The Daily Adventures of Zash

[Valkyrie]

The Clocktower - Ashley's Room

And then Zach did that thing, where he made a big deal of something that wasn't anything.

"Oh, that's right.... you were a princess...."

She rolled her eyes at him.

"It's not the same thing now."

"Well, I guess you are a princess. It's not like you ever really stopped being one."

"It's not like I lived in a palace and wore jewels, Zach. It just meant someone was always trying to kill my father and he got first pick of the plunder."

He asked her about being a raider, and she told him what kinds of things she'd done, but that she'd never been considered a raider in her father's eyes. And then she started remembering the bad things. She asked about the real estate woman, and then rested her head on Zach's shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her, and she nestled into his neck.

"I'm sorry. You must miss your father terribly."

"Why? All he ever cared about was the next woman he could fuck."

She bristled.

"If he ever gave a damn about me and my feelings, I never would have-"

She stopped herself.

"My life would have been different, that's all."

She turned away from him, onto her side, and rested her head on the pillow, curling her body up.

"I haven't told you, why I joined Hellfire."

He probably didn't want to hear, but he wasn't going to let it go either.

"Alek - Berserker - he, he looked like someone I knew when I was human. Exactly like him."

She took a shaky breath as old feelings returned to her.

"His name was Kalf. He went to war so that he could win enough glory and plunder to marry me. To impress my father. And I went with him."

Ashley shifted her body against the pillow.

"And then he died, saving me."

She closed her eyes.

"He was just a boy."

 

[Orion]

The Clocktower -- Ashley's Room

Zach was impressed by, and a bit enamored of, the idea that Ashley was a true princess, even if it had been a thousand years ago. Ash rolled her eyes at him, and gave him a dose of reality. He shrugged at that, nudging her with his elbow, smiling with gentle amusement.

"Whatever you say, princess."

And that comment was the last bit of brevity in a conversation that turned suddenly very dark. Why, oh why, had Zach brought this up? How had he even got here? What was he thinking? All he could really say for sure was that he'd upset her. He tried to recover, putting his arms around her, comforting her, saying he was sorry and assuming that it was about her missing her father.

Ash: Why? All he ever cared about was the next woman he could fuck.

Uhhhhh.....

Ash: If he ever gave a damn about me and my feelings, I never would have-

Oh, he'd REALLY stepped in it now. He swallowed hard, keeping his mouth shut so he wouldn't make it any worse.

Ash: My life would have been different, that's all.

She said, pulling away, laying down and curling up. He looked at her with concern, feeling bereft. The separation between them was merely inches, yet felt much longer than that. He took the tray of food off the bed with one hand, setting it up on the bedside table so it'd be out of the way, while he racked his brains for ways to fix this.

"Ashley..."

He started slowly, turning back towards her, resting his hand on her arm. He was about to just plain ask her what was wrong, because it was obvious something was, when she spoke again.

Ash: I haven't told you, why I joined Hellfire.

"No, but I'd like to know."

He replied, and she mentioned Alek. He grit his teeth and stopped himself from saying 'that asshole'. She went on to talk about how that asshole looked exactly like someone she once knew. Not just someone she knew, though.

"Someone you loved."

He said, a statement of fact, not a question. He didn't have to guess at that.

Ash: His name was Kalf. He went to war so that he could win enough glory and plunder to marry me. To impress my father. And I went with him. And then he died, saving me. He was just a boy.

Zach gazed at her sadly for a moment, and then he laid down behind her, wrapping his arm around her again.

"I'm sorry,"

He said again, and he truly meant it.

"I sorry you had to lose him like that. I'm sorry I made you remember it. I can't stand you feeling this way.... would you be mad if I took it away?"

He asked quietly, hoping to the Gods she'd let him help.

"Ashley, I.... I understand what you're feeling. The grief.... the guilt. There are events in my own life that I wish I could have stopped. And yes, life would be different, if we got to spend more time with the ones we've lost along the way. But.... 'different' doesn't mean better. The Gods only know what would have happened, what other happiness, what other horror we would have known, if we'd each have taken a different path through life. But I know this, now: If I had the choice? I would go through it all again, the pain, the stress, everything, just to find my way back to YOU."

 

[Valkyrie]

The Clocktower - Ashley's Room

She turned away from him, and Zach put his hand on her arm, trying to comfort her, she knew. But she had never told him about any of this, so she couldn't tell him what was wrong without telling him everything. And she didn't know how he would take everything. She commented that she'd never told him why she joined the Hellfire Club in the first place.

