Lie with maid in spring, among forest creatures (8)

'lie' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with contact as well as being verbs in their base form.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'maid in spring among forest creatures' is the wordplay.
'maid in spring' becomes 'flow' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'among' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'forest creatures' becomes 'deer' (deer may live in forest).
'flow' placed within 'deer' is 'DEFLOWER'.

'with' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?