The Daily Adventures of Zash

[Valkyrie]

EOS Nomad

He kissed her and it was like there was nothing else so perfect in all the world. Her mouth reached for his, her body arched towards his fingers as they trailed over her body. Her hands slide over his shoulders, pulling him to her. She told him what she wanted, and he slid inside of her, as if they were two halves of one whole. She breathed in sharply against his lips as she felt him fill her, she heard his moan, felt her her nipple harden as his fingers touched her breast before sliding down her arm to intertwine with hers.

"Ash..."

"Zach..."

She whispered it as his lips touched hers again. She gripped his sides with her knees as he moved on top of her, hips rolling against her. She began to moan, his slow even strokes driving her wild, making her writhe with pleasure. She never wanted him to stop. She wanted them to be together, like this, always. His hand slid under her pulling her up to him. Their tongues were as entwined as their fingers, which only fueled her desire more.

He pulled away so he could see her face, and the look he was giving her brought tears to her eyes. She had never known such love. She had been wanted, yes, but loved? And like this? Never.

"Oh Ash, I could do this forever, with you, with you only."

She stared up into his eyes. The most beautiful eyes she'd ever seen.

"You'll never need anyone else. My love."

And their mouths became one again, her hands stroking his strong back, just wanting to touch him, feel him. She felt something clench low in her stomach, and wrapped her legs tightly around his waist, pulling him in deeper. She couldn't sustain their kiss any longer, her arms clutching around his neck, her chin resting on his shoulder as she desperately held on to him. She made a gutteral noise each time he pushed into her, and when she was about to come her body tightened so much that she thought she might fold in half. She started to repeat his name, knowing the burst was coming, feeling it rise within her. When the explosion came, she cried out loudly, continuously, with each pulse, each aftershock. Her body bucked and spasmed, tightening around him, willing him to come inside her.

 

[Orion]

Eos Nomad

Even being with her made him want her more. He found her eyes, staring back up at him, shiny with tears, and he pressed his forehead against hers, then told her he could do this forever, but only with her.

Ash: You'll never need anyone else. My love.

"Never, I'll never..."

He echoed, before their lips met again. She wrapped her arms around him, and then her legs, as he pushed deeper. His right hand made it way under the back of her head.

"I'll never want,"

He started, but it was getting difficult to speak coherently. He let his head drop to nuzzle her neck, his eyes closed, so that there was only the way she sounded, the way she felt under him.

"I'll never... want anyone else... never, I'll never... love... anyone else... not like this..."

He managed, and then he couldn't speak anymore. She started to say his name, over and over, as she got tighter, her passion building. She was getting close, he could feel it, physically, emotionally, and the knowledge of that sent him rapidly towards his own climax. When she came he moaned, as the contractions of her body pushed him over the edge, and he felt the pressure within suddenly release and spill out of him and into her.

 

[Valkyrie]

EOS Nomad

"I'll never... want anyone else... never, I'll never... love... anyone else... not like this..."

"Babe..."

She managed to get out, clutching him tightly, and then they came together, as if they were linked - where one would go, the other would follow. They kissed then, both breathing hard, Zach rolling off her onto his back. She rested her head on his chest and hooked her leg over his, wanting to touch him as much as possible. Her hand stroked down his arm, her eyes watching the ring on her finger glint in the moonlight as she did so. She felt so incredibly happy, and so relaxed, and finally her breathing slowed.

"Zach?"

Her lips kissed his chest.

"Will we live here after we're married?"

She watched her hand move up and down his arm, and then something occurred to her and she pushed herself up on one elbow so she could look into his face.

"Are you sure? That you want to marry me?"

She bit her lip.

"Because you know I'll never leave you. You don't have to do it to get me to stay..."

She sighed, resting her chin on his chest, still looking at him.

"People won't like it. And-"

She looked down, her hand now drawing circles on his chest.

"I've seen you with Jake. You want to be a dad, and I can't- You know I can't give you that."

She rested her cheek on his chest again, looking off into the distance. She didn't want him to sacrifice anything for her. She wanted him to have everything he ever wanted out of life, and she would never take that away from him.

