do this..." Ashlyn bit her lip hard, trying to fight away the tears that suddenly pricked behind her eyes. She turned away from him as the tears began to fall. Oh, god, this is not what I wanted to happen, she thought, swiping furiously at the tears. I never wanted him to realize how much it hurts when he does this... She felt a hand rest on her shoulder, but refused to turn. Alex tightened his hold on her and forced her around to face him. When he tried to get her to look at him, Ashlyn turned her face away. Finally he slipped a hand beneath her chin and forced her gaze up. His eyes widened when he saw that she was crying. Alex leaned down and kissed a tear that slid down her cheek, his mouth brushing the corner of hers. Ashlyn sighed, waiting for the moment when he'd tell her that he simply would never feel the way she did. It never came. The expression on his face changed from one of concern to... well, she wasn't entirely certain. He kissed away another tear, and then another, and another. Quite suddenly his mouth was on hers again, his arms were tight around her once more. Ashlyn clung to him, her mind awhirl with the sudden flurry of hungry kisses. Her knees felt weak, and it was fortunate that he was holding her so tight, because she might have fallen otherwise. Alex pulled her towards the bed. She went with him willingly, falling into his lap as he sat down on the edge of the bed. His lips teased hers, his tongue dipping into her mouth, as his hands pushed her t-shirt up. Ashlyn sighed as his hands slid up to cup her breasts. His thumbs feathered lightly over her nipples, making her shiver. Alex pulled his mouth from hers, dropping it to her neck. She moaned as his teeth nipped teasingly. "A... Alex..." Ashlyn sighed. He drew back to look at her. For a moment she thought he was going to stop again. Instead Alex pulled her shirt off and tossed it aside. Ashlyn felt her cheeks heat beneath his gaze. She caught hold of the hem of his shirt, and he lifted his arms to allow her to pull it off. Then he caught her around the waist and rolled her down to the bed. She stretched out beneath him, moaning as his hands ran down her sides, over her belly, and down to her thighs. "Ashie," Alex murmured, hooking his arms around her thighs. "My lovely Ashlyn..." His voice was like a soft caress. Ashlyn gasped as Alex lowered his mouth between her thighs. She shivered as his tongue touched hot, aroused flesh. He began with long, slow strokes, from her entrance to her clit. Each one made her lift her hips against his mouth. Over and over again, while she buried her fingers in his hair and held onto him. Ashlyn moaned as his tongue dipped inside her, teasing the heat of her sex. She arched her back, biting back cries at each explorative thrust of his tongue, each touch of his lips. Alex caught her clit in his mouth and sucked until she was squirming, thrashing amid the sheets. Ashlyn couldn't hold back her cries any longer. His tongue continued to stroke, to tease her clit, as she came. She lay, panting, a thin sheen of sweat on her skin, as Alex slowly licked her clean. Slow, agonizingly sweet torture. He shifted so that her legs settled over his shoulders and slid his hands up over her belly. As his fingertips grazed over her heated skin, his mouth continued working her up. Ashlyn let go of his hair, bringing her hands up to cover his as they settled over her breasts. She held them there as Alex fondled her, as his fingertips lightly pinched her nipples. She couldn't think past his hands and the continual stroking of his tongue over her clit. Soon she was coming again, her cries louder than before. This time Alex sat back, withdrawing from her so suddenly that she whimpered, feeling bereft. He watched her, his blue eyes bright with desire, and slid a hand down between her legs. "So wet," Alex murmured. His fingers came away covered in her come. He stretched out over her, pressing against her, and brought his fingers to her mouth. "Open up, sweetheart," Alex said quietly, touching her lips. "You taste so sweet..." Ashlyn parted her lips, accepting his index finger into her mouth. She could taste herself, tangy, salty, sweet. Her cheeks heated beneath his intent gaze, as she sucked on his finger. When he released her she sat up. Alex was still as she ran her hands down his chest, feeling muscle shift beneath her hands. She scooted closer, pressing her mouth against his skin. He gasped softly as her tongue teased him, as her teeth nipped lightly at the flesh of his belly. Ashlyn slid her hands down to his jeans and unfastened them, helping him pull them off. She continued traveling downward with her mouth. Alex was so hard and his skin was hot. Ashlyn rested her cheek against him, rubbing on him like a cat. He groaned softly, bringing a hand up to cradle her head, his fingers tangling in her hair. She turned her head, pressing her lips to the crown of his member. His eyes widened slightly, then became heavy lidded, the look in those bright blues reflecting his need. "Open your mouth, sweetheart," Alex urged, his voice holding a commanding edge. That tone in his voice made her shiver, set her afire with excitement. Ashlyn opened her mouth, gasping softly as he pushed himself into the heat and moisture. She could tell by the tightness of his hand in her hair that he was struggling to control himself. Pleased by the way she affected him, she wrapped her arms around him and began moving her mouth up