who knows how long i've loved you - [ashton]

[regan lilly costello]

how did this man even exist? that was the question that kept rolling around in her brain incessantly. how was it that she could feel so much for him. she had sworn to herself that she may go running with boys, she may try things she never would've tried before, she may be wild. but she wouldn't let herself feel anything. because, deep down she knew that she had a husband. deep down she knew that there was this man that she loved who was probably worried sick about her and searching endlessly for her. and she did love her husband, which was why she didn't let herself get close to anyone. she couldn't let herself get close, because then that would be cheating on a whole different level.

but there was just something so right about the way that he kissed her. the way that his hand felt on the back of her neck as he pulled her more into him, the way that her whole body just sort of melted into his hard one and there wasn't a damn thing that she could do to stop it. there was just something about ashton and the girl could not for the life of her figure it out. he cared about her, that much she knew. she could tell by every little look that he gave to her, and every touch. the way that he treated her like she was more than just an outlet for sex. he treated her like no other man had treated her since she'd come to this place. and it was nice, and it felt nice, and to have someone care caused something in her to warm all the way to her core. but at the same time, no matter the wonderful feelings that he inspired in her, there was always that underlying reality, of she shouldn't be doing this.

there was no stopping her though, no keeping her from cuddling up more to his side as she took another spoonful of the frozen desert. no keeping her from letting her head rest so happily on his shoulder and closing her eyes in bliss for even a brief moment. ashton was some kind of wonderful, and though part of her knew that she should be running far far from him and not looking back, there was nothing that could pull her away from him right then. maybe she was ready to go back to the life of having someone that cared for her, someone that loved her, even if it was a bit too soon to say that ashton loved her. they hadn't known each other that long, but that was what this was starting to feel like. those beginning stages of love where everything just fit together so perfectly.

a little pleased hum came from the woman as she turned her head so that she could place a soft kiss to his cheek. "well, i'm glad that i could be part of this great ending," she whispered. usually there would've been some hint of lust in her tone, the whisper would've come out as more of a suggestive purr. but right then, all that was on her words was a sweetness that she hadn't shown to anyone since she had moved here. a sweetness, that she had almost forgotten in the time that she had been away from everything that she had grown up to know so very well. a sort of sly smile took over her lips as her eyes rested on the ice cream again, and she took the spoon gathering a small amount before pulling away from ashton so that she could wipe the ice cream onto his nose with the spoon, a laugh coming from her. "got cha, mister tall dark and mysterious," she teased before licking off the spoon.

[ashton mitchell brindle]

he clenched and unclenched his jaw, staring down at regan. even though he managed to keep a straight face, it wasn't long until a smile broke through. he quickly wiped off the ice cream that regan so thoughtfully put on his nose and wiped it off on a nearby napkin. he cleared his throat and arched a brow, the smile vanishing slightly, although it was obvious that he was straining not to smile, or laugh even. of course he didn't necessarily enjoy the sticky feeling left on his nose after that, and it was slightly unexpected, it was okay since regan did it. had anyone else done it, maybe even kat, and it would have been a completely different story. but he made an exception for her, like he always did. and he would have loved to have returned the favor, but he decided not to. one, he knew how girls were about their skin and makeup, and he didn't want to risk getting her angry. and two, he felt that it would have been a little mean spirited, even though it would clearly not be meant to be mean in the slightest, and if anything it would have been a playful gesture.

instead, he focused on what she had said earlier. tall dark and mysterious, eh? that made him laugh slightly. tall, he could definitely vouch for that. he had always been the tallest kid in class and he supposed even now, sometimes his 6'5 frame was a bit overbearing for other people to manage. dark? well, he didn't know about that too much. he supposed he could come off rather mysterious, though. that's what he had intended for, after all. girls liked mysterious men, and he sure as hell wanted regan to like him, that was for sure.

so, if i'm tall dark and mysterious, what are you? he arched a brow and turned his head to study her. it was a rhetorical question of course, and he planned on answering it after a moment of silence so he could find three words that really did describe her. he took a finger and brushed the hair out of her face so she could see her better, even though he had already memorized her face from the numerous times he saw her.

hmmm...fiery, he began, tugging on her hair gently. brilliant. he carefully touched his finger to the tip of her nose. beautiful, he finally said, taking her chin and turning her head so that her face was facing him, and so that he could stare into those gloriously blue eyes of hers.

moments like these were just perfect, and quite frankly, he would be nowhere else, and doing anything else than sitting here, eating ice cream with her, seemed lame and a waste of his time. he hadn't realized how hard he was falling for her until he stopped in moments like these and took the time to think about it. but yes, ashton was falling in love with regan, and there was no stopping him, not even that little nagging image of kat in his mind that appeared every once in a while. nothing could stop him.

