Writing from this original post on DeviantArt. For a Hypnovember thing
Ngl, this one is still one of my favorites. <3
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HEAD PETS
Ace hadn’t slept in too long. Recent events had made it difficult to convince himself to do so. Even quick naps were out of the question. But the danger had long since passed. Still, Ace couldn’t sleep properly.
Until tonight. When Emily discovers her bodyguard’s unexpected weakness.
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“Ace?"
Ace perked—or rather jolted violently at the noise. Emily’s meek little voice calling out to him. As he, nearly nodding off from his guarding post, practically jumped off the wall. Stumbling to stand.
“—What?! Hu—...oh.” Ace realized, looking around to see no danger.
Nothing but hallways of closed doors. Save that of Emily’s, which was open by a crack. As the Princess peeked through the doorway.
‘Fuck. Did I fall asleep?’ He wondered with a mental curse. Grumbling as he roughly rubbed the bridge of his nose and eyelids. Trying to wake himself.
“S-s-sorry! I’m so sorry! I didn’t—mean—I’m sorry I woke you.” Emily apologized.
“Nah, no, uh...You didn’t.” Ace lied, forcing a grin, “Just resting my eyes for a sec. What’s up,
Princess?”
Emily didn’t return it. Her face was uncharacteristically unreadable. Quietly, she pushed the door wide open. Standing in its frame wearing her pajama gown and soft, silk robe. Her pale blonde hair loose from its usual solitary braid. It openly flowed over her shoulders and down her back, nearing her mid-waist.
Ace hid a subtle swallow. 'Cute...'
“Ace... You really should rest.” Emily began carefully, “You need sleep. We can ask someone els—!”
“No.”
The sudden sharp word brought silence between them. Ace sighed, hardened features softening with guilt.
“I’m... I’m good, Emily.” Ace insisted. Yet another pause lingered, prompting him to admit, “...Last time someone else watched you, I regretted it. They got reckless. That’s not happening again. Not on my watch.”
Surprisingly, instead of relenting as she usually did, Emily gave a long sigh. Green eyes drifting off as more silence came. Until she spoke again.
“...Couldn’t you, at least... come inside?”
Ace would be lying if he said he did not blush hearing that.
Coughing, he asked, “...Pardon?”
“I-It’s just, uh... I feel bad y-you’re just standing out here, and, well...” She took a deep breath in, then continued, “...I’d... I’d feel better knowing you’re c-cl-closer. I-In my r-room, I m-mean. I-I can’t sleep any—w-way...”
A third yet final pause came. Emily expected a refusal or another excuse to come after it. Instead, Ace shockingly relented.
“...sure. Uh.” He answered, awkwardly clearing his throat, “Can I, uh... come in?"
“Oh, uh—O-okay...!” Emily replied, hasily stepping aside to let him in, “I mean y-yes. You can.”
As Ace entered the room, Emily poked around him and carefully shut it behind them both. Meanwhile, the bodyguard took in the bedroom. A pink, pastel-goth paradise with a bookish, geek chic charm. With expensive, lavish furniture and the four-poster, California king-size bed as the centerpiece of it all.
A bed that looked so deliciously comfortable right about now...
Roughly, Ace shook his head. Holding it as he restrained a closed-mouth grumble. No. He couldn’t let himself get weak like this. He must stay awake. He has to.
“Are you okay?” Emily asked worriedly.
“Yeah, just... got a headache.” Ace answered slowly, “That’s all...”
It wasn’t a complete lie. Staying awake too long had left him feeling like absolute shit. Leaving a tension headache in his temples he could not seem to get rid of. With the pounding exhaustion of his eyelids desperately wanting to close not helping in the slightest. Everything ached. But he just couldn’t afford to sleep.
“Ace...”
With little warning else, Emily’s fingers reached towards the taller young man. An unexpected courage fueled her actions. As her fingers, her smaller hand, carefully caressed Ace’s scarred face.
‘He looks so exhausted...’ Emily thought worriedly, taking in her bodyguards’ weary features.
Ace said nothing. Keeping the strange bravery somewhat fuel in Emily. As fingers continued, letting them gently brush back a few loose strains from his man-bun. Absentmindedly, those fingers lingered. Feeling the soft buzz of his undercut. The fuzzy, gentle, prickling sensation which she couldn’t help enjoying. It felt oddly nice.
“Mmm...”
Finally realizing herself, Emily cheeks flushed with embarrassed, fingers curling back.
“Oh gosh! S-Sorry, I...—!” She began to apologize.
Then stopped.
Ace’s expression was one of pure bliss. His face was uncharacteristically soft, eyebrows utterly relaxed with eyes heavily closed. Whilst his head lolled, only scarcely held up by Emily’s touch. Her lingering hand was the only thing keeping it slightly upright.
He was... enjoying it??
Pausing briefly, Emily slowly started scratching. Fingernails working through to the top of his head, into his roots. It elicited another low, pleasing grumble to echo throughout Ace’s chest and up his throat. As it dwindled and grew into an evident, pleasant moan.
A moan that promptly made Emily withdraw her hand, flustered beyond belief.
“...huh?” Ace perked, eyelids scarcely opening to reveal dazed blues. They looked like a lost puppy genuinely confused why his petting had ceased, “...why’d ya stop?”
“I...”
Emily stopped herself from speaking. It occurred to her that this was a golden opportunity. One not to be wasted. If she kept going, if she just didn’t lose her nerve, Ace would FINALLY go to sleep. She could finally make him rest.
“...Sorry.” Emily managed awkwardly.
Then, she let her hand continue. Watching Ace’s eyelids heavily flicker shut, as his head leaned heavier into her hand. Humming with contentment.
