(no subject)

[theirlawyer]

The Nexus has a lot of benefits, ranging from plush comfortable mattresses to long buffets filled with all kinds of food that Ainsley could normally only dream of, but what she finds is the very best door so far is the one she opens when she goes to find Sam and instead opens a door to a tropical beach paradise. The calming rush of ocean waves to the shore of a private beach and a cabana makes Ainsley all too aware that what she's missing is a beach vacation.

She props the door open with her shoe before heading off to find the appropriate clothes and the right partner for that kind of thing. Dressed in an oversized t-shirt that belongs to some guy she'd accidentally stolen it from, Ainsley hitches her well-stocked bag of preparations (and food) higher over her shoulder while she tries the door right next to the beach one, as if Sam might have moved without telling her.

"Sam?" she calls, knocking steadily. "I'm giving you another thirty seconds. Trust me, you'll like it," she promises sweetly, because she really can't imagine anyone who wouldn't like the hot sun and sand of a beautiful beach where no expectations or responsibilities lay on their heads.

Comments

[imnotrobin]

"Well, I don't see anyone else around," Sam says, laughing lightly. "Ainsley, you're gorgeous. You know that, right?"

It's also the least important part of their relationship, in Sam's mind. It's wonderful, to be sure, but it's her mind and her convictions and her tenacity that draw him to her more than her creamy skin and long blonde hair.

[theirlawyer]

"Oh, I know very well that I'm an attractive woman," Ainsley assures, giving Sam a look that says there's never been any doubt in her mind about that. "I also happen to enjoy my intimacies more in private than public, but I do think you're right," she admits, peeking left and then all the way down right. "I don't think anyone's really watching," she says, nudging off her shorts before she starts to lay out the towels and food.

"When you're ready, I get to rub suntan lotion all over that manly back of yours. It's just my part in preventing skin cancer," is what she has to say, so innocently, on the subject.

[imnotrobin]

"Thank God I have you. Otherwise, I'd just have to take my chances with ozone layer holding up," Sam says, tossing her the bottle of sunblock.

While there's a practical purpose in it, Sam can't deny a certain pleasure in having Ainsley's hands all over his skin.

[theirlawyer]

Ainsley catches it with both hands and settles herself in her place so that she's plenty comfortable. Once the blanket is the right way and the umbrella is doing what the tree isn't, she shifts closer to Sam, tapping on his shoulder to get him to face away from her while she starts to lather up her hands with the sunscreen.

"When's the last time you were on a beach vacation that wasn't California?" she wonders.

[imnotrobin]

"Once upon a never," Sam admits. Ainsley's hands feel good against his back and Sam doesn't bother to suppress a sigh or the smile that comes along with it. It's been a long time since he's been able to share simple intimacy like this with anyone and it feels good. It feels like there's something more to his life than work and work and more work; while he loves his job and believes passionately in the Bartlet Administration and his part in it, part of him wants something for himself - his own personal legacy. Ainsley feels like she might be a part of that.

"I planned one, once, but then I had to cancel because of work. What about you? When was your last vacation?"

[theirlawyer]

She digs her fingers a little deeper, encouraged on by that little sound. Her smile is a self-satisfied little thing, pleased with the vacation and of having Sam Seaborn prone and open to her whims and wills. "I think it was before my switch to my last job. I went to London for a week, but wound up lurking around and trying to get on the floor of the House of Commons to watch their processes."

[imnotrobin]

"That's something I would like to see," Sam says. "Seeing how government works in another country, especially one so similar to our own...I would probably go through a ream of paper taking notes and still wouldn't have enough. Luckily I have a very good memory. So, did you actually get to see them introduce any legislation?"

[theirlawyer]

"No, they made me leave before anything interesting happened," Ainsley admits. "Apparently, someone who stays on the floor that long without any actual security clearance or reason to be there sort of throws up a few flags and they might have been concerned about what I was doing there," she says with a wry smile.

She finishes with the sunscreen, wiggling the bottle in Sam's face. "My turn," she says happily, lying on her stomach on the towel.

[imnotrobin]

While Sam thinks he could talk about legislation all day, he thinks the only thing more interesting than that is the smooth, soft expanse of Ainsley's skin. He takes the sunscreen and rubs it between his hands before sliding them along her back.

"I wouldn't want you to get burned. You're so fair...I bet you get freckles, don't you?"

[theirlawyer]

"Unfortunately," Ainsley agrees, because she'd grown up thinking that freckles are a sign of a redhead's skin and she'd always treasured her long, flowing blonde locks. "That's nice, though, what you're doing," she murmurs, trying not to flush at the feel of Sam's hands on her skin. "Don't stop."

[imnotrobin]

"Wouldn't dream of it," he murmurs, rubbing her back long after the lotion is rubbed into her skin. It's nice, having an excuse to touch her like this and he thinks they'll have to arrange beach trips more often.

"Ainsley...what would you say about something more serious? Exclusive?"