"No, but I'd like to know."

You probably don't.

But she had started telling him, and the words kept coming out. She told him how Alek looked so much like Kalf.

"Someone you loved."

She nodded, not turning to look at him. She told him how he died, because of her. She felt Zach lay down next to her, his arm coming over her. She clutched it tightly.

"I sorry you had to lose him like that. I'm sorry I made you remember it. I can't stand you feeling this way.... would you be mad if I took it away?"

"No...I don't want you to have to feel this...any more than you do already."

It just occurred to her how he could feel what she was feeling, that she was subjecting him to her pain. She rolled over, looking up at him, horrified at what she must be doing to him.

"Oh Zach, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"Ashley, I.... I understand what you're feeling. The grief.... the guilt. There are events in my own life that I wish I could have stopped. And yes, life would be different, if we got to spend more time with the ones we've lost along the way. But.... 'different' doesn't mean better. The Gods only know what would have happened, what other happiness, what other horror we would have known, if we'd each have taken a different path through life. But I know this, now: If I had the choice? I would go through it all again, the pain, the stress, everything, just to find my way back to YOU."

She wanted to smile, but couldn't.

"Do you know the worst part?"

She looked up solemnly into his eyes.

"I love you more than I loved him."

She put her arms around him and hugged him tight.

"He died for me...and I love you more."

 

[Orion]

The Clocktower -- Ashley's Room

Zach laid down behind her, and put an arm around her. She didn't push him away, that was good. She held his arm, and he held her, as he offered to help her feel better, because he didn't like seeing her in pain.

Ash: No...I don't want you to have to feel this...any more than you do already.

"My love--"

He started, as she rolled over to look at him.

Ash: Oh Zach, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-

He shook his head, and stopped her there. He didn't mind taking it on himself, he would've gladly felt it so she didn't have to. He told her that he understood, and that he also had events in his life that he wished he could change. He wouldn't take that chance now, though, not if it meant he'd never have found her.

Ash: Do you know the worst part? I love you more than I loved him. He died for me...and I love you more.

She told him, hugging him. He hugged her back silently, because he had no idea what to say to that. There was only one thought that filled his mind, and it was so terribly selfish, he was afraid to say it out loud. He took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of her, pulling her against his chest. He HAD to say it. If he didn't say it, he'd have to live with it.

"Oh, Ash. That's not the worst part. The worst part is.... I'm glad he saved you, even if it cost him his life. If he hadn't done that, you'd have died loving him, and never loved me at all."

He admitted guiltily, his voice barely above a whisper. He reached for her face, found her gaze again.

"And I love you too much to wish he'd have lived, if it costed me you."

 

[Valkyrie]

The Clocktower - Ashley's Room

Zach hugged her to his chest, and it felt like that was the only thing keeping her together, a lifeline, an anchor. She felt sad, and confused. She remembered the torrent of emotion that had filled her last human years, the hatred and loathing that defined her Valkyrie years. And then there was Zach. She had never been so happy. Not even when she was a young girl with her first love. She felt different with Zach. And yet she kept seeing Kalf's face as he lay dying, because he loved her. She felt horror at what had happened, and horror at the thought that the same could happen to Zach. And also she knew that unlike when Kalf died, if Zach died, she would die too.

"Oh, Ash. That's not the worst part. The worst part is...I'm glad he saved you, even if it cost him his life. If he hadn't done that, you'd have died loving him, and never loved me at all."

He pulled back enough to look into her pained face.

"I can't imagine never loving you," she whispered.

"And I love you too much to wish he'd have lived, if it costed me you."

She looked into his face thoughtfully.

"I spent twelve hundred years hating Odin for what had happened. And now I wonder if He knew all along, if this was the reason for everything."

She shook her head.

"I tried to tell him, that I didn't care if he was a poor farmer. I didn't care. But he wouldn't listen..."

She looked pleadingly into his eyes.

"Don't you see? Why I don't want you to sacrifice yourself for me, ever. I wouldn't survive it this time. I would die if I lost you."

She put her head on his shoulder and hugged him tightly again.

"I'm sorry...I know you didn't want to hear all this...about him...it's just...I remember that day like it was yesterday..."

 

[Orion]

The Clocktower -- Ashley's Room

Zach told her he was glad Kalf had sacrificed himself, because otherwise she might never have loved him. She told him she couldn’t imagine never loving him, and he kissed her forehead softly.