and down along his length. Ashlyn closed her eyes, focusing on the heat and hardness of him against her tongue, and the little sounds he made each time she drew him deep into her mouth. Both hands were now in her hair, his fingers running through the soft locks. She could feel the movement of his hips and his struggle to keep each thrust gentle. Ashlyn held onto him tighter, determined to give him the same pleasure he'd given her. She flicked her eyes open occasionally to see his face, encouraged by his expression, his eyes closed in bliss and his mouth slightly open. Long moments passed, in which the sounds Alex made grew louder. He let himself drown in the pleasure of her mouth. Quite suddenly his hold on her changed, becoming firmer, slightly more forceful. He held her in place as he came, spilling hot, salty come into her mouth. Ashlyn jumped slightly, surprised. But she was obedient, too, not fighting against his hold, and swallowing as much as she could. When his hold on her loosened, she pulled away. He was watching her, a pleased smile on his face. Alex cupped her chin and brushed a drop of come from her lips. He pulled her up against him, closing his arms around her. Ashlyn's cheeks heated as his hands cupped her ass. "Good girl," Alex murmured, his teeth nipping at her earlobe. A knee slid between her legs, his thigh pressing against her. "Such a good girl..." "Alex..." Ashlyn moaned. "How I want you," Alex whispered, his voice husky. His teeth grazed her neck, making her shiver. "I've wanted you for so long..." "Please," Ashlyn pleaded, pressing against him. "You want me too, sweetheart, don't you?" Alex crooned. "Show me how much you want me. Touch me. Make me hard again." The tone of his voice commanded obedience. She loved it. Ashlyn slid her hand down to him; he was already getting hard again. Closing her fingers around him, she stroked him until he grew hard and large beneath her hand. Alex caught hold of her wrists, both of them, and pushed her down to the bed. Ashlyn's heart began to pound as he pinned her beneath him. "You know exactly what you do to me, don't you?" Alex murmured. "You only have to look at me with those lovely brown eyes and I can feel myself getting hard. That pleases you, doesn't it? That's why you love to taunt me so, isn't it?" Ashlyn smiled slightly. "Yes..." she whispered. "Louder," Alex commanded, pushing her thighs open with his knees. "Say it louder." "Yes," Ashlyn said, squirming beneath him. "Yes!" "You were thinking about an erotic dream," Alex went on, his lips brushing over her ear. "It was about me, wasn't it?" "Yes," Ashlyn answered, her voice quieter. "Tell me," Alex murmured. This was harder to do. Her cheeks heated at the thought of actually telling him. When she shook her head, thinking to refuse, her pulled her up so suddenly that she let out a yelp of surprise. Alex sprawled her across his lap. She could feel him pressing against her belly. His hand came down on her ass in a firm, smart smack. Ashlyn cried out, startled by the sting... and the way it made her body tingle. He coaxed it out of her. When she wouldn't give him a detail he spanked her until she cried it out. When she was too embarrassed to tell him how the dream had made her feel, Alex spanked her again, until she told him that, too. His voice taunted, coaxed answers from her, and when Ashlyn didn't give them, he spanked her. It was shocking, that it turned her on so. She found herself withholding answers just to feel the sting of his hand again. "Have you dreamed of sex, sweetheart?" Alex asked, his hand rubbing her. "Y... yes..." Ashlyn stammered, shivering as his fingers touched her clit. "Tell me your favorite dream," Alex commanded, continuing to tease her. "I can't..."Ashlyn said quietly. The sting of his hand made her cry out. "I mean... I can't... because... because I enjoyed them all..." she explained. Alex chuckled softly. His arms wrapped around her and pulled her up. She was shaking. He held her close, his fingers stroking idly though her hair. After a moment Ashlyn sat up, blinking at him in confusion. "You're trembling," Alex said quietly. "Did I scare you?" "No," Ashlyn said. She paused, then said, "Maybe just a little bit..." "I'm sorry," Alex murmured. "It's midnight, sweetheart. Valentine's Day." He lifted her out of his lap with ease and set her down on the bed, pulling blankets up around her to warm her up. Ashlyn watched him spring up from the bed, admiring the strength and grace of his body. Alex commanded her to close her eyes, which she did, feeling rather confused. She listening to the sound of him moving around the apartment. When he came back to the bed, she opened her eyes. The room was mostly dark, aside from the light of a few flickering candles. "Do you trust me, Ashie?" Alex asked, as he pulled her into his arms again. His pale blue eyes were very serious. "Of course," Ashlyn responded, snuggling close to him. His hands closed around her wrists. She sighed as he lowered her to the bed, his mouth settling on hers. Alex slid under the covers with her, his lips teasing hers gently. The tenderness with which he kissed her had Ashlyn trembling with desire. She opened her legs at the gentle urging of his knees. While his touch and kisses were much sweeter, more loving, now, she could still feel the hunger in him. Alex touched light kisses to the corners of her mouth, the tip of her nose, her eyelids and forehead. The change was startling. Ashlyn