[theirlawyer]

Ainsley tilts her head to the side to give him a considerate look. It's not that she disagrees with the notion or that she's been wanting otherwise, but maybe there's a part of her that thinks that they're not on the same page if Sam doesn't already know that she wants to be exclusive. Then again, they've never talked about it, so how could they have figured it out? "I wouldn't mind that at all," she promises, smiling up at him. "If nothing else, I want to make sure we give us the best chance we can."

[imnotrobin]

"Exactly. And I think it's a disservice to us and especially you if I'm not in it head first," Sam says, squeezing her shoulder lightly.

"I'm crazy about you, Ainsley. I've been crazy about you for a long time. It's more than just something I want to consider as casual, at any rate, and I didn't exactly know how to broach the subject without frightening you off so I decided to just put my feelings out there and hope for the best. It's always the bravest moments that are off the cuff and...I'm rambling, aren't I?"

[theirlawyer]

These are all the right things to say and even though Ainsley wants to believe them with all her heart, there's a part of her that knows she should be wary. Guys like Sam don't come along all the time and sure, he might have politics that she completely disagrees with, but he's smart and handsome, and fun to argue with and willing to listen to her. Plus, he doesn't think she's weird.

"I'm a little crazy about you too, Sam," she admits, turning onto her side so she can look at him properly while they talk. "I guess it was never really the right time at work. I mean, everyone would definitely talk. Your reputation would probably be tainted, not to mention mine."

[imnotrobin]

"Mine would probably be improved, someone as gorgeous as you, but I know what you mean. Back home probably isn't the best place for this right now," Sam says. He doesn't like it. The idea of hiding his relationship with Ainsley like it's something to be embarrassed of isn't terribly appealing to him. Any man would be so lucky to be with a woman like her even for one date, much less the burgeoning relationship they have.

"But here? Here, we can do anything we want. I plan to spend an awful lot of time here with you, if you're up to it."

[theirlawyer]

She's troubled by that, too. For all that Ainsley is so proud of who she is, she'd never thought she'd ever have to hide who she loved. That makes her pause, slightly, and she tries to tell herself that it's because they're trying to keep the early days of their relationship from being affected by politics. And he's right. They can spend time here, as well as have their professional relationship back home.

"I think you're onto something," she agrees, reaching back for the sunscreen so she can cap it and sit up. "And when we're a little stronger, and surer, then we can tell people at home. Does that sound like a good compromise?"

[imnotrobin]

"An excellent one," Sam agrees. He grins at her, playful and relaxed in a way that he never manages to be back in the White House. Something about DC sucks all the fun out of him and Sam is glad he can shed it for their jaunts into the hotel.

"And who says I can't be bipartisan? I think we just agreed on the first thing ever."

[theirlawyer]

She reaches up, tracing that smile on his face with fondness, feeling like she's starting to learn new sides of Sam that she hadn't previously seen. She sits up a little and tentatively leans in for a little kiss that she feels okay sharing.

"I think given what can come of this bipartisan agreement, we're both heavily inclined to find mutual ground," she says with wry knowledge. "Not that I'm upset about that."

[imnotrobin]

"Oh, no, I think it'll break new ground," Sam says, just as wry in his own response. "I've always liked to seek out the new."

He cups her cheek and leans in for another kiss, this one a little longer than the one Ainsley had given him previously.

[theirlawyer]

Ainsley laughs against his lips, only because she's so happy and she wants to share it. The laugh fades away, though, when she lets herself become more occupied with kissing Sam rather than laughing about their situation or thinking about the future. It's her and him on a beach, and that's all that matters.

"Think we should go swimming?" she asks, once they've broken apart.

[imnotrobin]

"Kind of required at the beach," Sam says by way of agreement. "But I need to do this first."

Another kiss, this one slightly more brief than the ones that preceded it. That business handled, he offers his hand to her. "Let's check out the water?"

[theirlawyer]

Ainsley's eyes widen in surprise when Sam leans in for another kiss, a bright smile passing over her lips as she gently touches them, beaming away as she grabs his hand with both of hers to haul herself forward. "Sam Seaborn, dripping wet? How can a girl resist that?" she teases, a touch coyly.

[imnotrobin]

"Many have tried, few have succeeded," he teases back. Honestly, his dating life has been a little dried up since he's been working so hard but when you're working for the president, some things just have to go on the back burner.

"Are you planning to resist it?"

[theirlawyer]

She shakes her head, a sly grin on her lips as she pushes her palms into the towel and the sand below, helping to get to her knees and her feet. "Not for a single second," she promises, knotting up her hair so she can try and keep it dry from getting soaked by the waves. "That said, maybe less of the macho-I'm-so-desired talk is hotter, for a girl?"

[imnotrobin]

"Uh huh, I see what you're playing at," Sam says, getting to his feet and offering his hand to her. It's kind of innocent and cute, holding hands, and maybe they're too old for it but he wants to offer it. In some ways, Sam is old-fashioned and he feels like there's little things about dating that are lost nowadays, things he thinks should be preserved. This is one of them.