[/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]

[regan lilly costello]

regan watched him carefully keeping the spoon in her mouth as she did so with that all too playful expression on her features. now, a man who couldn't handle when she was a little playful really wasn't one that she wanted to be with. or be around for that matter. true enough there had been a lot of teasing between the two since they had met, both sexual and otherwise. this was different though. maybe a bit more childish. held a bit more of an air of playfulness than anything else that had transgressed between them and she was more than a little curious as to how he would react. she could see the smile as it broke through, then he tried to hide it again and all that she could do was let out a little laugh sticking the spoon back into the ice cream. it was half tempting to do it again, but she just couldn't quite bring herself to. no matter how adorable he had looked with ice cream on his nose.

the red head leaned into him a bit more, feeling comfortable as she leaned into his side her blues turning towards the sky for a few moments as she just enjoyed the view around them. it was nice to share this with him. hell, there hadn't been anything with him that hadn't been nice since she'd met him. ashton was just one of those great guys. one that got better and better with each passing day that she knew him almost to the point where she wasn't sure if he really existed. if it weren't for the hard form of his body that was partially supporting her own weight she would've sworn that h was some kind of ghost or apparition. he was real though, and he was hers. which was something she was so much happier about than she ever thought she would be.

a brow arched and she looked at him again when he spoke his question. she could tell just by the way that he was looking at her that he was going to answer it for her. the smile on her lips spread more and more as each word passed his lips, that accent of his melting her right down to her core and making her feel tingly all over. this damn man, and his damn effect on her. if she could ignore it then she more than happily would. maybe she would be better off if she could just ignore it and move on with life. but, she couldn't. she had feelings for this man. feelings stronger than just liking him. and he always knew right what to say, and how to say it, and it made her entire body tremble.

fingers moved to touch his face gently, the tips of her digits just barely touching the skin. "ashton, you really are something else," she spoke just barely above a whisper before leaning forward and pressing her lips to his once again. she couldn't not kiss him. there was no way that she couldn't kiss him. not when he said the things that he said in the way that he said them. he was just, much too much. and she couldn't help herself when she pressed her body slightly into his, as her pout was pressed against his own.

[ashton mitchell brindle]

he truly couldn't decide where all of this sappy emotion was coming from. sure, he had his ways when it came to being romantic, and he thoroughly believed that girls deserved to be treated like a princess. well, some girls deserved it, not all. but he just couldn't put his finger to what was making him feel this way. he knew regan was something else and he was definitely grateful for having her, but sometimes, the feelings that she made him feel worried him. after all he was technically still damaged goods and kat was something that sadly still crossed his mind, and the thought of falling in love was, at the very least, a little scary to ashton. maybe he was over thinking this all, though, and it was all this lust between the two of them that was making his head all loopy. but deep down inside, somewhere primal, he knew that was not the case, and what he felt for her was real and nothing that he had quite experienced in his life before. but instead of embracing this affection for her like he would liked to have, he had to step carefully before he got hurt.

i imagine that's a good thing, he said in that slow, english drawl of his. but before he could get another word in, their lips were smacked into each other for the second or third time that evening - he really hadn't kept count, and it didn't really matter, anyways. he pressed his hand into her lower back when she leaned into him, pressing her further into his side. it was moments like these, with the warm presence of her lips on his and the golden sun beating soft rays down on him that he could just melt, because that's how serene and happy he was. this moment was perfect. in fact, his entire day had lifted from terrible to fantastic, all in the matter of a few minutes. and no matter how many times he could tell her that she literally lifted his mood one hundred percent, he supposed she'd never be able to fully fathom all the things she did for him, not just emotionally, but mentally and physically. she was just perfect.