 

[Orion]

Eos Nomad

He laid there with her in his arms, quite possibly the happiest man on earth, slowly pulling the pins out of her hair so he could play with it, as she traced patterns on his chest. She said his name, and kissed his chest.

"Yes, my love?"

Ash: Will we live here after we're married?

He hadn't considered that yet. He continued to brush her hair with his fingers as he thought about it.

"Hm, I suppose we can, if you like it here. Or, if you'd rather, we could get a townhouse on the Upper East Side."

He offered, liking the idea of going house hunting with her. She popped up and peered down at him.

Ash: Are you sure?

"Well, yeah, I mean I think it'd be nice, you know, to pick a place that's 'ours', as opposed to 'mine' or 'yours'."

He replied thoughtfully, but that wasn't what she was asking about.

Ash: That you want to marry me?

"Ashley..."

Ash: Because you know I'll never leave you. You don't have to do it to get me to stay...

"I'm not doing it because--"

He started, but she'd already moved on to the next concern.

Ash: People won't like it. And-

Zizi earlier, and now Ashley, what was it with these women trying to talk him out of marriage?

"People don't like traffic, or taxes, or terrorism, but they learn to deal with it anyway, because it's part of life. Besides, The only people who have to like our marriage, are YOU and ME. I don't need anybody else's approval."

Ash: I've seen you with Jake. You want to be a dad, and I can't- You know I can't give you that.

"Hey.... listen, now. What you give me is enough, alright? Jake is like a son to me, and I'll always be a part of his life, and if that's the closest I get to having children, that's good enough for me. But if that's something YOU want? Then we can adopt, or hire a surrogate, or find out if Jasper can grow a baby in a bowl of goop like on that one movie from a few years ago -- The Island, that's what it was called."

He lifted her chin so he could look at her again.

"And if that's not something you want? Then we can still lead very fulfilling lives, having sex at the drop of a hat -- or all day long, running off on adventures across the world whenever we get the urge, and not having to worry about taking care of anybody except each other. In any case, I'm going to be happy, as long as I have you."

 

[Valkyrie]

EOS Nomad

She was draped across him, and he was pulling the pins from her hair. She smiled drowsily, running her fingertips lightly over his chest. She asked him, kind of as an afterthought, whether they would live here after they were married.

"Hm, I suppose we can, if you like it here. Or, if you'd rather, we could get a townhouse on the Upper East Side."

"I do like it here, but someplace new would be nice too."

But that was when thoughts started coming into her head. She propped herself up, and asked him if he was sure he wanted to marry her. That she would stay whether they were married or not.

"People don't like traffic, or taxes, or terrorism, but they learn to deal with it anyway, because it's part of life. Besides, The only people who have to like our marriage, are YOU and ME. I don't need anybody else's approval."

That stirred her heart, but there was something that was bothering her more, now that she had thought of it. That she couldn't make him a dad.

"Hey.... listen, now. What you give me is enough, alright? Jake is like a son to me, and I'll always be a part of his life, and if that's the closest I get to having children, that's good enough for me. But if that's something YOU want? Then we can adopt, or hire a surrogate, or find out if Jasper can grow a baby in a bowl of goop like on that one movie from a few years ago -- The Island, that's what it was called."

He picked up her chin and looked into her face.

"And if that's not something you want? Then we can still lead very fulfilling lives, having sex at the drop of a hat -- or all day long, running off on adventures across the world whenever we get the urge, and not having to worry about taking care of anybody except each other. In any case, I'm going to be happy, as long as I have you."

She smiled, and kissed his lips gently.

"I just don't want you to have to give anything up for me. I love you too much to do that to you."

She stroked his hair, just looking at him, and then nestled her head into the crook of his neck, draping her arm over his chest and settling in against him.

"Zach?"

She snuggled against him sleepily.

"I think we'll always have sex at the drop of a hat, no matter what happens."

And then her eyes closed and she drifted off to sleep.