felt him brush against her thigh and drew in a sharp breath. "I want to give you something special, Ashlyn," Alex murmured. "For Valentine's Day. To show you how much I care..." His words distracted her. Yet nothing could distract her from the white hot pain of him entering her. Alex held her, cradled her in his arms, murmuring soothingly to her. Ashlyn clung to him, tears threatening to spill down her cheeks. It was both agony and sweet pleasure, the way his body filled hers. Alex touched her cheek gently, his fingertips running lightly over her skin. She sighed and allowed herself to relax. Slowly her body adjusted, until the pain was just a faint ache. "I'm sorry," Alex whispered, kissing the curve of her ear. "I'm so sorry..." "It's okay," Ashlyn assured him, her voice barely a whisper as well. "I'm fine, Alex. Please..." His mouth covered hers. Alex found her hands, wrapping his fingers around hers, and slowly withdrew. She could feel the care in his movements as he pressed back inside her. The first stroke ached. The second stroke gave just the barest twinge of pain. The third stroke sent tingling sensations dancing up her nerves. Ashlyn lifted her hips experimentally to his on the fourth stroke. Alex drew in his breath sharply, let it out heavily, then settled, his eyes warming, gold flecks dancing amid the blue. At first it was awkward. She found it difficult to meet him at first. Alex wouldn't allow her to become discouraged. He urged her on with gentle kisses, little nips of his teeth, and the long, languid strokes of his body into hers. Soon Ashlyn was almost purring at the sweet friction building between them. Alex kissed her again, his tongue dipping into her mouth, mimicking the movement of her body. She squeezed her fingers around his, comforted when he squeezed back. With insistent lips and teasing teeth, she let him know that she was no longer in pain, that she was ready for more. Ashlyn shivered and moaned as each thrust began building in pace, increasing the friction between them and sending little shocks all through her body. His hands released hers and slid beneath her, pulling her off the bed slightly. Alex lowered his mouth to her breasts, his teeth nipping gently at the tender flesh of her areolas. His tongue teased her nipples. Ashlyn arched her back, pushing against his mouth. She buried her fingers in his hair and held onto him tightly as their bodies met again and again, faster and harder. She was squirming beneath him, thrashing on the sheets, before long. Her body tightened, tensed. Ashlyn cried out as she came, her body clenching around him. She heard Alex groan softly, felt him press his face against her neck, felt the rush of hot come filling her. It was wondrous and frightening all at once. While they lay together, covered in sweat and panting, Ashlyn closed her eyes and basked blissfully in the afterglow. That was very nice, she thought, running her fingers through Alex's hair. It was far more than she would have expected her first time, based on what she'd heard. His tenderness had made all the difference. Ashlyn shifted her hold on him, wrapping her arms around him and holding tight. When Alex moved, pulling away from her, she whimpered in disappointment. He pressed his mouth to hers, silencing her, then climbed off the bed. She waited, feeling suddenly anxious, listening to the sound of running water coming from the bathroom. When he came back he had a towel damp with warm water. Ashlyn sat up, allowing him to clean the blood and semen from her thighs, despite the way her cheeks burned. After Alex had them both cleaned, he blew out the candles and slipped back into bed with her, pulling the covers over them both. Ashlyn snuggled against his side, resting her head on his chest. She savored the way his fingers stroked through her hair, slowly, idly, as if all the time in the world was theirs to enjoy. Her heart ached. She loved him so much it hurt. "Happy Valentine's Day, Ashie," Alex murmured sleepily. Ashlyn smiled. "Mmm... thank you, Alex..." "I shouldn't have," Alex said quietly. "I don't want things to be weird between us..." She tensed, her heart stilling in her chest. The pain that shot through her now made the pain of his first entry seem paltry in comparison. He just gave me what I wanted, Ashlyn thought, stomping down hard on the urge to cry. He doesn't really love me... Oh, she should have known better. She'd given him both her body and her heart this night, but he didn't want her heart. She waited, abjectly miserable, until his breathing evened out, then eased carefully from his hold. Part of her longed to just lay with him, but she couldn't stay. Ashlyn found a pair of his jeans, since her clothes would still be wet. It was difficult in the dark, but she managed. Moving as quietly as she could, she got her boots and jacket on, then crept out of the parking lot into the still, cold night. Only then did she allow herself to cry. ------- As soon as he woke up, Alex realized something wasn't right. He reached for Ashlyn, to pull her close... and found only sheets. Startled instantly awake, he sat up and took a quick look around the room. For a moment he deluded himself into thinking she was just in the bathroom, but down deep he knew she was gone. Why? Alex wondered, frowning. Why would she leave after... ? Had she been disappointed? Or perhaps he had frightened her. He hadn't meant to take things so far with her. Her willingness