Ash: I spent twelve hundred years hating Odin for what had happened. And now I wonder if He knew all along, if this was the reason for everything.

He considered that quietly, and felt an instinct to thank the God for at least playing his part, just in case that was true. Fate was a cruelty, and a kindness.

Ash: I tried to tell him, that I didn't care if he was a poor farmer. I didn't care. But he wouldn't listen...

“Ash, my love, even if he did it because of you, that doesn’t make it your fault.”

He assured her, but that wasn’t where her fears were fixed. She looked looked up at him sadly.

Ash: Don't you see? Why I don't want you to sacrifice yourself for me, ever. I wouldn't survive it this time. I would die if I lost you.

“Ash....”

He said gently, caught between a rock and a hard place. He really wanted to help alleviate her concerns, but he couldn’t promise her he wouldn’t make the same choice Kalf did, if it came down to it. And he couldn’t tell her that either, because that would only make it worse.

“Ashley, I....”

Ash: I'm sorry...I know you didn't want to hear all this...about him...it's just...I remember that day like it was yesterday...

“It’s okay, babe, really. You can tell me anything, you don’t have to worry about whether or not I want to hear it. If it affects you, I want to know about it, and you can always be honest with me.”

He told her, and then he realized that he couldn’t very well ask her to be honest with him, if he wasn’t going to tell her the stuff he thought she didn’t want to hear.

“I wish.... I wish I could swear to you that I will live as long as you will, that you don’t have to worry about me. But.... I’m mortal, until Science solves that problem, or unless some freak accident turns me invincible, I can’t make that promise. But I can promise you that I will be here with you for as long as I can, and I will do everything possible to extend our time together. And I will wear the bulletproof, fireproof, bomb proof Clandestine issued armor for every Birds mission, from here on out, if it’ll make you feel better.”

 

[Valkyrie]

The Clocktower - Ashley's Room

Zach kissed her forehead gently, and her eyes closed at the warmth of his lips. She tried to explain that she hadn't wanted Kalf to fight, she hadn't needed wealth, but that he hadn't listened to her.

“Ash, my love, even if he did it because of you, that doesn’t make it your fault.”

But it wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for her. And she never wanted that to happen again. Especially not...now. She told him that this was why he had asked him not to sacrifice himself for her. And then she apologized, for telling him all these things, from the past, about her first love.

“It’s okay, babe, really. You can tell me anything, you don’t have to worry about whether or not I want to hear it. If it affects you, I want to know about it, and you can always be honest with me.”

She put her hand on his cheek and held it there, looking into his eyes.

"I will."

“I wish...I wish I could swear to you that I will live as long as you will, that you don’t have to worry about me."

She held her fingers up to his lips, her face begging him to stop.

"No, don't..."

But he kept going.

"But...I’m mortal, until Science solves that problem, or unless some freak accident turns me invincible, I can’t make that promise. But I can promise you that I will be here with you for as long as I can, and I will do everything possible to extend our time together."

She pressed her cheek against his chest and hugged him tight again, as if she could keep him safe that way. She didn't want to think about the fact that Zach would die one day. She actively tried not to think about it. Pretended it wasn't real. Because she hadn't waited all this time to find him just to lose him again. It was unthinkable.

"And I will wear the bulletproof, fireproof, bomb proof Clandestine issued armor for every Birds mission, from here on out, if it’ll make you feel better.”

She picked her head up and gave him a small smile.

"It really would."

And then that smile became something else.

"Especially because you look really sexy in it."

She kissed his lips softly, but as she pulled back the smile was gone.

"I won't go on without you. I won't."

 

[Orion]

The Clocktower -- Ashley's Room

Zach told her she could tell him anything, and that she could be honest with him, even if she thought he didn't want to hear it. She promised that she would, and then it was his turn to be honest, and address her concerns as best he could.

She tried to stop him, but he kept going anyway, because he needed to say something, he couldn't just let her worry endlessly that something might happen to him. He couldn't promise that nothing would happen to him, but he did tell her he'd do whatever he could to stay with her.

She hugged him tight, and he knew that what he'd said had only been a small comfort, because she was still filled with concern for him. It was endearing, that she cared that much about him, and it was frustrating, that he couldn't relieve her stress about the possibility of his death. He swore he'd wear the state-of-the-art armor on all their Birds missions, if that would make her feel better. He'd do absolutely anything to make her feel better.