 

[Orion]

Eos Nomad

Ash: I just don't want you to have to give anything up for me. I love you too much to do that to you.

She replied, with her hands in his hair. He couldn't have felt more at peace. She snuggled back down into his arms, and his kissed her forehead.

"I love you too."

He said warmly.

Ash: Zach?

"Yes, my love?"

Ash: I think we'll always have sex at the drop of a hat, no matter what happens.

"Awesome."

He replied with a big sleepy smile. It wasn't long before he fell into a deep sleep.

Monday morning came unbidden with an early alarm. After their usual routine of sex and breakfast, Zach dropped Ashley off at the station with the promise of meeting at the Clocktower after work. The day couldn't have been any longer, but he got through every meeting, spending the first half at Clandestine and the second at the UN building. By the time he got out of there, he felt like a shaken bottle of coke, all pent up with energy.

He stopped by his place first, to grab his gym bag and a quick pre-workout protein shake, and then the next thing he knew, he was in the lift and headed for the 13th floor. As nice as the facilities at Nomad were, Zach found he preferred this gym better. It was more private, in fact it was rare to see anyone else here, and even when he did, it was one of his teammates.

"Ash, you here?"

 

[Valkyrie]

The Clocktower - Zizi's Gym

Zach made her feel like if he was going to work, she had to also. She thought it was perfectly reasonable that they would stay in bed all day the morning after getting engaged, but Zach insisted on going. But at least they had the ride in the car together, so she acquiesced to get up and go too. But she did knock off early to go get the gym set up for them, so she was already there when Zach arrived.

"Ash, you here?"

She stepped out from behind a piece of equipment in a black sports bra and leggings, hair in a ponytail.

"Hi!"

She sauntered up to Zach, wrapping herself around him and giving him a long kiss. Pulling back she kept eye contact, sliding her hands down his chest.

"Ready to start?"

She crooked her finger at him, indicating that he should follow her to a space at the end of the gym near a wall of mirrors, where there was a floor to ceiling post about a foot thick. The post was wrapped in different colored padding, alternating every foot or so, in 5 different sections. She picked up two wooden swords with rounded shafts rather than blades, and stood a little ways back from the post, but within reaching distance. She kept her body facing the post as she talked, but turned her head towards him as she talked.

"Okay, so you almost want to take a boxing stance, left foot a little forward, right shoulder back. And when you strike, you'll want to step forward with your right foot."

She looked to check his stance.

"So first you're going to want to get the basic movement down. So what I want you to do, is: right hand right side top-"

She tapped the sword in her right hand against the right side of the post, at the top section of color, which happened to be green.

"Then right hand left side bottom."

She tapped the sword in her right hand on the left side of the post at the bottom section, which happened to be red.

"Then you're going to switch hands and do the other side. So left hand left side top, left hand right side bottom."

She demonstrated.

"And then you got back to the right hand. And it should look like this."

Then she showed him, swinging her right arm high then low in a fluid motion, then the same on the left, then back to the right, then back to the left.

After she had done it for a while, she stopped and turned her body to Zach, and held the hilts of both swords out to him.

"Got it?"

 

[Orion]

The Clocktower -- 13th floor: Gym

Ash: Hi!

Zach turned to look in the direction of her voice, and then let out a low whistle. He was supposed to focus on training when she wasn't even wearing a shirt?! Now, to be fair, his own under armor shirt was basically painted on, but come on. She was clearly working her advantage here.

"Helllllllo..."

He replied appreciatively, his hands going to her waist when she came near for a kiss. His tongue found hers for a long minute, and too much more of this would lead them into a workout of a different sort.

Ash: Ready to start?

"Sure!"

He said, but she was talking about training. Oh, right. That. He smirked and followed her over to a padded column, where she picked up two swords.

"Dual wielding?! Cool."

She told to take a boxing stance, and so he did. That was easy enough to remember, and felt natural. She showed him a basic strike pattern, and he focused on it, following along as she slowly increased the pace of the hits. He watched intently, 1,2,3,4, until he found himself a bit distracted.