had brought out a side of him that he rarely showed to anyone. Alex slid out of the bed and found a pair of jeans, pulling them on. He thought hard, trying to remember if she'd made any indication that she'd been satisfied. She said thank you, he thought, frowning. And I said... shit! Of course, as he'd been drifting off he'd felt a pang of regret, worried he might have ruined their friendship. Had he? Ash was his best friend, the one he... the one he loved. He loved her. Alex had been denying it so long, afraid of what would happen if he let himself show what he felt. But it was true. All those times his girlfriends had accused him of spending more time with Ash than with them... it was true. Worried, he dressed quickly and was out of his apartment in five minutes. It was still fairly early, but there were people on the road already. Alex became frustrated at the smallest delays. When he finally pulled into the parking lot of her apartment, he was shaking with nerves and agitation. He took the stairs three at a time, dodging someone coming down them, and was at the door of her apartment in scant moments. Alex pounded on the door until it swung open. Ashlyn stood in the doorway, looking sleepy and confused. Her eyes widened when she saw him. His eyes widened as well. She wore only a thin, skimpy camisole and a pair of panties. The cold air had her shivering in seconds. Dragging his eyes away from her body, Alex stepped into the apartment, yanking the door closed and catching hold of her before she could protest. "You were gone when I woke up," Alex said quietly. Ashlyn blinked. "I... I thought it would be better that way..." "God, Ashie, you scared me!" Alex told her, drawing her close. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry if I scared you or hurt you..." "I... I'm fine," Ashlyn stammered, squirming against his hold. "Alex..." "I love you," Alex blurted out. He felt her still. "I love you, Ashie. But... I couldn't bear it if you stopped being friends with me..." Ashlyn pulled back, and he let her this time. His heart was pounding. It had taken everything within him to tell her how he felt. Alex sighed softly as her hands cradled his face. She stood on her toes, brushing her lips lightly against his. The warmth and happiness shining in her big brown eyes took his breath away. "I've been hoping for so long..." Ashlyn murmured. "Alex I... I've loved you for so long... I..." Alex pressed his mouth to hers, hushing her. She clung to him desperately, her hold so tight it almost took the breath out of him. He didn't care. He scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bed, dropping onto it so he could cuddle close to her. His fingers tangled in her hair. Ashlyn sighed softly, nuzzling her lips against the side of his neck. "Forgive me," Alex said quietly. "For what?" Ashlyn asked, smiling up at him. "For being a complete moron," Alex replied, smiling back. "For not realizing that you're my world. Last night... all these memories came flooding back..." Ashlyn frowned. "That game... it brought a lot of memories back for me, too. That's... strange." They lay together in silence for a long time, puzzling over the game that had brought them together. As content as Alex was to hold her, he wanted to thank that strange man who'd given the game to them. Cupid, he'd called himself. Maybe he really was Cupid. How else could he have devised such a perfect way for them to realize they belonged with each other? For a few hours they simply enjoyed being near one another. When at last they managed to climb out of bed, they decided to go see if Cupid's store was open. Alex waited, watching Ashlyn as she dressed. He was remembering the way it had felt to be inside her. Later, when she'd settled down a little, when the excitement of his confession had eased, he would have to take her again. Now Alex could scarcely believe he'd held himself back from her for so long. Despite the chill of the day, they walked into town after dropping his car off at his apartment. Ashlyn's hand was warm in his. She seemed so happy. Every now and then Alex couldn't stop himself from leaning down and kissing her. When she drew to a halt suddenly, he thought she was going to kiss him. Instead she stared open mouth at the empty window of a vacant shop. "What?" Alex asked, frowning. "I... I don't understand..." Ashlyn murmured. "Wasn't the store right here?" Alex looked again, and realized she was right. "That... makes no sense." He turned around, looking to the other side of the street. The shop wasn't there, either. Unsettled, Alex glanced down at Ashlyn. Despite her confusion, she was smiling. He let out a startled yelp as she jumped on him suddenly. Laughing, he caught her beneath the thighs and held her up, sharing in her sudden outburst of joy. "I don't care how," Ashlyn said, pressing her forehead against his. "I won't even question it. Because now we're together, and that's all that matters." Alex smiled. "Okay, Ashie. Whatever makes you happy." He set her down, and they continued walking. But he found himself glancing over his shoulder at the shop. Ashlyn was satisfied with his love, but he was curious. Alex decided he would check that game when they got back home. And while he spent a blissful afternoon downtown with his love, the game and all traces of it disappeared completely, not to be found when he returned. ------- The End ------- Posted: 2005-01-31 ------- http://storiesonline.net/ -------