Ash: It really would.

She said, and finally, she smiled again. It was a soft smile at first, and then it morphed into something that provoked desire.

Ash: Especially because you look really sexy in it.

"Oh yeah? Maybe I should try it on for you, next time we're at my place."

He replied, slipping his hand up the back of her t-shirt. She kissed him, tenderly.

Ash: I won't go on without you. I won't.

His hand traveled slowly up her spine, as the other tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Nor I, you. So don't you go sacrificing yourself for ME, either."

He warned, before he pulled her in for a passionate kiss.

 

[Valkyrie]

The Clocktower - Ashley's Room

They had a pretty heavy conversation about her human life, and when Zach started to talk about the possibility of him dying, she tried to make him stop. But he kept on, though he promised to wear Clandestine issue body armor if it would make her feel better. Which she told him it would, not least of all because, he looked damn ass hot in it.

"Oh yeah? Maybe I should try it on for you, next time we're at my place."

"You definitely should."

She felt his hand go up the back of her shirt, and she leaned forward to kiss him softly. But she got serious again as she pulled back, to tell him that she wouldn't go on without him if he died.

"Nor I, you. So don't you go sacrificing yourself for ME, either."

That was not going to happen. She'd die a thousand times if it saved him. But before she could say that, he was kissing her passionately. She slid her arm around his waist, her hand traveling down to grip his ass. Then she paused and glanced down at herself before looking up at him with an expression bordering on disgust.

"Get this shirt off of me."

Her mouth attacked his again immediately, breaking only so he could free her of the cotton barrier between their bodies. She rolled onto her back, bringing him on top of her.

 

[Orion]

The Clocktower -- Ashley's Room

Zach offered to wear his armor for her, first for the Birds missions, and then just for her, because she said he looked sexy. She said he definitely should, and he smirked, noting that for later. For now, they both expressed how much they needed each other. He told her that he didn't want her to sacrifice herself for him, either, and he could tell from her expression she didn't want to agree to that.

He kissed her deeply, and it was as if he'd opened the floodgates. Her arm went around him, her hand on his ass. His heart started racing, his body responding to her touch. She broke the kiss, for a second looking upset. He looked back at her, his brow furrowed in confusion.

Ash: Get this shirt off of me.

She demanded, and she didn't have to tell him twice. She kissed him again, and he felt the emotion course through him like adrenaline. He pulled her shirt over her head quickly, and she laid back, pulling him over her. He pressed his mouth to her lips, his tongue into her mouth, his hands finding hers and twining their fingers together. He kissed her desperately, his whole body pressed against hers, until his hands slid down her arms, and his mouth went to her neck.

He was hard with desire already, but he wanted to take his time, to make this last, so he ignored his own need, and just focused on her. He worked his way down her body slowly, tasting her, touching her everywhere. When he got down to her hips, he paused, looking back up at her for a moment, licking his lips with anticipation. He smiled at her as he stroked her between her legs with his fingers, and then he kissed her there, his hands moving along the insides of her thighs, pushing her knees apart.

 

[Valkyrie]

The Clocktower - Ashley's Room

Zach deepened their kiss, intertwining his fingers with hers. Gods, she loved it when he did that. His mouth went to her neck and her eyes closed. She loved that too. She could feel him hard against her thigh, and it was already making her moan, even though he hadn't done anything with it yet. His hands and mouth traveled down her body, her body pressing against them as he did so. He looked up at her like a naught schoolboy, his fingers touching her between her legs. Her back arched as she gasped in, his hands feeling like they were on fire. His mouth touched her sex, his hands spreading her thighs. Ash whimpered with anticipation, knowing that Zach's oral fixation was legendary.

"Taste me..."

And when he did, she cried out loudly, her sex already swollen with desire for him. Her hands went to his hair, her body writhing under his mouth.

"YES...oh yes...right there."

 

[Orion]

The Clocktower -- Ashley's Room

Taste me, she pleaded, and he smiled, then obliged. He moaned against her, as if she was absolutely the best thing he’d ever tasted. She squirmed, burying her fingers in his hair. He held her legs open, finding the spot that drove her wild with the tip of his tongue and massaging there. He reveled in the sounds she was making, and all the signs of her obvious pleasure.

He wanted her so badly he could barely stand it, but at the same time he so enjoyed this that he didn’t want to stop either. He kept at it until she started to come, and then he was crawling on top of her quickly, sliding inside and rolling his hips.