Gods, she looks so good right now.

Ash: Got it?

"Huh? Yes, I think so. It reminds me of Eskrima sticks."

Which means I'll probably be decent until I try to block with one hand while striking with the other...

He thought, taking the hilts in hand. His first try he went step by step. Right hits high right green. Right hits low left red. Left hits high left green. Left hits low right red. Okay, now with a steady tempo. Right high, right low, left high, left low. Again. Slow is smooth, 1. 2. 3. 4. 1, 2, 3, 4. Smooth is fast, 1 2 3 4. 1234, 1234, 1234, his eyes dropped to her neckline. Right high, left high, right low--

"Oops."

 

[Valkyrie]

The Clocktower - Zizi's Gym

She already knew that Zach was coordinated, and he picked up the exercise very quickly. He got a good pace going, but then flubbed the move, which was a natural mistake.

"Oops."

"No, that's really good. But you want to square your shoulders more, keep your frame big. Now try this one."

She took one of the swords from him, and tapped the right side of the top block, then the left on the back swing, then the right side one block down, and its corresponding left side, and so on down through the fifth block. She walked around him as she watched, critiquing his form here and there. When he had that down, she led him more into the open area and had him face her.

"Okay, so now, show me your stance. Left foot forward. Hold your sword up like this and then extend it forward, so you are protecting yourself from a frontal strike from your opponent."

She demonstrated how he was protected if she tried to strike him.

"So, for a basic attack, I want you to step forward with your right foot and a little to the right so you're out of my direct line of attack, and then you will bring your sword down like you are going to hit me between my neck and shoulder."

They did it in slow motion a few times, and then she showed him how she would parry his strike.

"Now, go ahead, come at me."

She gestured with her hands that he should attack her.

 

[Orion]

The Clocktower -- 13th floor: Gym

He was about to apologize, but she said it was good, and gave him some feedback that didn't sound like scolding. He smiled, and tried to new pattern. 1-2 on green, 1-2 on blue, 1-2 on yellow, 1-2 on purple, 1-2 on red.

He liked this drill, it could be done so long as he had the post in his peripheral vision, which meant more chances to sneak a look at Ash, who was circling around him, and kept patiently telling him to square up, because he kept blading his body towards her instinctively. He assumed she eventually gave up on that idea, because next sh pulled him to the middle of the mats and took a sword from him.

Ash: Okay, so now, show me your stance. Left foot forward.

He faced her, feet shoulder width apart, left slightly leading, hands up.

Ash: Hold your sword up like this and then extend it forward, so you are protecting yourself from a frontal strike from your opponent.

"Ah, alright."

He replied, as she started to tell him about a basic attack, adding in a little footwork. They tried it a couple of times, going slow, with a focus on form.

Ash: Now, go ahead, come at me.

Zach paused, raising an eyebrow at her.

"Wait, for real?"

He asked, and she gestured with her hands. Okay, then. He brought a nice broad overhead strike, stepping off center towards her left, his right. It wasn't particularly hard or fast, but the swords clacked together anyway.

"Like that?"

 

[Valkyrie]

The Clocktower - Zizi's Gym

Zach was doing very well, his training in other areas transferring over to what she was trying to teach him. She told him to try and attack her, and he acted like he was going to lop her head off or something.

"The sword doesn't even have a blade, Zach."

He brought his sword in a downward motion towards her like he'd shown her, and she brought her sword up almost parallel to the ground, deflecting it.

"Like that?"

"Nice! Okay now, if I do the same to you, parry my strike."

She made a slow movement, the same one he had been practicing, and let him block her strike.

"Now, if I counter and come at you like this-"

She brought her sword off of his and swung it around like she was going to slash his belly.

"You want to bring your sword arm down so the sword is almost pointing at the ground, protecting your soft bits from my strike."

She paused and lowered her sword, and smiled at him.

"Are you bored yet?

 

[Orion]

The Clocktower -- 13th floor: Gym

Ash: The sword doesn't even have a blade, Zach.

"Well, that's true..."

