For Your Eyes Only-- bodyguard!Ashton [Chapter Three]
Summary: Ashton Irwin is the head of security for Princess Alouette who is a kind, gentle young woman. Secretly pining for one another, those feelings will soon come to light as an occurrence will change Alouette’s life forever, and Ashton’s.
Word count: just shy of 5k
Warnings: just some angst
Author’s note: This story is near and dear to my heart, please give it a chance!❤❤❤❤❤
Masterlist
Chap. 1 || Chap. 2
If you’d like to chat with me, please do so here. I’d love feedback!
The next day Alouette didn’t speak to Ashton except for short answers of when they were leaving and the itinerary for the rest of her trip. Luke noticed the obvious shift in their interactions but when he opened his mouth to ask what was going on Ashton told him severely, ‘don’t.’
Alouette continued her silent treatment even on the plane, she didn’t make her inevitable comment about take-off being her favorite and instead placed her airpods in her ears and stared out the window.
This continued for weeks after the Spain trip and Ashton tried not to let it get to him but he hated the change between them and the constant coldness that surrounded her. In a way it proved Ashton’s point that if something were to happen between them this would be the result. On the other hand, nothing happened and this still was the result.
“My lady,” Ashton greets her cordially while she’s in her creative room. Her laptop is open and papers are scattered in front of her. “I’ve made all the arrangements for your Paris trip, the flight leaves tomorrow at ten o’clock and I’ve made sure your ladies have all your baggage packed.”
“Thank you,” she answers quietly not even bothering to look up at him.
Ashton nods silently then exits the room. His kind and gentle Princess has turned icy and resentful towards him. He can’t say he blames her but it still hurts all the same.
•••
On their journey to Paris a month later, it’s another silent flight save for Sydney, her assistant, going over her itinerary for the week. It’s fashion week in Paris and Alouette would be making appearances the whole time while also modeling for the final show.
Then there’s a Jeweler's Ball where Alouette will be wearing the newest, most notorious and most expensive jeweled necklace.
The whole ordeal was a bit of a headache for Ashton because he really had to crack down even harder on his security team since she’ll be modeling in one of the shows. It helped to distract his thoughts from Alouette and his feelings for her because he was constantly on the phone.
“And then the day before your modeling debut, there’s a few hours open where you’ll be going to The Orangerie Museum and Monet’s bridge. Then at 7 a.m makeup will—“
“Wait, I’m going to the museum?” Alouette interrupts her jerking her head to look at her assistant.
Sydney stares at her wide eyed. “Y-yes. Ashton made sure to set time aside so you can go and view it since he’s your favorite painter. I can change it if you don’t want to go?”
“He did that?” Alouette asks in disbelief and glances up at Ashton who is sitting near the cockpit. He’s scrolling through his phone and talking in his ear piece.
“Yes. Would you like me to change it? He already arranged everything to be shut down for you—“
“No, no, please keep it,” Alouette smiles at Sydney. Her heart warms at the thought of Ashton doing this for her.
He knows how much she loves Paris and how much she’s always wanted to go to Monet’s museum and bridge but whenever she was in the lovely city she never had time. Security was an issue as well since it was such a tourist attraction. The fact that he did this for her proves he cares about her, maybe not as intensely as she does, but still.
This small act counts in a big way.
When the plane lands Alouette smiles at Ashton and grabs his wrist before he opens the back passenger door for her. He turns to her startled, this is the first brush of contact they’ve had since a month ago in Spain.
“Thank you for the Louvre,” she tells him gratefully.
“My pleasure, my lady,” he smiles, his hazel eyes blazing into hers.
•••
Her trip has the normal run of the mill of going to fashion shows and dinners with the prime minister and some rugby and soccer games. When she was photographed at the rugby game one of the players, Raphael Sella approaches her by the sidelines, takes her hand and kisses it while greeting her.
She blushes because that’s how she always is when someone gives her the attention she deserves—even if it isn’t from Ashton—but he can’t help to see red. Ashton approaches then pushes the photographers away politely yet sternly in French then guides the Princess away by the point of her elbow.
•••
The meetings and her walk at the fashion show went swimmingly.
He’s standing guard by the double doors of her hotel suite while Alouette is getting ready for the Jeweler’s Ball taking place at the Louvre. She’ll be wearing the l’incomparable necklace that is the riveting new piece from the jeweler.
The whole ordeal makes Ashton uneasy because the necklace is worth $55 million and a perfect target around her neck. He understands why they chose her to wear it, she’s elegant and poised and the necklace will look divine on her. The Princess is priceless compared to the bauble and his security measures have increased tenfold.
Her glam team has spent hours doing her hair and makeup, she even has a jeweled crown that belonged to her great-great grandmother Amelie.
Ashton’s throat went dry as a desert when he saw her emerge from the suite wearing a midnight black dress. The neckline is just below her throat with the necklace perched perfectly atop it. The way it’s designed makes it look like a falling rose with a beautiful yellow diamond at the center.
“What do you—“
“Your purse ma princesse!”
“Oh! Thank you, Charlene,” Alouette spins around and Ashton is floored once more.
There’s a slit that travels up her right thigh, invisible until she walks, the fabric sashaying around her leg. The back of her dress is wide open revealing the smooth skin of her back which glitters when the light hits just right.
When she twirls around he’s captivated by her eyes, vibrant and sparkling and blue as the sea. She is absolutely stunning and Ashton can’t form a coherent thought.
“My neck is already hurting,” she says stepping closer to him.
He’s still staring. He knows he’s staring but he can’t stop. It physically pains him that he can’t have her on his arm or stroke his fingertips over her back to see if her skin really as soft as it looks.
Alouette is staring at him expectantly, eyebrows raised waiting for an answer. For any kind of response.
“Because it’s so heavy,” she prompts and he’s still silent and staring. “Earth to Ashton.”
She shakes his bicep gently and he finally snaps back to reality instead of the hazy violet daydreams. He clears his throat and blinks a few times.
“Sorry, my lady you . . . you left me speechless,” he rasps.
She blushes and looks down, her fingers are spinning the band of her bracelet. The one she got from Ashton. He looks down then takes her hand hesitantly, her fingers are cold compared to his warm touch.
“You’re exquisite, Alouette,” he confesses gently.
Her name finally falls from his lips and it was like a beautiful melody to her ears. A soft gasp escaped her, head snapping up to look into his hazel eyes.
“You said my name,” she whispers smiling wide.
“I’ve been torturing myself for three years of not uttering it, I don’t want to do that anymore.”
With a careful hand he lifts his left to stroke the apple of her cheek with the backs of his fingers. With an even more careful step, he moves closer and she tilts her head up to him. She waits in bated breath anticipating his next actions. Will he kiss her?
“It’s been torturing me, too,” she admits breathlessly.
He leans down closer, the tip of his nose touching hers, he breathes her in. His eyes close at the scent of lavender, vanilla and a hint of orchid. “I’ve hated this whole month of not talking to you. Can you forgive me?”
She squeezes the hand that’s holding hers, desperately wanting him to close the small space between their lips. Her voice is gone so she just nods, the action causes their lips to bump together.
“Car’s here, along with the five faux ones,” Luke announces bursting through the door. “Oh, shit!”
The loud noise and interruption forces Ashton and Alouette to jump apart thus ruining the moment between them. Their moments always seem fleeting, here and gone in a blink of an eye.
“Wait outside, Luke,” Ashton orders with his jaw clenched. Luke wastes no time running from the suite, the door slams shut behind him. He laces his fingers through his, bringing her hand to his lips and kisses it. “We’ll continue this later, my l—Alouette,” he catches himself.
