Recollection

Ashley sped across the room and kneeled in front of me, within an instant his lips were upon mine.

Electricity ran through my body. My free hand immediately went up to entangle itself in his long strands and I felt him deepen the kiss by using his teeth to tug my lip ring gently. It was always his symbol to show when he wanted more from me.

Just as I was teetering on the edge, he pulled away breathlessly.

He gave me a tiny smirk and retreated into the kitchen.

Oh, how it irked me when he'd do that. Leave me with every hair and nerve standing on end, my emotions completely spiked, wanting more.

In this heightened state, I always wanted more with Ash. He was like a drug I couldn’t get enough of.

He returned a few minutes later, two bottles of water in hand. I reached for the one he had extended to me and took a good swill of it before giving it back.

A few silent moments passed by and I spoke.

“You know what would be nice? I paused. "An actual fucking shower!”

Ashley laughed.

We made Andy aware and in awkward fashion we all made it into the bathroom. Sitting upon the toilet, Ash removed the ACE Bandage encasing my ankle, only to find it multi-colored and swollen as hell.

Andy found a small garbage bag and stood nearby holding Hunter and a roll of masking tape while Ashley went to work on using it to cover the cast upon my wrist.

Andy stepped out and Ashley stayed to help me undress.

“You okay with this?” Ashley asked at my uneasiness.

It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen everything before. It was just different now..back then I wasn't covered in scars and bruises.

“Yeah, guess so!” I mumbled, with eyes turned to the floor.

A hand upon his shoulder to stable myself, Ash helped me up and out of my shirt and pants. I stood before him in only a bra and underwear and that’s when things a drastic turn. I saw Ashley wince as he finally viewed the bruises covering my midsection.

He could see where my ribs were severely bruised, why it was so hard to breathe or move without pain. He saw the scars from Declan’s leather belt decorating my thighs and legs.

Slipping out of my underclothes, his eyes focused on the scar on my lower abdomen.

His eyes moved up to meet mine, questioning.

“C-section! He couldn't be delivered naturally.”

“I wish I could have been there.” He whispered sadly.

“Me too.” was all I could reply.

I did wish he could have been there to revel in the miracle we created, but it would have created more tension than what already had transpired.

He helped me back into a sitting position upon the toilet seat and within mere minutes, he was void of nearly all his clothing. He then moved away to turn on and adjust the water temperature.

Lifting me in swift arms, he placed me underneath the warm stream. I cringed as water hit my fresh cuts and bruises. Despite the pain, the water felt so good. I could wash away the fragments of the hospital and quite possibly the horror my son and I just lived through.

Once I found myself adjusted to the water, I opened what I could of my eyes and found myself staring directly into his enchanting eyes.

I quickly averted my gaze and rested it upon his right arm.

He hadn't had many tattoos covering that arm when I previously was with him. I ran the tips of my fingers down and then up his right arm, touching where each needle had imprinted his skin to make the bright designs upon it. Then cascaded over his shoulder and down his chest to rest upon the 'Outlaw' tattoo that graced his toned stomach.

I heard his sharp intake of breath and before he became fully aware of the blush spreading fast upon my cheeks, he reached behind and came upon a bottle of shampoo.

Helping me forward, he began the duty of washing my hair. Once washed, conditioned and rinsed twice, he proceeded diligently to the rest of my body, taking sweet care in every place it hurt. I felt like a thousand pounds lighter by the time he was through.

I could hear Hunter whining nearby, my senses went on alert and Ashley felt the change in my posture.

“It’ll be a minute more.”

Underneath the water, pulling me sharp against his body, he brought his lips crashing down on mine. There was desired urgency in his kiss, more for the sake of claiming than anything.

It had been so long since the last time and as much as I wanted to continue, I broke the fevered kiss and pushed him gently away.

“Hunter needs me!”

Notes