He said, and started a broad strike like she'd asked. There was just something weird about trying to hit her. Maybe he was just being dumb. He just knew he'd want to kick his own ass if he hurt her, even if it was a training accident. Their 'swords' made a little noise when they connected.

"Like that?"

Ash: Nice! Okay now, if I do the same to you, parry my strike.

She brought her sword down towards him, and he brought a backhand swing up to meet it. CLACK.

Ash: Now, if I counter and come at you like this-

He lifted his back foot and pushed off his front, bursting backwards and hunching his back to try and dodge. It was an instinct he was always trying to break.

The outside end travels fastest, jumping back will get you HIT....

He told himself for the umpteenth time, and she coached him on the quick parry, and he let gravity take the 'point' of his sword until they connected again. It was more diagonal, but he was able to stop her swing, at least. He adjusted his ballcap a bit as he processed that.

Ash: Are you bored yet?

He smiled and shook his head.

"Nope. I'm never bored with you around. Plus there's this..."

He said, hooking two fingers in the very center of the deep V in her sports bra playfully for a second, his smile bordering on obscene. He unhooked his fingertips and they trailed down her abs, as his appreciative gaze traveled up slowly to find hers.

"So, I'm assuming we want to make contact closer to the hilt to jam up the strike as much as possible. Is there a certain angle between the two at contact that's ideal?"

He asked her, when they made eye contact.

 

[Valkyrie]

Zizi's Gym

Ash asked Zach if he was getting bored yet. He looked really sexy as he adjusted his hat, and with the tight under armour...

"Nope. I'm never bored with you around. Plus there's this..."

He reached out and grabbed hold of the v in her top, then let his fingers glide down over her stomach. She bit her bottom lip, getting goosebumps from having his hands on her. His eyes met hers, and he asked a follow up question.

"So, I'm assuming we want to make contact closer to the hilt to jam up the strike as much as possible. Is there a certain angle between the two at contact that's ideal?"

"Well the idea is to make your opponents blade glance off your own, so if you can hit on the blade at a 45 or so degree angle..."

She took a step forward, draping the arm that held the sword over his shoulder.

"But if you want to jam your hilt into something..."

She pressed her hips against his.

"This angle always works well."

She gave him a simpering smile, arching an eyebrow.

 

[Orion]

The Clocktower -- 13th floor: Gym

Ashley bit her lip, a small reflex that Zach invariably found sexy, because she always did it when she was turned on. He posed a question to her about angles, but his mind was already going off topic.

Ash: Well the idea is to make your opponents blade glance off your own, so if you can hit on the blade at a 45 or so degree angle...

She advanced on him draping an arm over his shoulder, and he immediately tossed his training 'sword' aside.

Ash: But if you want to jam your hilt into something... This angle always works well.

She said, pressing her body against his, and it was as if an electric current was passing through her to him, and all that energy was charging him below his belt line in rapid pulses. He pulled in a slow, deep breath. Her expression was one of invitation, his of rampant desire. One arm wrapped around her waist, the other hand went to the nape of her neck, as he kissed her hard, like he'd been wanting to this whole time, because he had.

His hand moved from her neck to grab a hold of her ponytail, pulling her head back so his mouth could attack her cleavage, her collarbones, her throat, and her lips again, as his other hand traveled down to her ass to give it a squeeze. He picked her up with one hand, as easily as if she were weightless. He teased her nipples through the thin fabric of her sports bra with his teeth as he knelt down and laid her down on the mats with a lecherous growl.

"You make me so fucking hard..."

He said, already pulling down her pants as he knelt above her, and his mouth blitzed her inner thighs before setting upon her sex as he pushed her legs apart.

 

[Valkyrie]

Zizi's Gym

She could see on his face that her innuendo hadn't been lost on him, and that he was more than willing to make this a whole different kind of workout session. He pulled her hard against him, kissing her like he was desperate to do it, and it was as if her entire body had been holding its breath and now exhaled. She gave a little squeak of delight as he pulled her ponytail, and then a moan of pleasure as his mouth kissed the exposed skin at her front before finding her lips again. She felt his hand on her ass, and she bent her leg up against his hip.