He moaned right away, as he felt her finish contracting around him. He thrust himself deep, his arms sliding under her body so he could hold her close, his lips finding hers urgently.

"Feel me...."

He said when he broke the kiss to lock eyes with her, grinding his hips against hers.

 

[Valkyrie]

The Clocktower - Ashley's Room

Ash moaned, groaned, writhed, cried out. She felt her skin getting flushed, her back arching as his tongue found exactly the right spot...

She called out to the gods, and then to him. Her breath hitched, her stomach muscles tightened, her mouth opened. And then he stopped, and was crawling on top of her. Her hands clutched at him as he found his way inside. Her head tilted back onto the pillow, and she came, as he pulled her against him. He kissed her, her body trembling. When he pulled back, he held her gaze.

"Feel me...."

Her mouth pressed against his shoulder.

"Oh, fuck Zach."

She began to cry out every time his hips met hers, her voice getting louder and more high pitched each time. Her arms were wrapped around him, and her hand explored his back, sliding over his damp skin. She lifted her hips into his thrusts, driving him deep, her breathing rapid. Her legs wrapped around his waist, gripping him tighter. She swallowed hard, the sensation overtaking her, almost too much for her to stand. She couldn't even form words to tell him she was going to come again, her body just burst, the quakes washing over her.

 

[Orion]

The Clocktower -- Ashley's Room

She kissed his shoulder, and he nuzzled her neck. She wrapped herself around him, and he held her as if letting her go would be the thing that killed him. And all the while, he rolled his hips against hers, and she rose up to meet him each time. He could feel the climax coming on, and welcomed it, his mouth kissing whatever he could without pulling back.

All the pain and suffering of life melted away. All the grief, the sorrow, the guilt and regret faded from this moment, until the only feeling that was left was the love they felt for each other. Ash came, and Zach moaned, his body answering hers. He didn’t stop until her waves subsided, and then he lifted his head and pressed his lips against hers, kissing her deeply.

His phone chimed with a message, but he didn’t reach for it. He just eased off of her and laid beside her, relaxing and trying to catch his breath. He gave her a smile of adoration, tucking her hair back behind her ear, touching her face gently, leaning in to kiss her cheek or forehead or the bridge of her nose occasionally.

“We should probably get ready to go out, I’m guessing that message was from the realtor.”

He suggested, and then he chuckled at himself.

“I’ve never been so reluctant to get out of bed.”

 

[Valkyrie]

The Clocktower - Ashley's Room

After they both came, Zach's lips were against hers, kissing her passionately, deeply. She hadn't forgotten the things she had said, they were en extension of her love for Zach, and she showed it to him by the way they made love. She couldn't live without him, and she kissed him like she needed it to breathe. He laid beside her, touching her in a dozen small ways that made her feel completely safe and loved.

"We should probably get ready to go out, I’m guessing that message was from the realtor.”

"Fuck the realtor."

She kissed his mouth tenderly, her hand going to stroke his hair. But when she pulled back, she sighed, seeing in his look that they were in fact still going house hunting.

“I’ve never been so reluctant to get out of bed.”

She touched her nose to his and gave him an amused smile.

"Don't worry, I'll make you pay for it so bad that you'll have to fuck me in the car on the way home."

She playfully slapped his cheek a couple of times, before moving to get up and get dressed. She pulled out the drawer where they'd stashed some of Zach's clothes for when he stayed over, then got out of her closet white pants and a low cut white top, and a beige jacket. She watched Zach get dressed as she slipped her clothes on and brushed her hair out.

"Ready."

 

[Orion]

The Clocktower —Ashley’s Room

Ash: Fuck the realtor.

“But I haven’t even seen her yet babe, what if she’s hideous? Besides — the only woman I want to fuck is you.”

He replied playfully, leaning in with a smirk. She kissed him, brush his hair back with her hand, and he sighed happily. Then he gave her the look, the one that begged her to cooperate with him. He admitted to not wanting to get out of bed himself. On the other hand, he WAS really excited about house hunting with her.

Ash: Don't worry, I'll make you pay for it so bad that you'll have to fuck me in the car on the way home.

There was a flash in his eyes that made it clear he was considering that suggestion heavily, and already thinking about having her in the front seat. What a torturous idea for her to bring up. It would be in the back of his mind all day.

“Gods have mercy.”

