As she had before, Ashley took her time studying Spencer. Her eyes weren’t calm, they rarely were, but the emotion in them was impossible to decipher. Even in her relaxed stance there was a sense of force, a storm brewing. Spencer met her gaze levelly, as she expected. And she moved her. Spencer’s power of serenity always moved her. Ashley could have strangled her for it.

"You haven’t changed Spencer."

"You’re wrong." Why could she no longer breathe easily or control the furious beat of her heart?

"Am I?" Her brows disappeared under her tousled hair for a moment. "We’ll see."

Ashley was a very physical person. When she spoke, she gestured. When she held a conversation, she touched. Spencer could remember the brush of her hand – on her arm, her hair, her shoulder. It had been her casualness that had drawn Spencer to her. And had driven her away. Now, as they stood close, she was surprised that Ashley did not touch her in any way. Ash simply watched and studied her.

"I noticed a change," she countered. "You didn’t argue with the referees or shout at the line judge. Not once." Her lips curved slightly. "Not even after a bad call."

Ashley gave her a lightly quizzical smile. "I turned over that leaf some time ago."

"Really?" She was uncomfortable now, but merely moved her shoulders. "I haven’t been keeping up."

"Total amputation, Spencer?" Ash asked softly.

"Yes" She would have turned away, but there was nowhere to go. Over the line of sinks to her left the mirrors tossed back her reflection…and Ash’s. Deliberately she shifted so that her back was to them. "Yes," she responded, "it’s the cleanest way."

"And now?"

"I’m going to play again," Spencer responded simply. Ashley’s scent was reaching out for her, that familiar, somehow heady fragrance that was sweat and victory and sex all tangled together. Beneath the placid expression her thoughts shot off in tangent.

Nights, afternoons, rainy mornings. Ashley had shown her everything how two women could be together, even everything a man and a woman could be together; opened doors she had never realized existed. Ashley had knocked down every guard until she found her.