but there came a time where he pulled away from her lips, as much as it pained him to do so, and he looked over her delicate facial features before a grin curled his lips, which were made a bit redder thanks to her lipstick. so..question for you, ma'am, he said, hugging his arm around her shoulder. he rested his head on her shoulder and sighed, wallowing in the silence that was created between the two of them while he waited to propose the question he had been thinking about all night.

your place or my place tonight? he asked nonchalantly, giving no rhyme or reason behind the question, although he guessed if she had any sense at all she could figure out what he meant by it. he groaned under his breath and closed his eyes, a yawn threatening to pop up, but luckily it died away before his eyes started watering. i know i'm contradicting myself with what i said a few days ago, but.. he paused and chewed on his tongue, carefully picking apart what he was about to tell her so that she couldn't possibly take it the wrong way, although ashton was pretty sure she would, anyways. i want you, regan. his voice was reduced to a barely audible whisper, and at that moment in time he wasn't entirely sure if she heard him or not, and if she had or hadn't didn't bother him.

[/justify][/size]

[regan lilly costello]

regan was in deep and she was more than aware that she was. she liked ashton, more than she should, more than she knew was right. there was no helping it though. and regan knew as much as she shouldn't let herself just give into these emotions that were taking her over, she was. and she couldn't be bothered to care. because ashton was everything that she had always loved about men. he was strong, he was intelligent, but he was also sweet in a way that could make her wonder if he'd melt in the rain. she adored him, and just sitting there in his arms, and feeling his lips against her own, it brought her to a place of bliss that she had only felt with one other person. her husband. but her mind was so far from the man who called her his wife in those moments. it was all because of ashton, and how he made her feel. and his stupid accent that turned her into puddy in his hands. it was a whirlwind of emotions that she didn't even begin to know how to process, but all that she could be was happy about it. because every damn moment with ashton was just so right. so perfect.

he kissed her in a way that was so much more than lust. so much more than just a physical desire to be closer to her. she could feel it, in his kiss, in the way that he pressed her into his side. it was strange to feel so right where she was sitting, strange for a woman who didn't know that anyone else in her life could make her feel the way that her husband had made her feel. regan didn't bother to let herself be conflicted in those moments though. she wouldn't let her think about her husband, or the things that might cause what was happening between her and ashton to be ruined. of course it crossed her mind for a moment that she should tell him the truth. that she shouldn't keep the fact that she wasn't single from him. and part of her was ready to when he pulled away from the kiss. part of her was nagging at her to tell him the whole truth before things got any father. but, regan was not the best woman in the world. and she was selfish. and she didn't want to give up this feeling just yet. she wanted to know what it felt like to be closer to ashton than they had gotten before.

her eyes searched his strong features as his took in her own more delicate ones, and she found herself staring into his green eyes and just feeling like she could look into those eyes for the rest of her life. a light smile graced her full lips when he rested his head on her shoulder, and that smile pulled a little wider at his words. "oh yeah?" she let out in a tone that was more a purr than anything else. the question that was to come though, wasn't really one that she had been expecting. maybe it was because she had gotten herself used to the idea that they wouldn't be having sex for a while. maybe she was more than a little alright with that compared to how she had felt about it before hand. that didn't stop her from pulling away when the question did come though, that playful sort of smile settled on her lips.

"you better not be messing with me again ashton," she said in warning tones before pecking his lips. her fingers moved to move through his hair enjoying the soft way that the locks felt between her digits. "well seeing as my place is just downstairs, i think mine would be the most logical. unless you were set on going back to your place. though i really don't care either way," she let him know with a sweet sort of smile on her lips. in all truth, she was just looking forward to laying beside him when she went to sleep. it had been something that, odd as it was, she had gotten used to. and she found herself rather fond of. even though it had only happened a couple of times thus far. maybe she had just missed it more than she'd realized. given that with all her other exploits she had cleared out as soon as the deed was done. "i want you too ashton," she whispered back, then took a moment to kiss him again in a way that was more sweet than anything else.