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Cuddling and her resting against him was sobering. It felt good to be.....wanted again. As her head lay on his chest, one hand stroked her hair, the other rubbed her back as he smiled in comfort. He just stood where he was, not wanting to ruin the moment.
He did know that tomorrow would bring a new day, a day of riding, swimming and just pleasure. It had already been a long day. He was tired but with this woman so close to him, it was if he forgot.
"We'll have another great day tomorrow," he said softly, "and in as much as I could stay here with you all night, we should think about getting some rest."
He just stood, running his fingers through her hair and caressing her back. His eyes closed as he enjoyed the moment.
At his mention of rest, she nodded slightly. It was getting late. She figured he wouldn't want to stay with her in the same room, instead leaving her for the night. As much as she wanted to stay with him, she was trying to convince herself this would be a good thing. Nightmares haunted her, causing restless nights and broken sleep. She didn't fear it as much as she once had, but she still didn't look forward to it.
Despite this, as he played with her hair and rubbed her back she became more sleepy, closing her eyes as she was unable to hide another yawn. Not realizing she was doing it - she had begun to lean on him to keep herself steady, still refusing to admit she was tired. Eventually she mumbled, "I hope tomorrow is even half as good as today has been."
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"Tomorrow will be better," he said softly as he held her, "for now, at least let me escort you to your room."
He took her to his side, tightly holding her as they made small talk on the way up. He was relaxed and warm and he knew she was based on her smile. They went up the stairs to her room, that spacious room that he had opted her to stay in. It would be more comfortable for her. In the ceiling was a skylight window to look out into the sky.
"As daylight approaches, it automatically shades so that if you choose to sleep in a bit, you won't be awakend by the day," he indicated as he pointed to it.
He brought her to the bedside and stood before her, his hands on her sides.
He again kissed her and smiled, "I just hate to have to leave you alone here but the southern gentleman in me sees it as proper."
With that, he slowly started to back away.
She looked up at the skylight in wonder. She hadn't noticed it before, but she thought it was an amazing idea. From where the bed was, she would be able to watch the stars. She watched the night sky for a moment before looking back at him. "You can watch the beauty of the night from the warmth of your own bed."
She glanced at the bed after he kissed her again, and shook her head slightly as she noticed the clothes from earlier spread out over it, and her sidearm on the bedside table. As he started to back away, she lost her smile and nodded. It was obvious she didn't want him to leave, but she didn't want to push her luck and ask him to stay, even for just a little longer
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He sensed her reluctance. He sensed it when she lost her smile when he backed away. She didn't want him to leave. To him, it wasn't a case of not wanting to stay but to him, they had only been together a short time and it was supposed to be professional.......supposed to he thought to himself for a second. He couldn't pry into her sub conscience to see her demons nor was psychology something he was well versed in. Getting to know a patient? Yes but....she wasn't a patient.
He stepped close to her again and offered to help clean her bed off. "Let me help you," he said as he began taking folded clothes and placing them in a nearby dresser. From the dresser across the room, he took a quick look at her. She was indeed a pretty lady. He would return to her.
Noticing that reluctance, he looked up at the skylight and smiled, "Yes, it does make a night peaceful." He snickered, "The only thing better? Camping out but that's for another day perhaps." His face then met hers.
He sat on the side of the bed. Looking back up, he said "let's study the heavens together." He kicked his sandals off and laid down on a side of the bed, his hands on his chest as he looked up. He asked, "Care to join me? There's much to study."
Ashlea nodded, thanking him for his help to clear the bed. She kept herself busy taking too long to tidy up. She knew he would have picked up on what she was thinking, with her body language, it would have been impossible not to. She was almost embarrassed, he wanted to leave, you should have just let him go, she thought before silently cursing herself.
She turned to look at him again when he asked if she cared to join him, nodding slightly, almost surprised that he was lying down looking at the skylight. She slipped her jeans off and climbed under the blankets on the other side of the bed. She looked up, there were more stars then she would have been able to count. Moving her hands so they were out of the blankets - she mirrored him, resting her hands on her chest as he was doing. "You need sleep just as much as I do." she said quietly to him, stealing a glance before looking up again before continuing "You don't have to stay just because I want you to."
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He hadn't been laying down long before his eyes closed. He hadn't even had a chance to so much as remove his already unbuttoned shirt. Yes, he was tired....and comfortable by the evidence. He didn't snore but his breaths were deep. The only movement where his hands sliding down from his chest to just above his stomach.
When he was here at his cabin on Erie, his mind was generally clear. He had no worries. The Corsairs weren't stirring up the pot again, medicine was a distant thought and the many wars around Sirius and Gallia didn't exist. Why did he not just stay here and live out his years? Even he didn't know.
It was simple. He was relaxed, happy and for the first time in awhile, he felt wanted. What else could a man want?
After some time she rolled over onto her side. The light was bright enough for her to be able to see. She was thankful for that, while she was enjoying herself here, she didn't like the night as it was - letalone in a place she had never been before.
She was sure he was asleep, he looked so peaceful, relaxed. She propped herself up with her elbow and moved a piece of hair off his face. A part of her didn't believe this was real. Stuff like this doesn't happen to people like her. It never happened to people like her.
She looked down, his shirt was unbuttoned. She shook her head and smiled, the fact her thoughts didn't make sense wasn't bothering her at the moment. After some time, she cuddled in to him, resting her head on his chest. She didn't close her eyes, knowing if she did she would sleep, and if she slept, the nightmares would begin.
It took her a while to see it at first, but eventually she noticed a faint scar, barely a faint white line, running from the top of his sternum to the base of his ribs. She ran her thumb along it, upset that this had happened to him.
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Doc slept through the night comfortably and deeply. It was a combination of being exhausted but also of being totally relaxed by the presence of Ashlea. When he awoke the next morning, he found her close to him, a hand on his chest. She was fast asleep and deeply so.
It was very early but he was an early riser. He made sure not to disturb her. His shirt wrinkled from sleeping on it, he removed it, going down stairs only in a pair of sweat pants. He began filling the house with the aromas of breakfast. Fresh coffee, scrambled eggs, bacon and homefries all filled the air. He figured that it would be a nice way for Ashlea to awaken.
The sun was just rising as he filled his mug with coffee as he headed for the door. Leaving it open, he went out into the cool morning air, standing at his dock by the water to watch the sun rise with his coffee. The air felt good on the skin of his chest. Yes, the sun hadn't even risen yet and he knew today would be a great day.
It wasn't long after the sun had began to rise she woke. Confusion hit her first. The bed, it wasn't hers - neither was the room. She sat up and stretched, before shaking her head and smiling. She remembered where she was, and wondered where Doc had got to. She got up and pulled the covers up, slowly smoothing them out as she made the bed.
She ran her fingers through her hair, making it look almost presentable, and picked out a pair of jeans and a light shirt. She made her way down the stairs. Coffee was needed, and breakfast smelt great. Noticing Doc wasn't inside, she frowned slightly and walked out the open door. Seeing him standing at the dock she walked across and stood next to him, rubbing her eyes she smiled. Despite the fact she still looked half asleep, she sounded genuinely happy to see him "good morning."