"I want your hands all over me," she said against his mouth.

He picked her up, his teeth on her breasts through her top, and deposited her on the mats, a feral look in his eye.

"You make me so fucking hard..."

He was stripping off her pants.

"Then you'd better fucking use it," she panted out breathlessly, already anticipating what was coming, so turned on by his aggressiveness. But he surprised her by taking her first with his mouth, and she cried out when his tongue touched her already swollen flesh. Her hands went into his hair as he pushed her legs further apart. He always knew exactly how to touch her, exactly when she needed him. He never put her off (unless he was trying to get to a restaurant and propose to her). She could feel his love every time he touched her, and with the way he spoke to her, how he treated her. He really was perfect.

"Seeing you use that sword made me so hot."

She writhed under his mouth, her back arching and pressing her body against his mouth. And then her breathing became more rapid, and she began to moan out repeatedly. And when she was close, she started saying his name, more urgently and at a higher pitch each time until she threw her head back and came. The wave hit her body and then exploding into aftershocks each time he touched her.

"Mmmmm..."

She stretched catlike in satisfaction. But there was still fire in her eyes.

"Now you."

 

[Orion]

The Clocktower -- 13th floor: Gym

He told her how hard she made him, as he took her down to the floor, pulling her leggings off quickly so he could taste her.

Ash: Then you'd better fucking use it.

Oh I certainly will.

He thought to himself, as he pressed his tongue into her. Her hands were in his hair, and she was saying that his use of the sword had turned her on. He smiled against her, looking up her body as he made a noise of acknowledgment, though there wasn't much he could manage to say with his mouth full.

She had said she wanted his hands all over, and so they were, stroking and groping everywhere he could reach, pushing her top up to expose her breasts as she moaned and started to call his name, her voice hitting that octave she only reached when she came. When she was done he kissed his way up her torso, guiding her sports bra the rest of the way off as he kissed her breasts, and then her lips, his own desire only amplified, even as hers had been mildly sated.

Ash: Mmmmm... Now you.

She said, as he pulled back, and he nodded, dragging his hands back down her naked body with a watchful gaze that still expressed a voracious lust. He pulled his shirt over his head quickly, then kicked off his shorts, grabbed her and flipped her over so that she was on her knees too. He gripped her hips, and pulled her back onto him when he thrust himself forward, giving a loud grunt of pleasure as he sheathed himself inside her, deeply.

"Like that?"

He asked, though this time he didn't need the answer for validation, he just wanted to hear her say 'yes', in that breathless way that drove him wild. His hands resumed their roaming of her, clutching her thighs, slapping her ass, running up her back and around her front, as he took her, each time harder than before, the need for her becoming the only thing he knew. As he neared their climax his arm clamped across her chest, his hand on her breast, pulling her to him, while with his other hand he seized her ponytail again, turning her head so he could kiss her, and he only broke away from her mouth when his cries of satisfaction answered hers.

 

[Valkyrie]

Zizi's Gym

Gods she loved his hands. They were everywhere on her, caressing, squeezing, exploring. And his mouth...shit his mouth was fabulous too. And then the hands were taking off her top and his mouth got right in there and...it was just amazing. And then he was kissing her and she lost all sense of time, of where she was. He pulled back and she looked into his eyes, seeing his desire there, and still heavily anticipating what he was going to do to sate it.

His hands roamed down her body, and she pressed against them, then watched him as he practically tore his own clothes off. She should probably have helped him, but it was more fun this way. Taking control, he flipped her over onto her knees and pulled her back onto his cock, causing her to cry out. She loved it when he took control. Most men naturally let her take the lead, but Zach knew how to be aggressive with her, and it was incredibly exciting.

"Like that?"

"Yes...fuck yes..." she panted out breathlessly. He drove her absolutely wild. She honestly suspected he could make her come without ever putting his cock in her - but she wasn't about to suggest it. And his hands hadn't stopped; she cooed as he slapped her ass, stroked her body. And his cock? He was ramming it into her for all he was worth. She could tell he was losing control, each thrust harder than the one before it. She grunted out each time he pressed deep inside her, and then the grunts became moans, the moans became cries of pleasure.

