Spencer continued talking, but gave Ashley a confused face.

“Keep talking, Carlin…” Ashley whispered, removing her own top in one graceful motion.

Spencer was silent.

“…………..Oh, yeah. Sorry. No, I’m fine. Keep talking. Really, I’m fine…”

Ashley gave her a mischievous smile, fully intent upon going through with her torture methods. She stood and slowly unbuttoned her jeans, her hands manipulating the zipper, then pulling the rather tight jeans down and off of her body.

“Dad, hey….Ashley’s mom is calling us….yeah…..well, I’ll see you tomorrow….yeah, early….ok….I love you too….bye,” Spencer ended the phone call and stood up to face her girlfriend.

“Oh, why’d you get off the phone? I’m sure you and your dad could have gone on for hours about yard sales or brownies or Disney movies or whatever it is the Carlins are into,” Ashley said in a voice dripping with feigned innocence.

“Right, I totally want to talk to my dad while the girl who he’s convinced is simply my best friend does a striptease for my attention. Totally,” Spencer replied, grabbing Ashley’s neck and engaging her in a long kiss filled with adoration.

“Hey,” Ashley said once reluctant lips parted with Spencer’s, “how do you know I wasn’t just really, really hot?”

“I completely agree, you were really, really hot.”

“You’re so ridiculously sappy, Spence.”

“Yeah, well….at least I don’t have to strip when I’m not the center of attention for three seconds!” Spencer said, laughing.

“Are you fucking kidding me? Three seconds? Try 30 minutes, Spence. I never thought you were going to end that conversation.”

“What can I say? There’s a lot going on in my life right now, and for once, it doesn’t all involve you.”

“Yeah, whatever,” Ashley said, flopping back onto the bed and focusing on “The L Word.”

“I know you’re not about to watch that right now,” Spencer said, slightly irritated.

“Why, does it bother you not being the center of attention?” Ashley asked.

“Ashley, you’re practically naked.”

“Doesn’t really affect my DVD-watching abilities.”

“Not my point. I thought that you were, I don’t know, trying to initiate a little bit more than just interest in ‘The L Word.’”

“Wishful thinking.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah,” Ashley replied, her eyes still locked on her television.

Spencer was silent for a moment, using the time to figure Ashley out.

“Ok, Ashley….ok….”Spencer said slowly, lying down next to her on the bed.

“Ok?”

“Ok.”

“Ok, what?” Ashley asked, finally looking at Spencer’s face.

“Ok, let’s watch ‘The L Word.’”

“Oh,” Ashley said, the disappointment obvious in her voice.

They sat in silence, Ashley completely unsure of her next move. She looked over at Spencer who sat watching the television with a face of contentment. Ashley couldn’t read her expression as one she had seen Spencer wear before.

“Spence?”

“Yes?” Spencer replied, turning to Ashley with a grin.

“I want to kiss you, but I know you’re really into the…”

“Shhhhh…..this looks like a good part,” Spencer interrupted.

Ashley raised her eyebrow and continued staring at Spencer’s slightly smug face.

“Something I can help you with?” Spencer asked cheerfully.

“Yeah…”Ashley replied before straddling her and bringing her lips down to meet Spencer’s in a desperately awaited kiss.

“Hey…hey…hey!” Spencer said, pulling away.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” Ashley asked concerned, yet she remained in her compromising position, legs straddling Spencer’s waist.

“You’re making it very difficult to see the show,” Spencer answered, moving her head so that she could see the screen, “yeah, see? Now I’m all lost. I don’t even know who that character is!”

“You’re joking…tell me you’re joking.”

“What? I thought you wanted to watch this.”

Ashley stared at Spencer in silence, giving her a look so obvious in its intention that Spencer grabbed the remote control and silenced the television.

“Thank you,” Ashley smiled.

“You’re the one who wanted…”

“Shhhh……” Ashley interrupted, thankful for the switch in role dynamics. She lowered her face again to kiss Spencer.

Breaking the kiss, Spencer looked into Ashley’s eyes.

“You ok?” Ashley asked as she ran her fingers through the loose strands of Spencer’s hair.

“Yeah…it’s just that….”

“What? Tell me.”

“I want to touch you. I really, really wanna just…touch you for awhile. Can I do that?” Spencer asked, obviously made nervous by the nature of her question.

“You never have to…you never have to ask me that,” Ashley answered, also nervous at the thought of returning control to Spencer.

And with that, Ashley laid flat against the bed, waiting to see what Spencer had in mind.