He said with a smile, as she slapped him playfully and got up to get dressed. She looked sexy as always. He was getting a distinct noir-detective film feel from her, and he liked it.

“All you need is a fedora.”

He said with an appreciative smile as he stepped into some dark jeans. He pulled a pristine white, short sleeve Henley shirt on, and then slipped into a black leather riding jacket. She said she was ready, and he stuck his feet into some steel toe boots as he checked his phone. He clicked on the link to get the gps app going, and they went down to get in the car together.

They met the realtor at the first place after only a fifteen minute drive from the Clocktower. The realtor was standing on the stoop waiting for them, and she smiled as she introduced herself. She wasn’t hideous after all, but Zach was paying more attention to the brownstone they were here to see. She let them into the gallery and started to fill them in on some details as she gave them a tour of what she called the ‘garden floor.’ The place was magnificent, and had a very warm feel, with wood floors and a neutral paint scheme.

 

[Valkyrie]

The Car

She slid her hand around his arm as they rode down to the garage, loving the feel of the leather on Zach as well as the look. She suspected he was arming himself against her promise, by making sure he looked as sexy as he possibly could. Well, he had succeeded.

They made the drive to the Upper East Side without incident. When they were stopped at a red light she reached over and rested her hand on his forearm, here eyes sliding to him looking very sultry.

"You should really wear leather more often, babe."

She gave his arm a little squeeze, then turned her eyes back forward again. They pulled up in front of a brownstone. It looked very nice from the outside, and she hoped Zach would be pleased with it. She stretched as she stepped out of the car.

"Ooh, it's a little chilly out. Maybe I should have worn a bra."

She looked at him pointedly before shutting the car door and turning towards the realtor who was waiting for them on the stoop. She showed them inside, and Zach seemed to brighten as the woman showed them around. There was a gym, a kitchen, and a garden in the back, which Ash liked a lot, actually. But she was a little confused.

"Where are the bedrooms?"

The realtor informed her that they were on the third and fourth floors. She looked from the realtor to Zach.

"Oh, so we would have the whole building?"

For just the two of them? She had assumed they'd have a floor, maybe two, like at the Clocktower, or part of a big one, like at Nomad. She hadn't thought he meant to buy a house. Whatever he wanted was fine with her, but it had surprised her. She didn't know what they would do with all that space. Honestly, all they needed was a bedroom and a bathroom, maybe a kitchen. She leaned into Zach, entwining her fingers with his as she looked around her at the high ceilings.

"It would take us a long time to christen this place."

 

[Orion]

The Upper East Side — 64th Street Townhouse

She told him, on the drive over, that he should wear leather more often. He smirked, because he could tell that his plan was working. Hey, if he had to lust after her in that noir number all day, she was going to get a taste of her own medicine. Of course, she still had him beat, and she proved it by mentioning that it was chilly and she wasn’t wearing a bra.

GODS...

He thought, and then he had to try to act normal because there was the realtor. They got the tour of the entry level floor, and it was quite nice, but Ash seemed a bit off put by it. She asked where the bedrooms were. Of course she wanted to know that. Zach tried to hide his leering smile by looking around the kitchen. The realtor explained what floors the bedrooms were on, and Ash was surprised by the idea that the entire building was theirs.

“You didn’t think I’d cram my wife into an apartment, did you?”

He asked, as the realtor led them up the stairs. There was an elevator too, but for now they admired the vestibule. Ash leaned in and took his hand.

Ash: It would take us a long time to christen this place.

He wanted to start right this very second, but that damned realtor was calling their attention to the library. It was nice enough. Zach had to stop himself from thinking about what corner of the room he’d take Ash to, because there was just a little less room in his jeans. If he let his thoughts continue, all sense of gentleman’s discretion would be lost soon.

Curiously, there was no parlor on the parlor floor. There was a nice atrium bar though, with a beautiful skylight high above. And as they traveled up the floors he realized there were more bedrooms than entirely necessary, which meant that they could get creative with the layout.

“We can convert this room here for the billiards and card table from my place.”

He suggested, when they were standing in a room big enough to be suitable. The top floor had a jacuzzi in the master bath, and a shower plenty big enough to accommodate their usual activities. Zach didn’t verbalize it, but he did throw a glance at Ash when he saw it, and her smile was all the communication they needed. Next up was the Study, right across from the Master bedroom.

“Ah, excellent. I could work from home, wouldn’t that be nice, my love?”