"Fuck Zach, your dick is huge."

He pulled her upright, his hand holding her by her breast, her hard nipple responding even to that touch. He yanked on her ponytail, tilted her head so he could take her mouth. She slipped her tongue hungrily into his mouth, her arm curved back and around his neck. Her fingers stroked the back of his head as he continued to take her hard. She was crying out against his mouth, desperately wanting to collapse onto the mat, the feel of him bringing her to such sensations that she couldn't keep herself steady. She moaned loudly, coming again as he did as well, breaking their kiss as they both called out in ecstasy.

She clutched on to him, finally turning herself around so she could drape her arms over his shoulders, the only thing holding her up. She kissed him passionately on the lips, then moved to his neck, tasting the salt on his skin. Her own glistened with perspiration.

"Zach..."

Her voice came out in a desperate plea.

"Zach..."

 

[Orion]

The Clocktower -- 13th floor: Gym

Zach was a die-hard romantic. He craved love, and made it, and most of the time that was exactly what he needed. But every now and then there was a different kind of need, feral and aggressive, it demanded satisfaction. And Ashley, Gods bless her, she liked it. He lost himself in her. The stress of the workday melted away, as did his concerns of the moment. There was only her, and him, and their need. And he did so love to satisfy that need.

By the time they were done, Zach's heart was pounding against his ribs, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. He rested his chin on her shoulder for a moment, a smile on his lips. She turned to face him, and put her arms around his neck, to cling to him.

She kissed him, and he returned it with affection, wrapping his arms around her tightly, holding her against his chest, not caring that they were both hot and sweaty, he just want to be close to her. She kissed his neck, and called his name.

"Ash."

He answered, squeezing her in his hug. She said his name again, and there was something in her tone that made him pull back enough to look for her gaze. He brushed wild hair back from her face -- good grief, had he messed up her once neat ponytail.

"What's wrong, my love?"

 

[Valkyrie]

The Clocktower - Zizi's Gym

He said her name, and it was like her heart was going to incinerate inside her chest. She clung to him, kissing his neck, feeling his arms tight around her, and never wanting him to let go. She could feel his heart beating in his chest, and there was something so comforting about it. There was a strange mixture of their warm bodies and the cooling sweat, and she hugged him to her, even as he did the same.

Then he pulled back and looked into her face.

"What's wrong, my love?"

"I need you so much it hurts."

All she could think about was pressing her body against his, feeling his skin touch hers. The world outside of his arms was so cold, going there felt like being banished. She pressed her cheek against his chest, her hands sliding around his middle.

"Not seeing you all day was torture."

Her stomach was doing flip flips, and every place his skin was touching her felt more alive than where he wasn't.

"Don't let go."

 

[Orion]

The Clocktower -- 13th floor: Gym

He asked her what was wrong, searching her gaze, brushing her hair back from her face.

Ash: I need you so much it hurts.

"Hey, I'm here, right here. You have me."

He assured her, kissing her forehead, her cheeks, her lips, and pulling her back into a tight hug, soaking up that feeling, her needing him. No one had ever needed him before, not like this.

Ash: Not seeing you all day was torture.

"Aww, babe, I know. I hate being apart from you too."

He admitted, as he rubbed her back with one hand and he held her close with the other. He loved her so much he couldn't contain it, and didn't want to. He let the emotion seep from his skin, into hers.

Ash: Don't let go.

"No, no, never."

He promised, and kissed the top of her head.

"How about I take the day off tomorrow, hmm? We can do whatever you want. We can stay in bed and make love all day, or go house hunting. I got the number of Gavin's real estate agent, he apparently know the Upper East Side very well."

He smiled into her hair. A place they'd choose together, he was very much looking forward to it. Of course, if all she wanted to do was stay in and be together, that'd be perfection too.

"Oh, also, it's your night to pick dinner."