Was this wrong? Lying to him? Well, to Emily own argument, it wasn’t... completely lying. Not really.... was it? He did want her to continue, didn't he? It wasn’t that devious... right?
Though his head was quickly getting very, very heavy in her one hand...
“Um... Ace?”
“Hmmmm~?” Ace hummed distantly.
“Can we, uh... head to my bed? J-just t-to sit on, obviously!” Emily quickly added.
“Huh...?”
Ace jerked somewhat, eyes barely opening. For a moment, Emily wondered if she messed up and he
realized her trickery. But, to her greater shock, he just shrugged.
“Yeah, uh... yeah. Sure. Let’s go...”
Emily face softened with a mixture of concern and guilt. Even so, she carefully took Ace’s hand and led him to the bed. Guiding him to sit on the edge with her, Emily looked him over. Seeing Ace barely awake, just scarcely keeping upright as he swayed somewhat where he sat.
It seemed to Emily perhaps he had decidedly given up the ruse. Maybe Ace was finally realizing how badly he wanted to sleep.
‘...He really is so tired.’ Emily thought with profound sympathy, “Poor Ace...’
“Do you wanna, uh... take off you, uh... accessories?” She suggested.
He still had his jewelry, tie, and vest on. Which she imagined wasn’t going to be comfortable. The belt... well, he could figure that one out. The idea alone made her flush deeper.
Sleepily, Ace began plucking everything off. His rings, gauges, tie, and so forth. Kicked his leather shoes off. Everything was dropped or tossed carelessly to the carpet. Doing as she suggested without any hesitance. Much less real awareness.
“...I... really shouldn’t be...” He began half-heartedly, voice distantly soft. As he hooked his fingers into his tie and pulled it lose. When he clicked off the belt, however, something stirred him awake.
“Wait, fuck... w...what am I... I shouldn’t be—”
Emily, mid-panicking from these words, began petting his head again. Her fingers slowly scratching circles into the crevasse connecting his neck and skull. Feeling how Ace stiffed before instantly melting under her touch. Eyes practically rolling shut with a low, longing sigh of utter surrender.
“......what was I... saying again...?” He wistfully asked, leaning sideways towards her touch.
“Hmm?” Emily questioned oh-so-innocently, pretending not to hear him.
“Mmm... nevermind.....”
The belt distantly fell to the floor.
With one final sigh, Ace’s body buckled. Falling towards Emily. Head flopping upon her shoulder without care. As she clumsily scrambled to keep him upright, arms intertwining round his waist and upper arms.
“L—Let’s, uh... Wh-why don’t we—c-come lie down w-with me, o-okay, A-Ace?” Emily stammered meekly, face blindly red.
Ace could only give a vague grumble. Yet he did as he was told. With great effort, Emily helped him lie down further up on the bed, so their legs weren’t dangling off the edge. Guiding her guard’s head to lie back on a thick, luscious pillow. An act which made him sigh all the deeper. Made his powerful body sink all the more profoundly.
As she grabbed the blankets to pull over him, Emily wondered how her cheeks hadn’t burned off at this point. Oh, be still her beating heart. The sight of him resting so peacefully... Why did she feel this way?
“Em...ily..?” Ace mumbled, eyebrows knitting with discomfort, panic growing, “...wh-where...?”
Emily reached forward, petting back the lock of his hair. Relieved to see Ace’s semi-unconscious face immediately relax, leaning into her touch once more. Her heart taking a steady, pleasant rhythm.
'He really wants to keep me safe...' She couldn't help softly admiring, 'He's pushed himself so hard all because of me. This is...the least I can do for him, right?'
“I’m here... I’m right here, Ace.” She soothed out loud, “I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”
“Hmmmm~”
Without warning, Ace’s body rotated towards her and his muscular arms enveloped her entirely. Pulling her close. His face buried snuggly into her plump chest with a happy hum. As if her breasts were just another pillow to lie into it.
A shiver of pure shock and embarrassment rocketed up and down Emily’s spine. She was frozen. Yet her face was sizzling with heat. Unable to move entirely. Not that she could, even if she was able! Ace was significantly stronger and taller than her. She was pretty sure this roguish man was about ¾ of pure, lean muscle.
This was not what she expected. This was NOT supposed to happen. She was going to get him to sleep, make a pillow barrier between them, and then sleep on the other side of the bed. (It was a massive bed, after all! A California King! Plenty of space!) How is it she’s now trapped entirely by this slumbering, surprisingly snuggly beast?!
Who, admittedly, is enjoying cuddling her breast far too much.... Every motion rockets more sensations up and down her. ...Especially down. One feeling she didn’t dare admit to, even in the privacy of her mind.
With a soft, muted whine, Emily covers her sizzling red face with both hands.
“How am I so dumbbbb...~?” She voicelessly whined.
Still...
After a moment of regaining herself, Emily hands drag down her face. She then looks down at him.
The sight making her heart do a thousand flips.
Ace always had one of two expressions on his face. Ranging from teasing cockiness to deathly seriousness, depending on the situation. But this...The softness in every edge of his features. The way he snores faintly, nestled into her chest. The expressionless, pure relaxation of his face. The way she watches his backside rise and fall with every slow, languish breath.
He truly was well and deeply asleep. He was finally resting. He finally felt safe again.
And the sight made Emily’s heartbeat race. Such warmth and elation threating to burst through her being. Yet, it also gave her the rare courage to do... at least one more dumb thing. As, leaning down towards him, she left a lingering, slow kiss upon his forehead. One, which, unbeknownst to her, made Ace unconsciously smile a small, tiny bit.
Tomorrow, she will deal with the consequences. Tonight, she was just happy that both would be getting some sleep tonight.
“Sweet dreams, Ace.”