There were fireplaces everywhere, and even another garden terrace on the top floor. Zach’s initial instinct was to say ‘we will take it!’, but he knew better than to jump on the first place they saw. Ashley seemed to like it too, but what if there was another home she really fell in love with?

“What do you think, Ash?”

He asked her, and the realtor helpfully suggested that she had two more places they could see today, if this one didn’t quite fit the bill.

 

[Valkyrie]

The Upper East Side — 64th Street Townhouse

“You didn’t think I’d cram my wife into an apartment, did you?”

She grinned and bit her lip at his using the word "wife". She intertwined her fingers with his, mentioning casually how long it would take them to have sex in every room in this place. The had followed the realtor up to the second floor, then the third.

“We can convert this room here for the billiards and card table from my place.”

She turned her body to face him, and leaned up to plant a peck on his lips.

"Whatever you want, babe."

Then it was up to the master bedroom and bathroom on the top floor. The bathroom was huge, and she and Zach exchanged a glance which said without words exactly what they were planning on doing in there.

"Hmm...I wonder if they make pillows for the bathroom."

“Ah, excellent. I could work from home, wouldn’t that be nice, my love?”

Her arm slid around to the back of him and her hand down to his ass.

"Ideal."

She certainly planned to never let him out of her sight if she could possibly help it. How much work he would get done, however...

“What do you think, Ash?”

She looked around her, sizing up the place.

"I like that there's a fireplace in the bedroom."

That would be really nice in the winter. Zach had gotten her thinking of the past earlier, and she realized how much she missed sleeping by a fire. And Zach would look even sexier by firelight. AND if they were going camping for their honeymoon, it would always serve as a reminder of it. She decided that was the one thing she wanted in anyplace they lived.

"I'm happy with whatever you like, Zach. Do you want to see the other places?"

 

[Orion]

The Upper East Side — 64th Street Townhouse

Zach suggested a conversion for one of the rooms to better fit their needs, and she didn’t have an objection. Basically she was content with whatever. They exchanged a lascivious glance in the master bath, and she asked if there was such a thing as pillows for a bathroom, which provoked a strange look from the realtor. Zach laughed wickedly, which seemed to be an even weirder thing to the realtor, yet she didn’t comment. The look on her face, though.

Zach mentioned working from home, which Ash judged to be ‘ideal’, and even grabbed his ass, which made Zach wonder if he’d ever get any work done at all, or if she’d be stalking into his office in lingerie why he was on an international call, just to get to him. Oh, the fantasies were starting up again. He wanted to throw her down on the floor, and the lust in his gaze when he made eye contact with her expressed as much, but when he spoke, he managed to restrain himself and sound normal. He asked her what she thought, and she said she liked the fireplace in the bedroom, but would be happy with whatever he liked. She suggested seeing the other places, and Zach nodded.

There wasn’t enough time in the drives between the next homes to get into too much trouble, but Zach made sure to hold Ash’s hand locked in his, just in case, to prevent any groping. Not because he didn’t want any, but because he knew if that started, there’d be no stopping.The second place, on 70th, had more floors, but less fireplaces. The master bedroom was oddly the smallest, unless you counted the truly bizarre closet sized bedroom on the fifth floor.

“What, did they put the red-headed stepchild in here?”

Zach joked when he saw it. They’d obviously need to renovate this little cubbyhole out of existence. Overall the home was nice, and it even had a front yard and some beautiful bay window seats in the living and library, but it wasn’t long before Zach was asking to see the third townhouse.

The third place rivaled the first in splendor. It had a fantastic patio garden, and a huge kitchen. All the rooms were fairly spacious, in fact. The parlor floor was well named, and while there wasn’t a wet bar already, there was plenty of space for one. And the fireplaces, wow. Clearly the architect had been a fan of hearths. The third floor might as well have been called the master suite. The den on that floor had a lovely window seat that Zach figured was well big enough for him and Ash to spend extra time together on, and there were fireplaces both in the den and the master bedroom on that level. The fourth floor had a couple of bedrooms, either of which would have been suitable as an office. The fifth floor provided the recreation room, and Zach suggested that it’d be quite easy to delete the wall separating the back bedrooms and turn the bigger space into a gym. And there were decks galore, even a rooftop terrace deck with an outdoor jacuzzi.

“Yes, I like this home a lot. But I can’t decide if it’s better than the first place. I guess you’ll have to pick your favorite, darling.”

He said, pulling Ash into his arms and smiling at her.